DOMESTIC PIETY THE BEST PRESERVATIVE FROM THE family relation was the first constituted by God; the first honoured by Christ: it is the most essential to the interests of the human race: and the first and principal one which the author of all evil endeavours to invade and corrupt in our world. We need not wonder, therefore, to be told in these days, that the emissaries of the Man of Sin, and the teachers of Popish delusions are everywhere on the alert, and insidiously employed, in endeavouring to corrupt our households, and lead them away from the simplicity and power of the truth. As there are no means, however low, which the prince of darkness himself would not employ, and no pains, however laborious, which that malicious spirit would not take to beguile unwary souls; so there are no measures which his agents and auxiliaries would not adopt for the accomplishment of the same design. That" the end sanctifies the means," is the great maxim of the apostate Church of Rome. 66 Let us do evil that good may come," is a principle which all history attests they are not unwilling to approve, when the purposes of sacerdotal rule, and superstitious influence, are to be achieved. Hence the things of which we have heard in the present day. The housemaid, the scullery-girl, the milk-man, the foot-boy, but principally the female domestics of the establishment, are employed to be the vehicles of superstition, the conductors of Romish pretences, into the precincts of the family circle, that thus prepared, thus insinuated, thus unsuspected, the little leaven may leaven the whole lump: a wise, a sagacious system; well calculated, deeply laid; and savouring much of the prerogative of the "chil dren of this world." Shall it succeed? Shall it in any instance attain its ends? On our answer to this inquiry how much depends! It will not, if the children of light are wise in their generation. Not, if the tribes of Israel have "light in all their dwellings." "Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird." We wonder not that the advocates of Popish rule, and the propagators of its delusions, have thus begun to seek access to the domestic circle, and to insinuate themselves thus, somewhat after the manner in which Milton represents the great Deceiver of our race to have entered into Paradise, and gained access to the ear of our first parents in the beginning; for this is to attack the very citadel of our nature, the armoury of our world. If it yields, all will be lost, and its weapons employed with proportionate diligence and zeal to take the city, and to keep it under subjection. The family constitution is at once the most interesting and important as to the welfare of mankind, the most effective for good or evil, and the most pernicious, or the most beneficial, to the cause of truth and of God. So has it been in every age. The Patriarchs well understood this. The Prophets directed much of their ministry towards it. A special messenger was sent to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of chil dren to their fathers," to prepare the way for the new dispensation. Evangelists and Apostles were to go, and did go, from "house to house." And when the "Lord of all" came and dwelt among men, his first miracle was in honour of the family relation, to show how essential it was to the interests of his kingdom: many of his sublimest discourses were delivered in "the house:" his sympathies flowed, and his tears were most freely shed in the domestic circle: many signs and wonders did he perform whilst the household were around: and from the families of his people he has taken more faithful servants to labour in his cause, and more 66 sons to glory," in his presence above, than from any other source besides. All this is known to the abettors o that fatal system which is now attempting to spread itself like a shroud, or like a net, over the inhabitants and the destinies of this our favoured Isle. They know, they perfectly know, what an essential auxiliary to their proceedings, and their ultimate success, is the domestic constitution, and there are no probable or possible means which they will leave untried to ensnare the households of our land. By such measures they have achieved greater success in times that are past than by almost any other; and the history of every Popish country may be appealed to, to testify how largely they have employed, and how far they have succeeded in making, the dependants and members of the family instrumental to their designs. Hence their solicitude to instruct the young; to have education, as much as possible, under their power; and to employ especially female tuition, by individuals, or by associated bodies, in training the minds and the habits of the junior members of the household. It is astonishing, and it is admonitory, to observe to what an extent they have prevailed by such institutions, and by such means, to obtain an influence over the rising generation of every Papal land; and for making the subordinates of a family, always easily accessible to priestly devices, subservient to their chief ends. Probably more families have been divided, injured, and led astray, and are now kept, in part or entirely, under the influence of Romish delusions, by such proceedings and by such resorts, than by almost any other method. It is the "Catholic servant," or the young lady going to the Confessional, or the visit of the Priest, or the missal, or the rosary, lent to the house, that first insinuates the poison, and opens the way for the spread of the more fatal errors and corrupting doctrines of the Church of Rome. This is the first assault upon our domestic citadel, and often gradually and imperceptibly leads to the surrender of the whole. Aware of this, and conscious of the importance of the family constitution to the maintenance and spread of true religion in the world, how earnest and zealous ought all Protestant families at the present time to be, that their households should be so constituted and ordered, that there shall be no room to insinuate the fatal spell! or, if it should approach, that the antidote and destroyer shall immediately