I have digressed a little on a subject rather foreign to my purpose, to introduce a few observations, which the increasing licentiousness of the present age has rendered worthy of the serious consideration of all young people.—It remains therefore to sum up, in a few words, the respective duties of Parent and Child.

It behoves the Parent to be as affeetionate, kind, gentle, and forbearing, as is consistent with the discipline, occasionally necessary for headstrong youth: and the duties of Children are obedience, submission, respect, and gratitude, for the blessing they enjoy, in a friend and monitor, thus able and thus willing to assist, protect, and instruct them.

In the performance of these reciprocal duties, Parents and Children would secure to each other, a domestic bless

ing, which those who have deserved, and possess it, will know how to estimate it is a pearl of that price, which is well worth the trifling sacrifices that purchase it.

I shall make some reflections, under another head, on the forbearance and patience, which the neglect of duty in others calls for; and, in my next Chapter, address myself, to the younger members of a family, united under the relationship of Brother and Sister.

CHAPTER III.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

UNDER the Jewish dispensation, the happiness of family affection was well understood, and its duties frequently enforced, as many texts in Solomon's, and other of the Sacred Writings, testify. David thus expresses himself in Psalm cxxxiii: " "Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity." But, though the comfort of family harmony is universally acknowledged, the means of preserving it is not sufficiently studied: -the evil tempers, the vanity, and self

interest of young people, living together on familiar terms, are very apt to clash; and the love of power creates continual struggles for superiority. To correct these disorders, Christian precepts must be carefully impressed on the mind and every member of the family, as he values the best blessings of life, must study and obey them.-In many families, where there is no actual vice, much misery may arise from unrestrained petulance, groundless jealousy, and competition for trifles.-All this may be the result of mere infirmity of temper, even where mutual regard, and a general desire to please, exist: but let young people remember, that the germ of affection will eventually be destroyed by these poisoners of family peace, the comforts of which can only be preserved by a constant attention to all the minutia

D

in conduct, which contribute to the happiness of others, and secure their confidence and good opinion. All the Christian precepts contribute to this desirable end, and none more, than that valuable rule of "doing to others, as you would wish others to do to you." The learned Prelate, in the treatise above-mentioned, observes, at page 11, that 66 perfect equality must produce everlasting contests for power." Such being the case, PROVIDENCE has wisely excluded it from society: whatever modern philosophers may assert, no such thing as equality can exist; even amongst brothers and sisters, where no particular qualification gives superiority, it is always delegated to the eldest, and so on in succession.

St. Peter, in his first Epistle *, says: * Chap. v. 5.