On Hope, Fear, Anxiety and Distrust,.. 71 On Greatness of Mind, Contentment, &c. GENIUS, EDUCATION AND EXAMPLE. WHAT sculpture is to a block of mar ble, education is to a human soul; the philosopher, the saint, and the hero, the wise, the good, or the great man, very often lie hid and concealed in a plebeian, which a proper education might have disinterred, and brought to light. Dissimulation in youth, is the forerunner of perfidy in old age, its first appearance is the fatal omen of growing depravity and future shame; An industrious and virtuous education of Children is a better inheritance for them, than a great estate. To what purpose B is it, said Crates, to heap up great estates, and have no concern what manner of heirs you leave them to. It is a certain sign of a little mind to be doing one thing, and at the same time to be either thinking of another, or not thinking at all. There is in some tempers such a natural barrenness, that like the sands of Arabia, they are never to be cultivated or improved. And some will never learn any thing because they understand every thing too soon. Without attention in reading, it is impossible to remember, and without remembring it is time and labour lost. He that is taught to live upon little owes more to his father's wisdom, than he that has a great deal left him, does to his father's care. Many of our young Gentlemen, who are sent abroad, bring home, instead of solid vir tue, formalities, fashions, grimaces, and at best a volubility of talking nonsense; yet some perhaps think them well educated; and that foreign vanity is preferable to home discretion. None can be eminent without application and genius. To become an able man in any profession whatever, three things are necessary, Nature, study, and practice. The end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love him. In infancy children acquire only the means of improvement; from that time every day ought to add something to the cultivation of both head and heart. The highest degree of reverence should be paid to youth; and nothing indecent should be suffered to approach their eyes or ears. An active mind embraces the whole circle of its duties, and finds time enough for all. How many are silly without simplicity, and artful without understanding. Every person who rises above the common level has received two educations; the first,. from his teachers; the second, more personal and important from himself. Young people should reverence their pa-. rents at home, strangers when abroad, and themselves when alone. Every man who proposes to grow eminent by learning, should carry in his mind at once the difficulty of excellence, and the force of industry; and remember that fame is not conferred but as the recompence of labour; and that labour vigorously pursued, has not often failed of its reward. Rectitude of will is a greater ornament and perfection, than brightness of understanding; and to be divinely good, more valuable than any other wisdom and knowledge.. |