(1) SOME THOUGHTS CONCERNING EDUCATION. §. 1. A Sound Mind in a sound Bady, is a short, but full defcription of a Happy State in this World: He that has these Two, has little more to wish for; and he that wants either of them, is but lit tle the better for any thing else. Mens Happiness or Misery is most part of their own making. He, whose Mind directs not wisely, will never take the right Way; and he, whose Body is crazy and feeble, will never be able to advance in it. I confess, there are some Mens Constitutions of Body and Mind so vigorous and well framed by Nature, that they need not much Assistance from others, but Ᏼ by by the strength of their natural Genius, they are from their Cradles carried towards what is Excellent; and by the privilege of their happy Constitutions are able to do Wonders: But Examples of these are but few, and I think I may say, that of all the Men we meet with, Nine parts of Ten are what they are, Good or Evil, useful or not, by their Education. 'Tis that which makes the great difference in Mankind: The little, and almost insensible Impressions on our tender Infancies, have very important and lasting Consequences: And there 'tis, as in the Fountains of some Rivers, where a gentle application of the hand turns the flexible Waters into Chanels, that make them take quite contrary Courses, and by this little direction given them at first in the Source, they receive different Tendencies, and arrive at last, at very remote and distant places. §. 2. I imagine the minds of Children as easily turned this or that way, as Water it self; and though this be the principal part, and our main care should be about the inside, yet the clay Cottage is not to be neglected. I shall there therefore begin with the Case, and consider first the Health of the Body, Health as that, which perhaps you may rather expect from that Study, I have been thought more peculiarly to have applied my self to; and that also, which will be soonest dispatched, as lying, if I guess not amiss, in a very little compass. §. 3. How necessary Health is to our Business and Happiness: And how re quisite a strong Constitution, able to endure Hardships and Fatigue, is to one that will make any Figure in the World, is too obvious to need any Proof. §. 4. The consideration, I shall here have of Health, shall be,not what a Phy fician ought to do with a sick or crazy Child; but what the Parents, without the help of Physick, should do for the preservation and improvement of an healthy, or at least, nor sickly Constitution in their children: And this perhaps might be dispatched, all in this one short Rule, viz. That Gentlemen should use their Children, as the honest Farmers and substantial Yeomen do theirs. But because the Mo Health thers possible may think this a little too hard, and the Fathers too short, I shall explain my self more particularly, only laying down this as a general and certain Observation for the Women to consider, viz. That most Children's Constitutions, are either spoiled or harmed by Cockering and Tenderness. Tenderness. §. 5. The First thing to be taken care Warmth. of, is, That Children be not too warmly Clador Covered Winter or summer. The Face, when we are Born, is no less tender than any other part of the Body: 'Tis use alone hardens it, and makes it more able to endure the Cold; and therefore the Scythian Philosopher gave a very significant Answer to the Athenian, who wonder'd how he could go Naked in Frost and Snow. How, said the Scythian can you endure your Face exposed to the harp Winter-Air? My Face is used to it, said the Athenian. Think me all Face, replyed the Scythian. Our Bodies will endure any thing, that from the beginning they are accustomed to. And therefore, amongst other things, I think that when Nature has so well covered his Head Head with hair, and strengthen'd it warmth. with a Year or two's Age, that he can run about, by Day, without a Cap, it is best, that by night a Child should also lie without one, there being nothing that more exposes to Head-ach, Colds, Catarrhs, Coughs, and several other Diseases, than keeping the Head warm. §. 6. I have said he here, because the principal aim of my Discourse is, how a young Gentleman should be brought up from his Infancy, which, in all things, will not so perfectly suit the Education of Daughters, though where the difference of Sex requires different treatment, 'twill be no hard matter to distinguish. §. 7. I would also advise his Feet to be Feet. washed every night in cold Water; and to have his Shooes so thin, that they might leak and let in Water, when ever he comes near it. Here, I fear, I shall have the Mistress and Maids too against me; one will think it too filthy, & the other, perhaps, too much pains to make clean his Stockings. But yet truth will have it, that his Health is much more worth than all such considerations B 3 and |