him, a dread of sin; there is something to work upon, and a foundation is laid for advancement in religion, as the character ripens. But we are not to forget the general balance of Scripture, or to give force to one part by overlooking another. Thus in our endeavors to touch the conscience, and to excite a dread of sin, we must also be careful to represent our Creator as the God of love, the God of peace, the Father of mercies,--to direct the attention of our children to that "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world;" that the result of our labors may, with the divine blessing, be an union of fear and love in the hearts of our pupils; that tenderness of conscience should not lead to the spirit of bondage; nor fear degenerate into religious terror, and, consequently, superstition.

In the minds of many people, from the want of this early judicious care, religion and superstition, quite unknown to themselves have become strangely interwoven. They surrender themselves to superstitious or enthusiastic impressions, because they do

not distinguish them from the voice of truth, and feelings of piety; but enlightened religion is in fact, in direct opposition to superstition; they are as different as light from darkness; for superstition quits the solid ground of revealed truth, and forms conceptions for itself, of what the will of God may be towards his creatures. But it should be our object to give to children a scriptural, and therefore a reasonable and healthful view of religion; to guard them against all that is erroneous and morbid, and to prepare them for the reception of the "spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind."

The curiosity so natural to children is not \to be hastily repressed, on religious subjects; we are rather to direct than reprove it, remembering that, within due bounds, the exercise of the natural powers may be made subservient to the most important ends in acquiring religious, knowledge. At the same time, any tendency to a critical, cavilling disposition, is to be uniformly discouraged; nor is it of small im

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portance, that children should be guarded against the influence of those from whom they may imbibe such a habit of mind. As their understandings improve, they may be led to consider the infinite distance between God and man, that "He is the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity," whilst man is like "a shadow that declineth," or as the grass of the field, which "in the morning flourisheth and groweth up, but in the evening is cut down and withereth," that we see only the smallest part of the works of God; and of that small part much is to us incomprehensible ;-but that, great as he is, his love extends to the meanest of his creatures; that, for man he has provided eternal happiness; and that in the Scriptures, he has been pleased to reveal all that is necessary for us to know and believe in order to attain it. That we are, therefore, to approach these treasuries of heavenly knowledge, with no expectation of finding every difficulty solved, or all made clear to our weak and narrow understandings; but, with a humble and teachable dis

position, for spiritual food, and for spiritual life; knowing that "the secret things belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do" them. If we attempt to explain the deep mysteries of religion further than the Scripture has explained them, we shall be more likely to degrade what is most sacred, and perplex the mind, than to enlighten the understanding, or elevate the affections.

RELIGIOUS HABITS.

Beside the religious instruction of children, we have also to attend to the formation of religious habits. If these be well established in early life, even though the heart be not always engaged in them as it ought to be, yet something is gained. Such habits frequently become the channels through which spiritual good is conveyed,-besides, whenever the vital principle of religion begins to operate, they render the path of duty less difficult.

Amongst the most important religious habits may be ranked the daily exercises of devotion; a fixed time and plan for reading the Scriptures; a regular attendance, and serious behavior, at a place of worship; and a practical regard to the Sabbath.

Devotional Exercises.-In bringing up children to regular and stated devotional exercises, it will also be necessary to in