Page:Life of the honourable Col. James Gardiner (1).pdf/18

 other of which the reader may certainly find a model worthy of his imitation.

To view him first in the calmness of domestic life, and at the head of his affectionate family—It will naturally be supposed, that, as soon as he had a house, he erected an altar in it; that the word of God was read there, and prayers and praises constantly offered. These were not to be omitted on account of any guest; for he esteemed it a part of due respect to those that remained under his roof, to take it for granted, they would look upon it as a very bad compliment, to imagine they would have been obliged by his neglecting the duties of religion on their account. As his family increased, he had a minister statedly resident in this house, who discharged the offices of tutor and chaplain, and was always treated with kindness and respect. He was constant in his attendance on public worship, in which an exemplary care was taken that the children and servants might accompany the heads of the family.

The necessity of being so many months together distant from home, hindered him from many of those condescending labours, in cultivating the minds of his children in early life, which to a soul so benevolent, so wise, and so zealous, would undoubtedly have afforded a very exquisite pleasure: but when he was with them, he failed not to instruct and admonish them; and the constant deep sense with which he spoke of divine things, and the real unaffected indifference which he always showed for what this vain world is most ready to admire, were daily lessons of wisdom and of piety. And it was easy to perceive that the opening of genius, in the young branches of his family, gave him great delight, and that he had a secret ambition to see them excel in what they undertook. Yet, he was very jealous over his heart, lest he should be too fondly attached to them, and was an eminent proficient in the blessed science of resignation to the divine will.

To consider his character in the domestic relation of a master—It is proper to remark, that as his habitual