Prints will be sufficient, which may be preserved for ordinary use-but when an opportunity offers of shewing a child good paintings, it must not be neglected: for the force of colouring, and the grandeur of composition, will strike the imagination with greater effect.

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CHAP. VII.

Of Inculcating Principles of Religion in the Minds of Children.

It has been before observed that

T

the first years of childhood are not calculated for reasoning: not that children are divested of those ideas and general principles of reason which hereafter become manifest, but that they are ignorant of many facts, which hinders the application of their reason; and, moreover, leaves that agitation of the brain, which prevents them from connecting their ideas.

We should, however, without pressing them, gently direct the use of their reason towards a knowledge

of God.

Persuade them of Chris

tian truths, without giving them subjects of doubt. They observe some one to be dead: they know that burial afterwards follows: say to them—“ Is this dead person in the tomb?" Yes. "He is not then in paradise? "Pardon me, he is." "How can he be in the grave and in paradise at the same time?" "It is his soul which is in paradise--his body only in the grave." His soul and body then are not the same thing? "No." The soul, therefore, is not dead? "No-It will live for ever in heaven." Add: And you, do you wish to be saved?" But what is being saved? "It is the soul's going into paradise." And what is death?" It is the mouldering of the body into dust, when the soul has left it."

66

"Yes."

I do not pretend to say that children may at first be taught to answer in this manner: though I may add that many have given me such answers when they were four

years of age. Let us, however, sup

pose a child to be extremely reserved and uninstructed-the worst that can happen is, the waiting only a few more years with patience.

Shew children a house, and make them comprehend that this house did not build itself. The stones or bricks, say you, were not elevated without some one's carrying them so high. It may be as well, too, to shew them the masons at work: then make them contemplate heaven and earth, and the principal things which God has made for the use of man: say to them "how much more beautiful and better made is

the world than a house! Was it made of itself? No-assuredly it was made by the hands of the Almighty."

First follow the method of scripture. Strike their imaginations in as lively a manner as possible— propose to them nothing which may not be clothed with sensible images. Represent God as seated on a throne—with eyes more brilliant than the rays of the sun, and more piercing than the lightningrepresent him with ears that hear every thing; with hands that support the universe; with arms always stretched out to punish the wicked; and with a tender and paternal heart to make those happy who love him. The time will come when this information may be rendered more exact. Observe every