from his situation. He then removed to Ramsgate, that he might recruit and re-establish his health. This object appeared to be attainable, till within a few days before his death, when he became a subject of severe indisposition; and it was evident to those around him that he was sinking fast into the grave. It is not consistent with our views of the divine mercy and faithfulness to suppose that the Lord is forgetful of his servants when they most require his aid and support; and we may dismiss from our minds all anxiety concerning the spiritual state and safety of his faithful people in the article of death, even though they have not strength or opportunity to declare the feelings of their minds under these circumstances. Still it is a comfort to survivers, and an encouragement to those who must follow through the gloomy valley of the shadow of death, when our dying friends are permitted to testify that divine grace is sufficient for them even in the last conflict. This was permitted to Mr. Briggs. To a friend, who called to see him, he expressed his thankfulness that he had not now his religion to seek. To another inquiry as to the state of his mind, he said he had not raptures or ecstasies, but he had peace. To the Rev. John Brown, who called on him the Sunday previous to his death, he manifested much feeling and gratitude when he was told that the congregation had united in prayer to God on his behalf. Mr. Brown asked him, if he found that Gospel he had recommended to others to be his support now. He replied that he did; and appeared to unite most earnestly when Mr. Brown engaged in prayer. His strength was now greatly reduced, and his sufferings became extreme; but the sentences he uttered were of a devotional character, indicating the resigned and peaceful state of his heart; his confidence was fixed on the Redeemer, -the God-man, -as he expressed it with a faltering voice; and he found him to be a "friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Being naturally of a strong constitution, the last struggle was somewhat severe; but he entered into rest on Monday, 25th of May, 1835, in the sixty-seventh year of his age.

He possessed a good understanding, a lively imagination, and a kind heart; but these qualities could not save him from the relentless hand of death. In early life he allowed youthful folly and the love of the world to prevent his surrendering his heart to God; and it would appear that he long felt the painful consequences of thus resisting divine grace. The way to entire happiness through life is, to present its early years to God; let the fresh bloom of youth be devoted to him, and the sacrifice will be more acceptable, and the result more happy. When he sought the Lord after this continuance in folly, he was not disappointed. God forgave his sin, and vouchsafed him the light of his countenance; and he was honoured to preach to others the faith he once despised. "Behold the severity and the goodness of God;"-let that goodness lead us to repentance. His declining years were the happiest of his life; he filled a station of great usefulness, and

he was associated with some of the most honoured of the saints of God. "Even to old age will I lead thee, saith the Lord; I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." He had naturally a great dread of death; he shrunk from the final conflict; but the fear of death, when he approached it, was removed from him. And so will every believer find grace when his state requires it. "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Amen!

DIVINITY.

THE DUTY OF PARENTS IN TRAINING UP THEIR

CHILDREN:

A SERMON:

BY THE REV. JOHN BROWN, SEN.
(Concluded from page 25.)

3. RELIGIOUS instruction and training opens a wide field. And, from its connexion with eternity, as well as with time, has special claims on the attention of parents. I recommend, then, in the first place, the teaching of Catechisms to children, as one very useful and successful method of religious instruction. Parents should not consider this as merely a part of school exercise, to be left to the schoolmaster, or Sunday-school teacher; for it puts into their hands a powerful means of imprinting on the young mind the leading doctrines and duties of Christianity, and cannot be innocently neglected by those whose special duty it is to train up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." As a Wesleyan Minister, in a Wesleyan congregation, I take this opportunity of recommending the Catechisms published under the sanction of the Wesleyan Conference, with the explanatory questions recently added, as adapted to answer all the purposes of catechetical instruction, whether at home, or in the Sabbath or day school. The First Catechism is suited to children of tender age; when this is mastered, the Second may be employed; and the Third contains a masterly outline of the evidences of Christianity, admirably calculated to confirm the young mind in the faith of Christ, and to fortify it against the insinuating attacks of infidelity. Another mode of giving religious instruction to your children is, by reading the Scriptures to them. I do not mean merely at family worship, when reading the word of God should not be omitted; but at other convenient opportunities. Having taken your little ones aside, open your Bible, select some appropriate portion of Scripture; parables, miracles, examples of holy men, and historical facts, will be found to excite a lively interest in their minds; read slowly and distinctly; explain what you think they do not understand; ground questions on your reading; answer their questions to you; and by every method in your

power try to condescend to their capacity, and labour to inform the judgment, affect the heart, and store the memory with the word of God. Such exercises cannot fail of producing a good effect; and, if properly conducted, they may be made exceedingly pleasant. I have known cases where favourite amusements have been readily thrown aside to engage in them. Timothy is commended for his early knowledge of the Scriptures, having been instructed in them by his pious mother Eunice. A candidate for holy orders, who manifested a more than usual acquaintance with the word of God, observed to his examiner, "My mother taught me the Scriptures." "Ay!" rejoined the Chaplain,"mothers can do great things." "I well remember," says the late Rev. Legh Richmond, speaking of his beloved parent, "in the early dawn of my expanding reason, with what care she laboured to instil into my mind a sense of the being of a God, and of the reverence which is due to him; of the character of our Saviour; of the duty of prayer, and the manner in which it ought to be offered at a throne of grace. First instructed by her to read, I have not forgotten, in my Bible lessons, with what simplicity and propriety she used to explain and comment on the word of God, its precepts and examples. These infantine catechetical exercises still vibrate in my recollections, and confirm to my own mind the great advantage attendant on the earliest possible endeavours to win the attention and store the memory with religious knowledge." Taking your children to hear sermons is another mode of religious instruction. But to render this as efficient as may be, it will be necessary to direct them how to hear, and to give them instructions how to use their memory. Then, after hearing, take an early opportunity of examining them on what they have heard. Explain to them what they have not understood; and supply, as far as you can, the deficiencies of their memory by your better recollection. Impress upon their minds, that preaching is one of the means that God himself has appointed to make mankind acquainted with the things relating to our salvation; and remind them that they will have to give an account for every sermon they hear at a higher tribunal. Put into their hands such religious books as are adapted to their capacity, and appear to you to be the best calculated to lead them to a knowledge of themselves and of Jesus Christ their Saviour. You can be at little loss, in this age of printing, for books of this description. If there be any difficulty, it will be in making a judicious selection where you have so much choice. Yet, when you consider the importance of doing so, you will see the necessity of being careful. Overlook their reading, examine them in it, and explain what they do not understand. Try to excite in them a love of serious reading, and to prefer what is solid and judicious. I think young people should be guarded against a species of publications which have recently prevailed in the religious world to a considerable extent: I mean, religious novels, and fictitious narrative. However excellent the moral incul

