upon their feeling mind. And remember, it requires much moral courage thus to punish.

5. Let one of their encouragements arise from your setting them to do what they can do. Education is necessarily a force upon the dormant faculties; rousing them to effect what previously was not done: and if this force be not applied, they will make little progress in learning new things. But sometimes, or rather pretty often, set them easy tasks. Going over the ground, a second, third, fifth, tenth time, if it be done with spirit, will be pleasant to them. And having at length found out their peculiar talent, work by that.

6. Mark their characters, singly. You will probably be often reminded by them of your own natural disposition; you will see tendencies, aversions, talents, infirmities, &c., just such as you once have experienced, or are now experiencing. Let this be a motive with you to be forgiving, gentle, and wise.

7. Observe the characters of your children, when they are together. Keep them together: and see to it that they walk in love. Teach them to respect one another. Do not expect much good to arise from spiriting them up to rivalry: harm, of the worst sort, often comes in this way. Avoid favoritism and needless comparisons; such as make one vain, and another envious.

8. Carefully guard them, when with strangers, visitors, &c.; and be backward in letting them go into new company, without yourself. For a good while, or rather as long as possible, let them be ignorant of the affectations, improprieties, and proofs of undisciplined temper, that abound in society. For it will become your duty, when they see such faulty models, to point out (but discreetly and without sarcastic bitterness) the blemishes of some whom they may have seen too closely. But especially, when they have left company, notice to them some excellence in the behaviour, temper, or conversation of one or more of the party. This is one of the advantages of being with them.

9. If any of the family-circle be sickly, infirm, or in any way afflicted, turn it into an advantage. Love and service

ableness may thus be practically taught the children and other members of the family; telling them, that then "trouble" should be a word unknown; yet taking care not to overburden the young and the weak. Lessons of this kind are the best of all: they feelingly lead us to imitate the Great Pattern; "for even Christ pleased not himself;" but, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."

10. Still let the first great principle, of ruling by conscience, pervade all. If, therefore, you should be so far favoured, as to be able to lead them to use private prayer, you are indeed blessed in them; for you have led them to the Fountain of blessing! And, to this end, reflect on the inexpressible importance and value of Family Prayer. I find it impossible to conceive of Education going on well, without Nursery Hymns and Prayers, for the little-ones; or without Family Worship for the whole household. For Christian Education is not mere rational and intellectual mechanism, however important the external system may be. A good Education is all this, with religious teaching, and a Divine Influence added to it; which Influence is not to be had, unasked for.-Family Prayers should be impressive and instructive, quiet and simple. All in the family need to have their hearts touched, and their minds richly stored. As this is one of the "Greater Mysteries of Education, let me here copy a passage from the Memoir of my friend Neale; in which Mrs. Neale thus faithfully records one of his solemn parting charges to her. She writes

"But of all the subjects of his conversation with me, there was none that he dwelt upon with more frequency and earnestness than the importance of Family Prayer, particularly as to the manner in which it should be conducted; often saying, 'Depend upon it, there is just so much religion in a family as there is of seriousness and reality in Family Prayer.' Upon one occasion, about this time, on my noticing the joy and peace which some one who had just left the room possessed, he replied, 'Yes; he is an old servant of God: it is His usual dealing in grace

Ꭰ

as in providence: The hand of the diligent maketh rich. Oh, live near to God; make much of Family Prayer; be punctual in the time for it; do not let it be a form; pray always for a blessing on it. Read the Bible; read it much; do not let little portions satisfy you. Oh, that I had read it more!" " (Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Cornelius

Neale, M.A.)

The preceding Remarks not having been designed, in the least degree, as a Treatise on Education, the Reader will observe that the cardinal virtue, Obedience, has been everywhere implied, rather than expressed. How to win that Obedience from the gentle, how to require it of the dull and the irregular, and to enforce it upon the obstinate, would be topics worthy of a very copious discussion. It may briefly be noticed, that when Children are brought to the point of obeying without parleying, and without needing to be spoken to twice, the happiness of such children is not a little secured; the wisdom, firmness, and kindness of the parent or teacher are honourably attested; while the blessing cannot be too gratefully acknowledged, in thanksgivings to HIM, who thus answers prayer, and crowns persevering endeavours.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.-Prov. xi. 2. 17.

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but rottenness of the bones.-xiv. 16. 29. 30.

envy,

the

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.—xv. 13. 15.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. -xvi. 32.

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.—xvii. 12.

The man who has "a will of his own," uncontrolled by religious principle, bent on its purpose, reckless of all consequences seems to be the "fool in his folly" here described. Woe to those who meet or confront him, when in that mood!

But it is possible, that persons, considered to be pious, may occasionally verge towards this very state. Through the power of unmortified corruption, and from sudden strong temptation, they may be led to play the fool, and err exceedingly. They are the more likely thus to fall, if they ever use that common, but vain excuse, "It is my way."- My way! Why, that is the very cause of grief to a contrite spirit, calling for renewed and redoubled watchfulness.

Anger, or peevishness; ridicule, or invective; levity, or eagerness for pleasure-may be the besetting sin of a man. It is the more perilous to meet a professing Christian under the influence of any of these passions, because it comes unexpectedly from him. While the folly is on him, how to check, or how to escape him, are questions alike difficult. An unmoved countenance, an unprovoking silence, a fair transition to some other subject-above all, a heart fixed by prayer-will be our helpers at such a moment :—and, be aware the next time!

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.-Prov. xvii. 14.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.—xvii. 22.

The English proverb says, "Dry sorrow drinks the blood." Sorrow, that cannot weep! Such excess of grief a Christian ought to shun: it borders upon the sorrow of the world, that worketh death. If cherished, or even if yielded to, it may grow into disease.

Meanwhile, a merry heart doeth good like a medicine." One of the papers of the Spectator opens with the remark, "I have always preferred cheerfulness to mirth." The phrase "A merry heart" probably means here no more than cheerfulness. To be "merry and wise" is our English proverb: merry on proper subjects, at a proper time, in a proper measure, and with proper persons.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.-xx. 3.

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go;

Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.-xxii. 24, 25.

Go not forth hastily to strive; lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.-xxv. 8. 15. 28.