pang-that this is chargeable to our neglect. Early examples last long. The teaching of our childhood lingers with us more or less to the last. We forget many things, but truths we then learnt cannot easily be erased. We may lay aside the principles of good-we may cover with a veil the best impressions we have received-we may go recklessly counter to what we know to be right, and plunge presumptuously into what we know to be wrong-we may do despite to our better feelings, and bring down by our folly a parent's grey hairs with sorrow to the grave-but, after a long interval of sin and contempt against God, perchance, nay, rather by God's mercy, we may come to a better mind. Remembrance is then busy at work. The veil is rent aside from conscience. With shame and confusion of face we brood over the long period of an ill-spent life. Recollection carries us still further back. The scenes and thoughts of childhood are once more around us. Happy days! when the morning arose in peace, and the evening went down in innocence! Happy days! when the heart was uncorrupted, and the good name unblemished! Happy days! when no crime of the waking hours disturbed us by night, and no riot of the night cast a shade over the succeeding day. Happy days! when the

world was before us full of hope. How changed from now when we look back through the tears and disappointments and transgressions of years! Happy days! when we were at peace with all around us, at peace with our own hearts, and at peace with God! The contrast overpowers us.

In feeling and tenderness we are children once more. Tears of contrite repentance and sorrow burst from us. We fall humbly on our knees. The very lessons of our childhood stand out in all their freshness before our eyes. We seem to hear the dying injunction of pious parents who commended us to Heaven; and we tear ourselves henceforward, by God's help, from the meshes of sin, with the self-expostulation—“What fruit have we of those things whereof we are now ashamed!"

Solemnly I would ask, what heritage can we leave to our children which is in any degree to be compared with Christian example, Christian principles, Christian impressions? The noble ancestry we should wish them to emulate and imitate, is that of "pious parents passed into the skies." Doubtless we should be anxious for their coming years, but what station can we hope for them which can in any way approach the greatness of their being heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ?

I know that we should provide for them, but what provision is that which follows them only to the grave, and then leaves them without treasures for eternity? I know we should labour for their after peace and comfort and happiness, but how can all these be attained unless by labouring to implant in them that pious dependance upon God, and that faith in the promises of Christ, which may enable them through all the changes and uncertainties of the world to realize "that as their day is, so shall their strength be?"

Christian Parents, our responsibility, then, is weighty, our encouragement is great, our path of duty is plain, our task is most holy :-"To bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" to teach each one from a child to "know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation." Look upon your children as once pledged and promised to Christ. Look upon them as called by, and baptized into his name. Look upon them as having all the capabilities of being taught for the kingdom of Heaven! Look upon them as bringing with them their Redeemer's solemn charge to you, "Suffer them to come unto me." Look upon them as being, through the Holy Covenant, "Members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the

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kingdom of Heaven." And then the interest with which they are invested as your offspring, will be inconceivably increased; you will behold them not only with fondness and tenderness, but with pious hope, and most exalted faith; and whilst you love them as your children, you will behold them in a far higher relationship with reference to the future world, where they and you shall be members of that family of which "God is not ashamed to be called the Father;" that family which embraces in its communion angels and archangels and the "general assembly and church of the first-born, which is written in heaven."

ILLUSTRATION X.

THE BELIEVING HUSBAND AND BELIEVING WIFE.

"WHAT KNOWEST THOU, O WIFE, WHETHER THOU SHALT SAVE THY HUSBAND? OR HOW KNOWEST THOU, O MAN, WHETHER THOU SHALT SAVE THY WIFE?"-1 Cor. vii. 16.

Ir is a beautiful and distinguishing mark of Christ's religion, that whilst it teaches us how to walk so as to please God, it regards also our relative duties to each other, and urges upon us, as fellow-partakers of the same promises, "to please every one his neighbour, for his good to edification." The precepts which it lays down for us, and the mutual good offices which it enjoins, are so many concordant links of a golden chain drawing us up to God, and yet binding us, as his children, in sweet fellowship together. "The end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart"-shed abroad in us by God, and reflecting itself from one towards another.

Our present Illustration of the Gospel's domestic influence, will be by shewing that it strengthens the strong link which unites heart to heart, and