Much culture is necessary to man’s attaining his proper rank in creation.  This should begin at an early period, and naturally devolves on parents, who, by providential appointment, are guardians of the infancy and childhood of their offspring.

Brutes need no instruction in order to fill the places designed for them of the Creator.  Neither do they need example.  Instinct supplies their places—­teacheth all which they need to know; and teacheth perfectly.  The several kinds of beasts and birds, shut out from their dams, and secluded from their own species, act according to their natures in the same manner, as though brought up with them—­discover the same disposition—­use the same methods of seeking their food, and providing for themselves and their young—­and express themselves in the same language, or by the same notes.  Nature left to herself, respecting every thing which belongs to them, is a sufficient, yea an infallible instructor.  Some of the brutes may be taught to mimick man; others to know and serve him; but these are foreign to their rank.  Everything, properly belonging to them, is taught by nature, independent of man.  Had man never existed, some of them might have lived and filled their places in creation without him.

But man, the head of this lower world, requires particular attention.  His mind requires more than his body.  Should man come forward to act his part here, with only the same kind of attention which nature teacheth the brute to bestow on her young, what would he be?  How would he appear?  Suppose some savage horde to attend only to the bodies of their offspring, during infancy and childhood, and then send them abroad to follow nature!—­Uncultivated nature!  Living at large like the brutal inhabitants of the forest!  Can we form an idea of ought more shocking?  Surely such a people would be more brutal than the brutes!

To prevent these dreadfuls, and render man the noble creature for which he is designed, happy in himself, an honor to his Creator, and a blessing among God’s works, are the ends proposed in education.  These usually originate in that culture which is begun by parents.  The foundation of honor or infamy, usefulness or mischief, happiness or misery, is commonly laid in the morning of life.  The impressions then made, are deep and lasting; the bias then given to the mind, goes far to form the character of the man.  We see therefore the goodness of God in an institution which hath such important objects in view—­which is designed to plant in infant minds the seeds of virtue, and form mankind for usefulness and honor.—­And wherefore one?  That he might seek a godly seed.