that opens to us the Gates of Heaven, that presents to our View those ineffable Joys which are there laid up for our immortal Souls, and that teaches us the fure Way and Means to attain them.-And when these Principles have been early implanted on Men's Minds, and their Experience begins to convince them of the Emptiness and Vanity of the World, this will naturally turn their Thoughts to that Place where only true Happiness is to be found; and it will both direct and encourage them to pursue those celeftial Pleasures which are at God's right Hand for evermore.

Such, it is hoped, would be the bleffed Fruits of obeying St. Paul's Precept, with refpect to the Children fo brought up; and the happy Parents are fure to reap this Confolation from it, that if, on the contrary, they prove bad Men, the Parents will have nothing to reproach themselves withal; and if they fhould prove good and virtuous in their Converfation, the Parents will reap great Honour, and greater Comfort from their Virtues.

What fo grievous and tormenting to a tender Parent, as the Ruin of his beloved Child both in Body and Soul? I can fcarce conceive any thing can well be more fo, except the Consciousness of having contributed to that Ruin. If his own Carelefnefs and Neglect have been the Caufes of that Deftruction, this indeed must increase the Anguish and Bitternefs of his Heart.-But he who has taken

due Care of the pious Education of his Child, will have nothing to fuffer from these pungent Reproaches.-He has difcharged his Duty, and must leave the Event to God; and it will be no fmall Alleviation of fo grievous an Affliction, that he has done all that in him lay to guard against and prevent it.

And on the other hand, if it shall please God to blefs their Endeavours with Success, how abundantly will all thefe Endeavours be, even in this Life, rewarded!-If the Child is truly pious, he must be dutiful; and that Duty will be fome Return for the Cares of his Education.-His Virtue will thus gain him great Favour and Efteem among Men, and every Honour done the Child will be a Crown of Glory to his Mother.-And therefore says the wife Man, The Father of the Righteous fhall greatly rejoice; and he that begetteth a wife Child fhall have Joy of him. Thy Father and thy Mother fhall be glad, and fhe that bare thee Shall rejoice.And indeed, who can defcribe or conceive that Joy, but they that feel it?— Who can describe the Transports of a Mother's Breaft, who fees her Child going on profperously in the Ways of Virtue here, and confequently of eternal Glory hereafter ?—Or what Comfort can be greater on this fide the Grave, than to see our Children, our other felves, increafing daily in Wifdom and Knowledge, and in Favour with God and Man?

And

And that this Happiness may be as general and diffufive as poffible, that every Father and Mother may have their Share of it, the Church, you know, has prepared a short Inftruction for the Ufe of Children; requires that all be early made to learn it, and be brought to the Congregation, at a proper Age, to be publickly examined in it; and calls upon all Parents and Mafters of Families to take Care, that due Attendance and Attention be given to these publick Examinations.

A Work which has been practifed from the first Ages of Christianity with great Bleffing and Succefs; a Work of great Benefit, if duly weighed and understood, to the Old as well as to the Young; a Work therefore which no Man can neglect and defpife as a Matter of Form and Custom only, without betraying either a wicked Indifference and Lukewarmnefs for his Religion, or great Ignorance of the moft proper Means to fupport and promote

it.

And if then you would effectually guard your Children against the Mischiefs arifing from the Neglect of this Duty; if you would yourselves be established, or so establish them in the Faith, as to be able to give good Reafons for the Hope that is in them; they must then be made to confider, and thoroughly to understand, thofe firm Foundations upon which that Hope is built; they must be armed with the Armour of God on the right Hand and

on

on the left; and they must be made well acquainted, not with the Letter only, but with the true Intent and Meaning of the Word of God, that they may be able to refift the Devil and his Agents in this evil Day of Temptation, and, in spite of all Oppofition, to ftand.

And that nothing may be wanting on my Part, I purpose by God's Affiftance to expound that Summary of our Faith, the Church Catechifm, in the plaineft and most useful manner that I can; which, I hope, may be of Service to the older fort, by opening to them the true Grounds and Reafons of our Holy Religion, as well as to the younger, by instructing them in the Doctrines and Precepts of it.

And God grant that these my Endeavours may be inftrumental to his Glory, and fet forward your Salvation; and that I may be able to give a joyful Account of my Ministry among you, in the Day of the Lord Jefus.To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, &c.

VOL. II.

X A COURSE