SECTION IX. 561 soul of children in the happiest temper : and learning is more closely pursued, and work better done after some agreeable re- laxations. The young creatures apply themselves to their busi- ness with new vigour, after the enjoyment of sortie pleasurable release. I confess it would be a considerable advantage, if the vari- ous parts of learning and business in which children are em- ployed, were so happily contrived, that one might be as it were a relaxation or diversion, when the mind is tired with the other : And if the children have a taste and relish of reading and im- provement of the mind, there is a rich variety of entertainment to be found in books of poetry, history, accounts of the wonders of art and nature, as well as ingenious practices in mechanical and mathematical affairs. It is happiest indeed, where this relish is the gift of nature ; yet children may be trained up by wise and alluring methods, to delight in knowledge, and to choose such sort of recreations, especially in winter nights and rainy seasons, 'when they cannot enjoy the more active. diversions abroad. Yet besides these, some other sorts of sports will generally be found necessary for children of almost all dispositions. And their sports ought to be such as are in mine measure chosen by themselves, that they may be matter of delight, yet still under the regulation of the eye and prudence of a parent. No sort of play should be permitted, wherein sacred things be- come a matter of jest or merriment. No sport should be in- dulged wherein foul language, ill names or scandal are prac- used; wherein there is any violation of modesty, or of the rules of decency and cleanliness ; nothing must be suffered wherein there is any breach of the moral precepts of the law of God ; wherein cozening or cheating, falsehood or lying, are practised or allowed. They should be confined to honesty, justice, truth and goodness, even in their very play. They should not be per- mitted to use such sporting as may tend to discompose their spi, rits, disorder their nature, injure their flesh, prejudice their health, break their limbs, or do mischief to themselves, or each other. This should rather be the play of dogs or horses than of children. Nor should they ever be allowed to practise those' diversions that carry an idea of barbarity and crueity in them, though it be to brute creatures. They should not set up cocks to be banged with cudgels thrown at them about Shrove -tide; nor delight in giving a tedious lingering death to a young litter of dogs or cats, that may be appointed to be destroyed and drowned, lest they multiply too much in a house : nor should they take pleasure in pricking, cutting or mangling young birds which they have caught, nor using any savage and bloody practices towards any creatures whatsoever ; lest their hearts grow hard and unrelent- VOL. vii. N x
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