IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 11.25 Uil2.8 125 jj|4i |Z2 14.0 I 2.0 m ^ Photographic ^Sciences Corporation ^3 WIST MAIN ^TREIT WFRST5P N.Y. 45M (716;£,ii-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. - CIHJVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques g||^ Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notoa tochniquaa at bibliographiquaa Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabla for filming. 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Expe- OF THE I IRE-SIDE. riencc not only confirms this view of the Bible on the matter, but tcaclics with painful distinctness, that if religioiift iraininy be neglected in the family, the neglect can be but partially repaired by any other agency. To each one, God has appointed his duties, and to each relationship in hfe its peculiar obligation. And as men cannot shake off these peculiar oliligations, so neither is it intended by God, that others shall take up, and perform their special duties for them. It is true, the benevolent are ever labouring to lessen the ill consequences of such criminal neglect ; yet, this can never be more than partially done. The Divine scheme is, that each shall perform the duties of his own relationships, and shall not through sloth or vicious conduct, leave his pecuHar duties as tasks for others. Now, the religious training of children is the peculiar duty of parents. No parent can, and no Christian parent can wish to divest himself of the obligation to this duty. Nor, can any one assume the duty in his stead, and perform it as he can, if he be a man of godliness and good sense. For, although natural affection is not grace, yet, parental affection should wonderfully quicken the motives to labour for the spiritual good of the child ; while on the oclier hand, filial affection should give access to the young bosom, when the instruction comes from the Ups of parents, which others can but rarely possess. To this, we may have occasion again to revert ; but in the mean time it is enough simply to assume — that one grand end of the Family Institution, is the religious training of children. Indeed, if parents fail in this, they cannot be said to have succeeded in anything which they aimed at for the good of their children. Parents who overlook this, have plainly lost sight of the chief end, for which God placed these im- mortal creatures uv.'.ov thoir ca"e. Men of the world do not in the least realize this. But, why should Christian parents be supposed for one moment to lose sight of it ? That your children should be trained up to know God, to THE SABBATH fiOHOOL love Him and to serve Him here, and to be eternally happy with Him hereafter ; — is this not your great business with them, and should not this, be of aU duties to them the one that takes the firmest hold at once of your conscience and your heart. Now, while this should be a daily business, yet on many accounts, it is easy to see, that the Sabbath is the best season, for its regular and solemn performance. For if it be true, in a wide and most benevolent sense, that the Sabbath was made for man, it is in a peculiar sense true, that this is tlie seaaou, every way best fitted for the religious training of children. Hence, parents who neglect this duty on the Lord's Day, I presume universally neglect it on the other >its and tastes were. formed, which enabled the child to rise so high. Those teachers, who have led him on successfully to the acquisition of the loftiest branches of knowledge, are possibly but little aware how far they were indclited for their success to the deep and solid foundation laid by the prudenco, diligence and piety of parents. It may ho true, that education in our public seminaries is now carried on with great art and industry ; yet, if there be a falling off in the culture given to the intellect and th*; affections in the fireside school, the public schools will labor in vain to i)roduce the best fruits of mind among a people. Where this unhappy state of things exist^^ there may be among that people a great deal of what is called learning, but tliere will be but little original thought; little moral force, and no great share of genius. "Who can estimate how nmch that child has learned, who in eai-ly life has been taught to think and feel ariyht, and to whom toil is habit, and the labour of thinking has become natural. A little reflection on this may serve to explain the difficulty felt in getting heathen youths, even when placed under the most favorable circumstances in Christian seminaries, to labor, so as to become correct thinkers or able scholars. The minds of these youths when opening to first impressions, received no salutary parental training. No early good habits had been formed. Hence, the instruction given to them afterwards, was given to the mind under the sore disadvan- tage of the want of an early taste and bent, for what is true, noble and good. But, while the importance of forming good habits and giving a relish for excellence to the opening mind is readily admitted, it must never be forgotten, that the heart of the parent can alone perform this. That near relatives, and occasionally here and there a benevolent 16 THE SABBATH SCHOOL !