To be able to examine and to decide on the tendency of impressions, does, indeed, seem to require a knowledge of the human mind, which few mothers in the common path of life can be supposed to possess. I say, seem to require, for in reality it requires nothing more than strict attention to the subject, directed by that experience which a knowledge of one's own mind, and common observation on the characters of others, must bestow. The more enlightened our understandings, the more enlarged the sphere of our observation, with so much greater facility shall we be enabled to trace, with so much greater certainty to decide, on the consequences of associations. But it is not to want of knowledge or ability, that our deficiency is most commonly to be ascribed. It is our own indolence, our own selfishness, our unwillingness to counteract our own prejudices, that prevent us from applying the degree of understanding and information we possess. For a standard whereby to judge of the tendency of asso

ciations, no Christian mother can be at a loss. She, indeed, whose notions of religion extend a little further than to the mere forms of the sect in which she was educated, will here be found to possess a very great advantage. In the spirit of that morality which is without spot or blemish, she will find an infallible guide; and if she conscientiously endeavours to prevent all associations in the minds of her children that are at variance with that spirit, she does as much as it is in her power to do for their future happiness.

Every additional ray of light thrown upon the investigation of the human mind, tends to increase our faith in him who "spake as never man spake;" who, in all the observations he made, and in all the precepts he delivered, evinced such a perfect knowledge of the human heart, as could only be obtained by him who had immediate access to all its secret springs.

"Ye know not what spirit ye are of," said this all-perfect Judge of human action,

to his zealous friends.

Neither can we

know what spirit we are of, or what spirit the impressions we make upon the infant mind may hereafter produce, unless we examine and try them by the test that is offered in the spirit of the gospel. If we would sedulously preserve our children from error, let us in the first place bring our own prejudices to the test. Nor let us think the task beneath us. "There are few individuals (says Stewart) whose education has been conducted in every respect with attention and judgment. Almost every man of reflection is conscious, when he arrives at maturity, of many defects in his mental powers, and of many inconvenient habits, which might have been prevented or remedied in his infancy or youth. Such a consciousness is the first step towards improvement; and the person who feels it, if he is possessed of resolution and steadiness, will not scruple to begin a new course of education for himself.-It is never too late (he adds) to think of the improvement of

our faculties." It is never too late, I would add, to examine our opinions with atten tion; so that we may be able to discriminate between those which have been adopted by the understanding on a rational conviction of their truth, and those that are the offspring of false associations deeply impressed upon our minds in early life. Without such an examination of our opinions, we shall, in educating our children, be but perpetuating the reign of prejudice and error. If even in our religious sentiments or feelings there are any that will not stand the test I have mentioned, though we may not immediately be ale to detect their fallacy, we ought, at least, to beware of inculcating them; lest by associating with the sacred name of religion false and injurious impressions of the Deity, or malevolence and ill-will towards any part of his creation, we inadvertently lay the foundation of a blind and superstitious bigotry, or perhaps of that very scepticism, against which we, with so much zeal, but so little judgment, attempt to guard.

The power of association over the mental faculties is extremely obvious: but I shall postpone the consideration of it, till we come to treat of the cultivation of the understanding; and at present confine myself to an examination of those early associations which affect the heart.* The influence of these has not, I believe, been generally attended to so much as the importance of the subject seems to require. How far the primary passions of love and hatred, with their several dependent passions, may be, and actually are, influenced by early association, it shall now be my endeavour to explain by the most obvious and familiar examples.

* The reader will observe, that in making the heart the seat of the passions, I make use of the popular language, without contending for its propriety; it is sufficient for my purpose that it is intelligible.