MIDNIGHT HYMN. [By Hannah More.] WHERE'ER I am, whate'er I see, I feel Thee in the gloom of night, When care distracts my anxious soul, If pain corrode my broken rest, Thy wisdom guides, Thy will directs, Then, as the sun illumes the skies, SUNDAY SCHOOLS. MATERNAL INSTRUCTION. Or all the relations, issuing from the benevolence of God in the structure of the moral world, perhaps there is none, in which his goodness may be so distinctly traced, and in the performance of whose duties, so pure and delicate a perception of happiness is connected, as in the maternal. The benignant design of this 1 connexion blending together our sympathies, our happiness, and our duty, is too apparent to be mistaken. It suggests to every mother her obvious duty-the moral education of her child-and on that mother, who feels deeply anxious to cooperate with God in the accomplishment of his divine purpose, that of preparing herself and her offspring for a higher and happier state of existence, by the faithful, and intelligent, and conscientious discharge of the duties pertaining to this endearing relation—duties which she only can fully discharge-the necessity of beginning her labors of discipline in due season—even with the dawn of infant existence-need not be urgedfor well she knows that her infant's safety consists in the success of her efforts "to sow the good seed,”—and to prevent the enemy, ever watchful, fiom "sowing tares." At this early period, her care will be chiefly interested in securing the physical comfort and happiness of her sweet charge by the invariable exercise of the kindest and tenderest offices of affection and love. The very helplessness and innocence of infancy appeal in the strongest and most persuasive language for safety and protection to the mother's heart. Her feelings will prompt her to regard her infant's numerous wants and necessities, and by the exercise of those charities, which the Author of all good has wisely fitted her, as if by intuition, to confer, to anticipate, supply and relieve them. By these repeated acts of kindness, in due time, the infant becomes conscious of the existence of the benevolent being from whom its happiness is derived. The sweet fountain from which it receives nutrition, the soft bosom on which it reposes, from whose embrace it awakes to meet the eye of maternal fondness, and the caresses of maternal love, develope in its breast the feelings of gratitude, affection, and love-and denote the commencement of its moral life-the time for moral discipline to begin. With all the fondness which a mother alone can feel, and all the tenderness which she alone can exercise, in giving the incipient springs of feeling their proper direction, she will enter upon her delightful, though arduous task, assured of direction from on high. As an agent of the Supreme Power, she will feel herself entrusted with a spirit destined for immortality, on which she is urged, by every consideration, to shed that redeeming influence, which shall preserve it from earthly pollution and conduct it to the skies. Her infant, now in paradise, she will endeavor to sustain there, by removing forbidden fruit from its view. By methods suited to its nature, she will develope the faculties of its mind, and the affections of its heart, directing them to the attainment of good. Herself she will regard, as the object on which its young affections should first place themselves, and to which they were designed by the Supreme Parent, most fondly to clingattending to the voice of the Divine Instructer, whose friendly monitions address her through her infant, she proceeds, with confidence, in her good work. Having obtained, by kind and affectionate treatment, the whole love and confidence of her infant, she feels herself in the sure possession of a power over its volitions, by which she ensures its ready and willing obedience. Her laws are few and simple; they are but modifications of nature's. She wins to duty by the influence of love; to fear and coercion she seldom appeals. In cases of transgression, she points to the resulting unhappiness, and teaches, by experience, the inseparable connexion between disobedience and misery, between obedience and happiness. By favorable influences she forms the habits and associations of her infant-herself its example. By her constant kindness and cheerfulness, she will induce a happy sweetness of temper; and by the constant presence of her example, upon the heart of her infant, she will form its character to that good, and amiable, and lovely image, which she has assumed for her standard. She makes her infant happy, because it is good -because it is sure of its mother's love. Obedient to the laws of its juvenile code, the infant will become assimilated to hers. Making reason and conscience the only tests of truth and obedience, the intellectual powers of her child are early applied to their legitimate purpose. By the pleasing hope of preserving its mother's affection, and by an intelligent consciousness of duty performed, the infant's heart becomes opened to every kind, and benevolent, and complacent affection. The mother will fix the great rule of action in its mind. She will make it conscious, from experience, that the only way to ensure its own happiness, is by endeavours to promote that of all around it, that lives, and moves, and breathes. She thus prepares it to engage with ardor in every benevolent design-to taste the sweet luxury of doing good. Her young philanthropist lives as a moral and intellectual being. Alive to every surrounding object; conscious of its innocence; enjoying and returning the affections of all with whom it dwells; the infant heart, in due time, recognises a higher power, which it feels is good. To this power it extends its affections, and rejoices in being the recipient of his love. Trained from infancy in the school of Jesus, it owns him as Saviour and Guide. Religious feeling rises in its breast and sheds a kindly influence on all its pursuits. Assured that God is everywhere present," that in him it lives and moves and has its being," and that, when this period of existence closes, he designs to raise it, through an intelligent faith in the truths of his Son, and a life of obedience, to a higher and happier state-the feelings of reverence, and gratitude, and love, spontaneously rise in its breast, accompa nied by a sense of the Divine approbation, which lead it to the intelligent, and cheerful, and happy performance of every duty, and induce it to make nearer and nearer approaches toward the "Father of Light and life." OBJECTIONS TO SUNDAY SCHOOLS CONSIDERED. THE first objection made to Sunday schools is, that they take from parents a most important office, that of giving their children religious instruction. If, say some, the character should be well known in order to be improved, who can know it so well as the parent? This is true, and deserves consideration. It is well understood that a large majority of the children who attend Sunday schools, consist of a class whose parents are destitute, and whose domestic duties are such as preclude their giving attention to anything but common, every-day duties; if these are well performed, they expect no more of their children, as they have neither time nor knowledge to give them religious instruction. Are there not many families thus situated? If we look around us |