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 Publick Education
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND
 
 Ci 
 
 Publick Education^ particularly m the 
 CHAR ITT-SCHO OLS. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd at 
 St. Philip's Church in BIRMINGHAM, 
 
 Auguft 9, 1724. 
 
 At the Opening of a 
 
 CHARITYSCHOOL, 
 
 Built to receive an Hundred Children ; 
 
 WHICH 
 
 Are there not only to be taught and cloath'd, 
 but alfo fed and lodg'd : With Accommoda- 
 tions for a Mafler and Miftrcls. 
 
 By 77/0. BISSK, D. D. 
 
 Yublifhed at the Requejl of the Truflees. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for W. and J. INNYS at the Weft End 
 of St. TanTs. 1 715*.
 
 If 
 To the Reverend <^7B 
 
 The C L E R G Y, and 
 
 GENTLEMEN, 
 
 THE 
 
 TRUSTEES; 
 
 THIS 
 
 S E R MO N, 
 
 Preached and Publifhed at their Requeft, 
 
 i s, 
 
 'With due Refpecls, 
 Prefcntcd by 
 Their humble Servant, 
 
 894418 Tho. Biffe.
 
 PSALM CXL1V. i2. 
 
 That our fom may be as plants grown 
 up in tketr youth, thai our daughters 
 may be as corner-ftones , polifhed 
 after the flmihtude of a palace. 
 Or in the old translation, 
 
 That onr fons may grow up as the 
 young plants, and that onr daughters 
 may be as the poll/fact corners of 
 the temple. 
 
 H E S E words begin the prayer of 
 the royal Pfalmift for the happy 
 cflare of his people, as containing 
 the grcateft of national bleflings, 
 which therefore is put before o- 
 thcr publick blcflings, before all manner of 
 J/ore, before the multitude of tlicir flocks, 
 and ftrcngth of their cattle, that arc prayed 
 for in the following vcrics. For happy are 
 the people, where the rifmg generation of 
 
 A 3 ions
 
 6 Publick Education, particularly 
 
 fons and daughters are well train'd up and 
 polifh'd by education: Far happier are the 
 people that are in fuch a cafe, than if their 
 folds abounded with ten thoufands of jheep^ 
 3'4 or their flails with oxen that were flron^ to 
 labour. And though happier ftill is that na- 
 tion, where all thefe pablick bleflings meet 
 together ; yet bleffed rather are that people^ 
 '5- who have the Lord for their God> the foun- 
 tain and giver of them all. 
 
 Now this being a national bleffing here pray- 
 ed for, I mufl obferve, that there are original 
 differences in whole nations as in fingle per- 
 fons, one * people as well as perfon differing 
 from another, by a fuperiority of genius, or 
 natural underftanding And mould we put 
 that queflion to any people, <who made thee 
 to differ from another? Doubtlefs the an- 
 fwer mould be, he that made them. But the 
 far greateft differences, whether in perfons or 
 people, is education ; which engrafting upon 
 what God hath planted, caufes them by im- 
 provement to differ more from themielves, 
 than by nature they did from one another. 
 
 For firfl as to perfbns; whence comes it, 
 that among children born of the lame parents, 
 one mould raife himfelf to the degree of no- 
 ble, while the reft remain in the low level of 
 their birth : That among branches rifing from 
 
 * So Cicero affirms of the Italians. Ingetm vero (ut 
 mu'tis cauiis poflumus juciicare) noftrorum liominum mul- 
 ium cseter-.s hommibus omnium gentium prseftiterunt, Lib.i. 
 <3e Oratore," 
 
 the
 
 in the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 
 the fame (lock, one fliould grow up into a 
 great tree, infbmuch that all the family or 
 dependents lodge under his fliadow, whili 
 the others continue as dwarfs or ftirubs ? This 
 difference mud ante chiefly from outward 
 improvement, fmce all partake of the fatnels 
 of the fame natural root : Though whilft I 
 thus fpeak, I preiiippofe in all caies the con- 
 currence of the divine blefling, which gives 
 the increafe. If we look into the great pods 
 or offices in the world, they are generally 
 filled by thofe, whom providence hath railed 
 through the means of their own attainments, 
 prelates in the church, govcrnours in theftate, 
 prefidents at the bar, rulers in the city, and 
 commanders in the field, arc all made, not 
 born fuch 'Tis education, not extraction, 
 that creates thefe differences and degrees a- 
 mong men. Infomuch that he who is born 
 in a palace, (hall oftentimes be fubje&to him 
 that came from a cottage: And unlefs the 
 children of the mighty, the rich and the no- 
 ble will take like pains with the offspring of 
 the lower ranks to get knowledge, and to 
 add improvement to their quality, they mult 
 be content to be followers of the wife, 
 whencefoever they became wife : For juft 
 and neceflary it is, that men of knowledge 
 fliould be governours to the ignorant, as thac 
 thofe who have eyes mould be guides to the 
 blind. 
 
 Thus by the excellency of education arc 
 perfons railed, and by pcrfons families ; and 
 
 A 4 ky
 
 8 Publick Education, particularly 
 
 by the neglect of it both perfons and families 
 gradually fink in their dignity. And whilft 
 they behold worthier than themfelves to 
 come up daily from among the people, they 
 rnuft with Jhame take the lower room in the 
 fttuation of the world. This afcent and de- 
 fcent of perfons, this riling and falling of fami- 
 lies, thro' the force or defect of education, is 
 a truth io obvious, that all mud obferve it; 
 fo common, that too many experience it. 
 For thi; is one way, and I believe the mod 
 general way, whereby God vifits the iniqui- 
 ties of fathers upon their children, thofe wick- 
 ed fathers neglecting the education of their 
 children, being willing they ihould be even 
 iiich as themfelves; whereby the children of 
 courfe growing vicious, ignorant and fo con- 
 temptible, it comes to pals, that the name of 
 the family is in the next generation clean put 
 out. 
 
 But to extend this obfervation, as our Text 
 requires, from perfons to a people, and to 
 fhew the force or want of education upon na- 
 tions; do we of this nation, abounding in 
 wifdom of government, in all arts and know- 
 ledge of workmanfhip, pity thofe poor In- 
 dianS) which remain yet ignorant and uncul- 
 tivated, deftitute of all thefe? We do well 
 to pity them, and we fhould do better to in- 
 ftruct them ; remembring, that we our felves 
 were once the fame objects of pity and culti- 
 vation to the Romans^ as the Indians are 
 now to us ; afid thus were the Romans them- 
 felves
 
 in the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 9 
 
 fclves to the nations before them. Such is 
 the energy or excellency of knowledge and 
 learning, that it gives not only a difference 
 between one kingdom and another people, 
 but fo vaft an one, that it may be (aid to 
 give being and a name to a nation. For as 
 in the fcriptural account the knowledge of 
 Religion made ihem, which were not a peo- 
 ple, to become the people of God-, fo the , p er . 
 knowledge of arts and iciences may as juflly 10. 
 be faid to make them which were not a nati- 
 on, to become worthy of that title, and to 
 be enrolled among the nations of the earth. 
 We may obferve farther, that God deals with 
 nations in the fame manner with regard to 
 human learning, as to the Chriftian Religion. 
 For as he takes away the light of the Goipel, 
 fbdoth he that of knowledge; and giveth both 
 to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 
 This too he doth at the fame time ; for they 
 feem infeparable. Of this many fignal and 
 fad examples may be feen in the annals of 
 the Chriftian world. 
 
 Now tho' it becomes us to look upon this 
 as judicial in the intention of God, yet fince 
 it pleafcs him to bring about his judgments 
 generally by natural means, we may trace 
 this up to the fame original caufes, which 
 are the plentiful provifion or grofs neglect of 
 publick inftitution in a land. For how can 
 the Church of God, his pleafant vineyard, 
 be propagated and lupplicd, but from nurfc- 
 rics ordained thereunto ? Or whence can the 
 
 knowledge
 
 Publick Rducation, particularly 
 
 knowledge of fciences, and arts, or any kind 
 of learning, mod of which are fubfervient 
 to Religion, fpread in any country, but from 
 leminaries for fuch learning? Was it not for 
 this, that the apoftate Emperor or imperial 
 Antichrift, in order to deftroy the Chriftian 
 name, forbid the Chriftians the ufe of fchools 
 or any learned infh'tution ? Is it not for this, 
 that the great Mahometan, enemy to the fame 
 name, fufFers no academies, no fchools, no 
 fcience, no profeflors, throughout his vaft em- 
 pire; which therefore deferves not the name 
 of an empire, being in its nature but a mere 
 favage tyranny over great heaps or rather 
 herds of vaffals? Wherefore in all Chriftian 
 flates, that have not been afflicled with /uch 
 deftrudtive princes, with a Julian or a Ma- 
 homet , as there have been feminaries infti- 
 tuted for human learning as well as Religion, 
 Schools of Philofophers as well as of the Pro- 
 phets, indeed of the former chiefly for the ufe 
 and in fubfervience to the latter ; lo in propor- 
 tion to the number and oeconomy of both,hath 
 that ftate made a figure in the world. Up- 
 on this account our kingdom is not the leafl 
 in glory, if in extent, among the nations of 
 Chriftendom. 
 
