470 ON THE EbHcATTON Or YOtTiT. the age of a man, nor daughters till they were married ; now both sexes take an unbounded licence of roving where they please and from a dozen years old, they forgot to ask leave to wander or to visit where their fancies lead them ; at first the parentgives a loose and winks at it, and then the child claims it as his clue for ever. In short, the last age taught mankind to believe that they were mere children, and treated them as such, till they were near thirty years old ; but the present gives them leave to fancy themselves complete then and women at twelve or fift,ea ; and they accordingly judge and manage for themselves entirely, and too often despise all advice of their elders. New, though it be sufficiently evident that both these are extremes of liberty or restraint, yet if we judge by the reason of things, or by experience and success, surely the ancient edu- cation is to be preferred before the present, and of the two should rather be chösen. If we would determine this by reason, it is easy to see that a father of fifty or sixty years old, is fitter to judge for his son at four and twenty; in many matters of import- mice, than a bey of fifteen is to judge for himself. Or, if we would decide the matter by experience, it is plain enough that the posterity of the former generation (who are the fathers and the grandfathers of the present) had more of serions religion and true virtue amongst them, than there is any hope or prospect of among the greatest part of their children and grand children. And if I would use a bold metaphor, I might venture to say with truth, the last century has brought forth more solid fruits of goodness, than the present can yet show in blossoms ; and tut my opinion, this is much owing tó the neglect of the pru- ning-knife. But after all, is there no medium between these two ex- tremes, excess of confinement, and excess of liberty ? May not young understandings be allowed to shoot and spread themselves a little, without growing rank and rampant ? May not children be kept in a due and gentle subjection to their parents, without put- ting yokes of bondage on them ? Is there no reasonable restraint of the wild opinions and violent inclinations of youth, without making chains for the understanding, and throwing fetters on the soul ? May not the young gentleman begin to act like a man, without forgetting that he is a son ? And maintain the full liberty of his own judgment without insolence and contempt of the opi- nions of his elders ? May not he who is bred up a Protestant and a Christian, judge freely for himself, without the prejudices of his education, and yet continue a Christian and a Protestant still ? Is it not possible for the parent to indulge and the child to enjoy a just, liberty, and yet neither encourage nor practise a wild licentiousness ? .. Yes, surely.; and there have been happy instances its the
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