means.

That the parents have adopted partial and erroneous views of religious truth, who can doubt ? God is, in the strictest sense, the Giver of all good, both in the natural and in the spiritual world: but in both he employs means to effect his objects; and the well directed efforts of his creatures form a most important branch of those Who expects to reap if he will not sow, or to read if he will not learn his alphabet ? Nor is the connexion between the acquisition of spiritual advantages, and the use of means less intimate. Thus, though Christ is our salvation, yet the salvation of mankind is spoken of in Scripture as depending on the exertions of the Apostles and their followers. They are called the light of the world. When it is declared, that they who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, immediately afterwards, for the special purpose, as it should seem, of pointing out the absolute necessity of employing means, the apostle proceeds to ask, "How then shall they call on him "in whom they have not believed? And how shall they "believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how "shall they hear without a preacher ? And how shall they "preach except they be sent ?" Rom. x. 14, 15. And in strict conformity with this view of things, he declares himself willing, in his own ministerial labours, to spend and be spent for the benefit of others; and charges his spiritual son Timothy, in the episcopal office assigned to him, to be instant in season and (by a sort of hyperbole of speech, arising from his deep impression of the unspeakable importance of exertion)"out of season. So when indolent or bad

teachers are mentioned, the efficacy of means is no less strongly marked. Under the Mosaic dispensation, the sins of the people are continually ascribed to the negligence or the false doctrine of the priests. Our Saviour holds similar language when, speaking of the teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees, he says, that "if the blind lead "the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." And, under the Gospel, the effect of the errors of the well-meaning but mistaken builders of "hay, straw, stubble," on the true foundation, Christ, is pointedly noticed. It is declared, that such teachers shall suffer loss; their people not being prepared by them to abide the fiery ordeal by which every teacher's work (that is, the flock converted by him to christianity) was to be tried. 1 Cor. iii. 11-15. So fatal would be the effect of the wrong measures taken by them in their christian ministry! Not to multiply quotations, I will close what I have to advance on this head with pointing out some few parts of Scripture respecting the very case before us; namely, the instruction of children. How earnestly does Moses charge the Israelites to teach the law to their children, as they rise up and sit down, and come in and go out! Could he have more strongly characterised instant, constant, unremitting instruction? Solomon is scarcely less pressing in his exhortations to train up a child in the way in which he should go; and he is most distinct in his promise of a blessing and success to such instruction. When the Lord appeared as an angel to Abraham, he plainly intimated, that the patriarch's exertions among his children and the rising generation in his house

hold would be effectual as means of securing them in the true faith. Gen. xviii. 19. And I cannot but think that children were allowed to partake of the initiating rites of circumcision and baptism, at so early an age, on the general presumption that the appointed means, if duly employed by their parents and sponsors, would secure, under God's blessing, the great object of conversion to God.

If this view of the scriptural doctrine respecting, not the importance only, but the necessity of using means zealously, diligently, unceasingly, for the attainment of spiritual ends, be just what shall we say of those parents who excuse their want of assiduity and vigour, in taking proper measures to impress the hearts, as well as to inform the understandings, of their children, on the plea that conversion is God's work, and that the times and seasons for carrying it on are in his hand? I will not argue with them, but leave them to the admonitory voice of their own conscience. When we look forward to the advancement of religion among the rising generation, there are no promoters of that great work, on whom we fix our eyes with so much hope, as on pious parents. How deeply then must we lament that there should be found among them such principles as I have mentioned; which, operating on parental partiality, or love of ease, or other dispositions unfavourable to watchfulness and vigour in conducting education, present us, in a spiritual sense at least, with "ashes and mourning," in families where we expected "beauty and the oil of gladness!"

But the foregoing error is most to be deplored when joined with another, also arising from a source which challenges our respect and veneration: I mean, the hope entertained by some parents, remiss in the spiritual nurture of their children, that the promised blessing to the offspring of pious ancestors will be realized, sooner or later, in their conversion. On the influence of such a sentiment, when united with that which was last under consideration, I need not dwell. Every one must see that when, on the one hand, a low opinion is entertained by parents of the efficacy of human endeavours, in leading their children to true conversion; and on the other, a hope is indulged that the great Shepherd will, at some time or other, gather them to his fold; the efforts in education will be altogether destitute of watchful and persevering energy, and the worst effects may be expected. Whether, however, this latter sentiment be combined with the former or not, it is of an importance sufficient to claim our serious attention. Let us then examine how far it is warranted by Scripture and experience. Those who hold it, rely on the numerous passages in the word of God, in which a blessing is promised to the seed of his true servants, and more particularly on the gracious declaration in the second Commandment. These divine promises are sources of great comfort to christian parents, strenuously exerting themselves in bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. What numbers have been supported by them,

when toiling, apparently without success, in the discharge of their parental duties! But even those who are so employed may expect more than the promises were intended to convey. And if such persons, the very persons for whose benefit the promises were given, may look forward to the conversion and final salvation of their children with unwarranted confidence; what shall we say of confidence,-what shall we say even of hope, in those who are ill performing the duties of parents, and who, though they will scarcely allow it, make the promises themselves the ground of their neglect ?

How far a misplaced hope of this kind may have contributed to the lamentable declension, in many instances, of succeeding generations from the piety of those which preceded them, cannot be determined but certain it is, that such declensions stain the page of history in almost all times. Look at the successors of Joshua, and of the Elders of his appointment; at the sons of Samuel and of Eli, of Jehoshaphat and of Josiah; and at the descendants from the members of the first christian churches, as well as of the churches reformed from Popery; at the descendants from the pious ministers ejected in this country at the time of the Restoration, and from their hearers in short, search the annals of the Jewish or Christian Church in almost any age, and you will be convinced that the piety of ancestors is very far indeed from being a security to their offspring.

To humble, zealous, well-directed, and persevering efforts, in the work of Christian Education, God