 And here I take this occaflon (and juft oc 
 cafion will I omit none) to mention our two 
 great Seminaries famous throughout the world, 
 and to which the world hath iliewn nothing 
 parallel, our UNIVERSITIES. But left we 
 might feem to boaft our felves of our owflt 
 
 Countryy
 
 CHARITY-SCHOOLS. n 
 
 Country, omitting that cloud of witnefles 
 which 1 could fummon in from abroad, I will 
 only mention the teftimony of that renowned 
 foreigner, Erafmtis, a -man that had travelled 
 thro' all parrs of the learned world, and was 
 the learnedeft man in it; who * coming into M 
 Eft gland i when he confidered what diffe- 
 rence there was between the Bifhops of this 
 and of ether nations, publiihed to the world, 
 that f ONLY ENGLAND HAD LEARNED 
 BISHOPS. Let this teftimony be enrolled 
 and (land upon record for ever to the renown 
 of England and of our Univerfities, out of 
 which alone thofe learned Bifhops did or 
 could arife. And tho' thole great men were 
 luperior to their foreign cotemporaries, yet 
 their fucceffors, iprung from the fame nurfe- 
 ries, may without partiality be declared not 
 inferior to them. As the former were the 
 authors, Ib thcfe have been the champions 
 ever fmce, of the Reformation. There nei- 
 ther is nor can be any juft fear from Rome, 
 nor all its artiul emifTaries, nor from the con- 
 federate hoft of hereticks, tho* fighting under 
 fuch various and falfc colours; whilft thefe 
 Univerfities, productive of fo many and ib 
 learned antagonifts, remain. For thele are the 
 fortrefTcs of Truth, and are like the to^er Cant 
 of David bn'ildcd for an armoury, thereon \. 
 there hang a thoufand bucklers^ all jbi elds 
 of mighty men. 
 
 * Upon the invitation of Archltfio? 
 t Antitj. Brit./ 3',6. 
 
 But
 
 1 ^ Publick Education , particularly 
 
 But I confefs that thefe Nurferies, tho' of a 
 fuperior kind, are not of univerfal extent In 
 thefe indeed our fbns grow up to be ions of 
 wif<3om: but then they commonly are, or 
 ought to be, the fons of the middle or upper 
 ranks, which are here train'd up to fill the 
 greater profeffions and offices in Church and 
 State. 
 
 But befides thefe large Seminaries, our na- 
 tion is blefTed, probably above any other na- 
 tion, with a multitude of fubordinace SCHOOLS 
 planted throughout the land. Among thefe 
 there are fome few of greater extent and e- 
 minence, which are founded to be direcl: nur- 
 feries to their correfpondent COLLEGES; 
 and happy would it be, were there more 
 correlatives of that kind. Thefe may be 
 faid to be of a richer foil, and are oftentimes 
 the raifers of our greateft men ; which I fpeak 
 only in juftice to thefe, not to the diminuti- 
 on of fchools of an infeiior or different infti- 
 tution. 
 
 Many of thefe were erected or re-eftablifh- 
 ed at the Reformation^ many fince that bleffc 
 ed ara of our annals. In conjunction with 
 and as a fuppliment to thefe, many laudable 
 fchools are undertaken by the voluntary and 
 very beneficial induftry of our Clergy ; bene- 
 ficial not fo much to themfelves but to the 
 nation: for without doubt every good ma- 
 fler is a publick benefador. 
 
 Now thefe, whether eflablifhed or volun- 
 tary, are of necefTary ufe. Fof thefe are 
 1 taferfes"
 
 tn the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 13 
 
 nurferies for our fons to begin their educati- 
 on in, and to take root as young plants, till 
 they are grown up to that flrength and fta- 
 ture, as to be removed or tranfplanted into 
 thofe larger feminaries, the TJniverfoies ; or 
 to turn off thro' a lower trad to the more 
 myfterious vocations, crafts or occupations; 
 which under innumerable names and forms 
 were invented and ordained to fupply the fe- 
 veral necefiities of mankind, and to demon- 
 ftrate and promote that mutual dependence 
 of every rank and profeflion upon each other, 
 fo that no one can fay to another, / have 
 no need of t bee. 
 
 Yet all thefe, tho* fb numerous and pro- 
 portioned to their dcfign, did not extend their 
 ufefulncfs to the exigencies of the poor. 
 There were wanting in our land ftill fomc 
 methods and ways of education , where the 
 numerous ofTfpring of the poorer fort might 
 come and receive inftru&ion without money 
 and without price; fuch inftru&ion as might 
 render them both good Chriftians and ufcful 
 perfons in the lower callings of the world; 
 fuch moreover, as extended to both fcxes, 
 whereby not only the fins might grow up as 
 the young plants, but alfo the daughters might 
 be as the poitjhed corners of the temple. 
 
 And in thcfc Nurfcries our nation has the 
 clory not only of excelling, but of leading 
 trie way, by beginning and letting up of CH A- 
 RiTY-ScHooLS, vvhich now abound every 
 where, gathering up the fathcrlcis and needy, 
 
 which
 
 Pubhck Education^ particularly 
 which indeed do more abound. Into thefe 
 fchools are fuch likewife received as youncy 
 plants, imbibing the principles of knowledge 
 and goodnefs, which without this nurture 
 would other wife run wild, and overfpread 
 the land with a ftupid or wicked generation. 
 
 That I may encourage you, the beginners 
 and promoters of this eminent Nurfery, to 
 perfevere in this labour of love, I ihall endea- 
 vour to fet forth the ufefulnefs of this educa- 
 tion, and that Firft with regard to the children, 
 Secondly to the publick. Afterwards I mall an- 
 fwer the chief objections raifed againft it ; that 
 as your zeal may not be damp'd in carrying 
 on this charitable work, fo ye may alfo have 
 wherewithal to put to filence the gainfay- 
 ings of unreafonable men. Laftly, I mail clofe 
 the whole with an exhortation. 
 
 Now among the many advantages of this 
 education with refpecl: to the children, the 
 firft: I fliall mention, is 
 
 I. The teaching them to READ; a facul- 
 ty, which is of a thoufand advantages in life, 
 but in religion is little lefs than neceffary. 
 For what advantageth it a man, that the 
 Scriptures are trauflated into his mother- 
 tongue, when, tho' they taopen before his 
 eyes, writ in the only tongue he fpeaks, 
 yet they are in effecl: the fame to him, if he 
 cannot read, as if they were ftill fealed up in 
 their learned originals? When fuch an one 
 comes into the houfe of God to worfhip there, 
 what little difference is there between himfelf 
 
 who
 
 in the C H A R i T Y - S c H o o L s, 
 
 who readeth not, and the blind man who 
 feeth not ? They are both alike fhut out 
 from ufing the Liturgy, and thereby in ma- 
 ny places from the comfort and decency of 
 joining with the congregation. 
 
 Again, when fuch an one is obliged, as all 
 axe obliged at lead thrice in the year, to ap- 
 pear at the Lord's Table, how and with what 
 difficulty do we prepare him? That variety 
 of offices or books preparatory to the holy 
 Communion, which are thought ufeful to the 
 jnoft knowing, are all loft to this unskilful 
 perfon, who needs them mod. And when 
 ne comes to the holy Table, whilft the Com- 
 municants join , as they are obliged, in the 
 Confeflion, hymns and refponfes, he like the 
 man in the marriage fcaft, is commonly fpeech- 
 Jefs ; not indeed on the like account of impu- 
 rity, but mere incapacity to read, and fb ac- 
 quaint himfelf with the office. I fpeak not this 
 to difcouragc the approach even of fuch to 
 this bleffed Sacrament, which the Church Ib 
 ftri&ly enjoins as neceffary to the fouls of 
 Chriftians; remembring that that fcaft was 
 filled by thofe gathered from the hedges and 
 highways^ not from the fcenes of bufincfs or 
 pleafurcs ; and that at his table the Lord may 
 fill the hungry with good things, whilft the 
 rich he fends empty away. No: I fpcak it 
 only to this intent, that feeing this is the 
 high myftery of the Chriftian religion, to 
 which our Church (warn'd by the Corinthian} 
 her members to come with the pre- 
 paration
 
 1 6 Pubhck Education, particularly 
 
 paration of knowledge as well as of repen- 
 tance, left through ignorance they fhould 
 not difcern the Lord's body, as well as de- 
 file it by impenitence ; that therefore the more 
 knowing among us may the more zealoufly 
 encourage thele Schools, which lay this 
 groundwork of reading in the poorer fort ; 
 through which alone the Church can, by 
 teaching them the Catechifm, and thence 
 bringing them on to Confirmation, fit and 
 prepare them by degrees for this blefled or- 
 dinance, and thereby prevent that ignorance, 
 which is too often found, at lead fear'd, in 
 our common people concerning that holy 
 myftery, and which if not amended, might 
 among other caufes provoke the Lord tojea- 
 loujy againft this Church. 
 
