up.  One thing, however, must not be forgotten, they must be men advanced in life, not lads.  To teach natural things properly to children, requires more knowledge than the generality of the public suppose.  The younger the children are, the more knowledge it requires on the part of the instructor.  But to teach spiritual things properly to children, men cannot know too much, provided they have the power to simplify that knowledge and reduce it to practice.  An evening service will not do for children, it must be either in the morning or the middle of the day.  So fully am I impressed with the importance of this idea, that I am determined shortly to take means to carry it out.

CHAPTER X.

REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS.

Necessity of some punishment—­Rewards to Monitors—­Trial by Jury—­Illustrative case—­Necessity of firmness—­Anecdotes—­Playing the truant—­Its evils—­Means for prevention—­Devices for punishment—­Sympathy encouraged—­Evil of expelling children—­Case of Hartly—­Difficulty of legislating for rewards and punishments—­Badge of distinction not necessary.

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How does the Deity deal with His creatures, on this momentous question?  This is the question which every thinker—­and every religious man, must ask himself; and then, act accordingly.

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As man comes into the world with a propensity to do that which is forbidden, it has been found necessary at all times, to enact laws to govern and even to punish him, when he acts contrary to them; and who will deny the man a just reward who has done any act whereby his fellow-men have been benefitted?  “The hope of reward sweetens labour.”  If, then, rewards and punishments are necessary to make men active, and to keep them in order, how can it be expected that children can be governed without some kind of punishment?  I am aware that I am taking the unpopular side of the question, by becoming an advocate for punishment, but notwithstanding this, I must say, that I think no school in England has ever been governed without it; and that the many theories ushered into the world, on this subject, have not been exactly acted upon.  And since this was written I am in a position to state the same with regard to both Scotland and Ireland.  Indeed, it appears to me, that while men continue to be imperfect beings, it is not possible that either they or their offspring, can be governed without some degree of punishment.  I admit that it should be administered with great prudence, and never employed but as a last resource; and I am sorry to say, that it has descended to brutality in some schools, which, perhaps, is one reason why so many persons set their faces against it altogether.  I might write as others have done, by stating that I had brought up a family of my own without ever having struck even once any of my children, but then this is no argument for the general conducting of a school; in school, children are spoiled before they come to you, in a family the judicious parent begins at the beginning, the cases therefore entirely differ.