>H II person not a relativo, may do the parent's task by implant- inp: the first seeds of truth, and by cultivating right habits in the child, only establishes our position, that a great work has to be done for the mind in the very commencement of its existence, and that as a general thing, this work can only be done by the toil and love of wise parents. Certain duties can never be performed for a money payment. Ail'oction can alone fit human beings for tliese tasks. But from the aflV'clion which parents foel, they are qualified for their diflicult and groat work. In fact, the parent alone, or one that has the feelings of a parent, is qualified to give to the child his first lessons in thinking — and more especially the first moral and spiritual lessons for his conscience and heart. Every good parent feels it to be at once a duty and privilege to conununioate every sort of useful knowledge to his child. He knows that he can give him no property so precious as true and rich thoughts. It is, however, in the light of spiritual instructors that I would specially address myself to parents. In the relation in which you stand to your children, this is the higliest position you can occupy. Nature teaches you to do them all the good you can, and if you are Christians you must feel that to do theUi good, you must labor for the good of their souls. That God who has placed you in your respon- sible position as the spiritual educator of your children, has in the plainest terms commanded you to teach them divine truth. I select the following passages : — " Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." " Whom shall he teach knowledge, and whom shall he make to understand doctrine ? them that arc weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts." " Set your hearts unto all the work,"> av hich I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe and to do— ^all the words of this law." ** Ye fathers bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" These, my friends, are the commands of God OF THE FIRE-SIDE. n ^n this matter; they are too plain to be mistaken, and coming from God to you in the relation in which you stand to your children, too important not to be felt. The parent who withholds bread from a starving child, or would give him a stone instead of bread, were a monster of iii»rnsibility. But your children are perishing for the bread of life. God has commanded you to feed them with this. The truth of the gospel is the spiritual nourishment which you are required to communicate. You know — or ought to know — that without this, the souls of your children can have no spiritual strength, no heavenly beauty, no faith, no piety. Is it not plain, that parents who can be instrumental in •communicating God's saving truth, yet fail to do so, are disobedient to the Divine command ? They may not be without natural affection, but plainly, they have no •spiritual affectioB, no true love for the souls of their children, and no enlightened desire for their highest good. I shall be under the necessity of noticing the great sin of neglecting this more fully in another part of my subject. As an encouragement to the performance of this sacred parental duty, we should look at certain promises, which God has annexed to His command on this matter. " The just man walketh in his integrity, his children are blessed rafter him." " The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee." The following passages are pregnant with instruction and encouragement to all godly parents : — Genesis, xviii and 19th, " I know him, that he will command his children, and his household after him ; and tliey shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." And says Paul, in addressing Timothy — " When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice^ and I am persuaded that in thee also" — he intimates very plainly how much he thought Timothy had been indebted 18 THE SABBATH SCHOOL for his faith to the domestic instruction he had received. Indeed, there is abundant evidence in the word of God, that fidelity to this duty has never failed to yield precious benefits to both parents and children. Who, then, that has the heart of a man, the conscience of a Christian, and the hopes of a father, can be deaf to the command — " Train up » child in the way in which he should go ?" — train him up in the fear of the Lord. A moment's reflection must satisfy any parent, that whatever he may do for the bodily wants of his children, yet if he fails to train them up in the fear of the Lord, he fails criminally, and he utterly deceives himself if he fancies that with this fearful omission he is either a wise or a good parent. The grand que'"'jion then is, how shall divine truth, by which the soul is sanctified, be most simply, fully and effectually communicated to the young mind ? In attempt- ing to answer this question I would remark : Ist. That parents may communicate much religious instruction to their children by conversation. In the early ages of the world, before writing was known, conversation must have been the only means of communicating knowledge. And even now, a r ach larger portion of our knowledge is obtained in this way, than wo are apt to suppose. Assuredly many subjects, which require accuracy of language, can be better taught by books than by conversation. But wliile every man of sense perceives this, and rejoices in these gifts of Providence — writing and printing — gifts so invaluable for preserving and diffusing knowledgj ; still, no one can fail to see tho power of the living voice for communicating knowledge. After all allowance is made for the amazing power of the Press, it is nevertheless true, that the public mind is in the end chiefly moved, if not directed, by the living voice of man appealing to the understanding and heart of his feilowmen. Mere written thought never could do what is. done every day by the earnest speaker, while he pours. or THX FIRE-4IDX. 19 truth warmly from his own heart into the hearts of others, from the pulpit, at the bar, or in pubhc assembUes. We see in this, that Nature is greater than Art, or rather without this mode of natural teaching, art could accomplish but little. My intention, however, is not to speak of the power of the public instructor, or debator, but of simple conversation as a grand means of giving religious instruction within the domestic circle. Divine wisdom has given directions as to this. " These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart ; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." This command is as binding on fathers now as it was on fathers among the Israelites. That children have in our day so many fountains of knowledge opened to them through the Press, should rather strengthen than weaken the command. For the greater part of men, reading without conversation, amounts to little, while for children, as what they read is neither well remembered nor digested, it in many cases amounts to nothing. The child whose reading ministers