 Though I inftance in thefe effential duties 
 of Chriftianity, yet reading is as neceffary to 
 all kinds of inftruclion ; as particularly read- 
 ing is neceffary to the faculty of WRITING, 
 which is a fecond and very ufeful part of 
 this education. Now if a man cannot read, 
 how ihall he be taught to write ? Yet what 
 an helplefs perfon muft he be, I fay, not to 
 others, but to himfelf, who in every little 
 affair muft borrow an hand to write, or an 
 eye to read, what is written ? Should I re- 
 count the incoveniencies that furround a per- 
 fon void of thefe talents, viz,, reading and 
 writing, fo ufeful to common life, I might as 
 well defcribe the miferies that attend the 
 blind, who grope for the wall at noon-day, 
 
 being.
 
 m the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 17 
 
 being forced in difficulties to borrow the 
 hand of a child, or the guidance of a brute 
 bead. 
 
 I might here pafs on to enlarge on the 
 great ulefulnefs of writing, and likewife of 
 ACCOUNTING, which, after the groundwork 
 of reading is laid, is taught in order in thcfe 
 fchools ; and fhew of how great advantages 
 this mud prove ro the children for the ad- 
 vancement of their fortunes, unto whatever 
 cflate of life it (hall plcafe God to call them. 
 In the management of fomc callings it is ne- 
 ceflary, in moft exceeding ufeful, and in fer- 
 vices highly valuable. For as of old a learn* 
 ed flave was fold at an higher price, fo now 
 the knowing fervant, skilled in thefe things, 
 eftimates his fervice in proportion to his 
 knowledge. And 'tis a daily teftimony t6 
 thefe fchools, that from them an apprentice 
 or fervant is fooner chofen and taken off the 
 publick without any confideration , than o- 
 thers totally ignorant are with the cuftomarjr 
 demand. fA 
 
 But the time will not allow me to infill 
 longer on the manifold uibfulnefs of this e- 
 ducation with regard to the children in their 
 future vocations; which if wholly wanting, 
 yet this one thing would abundantly recom- 
 mend it, that it brings them up in the way of 
 cverlafting falvation. For as the Jewifh Do- 
 dors enjoin'd, that children mould be taught a 
 trade, but above all trades the Law ; ib what- 
 ever infhu6*ion preparatory to their callings 
 
 b$
 
 Publick Education^ particularly 
 be taught here, the knowledge of religion fu- 
 peradded to it, confecrates and crowns the 
 whole. BJefTed and ever laudable will be the 
 defign of thele Schools, in that they are 
 principally ordained, and as it were hallowed, 
 to be the ichools of Chrift. But for whom or 
 whatdifciples? For fuch, as are brought forth 
 .in ftate, and fwadled in purple? No : but for 
 the children only of the poor, for thoufands 
 of fouls, thoufands of thoufands of innocents, 
 who without thefe helps would fcarce ever 
 -come to know their right hand from their 
 left, but muft be left in too great, yet fad 
 probability of becoming children of perdition, 
 of being loft for ever. Is not the falvation 
 of thefe a defign acceptable in the eyes of e- 
 very Chriftiau ? Moft affuredly it is fuch in 
 the fight of him, who as he was born in 
 greater humility than the child of the poor- 
 eft man ever was, fo was he born as much 
 ior the poor, and the children of the poor, 
 <md for their falvation, as of us, or of all 
 the fuperior orders of men, who indeed with 
 him, that hath no refpett of perfons, are not 
 uperior. The meaneft, the Jeaft of thefe 
 little ones, though a feeming out-caft of this 
 world , perhaps without father and with- 
 out mother, yet is not without his angel, 
 Jt above all, not without his Saviour. And 
 ni. 10 the fame hath teftified, that whofo fhall give 
 the leaft proportion towards the falvation of 
 fuch an one, but a cup of cold water, if be- 
 caufe he believes, much more that he may 
 
 believe
 
 in tie CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 
 
 believe iu Chrift, verily^///*, no wife lofe 
 bis regard. The lalvation of fouls, of fuch 
 fouls, is charity indeed: And 'tis this defign 
 that gives ro thefe nutfcries the true and juft 
 denomination and Signature of CHARITY- 
 SCHOOLS before God and good men. 
 
 But befidcs the perfonal ufefulneis of this 
 education to the children thcmiclves, I muft 
 haften to mew, |. 
 
 It. -Its great ufefulncfs to the publfck, and 
 that both in church and flate: And with re- 
 gard to the (late alone, I .fliajl inftance but 
 in one important thing, and that is, 
 
 i.. That it tends to root out by degrees 
 that race of idle vagrant poor, that fore evil 
 and burthen to this nation. 
 
 For that fort of them, which are the fore 
 evil, and have hitherto beca incurable, are 
 thole that are brought up to it by inftru&ion, 
 not made fuch by misfortunes. For activity 
 being natural in children, lazincfs found in 
 younj; beggars mud be acquired; it muft be 
 learned and taught them. Idlencfs it felf 
 muft in youth be got by a fort of induftry. 
 Children muft take pains to become habitually 
 idle, as well as habitually wicked. That ge- 
 neration therefore of vagrant poor, which 
 fwarm in our ftrccts, and infcft the land, arc 
 not born fuch, but bred up to it. I will not 
 here enquire into the methods of their wick- 
 ed education, how they arc bred, by what 
 maftcrs of iniquity, or by what leflbns they 
 arc train'd up to every evil work, to all kinds 
 
 B -L of
 
 io Publick Education, particularly 
 
 of felony : But fince our populous towns and 
 cities, or rather chiefly our great capital, 
 which equals them all, feems to be the main 
 root and receptacle of this race of evil-doers, 
 the center of their retreat and rendezvous ; 
 it feem'd providential, that on the other hand 
 that fhould be the firft parent, and greateft 
 promoter of thefe Schools ; which by gather- 
 ing up, and fecuring the children of the poor, 
 before they are planted into that bed of 
 weeds, will prevent the growth of any future 
 generation, though they cannot extirpate 
 what is grown. 
 
 But as all preventives are flow in opera- 
 tion, the cure of this fore evil is fuch, as 
 calls loudly for the fharper and prefent reme- 
 dy of the law, and whole authority of the 
 magiftrate. And doubtlefs there is fome 
 great difconcert and deficiency in the execu- 
 tion of the law, that notwithftanding it hath 
 fo often, and by fuch fevere and accumulated 
 penalties, caus'd its anger to fmoke againft 
 thefe vagrants, they fhould flill remain and 
 multiply ; that this fad leprofy, for fuch it is, 
 fhould ftill cleave to, and fpreading from the 
 head, fhould overrun the whole body of our 
 nation. It is dcubtlefs curable. And this I 
 affirm, that that fet of magiftrates, which 
 Jhould remove the grievance of thefe coun- 
 terfeit poor, would be greater benefactors 
 to the publick , than if they built hofpi- 
 tals fufficient for the real poor. Though 
 Charity plants and propagates thefe Schools 
 
 to
 
 in the CHARITY SCHOOLS. 
 
 to its power, yet the extirpation of this evil 
 will be a work too difficult for it, without 
 the concurrence of the magiftrate. Befides, 
 i: fits too hard upon charity even to fupply 
 thefe nurferies, whilft fuch multitudes are o- 
 penly tolerated to take fo great a proportion 
 of the children: bread On the other hand, 
 this work feems alfo too difficult for the go* 
 verament, without the affiftance of thcfe 
 fchools. For in vain would that cut off with 
 the fword what Js grown up in this wicked 
 way, unlefs at the fame time this education 
 went to the root. 
 
 Indeed it not only goes to the root, but 
 corrects the nature of it. Inftead of the idle 
 it brings forth the induftrious ; inflead of the 
 ignorant, the undemanding; inftcad of the 
 mifchievous, the ufeful. Befides this, Chari- 
 ty, like the daughter of wifdom, endeavours 
 to finifh what it has begun. And therefore 
 after it has led them through this education, 
 leaves them not at random to provide for, 
 themfelyes ; but fees them placed out to call- < 
 ings, for which it has fitted them, either as 
 iervants or apprentices to the lower trades or 
 occupations. 
 
 Providence hath raifed, and probably will 
 always raifc fome out of thefe nurferics into 
 an high and flouriming condition: And luch' 
 remarkable * bleflings on particulars, mould 
 
 It would it of great trtdtt and ftrvict to tbt tharity, if 
 ttch fcbo*{ ktpt * ngtfltr of fitch iti jtbolan, tint aftirwardt 
 flttltd Utll, t*ni(*Urly that imintntly flwtfh'dt* tbt world. 
 
