Whoever would most effectually remove all the barriers of civil society, and open every floodgate of iniquity, let him preach up the certainty of the final salvation of all men, whatever may be their moral character and conduct in this world. And, as far as this doctrine shall be believed, the greatest restraints under which wicked men were ever laid, will be quite removed and taken away.

On the other hand, let all those who are friends, not only to the souls of men, but to the peace and welfare of civil society, cultivate the belief, and continually act under the influence of that solemn and interesting truth, often taught by the great Savior of men, that, except we repent, we shall all perish.

LETTERS ON EDUCATION.

By JOHN WITHERSPOON, D. D. late President of the College of New-Jersey.

[It seems hardly necessary to offer any apology for the republication of the following Letters. To those acquainted with the writings of Dr. Witherspoon, any thing that bears his name will be acceptable. The education of children is certainly a subject of high importance; and it is presumed, that in these Letters it will be found treated in a manner worthy of it, and not unworthy the name and genius of the Author.]

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LETTER I.

FTER so long a delay, I now set myself to fulfil my promise of writing to you a few thoughts on the education of children.-Though I cannot wholly purge myself of the crimes of laziness and procrastination, yet I do assure you, what contributed not a little to its being hitherto not done, was, that I considered

it not as an ordinary letter, but what deserved to be carefully meditated on, and thoroughly digested. The concern you shew on this subject, is highly commendable for there is no part of your duty, as a Christian, or a citizen, which will be of greater service to the public, or a source of greater comfort to yourself.

The consequence of my thinking so long upon it, before committing my thoughts to paper, will probably be the taking the thing in a greater compass than either of us at first intended, and writing a series of letters, instead of one.. With this view, I begin with a preliminary to the successful education of children, viz. that husband and wife ought to be entirely one upon this subject, not only agreed as to the end, but as to the means to be used, and the plan to be followed, in order to attain it. It ought to encourage you to proceed in your design, that I am persuaded, you will not only meet with no opposition to a rational and serious education of your children, but great assistance from Mrs. S

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The erased lines contained a compliment, written with great sincerity: but recollecting that there are no rules yet settled for distinguishing true compliment from flattery, I have blotted them out; on which, perhaps, you will say to yourself, "He is fulfilling the character which his enemies gave him, who say, it is the nature of the man to deal much more in satire than in panegyric." However, I content myself with repeating, that certainly husband and wife ought to conspire and co-operate in every thing relating to the education of their children; and if their opinions happen, in any particular, to be different, they ought to examine and settle the matter privately by themselves, that not the least opposition may appear either to children or servants. When this is the case, every thing is enforced by a double authority, and recommended by a double example: but when it is otherwise, the pains taken are commonly more than lost, not being able to do any good, and certainly producing much evil.

Be pleased to remember, that this is by no means intended against those unhappy couples, who, being essentially different in principles and character, live in a state of continual war. It is of little advantage to speak either to, or of, such persons. But even differences incomparably smaller, are of very bad consequence: when one, for example, thinks a child may be carried out, and the other thinks it is wrong; when one thinks a way of speaking is dangerous, and the other is positive there is nothing in it. The things themselves may indeed be of little moment; but the want of concurrence in the parents, or the want of mutual esteem and deference, easily observed even by ve ry young children, is of the greatest importance.

As you and I have chiefly in view the religious education of children, I take it to be an excellent preliminary, that parental affection should be purified by the principles, and controuled or directed by the precepts of religion. A parent should rejoice in his children as they are the gift of a gracious God; should put his trust in the care of an indulgent Providence for the preservation of his offspring, as well as himself; should be supremely desirous that they may be, in due time, the heirs of eternal life; and, as he knows the absolute dependence of every creature upon the will of God, should be ready to resign them at what time his Creator shall sce proper to demand them. This happy qualification of parental tenderness will have a powerful influence in preventing mistakes in the conduct of education. It will be the most powerful of all incitements to duty, and at the same time a restraint upon that natural fondness and indulgence, which, by a sort of fascination or fatality, makes parents often do or permit what their judgment condemns, and then excuse themselves by saying, that no doubt it is wrong, but truly they can-. not help it.

Another preliminary to the proper education of children, is a firm persuasion of the benefit of it, and the probable, at least, if not certain, success of it, when

faithfully and prudently conducted. This puts an edge upon the spirit, and enables the Christian not only to make some attempts, but to persevere with patience and diligence. I know not a common saying either more false or pernicious, than " that the children of good men are as bad as others." This saying carrics in it a supposition, that whereas the force of education is confessed with respect to every other human character and accomplishment, it is of no consequence at all as to religion. This, I think, is contrary to daily experience. Where do we expect to find young persons piously disposed but in pious families? The exceptions, or rather appearances to the contrary, are easily accounted for, in more ways than one. Many persons appear to be religious, while they are not so in reality, but are chiefly governed by the applause of men. Hence their visible conduct may be specious, or their public performances applauded, and yet their families. be neglected.

It must also be acknowledged, that some truly well disposed persons are extremely defective or imprudent in this part of their duty, and therefore it is no wonder that it should not succeed. This was plainly the case with Eli, whose sons, we are told, made themselves. vile, and he restrained them not. However, I must observe, if we allow such to be truly good men, we must at the same time confess that this was a great drawback upon their character; and that they differed very much from the father of the faithful, who had this honorable testimony given him by God, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, that they serve me." To this we may add, that the child of a good man, who is seen to follow dissolute courses, draws the attention of mankind more upon him, and is much more talked of, than any other person of the same character. Upon the whole, it is certainly of moment, that one who desires to educate his children in the fear of God, should do it in an humble persuasion, that if he be not defective in his own

duty, he will not be denied the blessing of success. I could tell you some remarkable instances of parents who seemed to labour in vain for a long time, and yet were so happy as to see a change at last; and of some children in whom, even after the death of the parents, the seed which was early sown, and seemed to have been entirely smothered, has, at last, produced fruit. And indeed no less seems to follow from the promise; annexed to the command; "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not de part from it."

Having laid down these preliminaries, I shall say a few things upon the preservation of the health of children. Perhaps you will think this belongs only to the physician: but, though a physician ought to be employed to apply remedies in dangerous cases, any man, with a little reflection, may be allowed to form some judgment as to the ordinary means of their preservation; nay, I cannot help being of opinion, that any other man is fitter than a physician for this purpose. His thoughts are so constantly taken up with the rules of his art, that it is an hundred to one he will prescribe more methods and medicines than can be used with safety.

The fundamental rules for preserving the health of children, are cleanliness, liberty, and free air. By cleanliness, I do not mean keeping the outside of their clothes in a proper condition to be seen before company, nor hindering them from fouling their hands and feet, when they are capable of going abroad; but keeping them dry in the night time, when young, and fre quently washing their bodies with cold water, and other things of the same nature and tendency. The second rule is liberty. All persons, young and old, love liberty; and as far as it does them no harm, it will certainly do them good. Many a free-born subject is kept a slave for the first ten years of his life; and is so much handled and carried about by women in his infancy, that the limbs and other parts of his body are