have learned, if we have not learned to think, so as to be able to advance ourselves in knowledge, by the judicious deductions of reason in reference to our daily circumstances, the most important of all knowledge is wanting, that of knowing how to educate ourselves. And if the mind is not accustomed to think early, there is danger that it will never be brought to think at all. How important, then, that mothers should make the communication of ideas their principal object in instructing their children; and that they should encourage in them a becoming curiosity to know the reasons and uses of things, and induce them to exercise their judgments upon what they have learned. To accomplish these designs, in reference to our children, is indeed no easy task. But are not the benefits to be derived from their accomplishment of importance enough? and is there not sufficient ground to hope for success to constitute a claim to more attention, and effort, and prayer, in reference to them, on the part of mothers, than they commonly receive?

18. Pride has been my constant foe, ever since I have hoped I had begun the Christian race; and I fear it ever will be. Once, when I was the mere child of fiction and romance, my ambition was to distinguish myself by poetizing, and shining as an authoress. After I was married, and was taught some sharp lessons, my great desire was to be a good, plain, common sense woman; a good wife, good mother, good mistress, good Christian. But pride besets me still.

Yet I do hope that I have lately learned some humbling lessons, been made to feel my dependence on God for the exercise of reason, and to receive it daily as a fresh gift at his hand. I do hope pride has appeared more odious to me, more detestable, ungrateful, and abominable of late than ever before. Oh that my reason may be used for God! and, if it is used thus successfully, that the consciousness of my infinite obligations to Him, who continues the faculties he gave, may

keep me perfectly humble. I want to be clothed with humility. Vain man! What arrogance to talk of having a mind that will not yield to despair! Let thy God drop for a moment the hand which sustains thy reason, and-where art thou?

TO A SISTER-IN-LAW AT N. L.

Boston, December 20, 1818.

You will be pleased to learn, that our Christian community is becoming more deeply interested in behalf of the Jews than it has been heretofore. Two missionaries are expected to sail in the spring, on an exploring expedition to Jerusalem. Their object is to ascertain what encouragements exist to the establishment of a missionary station there. It is believed that they will be found sufficient to justify such a measure. All the information we receive respecting the Jews, both in Asia and in Europe, seems to indicate most clearly, that the present is a time in which they are expecting something remarkable, in a political and religious view, to be done for their nation. Nothing seems to give such a spring to missionary exertion as an increased attention to the Jews; for we know that their ingathering will be as life from the dead to the Gentiles. Park Street church and ours have agreed to unite in the observance of the Monthly Concert of Prayer, and at each concert to take up a collection for the support of one of these missionaries to Jerusalem. Both churches have also determined severally, to educate at least one young man for the ministry, agreeably to the plan proposed in the pamphlet entitled, "The claims of 600,000,000 of Heathen." Cannot you educate one in your church? Try.

TO A FRIEND IN A.

Boston, January 22, 1818.

No, my dear friend, I shall not "be tired of your complaints," though I may be pained by your compliments. To be told that we are clever, &c., may be tifying to our pride, at the same time that it occasions uneasiness, because we know that it is not true.

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As to our respective management of our children, you see all your own short-comings, and I see mine, at least some of them. I suppose each of us thinks that, were our faithfulness weighed in a balance, the scale would preponderate in favour of the other. But it is a great comfort that there is ONE who knows all our hindrances and all our efforts; who knows all our weaknesses and discouragements, and who has said, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not." Our discouragements often result from the belief that our difficulties are peculiar to ourselves. If we could only see the conflicts of others, we should often find that their struggles were as painful as our own. Perhaps they may not be called to contend with precisely the same things that we are; but, if their difficulties be of a totally different kind from ours, they are not on that account the less formidable.

For myself, I often feel as if there could not be an individual of our weak and sinful race more feeble, more helpless, more unable to stand the smallest trial, than I am. These are sad hours; but they may be profitable ones. It is a sweet reflection that He with whom we have to do will not break the bruised reed; and that our physical infirmities constitute us such, as well as our moral ones. Yes, he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust. The great cause of our getting on so heavily seems to me to be, that we are weak in faith. Would we quietly receive the al

lotments of God's providence, would we patiently wait for the intimations of his will, would we unreservedly surrender all our interests into his hands, how much happier should we be! There would still be sin to grieve us, to be sure; but a strong faith, though it would not diminish our contrition for our sins, and our concern on account of the sins of others, would take away much of their bitterness. The tears of godly sorrow would not so often be mingled with the sighs of despondency; and the restlessness and anxiety of our hearts, now such obstacles to a state of satisfaction with the government of God, would yield to an humble persuasion that he will do all things well. Oh, my friend, in saying this, I am met with the painful conviction that I am the person who has more need, perhaps, to pray, Lord, increase my faith! than any one else.

As to the subject of your strong and reasonable solicitude, remember that the hearts of all men are in the hands of the Lord, and he can turn them as the rivers of water are turned. God can work without any human instrument; he can make the languor of debility, and the agonies of disease, effectual teachers and schoolmasters, to bring men to Christ. And he often does. Your desire and anxious concern for the conversion of this dear friend are rational and proper, so far as they stimulate you to fervency and wrestling in prayer on his account. But if this desire and concern pass over these bounds, if they lead to an anxious state of mind, which enfeebles your health, interrupts your confidence in God, and thus unfits you to pray and labour, either for him, or yourself, or your children, as you otherwise would do, does it not become a hindrance and a snare? It is a difficult case I know. But your gracious God, on whose kind arms you have hitherto been so mercifully borne, will, even in this trial, put the song of salvation and praise into your lips, and give you the soul you long for; or, if he withholds the evidence of this,

he will quiet your heart as that of a weaned child. Be not dismayed. God is a rock; his way is perfect.

you

You 66 say you are easily disheartened.", And do not think others are so, as well as yourself? Alas! many have been the times that, after my little flock had gone to bed, I have shed bitter tears over the miscarriages and mistakes of the day. I feel that I am not faithful, as I should be, to improve opportunities of doing good in my family, of recommending religion to its members, especially the children. I think we should make it a subject of prayer, every morning, that we may be enabled to seize, with wisdom, every opportu nity of doing good that may offer through the day. I do remember Wednesday evening.* These seasons have sometimes been very precious to me. This text has been on my mind very sweetly of late, "I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." I feel, my dear friend, as if God will have respect unto his covenant, and choose the seed of his people as a generation to serve him. I want to have this promise fulfilled all the world over; and I hope it will be before long. Perhaps, if Christian parents are faithful, the millennium will be introduced in this way. And if this be the case, is it not a privilege to be a mother in this day, when there is so great and comforting a prospect that our children will be made stars in the Redeemer's crown?

March 4. I have been in a poor state of health of late. I am now better, but still feeble. Though afflicted, I have experienced much of the Lord's goodness in my illness. O yes, he is always faithful. I can only bear record against myself. I think I have, at times, felt my Saviour near me; tasted the sweet

* On this evening, she and her correspondent had agreed to make each other's children the special subject of their secret prayers.