TO MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL OF EVERY DENOMINATION. 99 congregations. They will sympathise with each other and pray for each other having so many common interests, they will, under such affecting influence, become more than Christian friends. Not only so; but these associated mothers, so like a band of sisters, will become deeply interested in each others families, and kindly extend to the children of their sick and infirm associates, that counsel and care of which they are deprived: and when a mother dies, her offspring, bound to the affections of those who survive, from being so often brought to the circle and association for instruction and prayer, will be remembered, watched over and prayed for, with interest and sympathies increased by the very fact of their orphanage. These associations will aid us in securing uniformity of domestic education and moral culture, and thus render the arduous, and as often doubtful, subjects of discipline more clear and easy. Their children will more readily yield to those restraints, which they know are imposed alike on others, and be stimu→ lated to gain that knowledge in which they know that others are instructed. These associations will also cultivate a taste for reading and instruction on this important subject, and on various others which are kindred to it; thus we may elevate the intellectual and moral character of mothers, while we increase the happiness of their social and domestic relations; bind them more firmly to the institutions of religion, and at the same time redeem their children. from those ruinous influences, which so often and so easily throw them beyond the reach of moral restraint and religious culture. Having long seen the salutary influence of maternal associations, on mothers themselves, on their husbands, on the whole society in which they lived, and on the ministrations of the gospel, as well as on the children themselves, permit me to urge each one of my brethren in the ministry, to secure as speedily as possible the formation of a maternal association among the people of his charge, and to aid that association in securing the object of its existence. For this purpose, I would recommend the Constitution of the Utica Maternal Association and the Mother's Magazine, which is designed especially to aid in this important branch of Christian duty. A MINISTER. Note.-The Maternal Association of Utica, was one of the first of the kind which was formed in this country, and those who formed it were among the most intelligent, judicious, and pious mothers of this or any other land. For years it has continued to flourish. No check has at any time been given to its prosperity. Its original founders have most of them gone to their eternal rest. Its members have lived in the most disinterested Christian harmony, and a large proportion of their children have already become hopefully pious. To this association, the ministers of that city feel themselves much indebted for the facilities which it has afforded them in the discharge of their duty. And here originated the Mother's Magazine, which is now circulating through several thousand families in this country. The comparison and review of opinions and feelings, trials, and difficulties, failures and successes in family government and instruction, which have been considered in this association, have done much toward giving a uniform and salutary character to the maternal discipline of that enlightened and flourishing city. We therefore cheerfully recommend this association as a model for the formation of others throughout our country. 100 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HEAVEN. For the Mother's Magazine. CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HEAVEN. MOTHERS, do talk frequently to your little children about Heaven. We, as well as they, need to be often reminded that the things of time are passing away. The pleasures, and the pursuits of life engross our time and attention, and draw away our thoughts from that holy and happy place, which is to be the permanent abode of the redeemed. Our children like young flowers are just springing into life. They have never experienced, as we have, the withering and blighting effects of disappointment and sorrow. They see not that vanity and vexation of spirit is written upon earthly enjoyments. The world appears to them, An Eden, formed to tempt the feet With chrystal streams and golden fruit; A single weed, to blight the ground. Every thing our children see and hear, is calculated to fix the impression indelibly upon their minds, that this beautiful world is to be their home forever: and almost no effort is made by parents to counteract the influence which the passing things of time and sense are exerting upon their young and susceptible minds. What a favorable opportunity does the Sabbath afford, for diverting their thoughts from the objects and pursuits of life, and leading them away to the contemplation of those purer enjoyments, those more delightful and unfading objects of the heavenly world. If