34 Hints on Family Government. wound their feelings, and only ren- peo accomplishment which every person of common firmness and discretion may possess; and which is actually possessed by nearly all those who duly appreciate its value. But that the reader may not be presented with animadversions only, I will briefly illustrate a few of the leading principles of an efficient family government. 1. The parent who would maintain a proper authority over his children, must first learn to govern himself. He must give no place in himself to those habits and practices, which he disallows, and endeavors to correct in them. Against unreasonable prejudices, and the exhibition of a queru The truth is, that as scarcely any one duty of parents is more indispensable to the present and eternal welfare of their offspring, than the maintenance of a reasonable authority, so there is almost none, which providence has more generally qualified them to perform. Every parent has a natural ascendency over his chil-lous and passionate temper, he must dren, which it requires a considera- carefully guard. Nor may he desble share of indiscretion, and not a cend from the dignity of the parental little bad management, to lose. He character, and sacrifice, in their minds has moreover himself passed through his consistency, by the constant inthe season of childhood, and thus be- dulgence of a trifling spirit. A meascome experimentally acquainted with ure of self-denial may be demanded the habits, dispositions, and expo- of him in these particulars, which it sures of the young. He may know will be somewhat painful, but not imfrom recollection, what species of dis-possible to exercise. We endure cipline would then have commended things far more crossing to our inclinitself to his understanding, and ensur-ations, for the attainment of compared his respectful submission. And he is in the best situation to observe every peculiarity in the tempers of his charge, with a view to correct and improve them. The same cannot be said of most other important concerns. From what is observed of the nature and means of family government, we should expect that the parent who is practically awake to his duty and privilege, would be more likely to succeed in it, than in most other serious endeavors. The writer has also been led to this conclusion by his own experience in managing the and from the young, observations he has made on the man atively trifling objects. But however ungrateful such self-denial may be to our natural feelings, it is indispensably requiste. The parent who is observed to give full scope to his inclinations, and while he imposes severe restraints upon his children, to have no command of himself, will soon be regarded by then, as either inconsistent, selfish, or hypocritical. Nothing can be more preposterous than the hope expressed by some, of educating their children to industrious and moral, and even to pious habits, while they themselves continue the worthless slaves of vice. But, 2. The parent who succeeds in agement of others. He is entirely governing himself, must next be careconvinced that the art of government, ful to be reasonable and humane in is not so much the native and exclu-the exercise of his authority. It may sive attribute of a few parents, as an be proper, on some occasions to re Hints on Family Government. quest and encourage a child to attempt || have their rights, and are early conthe performance of what shall appear scious of possessing them:-rights to himself beyond his strength; but which render it incumbent upon parthere would be manifest cruelty in ents to consult their reasonable wishcommanding it. Such a command,es, and to use every proper means of even though the child may afterwards rendering their obedience both easy discover his mistake in thinking it and agreeable to themselves. I should excessive, will be regarded by him at therefore greatly object, in general, to the moment, as capricious and tyran- the imposing of any service upon chilnical. He will very probably become dren, for the mere object of establishdisheartened, and make but a partial ing our authority over them. The effort, or he will generously outdo ascendancy which is obtained by the himself, with the chilling expectation mere enforcement of commands, is of escaping censure merely. The not of the most desirable character. same unhappy effects will flow from The child submits indeed, but with the parents enjoining, with formal and feelings very like those with which a stern command, the doing of what is vanquished enemy grounds his arms. believed to be unnecessary and use His spirit is broken down, but his less. Intelligent children early dis- heart is not gained, to what himself tinguish between the necessary re-considers a reasonable and necessary quirements of a superior, and his ar- authority. The danger is, that he bitrary whims, and never fail to dis-will regard himself as being in the cover a peculiar reluctance to toil circumstance of a slave, or at least, without an object worthy of their ef- as obliged to serve a hardhearted and forts. No circumstance will ordin-capricious parent. arily more conduce to their obedience, It is equally necessary that the pathan the impression that the service rent should be reasonable in his punenjoined is altogether reasonable. It ishments and his censures; both should is indeed quite inseparable from a be administered with evident humancheerful submission. For these and ity and wisdom. It is painful to obother reasons, it may be best to avoid serve how many guardians of youth, frequently laying upon children the seldom correct their erring charge, most formal commands; particularly without leaving the impression of havwith the penalty of disobedience an-ing done it, in some way, improperly. nexed. A simple direction, or re- In many cases the child is inconsidquest, can be rendered equally effec-erately