their hearts from it, the Providence which guards it must punish them. For, to spare them entirely, or very much, whilst they are over-looking or evading the high claims of salvation and eternity, would be cruelty and injustice to their children. It is, therefore, to check the heedlessness or heartlessness of such mothers, that Providence makes their path thorny, and their crosses heavy. They cannot train up their children in the nurture nor in the admonition of the Lord, whilst they themselves do not love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity; and, therefore, God will not allow their children to see them happy until they see them holy..

It is no refutation of this argument to say, that there are many happy mothers who have no religion. There are happy maniacs in Bedlam; and a mother who is happy without "a good hope through grace," is a moral maniac, however she may sing or smile. For, how can that be happiness, which excludes God and the Lamb from the heart, and prayer from the house!

And as this argument is not refuted by the mistaken gaiety of such mothers, neither is it affected by the trials of pious mothers. They are not, indeed, exempt from trials, nor always superior to their influence; but no believing wife," would exchange lots with an "unbelieving wife," whatever were the domestic comforts of the latter. The former would be wretched, and would count herself a wretch, if without the fear of God and the love of Christ. Whatever, therefore, be her trials, or however they may tempt her, at times, to impatience, she never thinks of purchasing relief from them, by abandoning religion. Even if her religion be one cause of her domestic sufferings, she feels through all

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her soul, that to give it up, would be to barter eternal happiness in heaven for temporary peace at home. Nor is this the only feeling which keeps her firm in her principles: she feels too, that she could not enjoy any domestic comfort, apart from the approbation of God and conscience. How could she? A woman who knows and believes the Gospel, must see, as by sun-beams, that if she turn her back upon God and the Saviour, she cuts herself off from happiness, both here and here. after.

Another striking peculiarity of the Gospel, in reference to mo thers, is, that it appeals to their maternal tenderness, and employs that tenderness to illustrate its own fulness and freeness. The God of salvation has chosen the maternal heart as the chief emblem of his own heart. When he would illustrate his pity, or his impartiality, towards them who fear him, he draws the emblems from a father's heart; but, when the ardour and unchangeableness of his love to them are to be shadowed forth, mothers alone furnish the types. Isa. xlix. 15. Thus they are associated with the brightest stars of heaven, and with the sweetest flowers of the earth, as images of the beauty and benevolence of Divine love.

It is not without special and gracious design, that Revelation has thus consecrated the tenderness which Providence has implanted in the maternal bosom. The same hand that strung the love-chords of a mother's heart, strikes from them the music of the Gospel-expressly for a mother's ear. She cannot always visit the sanctuary on the Sabbath. Her attendance at the house of God is liable to many interruptions, during the infancy and illness of her children. She cannot

always" do the things she would," nor all the things which others do, in the public service of God. But to balance these privations, whilst they are inevitable, and to prevent them from injuring her spiritual and eternal interests, whilst they last, God has wisely and kindly made her own heart the image of his heart, that she might be able to preach the Gospel to herself at home, when unable to hear it in the sanctuary. In order to see and feel that "GOD IS LOVE," a mother has only to look within herself, whilst her own heart is thrilling with tenderness, or throbbing with compassion over her children. These maternal yearnings and emotions are living lectures on the character of the God of salvation. Thus, by this fine arrangement between nature and grace, God has fully provided for the religious improve ment of mothers, when their domestic duties necessarily keep them at home. Then, their own hearts become "lively oracles" of the Gospel, if they interpret their own maternal feelings agree ably to the spirit of the Gospel. It is on behalf of their souls, what their own love and sympathy are on behalf of their children. Thus a mother's heart may be to herself" the candle of the Lord," when she cannot sit under "the golden candlestick" of Zion. It is adapted and intended to be so; and it would be so, were the word of God allowed to inform and affect it well.

