sary, it is apt to be hurtful, by involving the mind in perplexity and distress, if not warping the heart from that rectitude and simplicity, which, next to the immediate illumination of heaven, are the surest guides to a worthy conduct.

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Of filial duty in all its branches she will naturally acquit herself best, who has the deepest sense of religion. Keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about "thine neck. When thou goest, it shall lead "thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and "when thou wakest, it shall talk with thee. Whoso "revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall "be put out in obscure darkness. The eye that "mocketh his father, and despiseth to obey his "mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, "and the young eagles shall eat it." Jesus. was subject unto his parents. "Children, obey your 66 parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honour έσ thy father and mother (which is the first com"mandment with promise) that it may be well " with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” All this a christian daughter has read with attention, and reflects upon with awe. It corresponds, in substance, with the instinct of nature, which it contributes at once to corroborate and exalt. She who truly reverences her parent in heaven, would tremble at the thought of dishonouring his representatives on earth. From their authority she has acquired the idea of his; and this last, including all that can be conceived of great and good, is the commanding idea of her life. If your parents be indeed pious, and you have profited by their instruction and example; how will your natural respect for them be heightened by religious

gratitude! You will think of them with secret rapture as the instruments of a happy and immortal existence; your devoutest prayers for their preservation and comfort will daily ascend to the throne of God. Those prayers will, at the same instant, cherish the affections by which they are prompted, and strengthen your resolutions never, for any consideration, to transgress the laws of filial piety. For how could they bear to be the wilful authors of pain to those for whose felicity they are led by évery motive to present every day the most fervent supplications?

But many of you have not the happiness of such parents as I have supposed. I am heartily sorry for it. But the want of principle in your parents will not dissolve the ties of duty, however it may affect the sentiments of esteem and if you think rightly, it will only excite your endeavours, by every winning, respectful way, to promote their reformation; for which you will at the same time offer up, from the depth of retirement, your sighs and vows to him who has the hearts of all in his hand. In truth, I am inclined to believe that if there be any one thing more likely than another to draw down the grace of conversion on a parent, it is such a conduct in a child. Ah, my young friends, what honour and joy would in this case be yours! What a noble superiority to those unfeeling crea tures of your sex, who shew no solicitude with regard to their parents, but how to obtain from the m some new article of dress or other gratification, on which they have fixed their foolish fancies!!

But some of you complain, that your parents are cruel and tyrannical. I sympathize with you yet more, if your complaint be just. But what do you mean by Cruel and Tyrannical? That they will not

indulge your extravagant vanity, or that they choose to restrain from pursuits, which they are apprehensive would be hurtful? It is a wise and kind severity, if severity it must be termed. How much are you indebted to them for preventing, by a little temporary mortification, real and permanent infelicity! Not to say, that a small degree of delicacy and consideration would teach you to spare them in points, where your stations and their circumstances concur, it may be, to render your requests particularly improper.

But I will suppose the worst, that they are really hardhearted, and unnaturally rigid. It is a mighty trial. To bear it well will require all the fortitude of faith. Here then is an opportunity for displaying your principles in their utmost power. You are called forth to the conflict, as into a field of battle, where even your sex may reap immortal laurels. She is a heroine indeed, whose regard for her parents no unkindness of theirs can conquer.;

But they would force you to sacrifice your happiness to a man whom you cannot love. There your submission must stop. No rules of duty can oblige you to involve yourselves in misery and temptation, by entering into engagements to love and to honour, where your hearts withhold their consent.-Barbarous wretches, and base, to offer thus to dispose of your children, as you would of your cattle, to the highest bidder; to attempt, against every maxim of Nature and Religion, to drag the reluctant victims to the altar, and compel them, in the most solemn manner, to profess what they do not mean, and to vow what they cannot perform!

I am willing however to believe, that such compulsion is used but seldom. The greatest danger is lest you, my unexperienced friends, should be

tempted to form the most important of all connexions, without the approbation of your parents. What shall we say in such a case? Where the resolution is once formed, he who should undertake, by any methods of dissuasion, to prevent its being executed, might as well propose to check a torrent rushing from the top of a mountain. But we would address you while in your sober senses, before your imagination is perverted and inflamed. Assure yourselves, my young hearers, the step in question is very seldom taken but it is sincerely repented; with this bitter addition, that such repentance can do no good. The passion that guided and hurried the parties is quickly abated. There is nothing so transient, as the enthusiasm of mere youthful lovers after marriage. And now that reflexion takes place, and consequences begin to press; a thousand improprieties, fears, and disquietudes, unthought of before, rise up to view, and quite disenchant our romantic adventurers. It is indeed wonderful, what appearances of firmness and satisfaction a woman in such a situation will wear before the world, in order to justify her choice. But surely unhappiness is not lessened by being devoured in secret, and in public disguised. Perpetual restraint is perpetual wretchedness-Allow me to repeat it. Under the immediate impulse of a violent attachment, I should hardly give you or myself the trouble to argue: but while you are disengaged and calm, it may not be amiss to remind you, that a parent, generally speaking, is much more likely to judge with soundness for a daughter, than she is for herself; that Fancy alone is too sanguine a counsellor to be a prudent one; that protestations of eternal fidelity, of uninterrupted affection, made in the heat of blood,have no solid

hasis; in a word, that the deliberate advice, which is dictated alike by the length of days, knowledge of the world, and earnest solicitude for a child's wel-fare, ought to be relied upon, rather than the hasty conclusions of juvenile desire.

After all, it is certain, that the wisest parents may be mistaken about the man with whom they wish a daughter to be connected. But she that

marries with the sanction of their countenance, will from that, and from their continued or even augmented kindness, derive in the case of disappointment a consolation which she could not enjoy, had she brought it on herself by her own indiscretion and obstinacy.

One thing here must not be forgotten; that the reflexion of having acted undutifully, in this or any other instance of importance, to those who gave you birth, were alone sufficient to poison the whole pleasure of life; that is, if you be not lost to every ingenious impression; but especially should their death put it forever out of your power to make atonement. The horrors of guilt that in such a circumstance are apt to haunt and distract the mind, more particularly if the parents were uncommonly worthy, I have had repeated opportunities of observing, but have no adequate language to express ; so profound is the conviction implanted by nature of the sacredness of filial piety!-Need I add, that this extends so far as to demand submission in every case, where your duty to God or your peace of mind does not interfere?

But it is not submission alone that is demanded; nor will she prove in any relation an amiable character, who does not show herself an affectionate daughter. On the other hand, when a young