rict examination will discover some violation of the principles of the
human constitution, as the cause of derangement; and by correcting this
error, nature will gradually recover its lost energies, and restore
soundness to the part affected.

Your affectionate Brother.

LETTER XI.

_Mental Cultivation. Reading._

MY DEAR SISTER,

Our minds are given us as talents to improve in the service of God. If
we neglect the proper cultivation of them, we shall come under the
condemnation of the servant who hid his talent in the earth. But there
is a very great difference between mental cultivation and the mere
reception of knowledge. So you will perceive that when I speak of the
improvement of the mind, I do not mean _reading_ only; but that
discipline which calls into exercise the intellectual faculties, and
enables us to employ them in the investigation of the truth. This
discipline is a necessary preparation for profitable reading. It is a
great mistake to suppose that _mind_ is entirely original; or that only
a few possess intellectual faculties capable of searching into the deep
recesses of knowledge. It is true some possess talents of a superior
order; but none, except idiots, are incapable of improvement; and many
of the greatest minds have been formed upon a foundation which appeared
to consist of little else than dullness and stupidity. The most crooked
and unpromising twig may, by proper care and culture, become a great and
beautiful tree. The object of all education is to prepare us for
usefulness, either to ourselves or to others. We are not to disregard
ourselves. The glory of God is as much concerned in our own spiritual
growth, as in that of any other individual. But we are to love others
_as_ ourselves, and seek their good _as_ our own. Although our heads may
be filled with knowledge, yet if we have not the capacity of employing
it for practical purposes, it will be of little benefit, either to
ourselves or others. Many persons excuse themselves for neglecting to
improve their minds, upon the ground that they are incapable of doing
anything great or brilliant. But this arises from a foolish pride. If we
have but a single talent, we are equally under obligation to improve it
in the service of our Master as if we had ten. And it was upon this
principle that the servant was condemned to whom but one was given.

The discipline of which I speak may be effected in many wa