of evil that they should carefully close,-of all the bad influences to which they subject their children, of the indelible impressions which are made upon their minds, when they perhaps fancy that they are too tender to receive any impressions at all, of the effects of bad example, yea, even of the expression of the countenance, or of the tones of the voice,-of all they see around them, of all the various things that are forming their minds" when men sleep ;"-all this, and ten thousand times more than this is true, and yet is generally overlooked; and then we say, here is a child religiously brought up, how has it turned out? Just as you might have expected, if you had looked a little deeper than the mere surface.

We cannot wonder when we see the careless and thoughtless manner in which mothers enter into their responsible stations, if their children become eventually curses instead of blessings.

But what a hard task you would thus impose on us,' they answer. If you feel it so, then cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. But even if we do all that we can, we must sometimes leave our children with servants,-at least in their infancy.' Granted. Are those servants the constant subjects of your prayers? Have you led them to see the responsibility they share with you? Do you pray with them? Did you pray for them? Did you ask that you might be directed to those best suited for their important office? Do

K

your consciences answer, Yes, to these questions? Then take courage; if, No; then wonder not at the results of your own neglect. God has given you the means, you have not used them.

Oh, mothers, mothers, awake! and see that the regeneration of the world depends, in a great measure, on your efforts, on your prayers: What are all other duties to yours? Oh! be women of prayer, of holiness, of faith, of love, see that the generations to come will from you receive their impress: look at the little immortals you are training, as the instruments perhaps of incalculable good, or incalculable evil, to the whole human race: look at them, and see in those germs the future man--nay more, see in them the future immortal, destined to live on through illimitable ages,,-destined to exist, when the earth shall have been swallowed up in the last flames: look upon them and wonder, that God has entrusted such precious jewels to such weak hands: look on them and think, my child's destiny through eternity depends instrumentally on me: oh look, and fall down with adoring gratitude and praise at his feet, who says, “I will help thee." I have shewn thee the weight of thy burden, that thou mightest not rest till thou hadst laid it on me. I will" strengthen the weak hands, and support the feeble knees;" and at length thou shalt stand, the conflict over, and the

trial past, with these immortal spirits before my throne, washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

M.

ON MAN'S INSUFFICIENCY AND
GOD'S SUFFICIENCY.

BUT who sufficient is to lead,
And execute the vast design?
How can our arduous toil succeed,
When earth and hell their forces join;
The meanest instruments to o'erthrow,
Which thou hast ever used below?

Mountains alas! on mountains rise,
To make our utmost efforts vain;
The work our feeble strength defies,
And all the helps and hopes of man:

Our utter impotence we see ;

But nothing is too hard for thee!

The things impossible to men,

Thou canst for thine own people do ;
Thy strength be in our weakness seen,
Thy wisdom in our folly shew!
Prevent, accompany, and bless,

And crown the whole with full success.

Unless the power of heavenly grace,
The wisdom of the Deity,

Direct and govern all our ways,

And all our works be wrought in Thee,
Our blasted works we know shall fail,
And earth and hell at last prevail.

But oh, almighty God of love,
Into thy hands the matter take;
The mountain obstacles remove,

For thine own truth and mercy's sake;
Fulfil in ours, thy own design,

And prove the work entirely thine.

WESLEY.

ONE principle which I would desire to impress is, that education, such as deserves the name, is, of all things, the most difficult. Ask the parent, who is sensible of the importance of his sacred and interesting duties, and who endeavours to educate his children for happiness and heaven; ask his opinion, and he will tell you, that, sensible of the difficulties which will meet him on every side, he rests on God's assistance, and on God's blessing alone, for counsel and for success. HINTS ON EDUCATION.

LET not parents expect too much from their labours, and be disheartened when they experience important failures. They will assuredly meet with much forgetfulness in their children, many instances of negligence, with some capricious fancies, and some cross humours. But let them not be discouraged. A deep sense of their own frailty, and propensity to evil, notwithstanding all the grace of God may have done for them, and a recollection that the same qualities, less corrected perhaps by divine grace, are inherent in their children, should lead them to expect great obstacles, and rather to wonder at the degree of success they meet with, than at their failures.

In fact, how could they succeed in any one instance but for the divine aid? How patiently and sweetly then should they bear with difficulties and hindrances among their children, praying and waiting, quietly and serenely, for the blessing of God, while they steadily and unweariedly continue to employ the means which, on full consideration, appear to them to be the best in their power. It is surprising how such conduct succeeds in the end:-children altering unaccountably for the better, and a bright dawn opening on a parent, when he thinks that a long and dark night is before him. BABINGTON.