yet our hope is mingled with fear,) by any parents who profess to be concerned for the spiritual welfare of their servants and children.

A large part of the moral education of such as have the happiness to be" brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," is conveyed through the medium of conversation; and let parents remember, that conversation is as capable of becoming an instrument of mischief as of good. We have heard, with horror, of babes of two years old learning from the lips of their profane fathers to lisp out oaths and curses. But our business now is not with incarnate demons; it is with beings who are neither more nor less than human, and who therefore are neither above admonition, nor beyond its reach. Conversation may become injurious, not only by means of bad language, but by the introduction of topics, which, though in themselves innocent, are unsuitable for the young. The elder members of a family too often talk in the presence of their juniors, as if chil*dren had either no ears, or no understanding; and, perhaps, to make bad worse, the conversation takes place in an under tone or a whisper, just loud enough to be distinctly heard, while, by its singularity, it has the effect (the very opposite to that intended) of exciting extraordinary attention.

3:

Domestic conversation may be, and often is, made the channel of much good, both by the communication of knowledge, and by the inculcating of principles. Is there a more lovely sight on earth than the family circle around the table (or, to an English taste, the semi-circle by the fire-side,) while topics, both entertaining and instructive, are familiarly discussed? It is not easy to say whether the inquisitive children, or the communicative parent, be

the more delighted. This is a principal part of

"Domestic happiness, the only bliss

Of Paradise,that hath survived the fall." What vivid impressions, to this moment, do some of us retain of our juvenile Sabbath evenings, when our pious and judicious parents, in order to create an early association in our minds of pleasing thoughts with holy time, granted us that high privilege, so well known in the dialect of the nursery by the phrase," sitting up to supper!"

It is matter of common observation, that in some families certain moral habitudes descend from one generation to another. In one race, you may see low cunning, meanness, and shuffling, very closely bordering on fraud, if not absolute dishonesty; in another house, you witness those noble principles which are directly opposed to this ignominious character. A youth from such a family is said to come of a good stock. These facts admit of a satisfactory explanation, without supposing particular dispositions to be hereditary. Nothing tends more to fix the character than the reflections which the elder members of a family incidently make on those many occurrences, involving points of morality, which must needs be the subject of conversation, even in houses where slander and tale-bearing find no

I

4

ment; and it must either be from want of thought, or from want of money, on the part of parents, that any children remain destitute of such religious books as are adapted to their capacity, and calculated, through the blessing of God, to do them much good.

But let us not, in our anxiety for the religious welfare of our children, overshoot the mark, by denying them such other instructive and pleasing works as contam nothing injurious. Let them read books on philosophy and history; nor let us wholly shut them out of the fair fields of poetry. Youth may not indeed be trusted in that enchanted land with every one who walks there; but with such men as Milton, Cooper, and Montgomery, for their guides, me may hope, that while the fancy is delighted, the heart will be made better evoked

Of fictitious histories, the most sparing use should be made; though we would not condemn a whole genus of publications, inclusive of many distinct species, and of very opposite character, by one opprobrious epithet, we know that the greater number of the books to which we allude are mere trash, while others are actually poisonous. Yet an absolute embargo on all publications of this class is not necessary; nor would it be easy to put such an embargo in force. The best way to prevent young people from reading fascinating books of injurious tendency, is to recommend to them such as are unexceptionable.

We now proceed to offer a few remarks on the Discipline which should accompany instruction.

The necessity of correction of some kind is universally acknowledged it is well known that many young persons have been ruined for want of it. Surely that is mistaken affection which would withhold chastisement, when the neglect of it may

temporary

be so fatal. What is the tem distress it o it occasions when contrasted with the permanent good which may be the he result?

as a

Yet too much punishment is worse than too little. Undue severity does more harm than even excessive indulgence. Regard should be had to the disposition of the child, and the nature of the offence, Correction, when not deserved, or administered in rage, is exceedingly in- i jurious. A volume of advice to parents is contained in one sentence of the Apostle Paul (Col. iii. 21.). "Ye fathers, provoke not your chil dren to anger, lest they be discouraged." One of the most pleasing signs of the times is the general ace knowledgment of the principle, that man in every stage of life, and in every station, must be treated reasonable being, and not as a brute. This principle has found its way into those asylums, where human nature, in its most pitiable form, is seen; and what happy consequences} have resulted from the practical use of this moral engine, even in restoring the helm and compass to those minds which before had been like dismantled vessels on a tempestuous ocean, the intelligent conductors of "The Retreat," in the city of York, are well able to relate. This prin- { ciple has found its way into the receptacles of guilt; and with what success it has been applied to the more abandoned of our race, let that practical philanthropist, Mrs. Fry, and her benevolent coadjutors, tell. This principle is finding its way into academies and schools; and if lunatics and robbers have yielded to its influence, what may not be expected from it, when plied to the youthful spirit, which, though volatile, is not malicious; and, though inclined to evil, is not hardened in sin.

ས་ནས་ནད་པར་་་

ap

The truth that man is more easily drawn than driven, is not a new dis

A

covery. The excellent Cotton Mather knew it, and deeply lamented that in his day it was so little heeded by the instructors of the young. We must be allowed to quote a few sentences from him, and should be delighted could we persuade our selves that, in the present improved age, there were no seminaries or families to which his censure is applicable.

