July 16, 1821, in the 23d year of her age. Seldom does it fall to our lot to record the virtues of one so amiable, so truly pious and exemplary. Had she not in life been an ornament to her Christian profession, and left an example worthy of being copied, we should not have felt as we now do, that it was a duty incumbent on us thus to preserve her memory for the edification of the church, of which she was a useful and beloved member, and for the benefit of youth in general.

She appears to have possessed a very tender and delicate mind, naturally thoughtful, and much inclined to reading and reflection. From her infancy, it has been observed by her family relatives, she has manifested a scrupulous regard to truth; so that it is not recollected that she ever told an untruth. She seldom needed reproof or correction; and if at any time reproof was given with marks of parental disapprobation, it produced such excessive grief as to render it necessary to be extremely cautious as to her general treatment. She also possessed a mild, and peaceable disposition, and was not a little remarkable for her patience under circumstances of deprivation, trial, and affliction. But however she might have been endued with many mental excellencies, and acquired accomplishments, to render her estimable and beloved; it was early piety which sanctified, and gave an inestimable value to her character.

Her family attending the Episcopal Church, she was confirmed, and attended the Church services and the holy communion. She appears to have been very early and frequently under the operations of the Spirit of God, and was much in the habit of making serious reflections on the passing occurrences of providence, on hearing the Gospel, and on seeing its ordinances administered. These reflections, with her views and feelings on religious subjects, are to be met with in most of her letters written to her young female friends; a few extracts from which, we doubt not, will be read with interest, and will furnish the best views I can give of her general character.

When about fifteen years of age she writes thus, after mentioning several cases of sickness and death: "When so many are sick and dying around us, should it not remind us of our own end? Perhaps we shall be called next,-are we prepared? If we are, it will be well with us, if not, why do we sit still? Let us arise, and delay no longer; for death may be near. Perhaps you will say 'Lydia has forgotten herself." No, I have not. I am writing to one for whose spiritual, as well as temporal welfare, I am interested. I long to have you love God; who is so worthy of our love as our Maker? How hard must be our hearts not to love Christ, who, for the love he had for us, suffered and died an ignominious death. It was our sins that crucified the Lord of glory. O my friend, do taste and see how gracious the Lord is; he is infinitely gracious, he is willing to receive the greatest of sinners.

Fly then, my dear friend, to Christ without delay, for he is standing with open arms to receive you. If you go to him you will never be sorry. O, what are the pleasures of this world, when compared with those of religion? They are nothing but vanity."

On another occasion she writes thus: "I do feel that life is short. In a moment I may be called to exchange worlds. Happy should I feel if I could say, I am prepared to meet my God, whenever he should be pleased to call for me. God has long been sparing us, long reaching out to us the hand of mercy. Shall we, can we be so ungrateful? Shall we dare disobey his commands, who is able to destroy the soul and body for ever? Do we not daily feel that there is no peace, no happiness to be found in the world? Why then not seek it where it is to be found? We see those who are interested in Jesus are happy. They speak of the goodness of their God, and show by their happy countenances that they possess something that the world knows not of. O that it were in my power to say something to impress you more with eternal things. O the love of Christ, it is wonderous! And can our hearts remain unmoved at such love? O let us resolve to spend the rest of our days in his service.

The following serious reflections are made on hearing a sermon from Isaiah xxxviii. 1. "Set thy house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live." "It has been some time since my heart has been so much affected. O my dear friend, are we prepared to die? Are our hearts renewed by the Holy Spirit? Have we chosen the one thing needful? Are we the friends of God, or of the world? These are questions which ought to be asked by every one. Is it not strange we should spend so much of our time in frivolous pursuits? O let us devote much of our time to prepare to meet the king of terrors. He may come in an hour we look not for him-Let us flee the wrath to come."

(To be concluded in the next Number.)

Miscellaneous.

JEREMY TAYLOR-BISHOP OF DOWN.

THIS eloquent prelate, from the fertility of his mind, and the extent of his imagination, has been styled the Shakespeare of Divines. His sermons abound with some of the most brilliant passages, and embrace such a variety of matter and such a mass of knowledge and learning, that even the acute Bishop Warburton said of him, 'I can fathom the understandings of most men, yet I am not certain that I can always fathom the understanding of Jeremy Taylor.' His comparison between a married and single life, in his sermon on the Blessed. ness of the Married, is rich in tender sentiments, and exquisitely elegant imagery, 'Marriage,' says the Bishop, 'is the mother of the world, and preserves kingdoms, and fills cities, churches, and even heaven itself. Celibacy, like the fly in the heart of an apple, dwells in a perpetual sweetness; but sits alone, and is confined, and dies in singularity; but marriage, like the useful bee, builds a house and gath

ers sweetness from every flower, and labours and unites into societies and repub lies; and sends out colonies and fills the world with delicacies; and obeys their king, keeps order, and exercises many virtues and promotes the interest of mankind; and is that state of things to which God hath designed the present constitu tion of the world. Marriage hath in it the labour of love and the delicacies of friendship; the blessings of society, and the union of hands and hearts. It hath in it less of beauty, but more of safety, than a single life; it is more merry and more sad; it is fuller of joys and fuller of sorrow; it lies under more burdens, but is supported by all the strength of love and charity; and these burdens are delight

ful.'

