may, perhaps, derive some real benefit, as long as they shall live. Though their authority will be superseded by your maturity, yet their affection for you and rela tion to you will be terminated only by death. Never, therefore, reject with contempt their grave advice or serious rebuke; but hear it with attention, examine it with calmness, apply and obey it, as far as reason will justify. "A wise son heareth a father's. instruction; but a scorner heareth not rebuke.. A fool despiseth the instruction of his father; but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.”

5. You are to remember, and, if there is occasion, you are also to remunerate the favors, which you have received from your parents.

You must comfort and support them under their infirmities, relieve the pains and lighten the burdens of their declining years, and be the staff of their tottering age. This is the instruction of Solomon: "Hearken unto thy father who begat thee, and despise not thy mother, when she is old. The Apostle says, "Let children learn to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents;" or make them a suitable return, when either poverty, age or infirmity calls for it; "for this is good and acceptable before God." An instance of this filial piety we have in Joseph the governor of Egypt, who, in a time of general famine, sent to his aged father in Canaan, saying, "Come down to me, tarry not-Thou shalt dwell near to me, and I will nourish thee." Another instance we have in David: Persecuted and driven from place to place by the malice of Saul, he felt an anxious concern for his parents, lest the enemy unable to apprehend him, should take vengeance on them: He therefore brings them into the land of Moab, and says to the king, "Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth and be with you, till I know what God will do for me." It was said to Naomi, that Boaz, who had married her daughter, should be "a restorer of her life, and a nourisher VOL. III. 3 U

"Ye

of her old age." We have a higher example in our divine Saviour, who, on the cross, committed his aged mother to the care of John his beloved disciple. In reproving the scribes for their hypocrisy, our Lord mentions this as a most abominable instance of it, that, under pretence of piety to God, they absolved men from their obligation to support their aged parents." reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition; for Moses said, Honor thy father and mother; but ye teach, that if a man shall say to his father or mother, This is a gift" dedicated to God, "by whatsoever I might profit, or maintain thee, he shall be free from his obligation to do any thing for their support."Thus says he, "Ye make the word of God, of no effect."

You see, what are the principal duties which you owe to your parents.

For your encouragement in the performance of them, remember, that, to the command, "Honor your parents," God has added a promise, "It shall be well with you, and your lives shall be prolonged."

In all your temporal concerns you will enjoy the smiles of his providence; his favor will multiply your days, his blessing will prosper your labors, and his goodness will supply your wants. His eye will be upon you for good; his ear will be open to your prayers; and no good thing will he withhold from you. He will make the pious labors of your parents subservient to your spiritual interest. Trained up by their prudent care, in the way of wisdom, and led along by their counsel and example, you will find the path more and more pleasant and inviting, as you proceed. Strengthened and animated by the power of God's grace, you will repel temptations and triumph over opposition; you will run and not be weary, you will walk and not faint. We proceed,

Secondly. To the other branch of our subject, which is, The duty of parents to their children.-" Ye

fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; provoke them not, lest they be discouraged; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." This is agreeable to the wise man's advice, "Train up a

child in the way in which he should go." It is il lustrated in the example of Abraham," who commanded his children and his household after him, and they kept the way of the Lord."

Paul well understood human nature; he wisely judged what kind of discipline in a household would be most successful. In both the epistles, in which he treats on family government, he cautions parents not to discourage the hearts, and break the spirits of their children, by provoking their passions. It is a caution, which deserves the attention of all, who are placed at the head of families. In these little societies there must be government, as well as in larger; but it must be a rational, not a passionate-a mild and steady, not a wanton and rigorous government. We must lead and invite our children along in the path of duty by instruction, argument and example, not urge and drive them by force and terror, The former will animate, the latter will discourage them.

The Apostle has a particular regard to the religious education of children. This is the proper import of the phrase, "Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." By good instruction and example nourish them up in the doctrine of Christ. This is the principal thing: But in connexion with this, there must be also an attention to the nurture of their bodies, and their preparation for business and usefulness in the world.

In all parts of the education, which we bestow upon them, and the government which we exercise over them, we must attend to this caution," not to provoke, but encourage them."

1. Parents are to instruct their children in the doctrines and duties of religion.

Children come into the world ignorant and uninformed. The principles and rudiments of religion must be gradually implanted in them, as they grow up to a capacity of receiving them. And to whom does it so naturally belong to implant these seeds, as to you, under whose care and authority God has placed them? You can best address yourselves to their capacities; you have the most frequent opportunities to converse with them; and their affection for you and confidence in you will give your instructions a peculiar advantage. Therefore God has given it in solemn charge," that you diligently teach them his laws, and talk of them, when you sit in your houses, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you arise."

This work must be begun early, before their minds are warped by corrupt opinions, and hardened by vicious habits. "Whom shall you teach knowledge, and make to understand doctrine ?-Them who are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breast."

You must gently lead them along from the more plain and easy to the more difficult and sublime truths of religion. "There must be here a little, and there a little." Plunge them not at once into deep mysteries, nor load them too fast with a multitude of precepts, lest they be discouraged. Our Saviour spake the word to the people in parables,as they were able to hear it. He taught the truth to his disciples gradually, as they could bear to receive it. He was careful not to put new wine into old bottles, lest the bottles should burst, and the wine be lost.

Think not that this attention is due to your children only in their first years; continue it as long as they are under your care. "Precept must be upon precept, and line upon line," that they may hear the word of the Lord.

2. Content not yourselves with giving your children good instructions; but endeavor, by arguments, ex

hortations and reproofs, to form their lives according to your instructions.

If you

Carefully watch their temper and manners. discover in them a vicious propensity, check and restrain it, before it is grown into a habit. Let not parental fondness make you blind to the faults which appear in them, or deaf to all complaints made against them. But to avoid this partiality, you must not run into extreme severities, or unreasonable jealousies.

Ever carry a steady hand, and maintain a temperate discipline.

You may have occasion to use your parental authority; but see that you use it with prudence, moderation and dignity. Give your children tokens of approbation or dislike, as they do well, or ill. But take not severe notice of trivial mistakes and accidental slips; this would discourage them. Neither connive at great and dangerous faults; this would tend to harden them.

Solomon says, "The rod and reproof give wisdom." Hasty reproofs and passionate corrections should be avoided. These bring government into contempt. But then, to avoid rigor, you must not wholly let go the reins of government: A child left to himself, brings himself to ruin and his parents to shame. "David displeased not his son Adonijah, at any time, saying, why hast thou done so ?" But the good king had cause to repent of his indulgence, when he saw this son attempt to usurp the kingdom. Small faults, indeed, had better be overlooked entirely, than reproved and punished with sharpness and severity. But where a fault is great in itself, often repeated, or obstinately persisted in, there lenity and connivance become criminal.

Eli, the priest and judge of Israel, used a very unbecoming moderation, when he thus rebuked the scandalous behaviour of his sons; Why do ye such things? I hear of your evil dealing by all the people;

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