faithfulness, as divine honor, and human happiness are regarded.

* * * * * *

SERMON XXII.

Parental Duties considered and urged.

Malachi ii. 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."

Some general observations on the importance of education, especially
parental education, were made in the preceding discourse. We are now
to consider the ways and means by which parents, are _to seek a godly
seed_.

Only general directions can here be given. Much will be left to the
discretion of those concerned.

Some of the principal parental duties are, _Dedication of their
children to God, followed by instruction--restraint--good example, and
prayer_.

We shall treat on each of these briefly in their order.

1. Of _dedication of children to God. By a godly seed_, children
consecrated to the service of God, and set apart for him, is commonly
intended, This implies some rites of consecration. These there have
been, probably, from the beginning; though we have no information what
they were, till the days of Abram.

Before the flood we read of "sons of God" who married "the daughters
of men;" a sad union which led to the universal degeneracy of mankind.
The "sons of God" are supposed to have been the descendants of Seth;
"the daughters of men," to have been of the family of Cain. But why
the distinction of "sons of God, and daughters of men?" It arose, no
doubt, from external differences. The former had the seal of godliness
set upon them, whatever that seal might be; and were trained up to
attend the worship and ordinances of God--they were visibly of the
household of faith; none of which were the case with the latter. *
That the former were all renewed, and children of God by regeneration,
is not probable--they are termed sons of God, on account of their
covenant relation to him.

* Tenders of pardon and life were made to the whole human race,
through a Mediator, and the church at first included the whole family
of Adam; but this did not long continue. Cain, enraged that his
offering was not accepted, slew his brother, and "went out from the
presence of the Lord"--left his father's house, in which God was
worshipped, and where his ordinances were administered--cast off
religion, and taught his children to disregard it. His progeny were
not deficient in worldly wisdom. They cultivated the arts of life, and
made improvements in t