To every pious person, it is to be expected, that the early instruction and piety, of the rising generation, would be an object of peculiar attention and concern. Truly pious persons, have been deeply and tenderly concerned for the instruction of the young. Abraham, who was called the friend of God and the father of the faithful, gave his children and household religious instruction. Moses was very attentive and diligent, in giving religious instruction to the rising generation. Joshua and Samuel, were engaged in promoting the same important object. David, the pious and devout king of Israel, called upon the young to receive religious instruction. He said, "Come ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Solomon, in his inspired writings, has a peculiar regard to young persons, and endeavours to fill their minds with the lessons of divine wisdom. The prophets were greatly concerned to promote the instruction and piety of children and youth. The Lord Jesus Christ showed a pleasing and affecting interest, even in respect to infants. And the Apostles, both in their preaching and in their writings, were attentive to the religious instruction of children. The same object has engaged the attention, and employed the exertions of pious persons, since the days of the Apostles. And since it is so important, that the young should set their hopes on God; and since for this purpose

they must have religious instruction; pious persons will always feel a deep and tender concern, for the religious instruction of the rising generation.

3. Since religious instruction is necessary to the piety of the rising generation, we may see how real religion, has generally been preserved, among the descendants of pious ancestors. It was so before the Saviour came into the world. For hundreds of years, through many generations, the true knowledge and worship of God, were preserved among the descendants of Abraham, and God has generally blessed the pious instructions and examples of parents and ancestors to the spiritual benefit of many of their descendants.

The unfeigned faith, that was in Timothy, dwelt first in his grand-mother Lois, and his mother Eunice. Real piety has commonly been preserved from generation to generation in the same families. Such persons, as have been eminent for piety, in Europe and America, have almost always descended from pious parents. God appears to have fulfilled to pious parents this gracious promise

I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thy offspring." He seems also to have performed another important declaration:" As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth

of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever." From what God has said, and from what he has done, there is reason to expect and to believe, that he will, very commonly, bless the pious instructions of pious parents, to the saving benefit of their children. But we may almost as well

expect, that religion will exist, where the gospel is not preached, as that it will exist in children, who are not favoured with religious instruction. It is, however, certain, that by means of religious instruction, real religion has generally been preserved among the descendants of pious ancestors.

4. Since religious instruction is necessary to the piety and happiness of the rising generation, the opinion, that it is not important to instruct children in religion, is very erroneous and dangerous. Such an opinion is decidedly opposed to what God declares and requires in the scripture. It is also contrary to the instructions of reason and experience. Yet modern infidels have imbibed and labored to diffuse the opinion, that it is improper to give children religious instruction. A similar opinion is also maintained by some professed believers in christianity. There are professed christians,who by their profession and practice in many instances, oppose the duty of giving children religious instruction. They condemn what they call an attempt to make persons christians by education.

They say-It is the Spirit of God, that makes persons pious. But the spirit of God, never makes persons pious, without religious instruction. And it is as proper to instruct children in religion, as it is to preach the gospel and to read the scriptures, that religious instruction may be obtained by other persons. Since religious instruction is necessary to the existence of piety, the religious education of the young is an important duty. And it is plainly enjoined upon parents by the apostles, as well as by the prophets. The opinion, that it is not highly important to give young persons religious instruction, is altogether erroneous and extremely dangerous.

5. Since it is necessary to the welfare of the young that they should be instructed in religion, irreligious parents take the direct method to ruin their children.— Such parents disregard religious instruction. And by their example they teach their children to forget, disobey and dishonor their holy Creator. Irreligious parents commonly give their children irreligious instruction. They teach their children not to set their hope in God. They often fill the minds of their children with error and strengthen their hearts in wickedness and folly. Such conduct is suited to lead young persons in the broad way to endless destruction. Parents can commonly do more to save, or to destroy their children than other persons. And

the example of irreligious parents is the most powerful means, that can be conceived, for effecting the ruin of their children.

