ternally. Well if its constant appearance do not familiarize them with it so as to prevent all suitable impression. If in any of these modes the minds of a minister's children are peculiarly exposed to miss the serious feeling, or to have it quickly dissipated; if this sort of familiarity breeds contempt, as the proverb intimates, the hope that a minister's children should be peculiarly pious has but a slight foundation. The advantages supposed to belong to their situation are much overbalanced by the disadvantages shown to be possible, nay strongly connected with a situation apparently so hopeful. The minister, unless peculiarly, yes, peculiarly serious and careful, leads his offspring quite astray. And with all his best attentions he may not be able to counterbalance the essential inconvenience, being familiar with that which ought to inspire reverence, and this, to a degree, which must necessarily be injurious to their spiritual improvement. Other reasons for this profligacy sometimes seen, may be found in the reaction of the human mind, which, if it yields not when attracted, repulses. And in the reaction of divine justice, which gives up to evil those who so resolutely refuse the good proffered. We will suppose the piety of the father of such a family to be eminent and uniform; that he is on the watch against every thing which might weaken in his children's minds the deep, the lasting effect of divine truth; and is actively solicitous that every impression made should be nurtured up with the tenderest and most judicious care. I believe it will in general be found that such anxieties have a blessing; and that a father, even a minister, thus looking well after his own peculiar flock, will find that the wolf does not fre quently catch them, the serpent bite, or the lion devour. Yet it may happen, even in such a family, some Esau may despise his father's birth-right, and sensually give it all up for a mess of pottage. Many a parental heart bleeds with the bitter reality. There is nothing in birth and blood to ensure the new creature in Christ Jesus. The piety of those who spring from godly parents is seen often enough to sanction and encourage the laborious instructions and prayerful struggles of the holy and spiritual mind, when it aims to bring up the beloved offspring in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But it is not constant, lest either parents or children should remit their exertions, lest any should take to themselves the praise or the merit of saving, and forget that it is true of their own children, as of others, they must be born again; and that when any one is born again he is born from above; not of the flesh, nor of the will of man. It does sometimes appear surprising that a young man, brought up with the most anxious care for his mental instruction, his spiritual conversion, having every motive which might allure him to holiness, or insure his honourable conduct in life, that such a one should not only not become truly serious, but should actually break these bands asunder, and cast away from him all these cords of domestic affection; making himself an alien from all who ought to be most dear to him. Yet this melancholy sight may be seen. Nay more, it happens too, sometimes, that these nurselings of ardent piety turn rebellious to a more than common degree of depravity. Every principle of divine truth is forgotten, every sanction to common decency is broken through, and the mind seems perversely eminent in depravity, just in pro portion as opportunities and advantages gave us reason to hope for eminence in holy usefulness. It is not intended to specify instances of a nature so distressing. They are in most persons' recollection. And if any are yet ignorant, and doubt if such perversity exists, I pray that no heart-rending enormity may convince them that the sad case is indeed possible. Should our first surprise a little subside, and we examine the case more closely, perhaps we shall see that this is but according to the common operation of natural and moral causes. The stronger is the wine, so much stronger is the vinegar, if it turns. It is allowed that the opportunities for religious knowledge are great in a minister's family, and the bonds to regular and religious conduct strong; one would think such children must feel those bonds, and be restrained. Now if they can, on the contrary, break such bonds asunder, it shows a violence of disposition which can go any lengths by their own vigour; or, if they can slip out of such well-entwined confinement, it intimates a weakness and pliability, which may sink to any baseness by the persuasions of others. The very act of leaping over a hedge, may plunge into some muddy ditch, which was not suspected; and, at least, the freedom gained from all enthralment, prompts to try the whole extent of what is possible. Those who were brought up on the wild heath, are more likely to keep to their usual track, without wandering so far, or trying courses so dangerous, as those sought out and preferred by the young colt just escaped. He who can swear, after all he has heard against swearing, will be more likely to become a bold and outrageous blasphemer habitually, than he who, though he cared not about an oath, did not bolt one out, except upon some strong provocation. On the other hand, what can secure the mind which is so feeble, as to be under the influence of pestilential persuasion to evil, when affectionate