most to his growth in knowledge and wisdom, is the child who has what he reads digested by the comments and remarks of wiser minds. By this means, what is read is fixed in the memory; is comprehended by the understanding, and naturally gives complexion to the general tone of the child's blinking. Looking simply at the intellectual aspect of the Bubject, I would earnestly urge parents to converse much with their children on what they read. Nor, indeed, would it be wise to lose sight of the intellectual, while we are anxious to give a peculiar prominancy to the moral and spiritual advantages of conversation. True religion, not only sanctifies all the powers, but demands all these in their highest form for its service. But wise conversation in famiUes has a direct tendency greatly to cultivate the » TBI SABBATH SCHOOL 'i 11! I h' intellectual powers. Those who have read with care the lives of some of our most distinguished philosophers, as well as Divines, must be well aware, that not a few of these eminent men sprang from godly families, in which the minds of the children were early cultivated by a wise and pioui conversation. Indeed, but for this schooling these men had never become the able benefactors to the church and the world, which they became in afler life. If you would, therefore, awaken a thirst for useful knowledge, and give to your child those tastes which will be so valuable for him in all his future progress, converse much with him on everything that he may read or observe. No mode of instruction is more efficacious for good than this: indeed without it, all other modes will be lamentably defective. Affectionate parents seldom fail to talk with their children, but many fail to talk with them to edification ; with some^ the topics of conversation are unsuitable — because above the capacities of the child; — with many others again, the talk is frivolous ; and in godless families, oiten most pernicious. What is desiderated then is not mere talk, but talk that shall edify. Let what is communicated be such aa shall add to the child's stock of useful knowledge, strengthen his motives for good conduct, and purify his heart. Conversation of this sort can hardly fail to prepare the child for future usefulness and happiness. We would err greatly, however, did we suppose that intelligent and pious conversation between parents and children, accomplishes nothing more than the communication of so much knowledge. This is really the chief means for cherishing all that is pure and lofly in affection, and all that is stable in the friendly confidence that is felt in this dear relationship. There can be properly no attachments which shall be durable, but such as spring from communion of minds. Those who are constantly with geniality of word and look, exchanging their innermost feelings and thoughts, rather live in one another's souls, than live with one or TBI nni-siDi. ai another. Where there is love, there will be communion, and where this is open and confidential, friendship will become uncommonly strong. No on.e needs to be told that friendship is never so precious or productive of good, as in the domestic circle. The want of it there never can be met by the possession of it elsewhere. I am far from thinking that there may not be ardent love where there ia comparatively little converse, but if you would strengthen this love into a wise and productive friendship, you must converse much with your children. I have no sympathy with those who fancy that this will, by weakening respect^ impair parental authority ; that assuredly may be feared, if the parent talks like a child and not like a parent; for nothing is more fitted to destroy parental authority, than foolish talk. But talking to children in their own language is not foolish talk. Although there can be no wise prattle among. men, yet there may be a wise as well as a tender prattle with children. As said the Apostle: — "When I was a child, I thought as a child, I spake as a child." And those who would please and edify children when they are very young, must speak to them in childish thoughts and in the language of children. But all this, so far from necessitating either folly, or silly babble will to the wise parent, furnish the best means for giving prudent instruction and pleasing amusement to his little ones. Of course the wise parent will rise both in his matter and. manner, as the mind of his child expands. Happy the child whose parents understand this, and with wisdom give effect to it. That child's memory, from the first dawn of thought, will be stored with valuable sentiments, his reason exercised, and his affections cultivated ; while a tender and reverential friendship will be cherished by him for those who thus nursed his mind with not less care than his body. It is, indeed, abundantly plain, whatever be the modes of instruction employed in. after life, the first must be that of wise and affectionate conversation. 22 m SABBATH SCHOOL § Now, religion furnishes the most varied and deeply interesting themes for conversation with the young. It is no small evidence that Christianity is from God, that its lessons and duties are adapted to human beings under all circumstances. For while its truths are of magnitude to exercise the greatest intellects, yet there is much in it which even a child can be made to understand, and in which ho may take the liveliest interest. Now, as the Bible is the Book of our religion, children cannot be too early taught not only its doctrines and moral precepts, but the great facts and incidents which it contains. The facts of the Bible are, indeed, the basis of the doctrines, as I shall shew more fully afterwards. This is a truth pregnant of meaning for oui present purpose ; — for a child can be taught the great facts of the Bible long before he can comprehend logically its grand doctrines. This is a beautiful arrangement of divine wisdom. For while the child is learning the grand facts, his mind is receiving the best preparation for giving an enlightened reception to the cardinal doctrines. Indeed, without the facts the doctrines could have no