In one word;-The mothers have an opportunity, both by their inftruction and example, of fixing fuch lafting impreffions upon their children's minds, as, by the bleffing of God upon their endeavours, neither the iniquity of the age, nor the enemy of mankind, fhall ever be able to blot out.

If these reasons weigh not with us, we have matter of fact to confirm all this. At this day, the children of Jews are always under the mother's care and inftruction, if living, till they come to a certain come to a certain age; during which time, they are taught to read the law, and fo well inftructed in its worth, and aim, and meaning, that they are very hardly, if ever, brought over to Chriftianity, either by the temporal or fpiritual advantages which

attend it.

One of the deputies at the Synod of Dort informed that affembly, that in his country, (which I think was Pomerania) there was fcarce a perfon, how poor and mean foever his condition was, but could read and give a tolerable account of his faith. This, he faid, was owing chiefly to the great care that had been taken to inftruct the women, who, when they came to be mothers, fcarce ever failed to inftruct their children.

And indeed, fo far it is true amongst us: We have few mothers who can read, but are very earnest to teach their children. But it is not generally fo with the men; they are more abroad,

VOL. IV.

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abroad, lefs thoughtful of their children's fpiritual concerns, impatient of fuch kind of labour, and, too often, either put that trouble off to others, or leave it altogether undone. By which means we come to have in many families, a fucceffion of fuch ignorant, impious wretches, as are a fcandal not only to Christianity, but to all civil focieties.

And if any body will be at the pains of looking into the families of thofe who come to untimely ends, they will generally find them the offspring of an ungracious family, in which you may trace up two or three generations of untaught, idle, vicious people.

On the other hand, we have an example in the text, and (God be praised!) we do not want examples amongst ourselves, of virtue and piety, and the fear and bleffing of God continued in families for many generations, by the religious care and concern of parents that have had a chriftian education; who, however they may excuse themselves from fome other labours which attend the bringing up of their children, if they neglect this they are inexcufable:-Neither the tenderness of their conftitution, nor the care of their families, (much less the pleasures of the world,) neither their quality on one hand, nor their poverty on the other, will ever free them from the guilt, and infamy, and curfe, which will attend those who fhall fuffer their children

to

to grow up, without principles, and without morality.

I will only mention one other advantage which this way of inftruction and education will have towards bettering private families, and confequently the world.

That the truth and great defign of the Christian religion has been too much loft in the disputes on one hand, and in the intricate way of teaching them on the other, is too plain to be queftioned. Now, by this way, the providence of God feems to provide against the growing evil. They who are educated by these charities are taught all the neceffary principles and duties of Christianity, and this after a moft plain and orderly way. As they grow up, and improve in knowledge, they will find, that whatever the holy fcriptures have delivered as neceffary to be believed, all that they have been taught to believe; that whatever is fit to be done, commanded by God, praife-worthy, or of good report, all this they have been inftructed in as their duty.

The confequence of this will be, they will have no temptation to look out for new teachers; no difputes with themselves or others, whether this be the right way, in which they find themselves engaged; but, fuiting their manners to their principles, their minds will be eafy and their lives exemplary. And fo in all probability will their children

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children after them for many generations; which, in time, may be a means of healing our unhappy divifions, of making us most ferious and concerned for the great duties of Christianity, the honour of God and the good of mankind.

The only objection to all this is, That wickedness will abound, let what will be done:-What will the good education of a few out of fo many do towards these great ends? Some people go further, and wish, and hope, that God will appear in fome extraordinary manner, to awaken, to convince, and to convert men.

From wishing this, men of warm heads have often come to attempt it; and there has fcarce been any age in which fome or other have not appeared with fuch pretences as these, and with new commiffions from God for reforming the world, never confidering, that the kingdom of God is fo often compared by Chrift to corn fown in the earth, to a grain of mustard-feed fet in the ground; to fignify to us, that the gospel is to be propagated, and piety increased, by the ordinary methods of providence, and by the effectual, though filent influences of the Spirit of God; not by noise, and pomp, and strange appearances, which may amufe, but have never mended the world.

This I am forced to fay, to convince those that are engaged in carrying on this good work,

work, that the methods they take for the inftruction of children, deftitute of help and learning, are most agreeable to the ways of God's appointment, and confequently most likely to promote his glory, and a reformation of manners, fo much wifhed for by all good men.

And why should not we hope for better days even from these small beginnings.

Befides thofe that are inftructed by their pious parents, there are many thousands at this day brought up in the knowledge and ways of God, by the care and charity of others. These will not all forget their God, their benefactors, the principles in which they have been educated, the duties they have been taught, and the fins they have been warned against!

The great Lord of the world, who bleffeth all our other labours with a conftant increase, will, no doubt, bless this undertaking with a fuitable fuccefs. And may you see the work of your hands profper daily, in a number of religious and grateful perfons, bred (by your charity) in the fear of God, and brought up to get their bread in an honest and commendable way!

Now, to countenance, to promote, and to continue, this great and good work, is what we aim at, and what I am defired to recommend to your charity at this time. The advantages of forwarding it will be very many;

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