farther than as they resemble him. We must bear his image if we would partake of his happiness. With how much pleasure may we reflect upon our filial relation to a Parent of the above character, of all whose conduct, goodness is the source, and the greatest good of his creatures the object! With what unbounded confidence may we'repose on his goodness, guided and supported as it is by infinite wisdom and power! This will produce peace, amidst all the changes of life, and in the nearest views of death-that peace of God which passeth understanding. My dear fellow creatures, who pant for happiness, and vainly seek it from other sources, study a resemblance to, and repose confidence in your God, and be happy.

AN INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF A GOOD MAN IN THE VIEWS OF DEATH.

THE sufferer, all patient and adoring, submits to the divine will and by submission, becomes superior to his affliction. He is sensibly touched with the disconsolate state of his attendants; and pierced with an anxious concern for his wife and his children. His wife who will soon be a destitute widow; his children, who will soon be helpless orphans. "Yet, though cast down, not in despair." He is greatly refreshed, by his trust in the everlasting covenant, and his hope of approaching glory. Religion gives a dignity to distress. At each interval of ease, he comforts his very comforters, and suffers with all the majesty of wo.

The soul, just going to abandon the tottering clay, collects all her force, and exerts her last efforts. The good man raises himself on his pillow; extends a kind hand to his servants, which is bathed in tears; takes an affecting farewel of his friends; clasps his wife in a feeble embrace; kisses the dear pledges of their mutual love; and then pours out all that remains of life and strength, in the following words;-"I die my dear children: but God, the everlasting God, will be with you.-Though you lose an earthly parent, you have a Father in heaven who lives forever.-Nothing, nothing but an unbelieving heart, and irreligious life, can ever separate you from the regards of his providence-from the endearments of his love."

He could proceed no farther. His heart was full; but utterance failed. After a short pause, with difficulty, great difficulty, he added;"You the dear partner of my soul, you are now the only protector of our orphans.-I leave you under a weight of

cares. But God, who defendeth the cause of the widow-God, whose promise is faithfulness and truth-God hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.-This revives my drooping spirits→→→ Let this support the wife of my bosom-And now, O Father of compassion, into thy hands I commend my spirit-encouraged by thy promised goodness, I leave my fatherless"

:

Here he fainted; fell back upon the bed, and lay for some minutes bereft of his senses. As a taper, upon the very point of extinction, is sometimes suddenly re-kindled, and leaps into a quivering flame so life, before it totally expired, gave a parting struggle, and once more looked abroad from the opening eye-lids. He would fain have spoke; fain have uttered the sentence he began. More than once he essayed; but the organs of his speech were become like a broken vessel, and nothing but the obstructing phlegm rattled in his throat. His aspect, however, spoke affection inexpressible. With all the father, all the husband still living in his looks; he takes one more view of those dear children, whom he had so often beheld with a parental triumph. He turns his dying eyes on that beloved woman, whom he never beheld but with a glow of delight. Fixed in this posture, amidst smiles of love, and under a gleam of heaven, he shines out his last.

MORAL DEPARTMENT.

FOR THE WEEKLY MONITOR.

ESSRS. EDITORS-I was glad to see your proposals for the "MONITOR," and persuade myself, that, if well conducted--on the plan suggested in your prospectus-you will receive very liberal encouragement.-It has ever been my opinion, that a work, similar to that which you propose to publish, would be extremely useful-knowing, as every one must, that our present literary and news publications cannot conveniently insert those articles, which, while they are intended to benefit the youth, may not be uninteresting to the whole of your readers I herewith enclose you the reflections of some of my leisure moments.-The subject, at least, you will perceive to be of vast importance; and I purpose to continue it in numbers. Should you think the number now sent worthy of insertion, you are requested to give place to it; in which case I will forward No. 2 in season for your next.

THE FRIEND TO YOUTH-No. 1.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

THERE is no subject which calls so loudly for reformation--nor none more entitled to our serious attention-than the management and bringing up of children. Hitherto this subject has been to

much disregarded. The writer is far from wishing to give the least offence; and hopes none will misapprehend or misconstrue his motives, in offering this humble admonition. He is himself a parent, and therefore no stranger to parental love and affection. He could wish that some one more able than himself had undertaken the task upon which he is now about to enter. But in a cause so noble, and so important--on the complete success of which so much depends-he will not be backward, nay, shall even feel proud, to render in his mite; and should his efforts, to arouse some parents to a sense of their duty, produce but one convert, he shall feel happy in his partial success.

It will not, it cannot, be denied, that the morals and education of children and youth have been too long neglected-have been suffered to slumber as in silent sleep. There are, however, some exceptions. Examples have been shewn, in educating children, worthy of imitation. But, alas! too many yet remain careless and inattentive to this important duty!