persuasions to good can no longer avail? The weakness in this case, like the energy in the other, may forebode depravity of no common depth. In both cases conscience must have been silenced by great efforts, or must speak with a voice too feeble to produce obedience now. But this state of silence, whether by stupor or by blows, whether sinking into abeyance, or seared with a hot iron, must threaten the moral constitution with desperate disease; and tends to morbid actions, perverse and distructive in an uncommon degree. On the other hand, the reaction of him against whom they rebel, is scripturally to be expected. Since, when they knew GOD, they glorified him not as GOD, he suffers their foolish heart to be darkened, and gives them up to all uncleanness, and vile affections; and more strongly is it stated, when the mystery of iniquity begins to work, GOD may send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who have pleasure in unrighteousness. When the Heavenly Father has given him line upon line in vain, is it any wonder if he let the rebellious go on in his own way? if he have often smitten either the body or the conscience, and no emendation can be perceived, shall we be surprized to find him saying, let him alone, why should he be smitten any more, he will yet revolt more and more? GOD will not always strive with man, but is sometimes to speak after the manner of men, wearied with their iniquities. It is the ground oft rained upon, which bringing forth nothing but briars, is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. He who hath in education received but one talent, will be guilty if he do not improve it; but if he who receives ten talents, not only does not improve them, to the glory of him who gave them; but, on the contrary, actually perverts them to do against him all the injury he can, surely he may expect vengeance. To whom God hath given much, of him much shall be required. Children thus favoured with godly parents, and kind instructions, may expect him, whom ungratefully they disobey, to resent their conduct; he cannot show his resentment more effectively, than by giving them up to their own hearts' lusts, since they will wax wanton and kick against him. Thus he makes their own wickedness correct them; their sin is sure to find them out. It should not be omitted, that many cases delightfully contrary to these regrets are found. It is not that all ministers' sons thus run wild; but rather that when such renegadoes do appear, the enormity of the case forces itself on our notice, and wrings from us our bitterest complainings. bears fruit still more delicious; so in cases of piety, recurring in repeated descent, we sometimes find eminence growing more eminent, the last becoming first in a way which will not excite jealousy, but holy thankfulness. May such delightful occurrences multiply and abound, so as to counteract completely the scandal generated by lamented aberrations. Should these lines meet the eyes of any ministers, or their wives, having young families, it is hoped the hints here suggested will be prayed over, before they are utterly rejected either with anger or disdain. The sons of ministers beginning to cast off the restraint of pious education, will hardly take similar advice; they have done with prayer; it is the second, if not the first step of their depravity; should a salutary fear arise, or any wish to receive a cautionary hint, may divine grace carry the conviction home, and ripen it into repentance and reformation, into genuine sorrow, and that repentance which needeth not to be repented of. IMUS. PASSAGE IN THE LAST REPORT (To the Editors.) There are many instances in REPLY TO "REMARKS UPON A which domestic piety spreads generation after generation, to the comfort of all related, the benefit of society, and the glory of him who hath said, instead of the fathers shall be the children. The sons become ministers of the same Gospel, gladdening their parents' hearts, and crowning their old age; or deacons in their churches, well supporting the cause of scriptural and evangelical worship. Such successions of hereditary godliness are very encouraging, and may well support the mind which sinks with contrary depravity, and mourns over some unhappy case of labour lost. As the wild stock grafted, bears useful fruit; and repeatedly grafted GENTLEMEN, I beg leave to trouble you with a few observations on the "Remarks upon a Passage in the last Report of the Scottish Missionary Society," which appeared in your Magazine for December, and I trust you will have the goodness to give them insertion, as it is but fair and candid to hear both sides of a question. In the reports of public societies it is, I conceive, a duty which the directors of these institutions owe to the contributors to give a fair and impartial statement of their operations, without exaggeration, and without concealment. Proceeding upon this principle, the Committee of the Scottish Missionary Society in their last Report gave a simple and unvarnished account of the unfavourable reception which a deputation they had lately sent to England had met with, particularly in the metropolis —a statement which I am persuaded all the gentlemen who were in any way connected with the deputation will, in their judgment, allow to be temperate and moderate, though, on consulting their feelings, some of them may perhaps wish that it had been thrown into the shade. I am quite aware