their application to the daily conduct of life; the regulation of the temper, the feelings, affections, and passions; with regard to the individual, his situation in society, and, above all, his relation to God, as a fallen, erring, dependent being possessing no other hope of safety, than that which is found in the full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice of a Redeemer.

There can be no effective moral education, unless it begin and end in christian principle; in the entire depravity of the human heart; in the utter inability of man to do any thing of himself, to think a good thought, or do a good action, but through the purifying influence of the Spirit of grace; in his possessing no other hope of pardon and acceptance with God, than in the finished righteousness of his Saviour; in the necessity of good works as the evidence of his belief in Christ, and love towards him; and of daily increasing conformity to his precepts, will, and image.

The only pure source of christian principle will be found in the unsullied pages of inspiration, which are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. This must be the foundation of all our views, motives, and actions: here must be our last appeal; our light in darkness; our allsufficient guide in every difficulty; our constant counsellor ; our never-failing support,

under adverse circumstances: nor need we fear, that if we sincerely desire to do the will of God, we shall be assisted by his Spirit, who has expressly declared,-"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' This first principle of moral education must never be lost sight of: the glory of God, and the good of man, should be the only objects before us; whatever will advance these, respectively requires our culture: whatever is opposed to them, nay, whatever is indifferent, (if it be possible that such a quality can attach to any part of human thought or action,) demands our steady, uniform, and sedulous care to eradicate.

Moral or christian education, thus defined, will comprise within its limits, the particular study and government of the temper and disposition; the religious instruction of the understanding; the implantation of just principles of action; the extension of these principles to the thoughts and intents of the heart; the regulation of the will and affections; the practice of self-denial, as the basis of enlarged charity and benevolence; pointing out to the young mind the evils of selfishness, and of its infinitely varied modifications, as they exist in the maxims of the world, and in every code of ethics founded on expediency, or on any

other basis short of the morality of the bible. It will comprize, within its limits, all which relates to the task of repressing the evil passions, as they begin to manifest themselves in earliest infancy, and giving them a correct bias : it will comprehend the practice of every virtue, and will be particularly watchful over the reading, the amusements, and the society of the young; always keeping in view one uncompromising rule of action, viz:-is it right; and acknowledging no other standard of right than the pure and holy precepts of the gospel.

Such then are the principles which will be developed in the subsequent chapters, and applied to the successive stages of infantile life. Before, however, we fully enter on the regular pursuit of the plan we have proposed to ourselves, we shall devote a few pages to the consideration of the grand motives which will stimulate, strengthen, and encourage the christian parent, in the performance of the duties before her.

15

CHAP. II.

ON AFFECTION, AS THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLE OF PARENTAL EDUCATION.

In order to provide for the care of the young and feeble, Nature has furnished animals (and particularly the female) with an instinctive love of their progeny; and the operation of this automatic influence, in the self-devotion which it produces, is most exquisitely and beautifully pourtrayed by many of the lower animals, in the wonderful ingenuity they exhibit to attract the attention of the disturber from their young to themselves; and even in the occasional sacrifice of their own lives, in order to protect and preserve that of their offspring.

In proportion as the infancy of man is more feeble and helpless; as he possesses fewer instincts to extricate him from danger; and demands the longer exercise of self-denying attention to rear and to defend his feeble frame; so has it been most wisely appointed by the author of all good, that he should not be dependent upon an instinctive propensity for all the constant care

which he requires; but upon a principle of affection, based on the best feelings of the human heart, and supported by the conscientious discharge of duty. Let it be recollected, however, that in order to secure its beneficial results, affection must be founded on principle, for nothing short of this will enable the parent to forego her own ease and comfort; and even the combined gratification of herself and her offspring, for their real and eventual good and surely, if instinct will lead animals automatically (though occasionally) to prefer the well-being of their young, to their own comfort and safety, it is not too much to ask, that reason and religion should induce parents, systematically, to deny themselves; to do violence to their own feelings; and cheerfully to sacrifice their immediate pleasures for the good of their children.

The views of the christian parent extend far beyond the present gratification of her child: her efforts are devoted to forming the mind, and moderating its tone and temper: she watches over its every manifestation, and directs it in its proper path: she guards it from the dangers with which it is environed; it becomes her peculiar care to regulate the disposition and the conduct, to preserve it from evil, and administer an antidote to its failings and, as she considers the incessant watchfulness required, and the unwearied steady pursuit of one great object, through a thousand intricacies and difficulties; and contemplates,