 B 3 t*
 
 Publtck Education, particularly 
 be look'd upon as a teftimony from above, 
 that with the whole God is well f leafed. 
 However this charity in fetringupfuchfchools, 
 declares not this to be her true original viexv 
 or intention, being defirous not to diibrder, 
 but only better the world, not (as fome ob- 
 jeft) to change the fubordination of man- 
 kind, by raifing thefe children above their le- 
 vel, ii-.to the ranks and trades belonging to 
 their betters; but only to preferve them, fo 
 as that they fink not below themfelves into 
 the fpecies of beggars and felons, which are 
 not better than brutes and beads of prey, and 
 fb prove below men, a load and pert to man- 
 kind. This charity therefore, if rightly un- 
 derflood, is a preferver of order, no wile the 
 author o'fconfufion. For it keeps the lowed 
 order of mankind, vi&. the poor, in its pro- 
 per foliation, fitting it for its proper office ; 
 which like that of the feet, though the low- 
 eft of the members, is ordained to fupport 
 the red oi the body politick: Whereas with- 
 out this fitnefs, the order of the poor, like 
 cjiiableu or difeafed feet, prove oftentimes a 
 lore burthen, 'and a pain inftead of ajiipport, 
 infprnu^h ,fl?aj: -all the members fuffer by it 
 and \vith it, ,;F,or what .a" burthen the honeft 
 foGT arc,- arc] what a grievance the wicked, 
 Y' C a - and we, all lament. Thefe feet 
 
 tncnoffne puliiick lio'd^do not receive from 
 this education. iuch an unnatural ply or diftor- 
 tion, as .o be turn'd up into the place and fun- 
 j;j6rV Either of the. eye to guide, or of the 
 
 hand
 
 n a CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 
 hand to controul , but they continue fee ft.H : 
 whofc proper office is to fupport, 
 which this education fits and invigorates them, 
 by making them through an early ex 
 found and adive. f 
 
 *. Another fignal advantage toW 
 this education, and rather to be mfi 
 is with rceard to the Church, and it is this, 
 That it inlnfibly conveys Religion into the 
 families of the poor. , 
 
 For thefe little <c h " la V V ThfmiTd 
 teachers in their father's houie The muds 
 
 of children are admit for k"^g>?2 
 they with impatience draw and catch iro 
 onc y anocher ; the younger being eager to learn 
 and the elder as ambitious to mftrud. Thus 
 
 ,,-> ,-- t, bc - 
 
 twecn their children, and in hearing an as 
 ing them queftions, are with equal dc 
 nftrudcd- the arcy-hcaded are without a 
 blunuhemVelves cUchifcd. However where 
 parents need not iuftrudion, yet they req 
 t P his comfort from thefe little ones that 
 prove readers to them as well as tcacl o s to 
 their brethren and fitters. Thus from the! 
 nuricries Religion is by decrees tranfpla 
 into every hoSfc, and is, if I. may to fpcak, 
 
 propagated by thefe little off cts 
 
 3 Anothcrcqualadvantagcarilingn > 
 
 education to out Church is this, that i 
 
 15 4
 
 Z4 Public k Education, particularly 
 
 es thcfe children and thence others, how to 
 behave thernielves in the houfe of God. 
 
 For there is a facred behaviour, that be- 
 longs to the Church of God : this becometh 
 his houfe for ever. For this there are or- 
 dained Kubricks or rules which ought to be 
 more ftudied by us all, as they are by thefc 
 children, and learnt in youth, fmce they are 
 too little underftood and lefs prac-tifed in age. 
 J3ehold then this littje order or choir of in- 
 nocents; behold, how uniform in their ge- 
 flures, how agreeing in their refponfes, (land- 
 ing, kneeling, bowing, aniwering, reading, 
 ^ n gi n g> all at once with exact uniformity; 
 inlomuch that I may venture to affirm, that 
 no Congregation even of adult perfbns, how 
 devout and regular foever, did ever come up 
 to that harmonious exadlnefs, to fuch an 
 uniform correfpondence in worfhip, as what 
 our eyes have now feen and do daily fee in 
 thefe AfTemblies of children. 
 
 Now there is a language in their behavi- 
 our, an eloquence in their uniformity, that 
 reprefents our publick Service to better ad- 
 vantage, than the more ftudied oratory of 
 the Pulpit. For this is a language, that beflr 
 inftrufts the ignorant fort, who can under- 
 (land what decency and order mean, when 
 they behold them with their eyes in the pra- 
 ctice of thefc Children, which do hardly en- 
 ter into their understandings by the bed def- 
 cription of the Preacher. This is an elo- 
 quence iikewife, that bell perfuades the wifer 
 
 fort,
 
 w the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 27 
 
 fort, who need herein no inftruction. For 
 they cannot but yield their conformity to 
 that, which even in children extorts their ad- 
 miration. Thefe fchools then being diftribut- 
 ed into fo many Parochial diftricts, mufl of 
 courie diffiife a like uniformity into thofc 
 Congregations, whereof they are a part and 
 the moft exemplary part : I fpeak not this at all 
 to your (name, bur only to the commenda- 
 tion of fuch among you, whofe pious chari- 
 ty hath been exemplary in forwarding and 
 forming thefe examples. For their regular 
 behaviour in the Church will be a continued 
 Sermon upon the excellency of our Service, 
 teaching the ignorant and convincing the 
 obftinate, that in it all things are ordered, 
 and may be done even by children decent' 
 ly and in order. By this education then 
 they become not only of ufe, but an or- 
 nament in our publick worfhip; and in this 
 aptly referable the folijhed corners of the 
 Temple. 
 
 4. The fourth and lad advantage I flull 
 mention arifing from thefe fchools, has an e- 
 qual regard both to Church and ftate, which 
 is this, that this education tends in the moft 
 effectual manner to prevent the growth and 
 return of Tofery among us, which is count- 
 ed the grcateft enemy to both. 
 
 For what method can be fo effectual to 
 bring Topery again into this nation, as that 
 which kept it up here before the Reformat*- 
 n, and which now keeps it up in Popiih coun- 
 tries?
 
 2(5 
 
 H. 
 
 Ldw, 
 [4. 
 
 Pullick Education, particularly 
 
 tries ? Now this is known to be a national ig- 
 norance fpread over the common people ; a- 
 mong whom the very fcriptures are locked up, 
 and the publick worihip performed /;/ an un~ 
 know tongue. What better method then can 
 our Church take to bar out Popery, than by 
 opening the eyes of the people ; that they 
 may read what is written in the word of God, 
 and uuderftand what they ask in his worfhip: 
 Highly blameable is this practice of the Pa- 
 pifts, in hiding the icriptures and publick fervice 
 in the Latin language, not underftood by the 
 people; in a manner making the grammari- 
 an neceffary to the Chriftian. But alas! to 
 people, who cannot read, all books in all 
 languages are alike, alike ihut up from their 
 perfbnal ufe. In direct opposition to this 
 principle of Popery therefore is this education, 
 which by teaching the Children to read and 
 to ule the Common-prayer, enables them to 
 look into the Bible, and to join better in our 
 worfhip , and fo both to read and to fray 
 with the underftanding. Upon this was 
 8 grounded that pious wildom of our Refor- 
 mer's, of planting ichools every where upon 
 'the diflblution of Religious houfes, and the 
 planting of thefe was the repeated and a 
 principal plea for their difTolution ; that by 
 thefe lights that cloud of ignorance might 
 gradually be difpelled, under which fuperfti- 
 tion had (as there alledged) fate down and 
 flickered it felf amongft us feveral centuries. 
 
 Since
 
 in the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 17 
 
 Since then to breed up the common peo- 
 ple in a blind implicit ignorance, and that by 
 /hutting them out from reading and thereby 
 the knowledge of the icriptures and of their 
 worihip, is the known and diftinguifliing prin- 
 ciplc of the Church of Rome\ and fmce this 
 education by the oppofite methods directly 
 tends to cure and prevent that ignorance in 
 the people of this land; whoib therefore a- 
 mong us is a promoter of thele fchools, the 
 fame is an effectual enemy to popery, whe- 
 ther he intends it or not. On the other 
 hand, whofo fcts himfelf againft them, the 
 fame is the mod real friend to popery, whe- 
 ther he knows it or not. For why? He di- 
 ftineuimcs himfelf in promoting that very 
 principle, for which popery is diftinguifh'd, 
 and by which in the declared judgment of 
 our own, and of all proteftant Governments, 
 it is moft promoted. 
 
 Behold then, how unjuft that accufation is, 
 formed by fome againft thcfe fchools, name- 
 ly, that they have a tendency towards Rome^ 
 that they are fo many little Scedplots, in which, 
 unlcfs rooted up, popery will again take root 
 and inienfibly grow up amongft us. This is 
 the chief of thofe objections which I tell 
 proceed to anfwer. I own that this, with 
 the objections following, being found in fad: 
 the rcverfc to truth, may leem fuch, and arc 
 luch, as could never enter into a icrious or 
 fcnfiblc undcrftanding; and therefore that an 
 aolxvcr to them may alike iccm to ibme but 
 
 a for-
 
 Pullick Education, particularly 
 
 a formal beating of the air: But fuch confi- 
 der not, that thefe, like moft other objec- 
 tions againft truth and goodnefs, proceed 
 from the ignorance offoohfh men. And fmce 
 thefe are generally made the inftruments and 
 mouths of the wifer, to utter and execute 
 their defigns; and fmce thefe objections have 
 been an hindrance to the beginning of this 
 charity in fundry places, and a bar to its ge- 
 neral progrefs ; therefore foolifh and unrea- 
 fbnable as they are, they ought to be fhewn 
 to be fuch, and either to be/ to Jllence or 
 fliame. 
 
