plains of Africa?-the rein-deer to drag the sledge with such incredible speed, through the trackless and snowy regions of Kamstkatca and Lapland ?—that faithful animal the dog, to be the associate and beast of labour to the Esquimaux ?—the stately and sagacious elephant, to be subservient to the Asiatic?The inhabitants of South America, who traverse the stupendous and mountainous districts of the Andes, which are covered with perpetual snow, and where the passes are rugged, narrow, and dangerous, to have the invaluable and tractable lama? Observe the instinct of these several animals: how singularly and extraordinarily they are formed to sustain fatigue, and to find the proper food, which only abounds where they respectively inhabit. Examine the foot of each of these quadrupeds. The horse and ass have hard hoofs, capable of being shod, for the paved roads formed by man. On the contrary, the feet of the camel are soft and flexible, which yield to the sands of the desert. The foot of the deer is divided, to prevent its slipping, and its small and slender form, aided by its strength and agility, surmounts every obstruction in the snow. The lama too is cloven footed, and the wool of this animal is so soft on the back, that saddles are not required in riding them; with the aid of these creatures, men are able to ascend and descend the most terrific mountains, while a small portion of vegetable food satisfies them in the journey.

Thus then are these and other animals formed by a benevolent Creator, with varied properties and structure, yet each so perfect in its kind, so beautiful in symmetry, and so eminently qualified for its respective station, that we cannot but admire the means adapted to the end. The few specimens even here pointed out, will surely suffice, to prove that the works of God are in perfect harmony with his laws; and that the manisfestations of his divine power are every where discernible and displayed, in thus unfolding as it were the book of nature. Yours, &c.

K-T.

As Psalm civ. sets forth with great sweetness and majesty, the glory, wisdom, goodness, and power displayed by the Creator in his works, we think that we cannot do better than recommend our readers to peruse it, by way of a comment on the above letter.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF YOUTH.

WE have in different numbers of the Monitor offered hints to parents and instructors on the religious education of youth; and we beg leave, once more, to call their attention to this important subject, and also to the extract below from the sermons of Dr. Arnold, who, in addition to great experience as the head master of one of our public schools, appears to have considered the subject deeply. To the consideration of parents, then, who are just about to re-assemble their children, we would recommend that passage which, it is to be feared, is but too often true, viz. "That parents think that religious instruction, with all other kind of learning, must be forborne during the short time they are with them." Nothing, however, can be more mischievous than this system, since every thing depends upon early impressions; and those which are received under the parental roof, whether good or bad, generally influence the future man. In the name of that Being, then, whose nativity we shall shortly commemorate, we call upon fathers and mothers, as they love their children, to commence sowing the good seed now, while it is called to-day. Reflect that each individual in the little group around you has an immortal soul, the eternal happiness or misery of which may, in a great measure, depend on your own vigilance or negligence. Pray for grace to direct you in laying the foundation of this most important of all studiesreligious knowledge; and then will you have that heartfelt satisfaction, which a parent alone can feel, of seeing your offspring grow "in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man." The progress of too many, from infancy to manhood, is thus given by D. A.

"Let us go on and see what is done with a child after baptism: he is suffered, very often, to live in complete ignorance of every thing that concerns his salvation. I have known boys of eight or nine years old, who did not so much as know what would happen to them after their death, but thought that when they were once put in the ground, they would lie there for ever, and should never feel conscious any more, either of good or evil. But even where this is not the case, the knowledge of heavenly things is too often taught as a lesson, and no pains are

taken to make it seize hold upon the heart, and to influence the conduct. Time passes on, and the child is sent to school, or is wanted to assist his parents in their work, or to do something for his own maintenance. At school, he finds himself placed amongst other children, most of whom have had as little Christian instruction as himself; and instead of meeting with any thing like Christian motives, or Christian behaviour among his companions, he learns a set of notions such as human nature, unassisted by divine knowledge, and too young to be guided by reason, is likely to invent and to act upon. It too often happens, also, that he gains little or no religious instruction from his teachers, because they think, or pretend to think, that his parents will give it him at home; while his parents think that this, with all other kinds of learning, must be forborne during the short time that he is with them, that he may have some portion of the year which he may enjoy in perfect freedom. Besides, it will often be the case, that the parents know and care little about spiritual things themselves; and then it is not likely that they should be able or anxious to impress them upon others. In this way the boy grows up into the man, with a confirmed unchristian practice, and scarcely any relics of Christian knowledge. Thus armed, or rather, I should say, thus shackled, thus prostrate and helpless before his enemy, he enters upon the conflict with the stormy passions of youth, and all the innumerable temptations of the world. And what is, what can be the issue? In the ordinary course of things, a sinful life, a hopeless death, unless God touch the heart with a sense of its danger, and in his power and mercy bring it to true and effectual conversion."

