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"What should be the principal objects to be aimed at in my domestic arrangements?

"What is my business; and ought it so to engross me as to make me a stranger to my children?

"How may society be rendered useful in aiding the fatner in the education of his children ?"

"I

It is needless to say, that these questions ought not to oe confined to the father; both parents are equally interested in the subject. We would only add a few other considerations to deepen the impressions they may have made on Christian parents. Consider that your children have been dedicated to God in baptism; that you have in that ordinance voluntarily taken upon yourselves an engagement to train up your children for God; that God looks to you for the performance of your promise, and that the blood of your children will be required at your hands, if they perish through your neglect of duty. Cherish upon your own minds the immense value of the soul; let this be constantly impressed upon all your endeavors, work for eternity." However important it is that your children should be properly fitted for the duties of this life, never forget that this life is only the seed-plot of eternity. When millions and millions of years shall have rolled away, your children will continue to reap the harvest of bliss or of wo, which has sprung from the seeds sown in their minds by you in their early days. How appalling the thought, should that prove a harvest of misery and ruin! May the dread of it have its full influence in stirring up parents to redouble their diligence in the great work in which they are engaged. Above all, let Christian parents remember, that if they would be successful in educating their offspring for God, they must be unceasing in their prayers for the influence of the Spirit of God to accompany all their efforts. In vain does the husbandman plough his land, and scatter the seed in its proper season, if the rain and the dew of heaven descend not to cause it to bring forth fruit; so while the Christian parent labors by every means in his power to train up his child in the way he should go, his labors will yet be utterly inefficient, if the dew of divine influence descend not to change the heart, and thus prepare it to bring forth "the fruits

of the Spirit." Independent of the direct influence of prayer in drawing down blessings from heaven, the salutary effect which it has upon the parent's own mind, in softening and preparing it to persevere in the performance of those duties on which the divine blessing has been implored, as well as in impressing the necessity of acting in accordance with the spirit of prayer, makes it one of the most powerful auxiliaries in the education of children that can be employed.

These preliminary remarks may suffice for the present. In a future number, we propose to offer a few remarks on Physical Education, by which children may be fitted "for glorifying God in their bodies," as well as in their spirits.

For the Mother's Magazine.

CHILDREN'S MINDS EARLY STORED WITH RELIGIOUS TRUTH.

THERE is a point of deep interest, and in my view of peculiar importance, to which I wish again to advert. It is the question, in what way we may most reasonably hope to be instrumental in bringing our children to a hearty, cordial, and practical reception of the great truths of our holy religion? You are aware, that those who have sound heads and truly Christian hearts, entertain different opinions on this subject. Some have thought that it was best to preoccupy the mind, as much as possible, with religious truths at a very early period; others, that the mind should be kept entirely unbiased, until it becomes capable of understanding and judging for itself. It is to this last sentiment I wish to object, in the strongest manner possible. I am sure it is an error which admits of no after consideration. If a child or a youth is not a full unhesitating believer in the truths of our religion at ten, twelve, or fifteen years, it is only as by a miracle that it ever becomes so. I speak now of receiving the Bible as a divine rule of action, obligatory upon all. This I deem the basis of all religion. We may be recreant to the rule, and afterwards return, but the rule must be ever sacred and unquestioned in our minds; and this must become so

through very early instruction and education. Is our affection for our parents the result of education or circumstances? I would not say that our religion is not reasonable-it is perfectly so; but we are not disposed to feel it to be so. And has it been asked, "Who by searching can find out God?" Human reasoning may, and often does, occasion infidelity; but never, no, never leads the lost soul to God. You, as the mother of your children, have the most unbounded influence over them; as a Christian mother, may you not identify the religion which is so dear and precious to you, with yourself, in their minds? Have you the least fear that any of your children will ever rest the evidence of their really being your offspring upon the legal aspect of the subject? or that a question can in any event be raised in their minds on this point? Certainly not. Now, is this full and unhesitating confidence produced by circumstances, and those alone, and shall not these same circumstances be used to produce the same results as regards the great subject of religion?