Dur

cated by writings of this description may be, yet for young people to know that the whole is merely the fruit of imagination, will beget in their minds a scepticism as it regards the facts that rest on a better foundation, and even concerning the truth itself. The advantages derived from the superior attractiveness of such compositions are far counterbalanced by the evil effects produced on the imagination and taste. I have remarked, that on serious subjects men prefer to be seriously treated; and when they set about in earnest to build for eternity, they prefer a solid foundation. Converse with your children frequently, seriously, and affectionately on the things of God. ing the earlier years of infancy conversation will be the only mode of religious instruction; and great skill, condescension, patience, and perseverance will be required of you. This mode of instruction is always at hand, ready on every emergency, and suited to every stage of progress in religious knowledge. It is true, that different dispositions will require different modes of address; yet, as a general rule, endeavour to place religion before your children in the most attractive view, by making it appear that Christ's yoke is easy, and his burden light; that wisdom's ways are pleasantness, and her paths peace; that God is a kind and beneficent parent, who wills the salvation of all rational intelligences, and has amply provided for our happiness here and hereafter in the performance of our duty; that to be religious is to be blessed, and to be holy is to be happy. To represent the duties of religion as rigorous, severe, and exceedingly difficult in their performance; to meet the wayward follies of youth with an array of the terrors of the Lord; and to be continually denouncing against their faults and feelings the vengeance of eternal fire, can only sour their minds, and create a disgust with whatever bears the name of religion. Terror is calculated to harden and render reckless, or to sink the mind into despondency; but it is the soft influence of judicious counsel, administered in the spirit of love, that wins and persuades. Seasons of health or sickness, times of peculiar suffering or enjoyment, any new occurrence, accident, or change of circumstances, will furnish topics for religious conversation.

But a difficulty will probably present itself to many, the want of time. You are so fully occupied in providing "the bread that perisheth," that such a course of instruction as this is altogether impracticable. Your engagements may be numerous and pressing, and you may be able to command but little leisure; yet, if convinced of your duty, and fully intent on its performance, opportunities, longer or shorter, will, during the course of the week, present themselves. But God has graciously instituted the rest of the Sabbath. The same authority which requires you to labour six days, and do all that you have to do, has commanded you to keep holy the Sabbath-day. This is every man's privilege, and affords the industrious labourer a season for attending to the things that relate to his own salvation and that of his

family. Employ no more time in lawful things than is strictly necessary. Avoid Sunday visiting, journeys of pleasure, walks of amusement, attention to temporal business: these are violations of the fourth commandment, and will be fatal to domestic instruction and training. Be careful how you engage yourself even in what you may think is your duty, as in works of piety and mercy, which take you from your domestic circle, lest it should happen that, whilst you are cultivating the vineyard of others, your own should lie neglected. Avail yourselves of the intervals of religious worship, and of Sabbath evenings. When the public services, at which it will be your duty and that of your family to attend, are ended, immediately repair home, to carry on the work of religious instruction in your own dwelling.

To religious instruction it will be necessary to add training in the forms, ceremonies, and external decencies of religion and morality. Habituate your children to observe the duty of private prayer. Teach them proper forms of prayer, to be used, at least, until they are able to express their wants and wishes without such helps; and see that they conduct these private exercises with punctuality, seriousness, and decorum. Endeavour to direct their tender minds to God, as their Creator, Preserver, and the Giver of all good; who watches over them when they sleep, cares for them when they are awake, and pours down his blessings in answer to the prayers of pious children. Lead them to feel a dependence on God as their heavenly Father; to be afraid of offending Him, and to repose a confidence in his care. Children will, without difficulty, fall into the practice of bowing their knees in secret when they see their parents do so. And I have known children so impressed with their duty in this respect, as to kneel down to pray before retiring to rest. Train them up to the habit of regularly attending public worship. It will be proper to begin this early. As soon as they can be made to know how to behave properly, let them accompany you to witness the services of the sanctuary, and, as they are able, to take their part in them. They have been admitted by baptism into the body of Christ's visible church; they are the lambs of the flock, whom the great Shepherd gathers with his arms; in heaven their angels always behold the face of God; of them the Redeemer has said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Nor should these "lambs," these "little ones," these objects of Christ's condescending regard, be wanting from the sanctuary, at the assembling of the congregation of God's people. A hallowed influence descends on the company of the faithful. Nor is it for us to say in what manner the Holy Spirit may work on the mind of a child under the means of grace. But if nothing else were effected than that of merely forming a habit of attending the house of God, this, by a pious parent, cannot be considered as of little importance. Accustom them to the constant performance of family worship. As a professor of Christianity, you do not hesitate re