mother and the child are real objects of pity for the parent knows not what she is doing, and that fhe is teaching her child the rudiments of undutifulness to herself, and dishonor to The Family; and as the CAGE is full of BIRDS, fo is her Houfe full of Deceit. Jerem.

v. 27.

St. Paul obferves (Eph. vi. 2.) that the commandment, HONOUR THY FATHER AND MOTHER is the FIRST commandment with PROMISE. He thought the Promise of Profperity and Length of Days was the best security to the observance of it. And surely the bleffing can lofe nothing of its excellence, because annexed to the Precept Let the Dam go, which after the apostle,

I may call the SECOND commandment with PROMISE. What GOD hath been pleased to join together with the very fame promife, let not the folly or cruelty of man put afunder. Oh Mother! think upon this golden chain of innumerable links of days of profperity; for thy own, and thy child's fake, preserve it inviolable. If you truly love your child, inftruct him in the love of MERCY, and fear of GOD. The two commandments, Honor thy Parents and Let the Dam go, are more closely connected than you perhaps are willing to fuppofe. But revolve, I pray you, in your mind, the cafe of fome family of your acquaintance, where the peace of it has been disturbed by the undutiful

nefs and obftinacy of the children; and I believe you will find, that the Parents have not a little contributed thereto, by not timely restraining their children from acts of sportive Cruelty to BIRDS and INSECTS. Poffibly they will not acknowledge that this was the cause of it. Few parents will confefs themselves to have been in The blame is gene

the wrong. rally laid upon the perverse dispofition of the children, when yet that very perverfenefs is frequently chargeable to the parent's account. The minds of children are naturally tender, and fufceptible of foft and benevolent impreffions; and if fome are of a rougher caft than others, they are ftill capable of being inftructed in their duty,

and

and reduced to order by the principles of Religion, the fear of GOD, and truft in his Promises. On the ground of Religion, and of Nature, Parents may lay a fure foundation of reverential honor and filial love to themselves. But, if you fuffer your child to commit any acts of cruelty, you harden him against fear and every foft impreffion you overthrow the foundation, and marr all the materials of thy family ftructure. For how can you think your child will fear and honor God, when you teach him to difregard the promifes of GOD? or how can you think that he will fear and honor you, when you teach him neither to fear nor honor GOD? You have discharged him from all obedience

obedience to thyself by permitting him to tranfgrefs a Commandment, enjoined by the fame Authority, and recommended with the very fame Bleffing, as the Commandment of Reverence to Parents. You have taught him to trifle and quibble with the Promife, that links the two commandments together. How then can you expect that your Child fhould obey you on the religious principle, that GOD has promised life and profperity to fuch obedience, when you teach him to make light of this very promise in the other inftance? And if your Child regards you not from a religious principle; What is there left? Love and affection he can

have none. For by your indulg

ing