cepts, to imitate his example, and to rejoice in him as their friend, their Saviour, and their Lord. No. II. THE LAST WORDS OF A FATHER TO A SON. THUS says General Wilkin son-"I had the misfortune to lose my father before I reached my seventh year. His last words to me were graven on my memory, and have ever been associated with my remembrance of him—My son, if you ever put up with an insult I will disinherit you. I mention this triv. ial circumstance in the hope, that respect to the injunctions of a father may extenuate some errors of my life. He was taken ill the same night, and never rose from his bed."-Memoirs, p. 8, 9. REMARKS. 1. This last injunction of a father cannot justly be regarded as a 66 trivial circumstance." It appears that it was not so in its effects. The "errors" which the general hoped would be extenuated by his "respect to the injunction of a father" were probably such as related to the practice of duelling. It is worthy of notice that a threatening injunction to excite a spirit of revenge proved to be the "last words" of the father to the son. What a solemn admonition is this to parents, to take heed in respect to what they say at any time to their children! Their most improp er injunction may be their last, and may have influence on their children through life. Such speeches may occasion the untimely death of their own chil err dren, or occasion them to become murderers of others. 2. As fathers may through the influence of their own education, it behoves children, as soon as they are capable of doing it, to compare the "last words" of their parents with the words of the Saviour of men, to see whether they accord with unerring instructions. 3. We may here observe the perfect contrast between the last injunction of a father to a son, and the words of Jesus Christ relating to the same subject. The father says" My son, if you ever put up with an insult I will disinherit you." The Saviour says, "When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive your tresspasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your tresspasses." Not only did our Saviour give these injunctions, but he enforced them by his own example. Although he was inoffensive in his deportment, he was not exempt from abuse and insult; but he did not "render evil for evil, nor reviling for reviling,"-nor did he ever attempt to vindicate his honour by a challenge for a duel; but he prayed for those who insulted him, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Let young people therefore beware, and hearken to no counsels,nor regard any threatenings, which are adapted to excite an unforgiving or revengeful spirit. Let them duly consider how much they need the forgiving A pang less keen than thine. Ah, base were he, whose hand the author aimed to excite ten could stain Fair hospitality With act so foul as thus, to pain A harmless guest like thee. derness towards birds and other animals, he indulged improper feelings, or at least adopted improper language, respecting the person who stole the young robbins. The lines with which he closed were the following: "For him, whose hand hath broke thy rest, Be this his curse through life, A mind by the mild muse unblest, Base care and vulgar strife." These lines would not have been given at all, were it not for the opportunity they afford of correcting a common vice. To express his sympathy for a favourite bird, and his abhofrence of the deed by which she was afflicted, the poet should not have adopted language importing a wish that the evil should be recompensed on a fellow being by a curse through life," and a "curse" too which would involve sin as well as misery. It is much to be regretted that 66 Mr. Fawcett has given an example of such inconsistency. But wishing evil to those who have acted a cruel part, whether to men beasts, or birds, is a The Chrisvery common vice. tian religion will justify no such language, no such imprecations, or wishes of evil to those who have done evil. Evil doers are objects of pity as well as of blame; and it is much more consistent with the spirit of Christ and the precepts of the gospel, to pray for the repentance and forgiveness even of enemies, than to wish or hope that they may be visited with calamity. Oh, how often are good people in such a state of mind that they "know not what manner of spirit they are of!" Let the young beware, and not imitate the faults of good men. REVIEW OF GEN. WILKINSON'S REFLECTIONS ON WAR. IN the "Introduction" to the volumes entitled "Memoirs of my own times" General Wilkinson has favoured the public with the following reflections on War : "Military glory! fascinating sound! bewitching subject! but who profits by the acquisition? the nation ? no, but those who live and feed on the nation. War, which subsists on the blood and treasures of the people, forms the aliment of this alluring dame, glory, and is utterly destructive of national happiness, which depends on peace and tranquillity. I must not therefore be blamed for indulging a transient reflection upon these alternatives, which are as opposite in their nature as the poles. The fate and fortune of all countries in all ages will bear testimony in favour of my position from remotest times down to the late transcendant glory of France, and the present deplorable condition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, whose government has reached the pinnacle of military fame, whilst its ill-fated subjects are plunged into the abyss of wretchedness. 