business, to form the character, or feed the piety of the Christian.

But we confess we have been not a little grieved to observe an education of a very different character prevailing amongst persons professing to be truly religiousand we must be permitted to lift up our voices, however feeble they may prove, against what we conceive a growing evil of serious magnitude. The kind of education to which we refer, is that in which religion, if it be not excluded, yet comes in only as it were by accident-in which no pains are taken to shew its importance, or explain its meaning-while the attempt is never made, with earnest prayer for divine assistance, to awaken the conscience to its awful considerations, and impress its solemn truths upon the heart. If the child remain beneath the paternal roof, the defect may frequently be traced to the ignorance and the indolence of the parents-often to the want of a judicious distribution of time and arrangement of domestic duties, by the mother, in consequence of which she is too much occupied, or fancies that she is too much occupied, in household affairs, to give that attention to the spiritual interests of her children which they imperiously demand; or to the entire absorption of the father in the bustle of the world, or the concerns of the religious and benevolent institutions to which he is attached. We pity, while we censure, such a father, and would not feel his bitterness of soul another day, when, reflecting on what he has done for others, but has neglected to do for his own family, he shall exclaim" they made me the keeper of vineyards, but my own vineyard have I not kept." The neglected education which we deplore, must necessarily be the result, if, parents professing godliness, will send their children from under their own observation and tuition, to be instructed by persons who feel not themselves the paramount importance of eternal things above all the learning and accomplishments of time.

It will be seen from the following extract, that Mr. Innes's sentiments on this subject are in perfect unison with our

own.

"In few things does the influence of genuine Christianity more strikingly appear, than in the way in which those who feel its power bring up the children whom God hath given them. Men whose portion avowedly is in this life, and who do not profess to look beyond it, act quite in character, while all their instructions to

their children exclusively relate to their worldly prosperity, and while all their views, regarding their future prospects, are bounded by the present passing scene. But Christians profess to have higher prospects. Their language is, "This is not our rest. Here we have no continuing city; but we seek one to come." All that we require then of Christian parents is simply, that they act consistently with this profession.-Let them shew then, in all their intercourse with their children, that while they are not indifferent to their present happiness, the salvation of their souls is that which lies nearest to their hearts; that they act under the full persuasion that no measure of earthly prosperity can make any man truly happy unless he is interested in the favour of Him in whose favour is eternal life. Let the whole tenor of their conversation in their families decidedly wear this aspect. Let it clearly indicate that their citizenship is in heaven, and that, as they profess to have their treasure there, their hearts are there also. Let their children never be led to imagine that a man's life (his happiness) consisteth in the abundance of the things that he possesseth." [pp. 125, 126.]

In connection with all their judicious and unwearied efforts to promote the best interests of their children, Mr. Innes presses upon pious parents the vast importance of a holy example, and of fervent prayer. And it is a consideration that should animate and encourage the prayer of faith, even though it seem to be in vain, that the answer may be given after they have entered into their rest, while the knowledge of it will contribute to heighten their enjoyment in another world. We remember to have met, somewhere, with an anecdote which strikingly illustrates this remark. A pious, parent had three sons, who, notwithstanding all his admonitions and instructions, mingled with many prayers and tears, grew up to manhood, in scepticism and profligacy. The father died—and, conceiving that it might, perhaps, produce a good impression upon the minds of his abandoned children, to let them see how a Christian diesthe friends of the family introduced them to the bed-side of their expiring parent. But, to their unspeakable grief, the good man died under a cloud, and destitute of those strong consolations which believers usually experience in the closing scene. It was naturally enough supposed, that the effects of this melancholy circumstance on the young men would be to confirm them in their prejudice against religion, and afford them in their opinion, a sufficient evidence that it is all a cunningly devised fable. It was not so, however--for a few days after the funeral, the younger brother entered the room in which were the other two, and VOL. IV. No. 8. 2 D

observing that he had been weeping, they asked the cause of his grief. "I have been thinking," said he, "of the death of our father." "Ah!" they said, "a dismal death it was; what truth or reality can there be in religion, when such a man as he died in such a state of mind?" "It has not affected me in this way," replied the younger brother; "we all know what a holy life our father led, and what a gloomy death he died: now I have been thinking, how dreadful our deaths must be who live such a wicked life!" The observation was like an arrow to their consciences-they began to be alarmed. They repaired to the ordinances of religion, which in their father's life-time they had despised, and ultimately became as eminent for piety as their exemplary parent had been.

The whole of the last two sections of this little work is truly valuable. They embrace the duties of servants and masters. We think, indeed, they would be very useful if published separately in the form of tracts-particularly that on the duties of servants, as it would bring the advice, addressed to that class of persons, more within their reach. As we are confident the author's great aim is usefulness, we need offer no apology to him, for throwing out this suggestion; and shall be truly happy to find that he has not neglected it. We cordially recommend his work to the perusal of our readers, and to the divine blessing.

AMERICAN LITERATURE AND
INTELLIGENCE.