charged with an ingratitude tive; and it leaves the parent more at and wilfulness in transgressing, of liberty in his treatment of delinquen- which he is not conscious. In some, cies. he is deprived of what he considers a I am the more particular on this fair opportunity of exculpating himpoint, because it lies near the founda-self; the evidence against him is hastition of parental authority; and yet ap-ly caught up; the circumstances are pears to me to be much overlooked in construed in the worst light possible; the government of some families. The punishment follows immediately upright of the parent to dictate, is of the on detection,-is administered withmost absolute kind, being derived im-out the least apparent regret, and, it mediately from God himself. It be- may be, with heat, and unrighteous comes the child to obey implicitly, severity. All this the culprit pereven where he is persuaded either of fectly understands, interprets in his the wisdom or the justice of what is own favor, and treasures up as a jusenjoined. But then children also tification of future disobedience; or if 36 Pilgrim Fathers of New-England. his spirit be naturally inoffensive and misgivings and fickleness. In doing desponding, as a source of excessive this, the inexperienced parent may discouragement. The apostle had re- derive much instruction and support, ference to such treatment, when he from the advice of the wise and good wrote, "Fathers, provoke not your around him. He will also become children to anger lest they be discour-gradually more confirmed in his resoaged." It has been known to discour-lutions, by success, and an increasing age and depress the minds of children view of the momentous charge with to that degree, as to render them in which Providence has intrusted him. subsequent life, habitually fearful and It falls in with his own comfort and spiritless. prosperity, as well as the good of the Children should never be chastised community, that he should guide his in anger, much less with any expres-children in the right way. It is the sions of delight in their sufferings. It divine command, that he should bring would be as well to dispense with them up in the nurture and admonipunishment altogether, as to adminis-tion of the Lord. To all this the ter it in such a manner as to make the culprit feel that he has made ample atonement for his crime. In almost every case, where the child has arrived at years of consideration, some considerable time should be allowed him for reflection and repentauce; and unwearied pains taken to convince him of his deserts of punishment, and of the benevolent feelings with which it is inflicted. What has been said of punishment, is mostly applicable to reproof and censure. A continual dropping will wear a stone. It is perhaps better that some of the mistakes and petty offences of children should appear to pass unnoticed, than that they should be unceasingly followed with looks of disapprobation, and pelt-! ed with censures; especially where parents have discovered in themselves a disposition to be querulous and fretful. Bnt, maintenance of parental authority over his household will be seen to be indispensable. He will therefore, 4. Not only make this interesting duty a subject of anxious inquiry, but of daily prayer to Almighty God; to Him should we look, both for wisdom to perfect our plans of discipline, and also for grace to carry them into complete effect. The parent should especially ask for wisdom and a right frame of spirit, as often as he is called to administer reproof and chastisment. A prayerful heart is by far the best security against any fatal mistake in this momentous concern; and, of all qualifications, it is the most certainly connected with success. AMICUS. PILGRIM FATHERS OF NEW ENGLAND. The following extract from a sermon preached before the New England Society in the city of New York, December 22, 1822, by the Rev. P. M. Whelpley, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, contains a just and beautiful tribute to the character of the founders of New-England: Star. 3. It is of great moment, that the parent should be consistent and persevering in his measures. He must not enforce one set of rules to-day, and another to-morrow; nor regard and punish as an inexcusable offence, at one time, what he would nearly or In the great design of evangelizing quite overlook at another. Having the heathen world, which is now calldeliberately fixed upon his plan of dis-ing forth the energies of all Chirstencipline, he must proceed steadily to dom, the pilgrims hold a distinguishexecute it, in spite of all his naturated place. The lives of Elliott, and John Bunyan's Meeting House. They 37 sand have been gathered together in this remote part of the town, and not less than twelve hundred at seven o'clock on a dark winter morning, even in the week days. Mayhew, and Edwards, and Brainerd, the first apostles to the Indians, are now the standing commentary upon the Saviour's grand commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." I had no difficulty in discovering were missionaries. They travelled this ancient building. It is situated where the only comforts and luxuries in Zoar-street, Gravel lane. The of life were such as wild nature fur-larger portion of it has been occupied nished to the fowl and to the beast: about 20 years by a working millthey dwelt where, for centuries a race wright, the rubbish of whose dilapiof immortal beings had groaned under dated machinery reposes in silence the unalleviated curse, had lived with- with the dusty pew doors and fracturout virtue, and died without hope:ed wainscotting of the ancient meetthey labored where no divine pre-ing.