made their exit in an infamous manner; or who, through the interest of their friends, have had their lives, upon condition of perpetual banishment. However some may sneer at this observation, it is indisputably certain, that vice, as to the present life as well as the future, has undone multitudes. He then must be guilty of the highest folly, who will run every hazard for the sake of vicious indulgence.

Nor will I forbear to mention on this occasion, that there are many who would have us think that they despise a mean action, or have a mind too great to be guilty of one, who, notwithstanding, by every method of intrigue, attack female chastity, and infamously endeavour to prostitute it to their own vile purposes. In what respects are such persons better than he who should present a pistol to your breast, and demand your money? Both are robbers. The one asks for your cash, and if he obtains it, the loss may be repaired; the other makes an attempt on your honour, my female hearers, and if it is lost, can never be regained. But the nature of the subject forbids me to enlarge, lest I should put that modesty to the blush which is the ornament of both sexes. The works of darkness dare not appear before the sun.

Common drunkenness, lying, contempt of the day and worship of God, thieving, &c. are of the number of the vices which finish the character of a foolish son, and make him a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bare him; the folly of which must become obvious to all who consider their contrariety to God, and destructive tendency with respect to men. By these in

iquities Jehovah is offended, his anger incurred, conscience wounded, poverty, disease, reproach and death brought on. Sin indeed promises pleasure, but ends in pain; for "the wages of sin is death."

Let us now pass to some reflections on the subject.

1. Parents, we ought always to bear in mind. the important duties which we owe to our children. They are parts of ourselves, and stand in an intimate and dear relation to us. And from the strong affection which we have for them, we cannot but be interested in all their conduct; mourn when they mourn, and rejoice when they rejoice. They, with us, are candidates for immortality. Hence while we consult their present happiness, we should be supremely desirous of their future felicity. What if they should gain the whole world, and lose their souls, what can they give in exchange for their souls? Our care for their bodies should always be exceeded by a concern for their future well-being; and those of us who know what real religion is, will certainly be supremely desirous that they may be saved. Nor can we discover our affection for them in a more proper manner than by attending to the sacred exhortations, such as "Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Or, as St. Paul has it, "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." It is our indispensable duty to endeavour to lay before them their ruin by sin, and the only way of salvation through Jesus Christ; to caution them against the vices of

the day and place in which they live; and to la bour to convince them of the fatal tendency of sinful gratifications. But we should be particularly careful in all our instructions, not to feed that principle of self-dependence, which is natural to the proud heart of fallen man. To sap the very foundation of this temper, it is necessary to lay before them the spirituality and extent of the divine law, as reaching to the sins of their hearts, and condemning them for a single failure; and on the other hand to exhibit the divine Jesus in his glory, person, love, fullness, and sufficient redemption; explaining the nature and necessity of faith and repentance, which are so connected in the plan of salvation, as that no sinner, remaining in unbelief, can enjoy the consolation that there is in Christ now, or finally enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Let us accompany family instruction with a life and conversation becoming the gospel; for example has a powerful influence; and follow all with prayer to God, that they may be translated out of darkness into marvellous light. It is in this case, as in the public dispensation of the gospel, that "God giveth the increase." Nor should religious parents be discouraged from a due discharge of their duty by the seeming security or inattention of their children; for God can remove the most deep-rooted enmity, dispel the grossest ignorance, and reclaim the most abandoned prodigal. "When he worketh, who shall let it?" Animated by this consideration, we should diligently attend to family religion, the importance of which cannot be called in question by any who admit the truth and influence of

Christianity as it respects the present life, and as it opens the most glorious prospects to believers beyond the grave.

It is probable that the preceding remarks flash guilty conviction in the faces of unbelieving parents, who may now be ready to say, As for us, we have only been concerned for our children or ourselves, with respect to the present life. Having contemned the gospel of Christ, and treated it with entire neglect, we have only been thoughtful, what we should eat, what we should drink, and wherewithal we should be clothed. The sal vation of our own souls, or of the souls of our chil dren, has been but seldom thought of. Why so,

heads of families? Is the present more impcrус tant than the future? Is a short life on earth of more consequence than an eternity hereafter? No; for it is a dictate of reason, that the greater good should always be preferred to the less. Why then this unreasonable and wicked conduct? Ye unhappy, unbelieving parents, your conduct arises from, and is an evidence of that depravity of heart, which many of you are unwilling to admit. Ncr need we be at any loss to prove the total corruption of the human mind, while we attend to the conduct of men. By their fruit you may know them. For he who pours contempt on Christ and his religion, or treats them with indifference, is most certainly an enemy in his mind, by wicked works, to God. Glad shall I be, should the Spirit of truth fasten a just sense of your real condition on your minds, and take of the things of Jesus and show them unto you. An alteration in temper and conduct would in consequence thereof instantly take place.

Then the world and all its good things would appear to be but vanity, and Christ and his religion become the one thing needful for yourselves and children.

2. Those parents, whose children behave with duty and affection towards them, and who are in many respects their comfort, will permit me to congratulate them on so great a blessing. If "a foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bare him," how great a pleasure must result from children of an opposite character! Such youth there are, who entertain the tenderest regard for their parents; feel for them in every difficulty, and yield the most cheerful obedience to every just command; who carefully study their parents' ease and interest, and shun those things, which they apprehend will occasion grief. How commendable is the conduct of such, and how happy the parents who are in such a case. But what an unspeakable addition must it be to the godly parents' happiness, to have reason to think that their children are really acquainted with Jesus Christ and his divine religion. This is a blessing inexpressibly great, and when rightly viewed, fills the parents' hearts with humility and gratitude. Now no fears of a future endless separation rack their minds; but they dwell together as in the fear of God, and rejoice in hope of eternal blessedness. Knit by the ties of nature and religion, they become one in the most intimate sense, and mutually contribute to each others' felicity. Happy parents, and happy children, when both can rejoice in God their Saviour.

Alas! says some aged father, or almost brokenhearted mother, this is not my case.

Mine is a