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finefs, they are teazed and chid about it, and do it with trembling and apprehenfion; or, when they come willingly to it, are kept too long at it till they are quite tired: all which entrenches too much on that natural freedom they extremely affect. And it is that liberty alone which gives the true relish and delight to their ordinary play games. Turn the tables, and you will find they will foon change their application; efpecially if they see the examples of others, whom they esteem and think above themfelves. And if the things which they obferve others to do, be ordered fo, that they infinuate themfelves into them, as the privilege of an age or condition above theirs; then ambition, and the defire ftill to get forward and higher, and to be like thofe above them, will fet them on work, and make them go on with vigour and pleafure; pleasure, in what they have begun by their own defire, in which way the enjoyment of their dearly be loved freedom will be no fmall encouragement to them. To all which, if there be added the fatisfaction of credit and reputation, I am apt to think there will need no other fpur to excite their application and affiduity, as much as is necefiary... I confefs, their needs patience and fkill, gentleness and attention, and a prudent conduct to attain this at firft. But why have you a tutor, if there needed no pains? But when this is once eftE 3

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blifhed, all the reft will follow more eafily than in any more fevere and imperious difcipline. And I think it no hard matter to gain this point; I am fure it will not be, where children have no ill example fet before them. The great danger therefore, I apprehend, is only from fervants, and other il-ordered children, or fuch other vicious or foolish people, who fpoil children both by the ill pat tern they fet Before them in their own ill manners, and by giving them together the two things they should never have at once; I mean vicious pleasures and commendation.

$77. As children fhould very Chiding. feldom be corrected by blows, so I think frequent and especially pafficnate chiding of almoft as ill confequence. It leffens the authority of the parents, and the refpect of the child; for I bid you ftill remember, the diftinguishing early betwixt paf fion and reafon: and as they cannot but have a reverence for what comes from the latter, fo they quickly grow into a contempt of the former; or if it caufes a prefent terror, yet it foon wears off, and natural inclination will eafily learn to flight fuch fcare crows which make a noise, but are not animated by reafon. Children being to be reftrained by the parents only in vicious (which, in their tender years, are only a few) things, a look or nod only ought to correct them, when they

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do amifs; or, if words are fometimes to be ufed, they ought to be grave, kind, and fober, representing the ill or unbecomingness of the faults, rather than an hafty rating of the child for it; which makes him not fufliciently diftinguish, whether your diflike be no more directed to him, than his fault. Paffionate chiding ufually carries rough and ill language with it, which has this farther ill effect, that it teaches and juftifies it in children: and the names that their parents or preceptors give them, they will not be ashamed or backward to bestow on others, having fo good authori. ty for the use of them.

$78. I foresee here it will be objected to me, What then? will you have children never beaten

Obflinacy.

nor chid for any fault? This will be to let loofe the reins to all kind of disorder. Not fo much as is imagined, if a right courfe has been taken in the first feafoning of their mind, and implanting that awe of the parents a bove-mentioned. For beating, by conftant obfervation, is found to do little good, where the fmart of it is all the punishment that is feared or felt in it; for the influence of that quickly wears out with the memory of it. But yet there is one, and but one fault, for which, I think, children fhould be beaten; and that is, obftinacy or rebellion. And in this too, I would have it ordered fo, if it can be, that the fhime

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fhame of the whipping, and not the pain, fhould be the greatest part of the punishment. Shame of doing amifs, and deferving chaftifement, is the only true reftraint belonging to virtue. The fmart of the rod, if fhame accompanies it not, foon ceafes, and is forgotten, and will quickly by ufe lofe its terror. have known the children of a perfon of quality kept in awe by the fear of having their fhoes pulled off, as much as others by apprehenfions of a rod hanging over them. Some fuch punishment I think better than beating; for it is fhame of the fault and the disgrace that attends it, that they should ftand in fear of, rather than pain, if you would have them have a temper truly ingenuous. But fubbornefs, and an obftinate difobedi. ence, must be mastered with force and blows; for this there is no other remedy. Whatever particular action you bid him do, or forbear, you must be fure to fee yourself obeyed; no quarter in this cafe, no refiftance : for when once it comes to be a trial of skill, a conteft for mafléry betwixt you, as it is, if you command, and herefuses, you must be fure to carry it, whatever blows it cofts, if a nod or words will not prevail; unlefs, for ever after, you intend to live in obedience to your fon. A prudent and kind mother of my acquaintance was on fuch an occafion, forced to whip her little daughter, at her first com.

ing home from nurfe, eight times fucceffively the fame morning, before the could mafter her ftubbornefs, and obtain a compliance in a very eafy and indifferent matter. If he had left off fooner, and ftopped at the feventh whipping, fhe had fpoiled the child for ever, and by her unprevailing blows only confirm. ed her refractorinefs, very hardly afterwards to be cured; but wifely perfifting till the had bent her mind, and fuppled her will, the only end of correction and chaftifement, fhe eftablifhed her authority thorougly in the very first occafion, and had ever after a very ready compliance and obedience in all things from her daughter; for, as this was the first time, fo I think it was the laft too fhe ever ftruck her.

The pain of the rod, the firft occafion that requires it, continued and increafed, without leaving off till it has thoroughly prevailed, fhould first bend the mind, and fettle the parent's authority; and then gravity, mixed with kindness, thould for ever after keep it.

This, if well reflected on, would make people more wary in the use of the rod and the cudgel, and keep them from being fo apt to think beating the fafe and univerfal remedy to be applied at random on all occafions. This is certain, however, if it does no good, it does great harm; if it reaches not the mind, and makes

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