The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

402 LETTERS, TRACTS, IsfCrvifit all fchools and femln?a-ies within their bounds;and, if the prefbytery pleafe, they may defire the fynodto join in the vifitation with them. Do you notfee, Gentlemen, that by this vifitation fome confiderablegood might jn the mean time be brought about?The prefbytery might call the ftveral teaching profeiTors,man by man, before them, and examine themftriclly about their principles, their knowledge, andtheir diligence. And perhaps, upon a ftrict examination,it will be found, that the fcepticifm and immorality,complained of in the ftuden't^, is really owingto the wretched principles, the ignorance, andcareleffiiefs of the profelT&rs •,for I cannot think thatthe youth are naturally worfe nowHhan they were inicrmer times, till they become debauched in theirprinciples and m.orals at this degenerate college. Avifitation, Gentlemen ! A vilitation of one fort or o-ther ! By all mianner of rhcans a vifitation ! It we canget a royal one, it is well ; but why {liculd we not,,m the mean time, with all our credit and influence,pulh forward the other ? for. Gentlemen, the virtueand happinefs of our children are at flake. I fear, Ifear, there are bad principles inftilled I And fromwhat I have heard about the occult caufes of this procefs,I fear there are bad examples fet by thefe fofryteachers : And if the patror^s of benevolence are felfifliand rapacious, and, of fympathy, hard-hearted andcruel ; if the preachers of charity are a£^uated by revenge; if they who extol juftice are covetous and un-}Uil ', andthey who found all morality on commonitnfQ are obfervcd to be fenfelefs, rude, and grofslyill-bred ;the fcholars mufl either abhor their mailers,as loathfomx hypocrites, or eife lofe all fenfe of virtue,and fmk into the bafeft avarice, injuftice, andcruelty.Chap. 30.The gentleman delivered his- fentimentswith an air and manner which commanded the attentionof every perfon prefent. And though I cannot