the Christian mother, instead of resigning her superior claims wholly to the sabbath school Teacher, or of making the Teacher's efforts an excuse for her own neglect, would spend a little time every sabbath, in explaining to her children the nature and design of this holy day, showing to them that it is emblematic of that rest which remaineth for the people of God, and in talking to them familiarly of his goodness, the perfection of his law,-the excellency of his character,-what he is to us in Christ Jesus; if she would pursue this plan from sabbath to sabbath, and as often through the week as practicable, she would doubtless hear her children voluntarily talking with her and with each other upon these sublime themes. A few weeks ago I read to my little pupils the two last chapters of Revelation, and endeavored to interest their minds in that heavenly city described in those chapters. For about two weeks I presented this subject to their minds every morning. I soon discovered, from the animated expression of their countenances, that they were every day becoming more and more interested, nor did my own heart remain unaffected. During these frequent conversations I taught them a number of hymns adapted to the subject, which we often sang together, in one of which they appeared to unite with elevation of soul; and particularly in these two following stanzas : CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HEAVEN. No chilling winds nor pois'nous breath, When shall I reach that happy place And be forever blest; When shall I see my Saviour's face, 101 Never before did I so fully realize the privilege and the duty of teaching children to sing. I believe that impressions were made upon the minds of these little ones, by these repeated and familiar conversations, and by singing these hymns, which will never be effaced. A few days since I called up the smallest class in my school to spell. One of the little boys stopped to ask, What kind of a city is Heaven? I told him that it was a very beautiful city. Do they have any streets there, Mrs. T. asked little James. O yes, said Charley, the streets are all paved with gold. "Don't they have any beds there," asked the little boy? No, I replied. "But what does God sleep upon ?" I told him that God was not a man like his papa, that He never slumbered nor slept: if we get there we shall never want to lie down, for we never shall be tired or sleepy; there are no beds in Heaven. "Don't any but good people get there?" No-O, said Elizabeth to her little brother, James, “you must be a good boy, and you will get there: wont he, Mrs. T.?" Willy then asked if they did'nt have any thing to eat there. Why no, said Elizabeth, "They hunger no more, neither thirst any more." "But they have pictures there, dont they?" No, answered a little boy at the foot of the class, but they have golden harps and they play on them. Does the sun always shine there, asked little Willy? No, exclaimed one of the little ones, don't you remember what Mrs. T. read to us about that in Revelation? They need no candle there, neither the light of the sun.-Then I should think it would be very dark there, said little William.-The Lord giveth them light, replied a little girl; the glory of God makes it all light: my mamma told me that a great while ago. My little pupils said a great deal more about heaven, which, I need not say, expanded my heart with the most exalted joy. Mothers, would you not like to banish from your nurseries all quarrels and disputes? Would you not wish to exchange the tones of anger and resentment in your children for those of sympathy and love? Would you not prefer that they should engage in rational and innocent conversations with their mother and each other rather than in those foolish and wicked jestings, which are sometimes tolerated even in Christian families? Then learn by sweet experience, how good and how lasting will be the impressions, which will inevitably result from such frequent and familiar interviews and conversations about heaven. T. 102 SUGGESTIONS TO BEREAVED MOTHERS. For the Mother's Magazine. SUGGESTIONS TO BEREAVED MOTHERS. The heart of the Christian, finds from its own rich experience, the profitableness of retracing, "as on a map the voyager his course," all the way in which his Heavenly Father has hitherto led him: the "still waters, and green pastures," to which he has been conducted, call upon him to render thanks for the great benefits he has received; while the darker dispensations of His hand, if rightly viewed as "blessings in disguise," will alike call for the tribute of gratitude and praise. The history of each passing day, will furnish new occasions for the exercise of these emotions, but there are some seasons, which appear peculiarly to point the spirit to the deepest self-examination in connexion with the past, to renewed resolutions in reference to the future, to direct communion with itself as in the presence of its Creator. A mother's heart, will at once awaken to the cause of these reflections, when she is told they are suggested by the