private prayer as Dinah did, in the short time she lived. What a reproof this is to such persons; that a child, not ten years old, should know more of divine things than persons who are more than thirty or forty years of age. Is it not to be feared that what Jesus Christ said of the queen of Sheba, may be said of Dinah, she shall rise up in judg ment against some of this generation and condemn them? O that she and other good children may not rise up in judgment against any of you. There can be no doubt but many children who die in infancy will be happy in heaven; while their parents, through wickedness and unbelief, will be shut out. But O, who can describe the anguish such parents will feel, to see their dear little infants in glory, and themselves the companions of wicked spirits forever and ever!

Miss Doudney's case shows us what a blessed advantage. it is for children to have parents or relations to teach them the fear of the Lord while they are young, pray for them and with them. Godly parents may be the means of the salvation of their children. But O, how ought it to pain our hearts, that so many dear children have parents who have not the fear of God before their eyes! They know not how to teach their dear offspring the way of salvation. They have never known it themselves. If some of their children were ill and were as thoughtful about good things as Dinah was, they would not know how to talk to them, nor how to pray for them. O that such parents would but consider their latter end, and the value of the souls of their children!

Dr. Cotton Mather had fifteen children, and lived to see the greatest part of them die in the Lord. When they were capable of understanding him, he would take them alone, one by one, and after many affectionate admonitions to the child, he would pray with him and make him the witness of the agonies and strong cries with which on his behalf, he addressed the throne of grace. Go, ye fathers and mothers, and do likewise; and the Lord fulfil all your petitions.

A child, eight years of age, once asked his father why he did not pray for him, as some good parents he had read of prayed for their children. The father looking steadfastly at his dear boy, paused-then sighed-then wept-and pressing the child to his bosom, said, "No wonder I have

not prayed for you, my dear, I have never prayed for myself." "Then I will pray for you, papa," said the child. This was the means of the conversion both of the father and mother. Dear children, ask your parents to pray for you, and with you; and if they will not, then each of you go by yourself, and pray for them.

Ye godly parents and relations, who have been favoured with such a blessing from your heavenly Father; a child you dearly loved, blessed with such pleasing evidences of the gracious state of her soul, is now realizing more than has ever entered into your hearts to conceive. Rejoice, and wipe every tear from your eyes. Her light afflictions, which were but for a moment, are now exchanged for an eternal weight of glory. God has done great things for her, whereof you have cause to be glad. May your other children receive a double portion of Dinah's spirit. May other godly parents take encouragement from your mercies, and cry mightily unto God, giving him no rest, till he make their children a praise in the churches. May you, my dear children and young friends, remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Never forget that Jesus Christ said, I love them that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me. If you seek and find him, then, in all the circumstances of life-in the hour of death-in the day of judgment-and through eternity-you will have to say, with Dinah, IT IS WELL.

FILIAL DUTIES.

THE beauty, the strength, the very existence of society, depends in some measure, upon the knowledge which the persons, who compose it, have of the nature and extent of those duties, which they respectively owe to each other; and upon the habitual regard which they have to a faithful discharge of them. The holy scriptures are as copious and appropriate in their instructions upon this, as they are upon all other subjects which can bear, either upon the individual or the collective interests of mankind. The Bible, indeed, not only fully describes relative and social duties, but it blends them with the sublimest representations of the love of God manifested in the redemption of sinners by the Messiah; nay, the strongest motives, adduced for the reg ular discharge of these duties, are drawn from that gospel which published the remission of sins, and eternal life by Jesus Christ. It is, indeed, impossible for any duties to be described more clearly, or urged more forcibly, and by a greater variety of suitable and impressive considerations.