It is much to be regretted, that this scriptural view of maternal love is not more familiar. It is eminently calculated to produce and improve maternal piety. Some mothers, from natural timidity, or mistaken views of the Gospel, are afraid to hope in God, or to take comfort from his promises. They are not averse to religion in gene

ral, nor ill affected to the plan of salvation by grace. They wish and desire to be true Christians. They think and pray often about their souls. But they do not see their own way or welcome to the hope of salvation. They dare not venture to lay hold upon Christ for eternal life. Such mothers have, however, within themselves an answer to all their doubts and fears in this matter. What is it? not a heart that needs no divine change; nor yet a better heart than men, towards God and godliness; no. But a tender mother has towards her children a heart, which, in its maternal love, is a living exemplification of the heart of God. He feels for her soul, in its peril, all the solicitude she felt when hanging over her suffering or dying infant. He is as willing to welcome her at the cross, as ever she was to lift her weeping child from the cradle to her bosom. He will be as much pleased to see her hoping in Christ for salvation, as ever she was to see her babe smile again, after a fit or a fever. "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, and in them that hope in his mercy." Thus a mother, desirous "to be found in Christ," has no more reason to fear rejection, than her babe has to fear for its life in her arms. The Saviour will no more cast out a praying mother, than she would cast away her first born. The Holy Spirit will no more refuse to renew and help her, than she would refuse to feed her child. She has not, indeed, such natural claims upon the love or pity of God, as her children have upon her heart and hand. No one has any natural or legal claim upon mercy. Mercy is not, however, less certain, because it is a free gift, than if it were a just debt. The word of God is as good for a gift, as it could be for a debt;

because God cannot lie. Now, as he has promised to be all that to us, and to do all that for us, which we are bound to be and do for our children, and infinitely more; his promise may be safely trusted, and its fulfilment calculated upon; for it is confirmed by an oath, and ratified by the blood of his Son.

There is another peculiarity of Christianity, in reference to mothers, which deserves particular attention. It makes their domestic duties religious duties. This fact is too much overlooked, and too seldom explained. The consequence is, some mothers imagine that it is impossible to be religious, whilst their children require so much attention. They even say, that their hearts and hands are kept so full, from morning till night, that they cannot read, nor pray, nor think of any thing but their family. This is, however, an exaggerated and caricatured view of family affairs. Children must sleep at times, Mothers must rest at intervals. The intervals may be both short and irregular; but they are quite sufficient for all the reading and prayer, which God expects from "nursing mothers." Besides, if God have any thing to do with the life, health, or welfare of our children, the utter neglect of prayer is a flagrant neglect of parental duty. It is likely also to draw upon parents the chastising rod of God; and, when they are laid aside, what is to become of their children then? How can a sick father work for his family, or a sick mother watch over them? O! no policy is so short-sighted as that which, under the pretence of family claims, sets aside the claims of God and the soul. It is the direct way of periling, in time and eternity, all that parents hold dear. The system may not entail immediate domestic judgments;

but it is sure to end fatally, if not abandoned.

But, how easily may it be abandoned by well disposed mothers? No class in society have fewer changes to make in their habits, and line of conduct. No class, fewer temptations to surmount. Their domestic duties are indeed many and engrossing, and even harassing at times; but they have not, like the bustle of the world, a tendency to harden or corrupt the heart. The usual conduct of domestic mothers would be practical religion of the very best kind, if the motives of it were religious. It wants only right principles, in order to be true holiness. Did love to God and the Saviour run through the doing and enduring of exemplary mothers, as love to their children influences them, their industry, and patience, and devotedness to their family, would be piety of the highest orderworking, watching, nursing, planning for the comfort of her children, might all and easily be rendered service to God, as well as to her children; yea, glory to God, as well as a credit to herself, were such a mother to bring into her system the influence of the love of Christ. She has not to change her plan, but to increase her principles. She has not to lessen her attention to her family, but to prolong it in the fear of God.

She has not to become less a mother, but more a Christian.

If these hints and facts throw any light upon the subject of maternal piety, and prove that it is. as practicable as it is imperative, the subject may be still farther commended and endeared, by a review of the REWARDS which usually accompany such piety. Now, it secures to a mother the love and esteem of her children. A pious mother never can be forgot