Minds as cannot yet difcern the just Limits. of Good and Evil in many Cafes, and confequently are apt to follow one or the other, just as they are led by those that go before them. He therefore that undertakes to be their Guide, muft take great Heed to his Ways, that he may not be a blind Leader of the Blind, Matt. xv. 14. and muft make it the Business of his Life, to fhew himself in all Things a Pattern of thofe good Works, Tit. ii. 7. which he is obliged to recommend to others.

Some Vir

tue's more

especially neceffary to this Office.

"But there are fome Virtues which are yet more peculiarly fuitable to the Office of a School-mafter, and which are indeed very proper and neceffary Qualifications for it. So that every one that is engaged in this Station, must endeavour thoroughly to poffefs his Mind with them; fince he is like to have frequent occafion for the Exercife of them in the Course of his Employment. These are,

1. Patience and Humility: That he may condefcend to the meaneft Capacity, and endure to repeat them as often as occafion thall require. For Precept must be upon Precept, Line upon Line; bere a little, and there a

littles

little; according as the Age and Understanding of Children will admit, Ifa. xxviii. 10.

2. Sagacity and Judgment: That he may difcern the particular Difpofition and Temper of these he is to teach, and may fuit his Inftructions and Admonitions accordingly, that fo by striking in with Nature, and conducting it in the Way it will most easily go, he may steer and govern them in the sweetest and most agreeable Manner..

3. Juftice and Equity: That he may be exactly impartial in the Diftribution of Rewards and Punishments; which will render both the more effectual..

4. Meekness and Forbearance: That he may always keep his Paffions within their due Bounds, may by this Means proportion his Refentment to the Nature of every Offence; paffing by little Errors, if not with Connivance, yet at moft, with a mild and gentle Reprehenfion; and not punishing thofe that are greater, beyond the Limits of Moderation..

5. Candour and Sweetness of Difpofition: That he may gain the Affections, and consequently the Attention of those he teaches

B. 6

It being almost as natural for every one to learn from those he loves, as it is to learn what he loves.'

6. Diligence and Application: That he may clofely and conftantly attend the feveral Duties that are annexed to this useful and honourable Employment. And above all,

7. A pious and devout Frame of Spirit: Which is the only Means to procure the Divine Bleffing upon all his Labours, and to direct them to thofe great Ends for which he is fo employed, the Glory of God, and the Benefit and Improvement of those precious Souls committed to his Charge.

It may not be improper to add in this Place one negative Qualification with refpect to his Morals, which is very necessary to every School-Mafler, efpecially to one that is entrusted with the Education of poor Children: viz.

That he fhould be free from CovePerquifites difallowed. toufness, or the Defire of receiving any By-Profits or Perquifites over and above those which are appointed or allowed by the Orders of the Foundation: Left he fhould be tempted hereby to Partiality, and corrupt Dealing in his Office. For which

Reason

Reason it is very wifely ordered in the Conftitutions for the Government of CharitySchools, which were lately published in the printed Account of them: That the Mafter fhall not receive any Money or Gift of the Children's Friends at their Entrance, or Breaking-up, or upon any other Pretence whatsoever; thefe Schools being only defigned for the Education of fuch poor Children, whofe Parents or Friends are not able to give them Learning.

Of

of his

Learning.

I proceed now to a fourth general Qualification of our SchoolMafter; viz. Learning, or a competent Knowledge of fuch Things as he is required to teach. Thefe are of a different Nature, according to the different Confti-, tutions of the feveral Schools that have been established for the Inftruction of Youth, and to the Ends for which they are inftructed. And here it may be feafonable to declare once for all, That this Treatife is not directed to the Masters of fuch Schools, where greater and higher Attainments (fuch as Skill in the learned Languages, in Poetry, Oratory, &c.) are requifite to fit and prepare their Scholars, firft, for the Education of the Univerfi

ties, and afterwards for the Service of the Church or State, in more eminent Profeffions and Employments, (it being prefumed that the Directions here given will be fuperfluous to fuch learned Perfons as generally fill thofe Places) but chiefly and immediately to thofe Teachers of a lower Clafs, and confequently of lower Talents, who are employed to inftruct poor Children in fuch Things only, as are most neceffary and fuitable to their Condition, according to the Methods which are now ufed in the feveral Charity Schools erected for that end. And therefore it may be fufficient for our prefent Purpose, to obferve, That by the Orders. Lately published for the Management of thefe Schools (which fhall be fet down hereafter in their proper Place) it is required, That the Mafter to be elected into any of them, fhall be one who understands well the Grounds and Principles of the Chriftian Religion, and likewife one who can write a good Hand, and who understands the Grounds of Arithmetic, and that he fhould be one who has a good Genius for teach ing. In order to the further Improvement