The Christian Pherald.

VOL. IX.

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1823.

No. XXIV.

Miscellany.

For the Christian Herald.

PRACTICAL EDUCATION.-No. VII.

Third letter from SENEX to his Daughter.

MY DEAR DAUGHTER-In my last I advised you, as you fed young children often, to instruct them often.

I have thought it might be useful to point out more particularly, the duty of parents to their children, as "a heritage of the Lord," religiously to educate, restrain, and govern them.

The first will be the object of this letter.-Parents ought religiously to educate their children, because they, themselves, are rational creatures, have had experience, and are capable of giving instruction ;—and, because their children are rational creatures, destitute of experience, but capable of receiving instruction.

Children, by their Creator, are, particularly, committed to the care of parents, in the first stages of their existence. The peace and comfort of parents, the good of children, of civil society, of the Christian church, and the glory of God, all require that they should discharge their duty with fidelity. It is not left to the option of parents, whether they shall educate their children-nor how.-They are expressly required to train them up in the" nurture and admonition of the Lord." "These words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and upon thy gates." "We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the genera tion to come might know them, even the children which should be born: who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.”

In religiously educating your children, my daughter, ever remember the great variety of things to which you must attend.

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You must not merely teach them the existence of God, but that he necessarily exists-that he is omnipresent, omniscient, holy, just, and good, that he is the Creator of the world--that he governs all things in it, however great or minute-that not a "sparrow falleth to the ground” without his agency-that the very hairs of their heads are all numbered --that parents and children, masters and servants, rulers and citizens, ministers and people, indeed every thing, in the heavens, in the earth, and in the sea, all equally depend upon him, and are controlled by him— that he hath his way in the whirlwind, and in the storm, and that the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Mountains by his Almighty wrath

From their old seats are torn;

Ile shakes the earth from south to north.
And all his pillars mourn.

He bids the sun forbear to rise,

The obedient sun forbears;

His hand with sackcloth spreads the skies,

And scals up all the stars.

"He walks upon the raging sea

And rides the stormy wind:

There's none can trace his wondrous way,
Or his dark footstep find."

You must likewise carefully teach them, that though God “made man upright" he has "sought out many inventions"--that he is "dead in trespasses and sins"--that the "carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed, can be,"-that it is written, "cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them—and that the soul that sinneth shall surely die."

It is of infinite importance that children be faithfully taught the deep depravity of their natures, their constant liability to sin, and exposure to interminable punishment. "The whole need not a physician, but they that are sick "

But, my dear daughter, you must not leave your children to despair. Early inform them that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."-Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus:"-" who bore our sins in his own body on the tree:"--and who is "a propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also, for the sins of the whole world."

And you must not only inform them, that provision is made for the pardon of believing sinners, but that in God's holy word, it is expressly said: "Come for all things are now ready." "Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our

God, for he will abundantly pardon." "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." "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 unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." "They that seek me early shall find me." Yea have ye never read, "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise."

And, you must proceed farther still-you must tell them that notwithstanding the wonderful provision for pardon, and the precious offers of the Gospel, that Christ himself saith, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.--Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”—“If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." The conditions of the Gospel must be complied with, or sinners never can be saved. Endeavour to make your ildren realize this necessity, and feel the importance of manifesting their compliance, by good works. These are the legitimate evidences. The apostle, with very great propriety, says, " As we have opportunity, let us, therefore, do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Ye shall know them by their fruits, "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new." "He that believeth on me, as the Scriptures hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters." "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive-berries? either, a vine figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with kuowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness and wisdom."

Teach your children, my daughter, always to pray, and not to faint. There is the richest encouragement: "In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."

They should be taught, not only to pray, but to feel for the necessities of all around them, and to enter into all the benevolent undertakings of the day, so far as they have opportunity-particularly, to promote missionary purposes, and the spread of the Bible. If in a whole year, you could give only a single dollar in charity, let your children share with you in its distribution. It will tend to make them realize that the poor and the ignorant of the human race are their brethren and sisters, and to guard them against that "covetousness which is idolatry."

Catechise your children, my daughter, at least, as often as once a week. There are many valuable little systems of religious questions and answers; but taken as a system of divinity, of good sense, and real piety, I prefer the Westminster shorter catechism.

If your children can attend an enlightened and well regulated Sabbath school, it will, in my view, facilitate their religious improvement. Their example, likewise, may have a very happy influence upon the minds of other children and youth, by leading them to seek for solid religious knowledge.

