SECTION X. i73 per for the improvement of young people in good- breeding and politeness. They must be brought into company, to see the world, and to learn how to behave with becoming decency. Well, suppose these assemblies to be accademies of politeness, and that young people attend there upon lectures of good breed- ing ; Is there no other time so fit as midnight, to polish the youth of both sexes, and to breed them well ? May not an hour or two be appointed, at more proper seasons, by select companies, for mutual conversation and innocent delight ? Can- there be no genteel recreations enjoyed,, no lessons of behaviour taught by day -light ? Can no method of improvement in good- breed- ing be contrived and appointed, which shall be more secure from temptations and inconveniences? Are there none which are more harmless, more innocent, of better reputation among persons of strict piety, and which make less inroads on the duties of life, both solitary and social, civil anfl religious? Shall I enquire once more, what is done at many of those midnight assemblies, before the dance is begun, or when it is ended, and what is the entertainment of those who are not enga- ged in dancing ? Are they not active in gaming ? Are not cards the business of the hour ? Are not children educated by this means, in the love of gaming ? And do they not hereby get such a relish of it, as proves afterwards pernicious to them ? Now if gaming be not a practice fit to be encouraged, what encourage- ment do those assemblies deserve, where gaming is one of the chief diversions or business ? But it is time to put an end to this sort of discourse. I beg pardon of my readers for having drawn it out to so great a length ; for I have said too much minds sub- ject, for those who have no inclination to these criminal and dan- gerous diversions ; and I wish I may have said. enough to do good to those who have. Upon the whole, I conclude, it is the duty of parents who would give their children a good eduCation, to see to it that'chii- dren, in their years, do not indulge such recreations as may spoil all the good effects of pious instructions, the prayers, and care of their parents. Otherwise, if you encourage them in such reere> ations, you are building up those vanities of mind, and those vicious inclinations with one hand, which' you labour to prevent or to destroy with the other. SECT. X. -Of the proper Degrees of Liberty and Restraint in the Education of a Son, illustrated by Example. SO weak and unhappy is human nature, that it is, ever ready to run into extremes ; and when we would recover our- selves from an excess on the right -hand, we know not where to stop till we are got to an excess on the left. Instances of this kind are innumerable in all the affairs of human life ; but it
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