The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-01-02

even among tac.e VINO nave hao poiitc euu-
calicn, thar c@n read in graceful manner
with that eaiy natural cir, accent and en-
phaiis, which diAinguifh the orator when he
enters into the iprIt and conveys the IDEAS
of writer, in The mof agreeable light. To
acquire this great accomplishment, perlons
lhouid begin to ardy the art of ipeaking, as
foon as they can read. And as no perfon
can read well 'unlefs he understands his fub-
jea, it is necenary for youth to have books
which are level TO their capacity, and fub-
jeas that are engaging to their minds.
Such as dialogues upon the mott uieful and
plesGng topicks. In reading dialogue
there fhould be as many boys as there are
perlon3 reprefented, and each boy perfonate
one. This method will make it entertain
ing, ard greatly contribute to their reading
and fpcasing in a proper and pleading
manner.
The advantages that will accrue by this
method of inffruciion, are many aud great;
this will unite pleafure and profit, which is
the great art of teaching) for the youth be
ing ag'seably entertained with Ihoie. familiar
and pIealing dialogues, will give greater at
ten,ion TO their learning, and acquire it with
very it,e expence of time OF trouble TO their
infrrcors. The pleafure, as we'll as adj
vantage, that accrues to him who is matter
of the ait of fpeaking, is obvious to every
one, and therefore the importance of OBJ
tainingit lhould engage their attention.
The common practice of teaching youth
to read in the bible, has been often and juifly
cenfored, as being productive of many bad
confequences; bur, as in many other cafes,
cuaom has prevailed agaipf the cleareh Iea-
ion and denomination. A Mort hihory of
the bible would be very proper book for a
tchool, but the bible itielf is not calculated
for that purpofe for the language and the
ideas it conveys are above the capacity of
children to underRand and therefore, for
the realons above mentioned, not iaitable TO
inaru4 them in the art of reading.
Another objection, fill more weighty, is,
the bible being uicd as common fchool book
the youth conlider i; in the fame light they
do other books, which are deighed only TO
learn them to read, and pay no regard SOS
facred contents. Befides, as they arf eftfFs
compclIcdt to read, what is quite unint6t6glble
to them it becomes difagreeable talk add
begets an averfion in their minds to the fcrip-
lures. BY ;hcie means they get habit of
treating the bible with the fame careleis
indifference as they do any common book /;
read it without feTioufneis, or attention, and
lofe all fenfc Gifts being the word of GOD
therule Of life, and only guide to eternal hap
pinels When once this evil habits contract
ed tits very hard to free the mind from it,im-
prefiions made on young minds, are COM
monty deep and alfing and wife men, have
found it extremely difficult to wear off an i'll
habit, or bad mprefiion, by the utmoa efforts
of realon when arrived TO its maturity. Per-
haps none can perfectly do it during life. And
it is very evident, that one principal caufe of
that caEeleis inattention with which people in
general read the bible,is that now mentioned /;
an evil, which ifpofible, ought to be reme-
died. To do this, the Scriptures fhould be
read with aview only to moral inaruaions.--
Learning to read, never hould be mentioned
to youth as motive for reading the bible.
Spiritual inRruefion, the knowledge of GOD,
and way TO heaven, fhould be the grand in
elements fet before them to engage their
minds to Rudy the facred oracles, which alone
can thew them the paths Of honour, and hap
pineis, and make them wife unto eternal fall
walton THAT the youth thoud be taught
conaantly to read in the bible, is ofvery great
importance, and as foon as they can read, they
lhould employ part of their time every DAY at
lchool, as well as at home, in reading Thofe
narts Of frr;ntnre which they are canahle of