Проповеди и лекции

alloweda that if the intellect have not been subjected to vanity or worldlinesa in our education, and if our moral being have not been submitted te sense or selfishness, that secondary evidence which is brought to nature must be stronger according to the number of the points npou which nature comes in contact with religion; Bat it is quite possible that education may be^ come sectarian, and thereby fight against religioni It may attend to the mere giving and receiving af impressioiis of knowledge by words or diagratnit or models and moulds of art ; cultivating the io-^ tellect and the taste alone, without minding the culture of principles of duty, or the building up of an excellent and manly character. It may aim to prepare men only for the present life, cnttivat- ox tDtCATlOV. sat utg in him the prudences and tiddreese^ by which he is to work his way in ihc community. Mriihout turning bis attention to the permanent parts of hi^ oature, or giving him to know of the life which is io come. In which csifirs, by being sectamn, ot ^<]tirc«!;ing only a part of human nature, and that ;ibe lowest part, it unHis a man for rch'i;fion, whose object is to order man according to the scale bt the true dignity of his faculties, not according to the scale of their preBCut usefulness. But if edocationbc so conducted, as Id fulfil the purpo:i« which its name imports, of educing or drawtnff out the powL'rs and faculties which arc in human nature, Ihere can be no doubt that it will qualify OS better for serving every end impofrCd upon ua by the revelation of God, which speaks not to the fooli»h but to the understanding whose command- ments enlighten the eyes, and whose testimonies make wise the simple. It is the part of falsehood and superstition lo desire the ignorance and Mindnces of those whom lhf>y delude, to keep their orgies in the twilighu of the &oul, and to oppose the progress of knowledge amongst the peopIc> for no other reaAon bet because it makes them think and reason; and ihc priests who do so are the priests of a superstition, and the states- men who do so are the statesmen of an oli;;archj^; which standcth in the well-being of a few, and the detriment of the many- But, on the other hand, it is posaible for the spifit of education to be sec-' tarian and nnrrow-niinded, as well aa the spirit of religion and the spirit of policy ; and, instead of educing and developing all Ike lucuUies of human nature, to cultivate only a part, and to be conducted according to a theory, popular in tht 3 |] 3 828 ON