every member, with a morning and evening sermon, in the midst of all the hurries and cares of life. It says "There is a God!"-" There is a spiritual world!"-" There is a life to come!" It fixes the idea of responsibility in the mind. It furnishes a tender and judicious father or master with an opportunity of gently glancing at faults, where a direct admonition might be inexpedient. It enables him to relieve the weight with which subordination or service often sits on the minds of inferiors.

"

In my family-worship I am not the reader, but employ one of my children. I make no formal comment on the Scripture: but, when any striking event or sentiment arises, I say "Mark that!" -"See how God judges of that thing!" Sometimes I ask what they think of the matter, and how such a thing strikes them. I generally receive very strange, and sometimes ridiculous answers; but I am pleased with them: attention is all alive, while I am explaining wherein they err, and what is the truth. In this manner I endeavour to impress the spirit and scope of the on the family.

passage

I particularly aim at the eradication of a false principle, wonderfully interwoven with the minds of children and servants-they take their standard from the neighbourhood and their acquaintance, and by this they judge of every thing. I endeavour to raise them to a persuasion, that God's will

in Scripture is the standard; and that this standard is perpetually in opposition to that corrupt one around and before them.

The younger children of the family will soon have discernment enough to perceive that the Bible has a holiness about it, that runs directly contrary to the stream of opinion. And then, because this character is so evident, and so inseparable from the Scripture, the heart will distaste and reject it. Yet the standard must be preserved. If a man should lower it, they would soon detect him; and he must, after all, raise them up to the right standard again. Much may be effected by manner, as to impressing truth; but, still, truth will remain irksome, till God touch the heart.

- I read the Scriptures to my family in some regular order: and am pleased to have thus a lesson found for me. I look on the chapter of the day as a lesson sent for that day; and so I regard it as coming from God for the use of that day, and not of my own seeking.

I find it easy to keep up the attention of a congregation, in comparison of that of my family. I have found the attention best gained, by bringing the Truths of Scripture into comparison with the Facts which are before our eyes. It puts more stimuli into family-expositions. I never found a fact lost, or the current news of the day fail of arresting the attention. "How does the Bible account for that fact?-That man murdered his

Father-This or that thing happened in our house to-day-What does the Scripture say of such things?"

It is difficult to fix and quiet your family. The servants are eager to be gone, to do something in hand. There has been some disagreement, perhaps, between them and their mistress. We must seize opportunities. We must not drive hard at such times as these. Regularity, however, must be enforced. If a certain hour is not fixed and adhered to, the family will inevitably be found in confusion.

Religion should be prudently brought before a family. The old Dissenters wearied their families. Jacob reasoned well with Esau, about the tenderness of his children and his flocks and herds. Something gentle, quiet, moderate should be our aim. There should be no scolding: it should be mild and pleasant.

I avoid absolute uniformity: the mind revolts at it: though I would shun eccentricity, for that is still worse. At one time I would say something on what is read: but, at another time, nothing. I make it as NATURAL as possible: "I am a religious man: you are my children and my servants: it is NATURAL that we should do so and so.”

Nothing of superstition should attach to familyduty. It is not absolutely and in all cases indispensible. If unavoidably interrupted, we omit it: it is well. If I were peremptorily ordered, as the

Jews were, to bring a lamb, I must be absolute. But this service is my liberty, not my task. I do not, however, mean in any degree to relax the proper obligation.

Children and servants should see us acting on the Psalmist's declaration, I will speak of thy testimonies before Kings. If a great man happens to be present, let them see that I deem him nothing before the Word of God!

ON THE

INFLUENCE

PARENTAL

OF THE

CHARACTER.

THE influence of the parental character on children is not to be calculated. Every thing around has an influence on us. Indeed the influ

ence of things is so great, that, by familiarity with them, they insensibly urge us on principles and feelings which we before abhorred. I knew a man who took in a democratical paper, only to laugh at it. But, at length, he had read the same things again and again, so often, that he began to think there must be some truth in them; and that men and measures were really such as they were so often said to be. A drop of water seems to have no influence on the stone; but it will, in the end, wear its way through. If there be, therefore, such a mighty influence in every thing around us, the Parental Influence must be great indeed.

Consistency is the great character, in good parents, which impresses children. They may witness much temper; but if they see their Father