fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices."-Prov. i. 31.

Yet this carelessness of religion, this substitution of present for eternal things, this preference of ourselves to the service of the Most High, this subordination of duty to inclination, marks the character of man from the earliest traces of reason and passion. The first feeble glimmerings of thought are characterized by their oblique tendency to earth instead of their upward inclination to their native skies; but while the mind is docile and pliant, it may be moulded by education and habit into customary attention to the outward duties of religion; for beyond this as a matter of duty, we cannot go: the religion of the heart it is not in our power to produce; yet, if we train up a child in the way in which he should go, we have the promise of a blessing upon our sincere and undeviating exertion.

It will be the aim of christian education to overcome the natural repugnance to all that is good; and as it has been already shewn, much is to be accomplished by the mode of communicating religious instruction, in order that the mind. may be prepared and disposed to lend its attention to the concerns which demand its notice beyond the grave; to those spiritual realities which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive. This carelessness and indifference is, however, a principle which must be constantly struggled

with; for it exists also with those who are farther advanced in life, as well as in such as are subjected to the giddy étourderie of youth; whose minds are enlarged to comprehend the full extent of their situation; aye, even, whose judgment is convinced of the necessity of embracing the hope set before them in the sacrifice of Christ, but whose hearts remain uninfluenced by their convictions; who rest satisfied in their speculative and historical belief, and are contented with a religious education instead of devotedness of the heart to God; who will not estimate the uncertainty of life, and who therefore cannot realize preparation for death as a duty of present and immediate, and indispensable importance; who will not practically believe in the omnipresence of the Deity; who act and think as though God saw them not, and knew not their thoughts; and who suppose, that to be religious, is to be grave, serious, morose, stern at the infirmities of others, and severe in our judgments of their conduct. A great evil arises here from the want of cheerfulness in some religious persons; and yet religion never was designed to make our pleasures less, but to produce that calm serenity, that sunshine of the soul, which should occasion peace, the smile of benignity, the activity of benevolence, the tear of pity, the glow of compassion, joy in the Saviour, delight in God; the love of Christ for those who are encompassed with infirmities, and fears, and cares and sorrows; and that tender construction of their conduct, which leads us not to judge,

but to hope; not to censure, but to forgive; not to seek the redress of injuries, but to pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us. A lovely portrait! to be found only under the influence of real religion; that religion which does not detract from the pleasures of youth, but improves the comforts of those who love and serve God, in keeping whose commandments there is great reward; that religion which is the great work of life, and carelessness of which is a lamentable iniquity and folly.

Carelessness of religion is not superseded by the transient trembling of Felix, who deferred to a future more convenient season, the consideration of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. Religion is not the distant procrastination of serious thought; it is not the promise of a future pursuit of a distant good; it is not the lukewarmness of the "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," but the unreserved dedication of the whole man to God and his Christnow-to-morrow-this week-this month-this year-and for ever. Parents then should diligently watch over the constitution of the minds of their offspring, and the prejudices which may be thrown in their way, in order that they may ascertain the causes which obstruct the influence of divine truth; in order that their sources may be removed, that their futility may be shewn, that the real state of the heart may be discovered, and its perversities be simply and affectionately detected, and its indifference exposed, and its care

lessness confessed, its aversion to God proved, and the only way of salvation exhibited. And when once awakened from the slumber of indifference; when aroused from the uneasy dream of carelessness, and self-dependence: when energized to preserve the way of truth, it will be then the parent's duty to caution the young against resting securely in any measure of religious attainment; to instruct the ignorant; advise the uninformed; guide the feeble and the helpless; preserve them from the contact of evil, and obviate the difficulties which may be thrown in their way by the love of the world, the attractions of pleasure, the invitations of science, the sweets of intellectual pursuit, and the inconsistencies of professing Christians.

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CHAP. XII.

ON DISCIPLINE.

On the basis of filial obedience rests the power which is possessed by the mother of moulding the minds of her offspring; for if this be wanting, in vain will she inculcate knowledge; in vain will she strive to correct the temper, or ameliorate the disposition, or give a proper bias to the affections. This obedience however, in order to become thus influential on the character, must be founded, not on terror resulting from a fear of punishment, the consequence of parental displeasure but upon affection,-on a fear of offending and grieving the parent, as well as of infringing the laws of God. This then is the great object of discipline.

The absence of this principle, is one of the first active symptoms of that depravity of nature, which is inherited by all; and it is complicated and odious in its tendency, which involves in it, ingratitude to man, and contempt of the divine command. It hardens the heart, and paves the way for the commission of other sins, since obedience is a barrier placed by a gracious God, in order to oppose the tide of youthful iniquities; and when it is once overstepped, sin obtains such