SECTION FIRST. NATIONAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION THE IMPERATIVE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN GOVERNMENT. "Doctrina sed vim promovet insitam, HORACE, Od. 4. lib. 4. The value of National Education-Example of Lycurgus-Duty of Government as guardians of the people-This duty implied in the Scripture precepts to Parents-Christianity the best way to make men good subjects-Practical influence of true Religion-Answer to the enquiry, "Where are the results of Religious Education ?". Partial failure admitted-Causes adduced-Deficiency in Evangelical quality-Insufficiency in quantity-Enthusiasm to expect the end without the use of means-Need of Prayer and Faith in this work-Other hindrances considered-Spread of false doctrines-How far they ought to be suppressed-Growth of immoral practices— Expediency shewn to be of an infidel character, when applied to defend the allowance of immorality-The National guilt thus incurred by tolerating vice-its demoralizing tendency-Example of FranceInconsistency of our Governors—evil arising from it-Case of the profanation of the Sabbath adduced as an example-Injustice of refusing protection to the labourer in the enjoyment of his Sabbath-Fallacy of argument that it is unjust to deprive the poor of their amusements-No man a loser by Sabbath observance-Awful consequences of Sabbath-breaking on the public morals-Further reply to the question respecting the benefits resulting from National Religious Education-too much not to be looked for at once-Experience of B National School Society-London Hibernian Society-Bad effect of Education, not Scriptural, in Ireland-Scotland an example of the benefits of Education-The Highlands prove the evil of neglecting to adapt it to the wants of the people-Glasgow and the large towns in Scotland prove the same-Need of extension of the National schemes of Public Instruction so as to meet the growth of the Population-Benefits of Religious Instruction forcibly shewn by the experience of Missions-The benefits arising from Sunday SchoolsInfant ditto-Reformation must begin with the young-Other objections answered-Fallacy of Free-trade system-Its inapplicability to the poor and depraved- The value of voluntary efforts, although proved to be insufficient-Need of aggressive measures-Power of example-Influence of Christian ditto-Christians called upon to exert themselves, to unite together, and use their influence with the Public-Call to persevering Prayer for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, and a general revival of Religion. In all well-organized States the education of youth has been a matter of public concern. The wise Lycurgus foresaw the advantages that would arise to his nation, if the youth of Sparta were trained up to habits of selfdenial, fortitude, and temperance, from their earliest years; and hence arose that noble and illustrious race of heroes, which was the wonder of the world. The reasons of his deep-laid and well-digested plan are obvious, and require little study to unfold; but they are well deserving our most serious consideration. The lesson which he taught should never be forgotten, namely, that to form a great national character, we must begin with the young, and lay the foundations of a wise and well-matured institution for the instruction of the rising generation. They are the nation's hope-the bud of her promise-the flower of her glory; and rich will be the fruits reaped by posterity from off that tree, on which a prudent and skilful husbandman has bestowed the culture of timely discipline and care. It is now the time to bend the mind to virtuous habits, before the character has been warped by injurious associations, and corrupted by immoral practices: now, while the heart is tender, the affections warm, and the feelings strong; and when a small bias, one way or another, may produce the most important consequences, for "as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined." The youthful character is like plastic clay, which may be moulded at will, and readily takes any form which may be impressed upon it; but leave it to itself, and it will soon harden, and then resist every effort made to subdue it, so that it may be broken in pieces, without the impression being destroyed. From these considerations it will be evident, that the education of youth is a most important part of the duty of those who preside over the government of a country: possessing, as they do, a parental authority, they ought to exercise a paternal care towards those who are their subjects. But youth is their especial charge, requiring a peculiar attention, and whose weak and inexperienced state, calls for restraint and protection from dangers incident to their condition, as well as instruction in those qualifications which may constitute them useful members. of society, the strength and glory of their land. Nature herself, in the irrational animals, instinctively teaches this prudential course. Does not the parent bird stretch out her wings to shield her young ones, and gather her chickens under her feathers, to screen them from the cold air, and protect them from the approach of danger? Mark, how the "eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings," Deuteronomy xxxii. 11; she does not leave them to themselves, or to chance, to exert their own innate faculties as they feel them stirring within their half-fledged bosoms: no, she aids their expanding powers, "teaches the young idea how to shoot," encourages the putting forth of every nascent energy, and like a careful schoolmaster, practises her little pupils in easy flights, till by degrees they wax bolder and bolder, and at length launching forth from the edge of their dizzy crag or eyry on high, soar upward in the eye of day, and skim the blue expanse of profound immensity, in their ærial flight, fearless and unrestrained. Christianity, as might justly be expected, fosters these natural feelings, and confirms the above reasoning, which is founded, as will be seen, not on Revelation, but the voice of Conscience. Religion, indeed, takes for granted the truth of such deductions as mankind may readily make from the light of Nature alone, and the observation of the works of Providence, which are in fact a copy of the will of God. Thus we do not find any new or express regulations in the Bible, and more particularly in the Christian system of the New Testament, for the management of youth, nor any particular injunctions laid upon the State to provide for the exigencies of its subjects in this or other respects. The Scriptures look upon mankind as one large family, possessing a kindred nature, and bound together by ties of consanguinity and natural affection; but also subdivided into various sections, each having its own internal organization and relationships, and each arranged according to a certain order, and subordination of one part to another, so as to prevent confusion, to ensure, as far as possible, the right administration of all the various functions of the body politic, and to provide for the wants of every member of the family of man. Following out this view of the subject, it will be found that a certain analogy or proportion subsists among all the sub-divisions of society, whether we consider the larger classes-Empires-Kingdoms-Magistracies, or the smaller ramifications of Tribes and Families, by virtue of which a certain correspondence is observable between their several parts, which bear a certain fixed relation to one another, throughout the various sections of the human race. Thus taking for example a Kingdom and a Family; the head of the former, a King, has the same relation to his subjects as the head of the latter, a Father, has to his children. In consequence of this beautiful harmony of the social system, an important advantage is attained in simplifying any inquiry into the nature and constitution of society, and in ascertaining the rules of its government; for whatever has once been proved to be true respecting any particular rank in the social system, as for instance, in the regulation of a private family, will be equally true, and the reasoning on which it is founded will, by the above analogy, hold equally good for any other rank in the system, as for instance, in the government of a State; as long as the conditions of the |