And it is as reasonable to expect and require all this benefit of a Christian education, as to require that physic should strengthen all that is right in our nature, and remove that which is _sickly_ and _diseased_.
5. But alas, our modern education is not of this kind.
*The _first temper_ that we try to awaken in children, is _pride_; as dangerous a passion as that of _lust_. We stir them up to vain thoughts of themselves, and do every thing we can, to puff up their minds with a sense of their own abilities.
*Whatever way of life we intend them for, we apply to the _fire_ and _vanity_ of their minds, and exhort them to every thing from corrupt motives: we stir them up to action from principles of _strife_ and _ambition_, from _glory_, _envy_, and a desire of distinction, that they may excel others, and shine in the eyes of the world.
And when we have taught them to scorn to be outdone by any, to bear no _rival_, to thirst after _every instance_ of applause, to be content with nothing but the highest distinctions; then we begin to take comfort in them, and promise the world some mighty things from youths of such a glorious spirit.
If children are intended for _holy orders_, we set before them some eminent _oratory_ whose _fine_ preaching has made him the _admiration_ of the age, and carried him through all the _dignities_ and _preferments_ of the church.
We encourage them to have these _honours_ in their eye, and to expect the reward of their studies from them.
If the youth is intended for a _trade_, we bid him look at the rich men in the _same trade_, and consider how many now are carried in their _stately coaches_, who began in the same low degree as he now does. We awaken his ambition, and endeavour to give his mind a _right turn_, by often telling him how rich such and such a tradesman died.
If he is to be a lawyer, then we set great _counsellors_, _lords_, _judges_, and _chancellors_, before his eyes. We tell him what great fees, and great _applause_ attend fine pleading. We exhort him to take fire at these things to raise a spirit of emulation in himself, and to be content with nothing less than the highest honours of the _long robe_.
6. That this is the nature of our _best education_, is too plain to need any proof; and I believe there are few parents, but would be glad to see these instructions daily given to their children.
And after all this, we complain of the effects of pride; we wonder to see _grown men_ acted and governed by _ambition_, _envy_, _scorn_, and a desire of glory; not considering that they were all the time of their youth called upon to form all their action and industry upon the same principles.
You teach a child to _scorn_ to be outdone, to thirst for _distinction_ and _applause_; and is it any wonder that he continues to act all his life in the same manner?
*Now if a youth is ever to be so far a Christian, as to govern his heart by the _doctrines_ of humility, I would fain know at _what time_ he is to begin it; or, if he is _ever_ to begin it at all, why we train him up in tempers quite contrary to it?
How _dry_ and _poor_ must the doctrine of humility sound to a youth, that has been spurred up to all his industry by _ambition_, _envy_, _emulation_, and a desire of _glory_ and _distinction_? And if he is not to act by these _principles_ when he is a _man_, why do we call him to act by them in his _youth_?
_Envy_ is acknowledged by all people to be the most _ungenerous_, _base_ and _wicked_ passion, that can enter into the heart of man.
And is this the temper to be instilled, nourished and established in the minds of young people?
7. I know it is said, that it is not _envy_, but _emulation_, that is intended to be awakened in the minds of young men.
*But this is vainly said. For when children are taught to bear no _rival_, and to _scorn_ to be outdone by any of their age, they are plainly and directly taught to be _envious_. For it is impossible for any one to have this _scorn_ to be outdone, this contention with _rivals_, without burning with _envy_ against all those that seem to excel him, or get any distinction from him. So that what children are taught, is _rank envy_, and only covered with a name of a less odious sound.
*_Secondly_, If _envy_ is thus confessedly bad, and it be only _emulation_ that is endeavoured to be awakened in children, surely there ought to be _great_ care taken, that children may know the one from the other; that they may abominate one as a great _crime_, whilst they give the other admission into their minds.
But if this were to be attempted, the _fineness_ of the distinction betwixt envy and emulation, would shew that it was easier to divide them in words, than to separate them in action.
For _emulation_, when it is defined in its best manner, is nothing else but a _refinement_ upon envy, or rather the most _plausible part_ of that black and venomous passion.