Husb. Why, I alleged he was his son, that I could do no more than acquaint him of his conduct, and that ho must take care of the rest; that my part was to teach him his trade, and see that my business was done; but as to the rest, it lay upon him, and that I had discharged myself in giving him this account of his son. He affirmed the contrary, that I was in his place essentially,-that as I had a right to his time, so I was obliged to exact an account of it from him, as much as I would of money committed to him to pay, and the like. And so we fell into dispute about the distinction of a parent and a father: he affirmed that I was a parent to the boy, though not a father; and that the duty of taking care of him, both soul and body, was mine.

Wife. I am not capable to argue these things: but I confess I am very much of his opinion; for I think, when a father commits his child to us, if he puts his body under our care, and not his soul, pray, what must become of the youth? Must he be left without government, to be ruined?

it.

Husb. Why, if that be my duty, I have sadly neglected

Wife. Indeed, my dear, I have often thought so, especially when I have heard you say to your 'prentices, that you only required their constant attendance at such and such hours, and that for the rest of the time they might go where they pleased. I could not think young men should be left so entirely to their own disposal; I am persuaded no sober father would like it. I am sure, if any of my sons should come to be put out, I should be very sorry to put them to a master that should do so.

Husb. I see I have been in an error; but what should I have done?

Wife. My dear, why do you ask me what you should do? Am I fit to teach you?

Husb. Indeed, any body may teach me; I have been taught lately by a meaner, instructor than you.

Wife. It may be so, my dear; but I am none of those wives that set up to teach their husbands.

{..

Husb. But you may give your advice.

Wife. In such cases, there is little difference betwixt advising and teaching, except in the arrogance of the word; besides, advice is generally asked before it is given; if it be given before it be asked, it is rather an admonition or reproof than advice.

Husb. But, my dear, you might abate ceremonies with me. What would you have supposed to have been my duty as a master? Have not I enough to do to teach them their trade, and see them do my business?

Wife. If you will have it to be so, that I must give my opinion, I will be very plain, that I think you have a great deal more to do; that when they are committed to your charge, by their parents, their whole behaviour is under your care; and that though serving God is their particular duty, and lies upon them, yet it is your duty to see, as far as in you lies, that they perform it; and at your hands their souls will be required, if you neglect your duty, and indulge them in the neglect of their own.

Husb. But, my dear, you must explain the words, as far as in me lies; that is the thing I speak of. My business is their work; if they neglect that, I am to see it remedied; but as to their morals and religion, it I see cause to dislike, I acquaint their parents; is not that doing the thing as far as in me lies?

Wife. I cannot say that it is: you may do much more than that, or else what does that signify? For when a father knows of his son's wicked courses, what can he do? He is under your care for correction, and under his father's only for admonition, as he is your

servant.

Husb. I warrant their fathers would think it very hard that I should correct one of them.

Wife. On the other hand, I believe you would take it yery ill to have one of their fathers come to your shop, and

cane or correct one of your 'prentices; you would say he took the work out of your hands.

Husb. I cannot take that pains with them; I'll rather have no 'prentices.

Wife. Indeed, my dear, you had better take none; for it is but murdering youth, and robbing their father, to take young men, and keep them under no government.

Husb. But youth are come to that pass, that they will be under no government now.

Wife. My dear, there is hardly any young man so ill taught, but, if he is begun with at first, will submit to go. vernment. I do not say they will all be the better for it; but there is a difference between a young man's not profiting by instruction, and refusing to submit to it.

Husb. What can I do?

Wife. My dear, you are no ignorant person; you do not want me to say what you can do; you know what you ought to do, it is not my part to teach you your duty.

Husb. Abate that nicety for once, my dear, and make no scruple to say, what you think is my duty to my servants. Though you do not think it your part to teach me my duty, you may be a means to convince me, that something was my duty, which I did not think was my duty before; and I may learn from you what you do not set up to teach. There need not be so much shyness between a wife and her husband, that for fear of taking too much upon you to teach me, you should omit a kind hint to me of what you think I ought to do.

Wife. I do not refrain for that so much, as that I think you know your part so well, that it is perfectly unreasonable and needless for me to offer any thing; besides familygovernment is so natural a consequence to the very being and constitution of master and servant, father and child, husband and wife, that no husband of your capacity can be ignorant. The scripture is so full on the side of those who are to be governed, that it cannot but lead directly to those who are the governors. Wives are bid to submit them

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selves to their husbands, children to obey their parents,➡ servants to be subject to their masters;—all which naturally implies, that the government of the whole family devolves entirely upon the head of the master, who has the whole charge of them, soul and body, and is accountable for their miscarriages, so far as those miscarriages are owing to the omission of his duty.

Husb. So that you put the master entirely in the father's place, and the servants in the posture of children. Wife. Indeed I can think no otherwise, especially apprentices, who by their indentures are entirely subjected to

their masters' government.

Husb. But, my dear, we differ then about the word government, and how far that extends beyond my commanding them in the offices of an apprentice, and the doing my

business.

Wife. Indeed I think it extends to every thing else.

We are

obliged, by the fourth commandment, not to suffer our servants to break the Sabbath, and so of every duty in the other commands: and no question but it is our duty to restrain them from every evil action, whereby they may offend God, or wrong their neighbour; I mean as much is in my power. And, on the other hand, we are to encourage them in all that is good, viz. in their duty to God and man, and this by all possible methods, such as exhortation, command, advice, &c. but especially example, praying to God for them and with them.

as

Husb. If this be my duty, I have sadly neglected it, both to servants and children too.

Wife. Indeed, my dear, I have often thought so with a great deal of grief.

Husb. But why then, my dear, would you not tell me so before now; and not now, without so much difficulty, and a kind of violence.,

Wife. My dear, I have been backward, perhaps, more than has been my duty, lest you should think I did what it was not in my place to do; besides, you know our opi

nions differ in some things, and I did not know whether you might listen to me on that account.

Husb. Why, my dear, that very thing has been my hindrance, lest, my dear, being of a different opinion as to the form of prayer, you should not like it, or care to join with me in it.

Wife. You very much wronged me then, my dear. I hope, though we differ in opinion about religion, we are not of two religions; we may have differing thoughts of the manner and forms of worship, but not, I hope, of worship itself. I hope we pray to the same God, and in the name of the same Intercessor. Nor is our difference about forras such, that you should refuse my prayer because of the forms, or I your's, for want of a form;-that God, to whom we pray, certainly respects the heart, and not the form;so that with the form, or without it, we shall be equally heard if we pray in faith, and equally rejected if we do

not.

Husb. And would you have joined with me, my dear, in family prayer, if I had proffered it?

Wife. Most heartily, my dear; and I wonder what kind of heathen you have taken me for, that you should doubt it. I am sure it has often troubled me to see the family brought up with no manner of regard to the worship of God in it. I was never bred so, and have had many a sad heart about it on the account of my children.

Husb. And never would ease your mind by speaking a word about it to me before!

Wife. That may have been a fault; but I did not so much think it my duty, or rather, indeed, did not see it likely to have effect.

Husb. But would you rather have your children bred up without being introduced into the ways of God and religion, than break in a little upon what you thought was not your place?

Wife. I have endeavoured to do my duty with my little ones, as well as I could.