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CHAP. XIV.

ON THE FORMATION OF HABITS.

THE power and influence of habit, as a physical agent, have been already considered; (see vol. I. chap. i. p. 10.) but its operation on morals requires in this place some little development. "Train up a child in the way in which he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it," are the words of infinite wisdom, and demonstrate the power of habit over the human mind; and declare, that good principles wrought out into habitual action, will not lose their influence; but that they will maintain and exert their power of perpetual recurrence, notwithstanding all the follies of youth, the vanities of the world, the temptations of sense, the errors of mature life, the crimes of society, the alienation from God, the substitution of this or that idol, the power of an accumulated series of deviations from the path of rectitude-every effort to silence conscience, to stifle remorse, to weave still closer the web of iniquity, to consummate the departure from true wisdom by the entire forgetfulness of God, to shut the eyes against the repeated warnings of providence, to close the ear

against the renewed invitations of grace, aye, even in spite of the barrier to truth opposed by age, by a long course of iniquity, declining strength, enfeebled mind, advancing decrepitude, approaching dissolution; in spite of all these circumstances, the power of early habit, will still recall the mind to the religious principle, upon which it was first formed; will still form a centre of hope, from which even at the last hour, may originate the cry of mercy to the only Saviour, the heartfelt dying prayer, "Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom," and to which may reach the animating assurance," To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." And if this be true of the extreme case we have supposed; if even one may be saved at the very last hour, surely none need cast away hope; surely it would be sufficient inducement to implant the principle, and educe the habit, with the hope, the chance, the bare possibility, that this might only in one case prove the means of salvation.

But the argument is stronger; for if in this case there be hope; and if (as is really the fact) the power of good habit be enfeebled, and rendered almost nothing by the constant iteration of bad conduct, the eternal vibrations of evil principle; we shall see that the hope of good increases in proportion as we trace back our way from extreme old age to middle life, and even to youth; and that that which is possible in decrepitude with all its accumulated load of departure

from God, becomes more and more probable in earlier life, till it has assumed the shape, and claimed to itself the attributes of a distinct and tangible expectation. Hence the importance of this subject, and the claim which it presents to practical attention.

Habitual moral action is grounded on theory, and that theory is based on the knowledge of certain and sufficient facts, together with their principles and consequences; and the accordance of the latter with the inspired truths of revelation. It must be obvious however, that habitual moral action may be founded on reason, theory, principle, and consequences, irrespective of revealed religion; and that the latter will be found to influence principally and wholly, the minds of those who are taught by the Spirit of God. We are then by no means to reject every habit, which does not own the Word of God for its rule and its guide; but as parents, anxious for the best interests of children, our aim must always be to engraft habit on the exertion of principle, principle on sound reason, and reason on the Word of God.

When the individual is not thus influenced by divine grace; and when any principle, or assumed principle, has been acted upon, without producing immediately bad consequences, however injurious may be its real tendency; yet the mind is too apt to look no further, but the questionable action will establish itself as a rule, will become the criterion of future conduct, and by

repeated association, will be invested with the power and properties of habit. Hence, the primary importance of considering action, as the expression of a certain state of mind, which itself will serve to establish and confirm. And since the mere light of human reason is insufficient to conduct the man into the paths of rectitude, preserve him under the influence of virtue, and save him from the contagion of vice; so does it become the christian mother to seek a higher source of last and definite appeal, to draw her motives from the Word of God, and to instil the principles of the Gospel in their unsullied purity, as the only proper basis for future exertion.

The resources of an infant's mind are as yet undeveloped; it is a stock, which in future years will produce fruit according to the scion which may be engrafted on it. It is simply the foundation of a noble edifice; and the object of the parent is to erect upon it, not a castle of indolence, not a mansion of luxury, not a lazar-house for the reception of all the infirmities and diseases of our moral nature; not a temporary building however splendid, for the transaction of commercial business,-no, nor even a magnificent intellectual storehouse: but a temple of the living God; "for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God's." I Corinthians vi. 20. Around this foundation lay a vast number of materials fitted for the several compartments of the intended edifice; these are at present disconnected

with it, and have been thrown into disorder and confusion, by some disturbing agent, whose power has even gone so far as to destroy the original cohesion of some of its most polished corner stones; and all have now been thrown together, not only without order and method and arrangement, but in studied, and as it should seem at first sight, in inextricable perplexity. Some of these abundant materials are yet well suited for their intended purpose; while others would not only detract from the beauty of the building, but would endanger its safety and permanence; hence the great importance of not employing indiscriminately the materials placed within our reach, nor even of choosing at random; but of selecting from the heap, according to some fixed principle, those only, which will communicate beauty and stability; and of rejecting those which would impair either the one or the other. The rule to guide this choice, is the Word of God, and "let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it." 1 Corinthians iii. 10, 11, 12, 13. Hence the infinite moment of the formation of early habits, founded on christian principles; and of their association into character.

Having established on this subject the grounds