meanmg ; — for to believe in the atonement we must first believe in the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Tut no book for the young mind contains such incidents and facts as the Bible. Among many others in the Old Testament, I need only remind you of the story of Joseph and his Brethren ; of events in the life of Moses, and various passages which narrate certain actions of David and Elijah. The New Testament is even more rich in matter to interest the young and thoughtful reader, when what he reads is made the subject of conversation. What narratives of amazing events are unfolded in the life and death of Jesus ; while many passages in the Acts of the Apostles will furnish matter for interesting and edifying conversation with the young; — so that their attention may be enlisted for sacred reflections, and precious lessons drawn from the incidents on which you converse with them. 0, that mothers who have so 01* THE FIEE-SIDE. 83 lew more many opportunities with their very young children for conversing with them, would strive to awaken in their minds an early interest in the events recorded in the Sacred Volume. Were this done it would knit the affections of your children to God's truth, and would bring their earliest associations into contact with the grandest and most instructive events; whereas, with the greater part, their early associations are only found in connection with what is false, mean and absurd. No words can express the importance of having the mind in early life imbued with those Bible narratives, which are every way so admirably fitted to produce right tastes, pure feelings, and holy associations. But althougli the conversation on the great facts and historical incidents in the Bible is admirably adapted to interest the young in God's Book, yet you must not suppose that I would have you confine your religious conversation entirely to these subjects. Were this done, the Bible might come to be regarded by the young as a history of remark- able events ; to be read to gratify curiosity rather than to produce faith and a holy life. This were to remain satisfied with the rudiments of truth. And yet how unspeakably important are these rudiments, as one may call them. They are pretty nearly in religion what first principles are in science. For it is plain that on a belief in these facts our whole structure of saving knowledge rests. For instance, without a knowledge of the facts contained in the first chapters of Genesis, we could hardly know any tiling of the doctrine of original sin, and the introduction of moral government into our world. And again, without a knowledge of the facts in the beginning of the three first Gospels, we could know but imperfectly the doctrine of the incarnation of the Son of God; — and had we not a narrative of certain facts as to the suffering of Jesus in the Garden an*:, on the Cross, we could form no clear notion of the doctrine of the atonement. But then mark it these 91 TBK 8ABBATB SOnOO& aarratives of f^ts are to be read, or to be made the subjecto of conversation, in order that the soul may be able, by a living faith, to lay hold on the doctrines of the gospeL Hence it is that the conversation ought not to end with the facts, but be directed chiefly through them, to such doctrines as the following, viz. : The depravity and guilt of man— the perfections of God ; His commands, His threatenings and promises ; the person of Christ and His work, and tho work of the Holy Spirit in the sanctification of the souL 0, my friends, are not these truths, every way the highest and most interesting on which human beings can speak to one another. Angels desire to look into them. If man bo ignorant of them,. " there is no true light in himJ' Now, if you desire that your children should have this heavenly light in them, you will converse with them on tho doctrines of religion, in connection with its facts ; let it bo on those precious doctrines, on a belief in which the soul finds peace of conscience and strength for every godly duty that you talk with them. Let your conversation in tho Fireside Sabbath School be often on these doctrines from which you have obtained your own peace of conscience^ strength and hope. Your ardent desire is, that those dear to you should have these spiritual blessings. Well, then, often speak to them of the source of these blessings, and the way by which they arc to be obtained. Do not say that you want ability for this ; or confess at once that you want the faith and love of the Gospel. "Out. of tho abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh ;" and no parent can fail to speak to edification to his children on theso matters, who speaks from the conscience and the heart. No man who sees divine truth with any degree of clearness, and whose heart is burning with love to Jesus and yearning with love for the souls of his children, can want matter or unction in speaking to them on the great things of God and tb^ir souls. And here I cannot but guard you against the common or THS riRE-SIDK. eril of talking on religion in vague generalities. Let ther^ bo definitcness in what you say. Without this you can neither instruct nor warn. Let me illustrate what I mean. Suppose you wished to speak of the evil of sin, it will not do simply to say, that it is an evil thing and should be avoid- ed — you must try to shew its evil by shewing how ofiensiva it is in the sight of God. In order to do this, you have only to turn to your Bible facts for illustrations, such as the expulsion of man from Paradise, the destruction of the old world by the flood, the overthrow of the cities of the plain^ the judgments of God on the Egyptians, and the sore punishments which God brought on the Jews for their sins.. And if you wish to go deeper into the matter, you can then refer to the sufferings of the Saviour, " when his soul wa» made a sin offering for his people." This was, indeed, the most awful manifestation of the Divine abhorrance to sin that the Universe has witnessed. The evil of sin, in the sight of a holy God, is s2ldom taught with the fullness and distinctness which the