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does it immediately. They merely breathe, gasp and die. "He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not." Your dear sister, in less than one year, buried three lovely children! one half of her number. "The flower fadeth"-Judgment is God's strange work!

II. Children are "a heritage of the Lord," as they are to be improved or educated for him.

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Parents, by divine appointment, are their natural guardians, and are bound, not merely to protect and feed, and clothe them, but to instruct them and, not only to instruct them in the common concerns and duties of life, but in the way to heaven. This knowledge includes their relative duties to God, and their fellow-creatures. They should also labour, patiently and perseveringly, to convince them that the most ordinary affairs of life, have an influence in forming their characters, and in fixing their eternal destiny. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

The powers and faculties which God has given children, though small at first, are capable of very great improvement. Neither their minds, nor their bodies, promise much; but as the latter grow, the former, ordinarily, begin to open, and to show that they are capable both of moral and intellectual culture. Sometimes a most wonderful enlargement of mind takes place. Newton, Boyle, Locke, Edwards, Bellamy, Hopkins, Reed, Stewart, Dwight, Washington and others, who have acted their part on the stage of life, with distinguished reputation, and who will long live on the page of history as philosophers, statesmen or divines, were all once children, like the dear little company that daily stand round your board.

Children, my daughter, as you well know, are not only feeble in their beginning, but awfully depraved. "They are estranged from the womb they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely." "They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no not one.' "The hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil. They are dead in trespasses and sins."

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Though children are thus ignorant of God, and inclined to evil, they are free moral agents, are under moral law, capable of being instructed by the word of God, and under the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, of being fitted to serve him on earth, and to enjoy him in heaven. But they need the most careful and constant attention; and there is no time when the vigilance of parents may be safely remitted.

Some children, very young, become hopefully pious. We know, from divine testimony, that Josiah, when but eight years old, did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of David his father. Samuel and John, were early sanctified; and Timothy profited by the instructions which he received from his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice.

Children are men and women in miniature, and soon, if their lives Important business are spared, will be men and women in reality. awaits them. The places of honour and profit, in civil society, and in the Church of God, will presently all be vacated. Some body must fill them. Every mother, while her children are daily hanging around her, ought to be seriously concerned to fit them for whatever place they may be called in the providence of God;-to have her sons become, not only useful citizens, but pillars in the church, and her daughters mothers in Israel. She ought to spare no efforts for enriching their minds with useful knowledge, and especially to teach them the fear of the Lord, and the way of pardon, by Jesus Christ. Your sons and daughters, may, and I hope will, in like manner, profit by your words.

It is highly important that your children be well instructed in all the doctrines and duties of religion. Such instructions will directly tend to influence them in making a proper use of their talents, when they enter on the stage of life; and to fit them for rendering up an account of their stewardship. They will certainly have this effect if accompanied by the Holy Spirit. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having a promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

Do not rest contented with teaching your children an orthodox creed, and giving them a speculative knowledge of religion; but strive to make them feel the absolute importance of possessing, themselves, a religious temper; of being truly benevolent, gentle and candid; and though firm advocates for the truth, always to listen to fair and solid argument.

There is, in some persons, a very unbecoming stiffness of opinion -a totally unyielding disposition, inherited often from their parents, and manifested not merely upon the all important subject of religion, They appear to but upon every occasion, even the most trifling. think that wisdom dwells only with them, and frequently render themselves very unpleasent companions, and are, no doubt, highly criminal in the sight of God.* Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, charges every man not to think of himself more highly than he ought to

*The following singular anecdote strikingly illustrates the evil of this unyielding disposition.