Early education is the only citadel that cannot be shaken by infidel sophistry. Let children be educated to feel that the truth and certainty of the Christian religion forms a part of their being, and it can never be successfully assailed in their minds. If there is one human being that can be held accountable for the moral character of another, it is the Christian mother for that of her child. And if this position be just, what scenes will the judgment day unfold! Oh, how many mothers are themselves deliberately, systematically, and studiously appropriating to themselves that place in the young affections of their children that belongs to God only! Dear sister, pardon me if I do you wrong; but allow me to urge you, by all that is dear and sacred, to impress upon the minds of your children the character of Christ; and to instil into their minds the truths of our holy religion. I believe that you are sincerely desirous of promoting the best interests of your children; how can this be done in any way like leading them to a practical knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus? Are you ready to inquire how it is that my mind is so strongly directed to this point? I answer, from personal observation of those who are dear to me,

who, with Christian parents, are now at a very early age urging in reality, though not in name, towards practical infidelity; and I feel that I could weep tears of blood over them and for them, if it could avail ought in their case. Oh! may you in mercy be spared the pangs of knowing that, through your neglect, any of your offspring should yield their young spirits to the tempter's fatal power. Show them that you desire, above all things, to see them Christians-that you would rather have them dishonor and disobey you than God--that it is the image of Christ in them that you desire to see, and that you prize above all things beside.

For the Mother's Magazine.

EDUCATION FOR MISSIONARY LABOR.

(Continued from Vol. IV. p. 158.)

HAVING spoken in a former article of the importance of training children, and especially daughters, with a view to the missionary cause, it remains for us to consider some of the ways by which this may be done.

And first, we would suggest as an efficient means, acquainting them at an early age with the wants of the heathen.

A child may very early be made to feel the claims of want and suffering. The benevolence of the infant heart has never been chilled by selfishness, or blunted by the deceitfulness of a cold world. It will melt at the tale of others' wo, and in the ardor of youthful zeal, seek some redress for the object of its grief. How often, mother, have you seen your little daughter weep as you told her the melting story of Calvary! Now talk of those benighted ones, who never heard the name of Jesus, those whom he died to save as well as her; tell her of the cruel gods the heathen serve, how many children like herself are sacrificed even by their mother's hand. As she advances in life, let a part of her reading partake of this character. Let her become familiar with the history of missions. As she becomes acquainted with the geography of the world, spare no pains to acquaint her

with its religious aspect. Point her where the Savior prayed, where Paul was sacrificed, where Peter preached; then show her where a Martyn died, a Carey laboured, and a Judson wept; go with her to the lonely island where a Harriet Newell sleeps, and with her visit those now laboring in these consecrated lands. Teach her the state of her own sex in heathen lands, degraded, left without one ray to cheer their hopeless lot-the light of intellect denied, and virtue's hallowed bliss refused. Show her that it is the Gospel which thus elevates the Christian woman's lot.

But it is said such things are unfit to teach children—you should not paint before them such exciting subjects. Tell them of the true condition of the heathen, and the suffering of heathen children, and it will move their sympathies too much— it will make them gloomy-it is not well to damp their spirits by such presentations of wo. Ah! and does a Christian mother wish her child to be trained up in such a world as this, without being taught that it is a world of sorrow and of sin? Though she may be kept ignorant in childhood, she must learn it in after years. Is it not then the dictate of wisdom, to fortify her mind against these ills in early life, by teaching her the remedy? Can her young heart be too soon led to feel for others' wo? Can she too early learn to love the deed of charity? Will she not, in after years, be likely to do more, to feel more, and to pray more, for the salvation of the world, if taught in early life to feel its wants and claims?

Besides this general instruction and reading, we beg leave to mention the special observance of the day of monthly concert in prayer for the conversion of the world, as a method peculiarly felicitous in effecting this work. The first Monday in every month is well known to be devoted by many to the cause of missions. Now, were every mother to spend this day in gaining intelligence on this great subject, and imparting it to her children, reading the journals and letters of domestic and foreign missionaries, or hearing them read by her children, and explaining them to their capacity, would she not reap a rich benefit to herself, while the increasing interest of her children, and their increased knowledge of the subject, would more than repay her

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