Scriptures is imprinted into them in their younger days.

It is, above all, a great advantage, when those persons who have the constant care and inspection over young children, and therewith gain an ascendency or power over such tender minds, to guide their thoughts and inclinations as they please. (I say, when these persons are able and fit to instruct and teach the children.) And when they possess that capacity to excite a desire for knowledge, which naturally dwells in our hearts, it is an agreeable method to represent pleasing figures to them: Let the proper time never slip when young infants show an inclination to receive instruction; but do not compel children to learn certain tasks in certain measured hours, for such compulsion, or constraint, is oftener an obstacle than an encouragement towards learning the necessary and useful sciences.

To render this small book useful and instructing we have followed in chus

ing passages from Holy Scripture the order observed therein; beginning with the creation and finished with the redemption of mankind, interspersed with select moral doctrines; and all of this we have quoted the most remarkable places in the Old and New Testaments.

The whole sentences, which give an explanation of the figures, are placed at the bottom of each page; and the words, which are represented by figures, are particularly distinguished in Italic. By such facilitated and pleasing means all sensible and well educated, mothers, governesses, and nurses, have it in their power to teach and instruct even the youngest children with proper ideas of the most important doctrines, and make them early acquainted with the momentous truths of the word of God.

ON THE INCOMPARABLE TREASURES OF THE
HOLY SCRIPTURES.

HERE is the spring where waters flow,
To quench our heat of sin :
Here is the tree where truth doth grow,
To lead our lives therein :

Here is the Judge that stints the strife,
When men's devices fail:
Here is the Bread that feeds the life,
That death cannot assail.

The tidings of salvation dear,
Come to our ears from hence
The fortress of our faith is here,
And shield of our defence

Then be not like the hog that hath
A pearl at his desire,

And takes more pleasure in the trough
And wallowing in the mire.

Read not this book in any case,
But with a single eye;

Read not but first desire God's grace,
To understand thereby.

Pray still in faith with this respect,
To fructify therein,

That knowledge may bring this effect,
To mortify thy sin.

Then happy thou in all thy life,
What so to thee befalls,
Yea doubly happy shalt thou be,

When God by death thee calls.

Psalm xc. 2.-Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world was formed; thou art God: Even from everlasting to everlasting.

And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the

Genesis i. 13. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the waters.