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owe that bias towards religion, which with the co-operating grace of God, at length reclaimed, and brought me back to the paths of peace." Listen to him still more fully on this subject. "A prudent and pious woman in the capacity of wife and mother, is a greater character than any hero or philosopher, of either ancient, or modern times. The first impressions which children receive in the nursery, under the mother's immediate care, are seldom obliterated. Sooner or later, their influence conduces to form the future life. Though the child trained up in the way he should go, may for a season depart from it, there is always reason to hope that he will be found in it, when he is old. The principles instilled into the mind in infancy, may seem dormant for a while, but the prayers with which the mother watered what she planted there, are as some old writers say, "upon the Lord's file." Times of trouble recall these principles to the mind, and the child thus instructed has something to recur to. Thus it was with me. I was the only son of my mother. She taught me. She prayed for me, and over me. Had she lived to see the misery and wickedness into which I afterwards plunged, I think it would have broken her heart. But in the Lord's time, her prayers were answered. Distress led me to recollect her early care. So was I led to look the right way for help. Happy and honoured is the woman, who is thus qualified to instruct her