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now so far the principles on which it was offered, and on which it is freely proposed to man, I see also why it is styled the glorious gospel of the blessed God;' and surely I, in some degree, better understand the connection in which this expression is introduced in Scripture." Now then, also, you may see how, and why it is that any man "made free by the Son, is free indeed;" free, to expatiate on the collection of the divine perfections, styled in Scripture, "the name of God;" free, to survey them in union; and free, to gather them up, reverently, by deep meditation, and then exclaim, "Who is so great a God as our God? He that is our God is the God of Salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death!"

The arguments contained in the preceding pages are applicable, without doubt, to the young as well as the old, to Children or youth as well as Parents; but as the former have it not in their power to act as they would in the Family circle, and the restoration of it is the object in view, I have addressed myself to those especially who stand at the head of families; to such as have already been invested with an influence and authority for which they are responsible to God; and which, as they are bound to use them for his glory, so they have an opportunity of immediately employing them on a constitution of things made ready to their hands,—a subject, however, which will be more fully considered in the following Section.

Here, therefore, our conversation may for the present come to a close. Once only possessed of principles such as these, sure I am that you will admire the Scripture characters of ancient time, as well as the goodly company who have followed in their footsteps. Like them, your principles will be unfolded, especially in your relative connections: like them, will you command your children,

and your household after you, to keep the way of the Lord like them, resolve that you and your's shall serve the Lord, and, like them, will you often return to bless your house. Of you, too, even you, will God again condescend in effect to say, "I know such a one, that he will do all this; and the heart, though conscious of a depravity to which it was before a stranger, yet the heart being now right in my sight, many other things will be right ere long."

SECTION FOURTH.

THE MANNER OF PROCEDURE WITH REGARD TO A FAMILY.

Introductory remarks-the importance of a right commencement.— The manner in which Christianity is represented in Scripture, as restoring the Family to its proper state-illustrated by reference to the ministry of John the Baptist, of Christ and the Apostlesthe conversions to Christianity among the Jews in ancient time; those from among the Heathen in our own day, and the final restoration of the Jews, referred to in confirmation of such ministry and mode of address-the duty of following such examples, imperious.

THE manner in which Christianity is represented, as addressing and restoring the family, and so, if possible, or if intended, the nation, where its families are in general debased or corrupted, deserves the most serious consideration. The language of inspiration implies, that the Parents, as such, are to be especially regarded. Next to the precise terms of divine revelation, the order of its language should be observed; and, in the present case, this has become the more necessary, from so many beginning, I may say, at the wrong end. The commission of our blessed Lord is to be revealed to, and pressed upon, every creature, old and young, Parents and Children, individually, according to his command. The axe is laid at the root of every tree. But in perfect harmony with

this, in applying divine truth to a constitution of his own creation, there may be an order which is agreeable to his will; one to which he may have given his decided sanction in all ages and if this should be apparent, it then becomes at once our wisdom and our duty to follow it. Let the order, then, of the following words, as well as that of other passages to be adduced, be studied:

"He shall turn the heart of the Fathers unto the Children,
and the heart of the Children to their Fathers."

By too many in the present day, and these individuals who possess both benevolent and patriotic intentions, it seems to be received as an incontrovertible and sound maxim, that, in order to the radical cure of a nation sunk in vice, or degenerating in morals, the first, if not the only hope, is to be fixed on the young and rising generation; and they therefore often repeat,-"We must BEGIN with the Children." "If the Parents," they tell us, "cannot instruct their Children in any thing good, and evidently train them up in nothing but vice; nay, if they will not instruct them at all, and if we cannot impress their minds with a sense of their obligation, (though in nine instances out of ten this has not been first and patiently done, in faith of its effect,) all that seems left to us is to begin with the Children. Besides, as far as we can see, the best, if not the only way, for reaching such Parents, so depraved, or so lost to a sense of their duty and responsibility, is through the hearts of their Children. At all events, beginning with them, we shall plant wholly a right seed, and the generation following them will reap the benefit,the body politic being thus effectually restored to a sound and healthy condition." Even a few eminent individuals have given countenance to this false reasoning, from their having, in a great degree, given up the generation "going away" in despair. To them, they seem so thoroughly

rooted and grounded in vice, that, if not altogether hopeless, they are, as a body, likely to grow together unto the harvest!

It is rather remarkable, that this strain of reasoning should make such approach, to certain ideas entertained by professedly wise men, among the most eminent heathen nations of antiquity. Aristotle, Plutarch, and others, were much impressed with the value and necessity of education, and, in the warmth of their zeal, they cried out loudly against the education of Children being left entirely to the mercy and disposal of Parents. They thought that this would ultimately prove a destructive injury to the state, and urged strongly that the public-the community-should take up the subject. Why," it was said, as they thought unanswerably, "why rest this wholly on persons who are so often found to be careless, or ignorant, or indiscreet, and by no means fit to govern themselves?"

Here, however, as Christians, let us be considerate. Did education, whether by Parents or the community, include all that God in mercy does for man, through the instrumentality of man, then would there be more force in the question put by Aristotle or Plutarch, and then would there be more plausibility in the reasoning quoted, of modern professors of Christianity or political economists. But since education, whether domestic or public, whether performed by Parents in person, or attempted to be performed for them, whether purchased by them, or paid for them, is not all; since especially the Messiah's last commission is still binding; since there stands before us, the sovereign appointment of the ministry of the word, for the conversion of men; then, in these expressions of the heathen philosopher, many in our day will see but the weakness, and hear but the melancholy wailing of a nation, at once devoid of Christianity, and destitute of