the book of salvation is given; a book not composed by mortal wisdom, but given by "the inspiration of the Almighty," by which they are enabled to teach even their "little children," the doings of God to man; and in which, in the moment almost they leave the cradle, they may learn all that the Son of God hath said, and done, and suffered for their sakes. To such an advantage, no other religion that ever existed can pretend. It makes the humblest parent the instrument of communicating instruction from God himself. It replies unanswerably to all the fears which modesty can feel, and all the excuses which neglect can offer; and while, like the radiance of the sun, it shines with equal ray upon the cottage an dthe palace, it summons the inhabitants of both "to "suffer their little children to come unto "their Saviour, and to forbid them not."

While the mercy of Heaven has thus afforded to you, my brethren, these means of instruction, let me remind you, in the second place, how exquisitely these means are accommodated to the feelings and the character of the young. There is no book (as you all must have observed) so acceptable even to "the little children," as that which records the history of Jesus Christ, and the incidents of his life. The plainness of the language, the familiarity of the events, the progressive interest

of the story, and the simplicity of the principal personages, are all adapted to the character of their minds; and lead them on to truth, in a way so artless and unpretending, that they are unconscious of any thing else but interest in the narration. It is still more remarkable, that there is no character so intelligible or so affecting to the infant mind, as that of their Saviour. Into the character of those whom the world calls great, they do not and cannot enter. But the character of the Saviour of the world is one which they understand, I believe, much better than the world itself. Its simplicity accords with what they feel within themselves; its goodness with what they as yet believe of the world around them. In his wisdom there is so little pretension,-in his actions there is so little effort,-that they approach him with affection like one of themselves; and though they read the story of his sufferings with tears, they are tears that are mingled with admiration, and which dry up in exultation, when they witness his triumph over death, and over all the powers of his enemies. "Suffer "the little children to come unto me," it is never to be forgotten, are his own pathetick and paternal words. They signify, that "the little children" are dear to him, and that He is acceptable to them. They signify, that while the waters of baptism

are poured even upon the cradle of humanity, the moment they leave it, the arms of a friend and of a Saviour are prepared to receive them. They signify, but too prophetically, that times would come when the folly and the presumption of man would find out other and artificial modes of education, when the young would not be "suffered," but "forbid to come to Him;" and they seem even to supplicate the Christian parents of every future age, to "suffer their little children to come to

him," with the earnestness of a dying father, who fears that his children may fall into weaker and unwiser hands.

With regard, therefore, to the first period of education, my brethren, to the method of educating your "little children,” the great and the only advice I have to offer you is, that which his direction has sanctified," suffer them to come to Him." Spread before their infant eyes the Gospels of their Lord; read to them these sacred books, as they advance, with those tones of solemnity and interest which parental love every where assumes; and when they are able themselves to read, let them be the constant and regular study of their earliest years, in all the hours that are dedicated to domestick piety. In such a method of education, there is nothing difficult or laborious. It is a duty which the poorest man can execute, and

from which the greatest is not exempt; and while it can illuminate the desponding gloom of the cottage, it is able also in mer cy to dim all the dangerous lustre of the palace.

In what manner the early acquaintance of "little children" with the gospels of our Lord has these important advantages, you will permit me in a few words to attempt to remind you.

1. It is its first advantage, that it presents to their infant eyes the example of the highest excellence of which their nature is capable, and by this means wakens them to a sense of all the dignity of their own being. When they follow the life and history of their Saviour, they are not learning cold and abstract maxims of morality, which they can repeat without interest or understanding, and which must be forgot the moment they leave the school. They are following the footsteps of one they love, and in whose fate their hearts are interested; they attend him into solitude as well as into society, and are made acquainted with every sentiment of his mind, as well as every motive of his conduct. They are following, still more, the footsteps of a perfect model; of one whose thoughts were ever great, and whose actions were ever good; in whose sentiments towards God, Devotion assumes all its sublimity, and in whose sentiments towards men, Be

nevolence appears in all its beauty;—and yet in whose astonishing character all these divine qualities are "so veiled in humility," that the infant eye can look upon them with love, and recognize the perfection which itself is formed to pursue. Who is

there that can remain insensible to the incalculable advantage of such a model being presented to the minds of the young? In what work of human wisdom shall we find any thing that can thus waken all that is great or good in the infant bosom? And where is the parent whose heart does not throb with thankfulness when his "little "children" are "thus suffered" to come unto their Lord, and when "he puts his hands "upon them and blesses them."

2. It is a second advantage of this early acquaintance with the gospels of their Saviour, that it affords the best preparation to the infant mind for all the possible scenes of future life. You must have all observed, my brethren, to what a moral extent the example of our Saviour reaches, and how much every station and condition of men may find in Him their model and pattern.

Is it into the scenes of power or greatness that your children are destined to go? Has education given them wisdom, or has heaven lent them genius and talents? It is in His example they will find how all these blessings should be employed. It is there they will see not only power, but Omnipo