Though we may deeply lament the fact, it is too notorious for contradiction, that most of the wickedness and misery into which many of the youth have fallen, has been owing to the neglect of parents and guardians.-I hope none will misunderstand me, or consider my intentions and views false. But if there are any who feel disposed to question the truth of this assertion, let them devote some of their leisure moments in visiting the streets, and market places, where they will rarely fail of meeting numbers whose time is passed not only in idleness, but often in the most horrid scenes of debauchry; and at night, when they retire for sleep, to reflect upon what may have passed their observation in the course of their visit! Hundreds (perhaps more) will they meet, who-had early attention been paid to their morals,might have become an honor to themselves and families, and ornaments to society-have brought wretchedness and disgrace on themselves and their connexions, by the horrid practice of profane swearing, &c.-Alas! when will this degrading and abominable practice be universally detested? When shall we all aim at with the hope and prospect of gaining even the threshhold of perfection? Ah! happy indeed should we then be, and would to heaven that this were more than imaginary reality!

Of all the vices which degrade mankind, none is more heinous in the sight of GoD-nor none considered more contemptible even by man-than profane swearing.-Is it not lamentable then, that this worst of vices should extend to our youth, and thereby blast their hopes in this world and that which is to come! Those,

therefore, who have the bringing up of children, should recollect, that much depends on their management; that in attending to the morals and education of their children, while they are young, they prevent that awful hazard which inevitably awaits the neglect of this important and (shall I say) pleasing duty!

In a country, where religion sheds its benign rays; where literature and science are uniting to dispel the clouds of ignorance and bigotry; where we boast of liberty and equality, of benevolence, of charity, and in short of every thing calculated to enhance our present happiness;-shall it be told, that in such a country, with all its blessings, and all its boastings, many of the children and youth-(and alas! there are too many of a higher order to whom this remark is equally applicable)—are not only strangers to morality and religion, but are destitute of even common education. The writer is not to be understood as undervaluing the true merits of his country, nor will he say, that the boastings are not justifiable; on the contrary he knows, that, considering its early age, no nation stands higher in point of christianity, in literature, and in the sciences. It cannot be supposed, however, that the love which he bears for his country, will supercede or extinguish that which he cherishes for religion, and all mankind, especially those who engage in religion. He shall always feel zealous to promote the cause of christianity, wherever it is practicable; to render praise to whomsoever it may be due, and encourage the exposure of follies wherever they are found, without regard to countries or kingdoms.

We are favoured with town schools and other seminaries of learning in abundance; but of how much value are these, if we do not improve their advantages; if, between school hours, we suffer our children to roam at large; to visit whatever vice or curiosity may lead them to; and thus, in no short time, fall into idleness and misery.

It is too often the case, that parents think their duty, in point of instruction, at an end, when they place their children at school, and imagine that this is all which is necessary to give them the advantage of a good education; that they will learn sufficient at school to distinguish right from wrong.-But they are somewhat erroneous in their calculations; for what good, children learn at school is soon driven from their minds, if they are allowed to "live in the streets" between school hours, and mix themselves with bad playmates; whereas by the united exertions of both tutors and parents, children would soon be brought to detest wickedness. Schools never were

designed to relieve parents of their whole duty in instructing children; they only take a part: Parents still have an important duty devolving on them, to wit, to endeavour, by example and conversation, to instil correct principles in their minds while they are young. If this is neglected, if children are suffered to run the chance of corruption, schools or other sources of learning are of no use-are, in fact, a curse rather than a blessing; for if learning is unattended by virtue, they had better remain in ignorance; as in this state, when without virtue, they will do less harm and commit less sin. Shall I add that unless we ALL follow after righteousness, unless morality and education shall go hand in hand; we are by far the best off when we walk in the "dark shades" of ignorance.

ANTIMACHUS,

SELECTED.

CENSURE DESPISED BY PHILOSOPHERS.

A GOOD Conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves a constant ease and serenity within us, and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can possibly befal us. I know nothing so hard for a generous mind to get over as calumny and reproach, and cannot find any method of quieting the soul under them, besides this single one, of our being conscious to ourselves that we do not deserve them.

I have been always mightily pleased with that passage in Don Quixote, where the fantastical knight is represented as loading a gentleman of good sense with praises and eulogiums. Upon which the gentleman makes this reflection to himself: "How grateful is praise to human nature! I cannot forbear being secretly pleased with the commendations I receive, though I am sensible it is a madman that bestows them on me." In the same manner, though we are often sure that the censures which are passed upon us are uttered by those who know nothing of us, and have neither means nor abilities to form a right judgment of us, we cannot forbear being grieved at what they say.

In order to heal this infirmity, which is natural to the best and wisest of men, I have taken a particular pleasure in observing the conduct of the old philosophers, how they bore themselves up against the malice and detraction of their enemies.

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