which bears the greatest resemblance to the true; and that it is the most dangerous for this reason, that it is so much more likely to be mistaken for the true. You are forewarned in the Scriptures that the time will come when men will not endure sound doctrine, when they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables, when the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, when evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, and when they shall privily bring in damnable heresies, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. If you would not have your children led away with the error of the wicked, and by becoming partakers in their sins, become also partakers in their plagues, you must faithfully guard them against the seductive influence of error, and train them up to the belief, and love, and practice, of the truth.

6. You can enforce your instructions by a good example. All else that you can do will be of little avail without this. It is the force of example that governs the world. And, of all persons, children feel the force of example most. How difficult is it for them to resist the current of evil example, even when they know it is carrying them to destruction.. And how certain will be the failure of all your efforts to instruct them, if you do not enforce your instructions by your own example. If you wish them to feel the importance of cultivating their minds by useful reading and sensible conversation, you must let them see that you have a high value for useful knowledge, and prize the improvement of the mind more than the possession of wealth. If you wish to teach them submission to your authority, and a ready acquiescence in the restraints you think proper to impose, you must let them see that you govern yourselves, and cheerfully submit to the allotments of Providence; and that you restrain yourselves from those indulgences which are injurious and improper. If you wish to train them to habits of benevolence and usefulness, you must let them see that you are not selfish in your enjoyments, but take the greatest pleasure in doing good. If you wish to teach your children the doctrines and duties of the gospel, you must show them that you delight greatly in the law of the Lord, and walk in all his commandments blameless. If

you wish to guard them against the seductions of error, you must let them see that you regard it with fear and with abhorrence, and that you dare not express a favorable opinion of that which the Bible condemns. Whatever you wish your children to be, you must, yourselves be, that they may see before their eyes, an example which it is safe to copy.

7. You can pray with and for your children. There is great propriety in this, and great encouragement for it too, when you are doing the other things that have been mentioned. But, if you neglect to do for them what has been pointed out, it is scarcely to be expected that you will pray for them as you ought. The inconsistency is too glaring. And if you neglect the means of training up your children in the way they should go, you will probably neglect to pray for them also. For, how can you pray to God to give success to means which you do not use or how can you expect he will hear prayer in their behalf, when you neglect to use with them the means of his appointment?

Consider, then, the influence you are capable of exerting upon the minds of your children; consider the fearful responsibility which lies upon you, in relation to them; consider the dangers to which they are exposed, and the solemn account you must soon render for the manner in which you have trained them; and the affecting meeting you must have with them in the day of final decision; and whatsoever your hands find to do, do it with your might; that when the Judge of all shall appear, you may be able to say, Lord, here we are, and the children thou hast given us.

PUBLISHED BY THE

AMERICAN DOCTRINAL TRACT SOCIETY. PERKINS & MARVIN, AGENTS,

Depository, 114, Washington Street, Boston.