Letters on the Improvement of the Mind, Addressed to a Lady — John Shaqi
Letters on the Improvement of the Mind, Addressed to a LadyChapone, Mrs. (Hester)
Religion
Letters on the Improvement of the Mind, Addressed to a Lady
Chapone, Mrs. (Hester)
Women -- Education; Young women -- Conduct of life
In my next letter, I will give you some brief directions, concerning the
method and course I wish you to pursue, in reading the Holy Scriptures.
May you be enabled to make the best use of this most precious gift of
God--this sacred treasury of knowledge! May you read the Bible, not as a
task, nor as the dull employment of that day only in which you are
forbidden more lively entertainments--but with a sincere and ardent
desire of instruction; with that love and delight in God's word which
the holy psalmist so pathetically felt, and described, and which is the
natural consequence of loving God and virtue! Though I speak this of the
Bible in general, I would not be understood to mean that every part of
the volume is equally interesting. I have already said, that it consists
of various matter, and various kinds of books, which must be read with
different views and sentiments. The having some general notion of what
you are to expect from each book may possibly help you to understand
them, and heighten your relish of them. I shall treat you as if you were
perfectly new to the whole; for so I wish you to consider yourself;
because the time and manner, in which children usually read the Bible,
are very ill-calculated to make them really acquainted with it; and too
many people who have read it thus, without understanding it in their
youth, satisfy themselves that they know enough of it, and never
afterwards study it with attention, when they come to a maturer age.
Adieu, my beloved Niece! If the feelings of your heart, whilst you read
my letters, correspond with those of mine, whilst I write them, I shall
not be without the advantage of your partial affection, to give weight
to my advice; for, believe me, my own dear girl, my heart and eyes
overflow with tenderness while I tell you, with how warm and earnest
prayers for your happiness here, and hereafter, I subscribe myself
Your faithful friend
and most affectionate AUNT.
LETTER II.
ON THE STUDY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
I NOW proceed to give my dear Niece some short sketches of the matter
contained in the different books of the Bible, and of the course in
which they ought to be read.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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