influence which a confidential love for you would give you over them. Nor will the sternness of your authority be able, perhaps, to prevent them from associating with company by which their morals may be corrupted, and character ruined. What was it that made Kirke White read the efforts of his infant genius to the kitchen-maid, but that he knew he should find in her a partner of his little pleasures? What is it that so often makes the nurse the chief confidant and special friend, whilst the mother is approached with diffidence and awe? And what is it, but the art of descending to the capacities of his young charge, that enables the teacher of the infant-school to lay hold on their understandings and feelings, and to sway them at his pleasure? If this confidential affection be important in childhood, it is much more so as your children grow up. Indeed it is the only means by which, after a certain age, you can hope successfully to govern them. The punishments by which obedience may be enforced in early childhood grow out of date; and the tide of youthful passion, or the attractions of evil company, will often prove too powerful to be controlled by arguments, entreaties, and threatenings; but when the heart of your child is bound to you by love, and reposes in you with unmixed confidence, it cannot break away from under your authority, nor reject your advice and counsel. This confidential affection is the very soul of filial obedience; and the want of it is the reason of that spirit of independency which shows its evil fruits in those who have thrown off the yoke of parental authority. Did children but love their parents as they ought, and place confidence in their counsel, would they be seen embarking in ruinous schemes, forming bad connexions, or making foolish marriages, and embittering the remainder of their days? Who are so capable of giving counsel to children as their own parents? Or who can be so deeply affected by their misfortunes or success as they? How melancholy is it when this tie of affection and confidence is severed! when the parent is the last to be consulted, and the child acts on a plan of concealment, as if he were afraid to hear his parent's opinion, or thought that he had in him to whom he owes his life, an enemy to his happiness! "Children," of whatever age, "obey your parents in all things," is a command which is binding on children to the last moment of the term of their parents' natural life. Not to do this is a positive violation of that commandment which is especially pointed out by the Apostle as the first with promise.

If both parents should endeavour to establish, towards themselves, a confidential affection in the hearts of their offspring, yet the mother has especial advantages for doing this. She is the constant companion of her children in early infancy. The softness of her character, and natural tenderness of feeling, render her eminently susceptible; and the more than musical tones of her voice, with a power peculiarly their own, thrill through the infant heart, and soothe its little passions into

peace. It is for her to bring before the unoccupied mind the elements of thought; to guide the earliest efforts of speech; to assist in the formation of ideas; and to direct the first moral movements of the soul. Where a pious mother knows how to improve her advantages, her efforts prove eminently successful. Impressions, never to be obliterated, are made; and she establishes an empire of love over the heart, which all the rude changes in after-life cannot destroy. He who, under the influence of maternal affection, takes for his guide the early counsels of her who brought him forth, will never go far astray. "I would be good," said the celebrated Hooker, "were it only to please my pious mother, and be a comfort to her in her old age and widowhood." Indeed he who can deliberately despise a mother's counsel, and so far forget the love of her who nourished him at her breast, watched his cradle, and tended him from infancy to manhood, as to be guilty of that which he knows will fill her feeling heart with anguish, and perhaps bring her grey hairs with sorrow to the grave, must be destitute of some of the attributes of humanity, and hardly deserves to be classed with men. And when the erring youth has been made to reap the fruit of his disobedience, how often has the recollection of a mother's tenderness responded to the truth, and been the means of calling back from the way of perdition the wandering sinner, to the Saviour of his soul ! *

"Two Ministers in a seaport town, on the coast of Hampshire, were requested to visit a young man, of genteel connexions, who, by his imprudent and profligate conduct, had brought himself into a most embarrassed situation. After their introduction, they sat down, listened to his tale of distress, and, by turns, sympathized with him, expostulated, and advised him. On reminding him of the advantages which he had enjoyed while under the roof of his parents, he burst into a flood of tears, and exclaimed, 'Yes, I have known better; I have had one of the best of mothers; and through the sad round of dissipation which I have run, her prayers and her counsels have followed me. Her letters have been treasured up as my richest jewels, and in my moments of solitude and reflection, I read them again and again with increased interest and delight. O that I had followed her advice! but I wanted resolution.'"-Bruce's Anecdotes.

