deep humiliation and godly fear. Yet, blessed be God, such impressions, though not immediately issuing in conversion, often repeated, while the process of God's mercy in preparing the heart for his effectual calling is gradually going forward, is, I believe, a frequent mode in which the divine mercy is manifested and extended, especially to the children of believers. But when this is not the case, such impressions generally leave them harder and worse than they do other persons, on account of the greater light resisted.

As to my dear boy, I think the Lord knows that I have given him to Him. If I have ever performed any religious duty, I have done this; making no conditions as to circumstances, ways, means, services, or any of these things. My prevailing belief, and my comforting expectation is, that God, who has himself put these desires into my heart, will accept of what he has enabled and constrained me to do. As to desert, when I cast my eyes there, all is darkness and hopelessness. But "the gift of God is eternal life" to all who will accept it; and this free gift, which is offered, not only without recompense, but against unmingled ill-desert, this gift I think I have taken as my portion, and the portion of mine, for ever, above; and so far as God pleases, against every thing beside.

Of the pleasing state of things here, in a religious point of view, you have, doubtless, heard. The Lord does seem, indeed, to be about to revive his work. The number of inquirers in our society has very much increased, and many of them appear to be deeply in earnest in seeking the salvation of their souls. There is also more than usual attention to religion in the Park Street and Essex Street congregations. Meetings are highly interesting,-unusually full and solemn. Many, especially of the young, are turning their faces towards Zion. Rejoice with us, and pray for us.

TO HER SON AT ANDOVER.

Boston, January 13, 1823.

My dear J., the imagination that religion will make them unhappy, is one of the most common, and one of the most successful temptations which the adversary of souls employs with people, especially with the young, to induce them to delay, and delay, the business of attending to their salvation, till it is too late to attend to it at all. One of the first religious exercises I remember, (I was not more than three years old,) was a solemn consultation in my mind, whether it was best to become a Christian then or not. If I did not, I thought I was in a dangerous state. But then if I did—why I should never have any more comfort in this world. I must never laugh, never play, never enjoy myself; but be always solemn, and dull, and gloomy. The result was, that I concluded it not best to be a Christian yet. But, blessed be God! he pursued me with his grace, as I humbly hope, so that I found there could be no happiness, no comfort, while God and I were enemies. He broke up the enchantment of Satan, and showed me, that these dreams and plans of earthly delight were all false and fatal, and held up to me by the enemy of my soul to cheat me to perdition."

What pleasures will religion deprive you of, my son ? May you not play just as innocently, and with more satisfaction, with religion than without it? Depend upon it, religion will not debar you from any reasonable and lawful pleasure. All that it forbids you is sin. And do you wish for a licence to sin comfortably? God forbid. Every Christian will tell you that the law of God, which it is his delight to obey, leaves open to him the enjoyment of all those innocent comforts connected with our situation in the world as men, which his own mercy has so amply provided for us, and provided that they may be used. You have known me long, my J.,

and been more capable of observing me since your dear father's death. Does religion deprive me of any pleasures ? Does it diminish my enjoyment? No, my dear child. To the honour and glory of my blessed Lord, let me tell you, it was this which held up my soul, when passing through the deep waters, where there was no standing; which enabled me to rejoice in God, and to feel that, although my earthly prospects were shrouded in darkness, all was safe, all was well; which has enabled me sometimes to feel, that, though the whole creation were shivered to atoms, and mingled together in one universal wreck, I should still find all to be safe and well. I have given you to God, and I do so every day. You must, my dear boy, be his servant; and you shall find his service perfect freedom.

My beloved child, you have scarcely been out of my mind to-day. I have had great sorrow, and continual heaviness of heart, lest the present season of special mercy to the Academy should pass away, and you remain out of Christ. I have had more earnest wrestlings of spirit for you of late than ever before. God encourages me to wait upon him, with crying and many tears for you, my son. He encourages me to desire great things, and to hope great things. Oh, that this may prove to you the accepted time, and the day of salvation!

Do you ask me what you must do. I answer, give yourself to Christ. Make a solemn resolution to reject all offers of comfort which this world holds out to you, till you obtain evidence that you have done this. Resolve to take no rest, no peace, till you have given yourself to Christ. Depend upon it, he will receive you. He says, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in

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no wise cast out." He will forgive you; he will wash away the pollutions and defilements of sin; he will make you a saint and a son.

You are descended my dear J., from a long line of ancestors on both sides, who were pious, and have finished their course, and gone to their gracious reward. Your dear father early declared himself for Christ. Your unworthy mother was early, as she hopes, brought to devote herself to, Christ. On which side will you be, that of God, or of Satan and the world? ،، Choose you this day, whom you will serve." If the LORD is to be your God, then follow him. If the world, but no, I cannot make such a supposition. You are the Lord's. His vows are upon you. You must not go back. Turn your face full toward Zion. Keep that light in view. Let your face be always towards heaven. In all your strugglings, struggle to get nearer and nearer to the gate of the heavenly city. Run and you shall obtain. God help you to do so, and you are Amen, and amen.

blessed for ever.

TO A FRIEND IN W.

Boston, January 19, 1823. To speak of one's children is much the same thing as to speak of one's self; and to say, "I have a sensible,” of an amiable," or "an interesting child,” carries with it all the repulsiveness of self-commendation. There are, moreover, few persons, comparatively, who have benevolence enough to hear such a frank declaration of the virtuous dispositions and desires, which we are con◄ scious of, or which we know to exist in our children, as circumstances may sometimes perfectly justify, without making a bad use of it. I have been grieved and shocked at the exhibitions of character I have sometimes met with in regard to this thing. Perhaps, the, sentiments of the parent respecting her child have been dexterously elicited, by a show of affection and interest;

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and the remarks, made in humility and in confidence, have been the occasion of much ungenerous animadverupon the character of the child, and oftener still on the management of the parent. If you have never seen any thing of this sort, you have been peculiarly fortunate. A judicious parent may see the faults of her own children much more distinctly than she can possibly see those of other children. And to conclude that a parent does not, or cannot, see the faults of her child, because she does not speak of them, is, to say the least, very bad reasoning. I suppose it is best, ordinarily, not to speak much of our own faults or virtues, nor of the faults or virtues of our children, or our friends, unless some good is, on the whole, likely to result from it.

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As to the question you ask respecting private instruction and attending school, I do not feel perfectly qualified to answer you, as I have not had experience of both. I think, however, there are disadvantages attending each method. There is certainly great hazard in turning out an unformed, and comparatively innocent young creature, to mingle with the indiscriminate mass of children who usually attend school. Every parent who has sent his children to school must have perceived the alteration which appears in them upon first taking this step: at least it must be very common. It is cer

tain that, in itself, the influence of such a mixture must be bad, and this bad influence will be in proportion to the degree of immorality in the scholars. But then there are disadvantages in being educated at home. Unless the mother has uncommon health, the confinement it will occasion her will be very injurious to her constitution; and unless her talent for government is peculiarly excellent, the perpetual recurrence of occasions in which it is necessary for her to exert authority, will be likely gradually to weaken the habit of obedience, and the sense of obligation in the children. Children educated at home are apt to fall into desultory habits. The tediousness of study, unassisted and un