THE FOLLY OF PRAISING AND DRESSING CHILDREN.

It is very difficult to keep parental fondness within the bounds of reason. It is a principle in itself so powerful-and its indulgence seems, to weak minds especially, so lawful, if it be not actually praiseworthy, that they make but few reflections upon the necessity, as they make but few efforts upon the practicability, of restraining and moderating it. This fondness is, how

ever, almost always mischievous, and sometimes inflicts evils which pursue the objects of it through the whole of after-life. Nor can it be expected to be otherwise, since caprice and folly must prevail where good sense and reason are so seldom consulted. Innumerable are the points in which this principle wounds where it means to cherish, and destroys what it wishes to foster; but in no points are its evils more immediately apparent than when it breaks forth in continued praises, or gratifies itself by dressing up the little objects of its love in all the finery of modern fashions. That praise has a pernicious effect upon almost every mind which is much exposed to its injurious operations, is acknowledged by every one who has at all made human nature his study. It is of a very intoxicating nature, and acts upon the mind as cordials do upon the body. A little of either may be found useful and even invigorating, but constant draughts of either are alike destructive of mental and bodily vigour? What, therefore, can we expect from a child whose mind is exposed to constant excitement, except that it will, by degrees, become incapable of those wholesome stimulants which a just discipline, and moral and religious principles should sufficiently supply? Arrogance and self-conceit, too, are the sure concomitants of ignorant and indiscriminating praise; and an impatience of all restraint and just reproof succeed that docile humility which is both lovely in itself, and the foundation of all moral excellence. But, bad as lavish and injudicious praise is, it yet seems more dignified than the silly vanity which leads the fond parent to place her own happiness, and that of her innocent child, in the articles of dress. How fatal is the harvest of that seed thus early sown! How baneful is the effect of the vanity thus early ministered unto by a parent. It wraps up its possessor in an odious selfishness, and poisons all the lovely and benevolent feelings of the heart. The charities and the duties of mother, wife, mistress, and friend, are sacrificed upon this fatal shrine, and the silly votary to dress is looked upon by the good and wise as a frivolous, contemptible creature, who has thrown away the advantages of her Christian birth-right for something inferior to a mess of pottage. Christian mothers, may you then remember who hath said, "Take no thought wherewithal ye shall be clothed."

VOL. I.

4 B

554

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF A CLERGYMAN.

Ir is now some time since we had recourse to the diary of a clergyman, from which we have occasionally made an extract; but as a correspondent a few months back sent us some judicious observations "On the Management of the Minds and Tempers of Children," the two following extracts may not only strengthen those remarks, but may also give additional weight to a preceding article "On the Religious Education of Youth." The first, by pointing out the misery which parents entail upon themselves by an over indulgence of children; the next, by encouraging them to fix early religious impressions on their hearts, in the hope that sooner or later they may be instrumental in leading them into the ways of godliness and peace. It is true, that often the seed, to all appearance, may be trodden under foot, or be choked by the cares or pleasures of life; but if it only endure for a while, if there is but even moisture enough to retain its dormant vegetation, it may, as in the instance of the mechanic below, be the means of rescuing a child from a hopeless death, and, by the grace of God, of saving his soul alive. For had not the young man alluded to been early instructed in the duties of religion, the waters of affliction could have given no increase to the word of God, but in the language of the Psalmist, they had literally "gone over his soul," that is, they would have awakened no early impressions, no pious recollections, and in all probability he would have died like many of his companions, with curses instead of prayers on his lips, unless God, by some other means, had touched his heart with a sense of his danger.

"I buried Mrs. Wlate an inmate of the workhouse. This poor widow woman, notwithstanding her miserable end, had once been in possession of a large property, which produced some thousands a-year, and when in affluence had lived in very good society. She had several sons and daughters, and on the youngest boy she doated; so much so, that he had not a wish ungratified, and from this unhappy indulgence arose all his misery. This child having no father to direct his studies, was left by his fond mother to pick up just as much learning as he