raise our disgusft, or excite our pity. But who hath made us to differ from them! Is it not that divine Sovereign who "divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the fons of Adam,” who caft our lot among the civilized and enlightened, who having been taught, of God, taught us the way of happiness? Had we been born among heathens, we should probably have been heathens; if among favages, fhould not have differed from them-fhould have gloried, perhaps in those refine. ments in cruelty, which they confider an accomplishment, but which we fhudder to hear related. It is not probable that we should have had native difcernment fufficient to have raised us above our fellows-to have enabled us to difcover their delufions and the abfurdity of their views. Had we been denied revelation, we fhould probably have been ignorant of our fallen ftate and need of a Savior, and might have "perished for lack of vifion."

How far God might have pitied our neceffary ignorance, we know not; but we can now difcern no way of falvation, except by faith in Chrift, with repentance from dead works. Now, the knowl edge of these, and the neceffity of holiness of heart and life, we have received, not by immediate revelation, but from our fellow men. And most of those who receive them, to faving effect, receive the first impreffions in early life; receive them from those with whom they are converfant in their tender years. The forming mankind to virtue, and rendering them a godly feed, depends much on

the means then used with them, and the bias then given to the mind.

3. RESTRAINT is alfo neceffary in the morning of life.

By nature man is inclined to evil. This difpo fition originated in the apoftacy and descends to the whole race, rendering them untractable and unteachable-eafily fufceptible of bad impreffions, and indisposed to good ones. It appears and operates at a very early period of life. "The wicked are eftranged from the womb; they go aftray as foon as they are born speaking lies. Their poifon is like the poison of a ferpent; they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear."

SUCH declarations are not indeed to be underftood literally. None are actual tranfgreffors, before they are capable of moral action, which is the state of the new born infant. He cannot speak lies who hath not yet attained the power of speech. The poison of human depravity may, however be compared to that of the ferpent, which begins in its formation, and discovers itself when firft capable of action. We see the effects of depravity in the child, while reason is yet weak and only budding forth. It is one of the first appearances in the progress of a human being from infancy to manhood. When these are discovered, restraint fhould begin. Parents who feek a godly feed, fhould no longer delay to counteract the corrupt disposition, and endeavor to give the young creature, committed to their care, another and a better bias,

BUT, alas! Parental affection too often degenerates into weakness, and giving way to natural perverseness, suffers it to take its course; the consequences of which are often fatal to peace and honor in after life; perhaps in that also which is to come. It is of primary importance that restraint should hold back the young agent from that which is evil; and as far as may be, prevent him from affociating with the vile, who difregard the voice of confcience and harden themselves in fin.

SUITABLE Correction to impress an early sense of the evil of fin, and praise to encourage and allure in the paths of virtue, are also acts of kindness to the unexperienced creature who is entering on the war of life, and coming forward to act its part among enemies and temptations, and thus to prepare for honor or infamy, joy or mifery eternal. Though no fruit of this kind attention may immediately appear beneficial confequences commonly follow; though fometimes at a later period than was expected; yea after expectation hath ceased.

4. EXAMPLE is another mean of feeking a godly. feed.

GOOD example is particularly incumbent on all who are exalted to rule, whether in larger, or fmaller communities. In the hiftory of Ifrael we obferve the morals of the nation commonly agree. ing with those of the governing prince. Nor was this peculiar to that people; it holds generally, in a confiderable degree, of every other. The man. ners and morals of all who live in fociety, usually

take a tinge from thofe of their rulers. This is particularly the case with smaller societies; efpecially with families. Children often imbibe the fentiments, learn the manners, and catch somewhat of the tempers of those with whom they live, as well as learn their language. Do we feek a godly feed? It concerns us to be careful what examples we fet before the youth who attend us.

YOUTH watch and obferve adults, especially those to whom they look up as friends, and whofe love and kindnefs they daily experience. Adults are difposed to think favorably of those who shew them kindness. From the view of a child, it hides every fault. That a thing was done by a respected parent, justifies it to a child, however criminal it might appear in another.

THE temper and conduct, of a benefactor, make a deer impreffion than his words, and have more influence on the judgment of thofe entering on life. Even little children feel the force of our Savior's rule of judging-" By their fruits ye shall know them." Every thing confpires to prejudice children in favor of parents, and to dispose them to follow their examples. Bad example is in them especially feducing. Children generally follow it, where it is fet before them. Coinciding with their natural bias, precept and counsel are commonly loft upon them, if taught by parental example to do evil. It is therefore of the greatest importance, especially to the members of a family, that the head fhould" behave himself wifely in a perfec

way, and walk within his house with a perfect heart."

5. PRAYER, especially family prayer is another means of feeking a godly feed.

THIS duty is important, as it tends to folemnize the heart, and produce a serious and devout temper; and as it tends to draw down the divine bleffing on those who attend it.

WHEN children witness a parent daily looking up to heaven, and fervently imploring the divine bleffing on himself and them-when they hear him humbly confeffing fin, and its demerits, and imploring pardon-when they obferve him devoutly thanking God for existence, for continuance in life, and for all its comforts-when they hear him afking grace to help and divine direction and guidance-when they see him befieigng the throne of grace for the Holy Spirit to renew and fanctify them, enable them to do every duty, fill them with love to God and man, enable them to bear injuries and requite them with kindnefs, yea, to be good and do good-to make them faithful unto death and then to receive them to the manfions of glory, and are called to join in these folemn addreffes to heaven, What other leffon is equally inftructive? What hath fo direct a tendency to folemnize the heart and imprefs it with the most juft and weighty religious fentiments? In this view, family prayer is of vaft importance. If attended as every ferious perfon may attend it, cannot be wholly without effect, and hath often the happiest effect.