 As to this firft, That thefe fchools are di- 
 flant nurferies and feedplots of popery, tho' 
 I have proved the direct contrary, yet to fa- 
 tisfy your felves as well as fuch gainfayers, 
 confider the fole fubject of religious princi- 
 ples taught in them, which is only the Cate- 
 chifm of our church. This contains a great 
 deal ; but then only thofe ueceflary things, 
 which every chriftian, of whatever church, 
 ** ought to know and believe to his foul's 
 " health". But then it contains thefe in fo 
 brief a method, fo far from admitting of 
 things fuperfluous; that the plea brought for 
 its abrogation was, that it did not contain 
 enough, not even things neceflary; in the 
 place whereof a larger catechifm was ordered 
 to be fubftituted ; of which this was the e- 
 vent. Whereas the Church-Catechifm, ama- 
 fter-work in fmall, was for the ufe of chil- 
 dren drawn up in a narrow compafs; the 
 
 dffembly's
 
 in the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 20 
 
 Affembtys Cateehifm is rather for the ufe of 
 men, * " fpread out into a body of divinity". 
 However this advantage muft be aJlow'd to 
 our catechifm above the other, that in it there 
 is much lefs, indeed not the Jeaft poflible, 
 room for any mixtures of popery, which in 
 its mildeft character is all iuperfluity, and as 
 fuch, was cutt off from the body of the vine 
 at the reformation. As there is Jeft no room 
 in the fubjed: taught for fuch infufions, fo no 
 liberty in the teacher; whom at the com- 
 mencement of this charity, for the preven- 
 tion of fuch attempts, the Law with the Ca- 
 non obliged to renounce the papal errors, 
 and authority, by oath as well as fubfcrip- 
 tion. 
 
 But after all ye muft not be difturbed, nor 
 at all difcouraged, if thcfe fchools of inno- 
 cents fliould be ftill called feedplots of pope- 
 ry ; fincc I know not by what deftiny, or 
 rather forcery, all nurferics for the church, 
 even the two great blefled feminaries, ourU- 
 ni vcrfities, though the chief barriers againft 
 it, have from the fame quarter fuffercd all a- 
 long under that unjuft imputation. I will not 
 waftc any time in vindicating thcfe alfo ; but 
 Will only cite a moft remarkable teftimony 
 on their behalf, given and publifhed by the 
 'Presbyterian Divines in tne days of the 
 e l)fitrpation. Hear their words, where Ipeak- 
 ing of the then governing Sc#s, who deny- 
 
 * Hammond. 
 
 ing
 
 Publick Education, .particularly 
 
 ing the divine right of the .Priefthood, held* 
 that any gifted man might take upon himfelf 
 the' minify without ordination or learning, 
 They thus iay : \ " Certainly if the Lord in 
 " his wrath Ihould fuffer you fo far to pre- 
 * vail, as to fupprefs learning, and TRAM; LE 
 " ON THE; UNIVERSITIES , that there fliould 
 " be no learned men to detect popifli impo- 
 " (lures, and refel their errors, that neither 
 " fhield nor fpear mould be left among thou- 
 " fands in Ifrael; you would in this more 
 " advance Antichrift, than if you were his 
 " fworn vaffals, even an army of Friars and 
 " Jefuits. 
 
 Thofe then that are enemies to thefe two 
 feminaries, are 7 as fworn friends to poperjr, 
 the Presbyterians themfelves, being judges. 
 That the promoters alfo of thefe little nurfe- 
 lies are no friends to popery, I appeal imto 
 the fame judges; who tn'drnfelves 'are fo far 
 from condemning the dfcfjgn, that they have 
 let up fchools in imitation of ours ; and I 
 would to God they wpulcl imitate us in all 
 things. 
 
 And I fhould be unjuft to them, as well as 
 our felves, mould I wilfully decline to repeat 
 and reinforce here that feafonable caution, 
 which thofe men, in oppofmg the fame ad- 
 
 verfaries, there save in general asainft the 
 
 i* ' > -" ; 'OnrmjT '- ^'-\>.T\\ 
 
 t In A Book', entitled, The Divine Right of the<?ofpel- 
 . MiniAry, in two Parts: Publijhed by tht Provincial dffembly 
 f London, 1654. p. (5z, 
 
 very
 
 OOLS. 31 
 
 very word * POPERY, warning their congre- 
 gations againft it, exprefly calling it a great 
 cheat, and a bugbear word. For alas! when 
 they found this word, which they had unhap- 
 pily uled to the deftru&iou of the church and 
 monarchy, prove in the event alfo dcilruclive 
 of chriftianity : forafmuch as in thofe unhap- 
 py days, as they there complain, the doclrine 
 of the Soul's Immortality , of the Trinity, of 
 CbriJTs Divinity, of the magiftrate's power 
 in punilhingof Hercfics, of Infant Baptiim,Sfc. 
 were each charged as antichriftian or popifh ; 
 Ib that, as they go on, " Under the notion 
 " of avoiding antichriftianifm, there were ma- 
 a ny people tumbling down apace to dired: 
 " atheifm ; and were brought to renounce 
 " Chrifti left they mould comply with Anti- 
 a chrift"; they thus clofc, " Therefore we 
 " earneftly be/ccch and intrcat our refpedive 
 " congregations, not to be afTrighted at the 
 
 * BwGBEARWord, ANTICHRISTIAN orPop.SH". 
 
 . may juftly add, that if ever that word were 
 \uch a cheat and a bugbear, it was never more 
 ^o, than when applied to thefe unexceptiona- 
 ble nurfcries. 
 
 The fecond objection againft them is, 
 that they arc nurfcrics alfo of REBILLIO^, 
 breeding the children up to be difafTeded and 
 difloyal. Whereas this education tends to 
 bar out rebellion, no lels than iupcrflition ; 
 
 * Part. II. f>.4C, 41. 
 
 and
 
 3 ^ Publick Education, particularly 
 
 and that by breeding up ad induftrious, as 
 well as knowing, generation of the poof. 
 
 For who is lefs difpofed for infurre&ions, 
 the forerunners of plunder and rapine, than 
 the honed induftrious man, who having learnt 
 by fuch an education, accordingly " labours 
 " to get his own living in that eftate of life 
 in which he is placed, and fludies alfb to be 
 quiet i that he may enjoy what he has got ? 
 And who more hearkening after wars, and 
 rumours of wars, than the idle loofe drones, 
 or rather wafps of the earth , who having 
 gathered nothing to lofe, ib have nothing 
 to fubfift on, nor skill in any occupation to 
 get a fubfiftence ? From whence are all armies 
 raifed and recruited, but from fuch refufe of 
 youth, who for want of education have been 
 train'd up to nothing ; and fo unskilled to 
 work, unable to dig, and aihamed to beg, 
 are forced to enlift into the foldiery for a 
 livelyhood V And whether it be in defence or 
 fubverfion of governments, fb they be paid, 
 is to fuch mercenaries as fight for pay, near 
 a cafe. 
 
 However, our proper anfwer to this ob- 
 jection is this, that this education prevents, 
 as much as potflble, all rebellious notions and 
 difpofhions in thefe children, by breeding 
 them up according to the dodrine and prin- 
 ciples of the Church of England \ which, if 
 any church on earth teaches true loyalty, ve- 
 rily is that church. For it teaches not in 
 thefe, nor in any other of its nurferies, what 
 
 the
 
 in the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 33 
 
 the papifts teach in thehr feminaries, that 
 Kings may be depofed by the Pope ; nor what 
 fome proteftants teach in their academies, 
 that Kings may be depofed by the people 
 No; our church hath renounced both thefe 
 tenets of refitting the powers ordained of 
 God, and hath fixed on them, and the teach- 
 ers of them, what the fcripture hath done, 
 the fentence of damnation. If any profcffed * 
 churchmen be at any time involved in rebel- 
 lion, be they clergy or laity, let them an- 
 fwer for their own follies in their own per- 
 fons. But what is their crime to thefe inno^ 
 cents ? They themfelves would doubtlefs ab- 
 fblve thefe, as 'David did his people, faying, 
 we have finned and done wickedly^ but thefe 
 lambs, what have they done ? 
 
 But if we confult experience as well as prin* 
 ciple, alas! rebellions never fpring from a- 
 mong the poor. They are not bred in cot* 
 tagcs, nor forged in the mops of artifans ; 
 but, like thunder in the clouds, arc formed 
 in high places. They are conceived and con* 
 ducted by perfons of loftier extraction, ca- 
 pacities and views. Take thefe heads off by 
 pacification or punifliment, the known max- 
 im of governments, and there will be no in* 
 furrection or motion in the hands or feet. 
 
