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ONE of the most favorable indications of the present period is the fact, that so much attention is directed to the consideration of domestic relations and duties. The prominent feature of the dreadful degeneracy which Malachi and other prophets foretold would prevail among God's ancient covenant people, just before the coming of the Messiah, and bring the desolating curse of Heaven upon them, if not reformed, was the alienation of parents from their children, and of children from their parents-the general neglect of domestic obligations and duties, Mal. iv. 6. And the way in which the nation was to be respited from deserved and impending destruction, was by 'turning the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers'-bringing back the people to a degree of proper attention to domestic obligations and duties, 'lest Jehovah should come and smite the land with a curse.'

And who that is informed in regard to the calamities with which a righteous Providence has visited certain nations in modern times, and in regard to the state of degeneracy into which domestic society had sunk in those nations, does not see that the principle involved is applicable to all nations, in all ages?

How important, then, the domestic constitution? The FAMILY, more emphatically than any other social organization, except the Church, is God's own production. He himself directly ordained it, and has ever shown to it a special regard. No other constitution of which we have any knowledge is so exact a similitude of his own moral government. Though, in every instance of its existence, itself brief and transitory, and to cease with the last generation of men on the earth, its influences go down, from generation to generation and from age to age, into and all along the ages of eternity. They, more than any other, commonly, form the future man and woman, and direct their influences, in their various relations, and on succeeding generations; and effect their eternal condition, and their influence on the eternity of others from generation to generation. It is, in its Author's design, the grand instrument of making men and women happy and useful in all the circumstances and relations of life, and happy and useful in His moral kingdom forever. And how dreadfully reverse in the results, when its design is frustrated, no tongue of mortal can tell-eternity alone will disclose.

How vitally important, then, to every child, and brother and sister, and employer and domestic, and especially to every parent, to understand the nature and influences, the responsibilities and duties, of this constitution. In this view, it is matter of congratulation that such works as the Family Monitor, the Mother at Home, the Child at Home, are published in such quick succession, and so extensively read. These works exhibit, in an instructive and interesting manner, the details of the obligations and duties of the various family relations. In connection with them there is wanting, to be read and studied, an exhibition of the principles on which those obligations and duties rest, and by which they are enforced. To exhibit these is the

design of the following treatise. And this most important design its author has ably and successfully accomplished. A bare inspection of the table of contents will show that the discussions in the work are fundamental. Its exhibitions are eminently scriptural, presenting a richness and variety of illustration, drawn from that inexhaustible storehouse, often new, and always pleasing and instructive. Its reasonings are sober and conclusive; its appeals to observation and experience just and convincing. Its style, though not elegant, is not repulsive. To thinking persons, both its argument and its style will be acceptable, and its conclusions and counsels highly satisfactory.

If some of the remarks, particularly in Part I. Sect. 7, and Part II. Sect. 4, should be thought, at first view, to have an unfavorable bearing on a portion at least of the Sabbath school and other kindred efforts of the present day, a closer examination will show that this is not their design. They are directed to plans and efforts which would supersede the responsibilities and duties of the parental relation. Sabbath school and other kindred efforts, when properly regarded and applied, are helps to the discharge of those duties and responsibilities. If intended, in any instance, or allowed, to supersede them, they are so far justly liable to the censure expressed, and which was designed by the author for other plans and efforts, in their nature of such an unhappy tendency. The remarks referred to may also excite profitable reflection and inquiry whether, while our exertions for the intellectual and moral improvement of the mass of the children of the ignorant and irreligious portions of the community are not remitted, but prosecuted with increased vigor, more direct attention should not be given to the parents of such children, that the order, and thus more effectually the reality, of the divine prediction may be secured, "He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the

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children, and the heart of the children to their fathers;' and thus 'make ready a people prepared for the Lord.'

The volume which it is the object of these remarks to introduce to the American public is a very able discussion of a most important subject, nowhere else, within my knowledge, treated in the same radical and thorough manner. It is eminently adapted to be useful; and I cannot but hope that it will be highly acceptable, especially to those sustaining the solemn and weighty responsibilities of the parental relation.

Boston, May, 1834.

Benjamin Blydenbu:

B. B. WISNER.

PREFACE.

SOME individuals, who have professed to look deeply into the structure of human society, tell us that analogy has much in store for man; because, though it is not infallible, it is that powerful engine or telescope of the mind, by which it is marvellously assisted in the discovery of both physical and moral truth. The great expectations which are entertained, they would found upon the extraordinary discoveries which have been made in physics, under the guidance of analogy: that powerful engine, they say, in the mind of a Newton, having discovered to us the laws of other worlds; and in that of Columbus, having put us in full possession of our own. "Shall some discoveries in physics," it has then been said, “be so important as to produce a complete revolution in society, and others so powerful, that the very inventors of them have not as yet dared to apply them; and shall not discoveries in morals be allowed a still more paramount and universal influence—an influence the greater in proportion as matter is inferior to mind?" Under the influence of these anticipations, says the same individual, “I foresee the period when some new and parent idea in morals, the matrix of a better order of things, shall reconcile us more completely to God, to nature, and to ourselves."

Between discoveries in physics, and, what have been called, morals, there is, unquestionably, one strong analogy—that they are new only to us; all such discoveries being merely the observation of what has been true, from the beginning of the creation. To this parent idea in morals, therefore, many will not object, if it is shown to be older than the ages of nations and cities, and if it involves nothing more than what has been already revealed by God in his word; just as all discoveries in physics, though not sooner observed, acquire peculiar interest from the conviction, that the same objects

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