subject demands ; and when taught with some degree of fullness, is not always made to rest on those principles which bring dearly into view its real evil And although all this may be done very ably in abstract and metaphysical discussions ; yet, in teaching the doctrine to young minds, I cannot but think, that the more simple and direct way is to teach the evil of sin from those punishments which God has inflicted on account of it. Ah I it must indeed be a great evil in His eyes, when He thus destroys the work of his own hands — a great evil truly, when His well-beloved Son cried — " Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me," — and the cup could not pass from Him, for He was drinking it on behalf of His people. I am not ignorant, that serious objections have been made against giving such a view as this of God, to young minds. It has been said, the young should only hear of the goodness of God, but never of His wrath, or judg- ments. This is a false apd superficial view. It must be 26 THE SABBATH BOHOOL false, as it is not the Bible view of Ood. And let men be- ware, of trying to represent Him in a light more pleasing than the Bible represents Ilim. For this is not the true God, but a creation of fancy. But the view is also super- ficial. When we represent God as abhorring and punishing sin, it is never intended to teach from this, that He is ma- lignant, or implacable. That He hates sin, is decisive evi- dence of His love— His love for holiness, for goodness and for the true happiness of his creatures. We ought to love God, because He necessarily hates sin ; and as moral ruler of the universe, punishes the impenitent sinner. Did God not hate sin. He could not be lovcable ; — yea, with reverence be it spoken, would to holy minds be hat(iful. If thi-^ matter then is taught wisely, it cannot be spoken of too earnestly or too frequently. The most valuable lessons are drawn from correct notions of the evil of sin. How momentous are these lessons to the young in meeting successfully the temptations of the world, the devil and the flesh. Still it is true, the goodness of God, — in the common acceptation of the term, — ought often to be the subject of conversation, in the Sabbath School of the Fireside. That God is good, is not only the most delightful, but the most ob- vious of all truths. " The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord" — and in innumerable ways, " His goodness is great to (ho children of men." But, although no truth is more plain, or should be more precious ; yet, how generally is it either entirely overlooked, or very partially apprehended. Hence, the declaration, " The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib, but my people know not me saith the Lord." Alas, it is so still. " Men eat the fat and drink the sweet, but forget the giver." Ingratitude for mercies is sedition to God, and naturally leads to all forms of rebellion against Him. For could men violate the laws of God as they do, if they felt, that to Him they are indebted for life and all its benefits; yea, and all their hopes of a life to oome. That common and stupid ingratitude to God, which or THK nRE-8IDI. at we witness on all hands, is a heinous sin, and cannot but give to the soul a terrible facility for the commission of other sins. But as my object is not to discuss these topics, but merely to hint at them, let me in a word press on you the duty of frequently making the goodness of God in all its Vwpectp, the subject of earnest conversation with your chil- dren. There can be no want of suitable occasions for speak- ing on this, for there is not a morsel eaten, or a day's health enjoyed, or indeed a ripe ear of wheat, or an apple, or flower in the garden, but may furnish you with matter to speak of the goodness of God. And if your thoughts rise as they ought, to His goodness, in the gift of His Son, in the graces of His Spirit, and the glories of Heaven which he has pro- pared for the soul — what themes may you then find, for speaking to your children on the goodness of God. Can any topics be more becoming the lips of Christian parents, or better fitted in every way to improve the understanding and heart of your children ? The child who is taught to repeat a few abstract propositions as to the Being of God, may really have learned but little. Simplify and expand these propositions by illustrations ; tell your children what God, as an infinitely good Being, has done and is every day doing for them ; speak of His goodness in all its various manifestations, so that they may be brought to love Him, who in so many ways loves them, and especially loved them with that everlasting love, which moved Him to send His Son, "not to condemn the world, but to save it." Think ye, that such conversation can fail of being benefi- cial ? No my friends, it could not, for it -would lead your children to form just and delightful notions of that God, who is love I It is but an expansion of this view to say, that you must frequently speak of Divine love as unfolded m Jesus. For it must ever be kept in mind, that it is only as poor sinners can see God in Christ, that they can see Him CO as to believe, rejoice and hope. It is in Jesus, that men ■ee the Father all glorious, yet, all loveable. Yes, the namo 28 TBI SABBATH SOHOOL of Jesus is indeed "like ointment poured out." Should not that name, in all the richness of its meaning, move our deepest feelings and cause us to speak, as if our lips were touched "with a live coal from off the altar ^" Shame on U3, for our weak faith and hardness of heart, that we speak so seldom of Jesus, and even when wo do, — speak so coldly. Do we really believe that for us, the Son of God "became a child of days, a man of sorrows," and died in unspeakable agonies ? Do we really believe, that but for Him, we would have been all doomed to spend an eternity with devils in hell ; and yet, when we speak of Him to our children, do we speak coldly and hesitatingly, as if we either knew little about Him, or were secretly ashamed to own Him ? Is not this sad ? Would it be thus, if he were to us " the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely ?" Is it thus that we speak in our families of some earthly friend, who, in addition to his rare moral excellence has been to us a great family benefactor? No. Of such we speak often, fully and warmly. This is natural, and is every way beautiful. But then, tell me, if it be the natu- ralness of grace, or have in it the beautifulness of gratitude, to have so little to say of our Divine benefactor, our precious Saviour, the infinitely excellent Jesus? You have all taught your children to answer certain qiestions about Jesus. This is so far well. But let me ask you, Christian fathers and mothers, how it is, that you converse so little with your children about Him, and about what He has done for their souls ? I know there are many beautiful exceptions to this neglect and sinful retinence. Yet, I fear the evil which I reprehend, b^ very common in our times, in many Christian families. My friends, this ought not to be. Love to the Saviour forbids it. Love to the souls of your children forbids it ; — and your Fireside Sabbath School is not conducted at all as it ought for spiritual training — nay, will be found in the end essentially defective, unless Jesus and His work hold a prominent placo I or TBI nRE-SIOB in your system of instruction. But if so, you will often converse on the Saviour with your children. And afisuredly, you cannot find a grander, or a more fruitful theme, than the character of our Saviour. How full of instructive and delightful incidents is every part of His life, while He went about doing good. Whether you look at Him on the Mount instructing, or by the way-side healing diseases ; in the house comforting sin-afflicted souls ; at the gate of Nain, or at the tomb at Bethany, there is in all that He docs and says, abundant matter for instructive conversation with your children. There is not a miracle that the Saviour wrought, nor the simplest incident of His life, but furnishes abundant matter for profitable conversa- tion. As you would wish your children to treasure up the noblest moral sentiments, and the best of practical lessons, BO you must often speak to them of what the Saviour taught, what He did, and how He did it. In this way, the minds of the young may, by the aid of the Spirit, be early moulded into a likeness to Jesus. And just to the extent this is done, the character is formed to all that is pure, grand, and loveable. Parents oden succeed in firing the minds of their children with a desire to imitate some great and excellent man, by just speaking frequently of his worthy deeds ; may we not hope that aided by the Spirit, if their conversation frequently turned on the excellencies of Jesus, they might be instrumental in bringing young minds to love and imitate Him. This is much, but it is not all; — and, indeed, it pre-supposes another important thing. You must, also, speak much of the Sacrifice which Jesus oflfered. Till the soul knows Jesus as a dying Saviour, He cannot be fully known as the Divine teacher. The atonement of Jesus, as the ground of our justification, is the corner stone of our hopes, the animating p. .iciple of our faith ; and, in a word — the central truth of christianHy. This doctrine, in its principles and results, may be less or more fully explained, but never can be exhausted by the 30 THE SABBATn SCHOOL I ; i highest order of minds. Yet, it is wortliy of notice, that OS the sim{)lcst believer has an intellifjent faith in it, so is he able to say somethinf^ to puri)ose on it. Every Christian parent wiio behcves in a erueilied Saviour, can say some- thing on that Saviour's sufferings, and the great enda occomphshed by them. Then, my friends, speak with the abiHty God has given you to your children, of what Jesus enchired in the GanUm, in the High Priest's Palace, in the Judgment ITall, and of what He suffered on the Cross. Tell them of this, and the other part of these fiufforings, which met in this Wonderful One, while He bore the wrath of men and devils, and the judicial wrath of a sin avenging God, that lost sinners might be saved. It cannot be supposed, that this most solemn and momentous subject can be made the topic of frequent ond earnest conversation, without leading young minds to have somewhat clear views of the Gospel scheme. Is this not, indeed, to bring your children to the foot of the cross, and give them a near view of the " I^mb of- God," who, by his bleeding love, took away the sin of the world? Yes, you must tell them of Jesus the great Prophet of God^ and strive to get them to sit at His feet and learn divine wisdom from His lips. And you nmst talk to them of Jesus, as their King, and strive to get them to give up their hearts to Ilim, to be ruled by Ilim ; — but then labor to get them to do all this at the foot of the Cross. It is by looking at Him, as dying for us, that our love to Him is enkindled, and that overcome with that love, we cry out, — "Lord what wouldst thou have us to do ?" It surely were not presumption to hope, that such conversation might, through Divine help, beget such solemn reflections and enquiries, aa would issue in the blessed union of the souls of your children with the Saviour. But, although a knowledge of these saving doctrine8 — and I have only glanced at a few — be indispensable to faith; yet, to a life of piety, there must also be a clear apprehensiooi OP TUK FIRE-SIDB, 81 ics, aa your rines — faith; kensioQt of the commands of God, and the duties we owe to Him and to our fellow-men. On this I need not go into detail. I remark in general, that you should talk often with your children on the various duties taught in both tables of the law. It is thus you will be able to set before them the sins to be avoided, and the duties to be performed. Every one who feels the least ooneern for the well-being of his ehildren, gives them some kind of moral instruction ; yet, I fear many do this in a very poor way, by a set of general Btatements on good and evil ; while the whole instruction is rendered to the last degree ineffectual, from the sort of motives by which duty is enforced. My child, says the parent, you