 Another objection, and probably the mod 
 real one, though equally unreafonablc, is, 
 that this education tends to bring up thefe 
 children in a PA RT Y, by party fccrctly rncan- 
 the intercft of the eftablifh'd church, 
 C which
 
 PuUtck Education, particularly 
 
 which they openly and ignominioufly term 
 the Church-party. 
 
 This objection, if it may be fb called, I 
 own and rejoice, is grounded on fad. For 
 were thefe children bred up in a contrary 
 intereft, as I mould think my felf obliged to 
 preach inflantly againft them ; fo I am perfua- 
 ded, that all ye who have done fo great things 
 for the erecting of this nurfery, would this 
 hour fet your heart and hand for its immediate 
 fuppreffion ; as well knowing our church and 
 monarchy to be bound up in one infeparable 
 intereft ; and that no men, nor party of men 
 can at any time ftrike at the Altar, but they 
 muft with the fame blow make the Throne ; 
 and that whofoever therefore is bred up in 
 any way among us adverfaries to the church, 
 can never in the event prove Crffar's friends. 
 
 I beg leave jufl to remark, that as there is 
 no reaibn in the objection, fo no fenfe in 
 that expreffion or appellation of CHURCH- 
 PARTY. For can the eflablifhment be called 
 a party ? or the whole a part? Not but par- 
 ty is ib far from being a part, much lefs the 
 whole, of our ecclefiaftical eftablifliment ; 
 that on the contrary, it is in its effence a fe- 
 paration from, and an offence to it. And if 
 it be ever fuffered to join itfelf, or feeming- 
 ly to grow to the body, it is to be looked 
 upon not as a conftituent part or limb, but 
 only as an impoflhumation or excrefcence; 
 which are attended generally with danger, 
 always with deformity. Such, no better is 
 
 party :
 
 in the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 
 
 party : And however by Ibme it may be cal- 
 led or countenanced, yet the church detefts 
 the thing, as well as difdains, or rather de- . 
 rides the name ; even as its partner, the ftate 
 hath ever done; which though yielding the 
 right hand to the church in the form of our 
 confutation, yet never fubmitted to the like 
 abfard and mock- appellation of STATE- 
 PARTY. 
 
 Now if this education brings up fo many 
 fubjefts in the intereft of the church, and 
 confequently of the ftate, which is one and 
 indivifible, it greatly conduces to the found- 
 nefs and fymmetry of our whole eflablifh- 
 ment, by an early prevention of party, which 
 (as I faid) fo greatly diflempers and deforms 
 it. That it hath, and will have daily this 
 effect on our people, is what we own with 
 thankfulnefs before God and the world. The 
 thing indeed plainly fbeaks itfelf. For as the 
 arrows are in the hand of a giant ^ Jo are pf l 
 the young children in the pofTeilion of any > \ 
 fociety. Happy is our daughter of Sion, 
 who hath her quiver Jo full of thefe ar- 
 rows : /he Jhall not be a/hamed when Jbe 
 fpeaketh with her enemies, of whatever de- 
 nomination, in the gate. 
 
 Yet in this truth, as I hinted, furcly lies 
 the fecret core of the chief difTatisfaclion and 
 difplcaiiire againft thefe fchools, which under 
 fiich popular pretences, forms and foments 
 thefe objections againft them ; which objec- 
 tions, if well obferved, arc originally againft 
 
 C x the
 
 Education, particularly 
 
 the church, and only confequentialJy againft 
 thefe nurferies ; condemning the publick me- 
 thod, authorized by the church, and enjoin- 
 ed to ichools, of bringing up children in the 
 nurture and admonition of the Lord, " by 
 " inftructing them in the Church- Catechifm 
 " let forth for that purpofe". Whence the fame 
 condemnation holds as much againft the edu- 
 cation of us, and of all the iuperior, as of 
 thefe lower ranks; which, as to the princi- 
 ples of religion fet forth in the Catechifm, is 
 or ought to be the fame in all ; if in any it 
 be another, it is a worfe. Wherefore it be- 
 hoves us to clear thefe fchools of thofe im- 
 putations, or we condemn our own families. 
 But befides all thefe (which might indeed 
 be expected opponents to thefe Schools, 
 \vhiift fuch to the church) alas! there are 
 fome enemies to them from an higher malig- 
 nity; not becaufe they breed up thefe little 
 ones to be churchmen, but even chriftians. 
 As in the martyrdom of the Innocents, tho* 
 too under publick pretences, the definition 
 of Chrifl was intended ; fo in the condem- 
 nation of thefe nurferies, Chrifis holy reli- 
 gion, and therein himfelf, is fo far (truck at. 
 Becaufe thefe children are bred up in the 
 knowledge and worfhip of Chrtft their Lord, 
 God blerfed for ever ; becaufe they are daily 
 heard in the church to confefs his Godhead 
 in the creeds, and to praife him in their 
 hymns, therefore there are fome among our 
 people fore dijpleafed, as there were among 
 
 the
 
 m the C H A R i T Y S c H o o L s. 3 ; 
 
 the Jews, when they heard the children 
 crying in the temple ', Hofanna to the Jon of 
 'David. But what laid our Lord to the re- 
 provers of thofe children : Even the fame he 
 iaith to the accufers of them now. Have ye 
 never read? Out of the mouths of babes and 
 fucklings thou haft ordained Jlrength. The pf ' vi 
 real on tor his ordaining it then, holds good in 
 this age, becaufe of his enemies, to get him- 
 felf glory on them by fuch multitudes of in- 
 fants; it feeming good to him from the be- 
 ginning, thus by the innocent to ftill the 
 avenger , by the irrational the diiputer, by 
 the impotent the mighty. 
 
 Having fmiihed the heads I propofed, I 
 come to apply the whole with an exhortation. 
 
 Hitherto the propagation and iupport of 
 thefc ichools have been the work of private 
 hands; whereas our other feminaries have in 
 their beginnings been the care and cultivation 
 of the publick. Our Univerflties in their in- 
 fancy had Kings for their nurfing-fathers, by 
 whom they were eftablifhed by charters, and 
 encouraged with privileges worthy their in- 
 ftitution. Mod of our Free-Schools were 
 founded and endowed by the piety of our 
 princes: And in all Governments, * popiih 
 or proreflanr, have not only been confirmed 
 and protected from iale, but exempted from 
 burthens, even from the ffubfidies of the 
 
 * * Ph. &: M. c. 3. . 5. t S- EI-* c. 14. . 10. 
 
 C 3 clergy,
 
 Publick Education, particularly 
 
 clergy, as well as taxes of the laity. Nay, 
 under the word of governments, or rather no 
 government, when the church and its digni- 
 ties, with ail other dependencies on its reve- 
 nue, were delivered up to fale and facrilege, 
 thefe were * exempted, and as by miracle 
 were not deflroyed of the deftroyer. Thefe 
 charity-fchools have now pafted through 
 their years of probation, and that ftridt e- 
 nough, and may feem to deferve fome pub- 
 lick favour or atteflation. 
 
 I have fhewn them to be preventive of the 
 greateft evils incident to our Conftitution, 
 Popery , rebellion and party, and on the o- 
 ther hand productive of much fignai publick 
 good. But this is too narrow a view of their 
 influence. For the lower ranks being a great 
 divifion, if not majority of pur people, this 
 plentiful provifion for the education of their 
 ofF-fpring muft gradually fpread through the 
 whole land a national goodnefs. Bythefe lef- 
 fer fchools placed in fubordination to the 
 greater, it will in a few years come to pafs, 
 that all jball knaw the Lord from the leaft 
 to the greateft. And 'tis this alone that muft 
 efFecl: what has been the aim of ail wife go- 
 vernments and long ambition of ours , to 
 make us to become a great people. How ? 
 By laying the foundation of our greatnefs in 
 goodnefs. For true it is of nations as of per- 
 Fons, that none can be called truly great, but 
 what are good. 
 
 * Scobell's C H {liens 1650. 13. 
 
 Nejther
 
 ^/^CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 
 
 Neither are they great in might, any more 
 than merit. What think we, that our ar- 
 mies, fleets or alliances, are true foundations 
 of our national might? Thefe are great and 
 neceflary defences; but then extriniecal, of 
 no better fervice to a wicked nation, wh.ch 
 put their whole truft in them in contempt of 
 religion , than the vaft armour was to the un- 
 circumcifed Philiftine, who confided in it, de- 
 fying the living God We happily pofids all 
 thefe; but God may turn thcmlikewife into an 
 incumbrance and a fpoii, unlefs we by our 
 goodnefs procure him to be for us. Great 
 in might is that nation only, which hath the 
 Omnipotent for an ally : yea invincible is thac 
 government who hath the Lord for its God. 
 In this undoubtedly true, though unufual, e- 
 ftimate of Kingdoms, as the (tripling of Jeffe. 
 wrought a greater defence for Saul and his 
 people, than the whole army -of Ifrael\ to I 
 look upon an hundred of theie innocents plant- 
 ed up and down in our towns and cities, to 
 be as fure a guard to our Ifrael, as ten hun- 
 dred of armed men placed there ; and that 
 our Jerufalem, with the tower of Ttavid, is 
 better fecured, might I not fay garrilon'd? by 
 the numerous Charity-Schools within its 
 walls, than if thofc walls were filled with as 
 many towers and thofc towers with legions. 
 
