church, and that his love constrains them to teach their children his commandments, the keeping of which is the mark of his disciples.

The early education of youth in the knowledge of the scriptures, and the training of them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, must powerfully influence their future lives: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Youth, like the young twig, is easily bent; but when they arrive at firmness of nerve and strength of action, the force of habit and power of passion governs their conduct. The counsels of wisdom fall on their ears, but enter not; they hear of the direful effect of passion on the human constitution, and the deadening effect of habit on the mind of man, but they hear as if they heard not; they follow after the pursuit of desire, looking not beyond the gratification of the present moment. To acquire perfection in any of the arts, it requires studious application, methodical correctness, love of order, and a constant aim at perfection. To prosecute any science with success, it must be done with reason, enlightened with upright principle, with undeviating perseverance, and unabated patience. The acquirement of the arts, and the knowledge of the sciences, are only ornamental and beneficial to us for this life; but the knowledge of the scriptures, and the practice of the Christian religion, not only sooth our sorrows in

If

life, cheer us at death, but likewise give us a glorious hope of eternal felicity beyond the grave. the student of the arts and sciences requires so great application, so undeviating perseverance, and so constant adherence to truth, that once to swerve from it leads him into a maze of error, what application, what watchings, and what prayers ought not the Christian to be in the daily practice of as he labours for eternity?

The Lord hath promised to them that seek him early, that they shall find him; therefore the early instruction of youth in the principles of religion must be a duty binding on all, and an awful responsibility on parents. The youths that now gambol on the plain, in a few years will fill the places of their fathers, and the manner of their education will stamp the features of the age. When the sons of infidelity and deism are instructed in the paths of error and immorality, bewildered with scepticism, and dazzled by self-importance, it becomes Christian parents to educate their children in the principles of Christianity, that there may be a race before the Lord to rank under the banner of the Lamb, to contend against the sons of those who venerate the learning of the Greeks, instead of the divine oracles committed to the Hebrews. Should Christian parents neglect the education of their children, they do it for the condemnation of themselves and their children; but it will not thin the ranks of the followers

of the Lamb, for the Lord will raise up others to supply the places which the children of these parents should have filled: Jesus said, "for I assure you, that of these stones God can raise up children to Abraham." The love of Christ constraineth his children to instruct the ignorant in his flock, and to smooth the bed of affliction to his people; it burns in the hearts of his disciples so intensely, that they have no peace until they proclaim aloud what he hath done for their souls; it hath raised up many to distribute the scriptures, and spread afar missionaries publishing the glad tidings of salvation, and brought forward our youth to instruct the children of the poor in the knowledge of Christ. It is that love that binds all the children of God with one common tie, and makes Christians in Britain, embrace Christians in other parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, as brethren in Christ; distance separates not the hearts of the children of God, they daily meet at the throne of their Father in heaven.

The neglect of Christian parents in educating their children in the principles of Christianity, and the multitudes of our youth who appear ignorant whether there be a God or not, loudly call on Christians to devote themselves to the instruction or youth in the knowledge of the scriptures, by means of sabbath evening schools, and other modes of instruction suited to the convenience of teachers and

scholars. Of the necessity of such a measure, the moral state of our youth gives us ocular demonstration. If we examine the criminal list, a great proportion are there enrolled under the age of sixteen; if we visit public factories, and works where a great number of youth are employed, we find that ignorance and immorality generally prevail; if we enter the houses and cottages of the poor, we there see not only a famine of bread and clothing, but likewise of the word of life. Though they may have in their possession a Bible, and attend a place of worship, still they neglect impressing its precepts on the minds of their children, and exhibiting an example of humble holiness before them. Their children spring up healthy and vigorous, but destitute of the vital principle of godliness; this world's cares, this world's pleasures, absorb all their faculties. The voice of pity cries aloud to Christians to impart the bread and water of life to these famishing souls; the voice of brotherly affection invites us to help our brother that is in need, for it is by the grace of God that we are what we are. May his grace, resting on our souls, make us swift to impart knowledge to the children of the poor, lighting up in their souls a lamp that shall burn to eternal ages. The benefits that have already arisen from the general education of the poor are great; thousands of youth that otherwise might have been lost, have learned of the way of salvation by a Redeemer, and

got by heart a great proportion of the word of God. The powerful effect it has on their lives is visibly seen in their employments and amusements in life; and of the benefits arising to society from their early education, their future lives will bear evidence. They are taught to restrain their passions under the regulation of the word of God, and are accustomed to regular habits of prayer; they are encouraged to industry, to love their brethren, to do good to all. The restraints thus early put on their passions and desires, must be of the utmost importance to them in their future lives; and if the grace of God descend on their souls, how rich must their harvest be! Were these youths let loose on society ignorant, with the immoral example of their parents encouraging them to vice, to what a state of immorality and degradation would our country descend! It is the possession of the light of the gospel that hath raised us to what we are; it is the retaining and practising it in its purity that exalts us above other nations; but if we allow the children of the poor to spring up without the knowledge of this light, they will, like the plague of leprosy, contaminate all around them. The general education of the rising race is a bright presage of the future age. When infants are taught to lisp the name of Emmanuel, and children to celebrate his praise, what may we not expect of them, when, instead of their fathers, they stand before the Lord? When