PARENTAL DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY.

THE education of children forms such an important part of duty, binding on all parents, masters, teachers and guardians, that we are glad to find the subject has attracted the attention of some of our correspondents. Although the variety of matter necessarily admitted into the pages of our Magazine, precludes any long dissertations upon particular subjects, yet the deep interest which ought to be felt for the temporal and eternal happiness of that part of community which is soon to enter upon the theatre of life, and the pertinent remarks contained in the following communication, induce us to devote a few more pages to this interesting subject. We most ardently hope that these remarks may awaken that attention to this all-important theme, as shall call forth, not only the sympathies of mothers and fathers, but also the talents of those who wish well to posterity, to urge home on the consciences of our readers the necessity of discharging the duties here recommended with all fidelity and vigilance.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

Dec. 10, 1821.

HAVING perused in your last Number of the Magazine, an interesting piece on Family Religion, I find it almost impossible to conceal the grateful emotions it excited in my breast. Long has the subject occupied my mind, and I have ardently desired some hand, able to do it justice, might undertake it. At length I see the liberal donation cast into the public treasury to increase the fund of religious and moral improvement. May the Lord make it a lasting blessing to his people! To amend that piece is not my intention, but I see such a field opening before me, that I cannot deny myself the privilege of attempting to cast in a little seed, for the benefit of the rising generation.

The design of this more particularly is, to awaken in the breast of every parent, teacher and guardian, an increasing zeal for the improvement of the youth entrusted to their care. I greatly rejoice that the bright and Morning Star has shed its effulgent beams upon Heathen lands, and that successful exertions are made in disseminating divine truths abroad, and that many are turning from their idolatry to the worship of the true God; but my heart is pained and my eyes run down with tears, when I look around and see thousands, sitting under the solar rays of the Sun of Righteousness, insensible to their vivifying power. Alas! shall we dwell with horror upon pagan idolaters, and earnestly pray for their emancipation from the chains of slavery, and forget ourselves and our neighbours? Behold our cities, villages, and the remoter parts of our civilized world, crowded with souls who, if they worship not stocks and stones, are nevertheless destitute of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and therefore worse than pagans. But much of this is to be attributed to the coldness of believers, and the want of that true Christian philanthropy which breathes universal love to mankind. Lukewarmness among professors of religion is enough to make infidels of a nation; and it is to be feared that the enemy has already taken an advantage of our supineness, and laid a foundation for future evils. It is high time the Christian world were awakened from their lethargy, and their garments shaken from the dust. Behold the Judge standeth at the door! But for us, who profess religion, there is no apology. If we do not exhibit those features of character which distinguish the disciples of Jesus from the children of the world, great will be our condemnation. And are there not many examples among us which stand as beacons to warn us to take heed lest we fall? What can

be done to oppose the flood of iniquity which seems pouring in upon us from various quarters, and which threatens destruction to immortal souls? I see no prospect of stopping its progress until all professors of religion feel the responsibility of their station, and show by their holy lives, that the charms of this world have no dominion over them. But does our appearance manifest it? Are not our houses as gaily furnished? Tables as richly loaded, and apparel as costly, if not as gay as the mere men of the world? Are our hearts made to call the poor for the purpose of feeding them? Well may the ungodly say to some of us, "Physician, heal thyself!" Owhat an awful responsibility rests upon us who profess to understand the word of God more clearly, and to enjoy more privileges than others! Might not our Saviour weep over some of us as he did over Jerusalem? Let no persons excuse themselves, however obscure their situation, that they have nothing to do. The love of God is an active, energetic principle, and always inspires true zeal for His cause. But our hopes for the future prosperity of Zion, are chiefly centered in the rising generation; to them therefore our attention ought principally to be directed; for if they are neglected, what are we to expect? A state of barbarism, yea what is worse, of open infidelity. And yet we have reason to fear, that already many tender minds have received such impressions from improper conduct, as will give them a wrong bias through life. It is, indeed, often said, that children of religious parents are worse than others. This, however, is not the case, for the natural turpitude of all hearts are alike; though we have a right to expect a brighter exhibition of moral virtues, from those educated in the strict observance of the duties of our holy religion, than from those whose education is entirely neglected. But the majority of our children give but poor evidence that they are better taught than others. How often is that plausible objection raised, we cannot convert them. Truly, but if you use the means, God has promised to bless them. And to urge this duty with greater force, you should recollect that He will most assuredly require the salvation of their souls at your hands; for He has placed them under your care to fit them for His service. O that every parent might feel this truth, and that those pledges of divine favour which are lent to contribute to their felicity in this vale of tears, are also immortal; and that they have it in their power, so to mould and form their minds that they may be useful here, and happy hereafter.

