38. And now having stated the measure of our affection to, and enquiry after learning and knowledge, it remains to be considered, how much ’tis observed in the general conduct of our studies. ’Tis plain, it is not observed at all. For these two things are notorious: First, That very little of what is generally studied, has any tendency to living _well_ here or happily hereafter. And, Secondly, That these very studies which have no religious influence upon life, do yet devour the greatest part of it. The best and most of our time is devoted to dry learning; this we make the course of our study, the rest is only by the by. And ’tis well if what is practical or devotional, can find us at leisure upon a broken piece of a Sunday or holiday. The main current of our life runs in studies of another nature, that don’t so much as glance one kind ♦aspect upon good living. Nay, ’tis well if some of them don’t hinder it. I am sure so great and so good a man as St. _Austin_ thought so, who speaking of the institution and discipline of his youth, has these remarkable words, “_I learnt in those things many useful words; but the same might have been learnt in matters that are not vain: and that indeed is the safe way, wherein children ought to be trained up. But wo unto thee thou torrent of |custom|! Who is able to resist thee! How long will it be before thou art dried up? How long wilt thou roll along the sons of |Eve|, into a great and formidable sea, which they can hardly pass over? Have I not, in obedience to thee, read of |Jupiter| thundring and fornicating at the same time? And yet, O thou hellish torrent, the sons of men are still tossed in thee, and are invited by rewards to learn these things! The pretence indeed is, that this is the way to learn words, and to get eloquence and the art of persuasion. As if we might not have known these words, |Golden Shower|, |lap|, the temple of |heaven|, without reading of |Jupiter|’s being made a precedent for whoring? This immorality does not at all help the learning of the words: but the words greatly encourage the committing the immorality. Not that I find fault with the words themselves; they are pure and choice vessels: but with that wine of error, which in them is handed and commended to us by our sottish teachers. And yet unless we drank of it, we were beaten, nor had we any sober judge to appeal to. And yet, I, O my God, in whose presence I now securely make this recollection, willingly learnt these things, and like a wretch delighted in them, and for this I was called a |good, hopeful boy|._” By this you may see what the judgment of this holy and venerable person was in his private retirements, and at the most serious intervals of his life, concerning the general course of those studies, which draw out the first runnings of our age, and which are of so great credit and authority in the world, as to go under the name of ingenious and liberal education. You see he not only disapproves them, but reckons them among those sins and irregularities of his youth, whereof he thought himself obliged to make a particular confession in this his great penetential.
♦ removed the word “of” per Errata
39. And here let me not be thought immodest, if upon great consideration and full conviction, I presume to tax the management of our publick schools. Many miscarriages I might note, but I shall concern myself only with those, which the principles here laid down lead me to consider. And these we may comprehend under two general heads of complaint.
I. That they take up so much of our time.
II. That they teach us such frivolous and unprofitable things as they do.