VOL. I. RE-PRINTED. We have the pleasure to announce a new edition of the FIRST VOLUME OF "THE MOTHERS' FRIEND," price One Shilling; and we hope those who take an interest in our labours will make an effort to introduce it, as the sale of the whole edition will be required to cover its actual cost. ANN JANE. Vols. II. and III. are on sale, price 1s. 6d. each. THE MOST BELOVED ON EARTH NOT LONG SURVIVES TO-DAY! THE paper of "M. B.," in the August number, reminded us of a circumstance that happened not long ago, teaching us the uncertainty of all earthly joys, and the necessity of being ready to follow the Angel of Death, whenever he may call us through the dark valley. On returning from a country walk with a party of friends, a very fine strong Scotchman, full of life, and energy, and happiness, offered his arm, and we rambled on a little in advance of the rest. Bowing his head, and speaking in a low tone, he said, "You will smile at the character of my thoughts, perhaps—but just now, while looking at my dear wife, the circumstance occurred to me, that I ought to make a will. I am in full health, and stronger than any man within a hundred miles perhaps, yet I feel that life is very precarious. Now, remember," he added, with emphasis, "if anything should happen to me, I desire that Jane should possess everything within my power to give her. "Coming events cast their shadows before." The rest of the party now joined us, and the subject was soon forgotten. 162 THOUGHTS FOR PARENTS. Not many days after, as he was mounting a fine spirited horse, which he was wont to ride from his office in the city to his country home, his faithful old servant, who had lived nearly a generation in his family, said to him,-"Take care, my dear young master, you no get some harm one day by riding that prancing creature." "No fear, Allan, my good fellow," he replied; "look at my powerful arm!" And the man of strength held it forth to comfort the old man. At the usual time of his return, his lovely young wife came out in front of her country home to welcome him, when she observed him riding furiously up the hill. Just at the moment two men came over a gate at hand, and seeing the horse had taken fright they attempted to stop it; in another moment, her husband was thrown over its head at her feet! The terrified young wife ran to him, he gave her one agonising look, and pronounced her name; then closed his eyes, to open them no more till the trump of the archangel shall waken the sleeping dead. In a few hours the blooming young wife was a desolate widow! Her husband had not made a will, but his wishes, expressed in that last agreeable walk, were made known to his family. Let not the strong man glory in his strength; in the midst of life we are in death; be ye also ready. "I said I shall die in my nest!" said one; but we may soon have Our "nest" torn from its place, though we may build it in the rock, and all its comfortable materials scattered to the winds of heaven. There is no certain dwelling-place till we reach the better land. Are we in the road to that blissful country? THOUGHTS FOR PARENTS. We have been favoured by receiving the following interesting thoughts of Rev. Matthew Henry, copied from a manuscript in his own handwriting; it is dated A.D. 1708. THOUGHTS FOR PARENTS. 163 He died in 1714, consequently they are his matured thoughts. "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.'-Eph. vi. 4. "This is not only a good lesson, but a great law given to parents, which they are bound to obey, for they also have a Father in heaven. The apostle speaks of fathers, but MOTHERS also are no doubt included. They have a joint interest in their children, and are under joint obligations to them. If parents did but better discharge their duty to their children, children would better discharge theirs to them. "Now the duty of parents is here prescribed, and we see that it is the will and command of the great God that parents must not provoke their children to wrath.' They must take care not to provoke them to any sinthey have corrupt natures which incline them to evil. Satan is busy to tempt them, and to draw out the foolishness that is bound up in their hearts, but let not their parents be their tempters; this is a thing we should greatly fear and carefully watch against, lest through indiscretion, though not designedly, we be the occasion of our children's sins; it is bad when 'the mother is the counsellor to do wickedly.'-2 Chron. xxii. 3. They must not provoke them [to pride, nor to luxury and flesh-pleasing; nor to lying, nor to backbiting and slandering, nor to revenge ; they must not provoke them to wrath. You think, perhaps, this is an improper word to be given to parents, as if it belonged to children only to take care not to provoke their parents; but you see it is the command given to parents to make their children easy, and endeavour to please them. "Now parents must not provoke their children, by keeping them at an unreasonable distance, nor by continual chiding and finding fault, nor by forcing them to ง 164 THOUGHTS FOR PARENTS. that which they are not fit for, nor by giving them ill language in passion, calling them foul names, as Saul-1 Sam. xx. 30. Nor by withholding from them that which is fit for them, nor by cruel and severe correction, nor by implacableness and irreconcileableness towards them when they have offended, nor by crossing them in their innocent desires without cause, for contradiction's sake, nor by making a difference between their children,-this is very provoking -one loved, the other hated; in this Jacob missed it. But more than this, here is a charge to parents to bring their children up ' in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' As the former guards against sinful severity, so this against sinful indulgence. Take heed of both extremes. Though you must not provoke your children, yet you must not therefore leave them unrestrained and unreproved, as David did by Adonijah-1 Kings i. 5, 6. Keep up an interest in their affections, and then improve it for their good,-the good of their souls. nature teacheth. "It is the duty of parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, to give them a good education, according to their place and capacity. Bring them up,-that is, nourish them. Provide for the nourishment of their bodies. This even Mothers, if they are able, should nurse their own children— Lam. iv. 3. Do it as unto God-in his fear; bear the inconvenience of it with cheerfulness, remember that you are in the way of your duty, and under special protection. If not able, yet have a tender eye to them; let not mothers be like the ostrich-Job xxxix. 14, &c. As your children grow up, provide food convenient for them. Take pains for them now, and they will take pains for you when you are old. Take care of their health, use them not too tenderly; keep them from what is unwholesome, and from that which may cause any bad habits, or incline them to evil, or indispose them to good. Neglect nothing that is fit to be done for your children, either when they are little I MUST ALWAYS READ MY BIBLE NOW. 165 or when grown up. Provide for the nourishment of their minds, they must have food for their souls as duly and constantly as for their bodies. Provide proper nutriment for their better part.-See 1 Tim. iv. 6. You take care that their bodies shall be well shaped-get their minds well formed. Feed them with the bread of life." Rest now, mother, and think about these important matters, and expect more in the next number of "THE MOTHERS' FRIEND." "I MUST ALWAYS READ MY BIBLE NOW." EVERY circumstance, however trivial, which occurs in the history of a beloved child, is a memorable one to a fond yet bereaved parent. The arrows of death are sharp, and the only balm of consolation is "the hope of glory." Still, sometimes, like the honey in the carcase of Samson's lion, there are a few sweets mingled with the bitter pangs of death. as a S. E. S. was a lovely child, scarcely five years of age when she died. She had never known her own mother's tender care, being too young when she died to know her loss. But she was carefully instructed by her father, and also, for some time, by one whom she called and loved "mother," to look to Jesus as her friend, and to pray that he would fit and prepare her for heaven. Often would she talk of heavenly things, and sing her sweet songs of that happy place. To go to Jesus-to be in heavenand meet there her own dear mother, was a theme that her father and her step-mother delighted often to engage her infant mind about. In blooming health-in happy innocence-she went one day as usual to school. She had bowed around the family altar in the morning, and helped to swell the song of praise, and with joyousness left her home with her little brother, eighteen months older than herself, to return, |