In this connexion, I must say, that I consider ardent piety of vast importance in Sabbath school teachers. This will dispose them, according to their respective abilities, to follow the lessons of children with practical religious instruction, and to pray that all they do may be accompanied by the influences of the Holy Spirit.

It is not to be expected that teachers will press home on the hearts and consciences of children, what they scarcely feel or believe themselves, however important.-"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh."-Neither will they be likely to exert a steady influence in preventing them, as soon as they leave the school, from mingling with those whose idle conversations and bad examples, might dissipate in a few moments, all the instructions received, and excite prejudices whose baneful effects might possibly be felt both in time and eternity.

If you suffer your children to go from under your watch on the Sabbath, it becomes you to commit them to those who realize the worth of the soul, and who will, therefore, endeavour to watch over them and guide them right. If they, through grace, should ever be "created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works," they will thank you for all your fidelity, and be disposed to comply with the following divine directions. "Obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." "Love one another with a pure heart fervently." "See that ye fall not out by the way." "Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Render to all their dues; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing; but to love one another."

The spirit of the Gospel is a transforming spirit: "Therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Finally, my daughter, study to know and do your duty.-Remember your covenant vows, and keep in view the following declarations: "Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be:-Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.' With much love, &c.

Your affectionate Parent.

IMPORTANCE OF A JUST ESTIMATE OF THE CHARACTER AND OFFICE OF A CHRISTIAN PASTOR.

A HIGHLY respected Correspondent has directed our attention to the following extract from a volume of "Lectures on the Reciprocal Obligations of Life," reviewed and highly recommended, in the INVESTIGATOR, a quarterly periodical work, conducted by the Rev. Drs. Collyer and Raffles, and J. B. Brown, LL.D. These lectures, twelve in number, were preached by the author, the Rev. John

Morrison, of Brompton, to his own congregation, and judging from the specimen we have seen, and the opinion of the English Reviewers, they must be considered "useful and interesting"-" and adapted to the peculiar circumstances of society at large, and the Christian church, in the age in which we live." They are arranged under four divisions: First.-Domestic Relations-Marriage-Conjugal Duties-Parental Obligation-Filial Obligations-the Obligations of Masters and of Servants. Second.-Ecclesiastical Relations-Pastoral Duties-the Duties of of a People to their Minister. Third-Patriotic Duties. Fourth.-Mercantile Relations, &c. &c. The second, "enumerates and illustrates those well regulated views of ministerial labour, which a people will receive from a just estimate of the character and office of their Pastor. This is a subject of the utmost importance to those who sustain the delicate and interesting relation of pastor and people, and we thank our friend for the suggestion which has furnished our lay readers with the excellent instruction contained in the following quotation.

Such an estimate will teach you to regulate your views of ministerial gifts and graces; and you will not always expect to see your minister blazing in the light of his genius, but will be contented with the result even of a moderate effort of diligence, when consecrated to the spiritual improvement of his flock.

It will regulate your views on the subject of ministerial piety, and you will not expect your minister to present an example of sinless perfection, but will look on him as a man of like passions with yourselves, although sincerely devoted to the service of Christ. By this remark, I am far from intimating that the ministers of Christ ought not to be distinguished by a pre-eminent measure of character; all I intend, is to guard against undue and unscriptural expectation, which can only end in disappointment.

It will regulate your views on the subject of ministerial topics of discussion; and you will not cultivate the vitiated taste of many, and only like to hear your minister insisting on a few favourite doctrines, to the neglect of the great system of revealed truth. You will esteem it to be your duty to follow the Christian teacher in all his researches into the inexhaustible treasures of inspiration. The Bible is a great whole, and while some of its truths possess a higher interest than others, yet they are all communicated for our benefit, are all important, and all expressive of the wisdom and goodness of the Divine mind. By nothing has evangelical truth, or what may be called, in compliance with custom, the Calvinistic system, been more deteriorated than by that baneful custom, too fondly prized by many hearers of the Word, of selecting a few of the cardinal positions of our holy faith, and holding them up to the prominent notice, to the entire, or, at least, partial neglect of the whole series of revealed doctrines and facts.

It will regulate your views on the subject of ministerial address; and you will not look for the display of a fervour, equally seraphic on all occasions, but will candidly allow for the anxieties of a mind, often oppressed with care, and for the weakened energies of a constitution often shattered by excessive labour in this age of general and unexampled effort. Nor will you forget the frequent fluctuations of your own feelings, nor the tendency which this will often have, to