aside; the lately erected altar was laid in ruins; and the hopes which had been cherished for those stricken mourners lay in ruin beside it. Now, is it not one of the saddest of all sorrows to see souls thus perishing under the very rod, and hugging misery when the Hearer of prayer would conduct them to glory? Such parents, surely, do not know the value of souls as their price is proclaimed on the Cross.

Once more, in regard to family religion, we observe that good should be expected from the right discharge of parental duty. It is often done merely as a duty; but, as it is not cheered or animated by hope, it is cold, effectless, and dishonouring to the Spirit of God. We ought, then, to look up and expect an answer when we cry. We should believe that what is done in faith will end in blessings, and that our children and our homes will know the goodness of God our Saviour. Without that hope cherished in some degree, we may still pray, but it is not the prayer of faith, so much as of formality or despair. We may still use means, but they are employed without earnestness, and followed by no blessing, while quietly to wait for the salvation of our God is both honouring to Him, and fraught with joy to parents.

EXAMPLES.

We need not try to find a better illustration, both of the spirit and the method of family prayer, than is supplied by the case of the Rev. Richard Cecil.* He says, "Tediousness in family religion will weary children and servants. Fine language will shoot above them. Gloominess

*It is not our purpose to give detailed directions for the discharge of this duty. Our little Hand-book for families would thereby become too large. Matthew Henry was wont to say-"They do well who read the Word at family worship. They do better who read and pray. They do best who read and praise and pray.”

THE MAXIMS OF WISDOM.

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or austerity of devotion will make them dread religion as a hard service. Let them be met with smiles."

He adds "I make no formal comment on the Scripture read; but when any striking event or sentiment arises, I say, 'Mark that.' 'See how God judges of things.' Sometimes I ask what they think, and how such a thing strikes them."

"I endeavour," he proceeds, "to raise the children and servants to a persuasion that God's will in Scripture is the standard, and that this standard is perpetually in opposition to the corrupt one around and before them."

"I read the Scriptures to my family in some regular order. I look on the chapter of the day as a lesson sent for that day; and so I regard it as coming from God for present use, and not of my own seeking."

Regularity must be enforced. If a certain hour is not fixed, and adhered to, the family will inevitably be found in confusion:"

66

Religion should be prudently brought before a family. The old Dissenters wearied their families. gentle, quiet, moderate, should be our aim.

Something

There should be

no scolding it should be mild and pleasant."

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"I avoid absolute uniformity: the mind revolts at it." 'Nothing of superstition should attach to family duty. It is not absolutely and in all cases indispensable. unavoidably interrupted, we omit it; it is well.

If

I do not, however, mean in any degree to relax the proper obligation."

Now, these are the maxims of a holy prudence regarding a precious privilege, and were any supplement required, it might be found in the sayings of Matthew Henry's sagacity

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THE DAILY SACRIFICE.

on the subject. "If you have not a Church in your house, it is to be feared Satan will have a seat there." "If we make our houses God's houses, we shall be hid in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide us." "The way

to keep sin out of the house is to keep up religion in the house, which will be the most effectual antidote to Satan's poison." "If there were a Church in every house, there would be such a Church in our land as would make it a blessing throughout the whole earth." "I beseech you, make a business of your family religion, and not a by-business." "While you seem saints in your devotions, prove not yourselves sinners in your conversation.” "Your family worship is an honour to you; see to it that neither you nor yours be in anything a disgrace to it." "If you have confidence enough to rule a family, I hope you have confidence enough to pray with a family." "Wherever we go ourselves, we must take our religion with us.

"

But enough the obligation to this duty is plain, even though no commandment can be quoted expressly and by name enjoining its performance. The reasons for it are cogent: its blessings are manifold, while the excuses for neglecting it are fallacies which may all be resolved into the absence of the love of God, or of fellowship with Him in Christ. Let the soul of a father once feel what it is to be sinful, and to be surrounded with sinful, though much-loved, little ones, then all obstructions will disappear. The family altar will be set up, and kept up. Like Job, a daily sacrifice will be offered there for each child in the Home. Affection from child to parent will be deepened by the love cherished for a heavenly * See Sermon on "Family Religion," by Rev. M. Henry.

Father; and when the saint, the husband, and the father is summoned away, he may quietly leave his little ones under the guardianship of the orphan's God; for "I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

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EDUCATION.

CHAPTER II.

THE EDUCATION OF HOME.

Object of this Chapter-All Nature a School-Early Lessons-Importance of Home Education-Variety of Mental Constitution-The Body to be cared for-Infant Schools-The Affections-Conscience-Symmetrical Training-The Christian Graces-The Triumphs of Home-All Beautiful Things should be Taught-The Bible-Training for God is Training for Ourselves-Emulation-The Education of Shew-The Study of Words-Examples-Philip Henry-Edward Bickersteth-Lady Blessington.

It is no part of our purpose to discuss the comparative merits of education at Home and at a public seminary. Though much might be said as to the necessity for Christianising nearly all our public institutions, that is a question so wide and so complex as to demand and deserve a separate treatise. Neither is it designed to offer a complete account even of a Home education, but merely to supply some hints to the earnest parent who loves the soul of his child, or who would so train his little one that God may be honoured, and Home made happy. The most momentous trust that can be placed in man's hand is certainly the care of souls, yet how limited is the preparation of many for that solemn work! Fitness for it is often left to be acquired at random, and injuries which can never be counteracted may hence be produced. To prevent such results, some of the prominent points to be kept in view, in all godly training, are now to be mentioned.

And, first, all nature is a school for the young: they some