Let no persons, however exalted in station, or dignified in character, think that they come down from their eminence to suit the capacity of a child. This very child who is softened by the condescension of your manners, if blended with wisdom and affection, may yet have the germ of thought, by the direction you have given it, so to expand that it may shoot forth in all the fragrance of a lovely blossom, and ripen into the most delicious fruit.

Those who possess the above happy talents, would do well to exert them, and those who possess them not, would find themselves amply repaid in striving to acquire them. Early impressions are allowed by all to be the most lasting. Prejudices and habits formed in childhood, are seldom, if ever irradiated; and who can boast of being perfectly free from the errors of early education. Many indeed, who fill important stations in life, have been heard to confess that they found it extremely difficult, notwithstanding many years of experience and deep study, to detach their minds from those incorrect ideas, formed at an early period. With what caution then ought we as Christians, to regard our words and conduct, before children, and be careful to exhibit before them those moral and Christian virtues, which represent religion in the most beautiful and engaging form; avoiding all that harshness and austerity, which terrifies the youthful mind, and prevents it from deșiring an object which presents, through the unhallowed medium of a morose temper, nothing but sullenness and gloom! Sprightliness and vivacity generally mark the period of youth, and to suppress those lively emotions entirely, would be doing violence to the finest feelings of nature. Wise instruction will give them their proper direction by presenting Christianity in such a pleasing garb as to render it an object worthy of pursuit, possessing all those attractions which are calculated to engage their minds. It requires, indeed, no small degree of skill

and to remove the difficulties which lie in their way of mental improvement. The education of a child commences in its mother's arms. There it begins to un VOL. V.

4

fold those affections which are to mark its future life. And mothers especially have it in their power to suppress, in some degree at least, those malevolent passions of nature, and to excite benevolent desires, in the first dawnings of reason. Virtuous habits might be more easily acquired, than mankind in general imagine, if this period of our existence were attended to with greater care. How many hours of childhood run to waste for the want of seasonable instruction. The minds of children are always active. They think, they reason; and are soon able to detect false appearances and slight deviations or improprieties, even in their parents; and were it not for the plain contradiction manifested many times between the profession and practice of parents, children would be more frequently drawn by the force of example to embrace that religion, whose transforming power has moulded the rough dispositions of their parents into the mildness of doves. But upon mothers devolves the highest responsibility. They have the pre-eminence over their husbands, as it respects forming the disposition and habits of their children. Over the infant which twines round their necks like a vine to the branch, and the child lisping the words which drop from their tongues to those of maturer age, they possess a controuling influence. Their affections, their hearts, and their desires, are in a measure open to their inspection; undisguisedly they behold the springs which move them to action! O ye mothers! I address you with warmth, because I feel the importance of my subject. I see you placed by God as Guardian Angels to those little cherubs which entwine around your hearts, and call forth the exercise of those maternal affections which so eminently distinguish you in life. Did you but know how many tears of sorrow and bitter stripes you might save your children by teaching them timely subjection, you would guard their tender minds with greater vigilance. It is true, that many children are so engaging, that even their little faults appear interesting; but the time is coming, when those sallies of wit and temper, if allowed to predominate, will become so habitual as to confirm the erroneous opinion, that God had given them dispositions beyond the controul of reason and grace. O! charge not your Maker with this cruelty! You indeed occupy a station more responsible than you are aware of. Although apparently buried in the private scenes of domestic life, with no other counsellor but your companion, yet you have it in your power, by the exertion of one single talent, to do much good or ill to mankind. That child who looks up to you for protection, and which you so tenderly nourish, may by your efforts, become a shining character, and fill up a department in society which may influ ence thousands to follow that virtuous conduct, which your bright example inspired him to imitate. We have alas! too many instances of the deleterious effects of pernicious examples, which have poisoned society by their baleful influence.

May the Lord preserve the rising generation from such unhappy tendencies! It requires much wisdom to bring the youthful mind under godly discipline. To accomplish this we must avoid the extremes of excessive indulgence and unjust severity, and unless this point is gained prayers will be lost, and little success can be expected to result from the wisest instructions. Parents who are occupied in the busy pursuits of life have, it is true, but few hours to devote to their tender offspring, and mental improvement escapes their observation; but notwithstanding this may afford them some apology, did they feel as much for the precious gem as they do for the casket which contains it, they would frequently find opportunities, even when their hands are employed, to drop some moral and religious truths, which might so impress their minds as never to be erased from their memories. Ó! may those who have the cause of the glorious Redeemer at heart seek for that wisdom which is profitable to direct.

REMARKS ON THE CHRISTIAN'S VÁDE MECUM,' 99 BY DR. HOOPER CUMMINGS, OF ALBANY.

To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

ATTRACTED by the celebrity of the author, I lately procured a copy of the "Christian's Vade Mecum," by Dr. Hooper Cummings of Albany: and understanding from a friend that this production procured for the author his honorary itle of D. D. I began to read it with more than ordinary attention. With the