return of the fourth anniversary of the death of a beloved, an only child; and to the many who have known sorrow like unto my sorrow," would the writer address herself, with the hope, that as the weakest instruments, have sometimes received the fullest blessing, something may here be suggested, which shall render such days of peculiar recollection, days also of peculiar joy. They are seasons, which, with their return, usually awaken the deepest emotion, for that fountain of tenderness once unsealed in a mother's bosom, knows no cessation in its flow; the current may be changed in its course, may be turned from its earthly channel, and permitted, in much mercy, to mingle with that stream, which makes fairer the Paradise of God. When such is the effect, what parent will not exclaim, the "Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord!" But how shall we render these precious seasons profitable to our own souls-how shall they increase our efforts for the spiritual welfare of those who remain ? As accountable beings, every dispensation of Providence increases our responsibility; and surely the severing of one of the dearest of earthly ties, must draw us nearer to that Being, who, in mercy, dealt the blow, or banish us farther from His presence, and leave us in a state, almost beyond the reach of hope. Is it not profitable to recal, at this hour, every emotion as we watched the bed of death? It is almost like entering ourselves within the veil that separates time from eternity, to attend to this utmost verge, the departing spirit; to realize that one moment it was within our mortal vision, the next, disembodied in the presence of its Judge. Bereaved mother! is it a dying infant, whose brief existence had yet been long enough to engage your tenderest affections, that is now recalled to your memory? As you watched its conflict with the last enemy, did not a deeper sense of that sin which introduced death into our world fill your heart-did you not fervently pray that God SUGGESTIONS TO BEREAVED MOTHERS. 108 would receive your child unto Himself and were you not forgetful of your own bereavement-filled only with grateful love to your blessed Savior, who so loved these little ones on earth, and now receives them into His own bosom in Heaven? One moment, a sufferer here-the next, a saint in glory! One moment, with a capacity so slightly unfolded as not to comprehend the simplest revealed truth-the next, with fuller knowledge of the wonders of redeeming love than the most exalted mind on earth has ever attained! When time has mitigated the first agony of separation, there is probably not a feeling of more unutterable tenderness, or, if sanctified, more heavenly in its influence, than that with which a mother reflects upon her departed child; the Christian mother should be joyful in the privilege of having been instrumental in adding one more spirit, to that innumerable throng, whose unceasing praises fill all Heaven with the wonders of redeeming love. But there are those who have occasion for a still deeper joy, who can tell of richer grace-those who have been permitted to watch the years of childhood, to guide the steps of youth, to rejoice in opening manhood, and just when the fruits of Christian effort, the answer to humule prayer began to appear, the plant must be removed to bear richer fruit in the garden of the Lord. Can you not realize it is in a more congenial atmosphere-that the soul is engaged in nobler employments in the service of its Redeemer in that upper temple, than it could ever have known while fettered and constrained by remaining corruption here below? Would you recal the freed spirit of your child? Oh! no! you might mourn as did the pious Richmond, who pressing the feless remains of his darling son to his bosom, burst into tears, then struggling with nature's anguish, exclaimed "my child is a saint in glory!"-praised be God for his mercy and loving-kindness, and so absorbed was this holy man in the contemplation of his child's entrance into Heayen, and its union with the spirits of the just made perfect, as to be entirely unconscious of the presence of his family around him. In our Bible may we read of David, the "man after God's own heart," who in the day of his sorrow went up to the house of the Lord, for there, in the holiness of the sanctuary was that "beauty" to be found, which the prophet was to give instead of "ashes" to those who mourned in Zion. “Immanuel is in the midst, who furnishes from the wardrobe of Heaven, the "garment of praise" for the "spirit of heaviness"—of the Shunamite also, who when the child of her old age was numbered with the dead, went forth to meet the ambassador of the Lord, and in reply to his inquiry" is it well with the child ?" answered "it is well!" Remembrances like these will render the return of such seasons profitable to our souls, we shall find ourselves strengthened in our faith, cheered in our hope, animated in our love, and constrained to acknowledge ""Tis Jesus the first and the last, Whose spirit shall guide us safe home; To be continued |