ner, is nothing else than a refinement upon envy ; or rather, the most plausible part of that black and venomous passion: and, though it is easy to separate them in the notion, yet the most acute philosopher, that understands the art of distinguishing ever so well, if he gives himself up to emulation, will certainly find himself deep in envy. Envy is not an original temper, but the natural, necessary, and unavoidable effect of emulation; so that he who establishes the one in the minds of people, necessarily fixes the other there; and there is no other possible way of destroying envy, but by destroying emulation; for the one always rises and falls in proportion to the other.

I know it is said in defence of this system of education, that ambition and a desire of glory are necessary to excite young people to industry; and that if we were to press upon them the doctrine of humility, we should deject their minds and sink them into dulness and idleness: but the people who say this, do not consider that this reason, if it has any strength, is full as strong against pressing the doctrines of humility upon grown men, lest we should deject their minds and sink them into dullness and idleness: for who does not see, that middle-aged men want as much the assistance of pride, ambition, and vain glory, to spur them up to action and industry, as children do: and it is very certain, that the precepts of humility are more contrary to the designs of such

men, and more grievous to their minds when they are pressed upon them, than they are to the minds of young persons. This reason, therefore, that is given why children should not be trained up in the principles of true humility, is as good a reason why the same humility should never be required of grown men.

Let those people, who think that children would be spoiled if they were not thus educated, consider this;—could they think that if any children had been educated by our blessed Lord, or his holy apostles, that their minds would have been sunk into dulness or idleness? Or could they think that such children would not have been trained up in the profoundest principles of a strict and true humility? Can they say that our blessed Lord, who was the meekest and humblest man on earth, was hindered by his humility from being the greatest example of worthy and glorious actions, that ever were done by man? Can they say that his apostles, who lived in the humble spirit of their master, did therefore cease to be laborious and active instruments of doing good to all the world?

A few reflections such as these are sufficient to expose all the poor pretences for an education in pride and ambition.

To educate children upon a motive of emulation, or a desire of glory, in a world where glory itself is false, and most commonly given wrong,

is to destroy the integrity and fortitude of their minds, and give them a bias which will oftener carry them to base and mean, than to great and worthy actions. LAW.

RIVALRY among men usually begets aversion, if not hatred. We forget that we cannot press down our competitor, without sinking ourselves; we forget that every moment employed in attacking him, is so much lost from the pursuit of the prize. We might take a lesson from a race course: if the horses run against each other, they are likely to bolt; the sound of feet, whether behind, or beside, or before them, only redoubles their efforts to reach the goal. Nay, the very word rivalry, might teach us wisdom.

One cannot form a conception of a more loving neighbourhood than that between the opposite banks of a river, as they fix their smiling faces continually on each other, although they both vie in striving which shall convert the fertility they both suck from the same stream, into the greatest richness and beauty. GUESSES AT TRUTH.

ON THE NEGLECT OF EARLY
EDUCATION.

If he is worse than an infidel, who provideth not food and clothing for his family, what is he that lets their souls go naked for want of that which is both food and clothing to them? I mean, instruction in the things that pertain to life and godliness. WESLEY.

BLAME not nature, but thy own evil customs; for thy neglect of thy fields will make fern and thistles to grow. It is not only because the ground is accursed, but because it is neglected, that it bears thorns. JEREMY TAYLOR.

Or what importance is the early management of children, since upon it, in a great measure, depend the vice and misery of the world! Before the period when what is vulgarly considered the proper business of education has commenced,

such a propensity to the malignant passions is usually generated in the infant mind, as not all the pains of the most careful and judicious preceptors can ever after eradicate. I may safely appeal to all who are concerned in the education of youth; let them say how often they have been able to conquer the spirit of self-will, with its attendant passions, pride, arrogance, anger, resentment, pevishness, and ingratitude? If these are not stifled in the birth, they may afterwards be cut in pieces by the rod of chastisement; but, like the Polypus, they will preserve the vital principle, and be immediately reproduced.

HAMILTON.

ON FALSE TENDERNESS.

ILL-JUDGING tenderness towards children, is in fact, only a concealed self-love, which cannot bear to be witness to the uneasiness, which a present disappointment, or difficulty, or vexation, would cause to a darling child; yet does not scruple, by improper gratification, to store up for it future miseries, which the child will infallibly suffer, though it may be at a distant period, which the mother will not perhaps behold.