prompted by prior motives: nor is this argument above the capacity of those it is addreffed to. Even a child may foon perceive fo much, that he is not fo wife as his parents: That if he follow his own fancy in oppofition to their judgment, it is very likely, both that he will do mifchief, and have cause himself to repent it.

For, together with the fuperiority of their understanding, he will observe also the tenderness of their affection. Their advice, he must soon be sensible, is fincere and honeft and difinterested. His other Counsellors, (and his paffions are to be reckoned among the number,) may be his enemies; and generally they are at best but their own friends. But his parents, he may be very fure, will be faithful to him. Their's are the counfels of kindness, and their reproofs the effects, and very often the best tokens of it. There can be no difference between him and them, but about the means: the VOL. II. I thing

thing aimed at on both fides is the fame; it is his welfare, honour, and happiness. They would be glad to gratify even his humour, but they prefer his lasting good. No other confideration, but the view of his advantage, could prevail with them to offend him.

This affection which your parents bear towards you, and the great good they have done you in confequence of it, give them ftill another title to your confideration and respect, a right to be regarded by you for their own fake. And if in fome inftances you were perfuaded, and truly too, that their counfels were not the most advantageous, this would not immediately exempt you from all obligation to comply with them. Gratitude, and fome tenderness furely on your part, in return for fo much on their's, must be allowed to have weight, and come in to fupply the place of more selfish confiderations. Muft your own fatisfaction be the end of

all

all your measures? or rather, cannot you receive fatisfaction from the gratification of others? Will it afford you no pleasure, to give it to your best friends and greatest benefactors? You may part with fomething, were it to the mistakes of fuch perfons; and exchange, with no great lofs, your own defires for this pleasure of pleafing.

Confcience, it is acknowledged, you are not to give up to any. Neither Father nor Mother must prevail with you to be wicked, and to difobey your Creator. Nor will they tempt you to do it. The injunctions of Parents are of another Sort, the fame with the commands of your heavenly Father; to be good Chriftians, to be diligent, fober, honeft men. Lay afide your apprehenfions: I take upon me to be refponfible for it, that you will meet with little difficulty on this head; but have full scope to oblige and please both your Father and Mother, without

I 2

without the danger of violating any one of God's commandments.

If the two parents themselves be divided in their fentiments, the preference is due to him, to whom even the other parent is bound to be fubject. But they are not apt to be divided, or mistaken in these cases; not in their advice to their children, however they may in their own practice. Even parents, who cannot prevail upon themselves to be virtuous and good, would yet wish, and will kindly and wifely exhort their children to deferve that character. There is no envy in their hearts: they will be glad to see themselves excelled by you as far as you please: and their advice will be safe, though their example may be dangerous.

Would then the of power parents, but for that one limitation, be abfolutely boundless? Is there nothing that can poffibly be brought into competition with

it,

it, befides the command of Almighty God? Can no advantage be fo great, no inconvenience fo preffing, as to counterbalance it?

Before a child is yet arrived at the age of difcretion, which he must be content to estimate by the laws and cuftoms of his country; while he is in the family, or educated under the direction, and maintained by the substance of his parents, his obedience may be unreferved. He can hardly exceed in it. Their authority is then at the highest; and then also of the greateft neceffity and use to him.

Afterwards, and always it will indeed be great, but not abfolute; and let me have leave to tell you, your reasons and objections, whenever you difpute it, ought to fatisfy not only yourfelves, but wife and good men, difinterested, without prejudice, and well acquainted with both fides of the question. Otherwife, if you I 3

dare