to have pretended to impose on her understanding, by attempting to
breed her up in entire ignorance of the world, or in perfect
seclusion from it. She often accompanied us to town for a short
time. The occasional sight of London, and the frequent enjoyment of
the best society, dissipated the illusions of fancy. The bright
colors with which young imagination, inflamed by ignorance, report,
and curiosity, invests unknown, and distant objects, faded under
actual observation. Complete ignorance and complete seclusion form
no security from the dangers incident to the world, or for correct
conduct at a distance from it. Ignorance may be the safety of an
idiot, and seclusion the security of a nun. Christian parents
should act on a more large and liberal principle, or what is the
use of observation and experience? The French women of fashion,
under the old regime, were bred in convents, and what women were
ever more licentious than many of them, as soon as marriage had set
them at liberty?

"I am persuaded that the best-intended formation of character, if
founded on ignorance or deceit, will never answer. As to Lucilla,
we have never attempted to blind her judgment. We have never
thought it necessary to leave her understanding out of the
question, while we were forming her heart. We have never told her
that the world is a scene absolutely destitute of pleasure: we have
never assured her that there is no amusement in the diversions
which we disapprove. Even if this assurance had not been deceitful,
it would have been vain and fruitless. We can not totally separate
her from the society of those who frequent them, who find their
happiness in them, and whom she would hear speak of them with
rapture.

"We went upon other grounds. We accustomed her to reflect that she
was an intellectual creature; that she was an immortal creature;
that she was a Christian. That to an intellectual being, diversions
must always be subordinate to the exercise of the mental faculties;
that to an immortal being, born to higher hopes than enjoyments,
the exercise of the mental faculties must be subservient to
religious duties. That in the practice of a Christian, self-denial
is the turning-point, the specific distinction. That as to many of
the pleasures which the world pur