LECTURE S. LECTURE I Give ear, fair Daughter of Love, to the Instructions of Prudence; and let the Precepts of Truth fink. deep in thy Heart. CECONOMY OF HUMAN LIFE. THE Summer Vacation being now over, I flatter myfelf, my young Audlence, that you will return, with cheerfulness, to your former ftudies and applications. The relaxation you have enjoyed from your fcholaftic exercises, fhould induce you to renew them with pleasure. You should now recall your attention to the bufinefs, for which you are here placed; not pine after those recreations in which you have been indulged; because you should confider them as the reward of pafi affiduity, and as an encouragement to future perfeverance. Thefe ftated times of retirement from School are both feasonable, and neceffary, if rightly applied. Children and parents must have a mutual defire of seeing each other after an interval of feparation : B feparation: and when this interview takes place, it affords the latter an opportunity of observing, what improvement has been made by the former. If you carried home with you a good teftimonial of Education, by the progress you have made in ufeful knowledge, and by your agreeable manners and converfation, the natural ardour of parental affection muft have been proportionably increased. But if you have difappointed the expectations of your parents, how forely muft you have wounded the fenfibility of thofe, who are ever anxious for your welfare and happiness! In the former cafe you have endeared them, if poffible, the more to you: and the approbation thus bestowed, in confequence of your amiable and virtuous difpofitions, will animate you to continue in that path wherein you have been directed, and which will lead to honour and efteem. But admitting the laft fuppofition, did you feel no unpleafing emotion, when you perceived a parent's diftrefs, at a daughter's neglect, or impropriety of conduct? Let me hope, however, that you have not experienced this fituation: or should fome diffatisfaction have been expreffed, on any particular branch of your education, let me recommend to you, a greater diligence for the time to come. Thefe periods of relaxation have their use also on another account. During the vacation, it is permitted you to unbend your minds, and divert your attention from ferious to gayer fubjects. But this you fhould confider as a temporary fufpenfion. Were it too long continued, you would acquire habits of idleness and levity. Young perfons, of discreet tempers, would not wish to exceed the ufual time allotted to diverfion; and, convinced of the importance of education, would apply, when returned to school, to its neceffary duties, without defiring, on every pretence, to impede its progrefs, by holidays and visits; which ferve only to diftract the mind, unqualify it for the business of improvement, and prevent the acquifition either of a true taste for pleasure, or a proper relifh for learning. Study and amusement have each its delights; and at school may seasonably fucceed each other; but they fhould be kept at their proper distance. Sufpend, therefore, all giddinefs and mirth, till the hour of inftruction Your leffons will then be more deeply impreffed on your memories, and you will, with more facility, attain that knowledge, which is the immediate object of your pursuit. On the contrary, if you fuffer your thoughts, at fuch times, to be diffipated, you deprive yourselves of the means offered for improvement-your powers of reafoning will be dormant for want of exercife-attention will be painful, and even amufement will afterwards lofe its charms. be over. I am well aware of the general difpofition of young perfons to be abfent from fchool. The fondness of your parents may induce them to grant your request. But I would wish you to be convinced, that fuch requefts are, for the moft part, improper and unreafonable. I am perfuaded, you will fubmit to confinement with more cheerfulness, when you experience, as you foon will, after having made a certain progress, that the paths of Learning are pleasant; and when you have a proper fenfe of its advantages; deprived of which, through any present neglect, you will condemn, when it is too late, your former inclination for diffipating your time by idle or frivolous diverfions. Every indication of filial tenderness and reSpect, in your fex, and at your age, is a pleafing proof of a mind, fufceptible of grateful impreffions, and confcious of the duty of honouring parents. Yours are doubtlefs entitled to every affectionate return you can poffibly make them; because, from the moment of your birth, to the present hour, their care and folicitude for your fakes, have been unremitted. And to what end, but for your benefit, that you might be prepared, by education, for focial and domeftic life, have they removed you, from under their own roofs ? For your improvement they have fubmitted to this feparation; but if, on that account, you repine, and are unhappy, because you are abfent from |