duct is, Lord pour out thy vengeance upon me. O bethink yourselves in time, lest that threatening be accomplished to your ever. lasting confusion. "When I called, ye refused; when I stretched out my hand, no man regarded. Then they shall call on me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me." God will at last render to men according to their works; he will do to them as they have done to him

Those who set at nought his counsel, he will laugh at their calamity; those who would none of his reproofs, he will mock when their fear cometh; those who would not hear when he called on them, he will not hear when they call on him. The wicked must at last eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. Are you convinced that it is your duty to serve the Lord with your house? Delay not. This very night commence the duty. In the name of our Great Master I charge you to do it; and warn you, that if you neglect it, this very night your souls may be required: and where then will be your resolutions of amendment? What will be your eternal state? Lay aside all your excuses, conquer the reluctance of your hearts, break through all difficulties. The first attempt will be a mighty effort, but it will almost insure the victory. Those things which at first discourage, will soon be of small moment. In a little time, if rightly engaged, the manner of performance will give you little trouble; your great concern will be about the heart. But the longer you delay, the more your embarrassments will increase. And every call to duty which you resist, renders it more probable that the next, aud the next, and the last, will be refused, and that the soul must perish. If then you would ever be wise, ever be saved, now is the accepted time. And let it now be the sincere, and the firm purpose of your hearts, that whatever others may do, as for you and your houses, you will serve the Lord.

III. To the children of pious parents. Bless God for this great mercy, that you were not born of heathens, of hypocrites, or infidels, who would have trained you up in those ways which lead down to death. And see that this mercy, through its abuse, does not bring upon you double condemnation. You are soon to fill the places of your parents; on you the hopes of the church especially depend; you are to be the race to teach those who succeed you; by you the character of Zion may be affected for ages to come. Let me therefore urge you to remember and fear your Creator. If it be the duty of your parents to command you in the way of the Lord, it is equally your duty to submit, and to walk in these ways. God requires you to serve him. You have much need of religion to guard you against the strong corrup

tions of your nature, the enticements of sinners, the allurements of the world, and the devices of Satan. You are under strong obligations, not only from the law of God, but from the authority, intructions and example of your parents. See then that you follow their footsteps. Count their well-meant severity, kindness; honour them for their faithfulness, encourage them by compliance. Hearken to their counsels, respect their age and experience, bear with their infirmities, resist not rudely their prejudices Even when confident that they err, depart not from their ways farther than compelled by conscience. Grieve not their hearts whose hearts are bound up in your welfare, whose labours have been devoted to your support, whose treasures have been expended for your comfort, whose prayers have daily ascended to God for your salvation. Remember that these prayers will either be answered in your conversion to God, or in fearful wrath. Parents have a special care of their offspring, and a great influence over their conduct; and children have a great influence over their parents, though they do not often perceive it. How many a parent finds himself discouraged, in attending to his duty, by the carelessness of his household. Who would be encouraged to sow from year to year, where thorns and briars were the only product of his labours? Who can be encouraged in sowing the seeds of instruction among men, where he sees them only producing fruit unto death? Who can pray with an heart overflowing with love and desire, when all around him are overcome with sleep? How many parents not only become disheartened in the religious education of their children on account of their persevering obstinacy and blindness, but give up, themselves, with the duties of religion. How many are driven by this temptation to shameful courses of iniquity, the guilt of which must rest on the heads of their children. On the other hand, how many parents have been spurred on in the pursuit of knowledge by the inquiries of their children, and have delighted to seek for wisdom that they might impart it to them. How many have found their hearts warmed in prayer by the confidence that the hearts of their children go with them. How many have found their hands strengthened, their faith and love increased, by discovering that their labour has not been in vain in the Lord. As then, my young friends, you value the peace of your parents, as you would see them prospering in a life of holiness, and enjoying the comforts of the Spirit, as you would see them depart in peace, and look on their graves without heart-burning anguish, as you regard your own best interests, hear the instruction of the father, and forsake not the law of the mother. If you despise their VOL. III.

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counsels and neglect their comfort, with, what shame and bitterness of soul will you mourn at the last, and say, "How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have n obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!"

