-

Prayer Unites Families by Stronger Bonds. It Makes In-
effaceable Impressions upon Children - The Carthagenian
leading his Son to the Altar-Law of Association gives
Power to Prayer - Impressions of the Lord's Prayer -
Randolph-Dr. Scott-Makes Children Patriotic. Its
Influence upon the Church - The most Faithful in Prayer at
Home are most Active in the Church. Family Prayer Blessed
in Affliction-The Testimony of a Minister-Examples of the
Influence of Family Prayer - The distinguished Merchant

The Irish Wanderer The Son of a New England Pas-
tor. God's Blessing does not always rest on Families
Observant of this Rite-The Cause is Discrepancy between
Prayer and Practice. Family Prayer much Neglected-
Excuses; Want of Time - Fear of Man-Lack of Learn-
ing - Addresses to the Professor who omits Family Prayer
-To the Non-professor- To the Unconverted Son or
Daughter wont to hear Family Prayer Reflections of
Praying Parents when Sons leave Home Scene when
Family Altar is reared universally.

CHAPTER IX.

-

"The

IMPRESSIONS in Chamber of Death - Uncertainty of Life —

Heber, Lucia, Anacreon, &c. -Extent of Death in Fami-

lies. Mysteries of Providence-Naomi, Jacob, the Young-

Man, the Infant, the Lost Steamer The Deaf and Dumb

Pupil-The Gospel's Consolation. "Jesus Wept"- Christ-

like to weep-Christ Sympathizes with Bereaved.

Lord Reigneth' Doctrine of Providence precious-

Consequences result from its Rejection - Octavia, Cicero -

Dr. Beattie. "I am the Resurrection and the Life”—Resur-

rection and Annihilation contrasted-Death cannot be the

end of the gifted young Man, and beautiful Infant- Thy

Brother shall live again'

- Dying Christian. "It is good

for me that I have been Afflicted"- Prosperity less bene-

-

66

Sad

--

ficial than Adversity- Affliction binds Hearts together -

Promotes growth in Grace Saves the Soul - The Light-

honse or Converted Widow-Eastern Shepherd and Lamb.

Consolations of Worldly Philosophy-"Common Lot"-

"We must be resigned to our Fate "-" We must all Die."

"Thy Will be done" - Difficult Lesson- Its Import-

The Scholar Two Illustrations-Elliot and Cambray -

The greater the Trial the brighter the Crown.

-

CHAPTER X.

--

FAMILY READING.

-

-

· Object not

-

The

Books are Companions - Reading of Intelligent Families
no small item in the Formation of Character
to specify what to Read, so much as to warn against Novel-
reading - What is a Novel? All Fiction not Novels - Some
Novels more objectionable than others Those of Moral
Tone least Popular - Vast number of Novels published -
Opinions of John Foster, Goldsmith, Hannah More, Wilber-
force, Coleridge, and Pollok - Facts Alexander
ruined Daughter-The ruined Son-Evil of Novel-reading
not appreciated. Nature of Novels-The Name itself-
The Novel makes Vice attractive-Magnifies Wealth, Plea-
sure, Fame, &c. - Some are Polluting-Exaggerate all
things- Learn their nature from the Character of those
who read them. Influence of Novels upon Readers - Make
them Light and Trifling-Create Disrelish for Useful Relig-
ious Reading-Dr. Hawes' Remark - Nullify pungent
Preaching-Cultivates false Sympathy-Philosophy of it—
Waste of Time and Property-World supplied with good
Books A Novel like the Medusa - More dangerous to
young because Character is forming-Responsibility of
Parents in this matter.

THE Crisis

CHAPTER XI.

THE ERA FOR

-

MOTHERS.

