Sauces and Raggoufts, and Food disguis'd by all the Arts of Cookery, must tempt their Palates, when their Bellies are full; andthen, for fear the Stomach should be over-charg'd, a Pretence is found for t'other Glass of Wine to help Digestion, tho' it only ferves to increase the Surfeit. Is my young Master a little out of Order, the first Question is, What will my Dear eat? What shall I get for thee? Eating and Drinking are instantly press'd; and every Body's Invention is fet on Work to find out fomething, lufcious and delicate enough to prevail over that Want of Appetite, which Nature has wisely order'd in the Beginning of Diftempers, as a Defence againft their Increase, that being freed from the ordinary Labour of digefting any new Load in the Stomach, the may be at Leisure to correct, and mafter the peccant Humours. And where Children are so happy in the Care of their Parents, as by their Prudence to be kept from the Excess of their Tables, to the Sobriety of a plain and fimple Diet, yet there too they are scarce to be preferv'd from the Contagion that poisons the Mind'; though, by a difcreet Management whilst they are under Tuition, their Healths perhaps may be pretty well secure, yet their Defires must needs yield to the Lessons which every where will be read to them upon this Part of Epicurism. The Commendation that eating well has every where, cannot fail to to be a fuccessful Incentive to natural Appetite, and bring them quickly to the Liking and Expence of a fashionable Table. This shall have from every one, even the Reprovers of Vice, the Title of Living well. And what shall fullen. Reafon dare to fay against the publick Testimony? Or can it hope to be heard, if it should call that Lux. wy, which is so much own'd, and univerfally practis'd by those of the best Quality? This is now fo grown a Vice, and has fo great Supports, that I know not whether it do not put in for the Name of Vertue; and whether it will not be thought Folly, or Want of Knowledge of the World, to open ones Mouth against it? And truly I should fufpect, that what I have here faid of it, might be cenfur'd as a little Satyr out of my Way, did I not mention it with this View, that it might awaken the Care and Watchfulness of Parents in the Education of their Children, when they fe how they are beset on every Side, not only with Temptations, but Instructors to Vice, and that perhaps in those they thought Places of Security. I shall not dwell any longer on this Subject, much less run over all the Particulars that would shew what Pains are us'd to corrupt Children, and inftil Principles of Vice into them: But I defire Parents foberly to confider, what Irregularity or Vice there is, which Children are not visibly taught, and whether : whether it be not their Duty and Wisdom to provide them other Instructions. §. 38. It seems plain to me, Craving. that the Principle of all Vertue and Excellency, lies in a Power of denying our selves the Satisfaction of our own Defires, where Reason does not authorize them. This Power is to be got and improv'd by Custom, made easy and familiar by an early Practice. If therefore I might be heard, I would advise, that, contrary to the ordinary Way, Children should be us'd to fubmit their Defires, and go without their Longings, even from their very Cradles. The first Thing they should learn to know, should be, that they were not to have any Thing because it pleas'd them, but because it was thought fit for them. If Things fuitable to their Wants, were supply'd to them, so that they were never fuffer'd to have what they once cry'd for, they would learn to be content without it, would never, with Bawling and Peevisfliness, contend for Mastery, nor be half so uneasy to themselves and others, as they are, because from the first Beginning they are not thus handl'd. If they were never fuffer'd to obtain their Defire by the Impatience they express'd for it, they would no more cry for other Thing, than they do for the Moon.:: §. 39. I say not this, as if Children were not to be indulg'd in any Thing, or that I.. expected they should in Hanging-Sleeves, have the Reason and Conduct of Counsellors. I confider them as Children, who must be tenderly us'd, who muft play, and have Play-Things. That which I mean, is, that whenever they crav'd what was not fit for them to have or do, they should not be permitted it, because they were lit tle, and defir'd it; nay, whatever they were importunate for, they should be fure, for that very Reason, to be deny'd. I have feen Children at a Table, who, whatever was there, never afk'd for any Thing, but contentedly took what was given them: And at another Place, I have seen others cry for every Thing they faw, must be ferv'd out of every Dish, and that first too. What made this valt Difference, but this? That one was accustom'd to have what they call'd or cry'd for, the other to go without it. The younger they are, the lefs I think are their unruly and disorderly Appetites to be comply'd with, and the less Reason they have of their own, the more are they to be under the abfolute Power and Reftraint of those in whose Hands they are From which, I confefs, it will follow, that none but difcreet People should be about them. If the World commonly does otherwise, I cannot help that. I am faying what I think should be, which, if it were already in Fashion, I should not need to trouble the World with a Discourse on this Subject. But yet I doubt not, but C when when it is confider'd, there will be others of Opinion with me, that the Sooner this Way is begun with Children, the eafier it will be for them, and their Governors too; and, that this ought to be observ'd as an inviolable Maxim, that whatever once is deny'd them, they are certainly not to obtain by Crying or Importunity, unless one has a Mind to teach them to be impatient and troublesome, by rewarding them for it when they are so. Early. §. 40. Those therefore that intend ever to govern their Children, should begin it whilft they are very little, and look that they perfectly comply with the Will of their Parents. Would you have your Son obedient to you, when past a Child? Be fure then to establish the Authority of a Father, as soon as he is capable of Submiffion, and can understand in whose Power he is. If you would have him stand in Awe of you, imprint it in his Infancy; and, as he approaches more to a Man, admit him nearer to your Familiarity; so shall you have him your obedient Subject (as is fit) whilft he is a Child, and your affectionate Friend when he is a Man. For methink they mightily misplace the Treatment due to their Children, who are indulgent and familiar, when they are little, but fevere to them, and keep them at a Distance, when they are grown up: For Liberty and Indulgence can |