parents.  A grown person and an infant, what a contrast!  True it is, that many a child has become very unmanageable, but this may always be traced to early neglect.  If from the earliest infancy the young mind is trained to little acts of obedience, they will soon become habitual and pleasant to perform; but if improper indulgence and foolish kindness be practised towards children, they must, of course, grow up peevish, fretful, and ill-tempered, obstinate, saucy, and unmanageable.  “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap.”  Let this truth be ever engraved upon the minds of all parents.  A constant exercise of parental love in allowing all that is fit and proper, and a firm and judicious use of parental authority, in strictly refusing and forbidding all that is unsuitable or wrong, should harmoniously unite their power in training up the young.  Punishments, as a last resource, ought to be used; but never in a spirit of anger, wrath, or revenge.  If administered calmly and mildly they will have a double power.  Every wilful offence of a child seems to say, “Correct me, but with judgment.”  It may be painful to a parent to put on the “graver countenance of love,” but true parental love will always do it.  Oh that all parents in every rank of life saw and acted upon the great truth, that the noblest object that they can present to themselves, and the greatest obligation that is laid upon them, is to rear up their children to intelligence, virtue, and piety; to make them good rather than great, for if they are the former, they will assuredly be the latter in its highest and truest sense.[A]

[Footnote A:  Should the reader be pleased with this volume, I may refer to another work of mine just published, entitled “A System for the Education of the Young.”]

* * * * *

Having now finished all that I have to say on Infant Schools, I would, in conclusion, breathe forth a sincere petition to the throne of Divine Truth and Goodness, for the prosperity and spread of the System; in which I am sure I shall be joined by all who have been convinced of its beneficial effects in promoting the present and everlasting welfare of human beings.

Mysterious are thy ways, O God; yet who was ever disappointed that asked of thee in a right spirit?  Prosper, then, thy work which is begun in the world, we beseech thee, O Lord; may thy gracious providence so encircle and protect the rising generation, that there may be no more complaining in our streets.  Protect them, O Lord, from the many dangers that surround them, as soon as they draw their breath in this vale of tears, and put into the hearts of those who have the means to consider the state of the infant poor, to give them the assistance they need.  Grant that thy blessed example may be followed by many, for thou didst desire that children should come unto thee, and not be forbidden, and thou didst take them up in thine arms and bless them, declaring, that of