almost entirely by imitation. This is our precep tor before we can reason, nay, before we can speak. If your own practice be inconsistent with religion, the remonstrances of conscience will prevent you from faithfully reproving in your children, those vices of which you are guilty; and a wish to palliate your own corruptions, will hinder you from advising them with impartiality. And even if this effect be not produced, even if your reproofs be faithful, and your advices impartial, yet while your conduct contradicts them, you induce your offspring to question the sincerity of your assertions, or to doubt of the possibility of complying with your directions; you lead them to suppose that religion consists, not in a steady and uniform practice of its duties, but in frequently conversing of its doctrines and obliga tions. While your language and life are thus contradictory, as a Scotch divine forcibly observes, "you point them with your finger on the road to heaven; you take them by the hand, and lead them to that of hell." No, no! miserable mother; you may give your children the most wise and pious instructions, but you have no reason to hope that these instructions will be blest, while your whole behaviour proves that you despise and scorn them. What though you tell your offspring that God is supremely to be loved, that the salvation of their soul should be their chief concern, will they not esteem these teachings to be unmeaning and hypocritical cant, whilst they see you careless of God, neglectful of

the concerns of your soul, inordinately attached to the world, and pursuing with shameful avidity, its vanities, its pleasures, and its riches? No, no wretched father, whilst you are profane, licentious, immor. al, neglectful of family prayer or private devotion, you need not expect that your cold advices will lead your children to holiness and to God. Deriving their character from surrounding objects, they will not fail to imitate you to whom they are so strictly united, whom from motives so various, they are led to resemble. They will not long resist the seductions of vice, when you go before them in iniquity, and tempt them to plunge into the fearful abyss. This is the third thing that is included in a christian education-Holy Example.

4. Finally, all your exertions will be in vain, un less you frequently pray to God for his direction, assistance and blessing. So many virtues are requisite for the proper discharge of this duty, that if we rely upon our own sufficiency, we shall certainly fail. We shall relax in that prudence, that diligence, that affection, without which our labours will be useless. And even though this were not the case, even though we could do every thing that we ought to do, without calling down God to our aid; yet still in vain should we plant and water, except he gave the increase; and he has not engaged to give it to us, except as an answer to our prayers. Frequently then · pour out your petitions to that God who pitieth us

as a father pitieth his children; and who alone' "maketh wise the simple." Beseech him to teach you how to discharge your duty to your children, and to "direct the hearts of your children in the ways of his laws and the works of his commandments." Do not content yourself with making these supplications in the family and closet; but at particular times take your children apart; tell them the importance and necessity of religion; tell them how it would cheer your hearts to see them walk in the ways of godliness; and then in their presence and their behalf, pour out before God the tender and impassioned wishes of your heart, the ardent desires of your affectionate soul.

Thus let your prayers continually ascend: God will answer them in mercy, and you will find that your "labours have not been in vain in the Lord."

This is the last thing included in a christian education-Fervent Prayers.

May the Lord enable you faithfully to perform these duties. Then the blood of your perishing children shall not be required at your hands. (Ezek. iii. 18.) Then you will not be chargeable with the perfidious neglect of the trust and deposite committed to you by God. Then at the decisive day, you shall not be filled with confusion and terror, when Jesus shall demand of you the purchase of his blood.

SERMON II.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.

EPHESIANS vi. 4.

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the

Lord."

IN a previous discourse to you from these words, we proposed,

. I. To consider the nature of a christian educa. tion, and

II. To examine some of the motives which should induce parents to bestow it upon their children.

In treating the first of these divisions, we shewed that a christian education required, a firm, steady, yet affectionate exercise of discipline; a diligent care to instruct children in those things which it is necessary for christians to know; a holy example confirming our precepts, and fervent prayers for, and with our children.

Parents, it is no easy matter to discharge these

weighty duties. Thus to "bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," requires constant care, persevering diligence, unremitted attention. Yet do not, on this account, desist from your labours. The task is difficult, but the motives to enforce it are impressive. We are

in the

Second division of our discourse, to present you with a few of these motives.

1. Are you zealous for the prosperity of Zion? Have you any regard for the interests of the Saviour? Be careful then to confer a pious education upon your children. Reflect what you are doing, while you suffer them to grow up in ignorance and in vice. You are preparing them to dishonour God, to wound the hearts of the pious, to strengthen the cause of irreligion. You are preparing them as fit instruments in the hands of satan, to cast reproach upon piety; and to assail the kingdom of the bles sed Saviour. Ah! could you with prophetic vi sion look forward into futurity, what would you behold? You would see that son, whose passions you now suffer to be uncontrolled, whose mind you now suffer to be unstored with religious knowledge; you would see him a hardened sinner, encouraging others in guilt, perhaps scoffing at the name of the Redeemer, and trampling upon his cross. You would see that daughter, whom you educate in carelessness and folly, absorbed by the