State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-07-19
WHOLE NO. 2A7.
From the Common School Assistant.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.

From the Common School Assistant.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.
Christian education may be shown 10 be
an important duty, from the influence i,
eXerts on the happiness of this life. as well
as that which is to come. Ii is poin,
conceded, even by infidels themselves, that
virtue increases happiness and vice occa-
SONS misery. Heather philosophers have
labored TO convince their disciples Of this
truth, and TO persuade them to be yirtuous
for the sake of the benefit they would de-
rive from the practice of virtue in the pres
ent life. The experience of the world
proves that they were not mistaken in their
OPINIONS. Their correctness is acknowl-
edged by the vicious themselves. Those
who are given to habitual vices of any kind,
must constantly be under the influence Of
evils from which the virtuous are free,
Now il is as certain that the natural pro-
pensties of man incline him TO deyiate
from the paths of moral rectitude, as tina,
the stone hurled from the mountain sum
init inclnes to the plains below. 1t is the
department of moral culture to check this
propensity. 1t is designed to lay restrain,
on the passions, aud guide the footsteps in
the paths of virtue. Besides keeping in
view the primary object, the renovation Of
the heart. Christian education is designed
to found various habits, which will tend to
promote enjoyment in this world. Among
these, a conscientious regard TO truth is Of
pre-eninent importance. Children very
early seem inclined to form habits of de-
ceptlon and lying. If this inclination be-
comes settled, and 'grows with the growth
and strengthens with the strength" it 10
evident that 1t must unovoidably draw, in
It's train, many other sins, and be attended
with rhlnous consequences. The liar can
never he happy. He has no confidence
IN himself, and is disposed to suspect 9TH
ers. lie cannot have the confidence Of
those around him. "He is not believed
even when he speaks the truth" Next TO
truth, it is important that the child be laugh,
to be scrupulously just. lie should be
cautioned against promising what lie cam
not perform; but what he has promised is
within the bounds of reason, he should be
taught to do. "Every child should be
taught to pay all his debts, and fulfil all his
contracts, exactly in the manner, complete
ly in the value, and punctually at the time.
Every thing which he has borrowed he
should he obliged to return, uninjured, al
the time; and every thing belonging to
others, which he has lost, he should be
required to replace. In this manner, he
will grow up to that sense of justice, with
out which it il impossible for virtue TO ex-
list; and without which it is impossible for
him TO ENJOY the appreciation of his own
conscience.
Habits of strict morality should be asst
duously cultivated, as an important means
Of qualifying one for the enjoyment Of this
world.
"Morality begun in truth, and advanced
in justice, is finished in Kindness. The
minds Of children may easily be rendered
kind, by wise cultivation, and by wanI
of it they will! become unfeeling and cruel.
Children should be taught, the first moment
they are capable of being taught, lively
tenderness for the feelings, the sufferings,
and happiness, of all beings with whom
they are conversant The emperor Domi-
tian has proved that cruelty, when it cannot
satinte itself on human misery, can be graf
flied even with the death of flies. Chill
dren should be taught invariably to g. ercise
kindness 10 animals, and to shun cruelty
even to an insect" Habits of truth, ius-
tice, and kindness, will invariably have
great effect on personal happiness. If
children are not taught to cultivate them,
they must be unhappy, in proportion as
these are neglected. The habit of self
government, and of cheerful submission to
wholesome restraint and salutary laws, il
of high importance. Gle that hath no
rule over his own spirit is like city bro
ken down and without walls" This is the
picture drawn by inspiration, of those who
have no command over their PASSIONS
Nothing could represent in stronger man
ner, the misery Of such IA state.
S. h. Hall