EPHESIANS VI. 4. Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

IN some ancient communities, the important concern of educating their youth, was taken out of the hands of parents, and vested in public instructors, chosen for their reputed wisdom, and bound, by the most solemn engagements, to be faithful to their trust.

In modern times, it has been judged more conducive to the general good, to leave child

ren to be educated by parents themselves; without restriction or interference.

There was no reason to doubt the affection of parents for their offspring: the only question was, whether this affection might not sometimes be carried to excess; whether it would be always under the wisest and most salutary direction.

On the other hand, if superior wisdom and impartiality were to be expected from the public instructors, adopted by the ancient communities, they could scarcely be conceived to possess the tenderness of real parents; they would be apt to govern more by stern authority, and less by mild and gentle persuasion; and those formed under their discipline would be, consequently, not so much distinguished by the virtues of humanity, as by their inflexible resolution, their invincible fortitude. Without a home, stripped of its tender relations, and endeared enjoyments, the life of man might assume a character of

savage grandeur; but what would become of all those beautiful affections, which are the natural germs of universal philanthropy? Nature has provided, in the sympathies which bind the hearts of parents to their children, more faithful guardians, more zealous instructors, than any artificial institutions, departing from her laws, can ordinarily furnish. Parents may be, and doubtless often are, deceived, in what will best promote the happiness of their offspring; but the happiness of their offspring they can never cease to pursue. see instances of those, who, while they are accumulating large inheritances for their children, train them up so that they are neither respected nor beloved in Society; on the contrary, they instil into their opening minds the most sordid and dangerous maxims,-perhaps, endeavour to force them into connexions, that would infallibly render them miserable-and wherefore?-Unquestionably, with a view to promote their happiness.

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The very eagerness with which they court

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misery for their children, shews how earnestly they desire their welfare. Did they but consider, how much more depends upon the mind, than upon the outward state; did they but reflect how little desirable is the wealth or rank, which only serves to make the folly and worthlessness of its possessor the more conspicuous mark of derision,-were not parents themselves dazzled with false lights, and deluded with visions of unreal happiness,were they aware of the value of well furnished understandings, justly regulated affections, and upright hearts-far from endeavouring to vitiate the native simplicity of their children, they would be anxious about nothing but to preserve their minds without a stain.

Men may speak highly of virtue and religion; while they discover little or no solicitude for the moral or religious improvement of their children or even make it a secondary concern; yet no one can believe that this indifference proceeds from want of natural affection; but because their desire of pleasure, and love of the world