heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'

Yet, plain and perspicuous as is this law of ten commandments itself, its expanded interpretation is not less remarkable for the same qualities. In the interpretation of human statutes, the explanation or expansion has very often had the effect of only involving the law of the land in greater obscurity; and human comments on things divine have not unfrequently had the same effect. Not so when God condescends to become his own interpreter. This he has done abundantly, and perhaps on no subject has he been more copious, than in the varied interpretation of his own law. For why? His law is but the transcript of his own glorious character: and taking the Scriptures as a whole, what are they, in truth, but "this law expanded into more minute precepts and multiplied applications-enforced by the happiest comments, and illustrated by the most useful examples-but, above all, by the example presented to us in the all-perfect and glorious life of the Son of God."" Thy law," said he, " is within my heart; I delight to do thy will, O God."

Take then this law as the basis of your religious education-the only basis, assuredly, of all the religious instruction, which produced that fine generation in the wilderness, to which allusion has been made. Explain to your Children, why it was that our blessed Lord summed up his ten commandments in two. Dwell upon this sum

mary, occasionally. Explain every word of it, as far as you can, and they are able to bear it. You will, of course, try to instruct always persuasively, and most by example; but be not discouraged at their not comprehending the whole. It is a common mistake to under-rate the capacity of Children on religious subjects; but depend upon this, you will often find more difficulty in explaining human lan

guage than divine. Go on and by here a little and there a little, like the small rain upon the tender grass, let them be taught to observe, the personality of this summary-the authority of it-its spirituality-its extent-and the divine benevolence running through the whole.

Perhaps the next subject, in point of importance, is the violation of this law; for they will very soon indeed remark its violation by the young, but especially by the old. Now, as an understanding of the nature of sin, so far from leading to its commission, lies at the foundation of genuine religion, explain to them, as the Scriptures so powerfully, yet prudently, enable you to do, wherein the sinfulness of sin consists. On this point let there be no misunderstanding, much less confusion or ignorance, so far as you can explain it. Never attempt too much; but, at all events, let sin be regarded as that which stands opposed to the divine character, and show that it is forbidden by him, invariably, because such is his character, and therefore his will. “All unrighteousness is sin," and "sin is the transgression of the law," may seem, at first reading, to be inspired assertions, fit only for the contemplation of manhood. But this is a great mistake. The conduct of your own Children will not unfrequently, alas! furnish you with a commentary on both passages. "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right." Indeed there is a guileless simplicity in Children, which seems as though it were providentially intended, to lay them open to the Parent's judgment of their state, and character, and condition; and wo to that Parent who takes not every advantage of these early days, these first and singular opportunities, which, when once lost, never, never return again!

Amidst all this species of instruction, tenderly administered, and patiently repeated, be, however, most especially careful, that they can observe your own dread of sin, and

your own fear of offending God in any way; for surely you must have observed, how much Children are afraid of anything, at which their Parents express or evince alarm; while, at the same moment, your dread of sin must appear to them to be only an effect of your veneration for God, and your love for his character. The fear of Isaac, was an expression of Jacob's, descriptive to his own mind of the God of his Father; which he seems to have carried about with him throughout life: at one period, preserving him from the fear of man, and at another, expressive of his own most solemn sense of obligation to the Almighty. Whatever instructions you give, therefore, on the subject of sin or salvation, be assured that, in connection with the divine blessing (for which you daily intercede), their effect must depend, in a most material degree, upon your Children, not only observing that you esteem all Jehovah's precepts concerning all things to be right, but that you yourself hate every false and every wicked way.

With regard to the Gospel of Salvation, as you have been laying the foundation for its being so denominated, you will certainly not forget to explain the precise meaning of the terms. Be sure that they at least understand the substance of that which constitutes these " glad tidings." Not only lead them to such summaries as 1 Corinthians xv. 3, 4, but dwell on the person, and the character, and the words of the Saviour-the various incidents of his life-the expressions of his heart-and his peculiarly affecting discourses towards the close of his obedience unto death. Explain to them his whole life, as a course of stedfast, and uninterrupted, and perfect glorifying of God, by an obedience to the law; as being also at once a course of substitution for sinful men, and an allperfect example to his followers. Nay, so explain these as to show, that his whole life can be accounted for, on no other principles. Dwell upon his cross as an atone

ment for sin; by which God, who has been so dishonored, and offended so justly, and we, who have offended without cause, may be again at-one or agreed. Follow Him to the glory to which he is gone. Let them know that he there lives there reigns-there triumphs before his ancients gloriously.

There are few subjects respecting which Children are more pleased to hear, than the heavenly world; as if, in effect, they were telling their very Parents, that they have been born for immortality, and have already set out upon their mysterious journey to the skies. If you then only read the Sacred Volume, with the requisite dispositions of mind, while you will be easily able to explain that state of glory, but taking away all the drawbacks and inconvenience, the griefs and sorrows of the present scene, you will be far from saying, that you can only dwell upon the subject, negatively. This, you will say, is but one view that is given to us, chiefly with the design of supporting us through this vale of tears.

No; if indeed you yourself are come unto Mount Zion-and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem—and to an innumerable company of angelsto the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven-and to God the Judge of all-and to the spirits of just men made perfect—and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant-and to the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than that of Abel;" or, in other words, if "affections are set your on things above, not on things on the earth," then will your Children know this, and see it, and believe it. Here a little, and there a little, by line upon line, and one casual remark after another, you may go forward without disquietude. God has promised his especial blessing; and on other days and years, your Children may be even heard to say "However much we are pleased to read them, we

want no arguments in favor of Christianity, external or internal. My Father and Mother," says one, speaking for the rest, "I am sure, were consistent Christians, and they were truly happy, and amiable, and interesting, in the exemplification of that religion, which I can never for a moment doubt that they possessed. By all this, when alive, they allured to brighter worlds; and now that they are gone, it really seems as though it were, in a humbler sense, to prepare the way for us. Jesus indeed hath done so, and perfectly; but at least it appears to us, as though such Christian Parents were not without their share of influence, in the same direction. At all events, I am sure of this, that their usefulness and influence did not die with them; and I am also sure, that this world is not now to me, in all respects, what it was then; and that in that world, I feel a tenderness of interest, which, but for them, I might have either never felt, or never felt to the same degree."

Surely this would prove reward, rich and ample, for all your pains and patience, when fulfilling, from day to day, a duty which God and nature so evidently and strongly imposed. Though even this is far from reaching what often happens. Long before you leave this changing scene, they may give you the most indubitable and delightful evidence, that in due time they will follow you to that unfading inheritance "into which no enemy can ever enter, and from which no friend ever departs."

Besides all this, Parents themselves especially have to look forward. With them the day is turned, and the days of darkness may yet be many. At such a season, oh, what value is often stamped on these patient and assiduous endeavors, in training up a Child in the way in which he should go! Whether to Father or Mother, I would sayIs it a small matter, think you, when you are come to