to quench the pity for her own infant, which she would have shewn a stranger's; and to destroy her child.

66

Judge therefore yourselves," brethren, "that ye be not judged of God." Are you bearing any part in the infliction of such horrors? It has been truly said, "Irregularity has no limits; one excess draws on another; and the most easy, as well as the most excellent way of being virtuous, is to be so entirely." "Enter in then at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction; and many there be which go in thereat." 1 Remember the latter days of Solomon, and their contrast with his early virtues. Remember the fall of David, the man after God's own heart: and therefore God raised up evil against him out of his own house, and the sword was never to depart from his house. Remember those, whose blighted promise and disappointed hopes your own

1 Matt. vii. 13.

experience has witnessed; and you may learn, how seldom excess escapes a share of the penalties, it wantonly inflicts on others.

But it is not by one method only, that we may contribute to the misery I have faintly sketched. The seed of sensual excesses, let me repeat, is in our nature. It has been sown in fallen man from the day of his first father's corruption. It grows, and flourishes, and becomes rank and luxuriant by its own vital powers. Education and religion must clear the soil of tares and hemlock, before a better harvest can spring up. The natural man must be overcome. The old man must be crucified with his affections and lusts. This is no easy task. Have you then, who are parents, borne any part in the infliction of this misery, by neglecting or perverting the education of your children? The injury is not the less sure, because it is indirect. It is not necessary, that you should actually sow the seed. already. It is enough if you

L

It is there

allow it to

grow. If you do not early pluck out the weeds, you will never be able to check their increase. How do you expect the nature of your child to be restrained if you never teach the lessons of selfrestraint? How should your child put on the new man in Christ, if the example of his parents is ever before him, clothed in the carnal appetites of the old man of the world? How should he live to the spirit, if he sees you ever living to the flesh? How do you expect to reap the fruits of righteousness, if you have not planted the fear of God, and respect of every ordinance of religion? Has the conduct of your house been a continuous lesson of modesty and virtue? Have you screened your children from the contamination of every thing, that can suggest improper thoughts, or poison innocence? This is a subject of nearer import, than many may at first suppose. The children of the rich are entrusted to servants, of whose morals and discretion parents may be ill assured. The family

of the poor, confined perhaps to a single room, must imbibe through every sense the spirit and character of the parents, with whom it is in constant contact. And upon these early impressions much depends the lot of offspring. They become happy in innocence, worthy citizens, and faithful servants of God; or wretched in guilt, outcasts of society, and reprobate of heaven, which they outrage; in proportion as their nature has been unreclaimed, or precept and example have together brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

One other consideration for the Christian parent. A common practice renders the first lapse from virtue irretrievable. The door is closed against repentance. The parent drives his child from his roof; (this may perhaps be necessary to protect a family from infection of guilt). But he also spurns her from his countenance, and abandons her to destitution. And this a father, who professes the Gospel which declares, that "there is joy in

heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, who need no repentance." Consider to what a fate, in this world, and the next, a Christian thus consigns his own offspring. Consider the irretrievable sentence he thus passes. Consider the irresistible impulse by which he forces her to utter infamy-to drink the cup of shame and misery to the very dregs. Consider that a little care, and tenderness, and pity, might perhaps have saved his child. I speak not without reason. One of the greatest difficulties of those societies, that reclaim the young from such a course of vice, is the refusal of the parents to restore even the penitent (so far as man can judge of penitence) to a place in their affection and care.

I am not adverting to the obstinate and determined. But where there is a hope of recovery, consider the precious reward of saving a soul from sin. Consider the fearfulness of offending (of putting a stumbling-block in the way of)