THE WAY IN WHICH WE SHOULD GO:

A SERMON,

Preached in the Parish Church of St. Botolph, Cambridge;

ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 1808;

FOR THE BENEFIT

OF

THE NEW SCHOOL,

ESTABLISHED ON

DR. BELL'S AND MR. LANCASTER's

PLAN OF EDUCATION.

BY JAMES PLUMPTRE, B. D.
FELLOW OF CLARE-HALL.

CAMBRIDGE:

PRINTED BY FRANCIS HODSON,

And Sold by J. DEIGHTON, and J. NICHOLSON, Cambridge;
F. C. and J. RIVINGTON, St. Paul's Church-yard; and
J. HATCHARD, No. 190, Piccadilly, London;
and Cook and PARKER, Oxford.

1809.

[Price One Shilling.]

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JOHN WEYLAND JUN. Esq.

My Dear Sir,

THE remembrance of past pleasures, and the renewal of old acquaintance and Friendships, are ever esteemed amongst the most refined of gratifications. How greatly is their effect heightened, when revived under circumstances, which reflect honour and worth upon the object! Such have been my sensations, in recognizing, in the Author of A SHORT INQUIRY INTO THE POLICY, HUMANITY, AND PAST EFFECTS OF THE POOR LAWS, and of A LETTER TO A COUNTRY GENTLEMAN ON THE EDUCATION OF THE LOWER ORDERS, an old School-Fellow and Friend. That my own thoughts have been employed on the same subject, though to a less extent, and with less ability, some of my Publications have shewn. The following

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Discourse was planned previous, but was written subsequent, to the perusal of your LETTER: and I was happy to find my sentiments nearly, if not entirely, coinciding with your's. Having availed myself of your opinion in one part of my Discourse, I am happy,-in complying with the request of many persons who heard it, and thought the publication of it might be of advantage to our School in particular, and to the cause at large,—that it affords me an opportunity of inscribing it to you, assuring you, with how lively a pleasure, I remain, with every sentiment of esteem and respect,

Your devoted humble Servant,

and very sincere Friend,

JAMES PLUMPTRE,

CLARE-HALL,
December 24, 1808,

THE WAY IN WHICH WE SHOULD GO:

A SERMON.

PROVERBS XXII. 6.

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO; AND, WHEN HE I OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.

I. WHEN Man was formed by the Great Creator of all things, and was pronounced to be " good," and was placed in this world, as the progenitor, from whom all future generations were to proceed, and the dominion placed in his hands over the rest of the creation,-he was not left to follow the impulse of his own heart," to be guided by the light of nature," as we commonly express it, but the Creator revealed himself to him, gave him a law, and it is probable intended to inform his mind by continued converse and instruction; for we find it mentioned, after the transgression of our first parents, that they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day;

"