However, we must not dismiss this subject without recollecting, that, even for such a son, there may, in some cases, be an apology found; not, indeed, in the example of a King or in that of Priests, but in the example or in the negligence of parents themselves; for these have duties to perform with regard to their children, and duties, too, which justice, which good morals, and which religion imperiously demand at their hands. They are not at liberty to say, that their children are theirs; and that, as in cases of other animals, they are to do what they please with them, and to leave undone towards them that which they please. They have no right to give life to beings, of whom they grudge to take charge, and towards whom they are not ready to act with as much zeal and tenderness as towards their own persons. If the life and happiness of a child (the child being without offence) be net as dear to the parent as the parent's own life, that parent is deficient in parental affection, and can hardly expect an affectionate and dutiful child.

In this respect, however, let us hope that few parents are deficient; but, there is something besides parental affection due from a parent towards a child The parent has to act as well as to feel. He is to consider that which is best to be done; that which is the best course to pursue, in order to provide, not only for the existence and health of his child, but also for his future welfare, and in welfare is included his good moral conduct. It is very certain that children are, in general, prone to follow, and with great exactness, the example of their parents. Where is the father whose sons have not told him, one after another, at the age of three years old, that they shall be big men like him; that they shall do this or that, like him? Where is the father that has not watched, and been very much pleased at, their constant attempts to imitate him, and who has not observed their contentions as to which was most like him?

Now, it is impossible not to see in these things,

which are notorious to all the world, the clearest proof, that, with children, the example of parents always is powerful, and may be rendered, in nine cases out of ten, paproductive of the happiest consequences to both rents and children. If it be the ambition of the son, even from his earliest days, to be like and do like the father, how careful ought the father to be of all his words and all his actions! Naturs may possibly produce a son sò untoward as to become a drunkard after having been bred up by a sober father and in scenes of perfect sobriety; but this is a sort of monster in morals, and is to be excluded from all the reasonings appertaining to the subject. Nothing is truer than the rule of SOLOMON, train up a child in the way he "should go; and when he is old, he will not depart ** from it." But, in this case as well as in the case of Priest and flock, it is the example, and not the precept, upon which we ought to rely. By precept you may teach your son that drunkenness is sinful and leads to misery; but the precept will have little force when contradicted by your example. You may preach, you may warn, you may menace; but if you indulge in the bottle yourself, expect not a sober son, and complain not if he bring your grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Example in this case costs nothing, eitner in the way of money or of personal exertion. It is merely an abstaining from that which is in itself unnatural. It is recommended also by economy, by a love of domestic peace, and by a desire to consult the convenience, and to promote the happiness of a family. Drinking and earousing is not productive of cheerfulness; and it is cheerfulness, and not boisterous mirth, that we ought to desire for our inmate. Nobody is so dull as the daybefore drunkard; no mansion so gloomy as that which "Nabal's heart was beholds the morrow of a feast. 66 merry within him; for he was very drunken;" but the next morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, his heart died within him and he became dead as a

stone. This is the true picture of the two states of the drunkard, and well represents the effects of drinking and carousing in a family.

Therefore, even as relating to the management and the happiness of a household, an abstinence from drinking strong drink, or any thing which intoxicates, is a duty. And, when the effect upon children is taken into view, how sacred is their duty!

Many are the parents, who, under afflictions occasioned by a son addicted to drunkenness; many are such parents, who, after fruitless attempts at reclaiming him, after vain endeavours to disguise the cause of their trouble from the world, confess, in the bitterness of their sorrow, that it would have been better had they followed him to the grave at a moment when perhaps they were shedding tears of joy at his recovery from some dangerous disease. And, if such parents have well and truly discharged their duty towards him, unfeeling indeed must be the heart that can refram from participating in their sorrow. But, if his boyish days have been spent amidst scenes of drinking; if the parents have made him a hearer of glees and songs in praise of the heroes of the bottle; if the decanter have been the companion of the daily domestic repasts of his youth; if, by his own parents, his natural appetite have thus been perverted; if, by them, he have been initiated in the school of drinking, their sorrows are the natural consequence and the just punishment of their own disregard of duty towards him.

There are few crimes, few offences against morals, which do not, in the end, bring their own punishment, even in this world. The thief, the robber, the muṛderer, the corrupt legislator, the unjust judge, the perjured juror, the tyrant king: each usually receives his due, in one way or another, before he be callled to commune with the worms. But the punishment of the drunkard is not only certain to follow the offence, but it follows immediately. That which he swallows for what he calls his pleasure brings the pain as surely as the night brings the morning. Poverty and misery are

in the train; a disgraceful and loathsome state of existence closes the scene; and when the besotted and bloated body is at last committed to the earth, not a tear, not a sigh is drawn forth even from parents or children. It has been deemed subject of deep lamentation when death is unaccompanied with the solicitudes of friends and relations. There is scarcely a human being so unfortunate as not to leave some one to regret that he is no more. But the drunkard makes no void in society, except that of a nuisance, the removal of which is calculated to excite no other feeling than that of satisfaction

Let us remember, therefore, that, while it is the duty of Kings and of Priests to abstain from wine and from strong drink, it is also a duty which belongs to ourselves; that if they set an evil example, we have reason, nature, and the word of God for our guide; and, that, if we, as neighbours, friends, relations, masters or parents, neglect our duty in this respect, we merit all the reproach, and all the punishment, that are so justly due to drunkard Kings and Priests. We are called upon, in this case, to do nothing. Abstinence requires no aid to accomplish it. Our own will is all that is requisite; and, if we have. not the will to avoid contempt, disgrace and misery, we deserve neither relief ner compassion.

FALL OF JUDAS;

OR,

GOD'S VENGEANCE AGAINST BRIBERY

"Now, this man purchased a field with the reward of "Iniquity; and, falling headlong, he burst asunder in the “ midst, and all his bowels gushed out."

Acts, Ch. 1, V. 18.

BRIBERY is the giving, or the taking, of money, or some other thing of value, real or imaginary, as an inducement, or reward, to do, or to cause to be done, some act which the parties know to be wicked; and, while, there are few things more detestable than this in their nature, there are still fewer which have, in the affairs of mankind, effects so extensively mischievous. Yet, as in the case of drinking and gaming, the frequency of the crime renders it less generally and strongly reprobated than it ought to be; though, if we duly consider it, either in its nature or in its consequences, we shall find that we are criminal, not only if we, directly or indirectly, give it our countenance, but if we neglect any means within our power to expose it to hatred and to bring down upon it some portion, at least, of that vengeance which the Scriptures teach us its due.