IV. To the children of ungodly parents. If you have not copied their example-if, like the son of the wicked Jeroboam, there be good things found in you-what reason have you to bless God, who has saved you from the dangers to which you were exposed; what grounds to adore his free and sovereign grace, who chose you under so many disadvantages, rather than many of whom better things were expected. 'Be not cast down because of the sins of your parents, for if you have truly turned from their evil ways, the child may be involved in the judgments, but shall not bear the sin of the father. Pray for your parents, and so far as consistent with that modest and dutiful conduct, from which neither their ungodliness nor your grace releases you, labour with them that God may give them repentance, and that you may have the rare and distinguished honour of being the spiritual fathers of the fathers of your flesh. And if ever placed at the head of an household, warned by the evil example of your parents, make it your great concern to command your children in the way of the Lord. But if yet following the example of ungodly parents, remember that their conduct will not be an excuse for yours; that by approving of their ways you add their iniquity to your own, and it becomes your crime to be the seed of evil doers. Remember that though your parents may indulge you in sin, God does not allow it; and though they may permit it to pass with impunity, he will not. Remember that those who keep and encourage you in sin, will be able to give you no help in the day of God, when the deluge of his wrath will overflow the wicked and sweep away the refuges of lies. O, be warned to flee from that wrath which is to come! The promise is especially to the righteous and their children; but it is also to you, to those who are afar off, to as many as the Lord shall call. Arise then, and come, for lo, he calleth you, whosoever you be, the Lord, and not man, calleth you. The preacher may not know you, may not intend you; but God knows you, and intends each of you; be not then disobedient to the heavenly admonition. If they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, if he that despised Moses' law died without mercy, how shall we escape? how surely and how severely shall we suffer, if we refuse the Lord Jesus, who speaks to us, who is even now by his servants speaking to us from heaven! Let us hear, that we may live; and

may God give unto each of us grace to keep his way, and to labour in our respective places to bring souls to Christ, that having turned many to righteousness, we may hide a multitude of sins, and shine as the stars for ever and ever.

T. B.

[We would earnestly call the attention of the Associate Church, and of our correspondents to the subject of the following paper. It is all important to the interests of the church in general, and of smaller congregations in particular. Many of these, with a little assistance from a fund such as that proposed, would be able to support a settled ministry among them; without which, their ability to do so is constantly decreasing; and having perhaps only a few days supply in the course of the year, they are exposed a prey to every invader, and the knowledge of, and regard for secession principles must decline. A general contribution of such a kind as can be made without effort by every individual, and continued without wearying, would be of incalculable advantage to the destitute portions of our church. Were such a contribution made every year, in every congregation, it would be made in all with greater zeal and alacrity; for where only a few engage in it, these few are constantly discouraged by the reflection, that theirs will be of comparatively little benefit. We hope that Presbyteries will call the attention of congregations to the measure, and that every congregation will pledge themselves to their respective Presbyteries to co-operate in any general plan which the Synod may see fit to recommend, and that a report to this effect will be made from every Presbytery to Synod, at their next meeting. In the mean time, any proper hints for the maturing a plan, or for explaining or enforcing its importance, will be gladly received, and published in the Monitor.-Ed.]

MR. EDITOR

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

In the 52d page of the June No. I see that the plans which have been hitherto devised for raising funds in the Associate Church to defray the expense of missions, have failed of success; and that the Synod, at their meeting, in May last, found it necessary to appoint a committee to devise, if possible, a more efficient plan for this purpose.

I know not any subject which ought to interest the Christian's heart more than that of missions, when conducted on the scriptural plan. The glory of free grace, the edification of saints, the conversion of sinners, the instruction of youth in the truths of Revelation, and the restraining of the vicious, depend on the preaching of the gospel as a means; and, while the present state of things continues, the preaching of the gospel will have a similar dependence on funds. This ought to call the attention of all who sincerely desire to promote these valuable purposes, to the state of the funds as the ways and means.

I am not convinced, sir, that the greatest difficulty in raising adequate funds is either the want of ability, or of proper expedients for collecting. When I consider the immense sums that are raised throughout the christian world, from the very smallest resources, I cannot believe that either is the cause. If the people of the Associate church had the same desire to contribute or the same degree of zeal in their cause which is manifested by thousands of societies in the present day, the Associate Synod would be able to give constant sermon to every place at present applying for it.

A disposition to contribute to the spread of the gospel is God's gift. Until this truth have its own proper weight on our plans we cannot reasonably expect them to prosper. David was fully aware of this when he said, "But who am I, or what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort, for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." 1 Chron. xxix. 14.

Had we and the people amongst whom we live this gift, funds for the said purpose would be most abundant. We may see a proof of this remark in the abundance offered for the construction of the tabernacle, which had to be restrained as too much. That contribution was made by "Every one whose heart stirred him up, and whose spirit made him willing." Exod. xxxv. 21. All the world knows with what alacrity money is contributed to any object, no matter what, when the heart stirs up and the spirit makes willing. A thousand shifts will be made then, rather than be behind. Did you ever hear of a Theatre standing long unfinished for want of funds? How many extensive projects are there accomplished with despatch, year after year; turnpikes, canals, academies, colleges, and churches? Could you, sir, have at your disposal a sum equal to the cost of the superfluities in dress used within the bounds of the Associate Church, (and I am sure they are nothing uncommon.) You could easily support 100 ministers, which is almost double the number employed at present. The 37th, 38th and 39th pages of your June No. make statements which ought to convince the dullest that disposition only is wanting.

I would propose, therefore, that, as this disposition is not a native in the depraved heart, prayer should constantly be made to Him who has the heart in his hand, that he would stir it up, and make the spirit willing; that the Christian, when he retires into his closet-the father, when he gathers his family around himand the minister, when he enters the pulpit-and, if there be still a few, as I hope there are, who "fear the Lord, and meet to speak often one to another"—that they should lay this constantly before him.