Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/45

 Policy, bodily Frame, or prevailing Passions and Principles, chance to give it.

Hence, then, it appears, that the private Freedom of the infant Mind is not violated but only directed to its best End, by early and salutary Instruction. Hence it appears to be the proper Destination of Man, that he shall not be left to the Follies of his own weak Understanding and nascent Passions; that he shall not be left fortuitously to imbibe the Maxims of corrupt Times and Manners; Maxims which, setting aside all Regard to their speculative Truth or Falsehood, do lead to the Dissolution of Law and Freedom: But that he shall be conducted voluntarily to adopt those Habits and Principles, which have been consecrated by the Approbation of the best and wisest Men, in every Age and Nation; such, in particular, as are suitable to the Laws, the Customs, the Genius, of his own free Country; such, in a Word, as are a secure Foundation of public Liberty.