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stant, unremitting instruction? Solomon is scarcely less pressing in his exhortations to train up a child in the way in which he should go; and he is most distinct in his promise of a blessing and success to such instruction. When the Lord appeared as an angel to Abraham, he plainly intimated, that the patriarch's exertions among his children and the rising generation in his household would be effectual as means of securing them in the true faith. Gen. xviii. 19. And I cannot but think that children were allowed to partake of the initiating rites of circumcision and baptism, at so early an age, on the general presumption that the appointed means, if duly employed by their parents and sponsors, would secure, under God's blessing, the great object of conversion to God.

If this view of the scriptural doctrine respecting, not the importance only, but the necessity of using means zealously, diligently, unceasingly, for the attainment of spiritual ends, be just what shall we say of those parents who excuse their want of assiduity and vigour, in taking proper measures to impress the hearts, as well as to inform the understandings, of their children, on the plea that conversion is God's work, and that the times and seasons for carrying it on are in his hand? I will not argue with them, but leave them to the admonitory voice of their own conscience. When we look forward to the advancement of religion among the rising generation, there are no promoters of that great work on whom we fix our eyes with so much hope,

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as on pious parents. How deeply then must we lament that there should be found among them such principles as I have mentioned; which, operating on parental partiality, or love of ease, or other dispositions unfavourable to watchfulness and vigour in conducting education, present us, in a spiritual sense at least, with "ashes and mourning," in families where we expected "beauty and the oil of glad. "ness!"

But the foregoing error is most to be deplored when joined with another, also arising from a source which challenges our respect and veneration: I mean, the hope entertained by some parents, remiss in the spiritual nurture of their children, that the promised blessing to the offspring of pious ancestors will be realised, sooner or later, in their conversion. On the influence of such a sentiment, when united with that which was last under consideration, I need not dwell. Every one must see that when, on the one hand, a low opinion is entertained by parents of the efficacy of human endeavours, in leading their children to true conversion; and on the other, a hope is indulged that the great Shepherd will, at some time or other, gather them to his fold; the efforts in education will be altogether destitute of watchful and persevering energy, and the worst effects may be expected. Whether, however, this latter sentiment be combined with the former or not, it is of an importance sufficient to claim our serious attention. Let us then examine how far it is warranted by Scripture and experience. Those who hold it, rely

on the numerous passages in the word of God, in which a blessing is promised to the seed of his true servants, and more particularly on the gracious declaration in the second Commandment. These divine promises are sources of great comfort to christian parents, strenuously exerting themselves in bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. What numbers have been supported by them, when toiling, apparently without success, in the discharge of their parental duties! But even those who are so employed may expect more than the promises were intended to convey. And if such persons, the very persons for whose benefit the promises were given, may look forward to the conversion and final salvation of their chil dren with unwarranted confidence; what shall we say of confidence,-what shall we say even of hope, in those who are ill performing the duties of parents, and who, though they will scarcely allow it, make the promises themselves the ground of their neglect?

How far a misplaced hope of this kind may have contributed to the lamentable declension, in many instances, of succeeding generations from the piety of those which preceded them, cannot be determined: but certain it is, that such declensions stain the page of history in almost all times. Look at the successors of Joshua, and of the Elders of his ap. pointment; at the sons of Samuel and of Eli, of Jehoshaphat and of Josiah; and at the descendants from the members of the first christian churches, as

well as of the churches reformed from Popery; at the descendants from the pious ministers ejected in this country at the time of the Restoration, and from their hearers in short, search the annals of the Jewish or Christian Church in almost any age, and you will be convinced that the piety of ancestors is very far indeed from being a security to their offspring.

To humble, zealous, well-directed, and persevering efforts, in the work of Christian Education, God gives a signal blessing; but those who will not employ such efforts, have no ground to expect any blessing. They may rather look with awful apprehension to the curses every where denounced in the word of God against those who have mercies placed within their reach, but will not accept them in the appointed way.

CHAP. II.

The Period from early Infancy to the Learning to readFaulty Course commonly pursued-A very early Attention to Tempers and habits recommended-Religion how to be instilled-Parental Example.

THE

HE years which precede manhood are naturally divided into several periods. The first is, from early infancy to the time when the child begins to read. The next is, from that time to the time of going (if a boy) to school, or to a private tutor; and, if a girl, to the age of ten or twelve. On the present occasion, my remarks will be confined to these incipient but highly important stages in education.

The period of infancy is generally suffered to slide away with little or no attention to the work of education. The child is supposed to be in a kind of irrational state, which will scarcely admit of moral discipline, and its parents seem to think only of its health and amusement. If it wants any thing, its wish must be gratified; if it cries, it is to be quieted by indulgence; or if this cannot be effected, attempts are frequently made to cheat it into a belief that the desired object has suddenly vanished. If it has been hurt, the immediate cause of its misfortune, whether animate or inanimate, is not seldom to be beaten, and the child itself is encouraged to join in inflicting the punishment. Things proceed in this way nearly till the time when the child can talk,

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