company them of course. The child should be a witness of the parent's supplication to God for him; and should be taught to supplicate for himself. All the duties of religion are eminently solemn and venerable in the eyes of children. But none will so strongly prove the sincerity of the parent; none so powerfully awaken the reverence of the child; none so happily recommend the instruction, which he receives; as family devotions, peculiarly those, in which petitions for the children occupy a distinguished place.

At the same time, God will actually bless those, who seek his blessing. But, where it is not sought, it will not be given: and, where it is not given, our best exertions will be in vain. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain, that build it.

III. I shall now exhibit some of the Motives to the performance of this duty, suggested by the Promise in the text.

Train up a child in the way he should go; and, when he is old, he will not depart from it.

This promise has been differently construed by different Commentators. Some have supposed it to be an absolute promise; declaring, that in every instance in which a child is thus educated, he will persevere in the way he should go. Others have supposed it to declare merely the usual result of such education. The former class say, that every instance of failure, on the part of children, is owing to a want of faithfulness on the part of the parents. They add, that, if parents were perfectly faithful in this duty, their children would never come short of eternal life. With this construction I cannot agree, for two reasons.

First. The Scriptures abound in such absolute declarations, which are not, and cannot be, understood in this absolute manner. Thus it is said, that neither drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Yet some men, of all these classes, unquestionably become penitent; and by the reformation of their lives prove themselves to be Christians. Should it be said, that sinners, of these several characters, who leave the world without repentance, will not inherit the kingdom of God; and that this is what is intended: I answer: "The declaration would undoubtedly be true; but would, I think, be nugatory; because it would be equally true of all other sinners."

Secondly. According to this construction there would be nothing declared. No person ever educated his child with perfect faithfulness. On this ground, therefore, no child would persevere in this desirable way. Of course, the promise, considered in a practical light, would be nothing to mankind.

If these observations are just; it will, I suppose, be admitted without difficulty, that God intended this promise as a direct encouragement to parents, who should be faithful in such a degree, as we sometimes see exercised in the education of children. The amount of the promise to these parents is, I apprehend, that their children will, VOL. IV.

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generally, when trained up in the way they should go, not depart from it. This, as it appears to me, has also been the course of providential dispensations.

To this declaration, however, it probably will be, as it often has been, objected, that the course of providence, here alleged, is against the promise; and that it is contradicted by plain facts. "The children," it has been often said, "of religious parents, the children particularly of Clergymen, who, if any, must be supposed to be religiously educated, exhibit as few proofs of a virtuous character, and as many proofs of a sinful one, as the children of other men." Nay, it has been said, I have frequently heard it said, that "the children of professing Christians, and particularly of Ministers, are less virtuous, and more distinguished for profligacy, than other children." These observations are not always made with an intention to utter slander, and with a conviction that they are false. They are sometimes uttered by sober men. Nay, they are sometimes countenanced by Christians, and even by Ministers; especially in the indulgence of zeal against the doctrine, that there are Means of Grace. I have heard it asserted, and apparently with some feelings of victory, that in a given case, or cases, persons, who have not been religiously educated, had become subjects of piety in as great, and greater, numbers, than those who had received such an education. That many persons, who have not been religiously educated, are sanctified, is undoubtedly true. That their number is proportionally so great, as is here indicated, will be affirmed only by the zeal, which is not according to knowledge. Let any man read the history of Revivals of Religion; and he will need no further arguments on this point. Still, as this doctrine has spread so far, and assumed so serious an aspect, I shall now make a few brief remarks concerning the subject.

First. All professors of Religion, and all Ministers, are not Christians. From those who are of this character, the Religious Education of their children cannot be expected.

Secondly. Some, who are Christians, perform this duty very imperfectly. Men of both these classes are not unfrequently too much engrossed by other concerns. Professors are sometimes so

deeply engaged in their business, and ministers by their studies, as to neglect this and many other duties. Some of them, also, are negligent, through a characteristical easiness and carelessness of temper. Some are injudicious; and pursue ill devised plans. Some are of a changeable disposition; and undo to-day, partially at least, what they did yesterday. From these and other causes, of the like nature, the manner in which they educate their children is very imperfect. Of this imperfection the consequences will be experienced of course.

Thirdly. Some Christians govern their children unhappily. They are passionate; and govern with fickleness, and violence. They are indulgent; and scarcely govern them at all. They are austere,

or gloomy; and thus discourage, and disgust, their children: insensibly alienating their minds both from their instructions, and themselves.

Fourthly. One of the parents is sometimes irreligious; and thwarts the labours of the other.

Fifthly. Some Christian parents, though it is believed this number is small, do not pray in their families; and in this manner fail of receiving blessings upon themselves, and upon their children.

Sixthly. The children of Christian parents, for various reasons, are often educated chiefly by others, who are incompetent or unfaithful.

Seventhly. The children of Christian parents are not unfrequently corrupted by evil companions; and that, perhaps, during the best

education.

Eighthly. Christian Churches extensively neglect the discipline, which they ought to administer both to the parents, and the children, when negligent of their respective duties. By this neglect the spirit of educating children religiously has been suffered to languish; and the obligations to this duty have ceased to be felt, as its importance demands.

These remarks will, if I mistake not, sufficiently explain the real state of facts, so far as to show, that they are consistent with the promise, as it has been interpreted above.

