to know, and what you will know, if your lives are spared. It is your duty to ask of those who can answer your enquiries, and to obtain all the information you are able, from those who can instruct you ask your parents how you ought to conduct yourselves in this world, and how you should act, so as to be happy in the life to come: Never take one important step in life, without first consulting your parents and friends, and obtaining their approbation: "My son hear the instructions of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother; for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and as a chain of gold about thy neck."

2. To obey your parents, is to observe and do all their commands; to come when they call you; to do as they bid you; not to suffer them to call two or three times before you will condescend to give them an answer; go where they send you, and no where else; nor should you stop and play by the way as you go; what they tell you not to do, this you must be careful to avoid some parents, instead of commanding, and insisting upon the exact obedience of their children, with the greatest severity, rather chuse to make use of intreaty and persuasion, as being more mild than the other: Some children are deaf to the kindest request and the tenderest persuasion; and their perverse tempers are not softened, their stubborn dispositions will not bend to the authority of a parent, N

however kind and good; and here the rod of correction will be necessary: "He that spareth the rod, hateth his child; but, he that loveth him, chastiseth him betimes: foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it from him: thou shalt beat, says Solomon, with a rod, and shalt save his soul from hell." Children should not be corrected when their parent is in a passion; stop till it is over; strive first to make him sensible of his fault, and show him that he deserves. correction, and then you will do it with justice and judgment.

4. But obedience to parents, includes submission to their authority; that is, the right they have in you, and the power they have over you: This you must attend to from a sense of duty to your parents, and of obedience to God. Be not wise in your own eyes, but be humble, and submissive, and kind, and teachable; do not murmur at their correction, or turn away from their reproof.

"Their mild correction for each fault,
Their kind instructions for your good;

· Are all design'd in love, to bring

Your wand'ring spirits back to God,"

They see your faults, and while they correct you, they pity you. You know what you have to do; then do it with a cheerful mind, and not with a downcast look, and pouting lip, a murmuring word, slow and unwilling feet: remem

ber, there are disobedient actions, as well as disobedient words; "actions speak louder than words;" remember, this is not pleasing to God. But I must tell you, secondly, how far this duty extends. The text says, "Obey your parents in all things;" not in one thing, but in every thing. Some may think this hard to be performed: Remember, it is God who speaks the words; he knows what you ought to do, and what you can do, and what you really perform, whether it is in all things: It is required of you to obey your father and mother in all things; every thing that is just and reasonable; every thing that is according to the will of God, and his holy commands: and where is the parent that will command any thing to the contrary? if they command you to sin, then you may refuse: if they command you to lie, to steal, to curse, to swear, to break the sabbath, and neglect the Bible, you may refuse to obey them, because their commands are contrary to the commands of God; nor should any contempt or severity be able to force you to obey the will of your earthly parent, in opposition to the will of your heavenly Father. Mind all that your parents tell you about rising in the morning; about beginning the day in prayer to God; about your behaviour to your brothers and sisters; about your conduct at school; about companions and amusements, about your

duty to God and man: let the will and desires of your parents form your manners and guide

your conduct: let me remind you, my young friends, of being equally attentive and obliging, in obeying your mother as well as your father, for the scriptures make no difference be tween them. Hear how Solomon speaks on this duty, and observe the advantages of it, "Keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother, bind them continually upon thy heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee: when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee: when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee." Base indeed must that child be, that can impose upon the weakness, despise the tenderness, set at nought the counsel, tear the feelings, and defy the mild authority of a mother; a mother, who deserves all the love and gratitude a child can give. This precept is equally binding upon those who have left the house of their parents, as upon those children who are still under their care and protection.

II. I will endeavour to tell you, my dear children, why you should obey your parents.

1. Because it is your duty. The words are spoken to children under ten, twelve, or fourteen years of age; though others are not excluded: What condescention it is with the Lord, to notice you, that are so young in life. My dear young friends, the Lord knows that you have bad hearts; he knows that you are thoughtless, forgetful, ungrateful, undutiful and rebellious; on this account, he speaks to you

while young As soon as you are able to read this verse, you are told, that you are to obey your parents in all things. Christ likewise speaks to you kindly, and for your good: The Lord speaks to you as your mother, your friend, and your Saviour. An amiable child was lamenting, with the most sincere grief, the death of an affectionate parent: His companions endeavoured to console him, by the reflection, that he had behaved to his departed parent with duty, tenderness and respect. So I thought, replied the child, while my parent was living, but now I recollect with pain and sorrow, many instances of disobedience and neglect, for which, alas! it is too late to make

atonement.

2. Because you are under great obligations to your parents. If you were to be shut out of doors, to provide for yourselves, could you do it? who would care for you, like your parents?

"Beasts, that can graze around the field,
Birds that can take the wing and fly,
Yea, every insect, God hath made,

Could better help themselves than I.

Who would be so anxious for your welfare? did they not help you, when you could not help yourselves? has not your mother gazed upon you with delight; has she not pressed you to her bosom; has not that bosom afforded a refuge from fear, a repose from weariness, a sup