 Now a national goodnefs* the only true 
 foundation of our grcatnels, in that it indu- 
 ces God to be our ally and our glory, nmlt 
 come un as from feed: it mud be propagated 
 
 C 4
 
 40 Pttbltck Educaitow, particularly 
 
 in all our youth from the loweftto the higheft, 
 and be nuried up in fchools or feminaries pro- 
 portion'dto their multitudes fpread through all 
 pur coafts. for as to our government, the wif- 
 dom whereof confifts in the due adminiftra- 
 tion of its laws, it can pretend to no fuch ef- 
 
 . feel; or influence on the land. For the laws 
 being made not for the righteous-) but law- 
 Icfs and difbbedient ; the execution of them 
 tends diredly to fupprefs vice, not to produce 
 Virtue. At the bed, as the wife * Bacon re- 
 marks, " good governments may nourifh vir- 
 " tue grown, out do not much mend the 
 " feeds ". And even as to wickednefs, they 
 fupprefs it when grown up into an offence, 
 but do not root up the weeds. No; the ex- 
 tirpation of thefe and propagation of tfie 
 other, which mufl both concur to bring 
 forth a national goodnefs, can be expe&ed 
 
 . chiefly from the cultivation of feminaries, not 
 the adrniniftration of governments. Only 
 as all wife and good governments have ever 
 taken care of their feminaries, to fence them 
 in by protection, and forward them by en- 
 couragement; fo our Government, 'tis pro- 
 bable, may hereafter find fome proper occa- 
 fion to exprefs their publick goodwill and fa- 
 vourable declaration towards thele fchools; 
 which would be a better anfwer and defence 
 agiinfl all their opponents, as well as encou- 
 to tjieir promoters, than the many 
 
 39. 
 
 thoufand
 
 in the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 41 
 
 thoufand apologies or exhortations uttered 
 from the Pulpit. 
 
 But refigning this blefling to the good plea- 
 fure of him who is the Ruler of Rulers, let 
 us in our private capacities proceed in this la- 
 bour of love towards thefe mod real obje&s 
 of ir, that fall within our feveral divisions. 
 Ye of this place have indeed gone far in this 
 acceptable work, even to have laid a prece- 
 dent. The convenient habitation ye have 
 provided for fb many children, and that not 
 only for their inftrudion but entire mainte- 
 nance, which indeed crowns the whole de- 
 fign, tcftifies to the world the wifdom as well 
 as zeal of your charity, and may well deferve 
 and perhaps draw on an imitation from pla- 
 ces of equal opulency. Doubt ye not there- 
 fore, but that God accepts this charitable 
 work of yours, in bringing up fb many chil- 
 dren in his holy ways. This fchool ye have 
 built for them verily will bring a bleffiug in- 
 to your houfes, which will reft in particular 
 upon your children, and in general upon all 
 ye fliaU put your hand unto. 
 
 I ought to obferve for your encourage- 
 ment, that God feems to have already blefled 
 this Place for its peculiar induftry , beyond 
 the meafure and manner of his ordinary blei- 
 flngs on cities or towns, in that it has Ipread 
 it lelf into fuch an extent of populacy and 
 traffick without the natural advantages of a 
 navigable river, or the legal encouragements 
 of franchifes or a Charter : nay that ye mould 
 
 enjoy
 
 Publick Education, particularly 
 
 enjoy thefe in fo general agreement, without 
 the fuperintendence of the Magiftrate or awe of 
 juftice, which are found ib neceffary for the 
 tranquillity of a lefs numerous body of peo- 
 ple. So that the two great bleffings, rather 
 prayed for than enjoyed by Jerufalem, are 
 porfefTed by this place; that there is peace 
 within its walls ^ andpknteonfnefs within its 
 dwellings, without the ufual vifible caufes of 
 them, which ye ought therefore to acknow- 
 ledge as invisible, as coming from above. 
 And if thefe be conferred on you as a reward 
 and encouragement of your induftry ; furely 
 the erecting of fuch a receptacle for the edu- 
 cation and maintenance of the poor, added 
 to this f noble Sanctuary, wherein we ftand, 
 built for the honour of Gods holy name and 
 worlhip, thefe teftimonies of your piety and 
 charity thus united, will more and more con- 
 fecrate your induftry, will daily multiply the 
 works of your hands uponyou^ and proffer all 
 ysur handy work. 
 
 In this affurance proceed ye to eftabli/h 
 what ye have fo far advanced, with courage 
 and cheer fuinefs. Let each upon this joyful 
 fblemnity bring forth his tribute before the 
 Lord; and let him know, that what he gives 
 in this holy place is accepted, not as a vulgar 
 alms given in the ftreet, but as an offering 
 laid on God's Altar. They that have much. 
 Let them give plenteoujly : they that have 
 
 | ANtw compleat And capacious Fabritk t kuilt by Mr. Archer. 
 
 little,
 
 in the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 43 
 
 little* the widow, the ftranger, the fervant 
 and the hireling, let tbefe do their diligence 
 tQ give of that little. But whatever they 
 give, let it be done with a willing mind, 
 which alone gives it acceptance. TO move 
 you to open your hand wide unto this moft 
 acceptable work, let me dole with this ob- 
 fervation how apt men are with a liberal, 
 yea lavifh hand, daily to fow upon the fur- 
 rows of unrighteouihcfs. 
 
 Vanity is an expenfive thing, but vice* 
 much more fo. As to vanity, the fuperflui- 
 ties of living, ufed among the great and the 
 rich, which are daily fpent without obferva- 
 rion or thanks, what a noble figure would 
 they make in charity ? So cheap and yet fo 
 fhowifh, a thing is charity, that the veryre- 
 fufe of mens vanities would in this way make 
 an handfome appearance. For inftance: any 
 trifle, if retrench'd in our apparel, would 
 cloarh one of theie little ones ; if in our ta- 
 ble,, would feed many of them ; if in ourdn 
 vcrfions, would caufc a multitude of them to 
 fmg for joy. 
 
 If this may be faid of vanity, how much 
 more of vice V That which is daily wafted in 
 fcandal and obfcurity among the haunts of 
 debauchery, how would it mine in a fchool 
 for theie children, or in an hofpital for the a- 
 ged? That which is vilely caft away into 
 thcfc polluted finks, would make the conduit 
 of charity to overflow. Alas! Vice, like 
 ajl other mouftcrs, is an inlatiable devourcr: 
 
 and
 
 44 Publkk Education, particularly 
 
 and what is worfe, it is incouraged to be fb. 
 It is oftentimes bid to ask (like Herodias's 
 daughter) whatsoever it will , and it fhall be 
 done for it, even to the half of mens pofTeffi- 
 ons. Whereas Charity with all her mov- 
 ing train, the poor, the orphans and the wi- 
 dows, Charity though covered with tears and 
 full of intreaties, has no rhetorick, no force 
 upon thefe men, cannot move a look, cannot 
 extort a mite. But let the poor know to their 
 comfort, and thefe Libertines to their terror, 
 that there is a day, a day which opens into a 
 dreadful eternity, when all thefe things fhali 
 be brought to a fad account : that there is a 
 book, wherein all thefe expenfes fliall be punc- 
 tually regiflred: and that there is an Jlti- 
 dit, whereat thefe ftewards, a character 
 however now disbelieved and derided, fhall 
 give an account of their flewardihips, and 
 fhall anfwer to all thofe difmal articles. 
 Then they that have fowed plentifully in fin, 
 muft expect to reap as plentifully in punifh- 
 ment; and they Jhall have judgment with- 
 out mercy ) who have here Jhewed no mercy. 
 However, my beloved, let us always ^~ 
 bound in this and like works of the Lord, 
 unmoved by the patterns of extravagance, by 
 the pomps and prodigalities of a wicked and 
 luxurious world. But let us learn thus much 
 from them; that fince in contributions of o- 
 ther kinds, fuch as for the fetting up and fiip- 
 port of theaters ancf theatrical entertain- 
 ments, of what ufe to the government, or 
 
 advantage
 
 in- the CHARITY-SCHOOLS. 47 
 
 advantage to religion, let others judge ; fince 
 in fuch contributions many have been found 
 cheerful and bountiful givers ; let us fhew an, 
 equal zeal at lead in collections for thefe 
 blefled nurferies, which profefTedly tend to 
 the glory of God , and the vifible good of 
 our nation. Thefe gifts, we are fure, will 
 come up for a memorial before God, and 
 not only lay up for us an everlafting reward, 
 but bring down a prefent blefling on our 
 felves, our children, and our land. This is 
 a charity, that will cover a multitude of our 
 national fins, as well as of our own; and 
 will encline our Lord to be gracious to our 
 prince and people: So that by thefe we fhali 
 prove our felves the bed fubje&s as well as 
 good chriftians. For it will caufe the Lord 
 to dwell among us, and to be our God. And 
 then as the Pialmift clofes his prayer, which 
 he introduced with my text, Happy are the 
 people that are in fitch a cafe ; yea bleffed 
 are the people who have the Lord for thier 
 God. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 BOOKS printed for WILLIAM^*/ JOHN 
 INN YS, at the Weft End of St. Paul's 
 
 THE Beauty of Holinefs in the Common-Prayer, as 
 fet forth in four Sermons preach'd at the Rolls Cha- 
 pel, in the Year 1716, the Eighth Edition. To which is 
 added, a Rationale on Cathedral Worfhip or Choire Service, 
 a Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church of Hereford, 
 Stp. 7. 1710, the Second Edition, by Thomas Xijfe, D* D. 
 8yo. 172.1. 
 
