in the parents running out of bounds in the
manners of their children. And here I may add, that some parents,
dwelling too much on the disuse of forms in religion, because such
disuse is inculcated by their own doctrines, run into the opposite
extreme, and bring up their children in too much ignorance of the
general plan of Christianity, as it is laid down in the letter of the
scriptures.

With respect to education, as for it is literary or philosophical, it is
frequently sufficient for those upon whom it is bestowed. But it does
not appear to me to be carried to its proper extent, in the case of the
children of the rich, when I consider how friendly it might be made
towards the promotion of virtue. Some, we know, growing wealthy, have
had children when they were poorer, and, when in this poorer state, they
have given them an education which has been suitable to it, not
calculating upon their future rise in life. But their children, having
had such a limited education, have not had that which has been proper
for their subsequent station in life. Others again, who have been born
in better circumstances, have, on account of an undue depreciation of
human knowledge, educated their children as improperly for their
station as the former. The children then, in both these cases, have not
had an education sufficient, with the prospect of riches before them, to
keep them out of the way of harm. They have not had, in addition to any
religious instruction, that taste given them for sublime pursuits, which
should make them despise those which were frivolous. Thus many of the
corruptive opinions, fashions, and amusements of the world have charmed
them. Giving way to these, they have been overcome. When overcome, they
have run into excesses, and for these excesses they have been disowned.
But surely, with a better education, they would have thought all such
corruptive opinions, fashions, and amusements, as below their notice,
and unworthy of their countenance and support.

CHAP. IV.

_Supposed remedies for the diminution of some of these
causes--Regulations in the case of mixed marriages--Measures to be
adopted in the pursuit of trade--Education, as it is moral or
religious, to be more strictly enforced in some families--as it is
literary or philosophical, to be carried to a greater extent among the
children of the rich--Object of this latter education--Nature of it as
consisting both knowledge and prohibitions--How it would