ticularly under the next head. In the mean while it must be observed, that human nature is in the generalalike in all, and that the propenfities and paffions of mankind are each of them vitiated and depraved. But then it is as certain, that one paffion ufually predominates; and it is this that marks the characters of men, and diftinguishes them from one another in the public walk of life. Hence we fay of one that he'is proud, and of another that he is humble, that is, they are comparatively fo, humility in the former inftance, and pride in the latter, not being the predominant paffion. In like manner we fay of one that he is hot and paffionate, and of another that he is meek and gentle of one that he is obftinate and tenacious, and of another that he is foft and flexible: of one that he is referved and gloomy, and of another that he is frank and open. In fine, of this perfon, that he is covetous and felfish, and of that that he is liberal and benevolent.

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Now, as the feeds of all these paffions are in children, and as it is true of them, as well as of grown perfons, that one prevails more than the reft, and fo forms a diverfity of character among them as this, I fay, is the cafe, it is the duty of parents to ufe their endeavours to find out what is the predominant paffion. And indeed this may be done, in moft cafes, without much difficulty. But a few years will pafs over their heads, before we fhall difcover what vice they are most Now to that vicious temper our attention, prone to. reproofs, counfels, and reftraints fhould be chiefly directed. With this object in our eye, we fhall be better enabled to guide the whole tenor of our conduct towards them. This will meet our fevere reprehend fion, when perhaps we shall judge it prudent to overlook fome other inadvertencies, or fallies of ill-tem

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er and every appearance of refiftance on their part to this predominant paffion, will meet our warm approbation and praife. In fhort, this clear difcernment of their particular difpofition, will have a material and happy effect upon a prodigious variety of particulars in our treatment of them, too numerous, to be here recited. Study then well, parents, your childrens natural tempers. This leads us to the fecond head of advice,

II. It should be the care of parents to infiil virtuous principles into their children.

By virtuous principles I mean fuch practical notions, or maxims of conduct, refpecting truth, juftice, temperance, modefty, benevolence, and the like, as are acknowledged on all hands to be of the greatest importance to the well being of fociety. Now the queftion to be difcuffed here is, how thefe notions or maxims are to be inftilled into children?

In general the measures we take with them to this end, fhould be adapted to their age, capacities, and particular turn of mind. We fhould begin with their perceptions, not too haftily reafoning with them before they are capable of laying propofitions together, and inferring from them. Plain fimple ideas fhould in the first inftance be held up to their view, fo they will quickly come to know what we mean by ill-humour and good-nature, falfehood and truth, pride and humility, cowardice and courage, impudence and modeity, and the lik and our opinion refpecting these they will quickly perceive, by our countenance and manner, as well as language, When reafon begins to expand, the true grounds of thefe virtues and oppofite vices fhould be explained to them, the real excellence and

e of the former, and the wretched deformity and evil of the latter; the notice God takes of these matters, and his difpleasure at the one, and approbation of the other. And there are a thoufand ways of im. preffing thefe ideas on their minds, fuch as by fional hints, ftories contrived to amufe their fancy and Atrike their paffions, the harmony of poetic numbers, and particularly the hiftorical relations of the Bible. Here give me leave to recommend two leffons of great importance to be inculcated on young people, namely, felf.command and punctuality to engagements.

But inftructions will be of little ufe unless reduced to practice. A ftrict attention therefore is to be paid to their words and actions. Every conformity, and every aim to conform to what is right, fhould be rewarded. And every departure from what is right, if wilful and obftinate, fhould be punished. Great prudence, however, is neceffary to regulate this bufinefs of rewards and punishments, in regard of the kinds, degrees, and feafons of them. An open, ingenuous, manly temper fhould be cherished as much as poffible, and rewards and punishments accommodated to it. Corporal penalties and indulgences may on fome particular occafions be neceffary, but if they exceed, are ill-timed,

* Xenophon tells us "the Perfian children went to school, and spent their time in learning the principles of justice, as "children in other countries do to gain the knowledge of letters. "Their governors devoted the greateft part of the day to the deciding caufes among them, respecting theft, violence, and deceit; punifling those whom they found guilty in any of these matters, or who were convicted of unjust accufation. Ingra"titute too they punished; a crime, which, though the principal "occafion of animofity, is little taken notice of among men." Xenoph. Cyro-pæd. lib. I.

Ell-timed, and too often repeated, they will produce a contrary effect to what is intended; they will harden, not meliorate. "Ye fathers," fays the apoftle to the Ephefians, "provoke not your children to "wrath *." Be not severe, over-bearing, and ty rannical in your behaviour towards your children, left you roule their angry paffions, and excite in them. fuch refentments against you as may occafion indecent expreffions, and prejudice them againft the religion you profefs. But, on the contrary, be mild and genile in your treatment of them, and never have recourfe to rigorous measures, until the neceffity of the cafe require it. And even then, let your paffions firft subfide, before you proceed to the painful business of chaftifing them.'

Great care alfo fhould be taken as to the company they keep, and the masters and tutors to whom their education is intrufted. To forbid their forming con nections with perfons of their own age, would be unnatural. But as bad habits are infenfibly contracted by an intimacy with ill-bred and diforderly children, and the reverfe is the cafe by frequent intercourfes with thofe of good principles and manners; the former should be ftudiously avoided, and the latter industriously fought. The good character too of fervants, with whom children muft of neceffity frequently converfe, is of great importance to their morals. David's refolution, not toffuffer a liar or a deceitful perfon to dwell under his roof, was as prudent as it was pious. But this object, in regard of mafters and tutors, is of effential confequence. Their profeffional qualifications, be they ever fo confiderable, will by no means balance

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balance the account against any defect here. How can that parent be fuppofed to have his childrens interest at heart, who, with his eyes open, commits them to the care of those who are void of all principle and decency?

The kind of books, likewife, which children are permitted to read for their amusement, is a fubject de* ferving our notice. The wretched trash of plays, novels, and romances with which the world is overrun, hath done infinite mischief to the morals of young people. It hath corrupted the principles, enflamed the imagination, and vitiated the tafte of thoufands. With books of this fort a prudent parent will not fuffer the closets of his children to be difgraced. Nor yet, under the pretence of taking care of their morals, will he interdict the innocent pleafures of imagination. In the well felected writings of poets, hiftorians, and natural philofophers, he will find a fund of entertainment for their leifure hours: and to the acquaintance of thefe friends of taste and cheerfulness, as well as of intellectual and moral improvement, he will gladly introduce them.

I have only one thing more to recommend to parents under this head, and that is, the exhibiting to their children, in their own temper and conduct, a fair and bright portrait of those virtues to which by their inftructions they endeavour to attract their attention. The duties of morality, when beheld by the youthful eye through the pleafing mirrour of their example, whom natural affection hath taught them to revere and love, will be apt to make a deep impreffion on the heart. And thofe must be very depraved children indeed, who whilt they carry their parents image in their countenances, can take pains to per

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