Only the patient, the refolute, the intrepid, are capable of overcoming the difficulties that are occafionally met with on the path of duty and rectitude, of effectually stemming the torrent of prevailing depravity, and of preferving their innocence as well as their inward ferenity in all the viciffitudes and temptations of outward fortune. To thefe virtues however we must be early trained; we must learn first to practise them in trivial matters, if we would do fo afterwards in riper years and more important emergencies. Therefore content not yourselves with recommending these manly, these noble virtues, to your children or your pupils, but exercise them in them on all occafions. Let not your fondness for them induce you by too great indulgence to fpoil their tafte, to fpare them in every thing that is troublesome and unpleafant, and fo to accustom them to foftnefs and effeminacy. Inure them much rather to a hardy kind of life, fo as that none of the accommodations of it may be so neceffary to them, that they cannot be deprived of them without being wretched. Do they meet with any trifling mifchance; are obliged to fuffer fome hardship or pain; do they lofe fuch things as they greatly valued increase not their fenfibility to the event by the extravagant and anxious concern you take in it, by the lamentations you make on the occafion, by the extraordinary bustle in which you put yourself and all about you, to confole them in their mishap, to compenfate their lofs, and instantaneously to remove VOL. I. F their their very tolerable pains. Give not to fuch things as are of no great confequence a greater importance in their eyes than they really have, by the manner in which you view and treat them. Rather feek by your calmness to quiet them, and by your fedateness to inspire them with courage. Teach them to hold every object for what it actually is; difcourfe amicably with them on the nature of the affliction they fuffer, of the pain they feel, of the lofs they have fustained; fhew them to how many difafters and calamities man is fubject, and how much he may bear and fuffer if he will. Quote to them examples of perfons who have fuffered far more than they, and were yet patient and refolute; and inftead of terrifying them by calling their attention to all the poffible bad effects of their prefent misfortune, teach them by degrees to obferve the various uses a wise and virtuous man may draw even from the adverfities that befall him. But give efficacy and vigour likewise to these doctrines by your own example. Bear the afflictions you meet with yourself with patience; let them never hear any murmurs and repinings at the divine difpenfations proceed from your mouth; fhew them by your own behaviour, that you can be tranquil under tribulations, and meet with compofure and fortitude a danger which you cannot avoid. Preferve them lastly as much as poffible, from all impreffions of fear and dread arifing from fuch objects as only ignorance, or superftition, or melancholy, or flavifh notions, have en dued dued with a frightful and terrific appearance. Shew them these objects whenever an opportunity occurs; make them acquainted with them, and lay before them in the livelieft colours the imbecility and mifery of thofe who are always dreaming of dangers, and defcrying objects of terror on every side. These, pious hearers, are the principal virtues to which children and young people should be trained, and in which they fhould be conftantly exercised. Would you, whom heaven has appointed to be parents, or preceptors, or teachers, refolutely and faithfully follow the rules I have here laid down, frequently and properly practise the difcipline connected with them, and never be weary in imploring God for his bleffing; then certainly your labours will not be in vain; they will fooner or later produce rich fruits of wisdom and virtue in the hearts and in the conduct of such as are placed under your inspection and care. Your children, your scholars, will be habituated to obedience and fubmiffion, to fincerity and the love of truth, to diligence, to industry and regularity in their affairs; they will be humble and modeft, will love all men as their brethren, feek their fatisfaction in doing good, govern themselves, and refift the violence of their fenfual appetites; they will learn even patience in afflictions, fortitude in adverfity and intrepidity in dangers. And how wife, how good, how happy must they be, in the delightful company of the fairest and noblest virtues! How much muft these virtues exalt the luftre or fupply the defect of outward distinctions! How will they conciliate the favour both of God and man; how beneficial will they be to their brethren! How much more calmly and contentedly will you leave them hereafter, knowing that they have these, and with them all the other virtues as the guides and companions of their lives! SERMON IV. Of training up Children to Religion and to Christianity. GOD, from whom, through whom and to whom are all things, Creator, Benefactor and Father of mankind, to know thee, to love thee, to obey thee, is our highest honour and our greatest happinefs. This alone it is that confers upon us a real, an effential precedence over the inferior creatures, which with us inhabit the earth. It is this alone that diffuses light and joy and hope and confolation over the dark and toilfome path of our terrestrial life. It is this alone that opens to our view fuch profpects in the future world, that make us forget all the troubles of the prefent. Yes, o God, in knowing thee, we know the fource and aggregate of whatever is great, whatever is good, whatever is beautiful and perfect. In loving thee, we love him, who unites in himself, whatever merits our veneration, our gratitude, our affection and our confidence. In obeying thee, we obey the wifeft, the most righteous, the kindest sovereign, whofe laws tend folely to our good. Oh that we always perceived, always felt this truth, and always acted confiftently with that perception |