SECTION II. 587 principles laid up in their minds, and to see how far they have complied with them, and how far they have neglected them. Parents should teach their children to pay a religious respect to the inward dictates of virtue within them, to examine their ac- tions continually by the light of their own consciences, and to rejoice when they can approve themselves to their own minds,, that they have acted well according to the best of their know- ledge : they ought also to attend to the inward reproofs of con- science, and mourn and be ashamed, and repent when they have. sinned against their light. It is of admirable use tovvard all the practices of religion and every virtue, to have conscience well stored with good principles, and to be always kept tender and watchful; it is proper that children should learn to reverence and obey this inward monitor betimes, that every wilful sin may give their consciences a sensible pain and uneasiness, and that they may be disposed to sacrifice every thing else to considerations of conscience, and to endure any extremities rather than act con- trary to it. I proceed in the next place to consider, the several powers of the body which ought to be regulated and managed by the due instruction of children in their younger years. Now as the God of nature has given children eyes, and tongues, and feet, and arms, and hands, it is expedient that parents should teach their children the proper use of them. I. The God of nature bath given them eyes. Let their parents teach them to use these eyes aright. 'Would it be amiss in me here to give a hint or two of this kind ? May not children be warned against a staring look, against stretchino. their eye- lids into a glare of wildness ? May they not he forbid to look aside on any object in a squinting manner, when their faces are turned another way ? Should they not be instructed to look direct- ly with their face turned to the thing they look at ? May they not be taught with due courage to look in the face of the person they speak to, yet witW an humble modest aspect, as befits a child ? A becoming courage and a becoming modesty dweìl much in the eye. Some children should be often admonished to lay aside a gloomy and a frowning look, a scowling air, and uneasy and forbidding as ect. They should be taught to smooth the ruffles of their br5w, and put on a lively, pleasing, and cheerful countenance among their friends : some there are who have all these graces by nature, but those who have then' not may be corrected and softened by the care of parents in younger years *. a It may bere be recollected by the way, that a gloominess of aspect does not always arise from a malignity of temper, but sometimes f. um fear of displeasing and incurring reproof, and is therefore often to be removed by speaking kindly to children, andeacouraging them with expresatous of candour
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