CHAPTER: If 177 Reason being that faculty of the mind which he has to deal with in his pupil, let him endeavour by all proper and familiar methods to call it into exercise, and to enlarge the powers of it. He should take frequent opportunities to shew them an idea is clear or confused, when the proposition is evident or doubtful, and when an argument is feeble or strong. And by this mean the mind will be so formed, that whatsoever he proposes with evidence and strengthof reason, they will readily receive. When any uncommon appearances arise in the natural, moral, or political world, he should invite and instruct them to make their remarks on it, and give them the best reflections of his own, for the improvement of their minds. He should by all means make it appear that he loves his pupils, and that he seeks nothing so much as their increase of knowledge, and their growth in all valuable acquirements; this will engage their affection to his person, and procure a just at- tention to his lectures. And indeed there is but little hope, that a teacher should obtain any success in his instructions, unless those that hear hits, have some good degree of esteem and respect for his person and character. And here I cannot but take notice by the way, that it is a matter of infinite and unspeakable injury to the people ofany town or parish, where the minister lies under contempt. If he has procured it by his own conduct, he is doubly criminal, becauseof the injury be does to the souls of them that hear him : but if this contempt and reproach be cast upon him by the wicked, malicious and unjust censures of men, they must bear all the ill consequen- ces of receiving no good by his labours, and will be accounta- ble hereafter to the great and divineJudge of all. It would be very necessary to add in this place, if tutors were not well ap- prized ofit before, that since learners are obliged to seek a divine blessingon their studies,, by fervent prayer to the God of all wis- dom, their tutors should go before them in this pious practice, and make daily addresses to heaven for the success of their instructions. CHAP. II. Of an instructive Style. THE most necessary, and the most useful character of a style fit for instruction is, that it be plain, perspicuous and easy. And here I shall first point out all those errors in style, which diminish or destroy the perspicuity of it, and then mention a few directions how to obtain a perspicuous and easy style. The errors of a style which must be avoided by teachers, are these that follow : I. The useof manyforeign words, which are not naturalized VOL. V1/I. M
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