SECTION III. 543 to whom God and nature bath committed the care of their instruc- tion, and who have a just and natural authority over them. But, of this and some other subjects a-kin to it, I may have occasion to speak more in the following parts of this discourse, when I professedly treat on the article of restraint. Thus I have shown how the appetites and inclinations of children should be put under discipline, and how they may be taught self-government in this respect. 4. The passions or affections are the last things which I shall mention ; these appear very early in children to want a re- gulation and government. They love and hate too rashly, and with too much vehemence ; they griete and rejoice too violently' and on the sudden, and that for mere trifles ; their hopes and fears, their desires and their aversions are presently raised to too high a pitch, and upon very slight and insufficient grounds. It becomes a wise parent to watch over these young emotions of their souls, and put in a word of prudent caution, as often as they observe these irregularities. Let children be taught early, that the little things for which. they are so zealous, for which they grieve or rejoice so impetu- ously, are not worthy of these affections of their souls; slew them the folly of being so fond of these trifles, and of vexing and growing fretful for the loss of them. Inform them what a happiness it is to have few desires and few aversions, for this will preserve them from a multitude of sorrows, and keep their, temper always serene and calm : persuade them never to raise their hopes very high of things in this world, and then they will never meet with great disappointments. 'reach them mo- deration in all these workings of their spirits; and inform them, that their passions should never be laid out thus on objects which do not deserve them, nor rise higher than the occasion requires. 'reach bashful and timorous children, that they need be ashamed of nothing but what. is evil; that they should fear God in the first place, and serve him, and then they need not' be afraid of men, or of any thing that threatens mischief to them ; for the Almighty God will be their friend and defence. Engage their fear and their love in the first place on God, the most pro- per and supreme object of them ; let their hope, their joys and their sorrows as soon as possible, be tinctured with religion : set their young affections at work on the most needful and important objects of them in early life, and this will have a sweet and powerful influence on the better regulation of them with regard to all sensible things. Above all, let them know that they must govern their anger, and let it not break out on every slight occasion. It is anger that is eminently called passion among children, and in the Ian-
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