The Present Moulds the Future. Character-

istics of the Age-Progress is the Watchword-Disorder

Reigns-Confidence in Political Organizations Shaken-

Reform Demanded-Temptations Numerous - Benevolence

Invites to an ample Field. The Age Appeals to Mothers-

Men needed to Pull down and Build up-Public Men of

Talent and Religious Principle needed - Citizens of large

Benevolence wanted-Also Faithful Ministers and Mission-

aries Mothers can train these. Their Encouragements-

Permanency of early Impressions The aged Sire - The

Mother's warning-Another Example Facts in College

and Seminary John Adams' Remark Washington's

Mother-Timothy. Address to Mothers-Result of Uni-

ted Effort Training Children in Worldliness

-

-

----

-

- Domestics

-

-

-

PHILOSOPHY Universal-Little Studied, especially in the
Formation of Character Character made by Law Few
Inquire how-Value of Character Difference between
Character and Reputation. Law of Association Ex-
amples of Association — Aged Warrior-Scholar on Classic
ground-Mark Anthony-Christ appealed to this Law
-Its Force in forming Character. Nursery Tales
The Ancient Artist. Law of Imitation-Little Original-
ity- - Child Imitates Virtues and Vices of his Parents:
Law of Assimilation — Pervades Nature-Seen in Wor-
ship of Mankind-So Friend Assimilated to Friend-
Cause of much Ruin. Law of Habit - Examples - Steal
upon us gradually - How these Laws form Character of the
Libertine. Law of Hereditary Development Illustrated
y the Cynic. Law of Conscience-Its Power - Obeying
it Increases Moral Power Two Characteristics of the
Times which lead to a Violation of this Law - Here reason
of young Man's Ruin-Noble to abide by Conscience.

-

-

--

The Will-Its Force-Then forming Character no hap-
hazard Work — The Soul a Harp of a Thousand Strings.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE

WHOLE

FAMILY

IN HEAVEN.

The "Father's House,"

GOSPEL reunites broken Families
and Everlasting Home. The whole Family may be gathered
in Heaven, known and loved by each other. Heaven more
blissful if Know Friends there. The Doctrine is the
Universal Sentiment of Mankind -Views of Heathen,
Indians, Ancients - Socrates and Cicero-Pagan Rites-
Former Customs of Church-The Sentiment pervades
Poetry Is inscribed on Tombstones - Examples - Ex-
pressed by the Dying. Doctrine proved by Existence of
Memory Hereafter-Mind loses no Acquisition - Dr.
Cheever's Remark. We shall not know less in Heaven than

-

on Earth. The Social Principle― Affections must have
Objects to love there. Proof from the Bible- Isolated
Phrases Christ's Allusions David's Child -The Apos-
tle's Language-Christ's Words to Martha and Mary.
Opinions of Theologians - Paley Dick, Nevin, Hall,
Baxter, Doddridge, Chalmers, Dwight, Emmons-One Ob-
jection- Receive Truths with less Evidence -The Chris-
tian Family's Home above - Here is Consolation · A
Motive to Piety-Concluding Address.

-

-

She dwells, appearing, as in truth she is,

Heaven-born, and destined to the skies again." COWPER.

THE FAMILY ON EARTH! What delightful associations

are awakened by the mention of this theme! With what

speed does it send the thoughts of every reader to some glad

retreat where his soul is bound by ties too various and dear

to be designated by other appellation than that of FAMILY!

What memories, linger around the bright borders of that

home-spot, even to those whom an inscrutable Providence-

has expelled from its domain! What emotions, deep, last--

ing and true, start into being, and fly along the heart-strings,

as the subject falls upon the ear! What a rush of feeling

at the fair scenes and images which rise at its suggestion!

Father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter-what hopes,.

fears, loves, ties, wait upon these blest relations! It re-

quires not the power of fancy to portray these intimate con-

nections in colors sufficiently vivid to enlist all the feelings

of the heart. For them nature has a strong affinity, and

needs only the most casual allusion to stir the fountain of

her emotions.

HOME! The term is one of the choicest in the English

language, and is mated with that of FAMILY. It is where

the Family is, or was. The mention of one suggests the

other. It is the dearest spot of earth, hallowed by a thou-

sand delightful recollections,