to return home so soon; gladly would I have prolonged my visit, but the attentions required by the other branches of my family compel me to go. I hope, however, to take back with me much that I may find useful, and shall endeavor to profit and retain the recollection of what I have been permitted to hear. I am anxious for every minute direction, and would entreat you not to spare.

I would then beg to point out a very essential point if it please God, that, by His grace, you determine upon adopting a better plan, and that a religious one, for your children's training, bear in mind that consistency should prevail throughout. There is no other way of convincing your children that you are governed by principle, and unless they see it the operating spring of all your duty, they will fail to believe it a true one; and under the idea that it is adopted only as an expedient method to break them into submission, they will be tempted both to despise and to revolt from it.

Give me an idea of your full meaning by some example.

I will give as an example, the necessity of arranging and ordering your whole household according to the system, so that you shall give proof that your intention is, as far as your influence may extend, that you and your house shall serve the Lord. For this reason, be careful what acquaintance you cultivate; what conversations prevail in your association; and what servants

you select. It is an oversight which appears to me next to madness in some parents, that they pay no regard to the character of a servant, as respects their religious conduct. If they obtain a general testimony for honesty, cleanliness, and ability for their worldly calling, it seems all they require; and whilst they would reject a servant for a defect in business, they never regard the greater defects which are too common in their principle of heart. If a servant is careless, breaks the furniture, spoils the paint and paper and carpets; if they fail to wait well, or to pay the outward respect demanded, they are instantly rebuked or dismissed but if they fail to respect the souls of your children, or if they contaminate their minds with evil thoughts and words; if they break your rules, and spoil the obedience of your children,these are faults not noticed, not inquired into, not expected to produce any evil; and many a child is taught in the nursery to throw away the instruction of its parents, and defilements are added to their natural sinfulness by the evil communications which come out of their mouth. Now I would subvert this system. I would, if you cannot get servants fully capable of all the minutiæ and niceities of their appointment, at least determine to have none but those who would be under the governing principle of religious conduct and obedience; for, a want of this, I would dismiss them most certainly; and if they tampered with the principles of my children, or wilfully suggested any evil to their mind, instantly

discard them as treacherous to me and my children, and dishonest in the sight of God. To bear and forbear, to be gentle and kind to them in all things respecting their worldly employments; but not to suffer a moment's negligence in the duty which the moral and spiritual interests of your children requires should be minutely attended to. According to this plan, I fear I shall have a change to make throughout.

I suppose so; not having reflected upon it as essential, of course, your household is made up of those who are at least indifferent to this subject. Another thing I would beg to point out, which is, the absolute consistency of truth in your house. When the manners of the world prevail, and the pleasures of it are sought, there are innumerable temptations to the breach of truth, not only in imposing upon your servants the hateful obligations of telling palpable untruths for your convenience, under the guise of false excuses, but in the many falsehoods uttered with your own lips, in the prevarications and flatteries, and innumerable offences of the lip in conversation, and of the pen in correspondence. In my youth I was intimate with a family where I was a frequent visitor, and have often been sitting with the young people, my companions, when company has been seen coming. If it was at a moment inconvenient, or the persons not agreeable, immediately the lady of the house began to express her dislike of the intrusion; but no sooner did they enter than she found out

innumerable expressions of pleasure and gladness to receive them. Sometimes my companions had been faulty in their lessons, or had committed some offence which had provoked great anger, and, perhaps, it was shown by the mother's total silence towards them, or by incessant reproof; but when company arrived, their works, drawings, &c., and often those very productions which had given occasion for the displeasure, were all exhibited, tokens of approbation given, and all the flattering expressions of the visitors received; and then when they were withdrawn, all the reserve of disapprobation was resumed. What can children think on these occasions? Either that there is no principle of action; or that there is no sincerity in the profession of it. They of course imbibe the same uninfluential pretence, and find it difficult to honor those who expose so much deliberate sin.

I fear these are prevalent offences in the world. Yes; and it is written," Wo unto him by whom the offence cometh! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." Luke xvii. 2. Be select in the associates of your children, choosing the intimacy of such young people as are trained in the same way; and if these are not within your range, teach them to be content and happy without any. Another prevalent inconsistency I must name; which is, the uncertainty

which children in some cases must have of what god their parents desire them to serve. What god, did you say?

Yes; in some cases the mind of the children is directed to Pleasure; in others, to Ambition ከ; in others, to the World in general; in others, to their Appetites and Passions. This is marked by these several things being held out as the objects for which they are to strive, or which they are to serve. A fit preparation for an infidel state, or for an ungodly life. Of such, the apostle says, "Whose god is their belly,-who mind earthly things." Children are watchful, inquisitive, discriminating, and imitative; therefore, there is another point to name, which is, the power of example. Let them see in you what you desire them to become. Break down the evil inclinations and habits flowing out of a love of self,follow after holiness,-lean on the Lord, and devote yourselves to Him; showing yourselves in earnest by the diligence with which you seek the Holy Spirit for your guide and helper.

We now joined our young people, and were pleased to see that our old friend had again been able, under the care of his little grand-daughter, to make one of the party. It was a pretty sight; they had all surrounded him, and were listening with eager pleasure to the instructions of age. I made signs to them to keep their places, and continue their attentions to the old man, a permission they appeared gladly to accept.