sion is made. Step into a village-school where that excellent compendium of our holy religion has been learnt merely as a task, and you will find the children as little affected by its truths, (even if they understand it,) as they are by the lessons in their spelling-book. One would almost think that they conceived it pointed out the high privileges and the sacred duties of the inhabitants of the moon,. and that they had nothing to do with it but to get it by heart. Few, if any, parents, it is hoped, who make religion a branch of education, proceed in a way so utterly irrational as the generality of village-schoolmasters in teaching the catechism; but in whatever degree they approach to the village-school system, in that degree must they look for a similar result. If

"Si vis me flere, dolendum est "Primum ipsi tibi,”*

be a just description of human nature, when applied to adults, it is doubly and trebly so in the case of children. Adults have been used to attach certain feelings to certain truths and certain incidents, the recurrence of which will do much towards exciting those feelings; but children have not yet learnt (except in some obvious instances,) how the circumstances of life will influence their own welfare, and the welfare of others; and therefore it is no wonder that their feelings should not be excited, until they see how others feel. The great Creator has ordain

*If you would have me weep, you must first be affected with grief yourself.

ed, that in early childhood all the powers and faculties of man shall be placed under the guidance, and in a very great degree under the forming hand of his parents. His feelings are as ready as his intellectual powers to take the impression that may be given them. How strong are the prejudices imbibed from parents in early youth? When pains are taken to produce a similarity, how clearly do we see the prominent features in the manners, habits, and feeling of parents reflected in their offspring! A little gipsey is an adult gipsey in miniature. I am told, that among the Gentoos a like similarity is very apparent; and I have myself been struck by it among the Quakers-a sect whom I by no means mention to dishonour. Why may not the potent engine which produces such striking effects among these and other classes of men, and often promotes feelings and habits adverse to good sense and propriety, to 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 fond. ness to humour his child, to overlook his faults, and to allow himself to omit the present duty of restraining and ruling him, under some 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, un

less 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 accompani ment 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 might 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 example, how earnest should he be, that the light which shines in him may be the true light of the Gospel, purified as nuch 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!

4

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 liberties and self-indulgences are thought more allowable; wrong tempers are not instantly repressed in the bosom, and are suffered to deform the countenance, and also sometimes to break out in unchristian tones, expressions, and conduct. We must all have observed this in others; and few of us, I