Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-09-13
SrrH AND LAST LETTER or The Late
,.,cx,. nSpoON ON EDUCATION.

s,eat extent, and, perhaps, Of difficulty.
The difficulty, however, does not consist
e;,ber in the abs,ruseness ofthe arguments,
or uncertainty of the facts upon which they
are founded, but in the minuteness or trlti~
ing nature ofthe circumstances, taken sep
ara,ely, which makes them often either
wholly unnoticed or greatly undervalued.
1t is subject, which, If | mistake not, is
much more easily conceived than expinined.
If you have it constantly in your mind, that
your whole visible department will power.
fully, though inseusbly, lduence the oPln.
ions and future conduct Of your children, 1t
will give a form or colour, il | may speak
SO, TO every thing you say or do. There
are numberless and uanieless instances Ia
WHICH this reflection VIII make you speak,
or refrain from speaking. act, or abstain
from, some circumstances oil acton. IN what
YOU are engaged in; nor VIII this be accom-
panied with any reluctance in theone case'
or constraint in the other.
Bu, mus, no, content myself with this.
NY profession gives me many opportunities
OF observing, that the impression made oy
general truths, however justly stated or iu'iy
proved, Is seldom strong or lasting Lei
me, therefore descend 10 practice. and H.
lustra,e wha have said by examples. here
again a difficulty occurs. III give par
t,culur instance it will perhaps operate no
farther than recommending like conduct
in circumstances the same, or perhaps per.
fec,,y similar. For example. lmight say,
N speaking to the disadvantage OF absent
persons, [ beseech you never fail to add the
reason why you take such liberty, and IN
deed never take that liberty atall, but when
j, can bs justified upon the principles OF
pr,deuce. candour, and charity. A thing
NAV be right in itself, bu' children should be
made to see why it is right. This is one
instaacs of exemplary caution, but if were
10 add dozen more to it, they would only
be detached precepts /; whereas ! am anx'
ious 10 take in the whole extent OF edliylnS
example. In order 10 this, let me range
or divide what have TO say, under distinct
heads. A parent who wishes that his ex.
ample should be a speaking lesson TO his
children, should order it so as to convince
them, that he considers religion as necessary,
respectable, amiable, profitable, and delight
ful. am sensible, that some ofthese char.
acters may seem so nearly allied, as scarce.
ly to admi, ofa distinction. Many parts OF
. a yirtuous conduct fall under more than one
ofthese denominations. Some actions per.
hans deserve all the epi,hets here mentioned,
without exception and without prejudice one
of another. But the distinctions seems 10
me very useful, for there is certainly aelass
of actions which may be said to belong pc.
culiariy, or a, least eminenily, to each of
these different, heads. By taking them
separately, therefore. it will serve to point
od, more fully the ex,en, of your duty. and
to suggest il when it would not otherwise oc.
cur, as well as to set The obligation TO it in
she stronger light.
4. You should, in your general deport-
snent. make your children perceive that you
look upon religion as absolutely necessary
/ place this FIRST, because it appears to me
first both 10 point Of order and force. | am far
from being against taking all pains to show
that religion IS rational and honourable IN It.
SELF and vice the contrary but l desP'se
thefoolish refnemen, ofthose, who, through
fear ormaking children mercenary. are tor
being very sparing Of the mention OF heav-
en- or hell. Such conduct is apt 10 make
them conceive, that neglect of their duty
is only falling short Of degree OF honour
and advantage, which, for the grat,hcat'o"
Of their passions, they are very willing TO
reIinquish. Many parents are much more
ready to ea their children such or such a
thing is mean, and not like gentleman, than
to warn them that they will thereby incur the
displeasure oftheir maker. But when the
practices are really and deeply criminal, as
in swearing and lying, it is quite improper
20 rest the matter there. admt that they
are both mean, aud that justice ought 10
be done to Them in this respect but con-
tend that il should only be a secondary con.
sideratlon.
Let not human reasonings be put in the
bahnce with divine wisdom. The care OF
our souls is represented in Scripture as the
one thing needful. He makes miserable
bargain, who gains the whole world and 10.
ses his own soul. 1t is not the native beauty
ofyiriue, or the outward credit of it, or the
inward satisfaction arising from il, or even
all these combined together, that viii be
sufficient 10 change our natures and govern
our conduct /; but deep conviction, that
unless we arc reconciled to God, we shall
without doubt perish everlaslingly.
You will say, tlsis is very true and very
e, for pulpit-but what is that class Of
actions That should impress j, habi:ualy on
the minds Of children ?perhaps you will even
say, what one action viii any good man be