be found! Our households, in the present day, should be carefully formed, carefully guarded, and surveyed with affectionate superintendence and authority on every side. They should resemble a garrison well constituted, well armed, well watched, all whose inmates are duly exercised to the several duties and obligations of their station, so as all to unite in one common defence and firm resistance, in case of invasion or attack from the foe. In other words (for "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual"), all the members of the household should be prepared by their acquaintance with Divine truth, and by habits of moral and spiritual discipline, so to acquit themselves in case of an assault from Rome, that the conquest may be sure, and the Establishment and its head resemble Him who said "The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me." So it will be if, like the Father of the faithful, each Christian parent and master be anxious to "command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord." For this purpose, and with this end in view, let all who are at the head of our families and households be deeply conscious, at the present time, of their and though silent, and almost without design, setting the example of one who had formed the resolution of the heroic Joshua, and was determined to carry it into effect: "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Oh! let those who preside over our households in the present day, strive after eminent, holy, vigorous, piety: the piety that enjoys the exercise of religion, and finds "all her paths to be pleasantness and peace;" the piety that is habitually rising towards God, aspiring to perfection, and growing “in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” "Rivers to the ocean run, Nor stay in all their course; Pants to view his glorious face; obligations, and how much will devolve | ing the air of piety around; upon them, and how much will be expected from them, by Him who is the "God of all the families of the earth," for the maintenance of his truth and cause in the land. Let them be especially solicitous to possess and to cherish that piety towards the Lord of hosts, and reverence for his holy name, which shall secure on their part devout homage at his footstool, and habitual attention to the dictates of his word. Let them be desirous, not merely to possess the religion of the gospel, and to be in a safe condition for eternity; but to enjoy the evidences of it, and to live under the influence of a high, decided, and vigorous tone of Christian piety, which alone will qualify and enable them to meet the peculiar circumstances in which they and their households, at the present day, are placed. "True religion," said a late excellent Minister, "is like the holy fire in the ancient Tem- Thus qualified, thus prepared, how ple; it is kindled from heaven, but it comparatively easy, and how delightful must be constantly fed and supplied would it be, so to order the affairs of with fuel, or it will be in danger of ex- the household, and to superintend its piring." This hallowed flame must be proceedings, as that those means shall kept burning on the altar of our fami- be employed which shall tend to prolies with greater intensity and ardour mote family piety, and, under the Dinow than ever, and with so pure and vine blessing, to preserve it from all bright a flame, that its light may be those encroachments of a dangerous reflected on all around. And for this, nature to which, in the present day, it how much will depend on the true, the may be exposed! Is it the spirit of the eminent, the devoted piety of the fa- world, or the spirit of impiety, the danthers and mothers, the masters and gers of formality, or the allurements of mistresses of our British Israel! The a Romanizing tendency, by which the time is gone by for indifference here, household, or any of its members, may for merely nominal, formal, and profes- be ensnared? How adapted and how sional piety. There must be the "root effective will such means be, to preserve of the matter;" the life derived from from their influence, and secure from the living Vine: the branches spread their power! For instance:-let the ing, and clusters of the fruit of right- ordinances of Family worship be duly eousness appearing. Each parent, each observed - the domestic offering of master, should strive to walk with God, prayer and praise be rendered each and to maintain in the secresy of the morning and evening at the footstool of closet habitual intercourse with the the Father of mercies, with all that fountain of all knowledge, holiness, and solemnity and reverence which its imlove. Thus sustained, thus supplied, portance demands—and regularity and he would descend into the family circle, punctuality in it will make that sacred and to the active duties of life, breath- | duty a privilege and delight. Let each | member of the circle be provided with his or her copy of the inspired Volume, in order to follow, and sometimes to take part, either by reading or repetition, in that portion of sacred truth which forms the subject of meditation and instruction for the day. Let a hymn be read, or the melody of a "spiritual song" be heard. Let the service be so conducted as that all may feel an interest in the prayers offered, and the praises given: and let the whole be so managed as to diffuse an odour of sanctity and cheerfulness around, like that which escaped the alabaster box when Mary brake it in the presence of her Lord. What pleasure and power would it give to domestic piety! what a mighty influence for good would be created, and remain! and what a barrier would be formed against the entrance of evil of every kind! Where family prayer is observed, and every member of the household is present where domestic piety reigns, "like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard that went down to the skirts of his garments,"-Romanist delusions would in vain attempt to intrude. Not only, however, must the family offering ascend each day to the Majesty of heaven on that altar which alone sanctifieth the gift and the giver, whilst