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Consistency is the great character, in good par ents, which impresses children. They may witness much temper; but if they see their Father "keep the even tenor of his way," his imperfections will be understood and allowed for as reason opens. The child will see and reflect on his parent's intention; and this will have great influence on his mind. This influence may, indeed, be afterwards counteracted: but that only proves that contrary cur rents may arise, and carry the child another way. Old Adam may be too strong for young Melancthon.

The implantation of principles is of unspeakable importance, especially when culled from time to time out of the Bible. The child feels his parent's authority supported by the Bible, and the authority of the Bible supported by his parent's weight and influence. Here are data-fixed data. A man can very seldom get rid of these principles. They stand in his way. He wishes to forget them, perhaps; but it is impossible.

Where parental influence does not convert, it hampers. It hangs on the wheels of evil. I had a pious mother, who dropped things in my way. I could never rid myself of them. I was a professed infidel: but then I liked to be an infidel in company, rather than when alone. I was wretched when by myself. These principles, and maxims, and data spoiled my jollity. With my companions I could sometimes stifle them: like embers we kept one another warm. Besides, I was here a sort of hero. I had beguiled several of my associates into my own opinions, and I had to maintain a character before them. But I could not divest myself of my better principles. I went with one of my companions ta see "The Minor." He could laugh heartily at mother Cole-I could not. He saw in her the picture of all who talked about religion-I knew better. The ridicule on regeneration was high sport

to him-to me, it was none: it could not move my features. He knew no difference between regeneration and transubstantiation-I did. I knew there was such a thing. I was afraid and ashamed to laugh at it. Parental influence thus cleaves to a mang it harasses him-it throws itself continually in his way.

I find in myself another evidence of the greatness of parental influence. I detect myself to this day, in laying down maxims in my family, which I took up at three or four years of age, before I could possibly know the reason of the thing.

It is bf incalculable importance to obtain a hold on the conscience. Children have a conscience; and it is not seared, though it is evil. Bringing the eternal world into their view-planning and acting with that world before us-this gains at length, such a hold on them, that, with all the infidel poison which they may afterward imbibe, there are few children who, at night-in their chamber-in the dark-in a storm of thunder-will not feel. They cannot cheat like other men. They recollect that ETERNITY, which stands in their way. It rises up before them, like the ghost of Banquo to Macbeth. It goads them: it thunders in their ears. After all, they are obliged to compound the matter with conscience, if they cannot be prevailed on to return to God without delay: "I MUST be religious, one time or other. That is clear. I cannot get rid of this thing. Well! I will begin at such a time. I will finish such a scheme, and then?"

The opinions-the spirit-the conversation-the manners of the parent, influence the child, Whatever sort of man he is, such in a great degree, will be the child; unless constitution or accident give him another turn. If the parent is a fantastic man-if he is a genealogist, knows nothing but who married such an one, and who married such an one-if he is a sensualist, a low wretch-his children will usually

catch these tastes. If he is a literary man-his very girls will talk learnedly. If he is a griping, hard, miserly man-such will be his children. This I speak of as GENERALLY the case. It may happen, that the parent's disposition may have no ground to work on in that of the child. It may happen, that the child may be driven into disgust: the miser, for instance, often implants disgust, and his son becomes a spendthrift.

After all, in some cases, perhaps, every thing seems to have been done and exhibited by the pious parent in vain. Yet he casts his bread upon the waters. And, perhaps, after he has been in his grave twenty years, his son remembers what his father told him.

Besides, parental influence must be great, because God has said that it shall be so. The parent is not to stand reasoning and calculating. God has said that his character shall have influence.

And this appointment of Providence, becomes often the punishment of a wicked man. Such a man is a complete SELFIST. I am weary of hearing such men talk about their "family" and their "family" they "must provide for their family." Their family has no place in their REAL REGARD. They push for themselves. But God says "No! You think your children shall be so and so. But they shall be rods for your own backs. They shall be your curse. They shall rise up against you.” The most common of all human complaints isParents groaning under the vices of their children! This is all the effect of parental influence.

In the exercise of this influence there are two leading dangers to be avoided.

Excess of SEVERITY is one danger. My Mother on the contrary, would talk to me, and weep as she talked. I flung out of the house with an oath-but wept too when I got into the street. Sympathy is the powerful engine of a mother. I was desperate

I would go on board a privateer. But there are soft moments to such desperadoes. God does not, at once, abandon them to themselves. There are times when the man says "I should be glad to return but I should not like to meet that face!" if he has been treated with severity.

Yet excess of LAXITY is another danger. The case of Eli affords a serious warning on this subject. Instead of his mild expostulation on the flagrant wickedness of his sons-Nay, my sons, it is no good report that I hear he ought to have exercised his authority as a parent and magistrate in punishing and restraining their crimes.

Remarks on Authors..

WHEN I look at the mind of LORD BACON-it seems vast, original, penetrating, analogical, beyond all competition. When I look at his character it is wavering, shuffling, mean. In the closing scene, and in that only, he appears in true dignity, as a man of profound contrition.

BAXTER surpasses, perhaps, all others, in the grand, impressive, and persuasive style. But he is not to be named with Owen as to furnishing the student's mind. He is, however, multifarious, complex, practical.

CLARKE has, above all other men, the faculty of lowering the life and spiritual sense of Seripture to such perfection, as to leave it like dry bones, divested of every particle of marrow or oil. SOUTH is nearer the truth, He tells more of it; but he tells it with the tongue of a viper, for he was most bitterly set against the Puritans. But there is a spirit and life about him. He must and will be

heard. And, now and then, he darts on us with an unexpected and incomparable stroke.

1

THE MODERN GERMAN WRITERS, and the whole school formed after them, systematically and intentionally confound vice and virtue, and argue for the passions against the morals and institutions of society. There never was a more dangerous book written,than one that Mrs. WOLSTONECRAFT left imperfect, but which GoDWIN published after her death. Her "Wrongs of Women" is an artful apology for adultery: she labors to interest the feelings in favor of an adulteress, by making her crime the consequence of the barbarous conduct of a despicable husband, while she is painted all softness and sensibility. Nothing like this was ever attempted before the modern school.

"SOME men," said Dr. Patten to me, "are always crying fire! fire!" To be sure-where there is danger, there ought to be affectionate earnestness. Who would remonstrate, coldly and with indifference, with a man about to precipitate himself from Dover Cliff, and not rather snatch him forcibly from destruction? Truth, in its living influence on the heart, will shew itself in consecratedness and holy zeal. When teachers of religion are destitute of these qualities, the world readily infers that religion itself is a farce. Let us do the world justice. It has very seldom found a considerate, accommodating, and gentle, but withal earnest, heavenly, and enlightened teacher. When it has found such, truth has received a very general attention. Such a man was HERVEY, and his works have met their reward.

HOMER approaches nearest of all the heathen poets to the grandeur of Hebrew poetry. With the the

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