sions, that they never raise their voices in speaking to their children, or ever permit them to speak loud to each other. The good effects of this rule will be evident to all who steadily pursue it. The child will attend to the meaning of your words, instead of being frightened with the sound of them; and will soon know that he is governed like a reasonable creature, and not like a brute beast which has no understanding.

This point being once gained, and the child being accustomed to immediate and ready obedience, without dispute or murmur, it remains that you use this power for his real good. Carefully watch the very first appearance of any thing wrong in his disposition, and check it immediately. Carefully guard against deceit. Teach him to own his faults; and when he does so, forgive them ; but convince him that they are faults, and must be rooted out. Above all, give him early impressions of religion; teach him to fear GOD, and to tremble at the punishments prepared for the wicked in the next world. These are what we all ought to fear.

As your children grow up, give them reason to consider their parents as their best friends. Encourage them to open their hearts to you, and

assist them in conquering their faults. Make use of every assistance you can procure in teaching them their duty. Let them have such instruction as you can afford, but do not attempt to put them above their rank in life, for it will only make them discontented and unhappy. If it be possible, never let them be idle; for idleness is the root of all evil. Children should have time to play as well as to work, but they should not get a habit of doing nothing. Accustom them to be active, industrious, and neat. The more a man can do for himself, the less dependent he is upon other people. He who has learnt to be industrious and contented, is rich and happy. He who is idle and discontented, must be poor and miserable. When your children are of an age to marry and settle, prove your love for them by doing every thing in your power to make them happy. Assist them with your advice, and endeavour to prevent their being connected with a person of bad character; but do not suppose that you have any right to insist on their marrying any person against their own inclination. In every thing set them a good example, and pray to GOD to bless them.

Such are the duties of husbands and wives, of parents and children; and may GOD of his infinite mercy grant, that all who humbly endeavour to perform them for his sake, and according to his commandment, may escape the greatest affliction which a good mind can feel; I mean the pain of knowing that those whom they love most are unworthy of that love-the pain of seeing all their care and tenderness repaid with ingratitude. May all who have done their part with diligence be rewarded by seeing the blessed effects of their care; may the husband and wife, the parent and child, love and bless each other; may they unite in serving GOD faithfully on earth, and in glorifying his name for ever in Heaven!

SERMON XII.

2 COR. viii. 9.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

H

AVING considered the duties which we

all owe to GOD, and some of those which particular situations of life require from us, as children, as husbands, as parents; I will, in the present discourse, address myself particularly to those who depend on their own industry, with the blessing of GOD, for their support; and make some observations which relate principally to their situation in life.

Whatever opinion men may form of the advantages attendant on riches, and however they may despise poverty, it appears from the Gospel,