and who, provided their children are rich and wealthy, are regardless of those qualities which would render them truly estimable, and secure their eternal salvation. Language cannot express, nor can thought conceive, any thing to exceed in turpitude the criminal conduct of such parents, of whom it is true to say, that instead of bequeathing wealth to their children, they leave them rather their own wickedness and crimes for an inheritance; and instead of conducting them to heaven, lead them to perdition. The pastor therefore will impress on the minds of parents salutary principles for the guidance of their conduct, and will excite them to imitate the virtuous example of Tobias;[1] that having thus trained up their children to the service of God, and to holiness of life, they may, in turn, experience at their hands abundant fruit of filial affection, respect, and obedience.
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.
" THOU SHALT NOT KILL." [2]
THE great happiness proposed to the peacemakers, of being called " the children of God," should prove a powerful excitement to animate the zeal of the pastor in explaining with diligent accuracy the obligations imposed by this commandment. No means more efficacious can be adopted to promote peace and harmony amongst mankind, than the due and holy and universal observance of the law announced by this commandment, if properly explained. Then might we hope that, united in the strictest bonds of union, mankind would live in perfect peace and concord. The necessity of explaining this commandment to the faithful is evinced by two considerations. Immediately after the earth was overwhelmed in universal deluge, the first prohibition issued by the Almighty was, that man should not imbrue his hands in the blood of his fellow man: " I will require the blood of your lives," says he, " at the hand of every beast, and at the hand of man." [3] In the next place, amongst the precepts of the Old Law expounded by our Lord, this commandment holds the first place, as may be seen by consulting the fifth chapter of St. Matthew, where the Redeemer says: " It has been said thou shall not kill," &c. [4] The Note, faithful should also hear with willing attention the exposition of a commandment, the observance of which must be the security of their own lives: these words, "Thou shall not kill," emphalically forbid the shedding of human blood; and they
