child or a youth a sort of mental appetite: then meet that appetite with suitable, wholesome food; and of this food they will find a rich abundance in the scriptures, and the liturgy of our church.

Instead of dwelling on the method of teaching children an important subject truly-we proceed to appeal to you on behalf of the institution, the cause of which we are this day pleading. In supporting and conducting the Sunday-schools in this extensive and populous parish, much personal labour is required. This, we are happy to say, is gratuitously supplied by the teachers. To meet the various expenses which must be necessarily incurred, funds are also required. Now, when you consider that the advantages of Sunday-schools are not confined to the scholars, but extend to parents and neighbours of the scholars; when you consider how that the comfort, and security, and respectability of a neighbourhood depend upon its moral and religious character; and when you also consider how that character must be formed and confirmed by a system of training, it will appear to you to be your own interest to support the Sundayschools. The advantages of religious training are also eternal: hence the schools rest their claim upon you as Christians; and we would direct your eyes to the scholars instructed in these schools, and would say to you, there are fourteen hu

young immortals, candidates for eternity, who will be either heirs of eternal glory and happiness, or subjects of eternal shame and misery. We appeal to you, then, as men and as Christians, on the behalf of these children, and we would ask you, Can you be indifferent as to their everlasting destiny? "He that giveth to the poor lendeth unto the Lord." And, O! what poverty so great, so miserable, so debasing, as soul poverty, what ignorance so deplorable as ignorance of the true God and of the only Saviour of lost sinners! To relieve this poverty, to remove this ignorance, is the object of your Sunday-schools, for which we now plead; and shall we plead in vain?

To the teachers, we would address a word or two. My dear friends, the duty which you have undertaken to discharge, is a duty that requires labour, patience, and perseverance. You may meet with many discouragements. If your hearts are engaged in this work of labour and love, hope and despair of success will alternately animate and depress your minds. Be of good courage. Only labour with prayer, perseverance, and reliance upon God. "Be not weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Who can tell but that if you are saved through grace and admitted into the kingdom of heaven, who can

3 Gal. vi. 9.

tell but that some one or other of these children whom you are now instructing in the schools, will be the first to meet and hail you on your entrance into heaven; and to address you in some such language as this: "I was once a poor, ignorant child in yonder world which you have just left. I was going down the broad road of sin to everlasting ruin; but you kindly took me by the hand; you were the happy instrument of checking my sinful career, of teaching me to know the only true God and Jesus Christ, and of showing me the way to heaven. And now I enjoy life eternal,' and shall rejoice together with you, and love and adore for ever that Saviour who died to save us."

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But suffer also a word of exhortation. Being engaged in the same good work and in the same school,-regard and love one another as fellowlabourers. Let no jealousy, or strife, or desire of pre-eminence, occupy your minds, destroy your peace, and break the bond of union by which you are united. Bear each other's burden, "love as brethren," be pitiful, be courteous, live in peace; and may the God of peace be with you, and abundantly bless you in your labours and in your own souls.

To the parents, we would also say. Though your children are instructed in the Sunday-school, your own obligation to "bring up" your children "in

the nurture and admonition of the Lord," is so far from being relaxed that it is confirmed. Can you view the efforts of others to profit your children, and remain unmoved by the disinterested example of the teachers, by your natural affection, and by the awful responsibility resting upon you, to train up your children in the way in which they should walk? If parents did but rightly attend to their children's religious and moral instruction, there would be no need of Sunday-schools; but in consequence of the ignorance, the ungodliness, and the criminal and unnatural indifference of parents, the labour of teaching devolves upon others; and the wholesome and desired effect of this' disinterested labour is too frequently counteracted by the evil example of the parents themselves. And how painful the sight of such parents' conduct, especially on the Lord's holy day; in neglecting the house of God; in loitering up and down in the lanes and fields, in their working dress; and thus, in training up their offspring to despise the word of God, to irreverence his sanctuary, to desecrate his sabbaths, to provoke his wrath, and, in a word, to walk the downward road to eternal perdition! O! in the last great day what mutual crimination will there be! Ungodly, lost parents accusing their children, and ungodly and lost children accusing their wicked parents, of neglect, of evil example, yea of being instrumental in destroying their souls.

Instead of incurring so awful a condemnation as that which awaits every such ungodly parent, study, pray, and labour to lead your children in the way of life eternal," to give them that knowledge which tendeth to make wise unto salvation. Be not content with telling them what is wrong, or what is right; but, if necessary, you must exercise that authority with which nature and revelation invest you, to restrain the evil. Abraham commanded his children and his household after him; and the Lord commended Abraham for using his authority; while Eli was content with merely telling his wicked sons that they were doing wrong

"he restrained them not;" and Eli, as well as his sons, was punished, and made a monument of God's anger against such parents as omit to restrain the wickedness of their sons and daughters. Let the two following passages of holy writ be firmly fixed in your minds; let them daily operate in reminding you of your duty to your children, to society, to yourselves, and to your God: "Train up a child in the way he should go;" and, "Ye fathers, bring them (your children) up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."8