DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0193
a Devout and Holy Life. 191
stronger motives to great and good actions, than a little uncer-
tain popular praise.
On the other hand, there is nothing in reality that more
weakens the mind, and reduces it to meanness and slavery,
nothing that makes it less master of its own actions, or less cap-
able of following reason, than a love of praise and honour.
For as praise and honour are often given to things and persons,
where they are not due, as that is generally most praised and
honoured, that most gratifies the humours, fashions,"and vicious
tempers of the world ; so he that acts upon the desire of praise
and applause, must part with every other principle ; he must say
black is white, put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter, and do
the meanest, basest things, in order to be applauded.
For in a corrupt world, as this is, worthy actions are only to
be supported by their own worth, where instead of being praised
and honoured, they are most often reproached, and persecuted.
So that to educate children upon a motive of emulation, or a
desire of glory, in a world where glory itself is false, and most
commonly given wrong, is to destroy the natural integrity and
fortitude of their minds, and give them a bias, which will oftener
carry them to base and mean, than great and worthy actions.
Chapter XIX.
Showing how the method of educating
daughters, makes it difficult for them to
enter into the spirit of Christian humility.
How miserably they are injured and abused
by such an education. The spirit of a better
education^ represented in the character of
Eusebia.
THAT turn of mind which is taught and encouraged in
the education of daughters, makes it exceeding
difficult for them to enter into such a sense and
practice of humility, as the spirit of Christianity
requires.
The right education of this sex, is of the utmost importance to
human life. There is nothing that is more desirable for the
common good of all the world. For though women do not carry
stronger motives to great and good actions, than a little uncer-
tain popular praise.
On the other hand, there is nothing in reality that more
weakens the mind, and reduces it to meanness and slavery,
nothing that makes it less master of its own actions, or less cap-
able of following reason, than a love of praise and honour.
For as praise and honour are often given to things and persons,
where they are not due, as that is generally most praised and
honoured, that most gratifies the humours, fashions,"and vicious
tempers of the world ; so he that acts upon the desire of praise
and applause, must part with every other principle ; he must say
black is white, put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter, and do
the meanest, basest things, in order to be applauded.
For in a corrupt world, as this is, worthy actions are only to
be supported by their own worth, where instead of being praised
and honoured, they are most often reproached, and persecuted.
So that to educate children upon a motive of emulation, or a
desire of glory, in a world where glory itself is false, and most
commonly given wrong, is to destroy the natural integrity and
fortitude of their minds, and give them a bias, which will oftener
carry them to base and mean, than great and worthy actions.
Chapter XIX.
Showing how the method of educating
daughters, makes it difficult for them to
enter into the spirit of Christian humility.
How miserably they are injured and abused
by such an education. The spirit of a better
education^ represented in the character of
Eusebia.
THAT turn of mind which is taught and encouraged in
the education of daughters, makes it exceeding
difficult for them to enter into such a sense and
practice of humility, as the spirit of Christianity
requires.
The right education of this sex, is of the utmost importance to
human life. There is nothing that is more desirable for the
common good of all the world. For though women do not carry