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.

-

IMPRESSIONS in Chamber of Death - Uncertainty of Life
Heber, Lucia, Anacreon, &c. - Extent of Death in Fami-
lics. 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. "The
Lord Reigneth"-Doctrine of Providence precious-Sad
Consequences result from its Rejection - Octavia, Cicero —
Dr. Beattic. "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-

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.

Books are Companions - Reading of Intelligent Families
no small item in the Formation of Character - Object not
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 - The
ruined Daughter-The ruined Son-Evil of Novel-reading
not appreciated. Nature of Novels-The Name itself-
The Novel makes Vice attractive-Magnifics 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.

-

CHAPTER XI.

THE ERA FOR

MOTHERS.

THE Crisis-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-
arics 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
Indications of Providence.

-

-

-

CHAPTER XII.

PHILOSOPHY OF

CHARACTER.

-

PHILOSOPHY Universal - Little Studied, especially in the
Formation of Character - Character made by Law - Few
Inquire howValue 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 Familics-
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 Ciccro-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.

Thou art the nurse of virtue-in thine arms

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 tics 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 Providencehas expelled from its domain! What emotions, deep, lasting and true, start into being, and fly along the heart-strings, as the subject falls upon the car! 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 requires not the power of fancy to portray these intimate connections 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 wherethe Family is, or was. The mention of one suggests the other. It is the dearest spot of earth, hallowed by a thousand delightful recollections,