2. The second means to be employed in training up children is setting before them a good example. The influence of example, especially on young people, is so universally acknowledged, as to render farther remark on this part of the question unnecessary. Be yourselves, morally

"How little do we appreciate a mother's tenderness while living! How heedless are we, in childhood, of her anxieties and kindness! But when she is dead and gone; when the cares and coldness of the world come withering to our hearts; when we learn how hard it is to find true sympathy, how few love us for ourselves, how few will befriend us in our misfortunes; then it is we think of the mother we have lost."

and religiously, what you wish your children to be; and teach and govern by example. That you may train them up to a steady adherence to truth, be careful always to maintain truth before them. Never break your word with them, nor deceive them, nor allow them to be deceived, whatever may be the object you wish to attain. To fail in your promise, or to allow them to discover that you have been deceiving them, would be teaching them lying practically. You cannot expect your child to be just and upright, if you yourself are not so; nor to govern his passions, if he see you give way to anger, and hear you vent your wrath in intemperate language. You command and exhort him in vain to be sober, if he see you wallow in the slough of intemperance; and reprove him uselessly for violating the fourth commandment, if he see you doing your own pleasure on the Sabbath-day, or loitering away its precious hours to the neglect of public worship. An evil example has power to undo whatever either teaching, precept, or authority might otherwise effect. Even when the example is in the main unobjectionable, there are sometimes found certain defects or oversights, which have an injurious influence on young people. And the want of a full, consistent, and uniform example, on the part of parents, may be one reason why the children of professors sometimes go astray. Children's perceptions are much quicker than we are apt to imagine; and the impressions made in infancy sink very deep. How necessary is it that the strictest propriety of conduct should always be maintained before them! Their presence should ever put us on our guard, and impose a check on whatever might be misunderstood by them, or prove a source of temptation to sin. But there can be no good example which is not formed by the possession of personal religion. The grace of God, filling and renewing the heart, lies at the root of all that is really excellent in human character. Men look in vain for "grapes from thorns, or for figs from thistles;" but when the tree is made good, the fruit will be good also. When Moses inculcated parental duties, he began thus: "These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart;" and then it follows, "Thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children." And Joshua, in the noble resolution recorded Joshua xxiv. 15, begins with himself: "As for me," and then adds, "and my house, we will serve the Lord." There is a palpable inconsistency in supposing, that he who is himself the servant of sin will train up his offspring in holiness; or that he who is himself in the way to perdition, will lead on his family to heaven. Let parents look to their personal piety! Are you born of the Spirit? a new creature in Christ? Is this shown by your fruits? Are you blameless, and harmless, without rebuke? Are you living in all godliness and honesty? And can you say to your children, "Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ?'

(To be concluded in our next.)

MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

THE WESLEYAN METHODIST. (No. LXXX.) EPISTOLARY REMAINS OF THE REV. ALEXANDER MATHER.

To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine.

THE interest of epistolary articles is derived not only from their intrinsic spirit or talent, but also from the estimation due to the correspondents, and the circumstances suggesting the topics which are introduced. The communications which are dictated by pastoral anxiety for the welfare of Christ's flock are truly valuable. In an age which is producing many popular volumes of correspondence, it is believed that the accompanying extracts from the letters of the venerable Alexander Mather to William Marriott, sen., Esq., formerly of Hoxton-square, will be acceptable and useful to a numerous class of readers. The passages have been carefully selected; and they are published with the kind permission of Thomas Marriott, Esq., of Windsorterrace, City-road.

Mr. Mather's "praise" has long been "in the Gospel throughout all the churches." Forty-three years he was a most faithful and judicious Minister in the Methodist Connexion; and, during the whole of that time, he had a good report of all men, and of the truth itself." Among the most useful and influential of the fathers of our Israel, he filled an honourable place; and he presided over the Conference at its second session after Mr. Wesley's death. Mr. Mather died in York, August, 1800; full of honours, and in the triumph of faith.

Mr. Marriott was worthy of such a correspondent. The addition of this gentleman's name to the list of those whose shining examples of Christian liberality have received a nation's applause, will not sully the lustre of their fame. Mr. Marriott was the disinterested guardian of helpless youth; the patron of four alms-houses for aged widows; the benefactor of thousands of the

poor; and the sole supporter, during twenty years, of two schools which afforded instruction to one hundred children. His charity was silent, but extensive and systematic. One of his almoners relieved nine thousand cases of distress; and many of the sick, the infirm, and the desolate had reason to bless God for the weekly bounty of their unknown friend. Love to man was, in Mr. Marriott, the beautiful result of love to God. His piety was warm and practical; full of mercy

and good fruits."
In his private
cash-book there occur two memo-
randa which are worthy of public no-
tice :-"Lord, save me from the love
of money; and help me to employ
this and every talent to thine honour,
through Jesus Christ." And again:

"Set apart for various charitable purposes £9,715." His bequests, also, amounted to about £3,000. Such an example of sanctified affluence deserves to be remembered and imitated.

Mr. Marriott was a Methodist, but not a bigot. For the Rev. John Wesley (who appointed him one of the executors of his last will and testament) he had a filial regard. Under date of March 2d, 1791, he penned these words :-"This morning it pleased God to take unto himself that eminent servant of his, who had been a burning and shining light' for so many years; I mean, the Rev. Mr. Wesley, who died in peace, and in the triumph of faith. O that those important truths which I have so often heard from his lips may be so treasured up in my heart, and reduced to practice in my life, that I may be found among the number of those who shall be his crown of rejoicing' in that great and awful day!"

The letters of Mr. Mather show the Minister of Christ in a pleasing