Benting. the only Instrument of Govern ment that Tutors generally know, or ever think of, is the most unfit of any to be us'd in Education, because it tends to both those Mischiefs; which, as we have shewn, are the Scylla and Charybdis, which on the one Hand or the other ruin all that miscarry. 1 §. 48. 1. This Kind of Punishment contributes not at all to the Mastery of our natural Propenfity to indulge corporal and present Pleafure, and to avoid Pain at any Rate, but rather encourages it, and thereby strengthens that in us, which is the Root from whence fpring all vicious Actions, and the Irregularities of Life. For what other. Motive, but of fenfual Pleasure and Pain, does a Child act by, who drudges at his Book against his Inclination, or abstains from eating unwholsome Fruit, that he takes Pleasure in, only out of Fear of Whipping? He in this only prefers the greater corporal Pleasure, or avoids the greater corporal Pain. And what is it, to govern his Actions, and direct his Conduct by such Motives as these? What is it, I fay, but to cherish that Principle in him, which it is our Business to root out, and destroy? And therefore I cannot think any Correction useful to a Child, where the Shame of fuffering for having done amiss, does not work more upon him, than the Pain.. §. 49. 6.49. 2. This Sort of Correction naturally breeds an Aversion to that, which 'tis the Tutor's, Business to create a liking to. How obvious is it to observe, that Children come to hate Things which were at first acceptable to them, when they find themselves whipp'd, and chid, and teas'd about them? And it is not to be wonder'd at in them, when grown Men would not be able to be reconcil'd to any Thing by such Ways. Who is there that would not be disgusted with any innocent Recreation, in it self indifferent to him, if he should with Blows or ill Language be hal'd to it, when he had no Mind? Or be constantly so treated, for fome Circumstances in his Application to it? This is natural to be so. Offensive Circumstan▸ ces ordinarily infect innocent Things, which they are join'd with; and the very Sight of a Cup, wherein any one uses to take nauseous Physick, turns his Stomach; so that nothing will relish well out of it, tho' the Cup be never so clean and well-shap'd, and of the richest Materials. §. 50. 3. Such a Sort of flavish Difcipline, makes a flavish Temper. The Child submits, and dissembles Obedience, whilft the Fear of the Rod hangs over him; but when that is remov'd, and by being out of Sight, he can promise himself Impunity, he gives the greater Scope to his natural Inclination; which, by this Way, is not at all alter'd, but ou the contrary, heighten'd and increas'd in him; and after such Restraint, breaks out ufually with the more Violence; or. §. 51. 4. If Severity carry'd to the higheft Pitch, does prevail, and works a Cure upon the present unruly Distemper, it is often by bringing in the Room of it, a worse and more dangerous Disease, by breaking the Mind; and then, in the Place of a diforderly young Fellow, you have a low-fpirited moap'd Creature; who, however with his unnatural Sobriety he may please filly People, who commend tame unactive Children, because they make no Noise, nor give them any Trouble, yet, at last, will probably prove as uncomfortable a Thing to his Friends, as he will be all his Life, an useless Thing to himself and others. §. 52. Beating them, and all oRewards. ther Sorts of flavish and corporal Punishments, are not the Difcipline fit to be us'd in the Education of those we would have wife, good, and ingenious Men; and therefore very rarely to be apply'd, and that only in great Occafions, and Cafes of Extremity. On the other Side to flatter Children by Rewards of Things that are pleasant to them, is as carefully to be avoided. He that will give to his Son Apples or Sugar-plumbs, or what elfe of this Kind he is most delighted with, to make him learn his Book, does but authorize his Love of Pleasure, and cocker up that dangerous Propenfity, which he ought by all Means : Means to fubdue and stifle in him. You can never hope to teach him to master it, whilft you compound for the Check you give his Inclination in one Place, by the Satisfaction you propose to it in another. To make a good, a wise, and a vertuous Man, 'tis fit he should learn to cross his Appetite, and deny his Inclination to Riches, Finery, or pleasing bis Palate, &c. whenever his Reafon advises the contrary, and his Duty requires it. But when you draw him to do any Thing that is fit by the Offer of Money, or reward the Pains of learning his Book, by the Pleasure of a lusheous Morfel; when you promife him a Lace-Cravat, or a fine new Suit, upon Performance of fome of his little Tasks, what do you by propofing these as Rewards, but allow them to be the good Things he should aim at, and thereby encourage his Longing for em, and accustom him to place his Happiness in them? Thus People, to prevail with Children to be industrious about their Gram-mar, Dancing, or some other fuch Matter, of no great Moment to the Happiness or Usefulness of their Lives, by mifapply'd Rewards and Punishments, facrifice ther Vertue, invert the Order of their Education, and teach them Luxury, Pride, or Covetousness, &c. For in this Way, flattering. those wrong Inclinations which they should reftrain and fuppress, they lay the Foundations of those future Vices, which cannot be avoided, but by curbing our Defires, and accustoming them early to fubmit to Reason. §. 53. I say not this, that I would have Children kept from the Conveniences or Pleasures of Life, that are not injurious to their Health or Vertue. On the contrary, I would have their Lives made as pleasant, and as agreeable to them, as may be in a plentiful Enjoyment of whatsoever might innocently delight them, provided it be with this Caution, that they have those Enjoyments, only as the Confequences of the State of Esteem and Acceptation they are in with their Parents and Governors; but they should never be offer'd or bestow'd on them, as the Rewards of this or that particu lar Performance, that they shew an Averfion to, οι to which they would not have apply'd themselves without that Temptation §.. 54. But if you take away the Rodon one Hand, and these little Encouragements, which they are taken with, on the other, how then (will you say) shall Children be govern'd? Remove Hope and Fear, and there is an End of all Discipline. I grant, that Good and Evil, Reward and Runishment, are the only Motives to a rational Crea ture: These are the Spur and Reinsy where by all Mankind are fet on Work, and guid ed; and therefore they are to be made Ufe of to Children too. For I advise their Par rents and Governors always to carry this |