For the Religious Monitor.
A SERMON,

On the Duty of Heads of Families.

(Concluded from page 213.)

V. It is the duty of heads of families to converse with their households of divine things; and to see that such a conversation is maintained as becomes the gospel. There are few things which more clearly indicate the prevalence of lukewarmness and apos-·· tacy in the present day, than general backwardness to engage in religious conversation. How many, who about every thing else can speak with fluency, spirit and intelligence, if any thing of a religious nature be introduced, are altogether dumb, or so cold and insipid that it is evident the subject is unpleasant. Why should men, professing to be Christians, be so backward? If Christ be indeed first in our hearts, why not first in our words and actions? We are by no means backward with our friends, and especially with our own families, to unbosom ourselves respecting our secular affairs, to tell our sicknesses, our cares, our difficulties, our pleasures and our plans. Have we no diseases of the soul, no spiritual cares, no trials, no temptations, no gracious benefits, no plans of piety or usefulness, of which we may tell them? Or is there less reason to communicate in these things? Or is there less prospect of pleasure or advantage? Alas! we too plainly show that Christ is not as precious as he should be; that we are not disposed to make his service the one thing needful, and to seek first the kingdom of God. A pious writer has. remarked, that when Christ had spoken to the people in public, he inquired of the disciples when alone, if they understood what had been said, and expounded to them his words. And after his resurrection, as he journeyed with two of them, he opened up the scriptures, and their hearts were made to burn within them. And is not his conduct a noble example to heads of households?— Should they not, in like manner, recall to mind, and explain to their families what has been said by the Lord's servants in public? And would not, the Lord's blessing attend such exercises? Would not their hearts be made to burn within them? Would not this be a much better way of spending the Sabbath evening, and a much better evidence that we receive not a dispensation of the grace of God in vain, than useless and sinful trifling, or a conversation about religion, which goes no deeper than externals, about ministers and their manner, or the assembly and their appearance? Would it not be well to introduce questions relating to the doctrines of the word, the duty and exercise of the believer calling upon the different members of the family to state their

views? Such things are attended to in some families, and they are followed with the happiest effects. It is only when men begin to instruct themselves that they will visibly increase in knowledge. Truth, purchased at much expense of labour and thought, will be much prized and long remembered, while knowledge acquired from books or men, takes but a light hold of the mind, and soon escapes. Nor is it sufficient that these things should be attended to punctually on the Sabbath. We should speak of the law of God in rising up and lying down; we should exhort one another daily. How much influence has the conduct of members of the same family on each other; how many opportunities are daily furnished for cherishing the fear of God and promoting the exercise of grace. And what must be the feelings of those who are not utterly hardened, when daily companions, when brethren, or children, are called away by death, if these opportunities have been neglected? if they have never taken pains to inform them of the nature and necessity of faith in Christ, of the character and exercise of those who are in him; if they have never laboured with them, and prayed for them, that Christ might be formed in their hearts the hope of glory.

VI. It is the duty of heads of families to be an example to their households. Abraham would command his children, and household after him, that is, after his example; he would go before, and require them to follow him. Or, if the expression be considered as denoting their succession in respect to time, the same truth is implied, that he would command those who were to fill his place when he was gone, to follow his footsteps in the service of God. The Israelites were commanded to have the words which they taught their children first in their own hearts. Joshua first resolves that himself would serve the Lord, and then his house. David first declares his resolution to walk with a perfect heart in his house at home, and then that those who dwelt with him should walk in a perfect way. And the best instructions and arguments will be vain, unless we commend what we teach by our practice. Hearers of the gospel are always ready to reply to those who reprove them, if they be guilty of the same offences, physicians heal yourselves. And such will be the reply of children and servants to parents and masters. Some of the weakest of Christ's ministers have been more successful than others who have excelled in gifts: and the reason is because their pious example was a better illustration of the nature of the gospel, and a more powerful argument in its favour than the most commanding eloquence, not seconded by the same piety of deportment. For how can we expect men to be convinced by ar

guments which produce no conviction in him who urges them; how can we expect them to be persuaded by exhortations which are blighted in the life of the exhorter. It is when men speak from the heart, and from an heart not merely heated at the time by natural animation, but permanently warm with love and zeal, that the hearts of hearers will be touched with holy affections.The righteousness of God is revealed not by great powers of mind nor eloquence of speech, but from faith to faith. And the same things are true of the heads of families. Their own piety of deportment is the most important of all their instructions, the most powerful of all their commands, the most severe of all their reproofs, the most convincing of all their arguments, the most winning of all their exhortations. We find some weak fathers having children who are ornaments to religion, while others of gifts far superior train up a seed for the devil; and in general, though other causes may contribute, the difference is chiefly owing to the difference of example. How can a parent or master command a child to pray in secret, if himself neglect secret prayer. How can he enjoin honesty, who defrauds. How can he forbid profanity, who blasphemes. How can he command to walk in any of God's ways, who walks not in these ways himself. Moreover, he who transgresses one law is guilty of all, and he lays a snare for himself and others to fall into every iniquity. If the parent be dishonest, or intemperate, or profane, he not only lays a temptation before his household to follow him in these things, but to make these sins pleas for every other to which they may be inclined. The natural consequence of any vice in the parent, is to destroy his authority and diminish the odium of vice in general; his children will be ready to say that many other things are not worse than what they have observed in him; they will be ready to deny in their hearts the truth of religion, and cast off the fear both of their earthly and heavenly father. If then you would have your household attend to the duties of religion, go before them, and see that you walk in all things so circumspectly that they will find nothing with which to excuse themselves, or upbraid you as inconsistent with your profession. As in the things of the world, when you wish to instruct them to plough, to sow, to reap, or do any manner of work, you do not merely tell them how it is done, but show them by example. So let them see by your lives, as well as by your instructions, what it is to be a Christian.

