caused to be established for the In. That is the language of wider circulation of his statute those who are too indolent to book, in which corporations are search, or who are disposed to included the most learned of the disobey. Remember, that it is a King's servants now living. So revelation from the King, not that you may judge yourselves merely for the use of the learned, whether there are likely to be any but for those of common underimportant defects in it. No ; standing also. It is an impeachwhatever Mr. Plausible may pre- ment of his wisdom and goodness tend, you may depend upon the to suppose it is not well adapted copy you have, and receive what to answer the purposes for which ever it contains, as the pure word it was given. of the King.

Th. By what rules of interpreTh. I wish to be informed also tation shall I determine what is how I shall know what is the true the true sense of any passage ? sense of the King's statute book ;

In. By the same rules that you for I find that it is interpreted dif- determine what is the true sense ferently.

of any thing that is said to you. In. The most important requi. Consider the connexion, and what site, in order to arrive at the true is the subject of discourse, and let sense of the King's statute book, words be understood according to is a humble, teachable disposition their plainest and most obvious The Prince Immanuel hath said, import when used in such a con“ If any man will do his will, he

nexion. shall know of the doctrine, whe.

Th. Are not the same expresther it be of God, or whether I

sions used sometimes figurativespeak of myself.” A disobedient heart is the only important diffi- ly, and sometimes literally?

In. Yes : But the connexion culty in the way of a right understanding of the King's book. If will always decide. If they are you feel your own ignorance, and used figuratively, the connexion are willing to be taught by the will make it manifest ; and it will King, and to receive and obey show also what is the meaning of whatever. he teaches, without the figure. If the connexion furmurmurings and disputings, you nishes no reason why the expreswill be likely to find no difficulty. sion should be understood figura

Th. But I have heard it alleged, tively, it ought to be understood that the King's statute book is literally. You must not think you very dark and difficult to be un. may understand an expression fig. derstood; and that is in vain for uratively or literally at your pleapersons of common understanding sure. This would destroy the use to try to know what it means. of the King's book altogether,

and make every man's own fancy Ard. I trust we shall be disposed his rule.

to take the King's book for our *Th. I have heard it alleged also guide, and embrace wbatever it that some universal terms, such as contains. I long to see the rare all, every, forever, everlasting, are and profitable sights which pilsome times used in a limited, and grims have formerly seen here. sometimes in an unlimited sense, So the Interpreter took the How shall I know which sense to pilgrims into his significant rooms, attach to them.

and showed them those things In. All words which have an which had been seen by the pilunlimited sense, ought to be un- grim Christian, and also those derstood in that sense, unless there which had been seen by Christis something in the connection iana and her company. After this which plainly fixes a limitation. was done and they had conversed

Th. How is it then that the ad- upon them sufficiently, he took vocates of error often seem to them to see other things, which have so much from the King's he thought might be profitable book to support their opinions ? to them.

In. Most of the advocates of er- First he took them to the door ror believe some truth, as well as of a prison where, looking through

They can bring the grates, they saw a man made proof from the King's book, to fast io irons; and they saw also support every truth they believe. that the doors of the prison were And when they wish to oppose locked and barred upon him ?any truth, they usually state it Then there came one who looked wrong, so that it has the appear- through the grates, and called to ance of an error; and thus they the man, and bid bim come out seem to bring much against it and offered bim a great reward if from the King's book. They also he would do so. Then said the man wrest what is contained in the why do you mock me? You see King's book, so as to make it seem I cannot come out, for I am fast to bear upon the point in dispute; bound in chains; and the doors of or they try to keep the point in the prison are closed upon me.dispute out of sight, and set up Alas I would gladly come out if something else, which is a truth, I could. instead of it, and having proved Then said the pilgrims, wlat that, they pretend they have gain- means this? ed the point in dispute, when, in In. This shows the absurd conreality, they have not touched it duct of many who teach that the at all. By such arts, they often Prince Immanuel died for the elect impose upon the credulous and un- only, and that all men are under thinking

a natural inability to comply with

some

error.

the invitations of the gospel; and Then the Interpreter took them yet address those invitations to all in another place, and bid them indiscriminately, and urge them look into two dark rooms, and tell to comply; when according to which of them was clean. Then their own scheme, they cannot said the pilgrims, we cannot tell; comply if they would.

they appear to be both alike. But, follow me to another apart- Then the Interpreter, called ment.

for one to bring a light, and bid So they followed bim to anothe them look again, which they did. er apartment, where also there And they saw that one of the was a prison, with a man in it as

rooms was entirely clean; but the before. And while they looked, other was extremely foul ; loathone came and threw open the pris- some reptiles were crawling upon on doors, and went to the prisoner, the floor, and spiders, bloated with knocked off his chains, and set poison, were creeping upon the him on his feet, so that he walked walls, and dangling upon the ceilabout freely. He then invited ing. him to come out, and offered him Then said the pilgrims, what great rewards if he would com- means this? ply. But the man answered, I In. This illustrates one effect love my prison, and cannot leave of the faithful preaching of the it; I despise your rewards, and gospel. Before the light of truth cannot accept them. I cannot come

comes, men may appear to be per out.

fectly alike, and seem to have the Then said the pilgrims, what same temper of heart; as the two means this?

rooms appeared to be alike, while In. This case illustrates the no light shined into them. But real situation of the sinner. What the light of truth makes manifest. the Prince Immanuel has doue, When the truths of the gospel are has unbarred bis prison doors, clearly exhibited, those who have and knocked off his chains.