all the house are bowing in devout reverence around; there must also be the voice of instruction heard, as well as that of "rejoicing and salvation," in the tabernacles of the righteous. Our households, however highly favoured, are naturally as ignorant as others, and our children and servants, if untaught, will grow up and remain as destitute of the knowledge of the saving truths of the gospel, and even of the first principles of religion, as those who have no such privileges to enjoy. Hence that command given to ancient Israel, "Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest in the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." There must be some mode adopted of making the great truths of our holy religion plain, familiar, and impressive, to those who are around us, and in order to this there must be "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little." It will not be sufficient to advert in a mere cursory manner to the glorious verities of salvation, and to "the things most assuredly believed among us," nor even to read over regularly, though in the words of inspiration, "the true sayings of God;" they must be opened up, explained, and enforced, as each one in the house may be able to receive it. The strong must bear with the weak, the parents with the children, the master with the servants, whilst the very simplest-which are always the most important truths-are re-iterated, with all interest and solemnity, over and over again. The great facts of redemption, the doctrines of the "wondrous cross," the plan of justification by faith in "the Lamb that was slain," without the merit of any other: the privilege of prayer and supplication at the foot of the throne, in the name of a Divine Mediator, without the intervention of any other, on earth or in heaven: the sole priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ: the work and grace of the Holy Spirit: and the necessity of obedience to the whole revealed will of God: these, and such like verities, which constitute the vital truths of the Christian dispensation, must be constantly, and with all kindness and solicitude, brought before the minds, and offered to the hearts of the domestic circle. It matters not whether it be done by regular exposition, by familiar instruction, combinedly, or with each individual apart, or by the good old method of Catechetical exercise (than which as an accom paniment to others a better can scarcely be found), it must in the present day be done, it must be earnestly and affec tionately attempted by all who would preserve their families from the invasions of error, and faithful to "the truth as it is in Jesus." Let this be done, and we need fear nothing. We want but the determinate will, the earnest attempt, and the aptitude which persevering practice would acquire, to bring our families into a state of moral and spiritual culture, which would make them resemble a garden of the Lord. Were a tenth part of the time bestowed on the minor arrangements of the domestic economy, on attention to articles of dress, on recreations, or on the pursuits of commercial enterprise and worldly advantage, but given to the Christian instruction of our households, and the proper training of them in the "things pertaining to the kingdom of God," we might bid de. fiance to all the emissaries of Rome, to every lurking snare, and to all the wiles which the propagators of error may employ to divert us from the "simplicity which is in Christ." The worship of God, and the truth of the gospel, -the one devoutly performed, and the other affectionately and diligently taught in our domestic relations,-would be a wall of fire round about, and the glory in the midst of our land. As the sons of ancient Rome were required to pledge eternal enmity to Carthage, and the mother's heart, and the father's authority but nerved the arm of the son, so now would our sons and our daughters, our servants and attendants, all be united in one indissoluble bond to oppose the delusions of modern apostate Rome, not in the spirit of rivalry or hatred, but in that of pity for the victims of error, and unswerving allegiance to the cause of truth. Strong in the strength of Israel's God, and strong in the piety, devotion, and zeal of the families of Israel, our internal might would prove invincible to every foe, and a bulwark be raised around us which all the stratagems of Popery would in vain attempt to undermine or overthrow. Then should we consistently pray (and the answer of Heaven would not be denied), "Rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood: that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth, that our daughters may be as corner-stones polished after the similitude of a palace." Our domestic piety would be our glory. The God of truth would dwell in the midst of us. And surrounding nations looking upon us would say, as they did of ancient Judea in David's time, when " every man returned to bless his household," "Happy are the people who are in such a case, yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord." Review of Religious Publications. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE REV. WILLIAM WALFORD. Edited, with a Continuation, by JOHN STOUGHTON. 12mo., pp. 363. Jackson and Walford. THIS is a book singularly interesting, instructive, and affecting to the heart. The Christian character of Mr. Walford, the peculiarities of his mental history, and the position he occupied in the Christian church, render this autobiography one of the most remarkable and the most touching narratives we have ever read. "My revered and much M. C. loved friend," says Mr. Stoughton, "made me aware, some time before his decease, that he was preparing a biographical sketch of himself, and gave me an expression of his confidence, and a pledge of his attachment, by requesting that I would undertake the editorship of the memoirs. It was not, however, till the papers were placed in my hands, after his decense, that I had any idea of their being written in the form of letters to me. The letters had been composed with such characteristic care, as greatly to lighten my edi |