faid of our Father in heaven: Whom the Lord loveth, he chafteneth, and fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth. If ye endure chaftening, God dealeth with you as with fons; for what fon is he whom the Father chafteneth not? but if ye are without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye baftards and not fons." With this maxim in your eye, I would recommend, that folemnity take the place of, and be fubftituted for severity. When a child, for example, difcovers a very depraved difpofition, inftead of multiplying ftripes in proportion to the reiterated provocations, every circumftance fhould be introduced, whether in reproof or punishment, that can either discover the feriousness of your mind, or make an impreffion of awe and reverence upon his. The time may be fixed before hand-at fome diftance the Lord's day-his own birth-day-with many other circumftances that may be fo fpecial that it is impoffible to enumerate them. I fhall juft repeat what you have heard often from me in converfation, that feveral pious perfons made it an invariable custom, as foon as their children could read, never to correct them, but after they had read over all the paffages of fcripture which commanded it, and generally accompanied it with prayer to God for his bleffing. I know well with what ridicule this would be treated by many, if publicly mentioned; but that does not fhake my judgment in the leaft, being fully convinced that it is a moft excellent method, and that it is impoffible to blot from the minds of children, while they live upon earth, the impreffions that are made by these means, or to abate the veneration they will retain for the parents who acted fuch a part.

Suffer me here to obferve to you, that fuch a plan as the above requires judgment, reflection, and great attention in your whole conduct. Take heed that there be nothing admitted in the intervals that counteracts it. Nothing is more deftructive of authority, than frequent difputes, and chiding upon fmall matters. This is often more irkfome to children than parents are aware of. It weakens their influence infensibly, and, in time, makes

their opinion and judgment of little weight, if not wholly contemptible. As before I recommended dignity in your general conduct, fo, in a particular manner, let the utmost care be taken not to render authority cheap, by too often interpofing it. There is really too great a rifk to be run in every fuch inftance. If parents will be deciding directly, and cenfuring every moment, it is to be supposed they will be fometimes wrong, and when this evidently appears, it will take away from the credit of their opinion, and weaken their influence, even where it ought to prevail.

Upon the whole, to encourage you to choose a wife plan, and to adhere to it with firmness, I can venture to affure you, that there is no doubt of your fuccefs. To fubdue a youth after he has been long accustomed to indulgence, I take to be in all cafes difficult, and in many impoffible; but while the body is tender, to bring the mind to fubmiffion, to train up a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, I know is not impoffible; and he who hath given the command, can fcarcely fail to follow it with his bleffing. I am, &c.

(To be continued.)

The ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES of the MARRIED STATE; as entered into with religious or irreligious Perfons: reprefented under the Similitude of a Dream. By J. JOHNSON.

A

(Continued from Page 130, and concluded.)

S for the elder brother (fon of the free woman), when he had heard the inftructions and admonitions, it wrought fome ferious reflections in his mind, and made him very deliberate. Notwithstanding he was a perfon of a bright genius, great vivacity, and a fine taste, he determined to deny himself; fo as when he faw the beauty and graceful mein, and heard the courteous converfation of the Babylonish maids, he would withdraw from them, and turn away his eyes, left his

heart fhould be enfnared. However, it sometimes fell in his way, to have converfation with fome who appeared very agreeable and engaging; and might have fome influence on his affections. Especially one, whose person, birth, circumftances, virtues and accomplishments, rendered her extremely agreeable, and made her appear very promifing to make a valuable companion; infomuch, that many of his acquaintance greatly encouraged him to pursue that opportunity, and not neglect fo valuable a prize. This made him a little ftagger; for, indeed, the wanted no accomplishment but the language of Canaan to make her juft fuch an one as his heart could wifh, and caufed him to reason in his own mind, with fuch interrogations and replies as thefe:

Q. Can I expect to find an object more defirable, or more likely to be a happy companion and a helpmeet?.

A. She may prove fo to a perfon who can be conformable to stay with her in Babylon; but as I am bound to another country, I might find bitternefs in that which would appear happinefs to another person.

