This cannot be right. Man, in fact, _must be_ considered and treated from infancy to the last moment of his life as a being formed by his Maker for a state of existence far, very far different from the present--a state for which his sole business on earth is,--constantly to be preparing, by a diligent culture of _all_ his powers--by the beneficent use of _all_ his means; and by the faithful performance of _all_ his duties to himself, to his fellow creatures, and to his God. _This_ and _this only is education_. The learning of languages, arts, and sciences, which too often comprise the whole of education, furnishes him only with the stepping-stones, the scaffolding, and the tools to aid him in the erection of the grand edifice, which although based on earth, should rear its Dome to the highest Heaven, and be built for eternity as well as for time. But alas! these sciences, arts and languages, are almost always mistaken for the edifice itself--an edifice whose external decorations are much more valued and regarded than the great purposes for which it should be constructed: in other words, it is prepared more for show than use--more to attract the admiration of others, than really to benefit for all time the vain possessor who is to live in it, and to derive lasting security, comfort and true enjoyment from the skilful adaptation of all its various parts to the complete attainment of these inestimable blessings. To the mistake here figuratively expressed, more than to any other cause, we owe the countless failures, the innumerable, unsuccessful, heart-sickening efforts to educate the rising generation: for scholarship, by which I mean a thorough acquaintance with all that is usually taught in our schools of the highest grade, is really and truly _not thorough education_, but a very inconsiderable and quite inferior part of the grand total. That which crowns the whole--that to which all else should be merely subsidiary--that which alone can elevate man from earth to Heaven,--is _moral and christian education_, producing constantly, by divine grace, _moral and christian practice_. It is _this_ and _this only_, which can enable us to meet as we should, all the changes and chances of this mortal life--to carry along with us into whatever calling or profession we may choose, all the requisite knowledge, ability and will, to render it most conducive not only to our own subsistence, comfort and happiness, so far as these are dependant thereon, but to the general good of the whole community in which we live. In other words, it is moral and christian education alone, that will give us both the power and effectual desire to fulfil every duty of the present life in such a manner as will best promote our own interests, temporal and eternal, as well as the great interests of society at large, in every way towards which we can possibly contribute. This efficient devotion of our powers and our means to the