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Scripture examples. If you read the history of the promise of a son to Manoah and his wife, (Judges xiii.,) you will find an exceedingly interesting illustration of the subject ;-one to which I would always wish to direct the attention of every parent. With the promise there was given a direction from the angel of the Lord, how Manoah's wife should conduct herself: "Now, therefore, beware, I pray thee, that thou drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing." This enjoined, through typical observances, the watchful circumspection of the mother, and renunciation of all sin, and that particularly not only on her own account, but on account of the son she should bear. The child's destination, too, was declared to be that of a Nazarite from the womb, that is, devoted to God. When she relates the circumstance to her husband, in the 7th verse, she marks that she was duly impressed with her duty to obey the injunction; neither does she forget to relate the destination of the child. Then Manoah entreated the Lord, and said, "O my God, let the man of God, whom thou didst send, come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born." And again, in the 12th verse, "How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?" which draws again the duties of the mother forth, with this solemn conclusion: “All that I commanded her, let her observe." And in the 24th verse we are told, the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.

In the first chapter of Samuel, we read of Hannah's conduct; her earnest desire for a child was presented to the Lord, in His place of worship; she said to Eli, “I have poured out my soul before the Lord;" and Eli said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him." And when she bore a son, she called him Samuel, "because I have asked him of the Lord." And she bore in mind her promise to give him up unto the Lord all the days of his life and when she had weaned him, she said, "I will bring him that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide forever." And she took him up to the Lord with her offerings, and said, "For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him, therefore, also, I have lent him to the Lord as long as he liveth he shall be lent unto the Lord: and he worshipped the Lord there." There are some other instances in Scripture, from which we learn the same; as in the case of Jeremiah; in that of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist; and, above all, of the Virgin Mary; their retreat being, doubtless, that of devotional preparation of soul for the great maternal privileges to which they were appointed.

But, you must confess, these were all very particular cases, where the offspring were evidently appointed of God to peculiar offices.

That is very true.

But why should not every mother seek to be highly honored in being the

blessed instrument of bringing a child of God into the world, and of receiving into her own bosom the hope of it, by earnest prayer to the Lord, who giveth liberally and upbraideth_not: and why should they not continually say, "Lord, ⚫ teach us what we shall do to this child?" "How shall we order the child?"

Then, it seems, you would make the child's obedience dependent on the parent's devotion.

Not dependent; there is no dependence but in God, for this pious disposition; but it (as a means) must be greatly facilitated by a proper direction of the mind, and reference to God; and it is an arduous thing for a child to learn to honor those in whom he sees not the principle calculated to inspire him with that feeling. If you would have your children honor and obey you, you should seek to exhibit before them that which is honorable, and to lay upon them those commands which are agreeable to the mind and will of God. There is a promise to parents who so act: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Nevertheless, the duty of the child is imperious; he is to honour and obey in the Lord, as father and mother, for there is sufficient claim in all to this duty, on the ground of the natural right they possess and the natural protection they extend.

I am glad, said Mrs. Conway, you have come to this conclusion, as it brings out the practical part of the duty, and engages me more to look into the other arguments you have used.

I too am glad that you feel so engaged; but let us all recollect the faith and grace it requires to apply the precept, in hope of the promise, to a practical effect on our own hearts. But we are forgetting the flight of time, we must not neglect our engagement to the young people in the other

room.

CHAPTER V.

WHEN We entered the room, we found a fine assembly of children of different ages, from about six to fifteen years. They had just finished their refreshments, and were beginning to arrange themselves according to their own fancy, choosing their seats near to their own favorite companions, and it was not a little curious to see how, by this means, they had unconsciously classed themselves. They all rose at our entrance, and showed the exterior mark of respect for their seniors, whether it were prompted by innate feeling, or inculcated by education.

Welcome, my dear young friends, I said, as I aproached them; but let me survey my little flock, and endeavor to know each particularly. This is the Good Shepherd's plan, as we read in the 10th chapter of John ;-" I am the Good Shepherd, and I know my sheep, and am known of mine." So let us, in the name of that Good

Shepherd, know each other. I see William, and Isabella, Maria, Anna, Mary, Louisa, and her brothers Charles and George. I think, too, I see all the party I invited at Mrs. Evans's, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight; and, besides, some countenances new to me: may I beg them to be introduced?

Mrs. Evans stepped forward, and said, These are three children of my friends, Mr. and Mrs. Graham.

So I have just nineteen. Now observe, I count you like young sheep; I know you each by name, and a shepherd always desires to keep up his flock to lose none'; desirous to give in his account, presenting them to his master. How beautiful is that assurance we have in Scripture, that the Lord Jesus will keep his own. He laid down His life to keep them, and therefore He will say when He presents them to the Father, "Behold, I and the children whom thou hast given me." "Of all that thou hast given me Ihave I lost none."

In His Name may we be assembled and held together, for the sacred purpose of learning how to manifest true love to Him!

This easy address calmed the agitation which was visible in some; fearing they knew not what; and those with whom I had before been acquainted looked pleased to be thus welcomed.

In the fourteenth chapter of John, at the fifteenth verse, Jesus thus speaks to his disciples: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." With

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