But the truth is, The Assertion itself is substantially false. That there are children of religious parents, who are themselves destitute of religion through life; that the whole number of these is considerable; will not be questioned. Who, after what has been said, could rationally expect it to be otherwise? That some of these are profligates, and some even remarkable for their profligacy, I shall not deny. Those, who have broken through peculiar restraints, and sinned against powerful motives, are usually abandoned sinners. Accordingly, Dr. Young says, forcibly, and justly, though solecistically,

"A shameless woman is the worst of men."

But, notwithstanding these exceptions, the great body of Christians is made up of those, who have been religiously educated; imperfect as this education has been. Every sober man may perceive this truth by his own observation. It is true of this seminary it is true of this country: it is true of every other Christian country: it has been always true. A striking proof of it is furnished, here, by the character, and offices, which the sons of Clergymen have holden in New-England, ever since it was settled by our Ancestors. A complete proof of it, every where, is furnished by the history of Revivals of Religion. Every contradictory instance, it is to be remembered, is regarded with surprise; a fact, which could not exist, if the declension were common; and is

made, very improperly, a representative of multitudes. Nor ought it to be forgotten, that, when members of irreligious families become pious, surprise is equally excited.

Having now, as I hope, removed all the objections, which might be supposed to attend this subject, I proceed to remark.

1. That by a religious Education of their children, parents more easily, and more perfectly, than is possible in any other manner, will render them dutiful, harmonious, and happy, in the present world.

A family, religiously Educated, will in a good degree become orderly, and dutiful, of course. The doctrines and sentiments, which they are taught, and habitually imbibe; the conduct, to which they are formed; the examples, which they daily behold; the motives, steadily presented to their view, and the worship, to which they are daily summoned; all conspire with supreme force to call up every thought, affection, and action, which constitutes a part of their duty. Their minds are wrought into a character, a course of action, widely different from that of other children. This difference even a stranger cannot fail to discern at once. Among those who are charged with the instruction of youth, it has long since become the subject of proverbial remark. All the tendencies of religion are dutiful tendencies; and are therefore, peaceful and pleasing. Harmony of minds, and harmony of purposes, cannot, without this aid, be produced for any length of time, or any extent of operation. Unity of conduct may indeed be effectuated, to a considerable extent, by the rod of power; but not unity of affection, or design. Constrained union can never be the source of happiness to any collection of rational beings; and will peculiarly fail of producing happiness in a family. To repress the native selfishness of the heart, means, of some kind or other, are indispensable. Nothing has, hitherto, effectually accomplished this purpose, but religion. Even the mere, fixed belief of its truths and duties, and of accountableness to God, will go far towards overcoming the open indulgencies of passion and appetite. A cordial reception of these truths and duties will finally vanquish them all. Religious Education, then, is the road to the religion of a family; and that religion is the road to domestic happiness.

As happiness in this world is chiefly enjoyed in the family, and, under God, supremely dependent on domestic peace; the Religious Education of Children become plainly the chief means of the first earthly good. A glorious motive is here held out, to induce us to educate our children religiously.

2. Children, thus educated, will persevere also in the way to eternal life.

This I consider as the main subject of the promise in the text.. In the sense, in which I have explained it, it has, I apprehend, been universally verified. Of this truth, the proof, already alleg. ed, is presumed to be sufficient.

The parent must be an unnatural wretch, by whom this motive is not deeply felt. The salvation of his child is promised to him, and in the most endearing of all methods; viz. as the consequence of his labour. He, who is not a barbarian, or a brute, must wish his children to be happy, favoured of God, and beloved by his own companions, throughout eternity. To the heart of him, who knows the tenderness of nature, this desire must come home with supreme and unmingled power. The very thought of presenting one's children to the Judge, at his right hand, on the final day, and of being able to say, Behold here am I, and the children whom thou hast given me, is a thought of ecstasy, which bewilders the heart with joy. Let no parent, who is not compelled by this consideration to a duty so delightful in itself, pretend to love his children at

all.

If we train up our children in the way they should go, they will enter it almost of course; follow us to heaven; and be our companions for ever. There they will be everlasting witnesses of our tender affection to them, and our faithful care of their souls, while we were both in the present world. At their dying bed, if we survive them; on our dying bed, if they survive us, we shall be saved, also, from the distressing reflection, that through our negligence they have been lost, and are destined to sin, and suffer for

ever.

3. In this manner parents perform their prime duty.

The great end of our being is the performance of our duty. In this God intends, that we should find our happiness, and that a greater happiness, than we can otherwise attain. All parts of our duty are plainly to be regarded according to their importance. To parents, that, which is enjoined in the text, is primarily important. On their children they can usually have more and better influence, than they can possibly have on others. In a high and endearing sense, they are their property; are united to them by the tenderest ties; are ever in their presence; and regard them with singular reverence and affection. From all these sources parents derive the power of making more, deeper, and happier, impressions, than others can make, or than they can make on others. This power God has required all parents faithfully to exert; and in religious Education alone is it faithfully exerted. To perform this duty is, therefore, the chief end, for which we are made parents; the chief good, which men are usually able to do; the chief means of glorifying our Creator. If, then, we wish to please God, to enjoy the greatest happiness in this world, or to carry our children with us to Heaven, and enjoy their company, for ever; we shall not fail with deep solicitude, watchful care, and unshaken constancy, to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.