Nor is it a less injurious plan, when children are a little farther advanced, to attempt instructing them in the general principles of Christianity, by requiring them to commit, as an irksome task, volumes of hymns and books of scripture in which drudgery the memory is, almost universally, the only faculty employed. If to this we add the consideration, that these painful exercises are usually connected with the Lord's day, we perceive the completion of a system, preeminently adapted to render the bible anything but a pleasure,' and the sabbath anything but a delight.' Surely, it is as impolitic as it is unjust to make religion thus appear to the youthful mind, as if it were unfriendly to happiness, and to connect its principles and ordinances with unprofitable labor and painful sacrifices. Such a mode of instruction has a natural tendency to destroy the feelings of genuine piety, to produce a constrained and hypocritical profession for a season, and to terminate in eventual infidelity. I have known several instances of such a melancholy progress, in the children of sincerely pious, but excessively rigid parents. 'This circumstance amply proves, how delicate a task it is to regulate the human mind; to preserve the proper medium between a criminal neglect, which would permit evil propensities to grow without control, and an injudicious severity of discipline, that would create a rebellious impatience of restraint, and an insatiable craving for the cup of forbidden pleasure. I am fully persuaded, that such a happy medium can only be attained, by making religious education an affair of the heart and the understanding, instead of a mere matter of words, or formal profession, or abstract theory.

I would therefore teach the first lessons of piety to the young, in the fair and glorious book of Nature. I would lead them through the cultivated fields, and the pleasant pastures, and the flowery meadows, and the leafy groves. When the husbandman casts his seed into the bosom of the earth, when the green blade springs forth, and when the ripe ear yields abundance, I would show them the providence of God, in the mode of supplying their daily wants. When they listened with joy to the music of the groves, when they looked with delight on the peaceful cattle feeding upon the green pastures, when they remarked the industry of the bee, or the sportive fluttering of the butterfly, or the happiness of the myriads of beings that were enjoying existence in the air, in the waters, or upon the earth, I would lead them to consider the infinite goodness of God, in the diffusion of such unbounded enjoyment. In the refreshing breeze, the reviving shower, and the animating sun; in the formation of every tree, and plant, and flower, as well as of every animated being, I would lead them to admire the transcendent wisdom of their Creator. And when the dews of evening should begin to fall, when they were returning to their peaceful homes with invigorated bodies and joyous spirits, I would point to the fair moon, rising in tranquil beauty, and to one star after another, appearing in the glorious firmament of heaven; and I would lead them to reverence the power and majesty of Him, who had formed all the starry worlds which they beheld, and who had, no doubt, also peopled them with inhabitants! At the season of refreshment I would remind them, by the devout expression of my own gratitude, and by recalling to their recollection. what they had themselves witnessed, to whom they were

indebted for all their comforts and blessings. When the hour of repose drew near, I would kneel down in the midst of my children, as every christian parent is bound to do; I would praise my Creator for all his mercies, supplicate a continuation of his bounties, and fervently implore him to bless my little ones. And when they afterwards addressed their 'Father in Heaven' in personal prayer, before retiring to rest, they would no longer offer a heartless and a mindless service; they would know whom they worshipped, and feel why they ought to be grateful. Thus, might the hearts of the young become truly interested in the cause of religion, and imbued with the sacred odour of piety, which would ever retain its freshness, although they should be broken by the shocks of misfortune, or withered by the winter of age.

I know it may be said by many, that what I have been advancing is all visionary and theoretical; but I am not afraid of its being so considered by the wise and the experienced, who have carefully studied human nature, and observed the progress of the human mind. Children think much sooner, and much more accurately, than most persons imagine. Indeed, fond and partial parents are always sensible of this in their own offspring. They are quite delighted with their shrewd remarks, and often astonished and puzzled by their curious questions; but they take it for granted that these are only indications of extraordinary talents in their own children, and that all others are comparatively ignorant and uninteresting. This, however, is a mere error of parental partiality; for the mass of other children are fully equal to their own; and all are much more, and much earlier the objects of religious and moral culture than is generally believed.

Their ignorance of language is the principal barrier in the way of their instruction. They are often unable to find words to explain their own ideas, and we have usually as much difficulty in selecting terms suited to give them a proper conception of ours. Yet, it is wonderful, how much knowledge, especially with regard to external objects, they may acquire, under moderately judicious treatment, where affection never loses patience in consequence of their unceasing interrogatories, and where a sound discretion adapts the language of explanation to the extent of their capacities. No more fatal mistake could be made in the treatment of children, than repressing their curiosity by refusing to answer their questions. An inquisitive disposition ought to be particularly encouraged, as it opens the most favorable inlet for knowledge at a very early period of life. The information

which a child desires to obtain always affords it pleasure, and usually makes a permanent impression upon its mind; whilst, on the contrary, knowledge which is pressed upon it by others is generally received with indifference, and soon passes away. Many questions put by children may be trifling, many absurd, and many difficult to be answered; but the very reply of a judicious parent to a frivolous interrogatory may be so framed, as to correct an error of judgment, and the most difficult question should receive an answer, if possible; or, at the very least, a satisfactory reason should be assigned for refusing a reply. In everything connected with religious principles and impressions, it is peculiarly important that this course should be pursued. If a child inquire, (and what child does not ?) who made the sun, and the moon, and the who formed the mountains, and the rivers, and

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the beasts of the field. who created himself, and his parents, and all other human beings - would it not be the utmost fatuity, to omit so favorable an opportunity of inculcating the first and most influential principle of all religion the existence, the power, and the providence of God? That this great principle may be inculcated, and that an abiding conviction of the constant presence of the Deity may be impressed upon the mind, at a very early period of life, I do aver from experience; and in this sentiment, I am convinced I shall have the concurrence of every judicious parent, and of every man who has attentively considered the tendencies of human nature.

This habitual reverence of the Supreme Being will be materially strengthened in the minds of the young, by conducting them regularly to the public services of religion, and thus associating all their previous sentiments of piety with the hallowed solemnities of the sanctuary, and the deliberate approbation of the wise and good. Parents, who neglect the private and public duties of the Lord's day, who spend it in drowsy indifference, or degrade it into a season of worldly occupation or vain amusement, cannot expect that the love and fear of God should be established in the hearts of their children. These essential principles of piety, these surest foundations of moral respectability, are never to be found in the lukewarm and careless spirit; and what the father possesses not in himself, he cannot communicate to his son. For my own part, I have almost universally observed, that the decay of vital religion, in individuals and families, has exactly kept pace with their neglect of religious institutions. This is peculiarly true with regard to the young, who have no counterpoise for their