taught the being and perfections of God-the relation they sustain to him, and their dependance and obligations. He is their Creator-the Former of their bodies and the Father of their spirits, the Author of all the perfection and excellence they possess. He is their Preserver-the Upholder of their existence; for in him they live, move and have their being, and on him they depend for every pulse that beats, every breath that is drawn, every moment that flies. He is their Benefactor -every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights. He is the kindest of fathers, the best of friends, and the most munificent of benefactors. Children should be taught their obligation to love God with all their heart, to serve him with all their powers, and to pay him the full homage of their souls. They should yield all their members as instruments of righteousness unto God. As he planted the ear, it becomes them to hear, and obey his instructions. As he formed the eye, it become them to turn it away from beholding vanity and to fix it upon his works and word, that they may admire, reverence and love him. As he gave them the organs of speech, it becomes them to speak of his righteousness and of his praise all the day long. Children should be taught the duties they owe to themselves, as the offspring of God, as young immortals, as candidates for eternity. They should be taught too, the duties they owe to those around them-their duties to their parents who gave them birth, fostered t em in infancy, protected them in youth, and supplied all their wants. They should be instructed in their duties to their neighbors and friends, with whom they have daily intercourse, to whom they may impart much happiness, and from whom they may receive much good.

Children should be taught their sinfulness,-that they

have violated the law of God, rebelled againt their Maker, and trampled upon the rights of those around them,that "the carnal mind is enmity against God, not subject to his law, neither indeed can be,”—that by reason of sin their exposure to ruin is certain and inevitable,-that endless misery is denounced upon transgression-"the soul that sinneth it shall die”—“ death is the wages of sin.”

Children should also be taught the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, that through him eternal life is offered unto all men,—that repentance and faith are the only way by which to obtain an interest in atoning blood, and secure the salvation of the soul..

In the religious education of children, they should be taught to govern their passions, and to restrain themselves from all evil ways,-to cultivate habits of temperance, industry, and obedience. In short, they should be instructed to embrace the doctrines, discharge the duties, and adorn themselves with the graces of the gospel. And they should be thus religiously taught by precept and example. Though precept has great effect, yet example has greater. It is sovereign in its influence. There is in children a native proneness to imitate the examples set before them. And this whole course of education should be accompanied with prayer. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Children should be remembered in the closet, around the family altar, and in the public sanctuary. God may peradventure, renew their hearts in answer to the supplications which are made.

II. Why should children be thus instructed in the way of righteousness and salvation?

1. One reason is, they will be likely to retain their early impressions. When they have advanced even to hoary age, and are tottering on the grave, the sentiments they embraced, and the spirit they imbibed in their youth

ful days, will abide, and affect in a most salutary manner their decline of life. Some very eminent divines have supposed the passage, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" -to contain a universal truth,—a universal promise, in fact, of spiritual good to the children of faithful, pious parents. The light in which they view the subject is this: If such parents will fully discharge their duty to their children,-if they will use all the means in their power to train them up in the way they should go; God engages to bless these pious instructions, and to make them instrumental of their spiritual and everlasting good-to implant the principles of grace in their hearts, and to take possession of them by the influences of his Spirit ;-that when they are old they shall not forsake that good way in which they were early educated, but, walk in it, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness. Those of this sentiment, suppose that the covenant which God has made with true believers, extends in a certain sense to their offspring, or implies an engagement on his part to interest these children in the blessings of the new covenant, provided parents perform their duty towards them in the sense required. This they argue not only from the words quoted from Solomon; but also from other passages of Scripture. Said God, speaking of Abraham, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment;" meaning they shall be truly pious, and walk in the way which leads to eternal life. Others suppose that the text is not to be understood in this extensive, unlimited sense, and that the promise here annexed to the instructions of pious parents is not absolute but conditional If parents are faithful in the sense here intended, there is the greatest probability that their children will be happily

and piously affected by it. This appears to be the opinion of Dr. Doddridge. Hence in commenting on the text, he observes, "This assertion,- Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it,'-is to be understood with some limitation, as expressing the probability, rather than the certainty of the success, otherwise experience in some melancholy instances, would contradict it." Would to God there were none untractable under the most pious and prudent methods of education; none who like adders, stop their ears against the voice of the most skilful charmers, and have been accustomed to do it from their infancy. Would to God there were none of those who appeared to set out well, and seemed eager in inquiring "the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward," who have forgotten the guides of their youth, and the covenant of their God, and are to this day, wandering in the paths of the destroyer. But though there are some melancholy instances of this nature, yet the many more of the opposite character, fully demonstrate, that if parents would exert themselves by precept and example, to train up their children in the way they should go, it is highly probable that they would be happily effected by such an education, and be brought to experience the blessings of heaven in time and in eternity. What a powerful motive to efforts on behalf of the young!

2. Children should be trained up in the way of righteousness and salvation, because early piety is amiable in itself, pleasing to God, and greatly conducive to happiness through life.

Early piety is amiable in itself, and has ever commanded a respectful regard. What can be more attracting, more interesting, or more amiable, than to see good principles governing the whole conduct of a youth; youthful

levities and follies despised; the unruly passions of the human breast subjected to reason and conscience; irresolution and caprice banished, constancy and uniformity prevailing; the love of God and man shed abroad in the heart; meekness, humility, resignation, a heart mortified to all sublunary things, fortified against all earthly evils,an eye fixed on heaven and communion with God. This spectacle is most desirable and lovely. It is a vision in miniature of the heavenly world. Such religion elevates man to his pristine dignity, and reinstamps the divine image on his soul. Surely then, early piety is amiable in itself, and must be most pleasing to God. In the Scriptures, he frequently and affectionately calls upon young persons to "remember their Creator in the days of their youth," assuring them that if they seek him early, they shall find him; and he has proved the sincerity of his calls, and the truth of his assurances by examples of special favor to early converts. See this illustrated in the case of Samuel, who was the child of prayer, and of Timothy, who searched the Holy Scriptures from his childhood.

Early piety will be conducive to happiness through life. What can more contribute to this end than the suppression of bad habits, propensities and passions, and the implantation of holy affections and desires in the soul. To live piously, is the happiest way of living, this side heaven. The exercises of love, gratitude and submission, are delightful to a humble soul. They are attended with pleasures, unspeakably preferable, to all this world can afford. "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantuess, and all her paths are peace."

Children should be educated in the way of righteousness and salvation, because youth is the best season for cultivating the principles of piety.

This idea is fully conveyed in the expression, "Re