6. If it be so important that children be instructed in religion and set their hope in God, then children should be carefully restrained from whatever may prevent the proper effects of religious instruction. Religious instruction may be easily counteracted and its proper design be defeated.When the young are plainly taught the doctrines and duties of religion, they are naturally inclined to reject the truth and oppose or delay their duty. They should be carefully guarded and restrained from what is suited to prevent the proper influence and happy effects of instruction, when it is received and obeyed in early life. They should be guarded against an high opinion of themselves. Also a gainst an high opinion of worldly objects. Against wicked companions and sinful pleasures. If they be not restrained from these evils, they will be emboldened and hardened in error and wickedness.They will become stubborn and rebellious; and they will refuse to fear God, to obey his commands and to hope in his mercy. Children and youth need to be guarded and restrained from error and sin as well as to be instructed in truth

and duty.

7. Since it is of the highest importance for the young to set their hope in God, they, who have, in early life, placed their hope in

him, can never have reason to regret their conduct. Multitudes have had reason to regret the impiety and wickedness of their early days. Many however imagine, that religion requires too great a degree of self-denial, to be regarded in early life. But whatever is valuable is gained and secured by early piety; and nothing but what is evil and hateful is renounced and sacrificed. No one, that ever set his hope in God, while he was in the days of childhood and youth, ever had reason to repent and be sorry, that he had while young secured the favor of his Maker and Judge. On the contrary, early piety has been a source of comfort and joy in every period of human life. Obadiah said to Elijah-"I fear the Lord from my youth." And such a consideration he accounted his honor and his happiness; although he belonged to the court of Ahab, that wicked king of Israel. The Psalmist said, "Thou art my hope, O Lord God; thou art my trust from my youth." Many have set their hope in God, while they were young, and they did what was far wiser and better than other persons, who have wasted their early days in wickedness and vanity. Samuel did what was wiser and better than the conduct of Eli's sons.-David did better than Saul.-Moses did better than to have been called the son of Pharoah's daughter, and to have gained all the treasures of Egypt. It is better and wiser to choose to suffer affliction, with the

people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. They, who become pious, when they are young, do what is wisest and best and can never have the least reason to regret their conduct.

3. From the importance of early piety, there appears to be great reason to rejoice, in what is predicted respecting the piety of the young, during the future glory of the church on earth. The gospel, in its saving influence, has never had on earth, but a very limited and feeble effect, when compared with the extent and influence of error and wickedness. But the gospel, according to divine predictions, is yet to prevail among all nations, and all the families of the earth are to be subject to its holy and happy influence. Then children and youth in early life, will set their hope in God, and will be blessed with his salvation. How glorious and happy will be that day, when all shall know the Lord, from the greatest to the least! Then all parents will be truly pi. ous, and will devote their children to God, in love and in faith. Then they will be diligent and faithful in performing their vows, and in the instruction and government of their children. Then God will pour his spirit upon the seed of his people, and his blessing upon their offspring. Then all nations will flow into the kingdom of the Redeemer, and the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of God, even as the waters cover the sea. As all will then be truly

pious in early life, so they will become eminent for knowledge, for holiness and for happiness. Then "there shall be no more an infant of days, nor an old man, that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old." How lovely and how happy, will the rising generation then be among all nations, and in all families throughout the whole earth! In prospect of such glory, which believers may now behold by the light of divine truth, there is abundant reason for the highest and purest joy.

9. Since it is so highly important, that the young should receive religious instruction, and should set their hope in God, there is reason to be thankful, for what is now done for their instruction and piety. For nearly a century infidels have desired and laboured to turn the attention and the affections of the young, from the knowledge, the service and favor of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. They have wickedly, but vainly hoped, that they should bring the religion of the Bible into general contempt, and cause the name of the Saviour to be forgotten, or abhorred, where ever it had been known and loved. Multitudes, in christian nations, became in early life, corrupted and destroyed by their errors and delusions. But a new scene has opened upon the church and the world. God has awakened and encouraged his feeble and desponding people, to rise and exert themselves for the diffusion of