One nation, no doubt, is perfectly free to prefer a mixed or constitutional Monarchy, and may extol it as the perfection of human wisdom. Another may prefer a Republic, and boast of it, as one where all power is from the people, and in the people, and for the people. Under both forms, the bountiful and humane have felt themselves alike free to devise kind and liberal things; but the actual stability of either nation depends not upon its form of civil government, much less upon this array of human ingenuity. Unions, associations, consociations, boards, or societies, of benevolent aspect, suggested for certain exigencies, or pressing demands, may, for a season, form the taste of the times; but with all their long array of secretaries and treasurers, committees, and sub-committees, superintendants, inspectors, collectors, and travelling agents, they are only weak and short-sighted contrivances, when once placed in comparison with the fixed arrangements of the God of nature, of wisdom, and mercy. Social artificial appliances have been suggested to certain minds by some defect, delinquency, or moral disease; but, in many cases, they so far derange and endanger the natural constitution of society, instead of restoring it to vigour and harmonious action. Many such expedients, from whomsoever proceeding, and by whomsoever administered, must needs multiply the evils they are proposed to remedy. No, for the health of human society, most mercifully, it has not been left for man to devise those moral means, which are so distinguished for inimitable simplicity, and great inherent power. The genius and design of the Domestic Circle on the one hand, and those of the Kingdom of Christ or House of God on the other, form the two channels for co-operation appointed by infinite Wisdom. Both of these are before us, as they are alike depicted in the Sacred Volume. Neither the one, nor the other, are yet clearly comprehended, but let not any obscurity be ascribed to Divine Revelation. Want of perception there may be in the reader, but there is no defect in the record. Justice yet remains to be done to both subjects; but as to the Family Constitution, in particular, though it be the smallest, the simplest, the most unpretending of all, it is the groundwork of all society. Touch this; neglect this; contrive remedies beyond the threshold, in defect of the sense of duty to be felt within, or amuse the mind away from the Parents' imperative and untransferable obligations; and the national character, whatever may be its form of civil government, inevitably suffers. That nation, at last, in the expressive language of Sacred writ, must "wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots." On no account whatever, therefore, let the eye or the ear of either Parent ever be diverted abroad from a Divine constitution of things, the fixed appointment of their common Creator. The contempt in which domestic pleasures have in modern times been held, is a mark of profligacy. It argues a defect not only in taste and judgment, but in morals, and forms a proof of profound ignorance of real enjoyment. The extent also to which buildings have been erected in some parts, and are still in the course of erection, for boarding as well as educating children, thus separating the offspring from their Parents, withering the affectionate esteem of the child, and diminishing the sense of obligation in the Father and Mother, calls for grave consideration, if not serious apprehension, of the consequences. With the exception of Orphans, and the Children of Sailors and Soldiers abroad, this spurious, and often posthumous, bene volence, if once carried beyond a certain limit, in any city, must inevitably sink both Parent and Child, in the scale of all that is powerful in moral strength, all that is amiable and praiseworthy in human conduct. Under all these circumstances, whether at home or abroad, may Britain, our beloved country, ever stand out distinguished for Family government, with all its unpurchasable blessings. Let double attention be devoted to the wisdom and goodness of God himself, as displayed in the division of mankind into families. Let the inestimable benefits arising to individuals, to the church, and to society at large, from this providential arrangement, be more duly estimated, and with hope of success too, by every Parent. The God of "all the families of the earth" is of one mind, nor can any power turn Him from his immutable purpose and design. It is the dictate of inspiration, and uttered by the wisest of men,-" I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever. Nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before HIM." EDINBURGH, 15th December 1846. CONTENTS. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE HUMAN FAMILY OR DOMESTIC CIRCLE; INCLUDING ITS VARIOUS CONNEXIONS AND PECU- LIAR SANCTIONS; THE MORAL POWER OF WHICH IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE; WITH THE DANGER AND VANITY OF INTER- |