the best medical advice, and persevere, perhaps for many years, and at a great expence, and with very serious inconvenience, both to yourselves and your child, in the use of such means as may be recommended to you, for his recovery? And yet the evil you labour to correct, probably affects only one part of his frame; or the efforts of unassisted nature may remove it: and even if he should carry it with him to the grave, it may not be fatal to his present welfare, much less to his future happiness. But the disease to which his soul is subject is universal, pervading all his faculties and dispositions.

Nature, instead of affording a remedy, is its source; and, if not counteracted, will infallibly render it more and more desperate: and the evils it threatens are of infinite magnitude, and of eternal duration.

What then can you think of your negligence? Are you not most cruelly deficient in your care of your offspring? And how will you render an account to that Being who has given you a sacred charge-to act as his vicegerents in their education? BABINGTON.

Say, does thy bosom, youthful mother, glow,
For that fair child-thy tenderest care below?
Say, does a love divine fill all that breast
To which his infant form is fondly prest?
Oh! think that unto thee a trust is given;
To train that lov'd one for the bliss of heav'n;
That from the moment of that creature's birth,
Thou art to him God's delegate on earth;
Yea, more-thou art his priestess, and thy shrine
Is an immortal soul! Perform thy task divine.
ANONYMOUS.

IN the laudable anxiety of their hearts, two parents with a family of infants playing around them, are heard to say-Oh! what will, what can best educate these dear children?' I reply, look to yourselves, and your circumstances. Maxims and documents are good in themselves, and especially good for the regulation of your conduct, and your behaviour towards them; but with regard to your children, you have yet often to remark, that many maxims are good, precisely till they are tried, or applied, and no longer. In the hands of many parents, they will teach them to talk, and very often little more. I do not mean to assert that

But

sentiments inculcated have no influence; far from it; they have much, though not the most. still, after all, it is the sentiments you let drop occasionally-it is the conversation they overhear, when playing in the corner of the room, which has more effect than many things which are addressed to them directly, in the tone of exhortation. Besides, as to maxims, ever remember, that between those which you bring forward for their use, and those by which you direct your own conduct, children have almost an intuitive discernment; and it is by the latter they will be mainly governed, both during childhood, and their future existence.

The question however returns, What will educate these children? And now I answer, Your example will educate them;-your conversation with your friends-the business they see you transact-the likings and dislikings you express; these will educate them. The society you live in will educate them. Your domestics will educate them; and whatever be your rank and situation in life, your house, your table, and your daily behaviour there; these will educate them. To withdraw them from the unceasing and potent influence of these things is impossible, except you were to withdraw yourself from them also. Some parents talk of beginning the education of their children: the moment they were capable of forming an idea, their education was already begunthe education of circumstances-insensible educa

tion which is of more constant and powerful effect, than that which is direct and apparent.

This education goes on at every instant of time; it goes on like time; you can neither stop it, nor turn its course. Whatever these, then, have a tendency to make your children, that, in a great degree, you at least should be persuaded, they will be. ANDERSON.

VOULEZ-VOUS rendre chacun à ses premieres devoirs? Commencez par les mères; vous serez étonné, des changemens que vous produirez.

ROUSSEAU.

Nor a day, scarcely an hour, passes in which a judicious and attentive mother may not find opportunities of improving the faculties of judgment and conception in her children. The great point to be attended to is, the cooperation of these faculties in every point which she explains. If she goes beyond their reach, they will never be exerted. If she does not discriminate, she will, in her attempts at instructing the infant mind, be only giving a confused and indistinct knowledge of facts, instead of cultivating those faculties by which alone real and useful knowledge can ever be acquired. HAMILTON.

D

To mothers is entrusted the care of rational beings in the most important period of their existence; the springs of human conduct are in their hands. From them must the nascent passions and affections of the heart receive their direction; by them must the germ of intellect be taught to expand; by them must the foundation be laid of all that is great and good, and admirable, in human character. These are the important privileges by which our sex is honoured; these are the duties to which it is called. HAMILTON.

YOUR children are immortal spirits, whom God hath for a time entrusted to your care, that you may train them up in all holiness, and fit them for the enjoyment of God, in all eternity. This is a glorious and important trust; seeing one soul is of more value than all the world beside. Every child, therefore, you are to watch with the utmost care, that when you are called to give an account of each to the Father of Spirits, you may give your account with joy, and not with grief.

WESLEY.