"Man is born a weak, helpless, delicate creature, unprovided with food, clothing, and whatever else is necessary for subsistence, or defence; and yet, exposed as the infant is to numberless wants and dangers, he is utterly incapable of supplying the former, or of securing himself against the latter. But though thus feeble and exposed, he finds immediate and sure resources in the affection and care of his parents, who refuse no labours, and forego no dangers,

nurse and rear up the tender babe. By these powerful instincts, as by some mighty chain, does nature link the parent to the child, and form the strongest moral connexion on his part, before the child has the least apprehension of it."*

This affection, like the other passions of the soul, is known by experience better than by description. The parent needs no definition of it; and those who never sustained that affectionate relation, cannot, by the most accurate description, form an adequate idea of it. Its necessity results from the feeble, helpless state of human nature on its first appearance; and the nature of it may be best learnt by others, from its various and striking expressions. For,

II. It is in consequence of this affection that parents in a peculiar sense become interested in all the circumstances and conduct of their children.

1. The first discovery of this tender passion is emphatically described by our blessed Lord, John xvi. 21. "A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as

* Fordyce's Moral Philosophy.

soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world." The fondness of her affection for the little stranger causeth her to forget all that she feared, and all that she felt.

Now the parents' hearts begin to glow with this pleasing passion, and they anticipate their future satisfaction in the life and conduct of the child; not thinking that the mother has brought forth for the destroyer, or that the object thus beloved may break the parents' hearts, and bring their heads with sorrow to the

grave.

But God hath wisely hidden the future from us, that we may rightly discharge the duties of the present, and leave what shall be to the direction of unerring wisdom.

Had Adam known that Cain would prove a murderer, or David that Absalom would have rebelled against him, with what grief must they have beheld their advances to manhood, and with what reluctance discharged paternal duties. Or had the afflicted mother* of the late unhappy youth been ascertained that the son of her womb was to make his exit on a gallows, with what uneasiness would she have observed his increasing years, and how often felt in prospect that complicated affliction which now distresses her! May the greatness of her present trial effectually secure her from all unkind reflections.

It is a matter of gratitude, that such awful events are hidden from us; if they were not, parents, instead of rejoicing, would have reason to mourn and weep on the birth of such a child. But as the matter is now circumstanced, they

* His father died when he was two years old.

give a loose to their tender affections; which be come apparent,

2. By a prevailing anxiety for the welfare of their children, who make a great part of domestic happiness. If they are attacked by threatening sickness, with what inexpressible solicitude do the parents watch every motion, and dread the consequence, willing to bear a part of their afflic tion, were it possible. With what concern do they attend them by day and by night; never easy to leave them, lest any thing should be omitted that might tend to give them ease or relief. And when death hath appeared inevitable, how have they agonized in mind, and have been ready to cry out in the passionate, though unjustifiable language of David, O Absalom, my son, my son Absalom: would God I had died for thee..

3. This affection is also discovered by all that cost and care with which they conduct them through the successive stages of life to manhood. It is with the most sensible pleasure, that the indulgent parent provides for the support and education of his children, sparing neither pains nor expense, in order to accomplish them for some useful sphere in life; who thinks himself amply tompensated, when they conduct with propriety at home and abroad.

Parents indeed should always be upon their guard in this part of their conduct, lest excessive affection should lead them to too great indul. gence, and to exceed their ability in the manner of providing for them. The danger in this respect is certainly great.

4. Children may also be convinced of the truth now before us, by adverting to the readi

ness of their parents to pass by many improprie. ties of behaviour, on which they put the best possible construction, and cover all with a mantle of parental love; hoping that with advancing years they will see their folly, and do better. It is not one nor two disappointments that can cause a tender parent to deny his children a part in his affections, or his help in distress. Though Absalom's crime was greatly aggravated, the heart of David yearned towards him; and when Ahimaaz approached him with a message from Joab, the first question the king asked was, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" The safety of a rebellious son was the principal concern of David's heart.

Parental affection is still the same. Hence, though a son may act the part of the prodigal, leave his father's house, and spend his substance in riotous living, he shall no sooner appear sorry for his conduct and ready to return, than the father, while he is yet a great way off, will run and fall upon his neck and kiss him; saying as he goes, "This my son was dead, and is alive again; was lost, and is found." Such, my young friends, is the nature of that love which your parents have for you; and,

5. Which leads them to watch the connexions you form in life, and to approve or disapprove of them, as they apprehend them calculated to serve or injure you. It is an indisputable maxim, that "evil communications corrupt good manners." Much depends, with respect to moral conduct, upon the company which youth keep. It must therefore be the parents' duty to guard them as much as possible against such as entertain bad sentiments, as well as bad practices; for there is a certain connexion between the two.

Actions arise from principles, and when the cause is bad, we may reasonably suppose that the effect will be so too. As the tree is, such will be the fruit; we never expect to "gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles." Parents therefore

cannot be inattentive to the company which their children keep, but will solemnly caution them against those, whose opinions and practices are unreasonable and wicked; and the warmer their affections are, the more abundantly will they use every method of persuasion to inspire their chil dren with a detestation of bad company, the bane of multitudes.

6. But I shall dismiss this part of the subject, which has respect to mere natural affection, by observing that it commonly runs parallel with life. Hence we see the parents, even when advanced in years, rising up early and sitting up late, and pursuing their business with unremitting diligence, in order to acquire a sufficient fortune to distribute among their children at the close of life at which solemn period this affection has generally appeared in the most moving terms, in the last wishes and affectionate farewell of the tender parent.

7. Under this head I have only to add, that those parents, who know the truth as it is in Jesus, while they are duly concerned for the temporal interest of their children, are supremely anxious about their everlasting salvation. This we cannot expect of those who have never tasted that the Lord is gracious. But such as have been made sensible of their own danger out of Christ, and have been enabled to fly for refuge to the hope set before them, cannot be satisfied though their children enjoy wealth and honour, if at the