must do this, or avoid that, in order to be prosperous, respected and happy in the world. Tiiis may be true. IJut is this teaching the nature of virtue, the claims of duty, or the motives to the performance of duty, as all this ought to be taught, in order to have a purifying and lasting influence on conscience? I dc not object to minor motives, tliey have their place and their use. But what I object to is — putting the greater motives, love tQ God, love to our fellow-men, and peace of mind in th© back ground, or leaving th(»!n altogether out in the calculap- tion. lu speaking then of duty and sin to your children, ppeak delinitely, and speak clearly, of the highest sort of motives. Shew them distinctly, the nature of the duty; shew them that God requires it, and that they ought to do it, simply because lie requires it; — and from reverence and love, cheerfully to obey liim in all things. On the other hand, impress on their minds, that Avhat God forbids is not to be done, that to do it were wrong ; — a wrong to God, a wrong to themselves, and wrong to their fellow- men — even did the whole world say it were right. Were parents thus to converse with their children on duty, sin and motives, would not the teaching of the Sabbath School of the -Fireside, soon change the whole moral aspect of society? Moral lessons thus learned, could not fail to iitfl 32 THK SABBATH SCHOOL I; !■ ti '1 il I 'II '' (! produce the most precious fruit. Besides, who does not see if there were more of this sort of talk by parents, there would be much less need for the unseemly threatenings, bitter reproofs, severe punishments, unavailing regrets, alienation of affection, and helpless despair, which we now so often witness. I do not say that wisdom can be talked into all heads, or that the most tender appeals can move all hearts ; yet, if human instrumentality can either instruct or move, it is surely the instrumentality of wise parental affection, laboring in an earnest disinterestedness for the good of the child. It is a trite remark, but very true, that the child who has not been instructed by his parents in religious doctrines and moral duties, goes forth miserably ill prepared to meet the temptations of life. I shall just add — and add it with pain — that those who have had the «ort of moral culture of which I have just spoken, and yet have not profited under it, are indeed in an ill case. Alas) what instruction or warning can tell on ihose who have heard parental wisdom with indifferency, or turned away from its most tender appeals with contempt. These persona surely carry about with them sered consciences. It may not be improper t frequently read, thoi ght over, and talked over, cannot fail but cultivate the taste, enrich the mind with solid informa- tion, improve the reasoning faculty, and teach and strengthen moral and religious principles. Let no man. call it in question, that children who are taught by their parents' fireside, to relish and understand a few such books, are receiving a very high order of intellectual and moral culture. My object, however, is not to speak on intellectual culture, but of the religious training of the young by reading. For this, it is plain, that works written on sacred subjects, must be employed by parent^, in conducting the Sabbath School of the Fireside. Although all sound knowledge may be made subservient to religion, yet religious truth should be viewed as a distinct sort of knowledge. Now this can only be learned with accuracy fi"ora those works that professedly treat of it. I need scarcely remark, that the Bible is, in every sense, the only complete Book on this. It is, indeed, a grand truth, " that the Bible is the religion of Protestants." It is, in fact, the 4f Tin SABBATH SCHOOL P ' llilil i III Book of the Gospel. Ilcnco, a man knows Christianity, just in proportion as he knows the Bible. ** Search the Scrip- tures," said the Saviour, "for in them, ye think ye have eter- nal life, and they are they which testify of mo." Whatever Nature and Providence teach, of the j)crfection8 of God, and the general tendency of his moral government — and they teach much — still, it is plain, if wo would obtain such views of God, as guilty and depraved creatures need for faith, duty and happiness, we must turn to the Laio and Testimony in the written word. The Bible is, indeed, God's Book. It tells us truly of Him ; — it unfolds His glorious perfections, in a way that awakens our confidonco and love. It may, also, be called Christ's Book, not merely because His Spirit is the Author of it ; but because it is the Bible that unfolds Jesus to us in His person and mediatorial offices, as our Saviour. And is it not, in a most emphatic sense, the Book of man, as it unfolds his origin, duties, responsibilities, hopes, destiny ? Without the Bible, how helplessly ignorant would man be of himself. It is, therefore, from this Book we must draw all our religious knowledge, in its principles, faith, motives and consolation. No act of the Church of Rome more thoroughly marks her anti-christian character, than the diabolic decree by which she forbids the Bible to the laity. The Protest made against this, was of all others, the most indispensible to a true reformation. Had not the Reformers opened this fountain of truth, no healing waters had gone out from the sanctuary of the Reformation. Blessed be God, that we have His word, by which we can read His wonderful works, and above all, the wonderful work of Redemption. These are, indeed, saving doctrines, and but for the knowledge of them, what could wo know of the way of salvation ? Here "Hfe and immortality are brought fully to light." The man who knows and believes the Bible, is in the highest sense, a wise man; — for it makes him, as the Psalmist expresses it, " far wiser than all other counsellors could." or Tin rntE-siDi. 43 the This is one way of looking at the matter ; but there is another. Turn to those countries, in other respects, highly favored, but without the Bible; or to Roman CathoUc countries, where this heavenly light is put under a bushel, and you see how d(!plorable every