Ajax, the Flogger," may be read in the school; he is not fit to be the master of it. Pliny says, that bears are the better for beating more fit to have the management of bears than of ingenious boys, are those masters who cannot give a bit of learning, without giving a blow with it. The harsh Orbilian* way of treating children, too commonly used in the schools, is a dreadful curse of God on our miserable offspring, who are born" children of wrath." It is boasted sometimes of a severe schoolmaster, that such a brave man had his education under him; but it is never said how many, who might have been brave men, have been ruined by him; how many brave wits have been dispirited, confounded, murdered, by his barbarous way of managing them.”+

Our readers will excuse onr having dwelt thus long on a topic which does not often occupy the pages of a Magazine: our apology, if one be required, must be found in the views we have above expressed on the immense importance of an education conducted on scriptural and reasonable principles, to the welfare of those who will be the men and women of the next age; and who, when a few years are come, will be, together with ourselves, in the eterWe have intimated,

-nal world.

So called from Orbilius Pupillus, a

Roman schoolmaster, noted for cruelty. f Essays to do good, page 94.

that on one point an improvement is visible in the opinions of mankind on the subject of moral discipline; yet it must not be concealed that the religious education of children is more neglected now than it was among our pious ancestors. Possibly they did not always, adopt the most judicious methods; their earnestness and assiduity, however, are well worthy of imitation; nor were instances wanting of families in which a mild and kind treatment was blended with all due strictness, In the present day, and among the readers of this miscellany, some such families, we are well convinced, are found. If the hints we have now given shall have the effect of excit ing the attention of the careless, or of correcting any of those errors into which pious persons may inadvertently fall, we shall have our reward. PARENS.

SIR,

THE GYPSIES. To the Editor.

Ir gave me great pleasure to read in your Magazine for March, a notice from the Committee of the Home Missionary Society, "that it was proposed that Society should take the Gypsies under their wing, as a distinct branch of the Institution." They appear to me a body of people, who from their ignorance, their wants, and their travelling mode of life, require a particular degree of attention and exertion on the part of the friends of the Gospel. That Gospel we doubt not, they need, as well as others, and yet there appears to be a great difficulty in communicating it to them, because of their living for a great part of the year, in small separate parties, and of their abiding in no settled place. Besides the infinite advantage to their souls from the communication of the Gos pel to them, the benefits to society

from their conversion would be great, and the loss and the terror of many neighbourhoods would be prevented. If the following hints should afford any aid to the benevolent intention of the Committee of the Home Missionary Society, my end in proposing them will be answered. I understand, there is a sort of rendezvous of this people in London in the winter season, and to this place therefore, the labours of their Evangelical friends (it is presumed) should be directed. It might perhaps be expedient to build a Chapel which should be denominated, the Gypsey Chapel. Some serious friends should endeavour to enter into acquaintance with this people, and to inform them of the kind design of Christians towards them; to alarm them at once with a proposed change of their habits as far as they are not directly immoral, would, I think, be unwise; but if they can be allured to hear the word, and if God should write it upon their hearts by his Spirit, they will themselves seriously consider the inconveniences and temptations of their peculiar mode of life. At any rate, wandering Christian Gypsies will be far better than others. Some of them it may be presumed can read, and if so, it seems expedient to provide them with Tracts particularly adapted to their circumstances and prejudices. It does not appear to me probable, that much can be done in the country, as to the communication of religious instruction to this people, because their parties are so small, and so moveable, changing place almost continually, but if the preaching of the cross to them in London, should effectually touch any of their hearts, such persons might, and would be willing to become Missionaries to their brethren in the country. I am Sir, with much Respect, yours

S. NEWTON.

LITTLE MEANS OF DOING
GREAT GOOD.

Who is there that has Zion's interest at heart, but must have greatly rejoiced in the recent triumphs of Emanuel's cross in heathen lands: surely cold and speculative doubts must now vanish, while witnessing the free course of the Spirit of eternal truth, subduing the gross errors of pagan superstition. Even that part of the Christian world, who have hitherto looked on with silent indifference, may now feel it their pri vilege, to engage in furthering the grand design, to hasten on that period, when "the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord."

The infinite wisdom of Jehovah hath marked out the plan, having always at command those instruments, as well as the use of those means, which have and ever shall prove effectual, through his Almighty agency, to the pulling down of the strong holds of sin and Satan, wherever they prevail. And though much has been done by Omnipotent grace, yet Satan still awfully reigns over countless multitudes, who are enslaved by his base delusions, and wholly led by him captive at his will. And surely Christians cannot sufficiently have felt their responsibility, or they would not be supine in a matter of everlasting consequence, and where immortal souls are at stake. If one only is of such magnitude as to outweigh a world, oh! how shall we estimate the ag gregate of immortal spirits, who are daily dropping into eternity, and many of them perishing for lack of knowledge.

We live in a highly favoured day, and much has been done for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom; and yet if those exertions were individually measured, either by our advantages or our opportunities, they would appear probably to be but insignificant. And are we