that the demands which are made on the Christian public in London are very numerous; and, indeed, the Directors of the Scottish Missionary Society acknowledge this in their Report in the most distinct terms. I am likewise ready to admit that the Scottish Missionary Society has had no splendid triumphs to record, like some of its sister institutions: it has not, however, been altogether without success, and though its operations in the Russian Empire have of late been entirely clouded; its prospects, on the whole, have considerably brightened by the establishment of missions in the East and West Indies. But while I frankly acknowledge that the Scottish Missionary Society could not plead the extent of its success, I am prepared to maintain that it had a strong claim on the benevolence of the Christian public in the sister kingdom, and particularly in the metropolis, on the following grounds: 1st. The nature of its object.-Of the importance of the object of the London or the Baptist Missionary Societies none of your readers, I presume, require to be convinced. Now the object of the Scottish Missionary Society is the very same-the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world, and the salvation of immortal souls. Though extensive success does unquestionably strengthen the claims of a society to support, yet that claim must rest ultimately on the nature of its object. If the success of the Scottish Missionary Society has not been so great as that of some kindred institutions, yet they bear the banners of the same great Captain: they are encouraged by the same promises, and they trust that their efforts may, ere long, be crowned with the same blessing. 2dly. The importance of maintaining a friendly intercourse between the two kingdoms, in the support of their respective benevolent institutions. To the importance of this, on one side, our brethren in England are sufficiently alive; but they appear not to be equally alive to it on the other. It is obvious, however, that if such an intercourse is to be permanent it must be reciprocal. If, however, when a deputation from a Scottish Society proceeds to the South, it is received with coldness and indifference, it is obvious that this. must have a powerful influence in breaking up that friendly intercourse, which, if mutual, might in various respects be attended with the most beneficial effects. 3dly. The liberality which Scotland has manifested in support of institutions established in England gave a Scottish Society a powerful claim on the Christian benevolence of their brethren in the South, particularly in the metropolis.-In the intercourse which has of late years subsisted between the two countries, in support of their respective benevolent institutions, Scotland, I conceive, has acted her part in cultivating this spirit of fraternal love. During ten years, viz. from 1814 to 1824, she sent the following contributions to societies in the sister kingdom: Of the following societies I have not access to the reports for so many years, but they have received the following contributions from Scotland within the periods mentioned: To the Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel, (Mo. ravians,) from 1817 to 1825, eight years. To the Wesleyan Missionary Society, from 1821 to 1824, four years; including a legacy in a preceding year, but mentioned in last Report To Continental Society, for 1823 and 1824, two years To the London Jew's Society, for 1819, one year To the Naval and Military Bible Total £0,844 1,215 1,512 789 633 £10,633 These sums, taken together, amount to £137,633.; but if I were able to state the contributions from Scotland to these latter societies during the years which are deficient, and if I were to add to the whole the contributions which she has raised for other institutions in England, particularly in the metropolis, it would be found that she had contributed to societies in the sister kingdom,within ten years, at least one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, or, on an average, fifteen thousand pounds a year. *By comparing the reports for the Hibernian Society for 1818 and 1825, it appears that within the period to which they refer, i. e. eight years, it had received from Scotland £12,530.; the remaining sum of £2,485. was received in previous years, but the greater part, I have little doubt, was received in the two years included in my statement, as in the report of 1818, near £1,000. are acknowledged as received from this country for that year alone. *I do not pledge myself for the perfect accuracy of the whole of the above sums, in the summing up of the several accompts the shillings were in many cases disregarded; the statements, however, are, I believe, nearly correct, and they are at any rate sufficiently correct for the purpose for which they are here brought forward. With respect to the sum stated to have been received by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, no account is printed, but I am informed, on unquestionable authority, that the average sum received by it, from its corresponding board in London, is £200., though in many cases it has been more; instead, therefore, of £2000. which the former sum would make, I have stated £3000. for that Society, which is, probably, a full allowance, being an average of £300. ayear. The contribution of the Galic School Society, I have had to extend to 1825, not being able to obtain a copy of the report for 1824. |