66 Military glory! It has become the favourite theme of our public councils, and the dominant passion of the rising generation, whilst national hap piness, neglected and forgotten, has ceased to be an object of in quiry, and is sinking into oblivion, under the pressure of luxury, avarice, ambition and vain glory, "Yet the following contrast is so striking and impressive, that 1 flatter myself it may rouse the most lethargic, before it be too late : Widows and Orphans. "This contrast is neither strained nor affected; it is drawn from nature, and does not exhibit an hundredth part of the heart-rending horrors of war, nor the divine blessings and tranquil enjoyments of peace. Of these truths we have abundant proofs in our own times, and in our country; with the good and the ill before them, I implore heaven so to direct the councils of the country, as long, very long to save it from the SCOURGE of nations; and I will close these reflections with an applicable quotation from the writing, of the sage, the patriot, and the Christian, John Dickinson, a citizen as eminent for wisdom as he was conspicuoys for private and social vir tues. It is a mournful but instructive study to read the history of maukind. There we see their follies and their vices depicted at full length, accom 1 Religion, Economy, Ease and Content, A smiling Progeny. panied by their miserable attendants. The prominent feature is an aptitude to plunge into war For man, too haughty in a prosperous state Is blind, and heedless ta. his future 666 fate. "A child may set fire to a house, but a whole city may not be able to prevent the conflagration from burning the buildings in every street to the ground. All nations rush forward to the effusion of their owu blood, and voluntarily pay the penalties of their obstinate fierceness,"" Such are the reflections and such the testimony of a man, whose life has been devoted to military pursuits, and who has had a fair opportunity to form an estimate of the advantages and disadvantages of war. Some perhaps will question the correctness of his motives in publishing his Memoirs; but with these I have nothing to do. Disappointment, adversity, and what he denominates 66 persecution," may have led him to reflect on the unprofitable and baneful character of wars in general; but from whatever causes his present views may have resulted, his reflections appear to be just, and his testimony is an important document. It deserves a place in the Christian Disciple because it is adapted to promote an object which should be near the heart of every Christian-the abolition of war. The General very justly observes, that his "contrast does not exhibit an hundredth part of the heart-rending horrors of war, nor the divine blessings and tranquil enjoyments of peace;" but if the evils on the one hand and the blessings on the other, were no greater in reality than they appear to be in his picture, still, to abolish war and establish peace, is an object which will warrant the most fervent and energetic exertions. To accomplish the object, nothing more is needful than the cordial consent of mankind. But to obtain or produce this consent, much labour on the part of Christians is necessary; and also the smiles of that God who gives success to benevolent efforts, and without whose blessing all efforts are vain. MR. EDITOR, REMARKS ON CATECHISING. I offer a few remarks for the Disciple, on a subject which appears to be thought of little importance by some, and by many to be regarded in an erroneous light. The method of instruction by catechisms, appears to have been more used in the days of our fathers than it is at présent. Since we have ceased to think them infallible, very many have also ceased to think them useful. But if they are not so useful as they were once thought,though they may not do every thing in the way of religion and salvation, still they may be admirable manuals to assist parents and teachers in giving early and lasting impressions of religious truth. The minds and memories of children must be in some way exercised; the cateVol. V.-No. 9. 35 chism affords them good exercise. It also affords them convenient employment on the sabbath, a day which is likely to pass heavily with them. It may not perhaps, in either of these respects, be superior to the employment of committing to memory hymns, or passages from the scriptures; but it has this advantage over them, that it is made more animated by the alternation of question and answer, and offers opportunity, by suggesting other questions, of additional instruction and valuable observations. It appears to me therefore, that this method of conveying religious knowledge, if discreetly conducted, will be found to possess many advantages. To conduct it thus discreetly is no easy task; as indeed no part of the business of education is |