582 ON TN! t>bt'CATION 6t YOUTN. ing, and they learn in time to practise these cruelties on their Own kind, and to murder and torture their fellow - mortals ; or at least to be indifferent tò their pain and distress, so as to occasion it without remorse. They should never be suffered to game for money, nor even for their own toys or play - things if they are costly and expensive : many sore inconveniences in riper years, arise from auch indul- gencies. And indeed no recreations should be accounted lawful, but those in which they can with courage recommend themselves to God, and desire his blessing upon them. Those children who are kept pretty close to learning in a school, should be directed to pursue their recreations, as much as may be, in the open air ; and to exercise their limbs with vigour and activity, that their growth and health may not be impaired by study, and too much confinement to a book. But in very foul weather, or in long winter evenings (as I hinted before) they may be taught to seek such diversions, as may at once refresh and improve their minds. For want of this, in some families the games of draughts and chess are practised, and some other little sports upon a chess- board, without any stakes or aim at gain, beyond the mere plea - sure of victory. In other houses, cards and dice are introduced, for want of better recreations. The former of these, namely, draughts and chess, are innocent enough, and may wear off a heavy hour, when the mind or body are unfit for business : the latter have had the general censure of our wise and pious fathers, and there have been most unhappy effects attending them : and indeed, these games are seldom used without depositing too mach money as the stake ; and this tends to engage the passions with greater vehemence than the nature of a recreation can re- quire, or should admit. But I leave it to those who are more skilful in casuistic divinity, to prove them absolutely unlawful in the very nature of the game. However that be; I have often earnestly wished, that in- stead of all these games, there were some more profitable sports invented for a long evening, for a dull hour, or a rainy season : and I am well assured, that if some ingenious mind, which is well skilled in mathematical learning and in games, would but take pains to contrive some such diversions, there might be a much better account given of the hours of leisure and remission of business by persons of both sexes, and of all ages, than can be at present, for want of such useful and improving recreations. What if cards and dice should be proved. to be ever so law- ful in themselves, yet there might be various inventions, of much more advantage to knowledge and virtue, placed in the room of them. May not some little tablets of pasteboard be made in imi-
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