Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

individual; and therefore is not distinguished (as are many of your accomplishments) by being peculiar to either sex, or to difference of situation. You all are alike obliged to pay obedience to the laws of God, to the duties of social life, and to the regulation of your tempers and manners; for which reason, every thing that can promote these important designs, should engage your attention and regard.

The concerns of this life are of no further avail, than as they contribute to form your soul for the enjoyment of a future state. This is but a transitory situation: a very few years may finish your existence upon earth, and then its joys or its sorrows will be past and forgotten. But the remembrance of your actions, the pleasure of your good, or the remorse of your evil deeds, will never be effaced. Your happiness or misery throughout all eternity depends upon the improvement which you now make of the advantages you enjoy.

Recollect this when you are likely to be seduced by temptation: and may the Almighty Governor of the world take you into his protection, guard you from the evil examples of life, and conduct you in the paths of virtue to a happy immortality hereafter.

May his blessing attend on the instructions which you will find in the following pages, and dispose your hearts to improve by the truths which they contain.

So will this proof of my friendship be a lasting advantage, and evince to you with what sincerity I subscribe myself

Your affectionate

S**** S*****

INTRODUCTION.

I WENT, a few months ago, to pass some time with an intimate friend, who has several children, and whose custom it usually is to read to his family on a Sunday evening. But I was rather surprised to find, that the younger part of his auditors appeared to be entirely inattentive to the serious truths which were contained in a very rational and well-written dis

course.

The eldest daughter sat for some time listening with great earnestness; but, by degrees, her eyes grew heavy, her head inclined alternately on either side, till she fell into a profound sleep, interrupted only by involuntary starts when in danger of falling. Her sister, though more wakeful, was not better engaged, as she employed herself in counting the spots on her pocket-handkerchief, and afterwards in tying it into various forms; which, by attracting the observation of her brothers, seemed to engage them much more than any thing they might have heard from their father.

I took the liberty, therefore, the next morning, to remonstrate with them on the impropriety of such behaviour; and received for answer, that, they could not, when they had taken the utmost pains to understand what their father had been reading, at all com

prehend it; and therefore, if they did not in some manner amuse themselves, it would be impossible to keep awake, as such a long and silent confinement so much disposed them to be drowsy, that they could not refrain from sleep; but that if the subjects were suited to the level of their capacities, they should very willingly attend; and concluded with a fervent wish, that they had more religious books which they could comprehend.

This reply, I must acknowledge, appeared to me to be founded in nature and truth: for how can the mind be expected to attend to those instructions which are beyond its power to conceive? and how can our conduct be influenced by those arguments, whose force we are destitute of abilities to discern?

The subject which my friend was engaged in reading, on the evening to which i have above alluded, was, The folly and mischief of religious zeal, when not guided by the spirit of charity, and directed in its exertions by the rules of prudence; and though it was handled in a masterly and, convincing manner, the style was far superior to the weak and puerile ideas of children.

In the hope, therefore, of engaging their reflections on the duties of life, by suiting the arguments to their present circumstances and comprehensions, I have engaged in the following work; and sincerely wish it. may answer the purpose for which it was written.

« ForrigeFortsett »