timable is he, whose foresight extends into eternity, and who is supremely anxious that himself and family may obtain favor with God, and eternal life and happiness; a mansion among the blessed; an inheritance unfading. If we would imitate that wiser man, we must maintain family devotion and instruction. Again

2. The head of a family receives a solemn charge, from God, of those under his roof. It is a great trust, and God will take account how it is fulfilled. You may nourish them, clothe them, watch against the dangers that threaten their life and health; but this is but the minor part; for they have souls worth more than worlds, for which you must watch and pray. And if while you are here and there, attending to more trifling matters, these souls be lost, will not God require them? It is a solemn thought, that the head of a family is put in trust with souls. Should he not then pray with them, and for them, and "watch for souls as one who must give account?"

3. The difficulty of his task should be an argument, not for discouragement, but the greater exertion. To check a child's evil propensities, to encourage in him what is right, to impart necessary knowledge, and to fix in his heart good principles, and to form him to right habits of affection, temper and conduct, is a mighty task. To rear up a child into a Christian, is the noblest labor performed on earth. And will not the parent, while crying "who is sufficient for these things," call upon God who is every way sufficient, and do his utmost? If he succeed, glory, and honor, and immor

tality is his reward. The difficulty of this task, then, should animate him to diligence in instruction, and to fervor and constancy in family devotion. To animate and encourage him, he should consider

4. What present comfort will flow from success."I have no greater joy," said an apostle, " than to see my children walking in the truth." Every faithful minister can say the same, and every good parent. It is a sight to draw tears from strangers, to see a family well instructed, of serious spirit, dutiful and affectionate, devoted to God and devout, a heavenly temper duly manifested—and all apparently growing up into a meetness for a better world, and cherishing the hope of a final meeting there. Such present happiness is worth a mighty and a constant effort on the part of the parents. The two great means to this end are prayer and instruction—family prayer-parental instruction. Consider too,

5. The blessing such a family proves to the commonwealth and the church. Children so trained give no trouble to the laws or the magistrate; they are a law unto themselves. By their example, they exert an influence, favorable to order and peace, to industry, integrity and benevolence. They are a blessing to the church. It is to families trained up by daily devotion and early religious instruction, that we look to find those who shall make and adorn a profession of religion. In such, religion is a thing of early, gentle, constant growth; and appears in principles and habits, more than in flashes of passion, in excited feelings, soon

warm, soon cool, which is the case with

many, who are at times wrought upon, without previous knowledge or principles fixed in the mind. If then, beloved parents, you desire the welfare of the community, and the growth and honor of the church of Christ, and the spread and increase of that religion, which appears in holy principles and holy habits, rather than in flights of passion, in glaring exercises for a season, and then a falling away, train your families by the daily practice of family prayer and parental instruction.

But I have not time farther to enlarge on this interesting subject. In closing, permit me to hope that the parents of this assembly are disposed to see, that the resolution of Joshua is proper for every parent in a christian land, and that you will severally say, " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." O let your grateful hands be employed in building your family altar. Let not the sun of this holy sabbath go down without your fixed purpose to worship God in your families, if in any of your cases it has been neglected. Draw around you the souls committed to your charge and commend them to God; and instruct them diligently. Indulge not the thought that you shall be singular, or that you have not abilities for the task, nor any other plea so prone to check and destroy a good resolution.

Parents and teachers, the young are the hope of the flock; let us render to them an attention from the pulpit, at home, in the public schools, and in the sabbath school, which, crowned with the divine blessing, may cause these immortal plants "to spring up as among

the grass, as willows by the water-courses.' Then soon, "one shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel."

So may God grant, through Jesus Christ, the great shepherd, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

SERMON X.

MORAL EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.

PROVERBS iv. 1, 2.

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

There is scarcely any subject, on which a minister can address his people of more eventful importance, than that of the moral and religious education of the young; and this is the reason why I address you more frequently on this topic, than any other.Those of us, who have children, need to have our minds frequently incited to the important duty we owe to them. The most diligent and faithful parent too often relaxes his watchfulness, and slumbers over his task; and while he sleeps, the enemy comes and sows tares in his field. The exhortation in the text is addressed to children-Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.But the obligation of children, presupposes the advan