good order or to true religion, be employed in favour of the best interests of man and the glory of God? To suffer it to lie idle, is folly and sin. But in fact it will not be absolutely idle. One thing or another children will always be catching from their parents; and, through the corrupt bias of human nature, they will be far more ready to catch the evil than the good : and even in copying what is innocent, if not positively good, in parents, they will be very apt to give it some turn, or associate it with some quality, which may make it subservient to evil. What then is likely to be the effect of negligence in this great point? In truth, can we look around us, and not have lamentable proofs of its effect? How many children of good parents do we see imitating little, in parental example, but neglect of duty! In the parent, this neglect has been chiefly visible perhaps in education; but the child, as might be expected, extends it much farther. Or, suppose the parent to be led by a blind fondness to humour his child, to overlook his faults, and to allow himself to omit the present duty of restraining and ruling him, under some

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vague hope that a more favourable time will arrive for the exercise of his power, or that God will in his own time, by his own providence, and by the teaching of his own Spirit, correct the faults which the father tolerates. Shall we not be extremely likely to find that a child so educated will chiefly resemble his parent in giving way to self-delusion and self-indulgence, and in indistinct and unscriptural reliance on future gifts of Providence, to the neglect of present duties? But it is not only by copying his faults that a child derives evil from a parent; if care be not taken, qualities and habits innocent, or even commendable, will be so caught or so imitated by the child as to administer to the gratification of his evil passions.-Is the parent energetic? Let him guard against his child's adopting his energy as an engine of pride or ambition.-Is he jocose? His playful humour may be imitated by the child, for the purpose of putting aside serious thought or vigorous application; or of indulging in ridicule or satire; or of practising tricks not consistent with simplicity and sincerity of character, and employed probably for selfish purposes. Nay, unless care be taken,

Piety itself in a parent, that child of Heaven, may lead to fanaticism, or cant, or hypocrisy in a child. Certain tones and gestures, which (though, as I think, to be avoided) are in the parent the accompaniment of true communion with his Maker, often become quite pitiable or disgusting in the child, not being connected with those deep devotional feelings which can alone make them tolerable; or, if so connected, being utterly unsuited to his age.

This subject may be pursued farther; but enough has been said to excite the reflections of well-meaning parents; and those reflections will naturally point to the particular circumstances of each individual, and be far more useful than any thing I could add. No one can doubt the deep responsibility of every parent to make a good use of his power over the dispositions and affections of his offspring. And since in exercising that power, nothing will be so operative as his own exomple, how earnest should he be, that the light which shines in him may be the true light of the Gospel, purified as much as may be from every thing that may obscure or defile it! And also how earnest should he be

to join to such an example a sagacious watchfulness, and even a holy jealousy, to prevent his child from misunderstanding it, or the principles and motives from which it springs; and to prevent a perverse or deceptious use being made of it!

CHAP. III.

General Observations-Parents to guard against their Faults in the Presence of their Children -Children not to be made Playthings-The Child's Good and not the Parent's Ease, to be the Object-The Heart to be had in View rather than the outward Act-Guard against a Child's Artifices-Study Consistency of System-Intercourse with your Children— Freedom of Conversation-Study of Character Personal Exertion in Education.

I SHALL proceed to offer to parents some general recommendations, which may guard them against evils not uncommon in families, and may shorten my remarks on many of the details of education in subsequent parts of this essay.

1. Let a parent be particularly on his guard against his faults and weaknesses when in the bosom of his family.

The reverse is not seldom the case. The circumspection and restraint practised abroad, are often greatly relaxed at home. Here liber