THE kindness of one of our most valuable American correspondents, has enabled us, in another part of our journal, to present our readers with the Farewell Sermon of Dr. Mason, of New York. His retirement from the important station in the church of God, which he occupied for so many years, with faithfulness, ability, and zeal rarely equalled, never perhaps excelled in modern times, has, however, created so strong a sensation.on the other side of the Atlantic, that we cannot withhold from those who knew and duly estimated his worth and usefulness on this, some further communications upon the subject, with which we have been favoured, partly from the same, and in part from another

quarter. Giving precedence to the latter, we publish as we have received it, a Letter from a Presbyterian Minister in New York, well known to many of our readers, during more than one visit to this country, in which we hope to have the pleasure, at no very distant period, of meeting with him again.

"It would not be easy for me to give you, a small part of my reflections during the last sabbath-when I took my seat among an immense multitude, to listen to Dr. Mason's last sermon. He has recently accepted of the office of President of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, one of our oldest literary institutionsof which the celebrated Dr. Nesbit of Montrose was formerly principal; and has offered his farewell exhortations and wishes to his congregation in New York. His numerous friends yield with regret to the operation of causes, beyond their control; and since God, in his unsearchable wisdom, has been pleased to permit such illness to fall upon his servant, as has disabled him from the full discharge of his ministerial duties, their kindest prayers follow him to this new station for important labour.

"The subject, he selected for his concluding address and the delivering up of his ministry, among this people into the hands of the Chief Shepherd-was the history of St. Paul's parting with the Ephesian Elders. In the introduction, he spoke of that great apostle with his accustomed animation, and dwelt in affecting terms upon his declaration, that he had been with the Ephesians in many tears-the tears of an apostle! tears excited not by Jewish malevo. lence or Roman injustice-but by the sight of one poor sinner, rejecting the mercy of God and perishing in eternal death, in spite of the virtue that is in the cross of Christ. Many beside myself could bear him testimony, when he said with a noble frankness, which did not need the veil of a pretended modesty-"You know, my brethren, how I have delighted to dilate on Paul's character, who with all his mighty powers of reason, was well acquainted with the windings of the human heart and the secret place of tears: my understanding has expanded, and my imagination brightened, as if traversing fairy land, in recounting the arguments and deeds of this gallant apostle." No one present could withhold their assent to his declaration, that with whatever feebleness he had laboured among his people-and however the perfection of the example of the Apostle Paul mocks our comparison-yet in one particular, upon this day, among the most awful of his life-he stood free from censure in their consciences and his own-for he had never "shunned to declare unto them the whole counsel of God."

"This occasion of his farewell, gave little scope to any thing more than simple instruction and affectionate wishes. Neither Dr. Mason's feelings, nor those of the people of his charge, would endure any thing more. Yet for the genuine apostolic effect of christian exercises, I have never listened to his voice with more

benefit. You, who have heard his eloquence in London, when he poured forth the rich stream of thought, and reasoning, and feeling, in the energetic language, and with the affecting ornaments of his mind, could not easily imagine the mellowed effect of this parting exercise: the evening colouring of a setting sun upon a varied landscape, is a fit emblem of a christian pastor's farewell to an affectionate people. I shall never forget the thrilling force of his powerful address, before the august assembly that met to celebrate the anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in 1817there might have mingled with my emotion some feelings of national gratification, that the friends of the Bible on this side of the Atlantic, were so nobly represented :-Upon this last occasion in his church, there was less to excite the loftier feelings-but more to soothe the heart-for many experienced the assurance, that to be united to Him, who is the centre of union and the support of his people, is ground of consolation in every climate and under every separation. Should we not experience a new flow of joy at the thought, that one set of associations can bind the whole human race, as if one pulse beat in all those hearts-whose Head is in heaven.

"Like most men, who have occupied a conspicuous place in the world's view, and dared to enter into strong collision with men's prejudices-Dr. Mason has met with variety of censure:-and some have practised upon him that ill-omened archery, so frequent with those, who are not content to stand in the valley of humiliation, where nature has placed them, unless they can shoot some arrow of insinuation or falsehood, at those who hold an eminent station, and so leave a mark, where they could never mount. But in spite of all this, many live, who, by the means of his ministry, have had their souls "embathed in the fragrancy of heaven." This scene of our life is often compared to a web;-and is indeed made up of so many snapt-off threads, that it may be said, we look at the wrong side of it--and that it is only to those who have ascended the mount of God, and who discern the fields below, from the heights of heaven, that the pictures on the tapestry are glowing and consistent. It is the consideration of eternity, which elevates into matter of profoundest interest, the most ordinary occurrences in the lives of responsible and immortal agents. Whatever belongs to the dispensation of God's grace in this world, is subject to the investigation of angelic intelligences:--and is never without power to excite christian men. But the clue of our study, into the results of the divine providence, so soon runs out-that we are forced to exclaim at the occurrence of each new incident-Thy way is in the sea-thy path in the deep waters-thy footsteps not to be traced. Yet as the thread runs on into an unseen, immutable world--with what feeling, do we regard the future—with what feeling, do we mourn over the end, here. But happily Dr. Mason's earthly end is not yet arrived; and while he goes beyond the reach