"Ye angels round his throne unite, Ye saints assist with all your might, "Let all these children, Lord, be thine, When saved from Satan's thrall; Then we shall meet, at Jesus' feet, The substance of the following address was delivered at the opening of the new school house in New Fourth Street, Philadelphia. Importance of Religious Instruction to the Rising Generation. JOHN xxi. 15.-Feed my Lambs. THIS is a charge of great importance, given from him who knew the worth of souls, who paid the price of their redemption in his sufferings and death. May all who are engaged in the instruction of youth, feel the importance and responsibility attached to the stations they fill. May they join their prayers with their endeavours, while, at the same time, they rely with confidence upon Him with whom is the residue of the Spirit. Let all who have the eternal interests of the children at heart, O let them remember, that the children of the present age are the hope of the age to come that those who are yet unborn, may receive benefit from our instructions. We who are now acting our parts on the busy stage of life, are hasting to the silent chambers of the grave. Months and days are sweeping us away from those seasons of grace and times of usefulness, which we now enjoy. Let us learn activity, from him who went about doing good. Souls are infinitely precious, they will live forever. If we need to be reminded of their value, let us take a walk to the garden of Gethsemane, and there behold the Redeemer in his agony, for the souls of men; and when we have viewed this scene, let us proceed to Calvary's mount, and there behold him on the cross, hear him saying "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!" See his blood flowing from his side, at once the price of souls redeemed, and of sins pardoned and cleansed away in that "fountain opened for sin and uncleaness." Remember, that the ground you cultivate, is most likely to reward your labour. If we train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old there is reason to hope he will not depart from it. It is impossible that all the instructions given will be in vain; we must sow the seed, and water it with our prayers and tears; in the evening let us sow the seed, and in the morning withhold not our hands, for we know not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they shall both be alike good. Be not weary in well doing, for in due season you shall reap if you faint not. One generation passeth away, and another cometh. Those children who are now under our instruction, will soon be the chief actors in all the greater or lesser affairs of life; they will fill the world with blessings or with curses, when our heads are laid low in the dust and covered with the clods of the valley. Learn then the importance of the words of the text"Feed my Lambs." I. Consider the name here given to children, and why so called.-Lambs-Lambs are feeble, helpless creatures, so are children; none more so what can be more helpless than infants, dependent upon parents and nurses for every thing they have, both food and raiment; of an infant, it may indeed be said, "Beasts that can graze around the field, Can better help themselves than I." Lambs are exposed to danger, and liable to wander; so are children: they are exposed to a thousand dangers, liable not only to wander from home while young, but to wander in that downward road that leads to eternal death. Lambs require care and attention; so do children, much care and much attention; they are born in sin, and this poisonous weed grows apace. Children are likely to follow bad examples. In short, they are the younger part of Christ's flock. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." Children are not all the lambs of Christ's flock, in a spiritual sense; but under the blessing of God upon our instructions, they may become so. It is not our intention, at this time, to examine the character and conduct of children, in order to ascertain whether they are really the lambs of Christ; but we are not to neglect their instruction on that account. What would you think of a parent, who, having six obedient children, and one disobedient child, would neglect to feed, clothe and instruct that child, because it was disobedient and wicked? Thus it is with children in general; it is a lamentable truth, that they are not the lambs of Christ, yet they are to be instructed; therefore let us not lose sight of the importance of the command here given. Our Lord, in this charge, gives his apostle Peter a threefold charge. First, to feed his lambs; and then twice afterwards, to feed his sheep. By this threefold command, he reminded Peter, that he was to care for the young, as well as the old; to instruct the children, as well as their parents; to feed his lambs as well as his sheep. en. II. Let us enquire, to whom this charge is giv These words, when spoken by our Lord, were addressed to the apostle Peter; but they are left upon record in the word of God, as a command from Christ to all his disciples, in every age of the church. The words are addressed to ministers and missionaries in particular; we are the under-shepherds, and have the care and oversight of the flock of Christ, who is the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls: O that our zeal and exertions may be conspicuous in |