CONCLUSION.

Having considered some of the most important duties incumbent on the heads of families, I shall conclude with a word to parents and children.

I. To godly parents. Let me urge you to follow the example of faithful Abraham. Remember that it is a duty which God requires, and which you have solemnly engaged to perform, "to bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." To you the care of their immortal souls has been entrusted; and of you, if they be lost, their blood may be required.— There are indeed many difficulties attending the faithful discharge of your duty; but there are more promises to encourage than difficulties to alarm. Are you insufficient? yet there is a sufficiency of grace. Are the labours great? so are the rewards. "Train up a child in the way in which he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." "I will pour out my Spirit upon your seed, and my blessing upon your offspring. For the promise is to you and to your children." Godly parents may, through negligence, have ungodly children; and sometimes their faithfulness may not be rewarded with success. Yet in general where the means are diligently used, the blessing will follow; and if not, their labours will return home to their own bosoms. The seed sown does not always produce fruit; yet there is so general a connexion between sowing and reaping, that we are encouraged to sow; and there is as general a connexion between sowing the seeds of instruction in the minds of children and their conversion to God. Parents cannot give grace, but in the diligent use of the means they have good grounds to hope that it will be given. Through your negligence souls may be lost-through your faithfulness, they may be saved. And should not these considerations urge you to use all diligence, seeking first the kingdom of God for you and yours. Alas! of what consequence will it be to you or to your children when you die, that you can give them rich inheritances, and leave them happy and respectable in the world, if you leave them strangers to grace, the children of wrath, the heirs of hell; soon to blaspheme the name of God, to curse their careless parents, and gnaw their tongues in the anguish of eternal despair. Train up your children in the ways of God, and though you leave them nothing of the world, they will have the best security against want and infamy; and having grace, whatever else they lack, they will have all things and abound. Train them up in the ways of God, and they will be property indeed; their hearts will be bound to you in the strongest bonds, they will bless you while you live, and revere your memory when you are dead; they will be an honour to their country, to the church, to Christ, and to you. And in the day of the Lord, you may come forward like your great Redeemer, and say, “Lo, here am I and the children which the Lord hath given me." You

may, like Abraham, be the means of transmitting down to many generations the knowledge and the fear of God. Parents may be extensively useful or hurtful long after death. Your childrens' children, to the latest ages, may have reason to bless God that you were their parents; or to mourn over the curse of God which your carelessness has entailed upon them. Think not then, as you value your own peace, your own souls-as you value the present and eternal interests of those who are your own fleshthink not, as you value the good of Zion, and the glory of God, that you can labour or pray too much or too earnestly to save your own souls and the souls of your children.

II. To parents who are ungodly and neglectful of their duty.How would you be grieved to find your children guilty of crimes which would render them a disgrace to you; and are you not grieved to find them guilty of crimes which dishonour God?How would you be grieved to find them poor in the things of the world; and are you not grieved to find them poor and perishing in the things of eternity? How would you grieve to find them afflicted with a loathsome and mortal disease in their bodies; and are you not grieved to find them afflicted with that disease of sin which is more loathsome than nature's greatest abominations, more dreadful than her most awful plagues, and which is fast hurrying them on to the second, the eternal death? Is it not enough to destroy yourselves, will you destroy your offspring also? How was the rich man grieved at the prospect of his brethren's coming to that place of torment, where he was already enduring the wrath of God? How much more will it add to your misery to find your children there, and there by your neglect?-It is an awful thought to go down to hell with all our own guilt upon our heads; how much more, charged with the sins of others, and guilty of the blood of souls. Think how you can endure it, when the wrath of God will be kindled against you, when conscience, and devils, and the fruit of your own bodies will upbraid you. Is it so, that you fear not God with your house, that you call not on his name? Think of that awful imprecation, "Pour out thy fury upon the heathen who know thee not, and upon the families which call not on thy name." You live in a Christian land, and perhaps boast the christian name, but God ranks you among the heathen. He will punish you in his fury, in the fierceness of his wrath, and he will pour it out upon you in all its fulAnd every morning when you arise and go forth to work, every evening when you retire to repose, without calling upon his name, you do virtually challenge God to do as he has said. You practically defy the Lord of hosts. The prayer of your con

ness.