way the condition of man is, where the Book of God is unknown. " Where no vision is, the people perish." Without the Bible, the liuman soul has no true spiritual vision. But where this Book is universally read, believed and understood, that land is, as the land of Goshen, full of light. It is, indeed, //le grand school book which God has put into the hands of men, in order that they may learn the highest lessons intelligent creatures can learn — lessons for man absolutely indispensible. For religious training, then, the Bible must ever be regarded as the grand book. Other books, as I shall shew afterwards, may be of great value for this ; but, let it be observed, that the value of the best of them, will just be in projiortion to the prominency they give to the Bible. This ought, indeed, to be with Christians, the family Book; — and when it is so — that family has, in many respects, a marked character. A family character, formed thoroughly from the Bible, has a moral beauty and dignity quite peculiar from that which mere education, or the most refined good breeding can give. Such a family character, even in the humble walks of life, is seen to possess the noblest senti- ments, very pure and lofty feelings, a just sense of true honor, and a most simple, earnest and consistent piety. But the Bible may be in your family, and yet may not be the family book ; — hence the family character will not be formed by it. It is true, that even when partially read, it may do good ; — it is only, however, where it is constantly and devoutly studied, and its great lessons applied to all the conditions of a household, that its real importance is seen as a family book. It is certain, that in those houses, where the Bible is little studied, and its truths but little talked over, family religion will either entirely disappear, or pass ili; ■I. m 1 1 44 THE SABBATH SCnOOL inlo some form of weak sentimentalism, or prim formfilism. Let no one suppose that family piety can be preserved in a healthy condition in households, where the Bible is but little read. Apart fr'^m other evils incident to this sad neglect, who does not sec that the children of such families, if in the least influenced by any religious feeling, are very likely to fall into some si)ecies of error. There has been no little astonishment and regret expressed at the fact, that not a few of the proselytes to Popery of late, have been from families of some distinction for their wealth and education. There is no education that will preserve men from falling into the worst errors in religion, but a thorough Bible education. I cannot think the inference uncharitable, that the Protestant families that have been furnishing recruits to Romanism, must have grievously failed to make the Bible practically the family book. It may have lain on their parlor tables. It may have been read occasionally in a perfunctory way, and Bpoken of in cold but respectful terms; but they never made it the Book from which their family religion was drawn, and by which their children were instructed; else these children would never have embraced Popery on the flimsy prctjxts which have been avowed by many. Indeed, persons thoroughly educated from the word of God, cannot be imposed on by the cunningest emissaries of Rome. This is the only sort of education that can protect the young. For it is a delusion to suppose that mere secular education will be a sufficient protection against the plausible subtleties of an artful priesthood. It is not my intention to discuss the subject here ; yet I must express my thorough convic- tion, that a certain kind of that light literature, of which I have already spoken, combir.3d with a fashionable and superficial education, is doing more to prepare young persons of an ardent temperament, in our upper classes, for the toils of Jesuitical Priests, than all the writings of the Romish doctors could acccmplish. If you would prepare your OP THE FIRE-SIDE. 45 children, then, for resisting or successfully exposing Popish Bophistries, you must deeply imbue their minds with Bible truth. A country has no reason to fear Popery, in which the Bible has become, in the full sense, the family book. That Popery so much fears the Bible, is a very good reason why you should fear to give it a subordinate place in the Sabbath School of the Fireside. Yet, with many, it occupies practically a very subordinate place. Many neglect to read it, and many parents fail to make it their grand teaching book. It is strange how completely we may voluntarily become in practice, what we would justly regard v/ith horror, if forced on us by others. Any interference by your fellow-men with your liberty of instructing your children from the Bible, you would justly resent with unmeasured indignation ; yet, if you neglect to read the Bible, and do not make it your grand teaching book, the effect may be the same as if it were prohibited by despotic authority. It is no doubt true, that all our evangelical Protestantiera is drawn from the Bible. But remember, if you are to preserve this in the Church, evangelical Protestantism must be taught from the Bible in the family. Hence, the Bible is not merely to be employed as the grand teaching Book, in order that children may be preserved from the contami- nation of error, under what form soever it may appear ; but th > their minds may be savingly imbued with the doctrines of the Gospel. It is from the Bible that you are to draw «11 the principle!;' for their fui th ; — all the moral lessons for their conscience, and all the motives by which their conduct is to be regulated. A child is v.-ell trained for the present life, as well as for the life to come, who has been the oughly trained from the Bible. What spectacle more interesting than to see a parent with God's Book in his hand, communicating to his child that truth by which the mind is enlightened, the heart pui .fied, and the conscience taught how to have peace in God ? Is this not every way, the 46 THE SABBATH SCHOOL liir highest kind of knowledge you can teach ? But, then^ remember you can only teach it well, just in as far as you