-Part of the gallery yet remains, cept or accent of mercy had ever brok-with the same wooden pegs still sticken the stillness of death, or a Sabbathing in its front which once held the smiled. In the heart of a horrid wil uncouth hats of those whom the galderness, they planted the glorious lant cavaliers of a former period pointcross! and when their work was done, ed out to public contempt as "Roundthey laid down their heads at his feet, heads" and "Puritans," but all of and slept in peace! The dews of heav-whom in common-whether Royalists en came down gently upon their or Republicans-have long since forgraves! the angels of mercy built them gotten their mutual feuds, and passa monument: the stranger from the fared to their eternal account. country saw it, and the poor Indian double doors of entrance to this buildcame out of his woods to weep over it, ing are precisely the same as once adand think of the "rest that remained mitted the worshippers of a former to the people of GOD!" They were age, and the pulpit itself might yet missionaries! Blessed be God, their have been in existence, but for the mantle now rests upon a thousand Vandalic exercise of the axe and the heralds of the cross in both hemis-hatchet, which followed the occupapheres, and in the ocean's farthest isles! From the Christian Observer. JOHN BUNYAN'S MEETING-HOUSE. The tion of this building for purposes of trade and commerce. I contrived to rescue from destruction, all that remained of the ancient central branch for the lights: for which I shall be readily excused by the antiquarian, and I was induced a few days since, to not perhaps condemned by the theoexplore the ancient neighborhood of logian. A small portion of this ediParis Garden, for the purpose of dis-fice is employed for the instruction of covering the old Meeting-house where children. The entrance of this school the celebrated John Bunyan edified once formed the side entrance of the and delighted an audience which meeting, and the present door and sometimes included in its number no architrave are the same as have been less a man than the great Dr. Owen, always there.-The front of the meetand where Bunyan was so popular, ng-house, towards the street, is enthat if but one day's notice was given trely devoid of interest, so far as the the meeting-house where he general-dicturesque is concerned, from the ly preached, would not hold half the circumstance of the windows having people who attended. Three thou-been boarded up by the present pos 38 Regent's Town, Sierra Leone. sessor for the purposes of his trade; | bringing the work into notice. In 1785, a prize question was proposed by the University of Cambridge respecting slavery, when Mr. T. Clarkson obtained the first prize for a Latin essay, a translation of which, with two essays on the slave trade by the same author were soon published, The horrors of slavery were describ and therefore when Mr. Wilkinson, a few years since, had a view taken of it for his London illustrata, the artist preferred depicting the back front, which comprising, as it does, the projecting vestry-room, forms an interesting picture. Immediately behind the building was the burial ground: no traces of which, however, now re-ed with correctness, and the appeal main, for even "their memorial is perished with them." REGENT'S TOWN, SIERRA LEONE. or This place, about nine years since, was a wild desert; but now it is like. the Garden of the Lord,-not merely for its outward beauty, but chiefly for its spiritual. It is laid out with regularity; and had, at the date of the last letters, nineteen Streets Ways, and was inhabited by 1218 Negroes, old and young. A stone bridge built by the negroes, leads from the town to the side of the brook, where the principal buildings are. These are, the Church, and the Mission or Parsonage house, with a house higher up toward the wood. These and other buildings are all of stone. The house near the wood was built by order of the governor, Sir Charles MacCarthy, for himself to reside at occasionally." which was made to British sympathy was not in vain. The Society for the abolition of the Slave Trade was formed, and Wilberforce introduced the subject into the British Parliament. perseverance and his success are known throughout the earth, and in every land he is considered as a ben His efactor of his fellow men. The slaves who during the war of the Revolution had served under the British standard, were after the peace in 1783, sent to the Bahama Islands, and Nova Scotia, and numbers of them repaired to London. They became subject to every misery, and familiar with every vice. A Committee was formed for their relief, and at length about 400 blacks, "with about sixty whites, but who were chiefly women of abandoned character, debilitated by disease," were embarked for Sierra Leone. A colony was formed, but between the 9th of May, Dr. H. Smeathman was the first 1787, the time of arrival at Sierra person in England "who proposed a Leone, and the following September, specific plan for the colonization of the colony was reduced by death and Africa upon liberal and philanthropic desertion to 276 persons. Desertions principles." He imparted his views continued to increase, and in Novemin the year 1783 to Dr. Knowles, who ber 1787 the remaining colonists were had conceived the design during a res- dispersed and the town burnt, by an idence of some years in Africa. Sev- African chief. In 1791 some friends eral circumstances occurred soon af- of Africa formed an Association enter, which had a favorable influence titled St. George's Bay company, by upon the cause of Africa. In 1784, whose efforts some of the dispersed the Rev. James Ramsay published an colonists were collected. The directEssay on the Treatment of slaves in ors sent five vessels with stores of the British Sugar Colonies.-The at- various kinds, and some officers and tempts which were made by the plant-soldiers, a few English settlers, and a ers and others to ruin the reputation council for the government of the of the author, became the means of colony. But new misfortunes befel |