A TREATISE ON THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF DAUGHTERS. Prov. xxii, 6.-"Train up a child in the way she should go, and when It has long been a prevailing report, that, among persons of education and distinction, true religion is very rare. This, I would hope, is an invidious rumour, rather than a true representation of the case. May it not be an artifice of the grand enemy, calculated to bring the best and noblest of causes into disrepute, as though politeness and piety were inconsistent, as though grace and good breeding were irreconcileable? Is then the faith of Christ quite fatal to refined manners, as the rod of Moses was to the counterfeit miracles of the magicians? No; it is rather like the influence of the sanctuary on the rod of Aaron; which, while it remained at a distance from the tabernacle, was a dry, sapless, and barren stick; but, when deposited before the ark, was quickened into vegetable life, was adorned with a milk-white bloom, and enriched with full-grown fruit; or, as the sacred historian expresses this surprising fact, "It brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds," Numb. xvii. 8. I find upon the list of saints the most renowned kings and victorious generals, the ablest politicians and the greatest philosophers; men that have bid the sun stand still, and prolong the departing day; have laid an embargo upon darkness, and protracted the shades of night; have commanded the ground to cleave asunder, and transmit their presumptuous foes to a strange and inevitable destruction; have divid ed the impetuous waves, and led their followers to safety and to conquest through the depths of the sea; men who have walked in the burning fiery furnace as under the shelter of an embowering arbour; and sat in the lion's den, amidst a herd of hungry monsters, with as much serenity and as much security as amidst a circle of bosom friends. I myself have known various persons admired for their accomplished behaviour, and revered for their exalted station, who have thought it their highest honour to be servants of Jesus Christ. My excellent friend Camillus, at whose house I now reside, is one of the number. I cannot refrain from giving a portrait of Camillus, or rather, of a few of his most distinguishing features; for, to paint him in full proportion, as he daily appears in all the mild, the benign majesty of domestic authority, parental government, and Christian zeal; to do this would require a much abler hand than mine. Camillus, not long ago, entertained in his house a young clergyman, who was always treated with a respect suitable to the dignity of his office and the piety of his behaviour. Having lately presented the worthy ecclesiastic to a living, and always requiring residence on the benefice, he is now destitute of a chaplain. Remembering, however, that all Christians are spiritual priests, he thinks it no dishonour to have an immediate and personal audience with the King of heaven, nor acting at all out of character to represent the wants of his household with his own mouth at the throne of grace. Before supper is introduced, the evening incense ascends. This, rather than a later hour, is pitched upon, that the little congregation may join in the sacred service with a lively devotion. After a plentiful meal, when the limbs are weary, people, even though kneeling, and in the presence of God, are more inclined to nod than to pour out their souls; are very, very apt to mistake the cushion for a pillow. No servant is allowed to be absent, one only except ed, whose presence in the kitchen is absolutely necessary. Acquainted with their master's resolution, they are careful so to manage their affairs, and dispatch their business, that no avoidable obstacle may intervene to detain them from the stated worship. When all are assembled, without either tumultuous disorder in their approach, or a slovenly negligence in their apparel, a chapter is read. Camillus makes the choice. He imagines it is not so useful for his family, whose memories are weak, and their capacities scanty, to read the lesson for the day. He has, therefore, selected some of the most instructive and animating portions of Scripture; and judges it advisable to peruse these again and again, rather than to go regularly through the whole inspired writings. The servants take it by turns to read, which improves them in the practice, and keeps them awake. If any of them discover a disposition to sleep, to him the office is sure to be assigned. When the chapter is finished, Camillus singles out some one verse, of very weighty and edifying import, which, for the space of five or six minutes, he explains, applies, and affectionately urges upon their consciences. This done, with great seriousness and profound reverence, he offers up evening prayers. His prayers consist of short sentences, and the whole is performed in a little time. Every part is pronounced with that deliberate slowness, and solemn accent, which command attention and create awe. He makes a very perceivable pause at the close of each petition, that every one may have leisure to add, in silence, a hearty Amen; and to recollect the merits of that blessed Redeemer, which render every thanksgiving acceptable, and every supplication successful. In the morning, before breakfast, the worship of the living God is renewed. At this juncture, Camillus omits the chapter, but requires one of his domestics to repeat the verse on which he enlarged the preceding night. None knows which shall be called to this task; therefore every one is obliged to be properly prepared. He throws the substance of his exhortation into a few searching and interesting questions, which he addresses to one of his children or servants; for in this respect no difference is made. All are equally enjoined to remember, all are equally accountable for what they hear. Sometimes he encourages those whose answers show that they have given diligent heed to his instructions. Sometimes puts on an air of severity, mixed with tenderness, and reproves the notoriously negligent. Always he reinculcates the principal points, charging them to retain the doctrines in their memory, and revolve them in their thoughts, while they are pursuing their respective business. These doctrines are the seed of faith, the root of godliness. Unless these be lodged in the mind, and operate on the heart, he never expects to have his domestics commence true believers or real Christians; no more than the husbandman can reasonably expect a crop in harvest without sowing his field, or the florist promise himself a blow of tulips without planting his parterre. I have given a glimpse of Camillus at the head of his family let me now show my favourite in another attitude. Camillus is convinced that no trust is of superior or of equal importance to the tuitionary cultivation of an immortal soul. As Providence has blessed him with two fine daughters, their present and future happiness is the reigning object of his care. He has no interest so much at heart as to give them a truly refined education;—such as may render them an ornament and a blessing to society, while they pass the time of their sojourning here below; and may train them up for a state of everlasting bliss, when the world, and its transitory scenes, shall be no more. Camillus never could persuade himself to admire the maxims of prudence said to be gathered from the extravagant rant of our tragedies; and less is his esteem for those modest dispositions which people pretend to imbibe from the luscious gallantries of comedy. For which reason, he has no impatient desire to secure for Miss Mitissa and Miss Serena a place in the front-box. However, as we are apt immoderately to covet what is absolutely forbidden, he has himself attended them once or twice to the theatrical entertainments and public diversions; thinking it much the safest method, that their curiosity should be gratified under his own inspection; and hoping to make them sensible how much they endanger their virtue, who too often frequent them; how shamefully they debase their affections, who are passionately fond of them; and what mere phantoms they follow, who seek for satisfaction in such delusory delights. They learn to dance, in order to acquire a genteel air, and a graceful demeanour; not to shine at a ball, or win the worthless admiration of fops. He is content to have them unacquainted with the wild and romantic fables of heathen poetry; nor is under any painful apprehensions of damping the sprightliness of their temper, though they have no taste for the chimerical adventures of our romances, and are strangers to the loose intrigues of our novels, being fully persuaded that there is as much sound sense as smartness of thought in that celebrated saying, Retire and read your Bible, to be gay, There truths abound of sovereign aid to peace!-YOUNG. He has introduced them to the knowledge of history, and its instructive facts. They have a tolerable idea of the four universal monarchies, so eminent for their great events, and so circumstantially foretold in Scripture. They have been led through the most remarkable transactions of our own country, and are pretty well acquainted with the present state of Europe. They have, all along, been taught to observe the wonderful revolutions of empires, and the adorable procedure of Providence, that they may discern how the fashion of this world passeth away," 1 Cor. vii. 31.; and how "happy are the people," how happy |