dignity of science is perhaps the hardest lesson, that humility can teach.'

Who, that have been blessed with pious mothers, can ever forget the interest with which they learned from them these elements of religious instruction, in lisping infancy? Who would not cherish them, as the most sacred deposites, to be retained, while memory lasts, to make them known to their children, that the generation to come may know them, even the children, which shall be born, who may arise, and declare them to their children?'

6

By such instructions, by directing their attention to the plain truths of the Bible, and by earnest prayers with and for their children, devout mothers have been instrumental of incalculable good to the rising generation. What satisfaction must they not feel in living to see the fruits of their labors, in the early piety of their offspring? How greatly is the accountableness of children increased, who have enjoyed, during the forming period of life, such advantages of religious tuition?

4. But though religion be the first, the last, the great concern; yet children must also be carefully trained for useful employment in the present life.

This likewise is the earliest care of faithful mothers. The comment of Bishop Patrick on the text is worthy of attention. It is very observable,' says he, how much human laws differ from the divine; the former only generally providing, that due regard be given by children to their fathers; but taking no notice of mothers. But God, in his law, takes care to preserve a just reverence both to father and mother equally.'

The zeal for education, especially of females, has been increasing, for some years past among us, with wonderful rapidity. The too common practice of our ancestors, occasioned, for the most part, by their worldly circumstances, that females should be instructed in little else, than their Bibles, and in household affairs, has, in this part of our land, but few followers. Such is the general propensity of mankind to extremes, the danger now is, that the education of many will be conducted on ill advised principles. There is some ground for the apprehension, that too many females, of every class in society, receive a kind of education, which is not adapted to make them most useful in the stations, to which the providence of God may appoint them. The solid branches of education, it is feared by many judicious fathers and mothers also, are too much neglected, through the prevalent taste of the times, in favor of the ornamental and the showy. To give undue preference to the latter, as the first business of education, is like painting the materials of an edifice, before they are put together.

It is vain to teach all females all kinds of accomplishments. Their taste can never be adapted to them; and, if it were, their future circumstances in life will probably demonstrate, that years, by the fond preference of mothers, have been worse than wasted, in obliging them to learn what they never acquire; and what, if they did acquire it, will be of no utility. As well as I love music, which, in every period of my life, has been among my highest gratifications; yet I am free to confess, that I have known much time and expense absolutely squandered by females on musical instruments, to which they

were reluctantly impelled by fond, yet mistaken mothers; for which they have never acquired the least relish ; and which they have gladly abandoned forever, whenever they were left to choose for themselves.*

Similar remarks may be applied to other fashionable accomplishments too sedulously and disproportionately cultivated.

It should evidently be the aim of mothers to follow the bent of their daughters' genius; and, in their early training, as in the judicious education of sons, to look forward to their future probable condition in life; that, if they become straitened in their circumstances;-and who is secure against such a common catastrophe ;they may have some resource left, by which they may render themselves and families useful and respected. How indispensable to their piety and eternal peace, that they early acquire, and sedulously cherish a taste for the Scriptures, and serious reading, profitably to employ their otherwise vacant hours; to become 'wise unto salvation;' to prove an antidote to the increasing cares of life; to heighten its joys; and especially to sustain the soul in those days of darkness, which, however unexpected in the morning of life, may nevertheless be many!

I might select from among the living and the dead many eminent examples of judicious female education. I will point to but one; and that shall be the wife of the second President of these United States, who, from the humble station of a country clergyman's daughter, rose,

*

I have long seen, that the study of the ornamental and fine arts has been forced on young persons with and without genius, to such excess, as to vex, fatigue, disgust, and determine them, whenever they become free agents, to abandon all such plagues.'-Dr. Charles Burney.

principally by her own efforts, self-taught, to the highest station in our land, which she adorned by her universally acknowledged accomplishments; who was as eminent for her domestic, as for her intellectual properties; and who was as distinguished for piety, as for talents. By indefatigable attention to the education of her children, she laid the foundation, under God, for her son, the last President of the Union, to become one of the greatest scholars, which our country has produced, and also a public professor of the Christian religion.

II. The duties of mothers to children suggest, in the second place, the correlative obligations of children to mothers.

They are to profit by their good instructions; to second their good designs; to follow their good examples.

Inconsiderate sons are prone to undervalue maternal tenderness, anxiety, and efforts for their best good. As they mingle with the world, they sometimes dread the force of ridicule, which none however, but the worthless and base, will employ against them, as unduly under the influence of the weaker sex. A wise son will not be tempted to lose respect for a pious and affectionate mother by such shallow and inconsiderate sneers; nor will he expose himself to companions, who will be likely to bring upon him such senseless reproaches. The language of Scripture is never more impassioned, than when rebuking such despisers. Hear to this effect the strongly figurative expressions of the wise man. 'The eye, that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out; and the young eagles shall eat it.'

Especially will the counsels of beloved mothers sink

deeply into the hearts of affectionate children, and leave a permanent impression upon them, as with a pen of iron, and the point of a diamond,' when those lips are sealed in death, whose doctrine dropped, as the rain, and whose speech distilled, as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender herb; and as the showers upon the grass.' Then will the removal of these dear objects of filial affection give a value and a force to counsels, which never can be duly estimated from living lips.

1. In reflecting upon this subject, we may, first, remark, how exalted is the privilege of those, who are favored with religious mothers!

They feel an interest in their offspring, which nothing else can impart; for while she, that liveth in pleasure,' thinks only of educating them for this world, and for the trivial pursuits and enjoyments of the passing moment, they are ever mindful of their religious interests, and daily watch, and strive, and pray to train them for eternity. How great must be the responsibleness incurred by such a relation!

2. We cannot but admire the wisdom and goodness of Providence in so ordering the condition and disposition of females, as to fit so large a portion of them for the great work intrusted to their care.

It is their province to give the earliest and deepest impressions to our children; and, with the concurrent blessing of heaven, to be eminently instrumental in forming their characters for time, and for eternity

How wisely is it appointed, that they are generally so much more susceptible of religious influence, than the other sex; that they are so much more out of the reach of temptation; and that they are endued with so