He

a clean heart will be made mapi. can come out, if he will. But he fest; and those whose hearts are will not. He loves his prison, and foul as this room will be made and is unwilling to leave it. He manifest also. And whereas the despises the rewards which are bringing in of the light, was not offered, and will not accept them. what made the room foul, but it He also says he cannot come out; only discovered the foulness which but it is plain, that his cannot is was in it already ; so the clear only a will not His inability to exhibition of the light of truth is come out is wholly a inoral ın abil. not to be found fault with, as ity. It is nothing but disinclination. though it made men so much

9

worse, as it soon discovers them attention to the music, being busily to be.

engaged in conversing with each Then he took them to another other, or in taking notice of each place where was a dark room, other's dress, or in exbibiting their and a man entering with a light own; and some of them seemed to in his hand; a thief, who was be very drowsy and almost asleep there for the purpose of pfunder, Then the Interpreter bid the pilstepped towards him, and endeav- grims ask the people how they ored to strike the light out of his liked the music ; and they all anhand. But when he had made gwered that they liked it exceedseveral attempts to do that, with- ingly; they thought it was 'very out success, he began to strike at fine indeed; they had never heard the man who bore it, that he better. So the pilgrims kept lookmight knock him down if he ing, and soon after, the whole could.

company seemed to be all attenThen said the pilgrims, what tion to the music ; every one was means this?

awake, every noise was bushed, In. This illustrates another ef- every eye was fixed, and every fect of the faithful preaching of ear was open. Then the Interthe gospel. When the light of preter bid the pilgrims again ask trath is brought in, and begins to the people how they liked the discover the true character of the music; and now they answered wicked, as they love darkness different ways. Some declared rather than light, because their they had never heard it before deeds are evil, they hate the light but liked it well. Some said they & try to extinguish it. They deny had before only heard a few notes the truth and try to make others at a time, and they liked it aow bet. disbelieve it. But wben these at. ter than ever. But many of them tempts do not succeed, and they exclaimed against it, as the worst cannot extinguish the light nor they had heard. The instrument conceal themselves from it, their they said was out of tupe, and enmity is roused against him who made dreadful discord ; and tbe bears it, and they try to get him performer discovered a strange out of the way, that the light want of taste. They thought he may no longer shine, to disturb had altered unaccountably for them in the execution of their de. the worse, (though the pilgrims signs.

had perceived no alteration ;) and Then he took them to another some said, if he did not soon mend place where was one playing up- his hand, they would hear him no

a musical instrument, to a longer. room full of people. But they Then said the pilgrims, what saw that the people paid very little means this?

on

them so

In. This illustrates another ef- dress myself particularly to mothect of the faithful preaching of ers, for they are commonly inthe gospel. When a preacher trusted with the most important who has the character of preach- part of education. The temper ing well, comes to a congregation and disposition, the habit of obe. who are in a stupid stąte, having dience and the first principles of their minds occupied with worldly religion, should all be formed dur. pleasure and amusements, they ing the first six or seven years, are ready enough to think he when the child is principally unpreaches well, and to join in ex- der the care of the mothers.-tolling his performances, though Women, if they are what they they had not in reality heard ought to be, seem particularly

as to be qualified to suited to this task, from the tenform any judgment. But after- derness & gentleness of their diswards, when their attention is ex. positions, and the happy art which cited, and they hear so as to un. they possess of gaiping affection, derstand what he preaches, those and softening authority by kind. who really love the gospel like it ness. But they are apt to fall better than before ; and some, into some errors from which I who have never heard with serious wish to guard them. They do attention and self-application, hav. not always consider the absolute ing now the truth set home to necessity of teaching a child obetheir consciences and their hearts, dience from the very first. Be. and feeling its sanctifying power, fore he can speak, he should learn are well pleased. But those who this lesson, wbich sooner or later really hate the truth, are now must be learned by every cregreatly displeased ; and remem. ated being. From infancy he bering that they had before ex- should be taught that nothing is pressed their approbation, they to be gained by passion and crythink the change is in the preach. ing. This is attended with but er, though in reality be preaches very little difficulty, if it be done, the same truths ; and many of before any bad habits are formed, them are now so much provoked, and custom will soon make it easy that they declare they will not to the child, but we often see bear such things any longer, mothers especially among the though they are the very same poor wbo never attempt to govthings they joined in commende ern their children till their little ing a little while before.

passions have gained so much strength that they know not how to conquer them except by meth.

ods which would never have On this subject I wish to ad- been necessary, if they had been

AN ADDRESS

TO

MOTHERS ON

THE

EARLY EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.