However frict an hand is to

Recreation. te kept upon all defires of fancy, yet there is one cafe wherein fancy must be permitted to fpeak, and be hearkened to alfo. Recreation is as neceflary as labour or food. But because there can be no recreation without delight, which depends not always on reafon, but oftner on fancy, it must be permitted children not only to divert themselves, but to do it after their own fashion, provided it be innocently, and without prejudice to their health; and therefore, in this cafe, they fhould not be denied, if they propofed any particular kind of recreation. Though I think in a well ordered e. ducation, they will feldom be brought to the neceffity of afking any fuch liberty: Care fhould be taken, that what is of advantage to them, they should always do with delight; and before they are wearied with one, they should be timely diverted to fome other useful employment. But if they are not yet brought to that degree of perfection, that one way of improvement can be made a recreation to them, they must be let loose to the childish play they fancy; which they fhould be weaned from, by being made to furfeit of it. But from things of ufe, that they are employed in, they should always be fent away with an appetite; at least, be difmiffed before they are tired, and grow quite fick of it, that fo they may return to it

again, as a plea fure that diverts them: for you must never think them fet right, till they can find delight in the practice of laudablethings; and the useful exercises of the body and mind, taking their turns, make their lives and improvement pleafant in a continu ed train of recreations, wherein the wearied part is conftantly relieved and refreshed. Whether this can be done in every temper, or whether tutors and parents will be at the pains, and have the difcretion and patience to bring them to this, I know not; but that it may be done in moft children, if a right courfe be taken to raise in them the defire of credit, efteem, and reputation, I do not at all doubt. And when they have so much true life put into them, they may freely be talked with about what most delights them, and be directed, or let loose to it; fo that they may perceive that they are beloved and cherished, and that those under whofe tuition they are, are not enemies to their fatisfaction. Such a management will make them in love with the hand that directs them, and the virtue they are directed to.

This farther advantage may be

made by a free liberty permitted Complaints. them in their recreations, that it

will discover their natural tempers, fhew their inclinations and aptitudes, and thereby direct wife parents in the choice, both of the courfe

of

of life, and employment they shall defiga them for, and of fit remedies, in the mean time, to be applied to whatever bent of naturethey may obferve most likely to mislead any of their children..

$109. 2. Children who live together, often ftrive for maftery, whofe wills fhall carry it over the reft; whoever begins the conteft, fhould be fure to be croffed in it. But not only that, but they fhould be taught to have all the deference, complaifance, and civility onefor another imaginable. This, when they see it procures them refpect, love and efteem, and that they lofe no fuperiority by it, they will take more pleasure in, than in infolent domineering; for fo plainly is the other.

The accufations of children one against a nother, which ufually are but the clamours of anger and revenge defiring aid, fhould not. be favourably received, nor hearkened to. It weakens and effeminates their minds to fuffer them to complain; and if they endure fometimes croffing, or pain from others, without being permitted to think it ftrange or intolerable, it will do them no harm to learn fufferance, and harden them early. But though you give no countenance to the complaints of the querulous, yet take care to curb the infolence and ill-nature of the injurious. When you obferve it yourself, reprove it before the

injured

injured party but if the complaint be of fomething really worth your notice, and prevention another time, then reprove the offen. der by himself alone, out of fight of him that complained, and make him go and ask pardon, and make reparation : which coming thus, as it were from himself, will be the more chearfully performed, and more kindly received, the love ftrengthened between them, and a cuftom of civility grow familiar amongst your children.

§ 110. 3. As to the having and

poffeffing of things, teach them Liberality. to part with what they have cafi

ly and freely to their friends, and let them find by experience that the moft liberal has always the most plenty, with esteem and commendation to boot, and they will quickly learn to practise it. This I imagine will make brothers and fifters kinder and civiller to one another, and confequently to others, than twenty rules about good manners, with which children are ordinarily perplexed and cumbered. Covetoufnefs, and the defire of having in our poffeffion, and under our dominion, more than we have need of, being the root of all evil, fhould be early and carefully weeded out, and the contrary quality, of a readi ness to impart to others, implanted. This should be encouraged by great commendation

and

and credit, and conftantly taking care that he lofes nothing by his liberality. Let all the inftances he gives of fuch freeness be always repaid, and with intereft; and let him fenfibly perceive, that the kindness he fhews to others is no ill hufbandry for himself; but that it brings a return of kindness both from thofe that receive it, and thofe who look on. Make this a conteft among children, who fhould out-do one another this way; and by this means, by a conftant practice, children having made it easy to themselves to part with what they have, good nature may be settled in them into an habit, and they may take pleafure, and pique themselves in being kind, liberal and civil, to others.

If liberality ought to be encouJustice. raged, certainly great care is to be taken that children-transgress not the rules of juftice: and whenever they do, they should be set right, and if there be occafion for it, feverely rebuked.

Our first actions being guided more by felf-love than reafon or reflection, 'tis no wonder that in children they fhould be very apt to deviate from the juft measures of right and wrong; which are in the mind the refult of improved reason, and ferious meditation. This, the more they are apt to mistake, the more careful guard ought to be kept over them; and every the leaft flip in this

great