534 ON THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH. the stars and skies that surround them on all sides. It is almost necessary for young persons (who pretend to anything of instruc- tion and schooling above the lowest rank of people) to get a little acquaintance with the several parts of the land and the sea, that they may know in what quarter of the world the chief cities and countries are situated ; that at the mention of the word Copenhagen, they may not grossly blunder and expose them- selves, (as a certain gentleman once did) by supposing it to be the name of a Dutch commander. Without this knowledge we cannot read any history with profit, nor so much as understand the common news - papers. It is necessary also to know something of the heavenly bo- dies, and their various motions and periods of revolution, that we may understand the accounts of time in past ages, and the histories of ancient nations, as well as know the reasons of day and night, summer and winter, and the various appearances and places of the moon and other planets. Then we shall not be terrified at every eclipse, or presage, and foretel public de- solations at the sight of a comet, we shall see the sun covered with darkness, and the full moon deprived of her light, without foreboding imaginations that the government is in danger, or that the world is come to an end. This will not only increase rational knowledge, and guard us against foolish and ridiculous fears, but it will amuse the mind most agreeably : and it has a most happy tendency to raise in our thoughts the noblest and most magnifi- cent ideas of God by the survey of his works, in their surprising grandeur and divine artifice. 3. Natural philosophy, at least in the more general prin- tiples and foundations of it, should be infused into the minds of youth. This is a very bright ornament of our rational na- tures, which are inclined to be inquisitive into the causes and reasons of things. A course of philosophical experiments, is now frequently attended by the ladies as well as gentlemen, with no small pleasure and improvement. God and religion may be better known, and clearer ideas may be obtained of the amazing wisdom of our Creator, and of the glories of the life to come, as well as of the things of this life, by the rational learning and the knowledge of nature that is now so much in vogue. If I were to recommend a book or two on this subject, which may usefully be read by the ladies as well as gentlemen, I know none better than Mr. Ray's Wisdom of God in the Creation,Dr. Derham's Discourses on the same subject, the Archbishop of Cambray's Treatise on the Existence of God, at least to the fiftieth section, Nieunenteit's Religious Philosopher, and Dr. Mather's Christian Philosopher. These things will enlarge and refine the understanding, improve the judgment, and bring the fa- culty of reasoning into a juster exercise, even upon all manner of subjects.
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