in the view of worldly people, and still oftener in the view of religious people. There are not by means of it as many good scholars, nor as many good men of business, nor even as many skilful artisans and industrious workmen, as might be wished; and still less are there as many hopeful eminent Christians, adorning the doctrine of their God and Saviour in all things. We are not to despair however; and, accordingly, zealous and enterprising people have not been wanting, who have taken upon them to mend our methods; some in one way, and some in another; some by new machinery for abridging the labour of instruction; some by calling upon us to proceed on more liberal principles, and, in order to act in more powerful combination, to discard from the matter of instruction all religious peculiarities and distinctions; some by showing us that we have not known how to adapt ourselves to those who are to receive instruction, because of our mistaken views of human nature. But though some good things may have been said, and some useful contrivances may have been adopted, these projectors will not bring to pass what is wanting, and it is not for lack of their light that we have failed in education, but through wilfully shutting our eyes against a better. If we have not furnished society with useful members, it is because we have not built

on the one tried foundation-stone chosen of God and precious. Parents, in what they do for their children, are wont to be governed by the same views which determine their own conduct in life. That is, they seek first to fit them for doing well in the world; and the kingdom of God and his righteousness is but a secondary concern: not the object they have at heart, but only the thing which they dare not thrust out of their consideration altogether. Now, whilst it is thus, there will be nothing else but failure; your pupils will not do well even in the world, you will no more make good citizens than good Christians; nor serve society much better than you serve the Lord. But hear the Lord himself: "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."* As to the nature, and the capacities, and the necessities of man, and as to the food convenient for him, and the medicine also, take His representation of them all,—who made man, and knows him, and loves him, and in infinite mercy and absolute wisdom, which cannot be added to, hath provided for him, hath told that he is a fallen creature, in the first place to be cured of sin, and, for the curing of him, hath sent the Gospel of Christ. Set your hearts, in a word, upon bringing children to

you

* Jerem. vi. 16.

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God's service as the end, and take the inculcation of the truth as it is in Jesus for the means: and thus, by God's help and blessing, souls will be saved. And what if that should be all? will ye have lost your labour? But that will not be all. You will have made many fit to occupy thankfully, and contentedly, and usefully, the ordinary stations of society; and you will have put them in the road, at least, to become fit hereafter for any stations. For they will have those sound principles and right rules of conduct, which are necessary for every station; and much will have been also done to open and invigorate their minds, and then, as occasion calls for it, they may learn what they will besides with safety, and, I add, with advantage.

For, my brethren, who shall say a word against learning and science? there are zealots here and there who speak of human knowledge, as they call it, with much contempt: but do they know what it is? have they got it themselves? If they have not, however they may boast of what they can do without it, we shall not think that we have no advantage in knowing white from black by our eyesight, because a blind man may possibly walk and feed himself in the dark. God himself hath not by a peremptory decree shut up from any man any talent that he can be trusted with. All need not the same gifts indeed; and

knowledge with some might be as a sword in the hands of a lunatic. But when Solomon had got wisdom, God trusted him with riches: and the history we are upon, has told us how, when Daniel and his companions had proved themselves possessed of divine knowledge and piety, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and, to Daniel particularly, understanding in all visions and dreams; he has told us moreover how they throve, and became greater and more useful by means of all this. But if we put human knowledge first, and deal as if we prized it most, we shall thrust out divine knowledge and christian principle altogether. For it is not given for the second place, and will not degrade itself by standing there. It will make itself wings and fly away,-and what is the man of science then? The master and the smatterer, I take it, are much alike. The fruits show it in every grade and station,-and the servant that robs his master, and the merchant that defrauds his creditors, and the placeman that betrays his country, and the scholar that prostitutes his wit to make the worse appear the better reason, and the pastor that feeds himself and starves the flock,

one thing is to be said of all of them, they have not the fear of God before their eyes, and therefore are they all wise to evil, whilst to do good they have no knowledge.

If ye will support education-be it such as stands upon the Bible—be it such as provides for exercising the minds of the young upon the sense of it-be it such as is administered by those who will call their pupils at once to act upon it, to pray to God daily in his name whom the Bible reveals as advocate; to obey their rents as by God set over them; to remember the sabbath day to keep it holy, continually and immediately, because it is God's.

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ii. I come now to speak to parents. I said much to you last time. I will not repeat it now. I will not urge at large again, how wary and watchful over your children you yourselves must be-how careful to set them a good example -how thankful when schools are provided for them-how studious to co-operate with their in

structors.

But from the history I will draw one inference for your consolation and encouragement, if you shall to your power and by God's grace have done your duty. "We know not what a day may bring forth." You may be taken from your children, or they may be removed from under your parental superintendence, without power on your part to prevent it; they may be cast upon the wide world; removed even to distant climes; brought into perilous circumstances; thrust into difficulties and temptations: but so it befel Da