I receive my wages; "I shall go to them," though "they will not return to

me."

When the mother thus recognizes the heavenly charge which accompanies each. child born into the world, she gives the surest pledge prospectively of their being brought up in the knowledge and love of God their Saviour. She begins this great work betimes. Before her child is born into the world, with Christian confidence in the mercy and wisdom of God, she prays, in the spirit of Manoah's prayer, "O my Lord, teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born! How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?" (Judges xiii. 8-12.)

Thus holy scripture teaches the Christian mother where Christian education begins it begins in prayer before the child is born into the world.

And what shall we say as to the actual training up in the knowledge and love of

God? As soon as reason can comprehend any thing, it may be exercised in the elementary knowledge of religion. A heavenly Father's love and daily goodness are easily brought down to an infant child's apprehension; and the analogies of power, parental love, and guardianship, in its own home, may sufficiently urge and illustrate the tie which binds parent and child to the universal Father. Soon, too, may this knowledge be followed up with more the need of pardon, and the way of pardon, held up in the early introduction into the mind of " the things which are Jesus Christ's." This the Christian mother knows, and acts upon; and delights to see the little object of her care sufficiently intelligent in the first truths of the gospel, to illustrate the blessedness of the divine Saviour's positive command-"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark x. 14.) She knows that, in presenting

them to Christ, he takes them up in his arms, puts his hands upon them, and blesses them. (ver. 16.)

Upon this foundation she directs all her future labours. With better knowledge, but with equal love towards the Saviour, and with as ardent a desire for her children's enjoyment of his eternal kingdom, with "the mother of Zebedee's children," she worships Christ, "desiring a certain thing of Him." Leaving Him to apportion the nature and extent of their blessedness, her constant prayer is, that they

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may sit" with Him in his "kingdom." (Matt. xx. 20, 21.) Hence spring all her parental labours, and upon this are grounded her ardent prayers. Worldly preferment of any kind little moves her in what she plans and hopes for; her own "heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." She fears no evil; for, with holy remembrance of her Master's command, she strives herself, and ever upon her chil

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dren's minds inculcates, that their grand object in life must be, to "seek FIRST, and infinitely beyond all other things, "the kingdom of God and his righteousness." She knows that, born in sin, the children of wrath, they must be new-born unto righteousness and true holiness; and therefore keeps them, as children of God, from the contagious influence of a world lying in wickedness, that, under the dispensation of grace in the covenant of Jesus Christ, they may be true and living members of Christ's kingdom here, and, "according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Pet. iii. 13.) For herself and those whom she thus loves, she ever regards the application of the written testimony of the beloved disciple" The elder unto the elect lady and her children. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son

of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth." (2 John i. 3, 4.)

Upon this exhibition of the principle on which the Christian mother trains up her children for Christ and heaven, I have to make these two observations.

First, That whatever of parental duty belongs to the mother upon the grand basis of a Christian education, also belongs to the other parent, and that too upon precisely the same bond of natural responsibility. It also belongs to those who have a delegated authority from parents either during their life-time, or when they are dead; and in its measure it also belongs to those who, in nearness of relationship, are called upon

for the exercise of Christian watchfulness over the minds and character of the young.

Secondly, That having shown the great pervading principle, it may not be needful, nor is there time to trace out the