of several duties which are usually neglected, and accustom them to give piety a share in most of their actions. We cannot too earnestly, nor too frequently inculcate into the boys those words of the gospel: [k] This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent. They teach us that true piety is founded on the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, that is, of his mysteries, his precepts and his example. What the evangelists relate of his behaviour in his infancy, should be perfectly known and familiar to them, especially [] what he did in the temple at twelve years old, a valuable circumstance, which it has pleased Christ to preserve in the gospel, that boys might find there a perfect model of all the virtues that are suitable to their age. [m] He must often be represented to them as full of tenderness for children, as laying his hands upon them and blessing them, giving them access to him, declaring that the kingdom of heaven belonged to them, and willing to consider what was done to them as done to himself. As soon as the children awake in the morning, as if God said to them that moment, [n] My son, give me thy heart; let them answer, "I offer myself to "thee, O God, with all my heart." [o] Corde magno, & animo volenti. And let all their studies begin with a short prayer, Prayers before and after meals are regularly observed in every college; and though nothing can be more just and reasonable than to pay this public homage to the goodness and liberality of God, from whom we have every thing, and to whom we ought consequently to return thanks for all; yet now to the shame of our age, this sacred custom, confirmed by the use of all times, even among the pagans, is abolished more and more every day amongst us, espe [k] John xvii. 3. [] Luke ii. 41. 52. [m] Matt.xix. 13, 14. Luke ix. 48. [n] Prov. xxii. 26. pecially cially with the rich and great, who have scarce any footsteps of it amongst them, and seem as though they were ashamed of appearing Christians. The children should be forewarned against these abuses, by being accustomed even at breakfast and drinking, to beg a blessing upon the food they are about to eat. One may take occasion to instruct them upon this subject, by explaining to them what is said of Jesus Christ; that as he sat at meat with his two disciples that went to Emmaus, [p] He took bread and bless*ed it, and broke it, and gave to them. I have no need to take notice of the indespensible. obligation we are under to pray every day for the king's most sacred majesty. The statute of the university is herein very express, and is exactly observed. We must likewise remember the wants, whether public, of the church and state, or private, of our relations and friends. We must not forget in Ember weeks, to put the boys in mind of joining with the common prayers of the church, and desiring of God, that he would be pleased to grant us repentance and pardon our sins, to bestow his blessing upon the fruits of the earth, and to give his church good pastors and ministers. Upon pon the day of ordination, they may add this prayer, taken out of Scripture. [q] Lord Jesus, thou fold of the sheep, by whom whosoever entereth in shall be saved: thou good shepherd, who hast laid down thy life for the sheep, have mercy upon thy people, who are afflicted and scattered abroad, as sheep not having a shepherd. The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: we pray thee therefore, the Lord of the harvest, to send forth labourers into thy harvest. Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whom thou hast chosen. Amen. When any of our relations or friends, any bishop or magistrate is dangerously ill, we may say every day at the end of our meals, [r] Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick. When he is out of danger, we may re[p] Luke xxiv. 30. [9] John x. Mat. ix. Acts i, [r] Johu xi. 5, turn turn thanks for him thus, We give thee thanks, O Lord, for thy servant, whose sickness was not unto death, but for thy glory. Every scholar may give notice of the day of his birth and baptism, and desire the rest to remember him at the morning service, and give thanks for it for him and with him. These small devotions, which are very easy in themselves, and which have place upon different occasions, according to different wants, are of service, as we easily see, to inspire youth with a disposition towards piety, and accustom them early to discharge certain duties of religion, which are usually not known, or neglected. CHAP. II. OF THE DUTY OF THE REGENTS, AFTER what I have already said of the manner of teaching, which principally concerns the regents, I have little to add upon this subject. I shall reduce it to four or five articles; the discipline of the Classes; the Exercises made in them to qualify the Scholars for appearing in public; the Compositions and Public Actions; the Studies of the Masters; and the Application of all that has been said to the order and government of the classes. ARTICLE I. OF THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CLASSES. THIS consists in keeping the scholars in order, in making themselves heard in silence, and obeyed at the first signal; in which the authority of the master is principally seen; a rare quality, but absolutely necessary for the maintaining of an exact discipline. I have spoken of it in another place. I have likewise already observed that emulation is the great advantage of the classes, We cannot be too careful careful to excite and support it among the scholars. There are a thousand different ways of succeeding in it, which depend upon the industry and activity of a master, zealous for the advancement of his disciples. The greatest art and skil! lies in inspiring boys of a moderate genius, with an inclination to take pains. But the most essential part of the discipline of the classes relates to morality and religion: not that I think the regents ought to speak much or frequently upon this subject, for this would be the surest way to disgust the boys. But this object must be their principal motive and always in view. They must never lose sight of it, though they do not seem always attentive to it. They must artfully lay hold of every occasion that offers to make some remarks, or lay down some principles which relate to it; and though it be but sometimes a word which seems dropped by chance, yet it is very often attended with great effects. [s] Thus a comparison drawn from the public shews by St. Augustine, whilst he was explaining a passage of a certain author in rhetoric, served to open the eyes of St. Alipius, who was then his disciple, and was fond of those shews to a degree of frenzy. Besides these public and common instructions, the regent may still be very serviceable to the scholars by his watchfulness over their conduct; by the particular conversations he has sometimes with them; by his instructions and admonitions; by the care he takes of placing them in the class near such companions as may not be dangerous to them, and by a thousand other circumstances of a like nature. One of the surest means to be useful to them, is to keep up an acquaintance with their parents, to get information from them of their characters and conduct; upon the first absence of a scholar, to give him immediate notice of it, to prevent the consequences for [8] Et forte lectio in manibus erat, quam dum exponerem, opportunè mihi videbatur adhibenda similitudo Circensium, quo illud, quod insinuabam, & jucundius & planius fieret, cum irisione mordaci eorum quos illa captivâsset insania. Conf. lib. vi. cap. 7. which otherwise he might be responsible. This practice is more especially necessary in philosophy, when the scholars are allowed a greater liberty. I know the generality of parents give themselves little trouble about seeing the professors, and I shall hereafter have occasion to speak upon this abuse, but their carelessness must not hinder nor diminish the others zeal. I should do wrong to the probity and religion of the professors, if I spent any time here in proving that the care of instilling good morals is an essential part of their duty. To think otherwise would be to throw a blemish upon themselves, and sink them below the condition of pagan masters. ARTICLE II. TO MAKE THE SCHOLARS APPEAR IN PUBLIC. THERE are several ways of improving the boys in speaking, and of making them appear in public, which may all have their use. I shall here mention only two, which are most in practice in the university; to which I shall add some instructions and rules concerning pronunciation. 1. Of Exercises. By exercises are meant the public acts in which the scholars give an account of the authors they have read, either in their class or in private, and of all that has been the subject of their studies. This sort of exercise must have been judged very useful, and entirely acceptable to the public, since, in a very little time, without any order of the university, it has been adopted by all the colleges, past from thence into private houses, and made its way into all the provinces. In short, the plainest, most natural, and at the same time most advantageous manner of producing the boys in public, is this method of making them give an account of the authors which have been explained to VOL. III. сс them. |