2. But, lastly, where the perverseness of the child, or of the servant, is such as to frustrate our hopes and endeavours, it is still promised that such labours shall be abundantly returned into our own bosoms.-In the text, the fact that Abraham will so teach his children and his family, is assigned as a reason why the Lord will "bring upon Abraham the things he hath spoken of him;" that is, why he will fulfil to him the promises of the covenant he had made with him. The world, my brethren, may overlook you in the quiet discharge of your domestic duties; but God sees, and knows, and distinguishes, and blesses you. The prayers you offer, if unsuccessful for others, will, like the vapours descending in fertilizing showers to the earth from which they were exhaled, fall back in abundant blessings upon your own bosom. Go forward, therefore, ye simple and holy labourers, in the discharge of those delightful duties, under the happy assurance that you shall, by the power and grace of the Redeemer, either "save yourselves" or "those who hear you."-It is recorded of the individual thus instructing his family "to keep the way of the Lord," that he was old, and well stricken in years;" and that "the Lord had blessed him in all things." It was thus, that the blessing which he, perhaps in some instances fruitlessly, laboured to impart to another was bestowed on himself; and that he sank to his grave rich in all those possessions which may cheer us amidst the agonies of dissolving nature, or fit us for the presence of the Great Judge.

It is my wish, in concluding these observations, to address myself chiefly to two classes of individuals.

1. In the first place, let me say a few words to those who feel a disposition to complain, that, although they appear to themselves to have faithfully pursued the object of family instruction, they have hitherto pursued it altogether without success.

I have already very briefly adverted to the case of

those families in which no reproach can be passed upon the individuals to whose management they are committed, and where the blame lies, not with the teacher, but with the learner. Let me, however, solemnly repeat the warning to those, whether children or servants, who thus repel every means employed to teach or influence their hearts. Shall I remind such persons who it is that are to be "beaten with many stripes?" or what is the wo denounced on those who harden the neck against reproof? What, let me ask you, is to touch your souls, if the affectionate watchful guardianship of those thus intimately connected with you does not? What new resources for your improvement can be applied? Must you not be considered as, at least, approaching to the state of those on whom the best medicine for their disease has been tried, and tried alto

gether in vain? Are you not, if the word of God is to be believed, "treasuring up to yourselves wrath against the day of wrath ?" May a compassionate God have mercy upon you! May your hard heart be broken by the hammer of his word! May you flee, ere it is too late, to that Lord, who from the cross is still, in the tenderness of his love, spreading wide his arms to welcome you! "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thy help."

But, my brethren, whilst I am willing to allow that there are examples of minds thus rejecting the affectionate and devout instruction of those set over them; and whilst I deeply mourn over such cases; I must be permitted, in Christian honesty, to say, that I fear many of the cases of irreligious children and servants are to be traced, in a considerable degree at least, to the criminal neglect of those to whom the guardianship of their souls is committed. I do not mean to affirm, that in the families, especially of those professing an interest in the subject of religion, the obvious duty of family prayer is neglected: but, then, how coldly, formally, and inertly is that duty apt to be discharged!

Nor is it my intention to deny that some commentary on Scripture is not occasionally, or perhaps regularly, read in such families; but, then, how little pains is taken to give that reading effect, by earnestness, simplicity, feeling, affection, in the person who reads! How seldom do the heads of families converse with the members of those families on the all-important subjects of religion! how seldom speak with them as from man to man; as from one dying creature to another; as from a sinner, perhaps rescued from the pit of perdition, to another sinner still hovering on its edge! How seldom do we find the parents and children of a family seated with the Scripture in their hands, and together endeavouring with united hearts to draw water from the wells of salvation! What, let me moreover ask, is the probable influence of your own character upon your families? Do they find, that religion sweetens your temper, enlarges your liberality, teaches you self-denial, invigorates your habits of usefulness, disposes you to live less for yourself, and more for all the world; lifts you above the cares and anxieties of the world, into the higher region of tranquillity, and love, and joy? Are we not sometimes compelled to enter families where we discover nothing of religion but a dry belief in its doctrines? What results, my brethren, are to be expected from habits such as these? what promise is there to the negligent? Is this also a day of miracles; and has the Prophet only, as in the days of the Egyptians, to wave his wand, and will the plague of the heart vanish, and health be poured over the diseased in soul?

2. But let me turn from this topic, to address myself, in conclusion, to those faithful, lowly, devout labourers in the duties of a family, whose prayers and watchfulness have been in some measure rewarded, through the compassion of their God, with correspondent success; and who are at this moment enjoying one of the highest privileges of which this state of existence is productive, that of seeing a rich harvest

spring up under their own cultivation, and can look round with delighted hearts on the smiling faces of a family rejoicing in the Lord.

Christian brethren, you know by whose strength this object has been accomplished, and to whom the song of gratitude must arise: "Praise the Lord, O my soul: While I live will I praise the Lord; yea, as long as I have my being I will sing praises unto my God." An arm of flesh hath not done this-but "the Lord hath gotten himself the victory." Endeavour, then, in the spirit of gratitude and love, to meet the blessing with corresponding emotions. Set it against a thousand disappointments and sorrows. Carry it about with you, as an antidote to the almost certain trials of life. What matters it that we may not be able to push our children up the slippery path of fame; that we cannot colour their cheeks with the glow of health; that we cannot open up to them mines of worldly wealth? If they are the real servants of the Lord their God, they are the possessors of present peace, and the inheritors of the kingdom of glory. And when many of the distinguished of this world shall be sinking to their own place," these, perhaps neglected or despised inhabitants of a wicked world, shall "lift up their heads with joy," and spread their wings, and soar away into the unruffled serenity and never-ending joys of their Father's presence. May these visions of hope and joy be accomplished to ourselves, my brethren! May we hear a voice saying, "I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generation, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee!" May that blessing of the Lord, which is in the dwelling of the righteous, be upon you! May you labour in your families patiently, affectionately, devoutly, successfully! May you rise to heaven accompanied by every one of those whom the Father of the universe has consigned to your guardianship upon earth!

SERMON XV.

THE JOURNEY OF LIFE.

NUMB. x. 29.

We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.

THE language of the text is that of Moses to his idolatrous father-in-law, Hobab. Concerned that one so dear to him, one to whom he was bound by such solemn and tender ties, should quit the camp of the Lord and return to the idols of Midian, he urges him, in these touching and affectionate terms, to remain with the people of God, to cast in his lot among them, and in their company to pursue his way to the land of promise and joy. "Come with us, and we will do thee good for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel."

It is my wish, however, instead of dwelling on the private history of the distinguished individual by whom these words were uttered, to give them the wider application of which they are obviously capable, and to gather from them those more general lessons which they are calculated to teach. And to this end I shall consider them,