ADDRESS TO PARENTS.

A LOVE towards children, and a wish, inspired by very uncertain health, to leave to the little ones of a particular family a token of remembrance which might be useful to them, induced the writer to turn aside from other occupations, and compose this little volume. There are parents who may suppose that some of the subjects attempted, are unlikely to engage a child's attention; but experience warrants a contrary opinion. Let no mother be discouraged by the apparent want of interest in her pupil, when she begins to raise the mind

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towards religious subjects; so that she do but diligently "sow good seed," she may go on in the firmest confidence that God will, at some time, (it may be in some long-after year, or from a bed of sickness,) abundantly give the increase.” Having once put the "sword of the Spirit,” though chained and sealed perhaps, into her child's hand, God will, in due season, impart his grace to use it fitly in the hour of danger; but if she commit her offspring unarmed to the warfare of the world, of what use, to her or to it, has been that "whole armour of righteousness," to the use of which her Bible had given her the key? There is no time too early to bring children acquainted with religious truth: the misfortune is, that this indispensable duty is often injudiciously performed; and the calm judging are pained at the disservice done to their own cause, by some very sincere believers, who, in their earnestness of zeal, forget the exquisite tenderness and expansive benevolence of the faith "

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it is in Jesus." Intention, principle, is all sound and good in these cases, and commanding our highest respect; but the execution fails, because the imperfections of our human nature are permitted to come in between our purposes and that humble and long-suffering spirit which marked all our great Founder's communion with the creatures he had formed, and for whose sins he was content to suffer. Coldness, and gloom, and restraint, and severity, are not the characteristics of our blessed Lord's testament to his followers: high as he was above humanity, even whilst dwelling in it, we see no rigid closing of the heart upon the kindlier feelings, in his bright example. There is much in his conversation on earth, to expand, and soften, and cheer the heart; little, shall we say nothing, to sear or close it. Let us then strip away from our discourse, this disguise of ensnaring formality, convinced that the garment of humility was never woven from such materials.

It is painful to notice an error in a design so exemplary as that of securing the religious education of our children; but, bearing, as we always must do, our treasure in "earthen vessels," the fear of compromising the true faith and forfeiting religious integrity, leads the serious-minded sometimes to require too much—to insist too strictly on an exact obedience, and to feel disappointment when they see their counsel distasteful to the "little ones" over whom they would watch. Excellent and serious people, to whose own paths the word of God is a cheering light, forget that, whilst a child, man thinks as a child, and that infancy is not the season wherein to "put away childish things." Judging by their own mental enjoyments and taste for devotion, such persons often comply too little with the limited powers of an age and nature, requiring indeed “bit and bridle," but asking likewise, the kind voice and caressing hand.

Cold formality is almost as repugnant to the