CHAPTER IV.

ON SOME MISTAKES IN EDUCATION, AND THE
CORRECTION OF THEM.

"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

THAT a great proportion of the ill conduct which destroys the peace of families originates in mistakes in education, there can be little doubt; it may not, therefore, be amiss, before we proceed upon other subjects, to point out a few of them; for to enumerate the whole would occupy too large a portion of these pages.

Not to direct our first assault against that principle of selfishness to which in many families such costly sacrifices are made, would be like lopping the branches of a noxious tree,

and leaving the root in the ground; some parents do not discern, that in proportion as this principle is cherished, they are producing consequences directly opposite to their de signs. It has never occurred to them with any salutary conviction (although their own. experience might have enforced the lesson), that the majority of mankind has adopted each for himself this identical idol,-dearer, more interesting to the individual, than was

great Diana of the Ephesians" to her worshippers.-Ah! no wonder then there are such clamours without doors and within!"

No wonder if the voice of any one in particular, however vociferous, be lost in the general din, "great is myself;" "to my honour, my pleasure, my caprice, shall be sacrificed the feelings and the interests of all around me!"Until, however, this domineering principle is subdued, the human character cannot be contemplated with complacency; nor till we are brought to comply with the divine precepts of the Gospel, which direct us to esteem others above ourselves, can we experience true peace of mind and inward tranquillity. How would such holy principles, early im

planted in the young mind, sap the foundation of all those moral evils which torment and harrass mankind! To which of them would they not prove destructive, an appropriate, an efficient cure?

With what an egregious mistake are those parents chargeable, who foster in their children the spirit of party, of bigotry, and of intolerance! Their notions, their party, their sect (as if the world and their own depraved nature did not furnish them with materials enough) must be put in requisition to complete the character, and stamp it altogether unamiable. How disgusting to hear a little bigot, or party-man, prating about who he is for, and who he is against; although he knows not why, or wherefore! Yet this intolerant spirit has sometimes found its way into public seminaries, and occasioned the most disgraceful divisions. Is this the method parents take to promote their children's happiness, or the public weal? Do they forget that God is love, and that his express command is, that we love one another? It is not from such discordant materials as these that the true citizen, the true patriot, and what is still more, the true

Christian, can be formed. He is actuated by principles of universal philanthropy: the divine precepts of the Gospel, which are the rule of his conduct, are in direct opposition to such a temper. "Not," as Dr. Watts observes, "that it is at all amiss in parents to train up their children in their own forms of worship, at least so far as any of their peculiar opinions enter into their forms of public religion." It is hardly possible to avoid this, for religion cannot be practised but it must be in some particular mode; therefore children must be educated in some forms, and opinions, 'and modes of worship; and it is the duty of parents to educate them in those ways which they think nearest the truth, and most pleasing to God. But all that I mean here is this, that as I would not have these particulars of different sects to enter into the public practice of religion further than is needful; so it should be far the greatest care and solicitude of parents to teach their children christianity itself, rather than the particular and distinguishing tenets of sects and parties.

But the errors of this unthinking class of parents are innumerable; when they have by

erroneous principles planted, or by neglect suffered, and by every species of pampering and indulgence firmly rooted and nourished the selfish principle in their children during infancy and childhood, it is no uncommon case when (as a natural consequence) they begin themselves to reap the bitter fruits of it, for them to attempt to rectify one mistake by another equally mischievous, by substituting ill-timed severity for excessive indulgence. We have sometimes observed with grief how the fawning tones of these injudicious parents have in a few years degenerated into the harsh sounds of perpetual chiding, or unreasonable peevishness. Is it a wonder if the unhappy subjects of such unprincipled discipline should pursue any road but the right, when they have no skilful hand to guide them into it, but are driven about at random, just according to the impulse of the present moment?

Parents are frequently disposed to magnify the natural sagacity and acuteness of their children; they are forward to discover indications of superior genius or talent in them: their wonderful remarks and achievements