XI. As soon as we can, we will advance to still higher principles. I will often tell the children what cause they have to love a glorious Christ who has died for them; how much he will be pleased with their well-doing; and what a noble thing it is to follow his example, which example I will describe to them. I will often tell them that the eye of God is upon them; that he knows all they do, and hears all they speak. I will frequently remind them that there will be a time, when they must appear before the holy Lord; and that they must now do nothing which may then be a source of grief and shame to them. I will set before them the delights of that heaven which is prepared for pious children; and the torments of that hell which is prepared for wicked ones. I will inform them of the kind offices which the good angels. perform for children who fear God, and are afraid of sin; how the devils tempt them to do bad things; how they hearken to the devils, and are like them when they do such things; what mischiefs these evil spirits may obtain permission to do in the world, and how awful it would be to dwell among the devils, in the" place of dragons." I will cry to God, that he may make them feel the power of these principles.

XII. When the children are of a proper age or it, I will sometimes have them with me alone, and converse with them about the state of their souls; their experiences, their proficiency, their temptations; obtain their declared consent to every article in the covenant of grace; and then pray with them, earnestly entreating that the Lord would bestow his grace upon them, and thus make them witnesses of the agony with which I am tra

vailing to see the image of Christ formed in them. Certainly they will never forget such exercises as these!

XIII. I would be very watchful and cautious about the companions of my children. I would be very inquisitive to learn what company they keep. If they are in danger of being ensnared by vicious company, I will earnestly pull them out of it, as "brands out of the burning;" and will try to procure for them fit and useful associates.

XIV. As in catechising the children, so in the repetition of the public sermons, I would use this method: I would put every truth into the form of a question, to be answered with yes, or no. By this method I hope to awaken their attention; as well as enlighten their understandings. And thus I shall have an opportunity to ask, Do you desire such and such a grace; with other similar questions. Yea, I may by this means have an opportunity to demand, and perhaps to obtain, their early, frequent, and, I would hope, sincere consent to the glorious articles of the new covenant. The Spirit of grace may fall upon them in this action, and they may be seized by him, and possessed by him as his temples, through eternal

ages.

XV. When a day of Humiliation arrives, I will make them know the meaning of the day; and after some time given them to consider of it, I will require them to tell me, what special afflictions they have met with, and what good they hope to get by those afflictions. On a day of Thanksgiving, they shall also be made to know the intent of the day; and after consideration, they shall inform me, what mercies of God to them they take

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special notice of, and what duties to God, they confess and resolve to perform under such obligations. Indeed, for something of this importance, to be pursued in my conversation with them, I would not coufine myself to the solemn days, which may occur too seldom for it; but, particularly, where the birth-days of any of the children arrive, I would take them aside, and remind them of the age, which, having obtained help of God, they have attained: and tell them how thankful they should be for the mercies of God, upon which they have hitherto lived; and how fruitful they should be in all goodness, that so they may still enjoy their mercies. And I would inquire of them, whether they have ever yet begun to mind the work which God sent them into the world to perform; what attempts they have made towards it; and how they design to spend the rest of their time, if God continue them in the world.

XVI. When the children are in any trouble, whether sickness or otherwise, I will take advantage of the occasion, to set before them the evil of sin, the cause of all our trouble; and will represent to them, how fearful a thing it will be, to be cast among the damned, who are in unceasing and endless trouble. I will set before them the benefit of an interest in Christ, by which their trouble will be sanctified to them, and they will be prepared for death, and for fulness of joy in a happy eternity after death.

XVII. I wish, that among all the branches of a polite education, which I would endeavour to give my children, each of them, the daughters as well as the sons, may have so much acquaintance with some profitable avocation (whether it be painting,

or the law, or medicine, or any other employment to which their own inclination may the most lead them,) that they may be able to obtain for themselves a comfortable subsistence, if by the providence of God, they should ever be brought into destitute circumstances. Why should not they be thus instructed as well as Paul, the Tent-maker! Children of the highest rank, may have occasion to bless their parents who made such a provision for them. The Jews have a saying on this subject, which is worthy to be mentioned: "Quicunque filium suum non docet opificium, perinde est ac si eum docet latrocinium."*

XVIII. As early as possible, I would make my children acquainted with the chief end for which they are to live; that so their youth may not be altogether vanity. I would shew them that their chief end must be to acknowledge the great God, and to bring others to acknowledge him; and that they are never acting wisely nor well, but when they are so doing. I would shew them, what these acknowledgments are, and how they are to be made. I would make them able to answer the grand question, " For what purpose do you live; and what is the end of the actions that employ your lives?" I would teach them, how their Creator and Redeemer is to be obeyed in every thing, and how every thing is to be done in obedience to him; I would instruct them in what manner even their diversions, their ornaments, and the tasks of their education must all be managed to fit them for the further service of Him to whom I have devoted them, and how, in these also, his

Whoever teaches not his son some trade or business, does in reality teach him to be a thief,

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commandments must be the rule of all they do. I would therefore sometimes surprise them with an inquiry, Child, what is this for? Give me a good account why you do it." How comfortably shall I see them" walking in the light," if I may bring them wisely to answer this question; and what" children of the light" they will be!

XIX. I would sometimes oblige the children to retire, and ponder on that question;" What should I wish to have done, if I were now dying?" After they shall have reported to me their own answer to the question, I will take occasion from it, to inculcate upon them the lessons of Godliness. I would also direct and oblige them, at a proper time, seriously to realise their own appearance before the awful judgment-seat of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to consider, what they have to plead, that they may not be sent away into everlasting punishment; what they have to plead, that they may be admitted into the Holy City, I would instruct them what plea to prepare: first, shew them how to get a part in the righteousness of him who is to be their Judge, by receiving it with a thankful faith, as the gift of infinite grace to the distressed and unworthy sinner: then shew them how to prove that their faith is genuine by their continual endeavour in all things to please Him who is to be their Judge, and to serve his kingdom and interest in the world. And I would charge them to make this preparation.

XX. If I live to see the children arrive at a marriageable age, I would, before I consult with heaven on earth for their best accommodation in the married state, aim at the espousal of their souls to their only Saviour. I would, as plainly and as