A child perceives that the sun gives light and heat to the spot which he inhabits; so far he judges rightly; but he is not unlikely to conclude, that the sun was created for that purpose; he is ignorant of its conferring the same advantages on distant parts of the world; and he supposes its real magnitude to be nearly the same as it appears to be; by degrees his knowledge is enlarged, and he comes to understand, that the same sun shines upon the whole earth; he now perhaps looks back with contempt on his former ignorance, and imagines that he understands fully the whole use and importance of the sun; whereas he still knows but a very small part of it: in time, if he is in the way of scientific instruction, and is diligent in profiting by it, he will come to learn, that the earth is only one out of many planets-several much larger than our own-that are warmed and enlightened by the same sun, which is a far larger body than all of them together; and we should be very presumptuous were we to conclude, that even this purpose is the only, or even the principal one, for which the sun was created. Most arrogant then must he be, who dares

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conclude, that when he knows something of God's attributes and dispensations, he fully understands either the whole, or even the most essential part, of them. We know certain relations in which the Almighty stands towards us; but there may be other relations besides these, of which we know nothing. We are instructed in some degree how far we are interested in the fall of Adam, in the redemption through Christ, and in other of God's dispensations; but we know not that this is all; nor have we any reason for supposing, that even the greater part has been revealed to us. The fall of our first Parents may, for aught we know, have been of consequence to different orders of Beings, whose very existence we are ignorant of; the death of Christ may, in some unknown way, be the means of salvation to millions who never heard of Him; his coming to judge the world may affect other planets besides our own.

Is this vast extent of ignorance revolting to any one? let him then recollect the time when he was a child, and refresh his memory by the observation of other children. Let him remember how strange many things seemed to him,

which are now perfectly cleared up;

how utterly ignorant he was of matters, which are now familiar to him;-how far he was from being able to comprehend the nature, and even from suspecting the existence of many things, which now principally occupy his thoughts;-and, above all, how sure he was to be mistaken, whenever he presumed to fancy that his own notions were adequate, and his knowledge perfect. This habitual study of the infantine mind will prepare us to go any lengths in the confession of our ignorance, and the due distrust of our faculties: we shall thus become learned in human nature, as to that most important part of it, its imperfections; and where full and accurate knowledge is not to be attained, we shall at least keep clear of presumptuous error. Where the darkness cannot be removed, it is a great point to be aware that it is darkness, instead of being deceived and misled by false lights and delusive appearances.

§4. It was mentioned as a third point in which the knowledge possessed by children is worthy of consideration, that, scanty and imperfect as it is, it is yet fully sufficient for all practical

purposes; a child knows, indeed, but little of the friends that surround him; but he knows enough to understand that they are friends, and that he may profit by their instructions, and rely on their protection. Children soon learn to distinguish, in a great degree, what things are agreeable, and what, painful; what profitable, and what, mischievous; and if they are patient and docile, they rapidly improve in this kind of knowledge. They learn also very early, what sort of conduct will gain them the approbation and goodwill of their parents and their playfellows; and what will subject them to displeasure, ridicule, or punishment. Almost all the knowledge, indeed, that is early and easily acquired by children, is of a practical nature. For example, a child, as has been above remarked, understands very little of the real nature of the sun; but he very soon comes to understand its efficacy in enlightening-in warming-in drying-in altering the colours of several substances-in expanding flowers-in ripening fruits. This sort of knowledge it is, universally, that is the most essential to be early acquired; and it is of such knowledge consequently, that, by the appointment of

Providence, children are the most capable. That which they can best learn, as children, is precisely such as is best calculated to lead them on to a more advanced state, and to qualify them for their future conduct in the world as

men.

Such, likewise, is our state in this present life; we can attain abundant knowledge for practical purposes; in the midst of all our ignorance and weakness, that which we can best understand is our duty and if we are diligent and patient in acquiring such knowledge as is suitable for us, and in practically applying it, instead of boldly prying into mysteries beyond our reach, we shall be undergoing the best preparation for that superior state of existence, in which God's faithful servants will, through his mercy, obtain an enlargement of their faculties, an increase of their knowledge, and a nearer view of his adorable perfections. On the other hand, the evils which are brought upon the man by presumptuous disobedience, by carelessness, and by indocility,―in the child, may warn us what those have to expect, who, in what concerns religion, copy the example of such perverseness.