as ON THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH. accidents of húman life : add to this, a pleasing solemnity and reverence when the discourse turns upon any thing sacred and divine, a becoming neglect of injuries, a hatred of calumny and slander, a habit of speaking well of others, a pleasing benevo- knee and readiness to do good to mankind, and special compas. sion to the miserable; with an air and countenance, in a natural and unaffected manner, expressive of all these excellent qualifi- cations. Some of these, I own, are to be numbered among the du- ties and virtues, rather than among the ornaments of mankind : but they must be confessed to be ornaments as well as virtues. They are graces in the eye of man as well as of God. These will bespeak the affection of all that know us, and engage even au ill natured world betimes in our favour. These will enable the youth of both sexes, who are so happy to attain them, to enter upon the stage of life with approbation and love, to pass through the world with ease, (as far as ease may be expected in so degenerate and unhappy a state of things) to finish the scenes of action on earth with applause, and to leave behind them the monument of a good name, when their bodies sleep in the dust, and their souls dwell with God. SECT. VIII. -Á Guard against evil Influences from Persons and Things. IT belongs also to a good education, that children be guarded and secured (as fat as possible) from all evil influences and unhappy impressions, which they may be exposed to receive both from persons and things. I shall sufficiently explain this direction by particular instances. Let not nurses or servants be suffered to fill their minds with silly tales and with senseless rhymes, many of which are so ab- surd and ridiculous, that they will not bear to be represented in a grave discourse. The imagination of young creatures is hereby flattered and deceived : their reason is grossly abused and im- posed upon ; and by this means they are trained up to be amused with follies and nonsense, rather than to exercise their under- standing, which is the glory of human nature. Let not any persons that are near them terrify their tender minds with dismal stories of witches and ghosts, of devils and evil spirits, of fairies and bugbears in the dark. This bath had a most mischievous effect on some children, and hath fixed in their constitutions such a rooted slavery and fear, that they have scarcely dared to be left alone all their lives, especially in the night. These stories have made such a deep and frightful im- pression on their tender fancies, that it halb enervated their souls, it bath broken their spirits early, it bath grown up with them, and mingled with their religion, it bath laid a wretched founds for melancholy and distracting sorrows. Let these
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=