Southern Christian Advocate

For the Southern Christian Advocate.

FAMILY GOVERNMENT. BY BISHOP ANDREW.

I have preached it. I have recommended it in my pastoral visits. I have adopted it in my own family. I have witnessed, nay, I have witnessed daily, its good effects in other families, as well as my own. I am right glad to see another edition called for. Is it not to be feared however, that many purchase it because it is a popular work. Now, says one, I know I don't govern my family well, but then I have purchased one of the Bishop's Essays, and it lies side by side with the Bible. "'Tis true I do not see much difference now, and before I purchased it; but then it is a very popular work; and by keeping it in this conspicuous place persons visiting me will see it, and make it the subject of conversation—the children will hear it, and thus they will be benefitted. Others have gone so far as to even read it, and have not found much fault with it. They say there are some very good things in it; and believe it would be very profitable to their neighbours' children. They have no idea that the Bishop intended it for them. Now I protest against this virtually charging the Author with partiality, I understand it to be a free thing, of universal application, and not intended so to excite the benevolence of its readers, as to induce them to bestow all its benefits on their neighbours, reserving none for themselves. I apprehend the design of its author is not confined to the mere sale, nor yet to the reading, neither does it look to the admiration of its readers, and great publicity given to it. I frequently hear it said that it ought to be in every family. So say I. But surely not as a theory only. It occurs to me that it is not intended to benefit the family alone: nor the visiting kindred of the family: nor the community of sinners, which may occasionally associate with the family: nor all the laity: nor yet the entire congregations. But it may be intended to reach the Pulpit. Let the preacher visit a family where parents and children are under the control of the principles it inculcates. He will see how religion is systematized by it. He finds himself impressed and edified by the spectacle. He goes to Church and finds the same order there as at home. For I take it, that children who behave well at home will be very apt to do so at Church. May not the same be said of parents? Thus the "Family Government" presents us with motives to adopt it which relate to the Pulpit. My Dear sir, do you reflect that when you are adopting the Government at home you are doing much in the way of aiding the preacher? You are at least giving system to his discourse. He may be naturally a dull, prosy, monotonous preacher, but a congregation trained at home under the "Family Government" will infuse into the sermon practicability, for the preacher will see the very children miniatures of the Bishop. I have never had the pleasure of seeing him. But I am of opinion that his "Family Government" is a fac simile of him. Therefore children taught by it in a good degree impersonate him. What motives are here to adopt this little book. You will reach the preacher by it. Yes, almost any one can preach a good sermon to a congregation who practice the "Family Government." It may not be improper for me here to remark that this article is written as much for the benefit of my wife as any one else. She admires the work very much, and is anxiously desirous that I strictly adhere to it, but excuses herself from being troubled any farther than to read, admire and recommend it. Now I would like to know, Messrs. Editors, or her satisfaction as well as for my benefit, if the Bishop did not intend her to observe it as well as myself. Or does he purpose to write another for the express benefit of our itinerant preachers' wives. I insist upon it, if even he does, she cannot do better than to adopt this until hers is forthcoming. I do hope and pray that the time will soon come when not only a copy may be found in the house of every Methodist, but when every Methodist shall reduce it to practice. O! Brethren, be consistent. While you are so lavish in your praises, see that you execute its suggestions, and thus do by your works what you have hitherto fruitlessly sought to do, by a dead faith,

FAITH And Works.