*As it has introduced a _new_ state of things, and so fully informed us of the _nature_ of man, and the _end_ of his creation; as it has fixed all our _goods_ and _evils_, taught us the means of purifying our souls, pleasing God, and becoming eternally happy; one might naturally suppose, that every Christian country abounded with _schools_, not only for teaching a few questions and answers of a _catechism_, but for the forming, training and practising youths in such a course of life, as the _highest_ precepts, the _strictest_ rules, and the _sublimest_ doctrines of Christianity require. 4. *An education under _Pythagoras_, or _Socrates_, had no other end, but to teach youth to _think_, _judge_, and _act_ as _Pythagoras_ and _Socrates_ used. And is it not as reasonable to suppose, that a Christian education should have no other end, but to teach youth how to think, and judge, and act according to the _strictest laws_ of Christianity? At least one would suppose, that in all Christian schools, the teaching youth to begin their lives in the _spirit_ of Christianity, in such _severity_ of behaviour, such _abstinence_, _sobriety_, _humility_, and _devotion_, as Christianity requires, should not only be _more_, but an _hundred times_ more regarded, than any, or all things else. For our educators should imitate our _guardian angels_, suggest nothing to our minds but what is _wise_ and _holy_; help us to discover and subdue every _vain passion_ of our hearts, and every _false judgment_ of our minds. 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.