Of all the evils felt by the parent, there is not one which oppresses him more severely than the ingratitude and disobedience of his own children. This has been the lot of some Christians; yea, eminent ministers of Christ have had their hearts pierced with many sorrows by the graceless conduct of their children. Young persons are too generally both ignorant of the nature, and insensible to the importance of the duties which they owe to their parents. If this be true, (and the proofs of it are too many,) then it demonstrates the vast importance of our subject, and justifies a frequent and affectionate appeal to young persons on the subject of filial duties, both from the pulpit and from the press. Bear with us then, dear children, suffer the word of exhortation, listen to our advice, pray for the spirit of wisdom, for a child-like disposition, and for the grace of God to promote in you a prevailing regard to these important duties. Receive this proof of our care for your interest. It is our sincere desire to advance your present and your eternal happiness, which prompts us to this labour of love on your behalf.

Ah! how thoughtless, how depraved, how void of honourable and generous feeling must your minds be, if you can wantonly offend and grieve your parents!-Parents to whom you owe so much. You have been always dear to them; they have tenderly loved you, watched over you by day and by night, sacrificing their ease and their rest to promote your comfort and preserve you from evil. Your lawful wishes have been indulged to the utmost, and your real good has been the subject of their constant and fervent prayers to God; yea, their very life and comfort have been suspended upon yours. And will you, can you forget all the endearing attentions of these kind, and, it may be, too indulgent parents? Can you reward their many labours of love, their incessant and anxious solicitude for you, with nothing but constant ingratitude and disobedience? Oh shame, shame on you! It is an impeachment of your understanding; it indicates the want of humanity; it is altogether a degrading, odious line of conduct, and is unworthy both of your head and your heart.

The duties which children owe to their parents, form a part of divine truth under every dispensation of mercy giv en to the church. In the laws delivered by Moses, the Proverbs of Solomon, the Sermons of Christ, and the Letters which his first ministers wrote to the newly-planted churches, they are frequently introduced to notice. "Honour

thy father and thy mother," is not only a distinct branch of the decalogue, but is sanctioned by the following tremendous appointment: "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; and they shall say unto the elders of his city, this our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard. And all the men of the city shall stone him with stones, that he die; so shalt thou put evil away from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear."

Under both Testaments, obedience to parents is enforced upon gracious principles; it is recommended by the mild and endearing persuasions of mercy. When, therefore, the apostle Paul cites the fifth commandment, he does not fail to notice, that it is "the first commandment with promise."

But the young reader will ask, "What are the duties which I owe to my parents?" Among the first and most obvious, is, a careful and constant endeavour to avoid whatever has a tendency to grieve them. Not a look, nor a word, should escape from the child, which will create even a moment's pain; but rather there should be every expression of respect to their authority, and unreserved obedience to their commands. This is not exceeding the rule of scripture; for it is said in one place, "Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." Col. iii. 20.

Children ought sincerely and tenderly to love their parents. This is, indeed, the first and most needful of all the duties which are denominated filial. It is in proportion as this is regular, active, and powerful, that the mind will be suitably affected towards every other duty. If love is either altogether wanting, or is weak and irregular in its exercise, then in all other duties you will be cold, defective, and irregular; yea, it is to be feared, that in motive, manner, and end, you will come short. With love to their parents, children should mingle every sentiment of respect and esteem. So the Israelites were commanded, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man.” Lev. xix. 32. If this conduct was suitable in its general application, how much more is it so in regard to that constant and becoming respect, which a child owes to its aged father and mother. In short, this duty is so clear, so natural, and arises so evidently out of the relation in which you stand as a child, that the slightest, the most casual deviation from it, is not only inexcusable, but highly criminal. Of all the follies and vices to which children are prone, there is none which we ought more pointedly to condemn, or which we should more zealously endeavour to repress, than that of treating age and infirmities with contempt and ridicule. Those parents, who have either connived at, or indulged their children in these vicious habits, need not wonder, if in old age they themselves are treated with neglect and indignity by their own children; it is naturally to be expected, and they will then most assuredly read their sin in their punishment.

Children should be assiduous to promote tranquillity in the minds of their parents. As they advance in years, it becomes more requisite they should be serene aud compos