Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-04-19

instead of enforcing, with irresistible power,
her instructions, and proving the sincerity
of her prayers, made them all fable, or
pretence. True, she committed no dis
ciplinablo offence. She was good wife,
and mother, and mistress, in the estimation
of the world. But where was the SAVIOR of
her religion? Where the unsullied ex-
hibition of those things which are lovely
and Of good report? Where the feeling of
her Saviour's presence, her love to his name,
her zeal to do his will, which might BE- ex.
hibitad, and ought as plainly to be seen by
her children, in each triiing event Of the
day, as in her morning dcvotions. And y,
where was that deep. anxiety, which she
seemed to feel in the morning, for the saliva
ton of her children? Had she left it all
at the maternal altar? or, had she never
felt it! o.. it is because, children hear so
much and see so little, that they are sceptical.
l. Mother, first feel for your child; feel
deeply, uniformly anxious for lis salvation
for whatever your feelings arc, he will know
them; you cannot elude his eagle eye.
2. Beware of disclosing your feelings,
or, at least, let there not be an apparent
attempt to exhibit them, either to himself or
to others. This would be most ruinous.
Rather let him feel that there exists in your
basoma well-spring Of feeling and anxiety,
which others knownothing OF, and which
even he cannot fathom.
3. Be consistent in your reproots. Let
your child see in your deep grief and
sadness. that he has sinned against God,
and that it is this which distresses you, Tor
this IS what you profess. And let lum not
see, in your ang y countenance, that be has
only rered his mother.
4. Be consistent in your appovals. Let
YOUR child, when he has done well, as the
Bible directs, see, in the calm, thankful
satisfaction ofyour countenance, that you
are pleased and thankful, because God is
obeyed, for this is what you profess.
5. Beware, when your child has done
well, of appearing surprized, or elated, as
though he were wonderfully good, or he
| will soon get the idea that he is perfect
little saint, when, in fact, he will be only
perfect little Pharisee.
6. Always, before others, let your pfofes.
sions and prayers fall short of yourTeal
and habitual feelings, or your child will sci
you down, ere you are aware, for hypocrite.
Let him believe, however much you say,
that the half is not told--that it cannot he
uttered.
7. Let your secret devotions, for the sake
Of your child, if not for your own welfare,
be frequent, and always at stated periods.
Irecoliect noticing, when very little child,
| that my father always retired into certain
room, at certain hours Of the day. The
fact was, at first, very mysterious, but his
| object could not long remain a matter Of
doubt? and that single circumstance threw
fear and solemnity over my mind which
nothing could efface.
NV attention was then directed TO my
mother. l rose up early, and sat up late,
and ate the bread Of watchflluess. lcou!d
not discover that she prayed. The un-
certainty was very painful. | began to look
upon her with suspicion and fear, doubted
every thing she said, Or did. At last, i
one day suspected, Hoped, knew, that she
had been praying; and ! subsequently
learned that her morning hour of prayer
was before day-break. lshall never forget,
when she came from her room, the gratitude,
and confidence, and love, with which l went
and laid my head in her lamp. Remember
that your child is a sagacious and untiring
r"spy upon your proceedings" and when
you come from your retirement, let him see,
in the heavenly calmness Of your look, and
the sweet kindness of all your expressions,
I that YOU have been with Jesus.
8. You profess to love the Bible above
all other books. Let your conduct say
this. When weary and exhausted, let your
child see, that you invariably have recourse
to the Bible for relaxation. Let this once
be written on his watchful mind, and ten
thousand thrilling incidents, and wears OF
guilt and thouyhdcssness, will not cftace or
obscure it.
But it is impossible TO enumera.e all the
ways in which parents are in danger OF
manifesting inconsistency. Mother, watch
yourself. Your child watches you, his eye
watches every motion; his ear is bent TO
catch every sound from your lips. In his
little bosom is treasured up every careless
word aud motion, and no efforts of yours,
can ever avail to unlock or plunder his
sturehousc. Mother, watch yoursclr;. how
can you expect your Saviour's blessing II
YOU slight his most solemn and repeated
Injunction 10 watchfulness? Mother, watch
yourself!