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THE most important light in which our dear child appeared to us was that of a MORAL AND IMMORTAL BEING. And while we earnestly prayed for the advancement of his highest interests in time and eternity, we knew that it were mockery to offer prayer, did we not employ all the means in our power to enlighten, impress, and guide him. We ever felt that an influence from heaven was necessary to render our labors effectual;-that He, "from whom cometh every good and perfect gift," must be the primary agent in this great work; but that we had to hope for and calculate on that influence, only as we added our endeavors to our supplications. The Nile, fed by the rains of distant mountains, rolls majestically along in its course; rises above, and spreads over, the face of Egypt; giving to that land all its fertility:-yet a large portion of the effect depends upon the husbandmen, who

wisely construct their reservoirs, and so preserve the precious fluid, that, after the recession of the stream, they may still conduct it to every part; and thus conduce to the production of that enchanting scene, which rises up to view, with a rapidity and loveliness which almost surpass the charm of a poetic fiction. This depends wholly on the Nile: yet it depends upon the inhabitants of Egypt, whether" the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose," or remain fruitless and unsightly as the neighbouring sands. simple truth, it depends on the union of both. Were the river to refuse his supply, or the husbandmen to refuse to avail themselves of his assistance, there would appear neither the beauty nor the abundance for which that land has, at certain seasons, been celebrated. And the law, which runs through nature, is equally fixed in the dispensations of grace, "work, for it is God that works."

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Our hearts were naturally formed to cheerfulness; and the religion of Jesus had always

presented itself to our minds as inexpressibly lovely,—as "glad tidings of great joy." It was, therefore, equally from inclination and principle, that we determined, if possible, to present religion before him in her own charming and attractive form. He never saw gloom in us; and he soon learned that religion was at once the inspirer and the guardian of our happiness. A connection, of great importance to his future character and peace, was thus early formed in his mind between godliness and pleasure. And such was the effect of this happy association, that though I never knew a human being who took a more solemn view of the realities of eternity than he, I am persuaded he never once in his life contemplated religion without a feeling of calm delight. He knew it only as the guide of life, the support of the heart, and the cherisher of a hope full of immortality. He had never felt "the terrors of the Lord;" for he had never known himself a sinner but in the light of those holy scriptures which, at the very moment of shewing him his condition, presented that blest sacrifice on which he could confidently rest for

everlasting life. But though he had never passed through those, mental anxieties and depressions which are found to give a peculiarly thrilling interest to the doctrine of salvation by faith in the Redeemer; I have rarely found any one who more, ardently loved that distinguishing truth; or who felt more dissatisfied with sermons in which it did not form a prominent feature.

We began very early to point out to him the PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF A GOD. The steps of the argument were so easy, that he soon comprehended all the leading topics in Paley's Natural Theology-a work, which, it is needless to say, possesses for young minds all the interest of a novel, by the variety of facts it adduces, and the happy simplicity with which it applies them in proof of its point. I did not introduce him, till later in life, to Clarke's a priori reasoning on the same subject. And, indeed, he never relished that great writer's "Demonstration." We corresponded and conversed much on this subject, during the last year: but he always con

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sidered the argument, a posteriori,* as the only popular, and almost the sole ground that can be taken, with effect, against an atheist. He seemed to think that what was conclusive in the Demonstration, though not founded on the method of induction, was, after all, only the a posteriori argument in another form: and that the rest, from our necessary ignorance of Infinity, was more fitted to confound than satisfactorily to demonstrate. He admired, however, the profoundness of Clarke; and was equally struck with astonishment at the acuteness of Butler-first, a student for the dissenting ministry, afterwards Bishop of Durham-who ranked, at the age of twentyone, among that great writer's most powerful correspondents-for his objections were too much, in the form of doubts and modest inquiries, to place him among his opponents.

At a period equally early, we made him acquainted with the LEADING EVIDENCES OF To teach him these,

DIVINE REVELATION.

As managed by Derham, Paley, and most writers on this subject.