Q. But have not reafon to hope, that a perfon of her refined qualities may be endued with fuch bleffings as to make her a fuitable companion for me in my journey?

A. A perfon may be accomplished with all the refinements, improvements, and excellences of Babylon, fo as to appear fuperior to many of the citizens; but if these be only the accomplishments of their own country, they can only make a gradual difference between them and the most abject peasants; whereas there is neceffarily a fpecifical difference between a Babylonian and an Ifraelite.

Q. But is it not very cenforious to look upon fuch a becoming, worthy perfon, as no better than a mere Babylonian?

A. Inafinuch as the difference is fo great, that a Babylonian cannot become a fubject of the king of Ifracl, unless he be formed a-new; we cannot efteem them any other fo long as there does not appear the fpecifical fea

tures of the select nation, neither the idiom of their language, the mein of their behaviour, nor yet an earnest inquiry after the defired land: For we are not to form our conceptions of them different to the descriptions given by the king's fcribes.

Q. Is it not exceeding hard that I must deny myself an object fo agreeable?

A. The King of Glory denies nothing that is good; therefore if it were really good, it would not be denied me; he only denies us thofe things which he knows would be evil, and it is a real kindness to us to be denied them. But, fuppofe I thought it a real good, is it hard that he should deny me one favour, who has given himself to me with all bleffings in heaven and earth?

Q. What if I never find one fo agreeable, who travels the happy road?

A. If I had the object now before me it muft entirely depend on the bleffing of God, whether I fhould have any enjoyment or not; and have I not more reason to expect a bleffing in the right way than in the wrong? Befide, as no good thing is withheld, nor any thing denied, but because it is evil, whatever God is pleafed to bestow in his own way must be most agreeable.

Q. May not the valuable qualifications attending this perfon be so blessed, as to be a means to make me happy and ufeful in the way, though, fhe walk not in it herfelf?

A. Have I any reason to expect to be made happy by any perfon who is an utter ftranger to thofe things wherein my happiness confifts? Or can I expect to find usefulness in the way, from that which cannot be enjoyed or obtained without going out of the way? Befides, whatever qualifications the is endued with, or however valuable accomplishments fhe is poffeffed of, it never will be her inclination to employ thofe excellences, to affift others in a way which the herfelf hath no delight in.

Q. But feeing her difpofition is so agreeably com

plaifant, and her mind fo well qualified with natural virtues, and decorated with fo many acquired ornaments, is there any reason to doubt but that a perfon, thus prepared, will have a tafte for learning and embracing the best things? And may I not therefore expect to be an inftrument to engage her mind to walk the bleffed way?

A. All the accomplishments that a perfon can poffibly receive from Babylon, can never prepare, qualify, nor difpofe them for travelling to Canaan; nor will it by any means induce or incline any perfon to receive the real knowledge or love of that country. Therefore, those who are not powerfully called by the king's commandment, and inwardly attracted by a vital influence, can never be engaged by any other motive or perfuafion whatfoever. For there is nothing in the nature of a Babylonian (without the inchoation of new principles) that is capable of attraction. But the more excellent her accomplishments are, the more ftrongly her mind will be cemented to that climate from whence the received them. And, on the other hand, as I formerly was a Babylonian (though now bleffed with new principles), the old tincture ftill remains in my nature, which (like fo much tinder) is ready to kindle with every fpark of Babylonish fire. Wherefore the greater excellences she is embellished with, the greater influence it will have to draw me aside into her paths, and fo put me in perpetual danger. For of this I am infallibly affured, that they will draw away one's heart.

When he had thus reafoned with himself, he made a full paufe, and appeared in a strong agitation of mind; and a paleness arofe in his face, and I heard him figh, and fay to himself, "Whither has my mind been roving!" And trembling, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and earnestly cried, "O God of all grace, deliver me from temptation!" And from that time he never would regard any of the damfels of the city; but faid, he would wait till he fhould find a true companion; and till then he would walk alone.