 Decency and Order in publick Worfhip, recommended 
 in three Difcourfes, preached in the Cathedral Church of 
 Hertford, by Thomas Bijfi, D.D. Chancellor of the faid 
 Church. 8vo 1713. 
 
 Dr. Ei/e's Sermon before the Sons of the Clergy. Dec. 6. 
 1716. and all his other Sermons. 
 
 Lufus Poetici olim confcripti, a Thomas Biffe. C. C. C. 
 Oxon Dec. 8vo. London 1720. 
 
 The Works of that, learned and judicious Divine Mr, 
 Richard Hooker, in eight Books of the Laws of the Eccrefi- 
 aftical Polity, compleated out of his own Manufcripts, de- 
 dicated to the King's moft excellent Majefty Charles II. by 
 whofe Royal Father (near his Martyrdom) the former five 
 Books (then only extant) were commended to his dear Chil- 
 dren, as an excellent Means to fatisfy private Scruples, and 
 fettle the publick Peace of this Church and Kingdom: To 
 which are added 'feveral other Treatifes, by the fame Au- 
 thor, all revifed and correcled in numberlefs Places of the 
 former Editions, ,by a diligent Hand. There is alfo pre- 
 fixed before the Book, the Life of the Author, written by 
 Ifaac Walton. To this Edition is added a large Alphabeti- 
 cal Index, 1713. 
 
 Differtations, Hiftorical, Critical, Theological and Mo- 
 ral, on the moft memorable Events of the Old and New 
 Teftament; wherein the Spirit of the Sacred Writings is 
 (hewn ; their Authority confirmed and compar'd, in 3 Vo- 
 lumes Folio. Vol. I. Comprifing the Events related in the 
 Books of Mofes. Written ordinally in French, by the learn- 
 ed Mr. James Sauria, Minifter of the French Church at the 
 Hague. To which are added, Chronological Tables, fixing 
 the Date of each Event, and conne^ing the feveral Differ- 
 tations together. 1713. 
 
 Origines Sacrt : Or a Rational Account of the Grounds of 
 natural and revealed Religion, the eighth Edition. To which 
 is now added , part of another Book upon the fame Sub- 
 ject,
 
 BOOKS printed for W. and J. Innys. 
 
 jecl, written A. D. 1697, publiflied from the Author's own 
 Manafcript. By the Right Reverend Father in God Edward 
 Stillingfteet, D. D. late Lord Biftiop of Worcefter, 1714. 
 
 Anuquitatti Chrifliant : Or the Hittory of the Life and 
 Death of the Holy Jefus : As alfo the Lives, Ads and Mar- 
 tyrdoms of his ApoiHes, in two Parts; the firft Part con- 
 taining the Life of Chrijt, by Jer. Taylor, late Lord BiGiop 
 of Down and Connor. The fecund containing the Lives of 
 the Apoftles, by Dr. William Cave. With Cuts. 
 
 A complcat Collection of the Works of the Reverend 
 and Learned John Kettltivtll, B. D. formerly Vicar of Coles- 
 hill in Warwickjhire, in two Volumes ; the fcveral Trea- 
 tifes printed from Copies revis'd and improv'd by the Au- 
 thor, a little before his Death, To which is prefixed the 
 Life of the Author, by George Hickes D. D. and Robert Nelfon, 
 Efq; two Volumes Folio, 1710. 
 
 A Commentary upon the Prophet Jfaiah, by W. Lo-jctb 
 B. D. Prebendary of IVmchefttr. 
 
 A Commentary upon the Prophecy and Lamentations of 
 Jeremiah, by W. Lowth, B. D. 
 
 Eight Sermons preached at the Cathedral Church of St. 
 Paul's, in Defence of the Divinity of our Lord jf/j Cbnft\ 
 upon the Encouragement given by the Lady Moyer, and at 
 the Appointment of the Lord Bifhop of London, <yc. By 
 Dan. JVaterland, D. D. Matter of Magdalen College in 
 Cambridge. The fecond Edition, 1711. 
 
 The Works of the learned Mr. Henry Dodwell abridg'd, 
 with an Account of his Life, by Francit Broke/by, B. D. 
 To which is added, an Abflrad of Mr. Dodwell's Book de 
 Cytlis, by Edm. Halley, L. L. D. Aflron. Reg. Ceom. Prof. 
 Savil. cr R. S. S. ^. Vol. 1713. 
 
 The Principles of Deifm truly reprcfented and fet in a 
 clear Light, in two Dialogues between a Sceptic and a De- 
 ifi. The firft concerning the Chriftian Revelation. The fe- 
 cond concerning natural Religion. The third Edition, 17x4. 
 
 A Trcatife concerning the Operations of the holy Spirit, 
 being the Subftance of the late Reverend and Learned Dr. 
 William Clagett'i Difcourfe upon that Subjcd; with large 
 Additions, by Henry Sttbbtng, M. A. Redlor of Ricking- hall 
 in Suffolk. The fecond Edition, 1715. 
 
 Critical Remarks on fomc Pjffages of Scripture, commu- 
 nicated in a Letter to the Right Honourable Sir Peter King 
 Knight by the Right Reverend Richard Kidder, D.D. late Bi- 
 (hop of Bath and Wells. The fecond Edition, 1715. 
 
 A Difcourfe of the Truth and Certainty of natural Reli- 
 gion, and the indifpenfable Obligations to religious Wor- 
 fhip, from Nature and Kcafon, in two Books, By David 
 
 Marti*,
 
 BOOKS printed for W. and J. Innys. 
 Martin, late Pallor of the French Church at Utrecht. Tran- 
 flated from the French, the fecond Edition, 1715. 
 
 The Lord Bilhop of London's Letter to his Clergy defend- 
 ed; wherem the conftanr Worfoip of Son and Holy Spirit, 
 with the Father, during the firft Ages, is fet forth; and the 
 Antiquity of the Doxology ufed by the Church of England, 
 
 atoned, 1719. 
 
 Dr. Manny's ^radical Difcourfes upon the Lord's Prayer, 
 preach'd before the Honourable Society of Lincoln s~ inn, 
 the third Edition. 
 
 A praclical Difcourfe concerning the great Duty of Pray- 
 er, by Richard Croffinge, B. D. Fellow of Pembroke kail in 
 Cambridge, 1710. 
 
 -r\ practical Difcourfe concerning the great Duty 
 
 of Charity, 1720. 
 
 The devout Soul, or Entertainment tor a Penitent, con- 
 Ming of Meditations, Poems, Hymns and Prayers, in two 
 Parts, by Thomat Coney, D. D. Prebendary of mils, and 
 Redtor of Chedzoy in Somerfctflnre, 1712. 
 
 Twenty four Sermons preached on leveril Occafions, in 
 two Volumes, by Richard Lucas, D.D. the fecond Edition. 
 
 ^-Enquiry after Happinefs. in three Party, r Of 
 
 the Poffibility of obtaining Happinefs. 2. Of the true No* 
 lion of human Life 3. Of religious Perfedion, in two 
 Volumes, the fifth Edition, 1717. 
 
 Pradical Obfervations upon the Miracles of our blefied Sa- 
 viour; together with fome extraordinary Paffages of his 
 Life, in two Volumes, by Francis Bragg* B. D. the third 
 
 Edition. , ,+ 
 
 Practical Difcourfes upon the Parables of our bleil 
 cd Saviour, with Prayers annex'd to each Difcourfe, in two 
 Volumes. 
 
 A Perfuafive to a holy Life, from the Happinefs which 
 attends it, both in this World and in the World to come, 
 by John Ray, late Fellow of the Royal Society, 1719. 
 
 An Addrefs to Parents, (hewing them the Obligations they 
 are under to take Care of the Chriftian Education of their 
 Children, and laying before them the principal Points in 
 which they ought to inftruft them, by Jofeph Hoole Vicar 
 
 of Haxey, 1724. TU n. 
 
 Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonotts. 
 fign of which, is plainly to demonstrate the Reality and Per- 
 fedion'of human Knowledge; the incorporeal Nature of the 
 Soul, and the immediate Providence of a Deity, in op po- 
 litico to Sceptics, and Atheifts. Alfo to open a Method 
 for rendring the Sdenqpm^EraftAJIftN and compendi- 
 ous, by Ge^^^^^lWAopelfeAI^TWimi^ 011 ^^ 
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