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God, the Creator of man, established the family constitution. “God setteth the solitary in families,” Ps. 68:6. As to the design of this constitution, we are expressly informed in Malachi 2:15. “And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the Spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed.” And it is declared that “a seed shall serve him,” Ps. 22:30. When God ordains an end, all the means requisite for its accomplishment are necessarily implied, and sometimes specifically prescribed. If then the design of God, in the family constitution, be to raise up a holy seed to serve him, it is incumbent on those who have the charge of families to train them up with a special view to this declared end, otherwise it would be presumption to expect that this end will be answered. From the nature and design of the family constitution, therefore, arises a solemn duty resting upon parents and masters, to train up their children and servants in the way in which they should go, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, so that when they come to the years of discretion and self-government, they may not depart from it, but become “a godly seed” to serve the Lord. The family constitution is the original, elementary, and therefore the simplest form of society. All public communities, whether civil or ecclesiastical, are composed of families. The forms of public societies, and their modes of government, have undergone, and are still undergoing, great and important changes; but that of the family remains, amid all these revolutions, essentially the same as when originally constituted. This is the only form of government, whose claim to Divine appointment has not been questioned or denied. To this appointment, as well as to the nature of the institution itself, may be attributed, under the purpose-accomplishing providence of its Great Founder, the perpetuity of its existence and form. Families continue on the earth, that the wise object of their establishment, may be effected. Families are the appointed nurseries of both Church and State. They are to furnish civil society with virtuous and worthy members, and the church with active, useful, and devoted Christians. Both worlds may, therefore, be said to meet in the family society, and bring with them those considerations which enhance to an awful degree, the weighty responsibilities which rest upon the family head. From this divinely established fountain of influences, shall issu

  The head of a family should act the part of a prophet towards the rest of his household, and impart to them such instruction as is calculated to answer the purpose for which he is placed in honour and authority over them. Without such instruction, he can not, and ought not, to expect to accomplish much by the exercise of parental discipline.   “These words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up,” Deut. 6:6, 7. This does not relate merely to instruction in the school, but particularly to familiar, domestic teaching. This instruction must concern the word of God, including its doctrines and duties. It must be imparted with diligence, with patience, and frequent repetition The natural blindness of the mind to spiritual things, and the darkening of the understanding produced by sin, render such diligence absolutely necessary, in order to make any tolerable progress in the work of domestic education.   The natural opposition of the heart to spiritual and holy knowledge, seems to require the affectionate, careful, and frequent inculcation of divine truth.   The language of the carnal heart is, “I desire not the knowledge of these things.” And the reason is to be found in that Scripture declaration, “the carnal mind is enmity against God.” Men naturally, therefore, “love darkness rather than light.” Weeds grow apace, but good plants require a careful and patient cultivation. The former are indigenous, the latter are exotic, and require the utmost diligence and watchfulness in planting and nurturing them.   The memory has been greatly impaired by sin, and children are particularly forgetful of that which it is of the most importance they should remember. Hence the necessity of inculcating again and again the same truths. This work, in order to prove effectual, must be commenced at a very early age. Recent experiments have demonstrated that children are susceptible of important instruction, at a much earlier age than has hitherto been thought possible.   The Infant School System has developed many important principles in

  We come now to consider the remaining office devolving on the head of a family. In addition to that of governor and instructor, he is required to act the part of a priest to his family. I, of course, use the word “priest” figuratively, inasmuch as there are now no sacrifices, in the proper sense of the term, to be offered up. The typical sacrifices have all been superseded by the one great offering to which they pointed; and as it was a perfect offering, there is no. necessity for another. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come-can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.” Therefore, “every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man, (Christ,) after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God.” “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” “Now where remission of these (sins and iniquities) is, there is no more offering for sin,” Heb. 10:1, 2, 11, 12, 14, 18. And if there be no more offering, there are no more priests. The doctrines of transubstantiation and a bloodless sacrifice, have continued the appellation of priests, the class of men who claim to be the ministers of Christ. What I mean, therefore, is, that the head of a family is required to lead in the social devotions of his household, at stated and regular times. This domestic worship should usually embrace reading the Scriptures, singing, and prayer. And in the same character, he is required to implore, at his table, the blessing of God upon the bounties of his providence, accompanied with devout thanksgiving for the same.   Man is bound to worship God in every relation of life in which he may be placed. As an individual, it is his duty to observe secret prayer: as a member of society, he should unite in the public worship of God in his sanctuary: and as the head of a family, he is required to lead its devotions. As a reasonable creature, he should frequent his closet, to engage in the private duties of religion; as a social being, he should, engage with others in acts of worship. All things were made for God