The True Christians T est, Part 2 · Meditation 13
MEDITAT. XIII. Of the Education of Children.
THE Apoſtaſie of Man, and the Depravedneſs of his preſent ſtate, has made Education neceſſary, and yet at the ſame time very painful. He is not only an Aſſes Colt for Folly, but a Wild Aſſes Colt for Stubbornneſs, and Untractableneſs; ſo that it requires a great deal of Wiſdom to teach him, and as much Fortitude and Patience, in enduring ſo to do. Both which render them very honourable, and much to be rever'd by Mankind, whom God has qualifi'd for this Employment; and it is a pity but the beſt of Men were employ'd herein, and the beſt of Encouragements were allow'd them. But (alas!) how few are there to be found in this Employment, that are worthy of it. Many that undertake to teach, have themſelves never well learn'd; and many others that are appointed to cultivate the Minds, govern the Paſſions, and form the Manners of others, are themſelves ſo immoral, ſo paſſionate, ſo uncultivated, that it's pity they ſhould be made Keepers of the Vineyard, when their own Vineyard they cannot keep. And beſides theſe, there are many other Corruptions crept into this Honourable Employment, which do moſt evidently denominate many of theſe perſons Lovers of the World, more than of God.
What elſe are thoſe Miniſters that baptize Children into a Faith, which afterwards they take no care to make them underſtand?
What elſe are thoſe Parents that make proviſion for the Bodies, and neglect the Souls of their Children? Or thoſe Tutors, who bear the Names, and defray the Expences of their Pupils, but do not concern themſelves about their Manners; they are indeed more properly Stewards, than Tutors. What elſe are thoſe Tutors or Maſters, that being entruſted to teach Youth, do either not teach them, or teach them in a degree that bears no proportion, either to what the Subject is capable of receiving, or what reward they themſelves do receive for inſtructing them? Or if they do skilfully and fully enough inſtruct them in Humane Learning, yet are careleſs of Divine, putting off that to the Parſon, or crying, Oh in thoſe things the Children muſt be taught of God. Alas! what fatal Conſequences, what Ignorance, Error and Worldlineſs in Riper Years, is this Neglect the cauſe of! For by that time Youth has withdrawn its Hand from the Ferule, and its Back from the Rod, it's uſually ſetled in the temper that it is reſolved to be of, and ſo engaged in ſome way of Worldly Pleaſure or Buſineſs, or other, as that it is prepoſſeſt, and has no mind or leiſure to inquire for the Law at the Prieſt's mouth, to hearken to his words, Charm he never ſo wiſely. And what elſe are thoſe Maſters and Parents, who either out of Fondneſs with-hold Correction, or out of cruel Harſhneſs beſtow it too liberally; who take pleaſure in Puniſhment, without reſpect to Amendment; or out of ſome baſe Principle, are Partial in adminiſtring Correction?
Not that all different uſage of Offenders is Partiality; nay, rather, it would be Partiality to uſe all Offenders, great and ſmall alike; nor is it Partiality always to uſe unequal degrees of Correction to equal Offenders; Reſpect ought to be had to Conſtitutions both of Body and Mind, and perhaps ſome other Circumſtances. That Doſe may poſſibly kill one, that is not enough to cure another. The Husbandmen of Judea did not threſh their Fitches with a threſhing Inſtrument, nor the Cummin with a Cart-Wheel; but the Bread-Corn they bruiſed, according as their God inſtructed them to diſcretion, Iſa. 28. 26, 27, 28. But the Partiality that proceeds from Fondneſs, Fear, Flattery, Covetouſneſs, or the like, and is not according to Juſtice, belongs to the Head of Worldly Wiſdom, and is a Symptom of a worldly mind. Ireckon that Correction is a kind of adminiſtration of Vindictive Juſtice.
What do they prefer moſt think we, that will ſeverely correct a piece of Playfulneſs, Idleneſs, Unmannerlineſs, or it may be a piece of natural Slowneſs or Weakneſs; and in the mean time connive at a great deal of Ribaldry, Looſneſs and Prophaneneſs.
In ſhort, What ever Tutor, Maſter, or Parent, had rather his Pupil, Apprentice, or Child, were a good Scholar, or a good Artiſt, then a good man, that endeavors and glories in the former, more than in the latter, to him, of right, belongs the Black Character of a Lover of the World.