muft learn their duty to God, to Jefus Chrift, and to their fellow-creatures. Whilft the beft inftruction is conveyed to their minds, a good example must illuftrate and enforce every moral leffon. In vain does a parent recommend religion to his child, unless he goes before him in the path of duty. The influence of a bad example will be more injurious than can eafily be imagined; it will make a far deeper impreffion than the best moral precepts confequently, whilft the preaching and the practice are so very different, the season for early improvement will be irrecoverably loft.

Nor is this all; the manner of instructing deferves attention. Many parents, who have the moft tender concern for the future well-being of their children, who are anxious to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and who are examples of the duties which they recommend,-many fuch parents labour in vain, because they go injudiciously to work. They crowd and opprefs the young mind with inftruction; or they begin with the lefs obvious parts of religion; or they burden the memory with words, fuppofing that ideas will hereafter follow of courfe. By this inju-

dicious

dicious method of inftructing, an early difguft is excited in the mind; and that becomes an intolerable burden, which ought to be its great delight.

To labour with the profpect of fuccefs, a very different method fhould be purfued. The most obvious principles of religion fhould be firft propofed; and they should be urged when the mind feemed best prepared to receive them. The leffons of inftruction fhould be very fhort, and they fhould be frequently repeated. Not only on the Lord's-day, but at all other times, the parent should take occafion to inculcate fome religious truth, or make some useful remark to his young charge. In this way, a foundation might be laid for eminent attainments in after life; and we have reason to think, that, in this way, the most exemplary chriftians have been formed to the knowledge and practice of virtue. Certain it is, that much of the wickedness, which prevails in the world, may be traced up to the want of a good education in early life. The mind is fuffered to contract bad habits, which a more advanced stage of reafon cannot correct.

I now proceed to obferve, in the Last -place, the exquisite pleasure it must afford their

their parents, connexions, and friends, and indeed, all who have the interests of religion at heart, to fee young perfons fuch an exception to the follies and vanities of the age. The apoftle fays, that he rejoiced greatly that the children of his venerable friend were found walking in the truth; and he would not have been a christian if their early virtue had not been to him a fource of joy. What can be more pleasing than the exemplary behaviour of youth? as they advance in years, to see them advance in wisdom, can any fight be more alluring? muft it not endear them to the worst perfons? and to men of any religion, muft it not afford the happieft profpect? how muft it rejoice the faithful minifter to fee the children of his flock walking in the fear of the Lord? He is appointed to explain and enforce the duties of religion to behold fuch fruits of his labours muft, therefore, give him unfpeakable pleasure.

Society likewife must derive great satis faction, when its young members appear to be promifing characters. But most of all will the parent exult, when those, who are dearest to him, have made that happy choice, which will greatly endear them both to God and man: he has not the

I

feelings

feelings of a father, who could be capable of a higher gratification: a wife fon muft make a glad parent; and of all fubjects, it must be the most proper for congratu lation, when the children of our friends appear to be the children of God. Happy, happy parents, when you can look round on fuch an amiable charge! We congratulate you on your profpects; we congratulate you, not because your child has merely entered life, but because he has entered it with honour: not because he has a good understanding, but a good heart: not because he is poffeffed of what is fashionably ftyled the graces, but because the grace of God, which bringeth falvation, hath not been bestowed in vain: not be cause he merely attends to business, but because he attends to that good part, which cannot be taken from him: not, in one word, because he bids fair to be a man of learning, fame, power, or popularity, but because he exhibits the fair beginnings of an exemplary chriftian. On these accounts we congratulate the parent; and to a religious parent there cannot be a more proper fubject for congratulation.

That you may experience this joy, let me recommend the earlieft attention to your offspring. Soon as their young minds

are

are capable of reflection, begin with the
eafieft principles; advance to other points
as they advance in ftrength; reprove,
rebuke, and inftruct in all righteoufnefs;
to precept add the force of your own
example; exhort them to be followers
of you; and do you be followers of the
Lord Jefus. Thus attentive and perfever-
ing, you have a profpect of doing the
moft effential fervice. No pains, however,
can enfure fuccefs. Notwithstanding all
your labours, you may behold in your
fucceffors, finful youths, and children
void of underftanding. Should this be
the cafe, you will have the confcious fatif-
faction that you have not neglected your
duty, nor contributed to the mifery and
ruin of thofe you love. The event you
muft leave to providence, but with all
diligence you muft ufe thofe means, which
God, in his wifdom, has appointed for
the formation of virtuous habits.
this you are bound by the most folemn
engagements : upon the dedication of
your offspring to the Moft High, you
promised to "bring them up in the nur-
ture and admonition of the Lord;" let
not a violation of this promife hereafter
rife up in judgment against you.

To

And the young let me exhort, on their
part,

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