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[The Index, Title page and Table of Contents of the 3d volume are issued with this tract. The binder will understand that they belong to the volume which was closed with tract No. 38. In binding this tract (No. 39) these two last pages will be cut off.]

THE

IMPORTANCE AND METHOD

OF

EARLY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

BY REV. HENRY MONTGOMERY,

OF IRELAND.

PRINTED FOR THE

American Unitarian Association.

BOSTON,

GRAY AND BOWEN 141 WASHINGTON STREET.

1830.

Price 6 Cents.

This tract is taken from a volume of excellent discourses, written by living Unitarian ministers in Great Britain. The volume bears the title of Sermons designed to be used in families; edited by Rev. J R. Beard.' Some passages in this discourse have been omitted, to reduce it within the limits proper for the series.

PRINTED BY 1. K. BUTTS....BOSTON.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.'-Solomon.

THE advice given by Solomon, to train up a child in the way he should go,' points out to us the only way, in which any considerable advances can be made towards the extension of piety and morality. Those who have

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attained maturity, or arrived at old age, may indeed sometimes be improved; but, as it is always difficult to overcome prejudices and habits, every man who truly aims at the solid improvement of his species, will direct his efforts to that point, in which they are most likely to be successful. Where prejudices cannot exist .where evil habits cannot have been formed where worldly maxims and pursuits have not had time to make inroads upon the integrity of the heart-this is the soil (the open, the ingenuous, the uncontaminated bosom of youth,) in which prudence and affection will sow the good seeds of religion and virtue, with the rational and delightful prospect of an abundant increase.

We, my fellow christians, look upon little children, not as the objects of God's wrath, but as the peculiar objects of his paternal affection. We do not, indeed,

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