A man and his wife, whom we will call Mr. and Mrs. S-, sat dining very lovingly together upon baked meat and beans. Mr. S―, without thinking any evil, said, my dear, your beans are quite too salt to-day." Mrs. S. who had been herself the cook, and who always had an exalted opinion of what ever she did, took this very much in dudgeon, and tartly replied, "they are not too salt." The manner of the reply a little moved Mr. S―, and he repeated again, “they are too salt." She, The contradicwith a raised tone of voice, said, as before," they are not too salt" tion passed backward and forward, till Mrs. S-, who always would have the last word, said, "they are not a bit too salt," arose hastily, and left the table and the house.-Ten long years intervened. Then, providentially, Mr. S. and his wife fell in company. He, very pleasantly asked, "are you not going home?" She as pleasantly replied, "I believe I will"-and accordingly went. For some time things went on in perfect harmony: but at length, as they were one day dining, Mr. S. very imprudently said, "those beans were too salt”—Mrs. S. as imprudently rejoined, "they were not too salt”—Mr. S. said, “ I insist upon it they were too salt." Upon that Mrs. S. immediately played off the old game-and saying, “I know they were nat too salt," instantly left the house, and never returned.

think: And to the Philippians, he saith: "In lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves." "Let your moderation be known to all men :" and James saith: "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."

To aid in forming your children right, let them read Witherspoon, Babington, More, Edgworth, and Hamilton. None of them, so far as I recollect, are, in all respects, calculated for our meridian; but they contain much highly useful instruction ;-and I hope your children, while they read them, will imitate the bee that gathers honey from every flower.

You will especially see that they read the word of God. The holy Scriptures, my daughter, are suited to all countries, and contain the most pure systems of ethics, and the best rules of morality, of any writings on earth. The following texts may be considered as a faint specimen. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them:""Give to him that asketh of thee; and from him that would borrow from thee, turn not thou away." "Render to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

"This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

But what is time to eternity! It is not enough for children to know how to live-they must be ready to die. They are young immortals! and have an important part to act beyond the grave. They ought early to be informed of this, and of what is requisite for them to act it well. The Bible will teach them this knowledge. It is a light shining in a dark place. It opens to view the invisible world, gives, as it were, the geography of the country, and points out in the most definite manner, to "Life and immorthe aged and the youth, how to obtain eternal life.

tality are brought to light by the Gospel.”—It teaches us not only the existence of God, but the mode of his existence, as Father, Word and Spirit -three in one and one in three ;-and that he is most wise, powerful and good.

It teaches us, likewise, the extent and perfections of his government, in the kingdom of nature, providence and grace-the character of his dear Son, and his object in coming into the world to "save that which was lost." It tells us of his life, death and resurrection,-that there is a mercy-seat erected; and that he is constantly crying to sinners, wherever the Gospel is preached, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls.. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

The religion which Christ teaches, is sweeter than the honey or the honey-comb: "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."

The way that the Scriptures point out to sinners, in their journey VOL. IX.

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through the wilderness of this world, is not only pleasant but safe: Itfis the way of holiness, so plainly marked, by the blood and example of Christ, that "the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." They illuminate even the "valley of the shadow of death;" and, as the morning sun shines to the western horizon, so do they dart forward their oeams, to illumine the path of believers, all the way along to the Paradise of God. Take away the Bible, and we are left like a mariner at sea, in a storm, without chart or compass;-but with it in our hands, though the earth may be convulsed, and the elements melt with fervent heat, and the "Prince of the power of the air" be let loose, we may still know how to direct our course.

III. Children are a heritage of the Lord, as they are, in common with all other things, to be accounted for to him, in the day of final retribution. The whole time they have been enjoyed is to be accounted for; and how they have been watched over, educated and governed. There will then be brought into view all that has been done to convince them of their depraved state, and to make them acquainted with the way of salvation by Jesus Christ.

Children were never designed for mere playthings and idols for their parents to worship. They are intrusted to their care, to educate for usefulness on earth, and immortal glory in Heaven. The betrustment is awfully responsible! and not only will they have to render an account for all they have done, but for all they have left undone.

Parents have much to encourage faithfulness in the discharge of their duty.

"Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined"—and we are told by the highest authority: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

The husbandman, under God, depends much for a crop, upon planting and sowing his field well. Is it not of as much importance for parents to educate their children well, if they would hope to have them useful on earth, and happy beyond the grave?

A good education tends to fix in them early habits of industry, economy, temperance and sobriety; a veneration for the holy sabbath, and Gospel institutions; to enlarge their minds, to give them correctness of morals, to render their manners easy and graceful,-and, what crowns the whole, to keep pure their consciences, and lead them to Jesus, to God, and to Heaven.

Children, my daughter, need precept upon precept. As you feed yours often, instruct them often. You must exercise much self-denial, zeal and perseverance--you must neither faint nor tire, and constantly pray God to add His blessing to your instructions, without which they will all be as as water spilt on the ground. My best wishes attend you. With much love, &c. &c.

Your affectionate Parent.

GENEROSITY OF A POOR WOMAN.

A MINISTER, lately preaching in the West of England, for the Irish Evangelical Society, was recommending his hearers to be liberal in their

donations—and observed, as an inducement, that “It is more blessed to give than to receive." An elderly female, in very straitened circumstances, who very recently was destitute of some necessary clothing, hearing the observation, put three farthings into the plate, which was all she had; remarking to an acquaintance as she returned home:-" the Minister said It was more blessed to give than to receive;' so, being unwilling to lose the blessing, I gave all the money I had."

URGING CHILDREN TO COME TO CHRIST,

From Nott's Sermons for Children.

"The Lord Jesus knew the wants of children. Though he healed the diseases of the body, he pitied most of all the wants of the soul. He knew that children were sinful in their hearts and conduct. He knew that even amidst the brightness of the light, which he shed upon the world, they loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil;-that the best children were sinful in their feelings, and disobedient to what they knew of his own holy law. And he knew, HE, who is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; He knew the worth of their never dying souls. He did not value their souls less because they were young-he knew that eternity would be little shorter to the young than to the old. Eternity begun a few years sooner or later, is still eternity!

"The Lord Jesus now looks upon you and pities you. Look upon yourselves, think of your sinful feelings, and thoughts, and conduct-think how sinful you have been to forget and disobey God-think how impossible it will be for you to answer for one of a thousand of your transgressions-think with what shame and terror you would stand before the bar of God without a Saviour. Compare your feelings and your conduct with the life of the holy Jesus Can you count the number, can you measure the ill desert, can you bear the burden of your sins? Look where you will, can you find a friend to bear this heavy load? Ask your father; ask your loving mother. Alas! they find their own sins too heavy to be borne. They love you, but they cannot help you. All they can do, is to lead you onward to the Almighty Saviour. To whom will you go but unto Him? he has the words of eternal life.

"Yes, dear children, your only security is, to come to Jesus; to enter the kingdom of heaven. How often have you been put to shame before your parents, when they have called you to account for your faults. Do you think if you were now to die, you could stand shameless and fearless at the bar of God? Could you make a sufficient excuse for all your faults? Dare you within five minutes present yourselves to answer for your sins before the Judge, and to take the sentence for an endless eternity? Oh think of the endlessness of eternity; of the endlessness of eternal sorrow? Would you not rather have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ?' Would you not rather be found encircled within the walls of his kingdom, and there safely and joyfully spend eternity, an endless eternity, as the children of God, and equal to the angels ?"

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From the Home Miss. Magazine.
THE CHILD'S PRAYER,

HOLY Jesus, children's Friend,
Listen to an infant's cry;
To my simple prayer attend,
Bless me from thy throne on high.

Folly dwells within my heart,

Wisdom from above is given; Saviour, early grace impart,

Lead me in the way to heaven. Thou art, Lord, the "livng way," To this path of life I tee;

Mercy's call I would obey,

And resign my soul to thee.
Make me humble, gentle, mild,

Let my conduct always prove,
That I am become thy child,
Sharing in thy richest love.

As in stature, so in grace,
May I grow in faith and love.
Till I rise to see thy face,

In the world of joy above,

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