misery. If you have a sincere love to the souls of the children, and your hearts' desire and prayer to God for them is, that they may be saved, put up with any inconvenience rather than they shall be neglected: you will think it your duty to sacrifice self-interest and domestic comfort for their present and eternal good. IV. Consider the advantages arising from an attention to the command in the text. And this will appear, if we only take a view of one single child, in his different stations and relations in life. Here is a child having an immor. tal soul formed for an endless duration; he is growing to the years of maturity, in ignorance and vice, the servant of sin and the slave of Satan, destitute of principles to form the character and direct the conduct. Let him be taught the truths contained in the word of God; under the livine blessing, they may change his heart, and make him wise unto salvation: one passage of sacred scripture, one verse of a hymn, one question or answer from the catechism, may strike his mind on a sudden, and preserve him from falling into some great temptation; it may arrest his attention and restrain him from committing some great sin, which might be attended with shame and continual disgrace; it may not only save him from ruin in a present world, but from eternal misery in the world to come. See him advance through the different stages of human life, childhood, youth, manhood and old age; guided by the word of God in all his actions, acting under the principles of the gospel, he is preserved from those sins to which the untaught youth falls an easy prey: he denies himself, takes up his cross and follows Christ through evil and through good report: When the king of terrors approaches, he beholds him without dismay, and welcomes him as the messenger of good news; he commits his soul into the hands of the Redeemer, leaves the world in peace, and enters into the joy of his Lord. Contrast this with the ungodly life, the awful death, and the miserable eternity of the untutored boy or girl, who spend their childhood in ignorance and sin, and their riper years in vanity and guilt. But the benefit does not stop here; see him united to one who "hath chosen the good part that shall never be taken from her;" see away him surrounded with a numerous household: having experienced the pleasures of early piety and the benefit of good instructions, knowing the real advantage of true religion and the value of immortal souls, he endeavours to instruct his children, his apprentices, his menservants and maid-servants in those things which he, when young, was taught by you; he unites example to precept, a blessing from on high may attend him, and "others seeing his good works, will glorify his Father who is in Heaven." The benefit will be felt in the city or neighbourhood where he resides. The influence and example of a holy life is far greater than some may imagine, though not so great as we wish it would often prove. It may well be compared to a field of roses which send forth a fragrant smell in every direction: one good man is often a great restraint upon the wickedness of a whole neighbourhood; his conduct condemns that of the wicked, his example encourages the fearful christian and the young disciple; he will exert his endeavours for the suppression of vice and immorality, and the support of religion and the cause of the Redeemer he is a blessing to the place where he resides. He is also a blessing in the church of God; he is daily pouring out his supplications at a throne of grace, for the conversion of sinners unto God, for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, for the interests of the rising generation, and the welfare of the land and people among whom his lot may be cast. But he is not only a blessing to himself, to his family, to his neighbours, to the church of God, but a blessing to the world at large: here is one bright example more, shining as a light in a dark and benighted world; one instructor more of the foolish, the ignorant and those who are out of the way; a teacher of babes, a feeder of the lambs of Jesus. He knows, by happy experience, the benefit of religious instruction, and is desirous that others may know it too. "Fain would he tell to all around, What a dear Saviour he has found." Such are the advantages likely to result, under the blessing of God, from the instruction of one poor child: if they are thus numerous and important from one, what will they be from many others! The effects may not be so great in all, yet the influence of religious instructions will be felt, either more or less, in ways unknown to us. It will be a strong check against the commission of sin, and in many instances, it may lessen the load of human guilt and human misery. This duty therefore is of the greatest importance; and next to the preaching of the gospel, claims the highest place: study to increase your own knowledge, while you are employed in teaching the children: you may not be qualified to preach, but you may be qualified to teach little children the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Pay particular attention to the manner in which you instruct them; endeavour to gain the good will and affection of the children; remember that you must give an account of your stewardship, be faithful to the trust reposed in you, and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory, which fadeth not away. May the Lord give you understanding in all these things.Amen. "Blest is the man whose heart expands And the rich blessings of whose hands "Mercy descending from above; O! may each tender bosom move Be ours the bliss, in wisdom's way And lead the mind that went astray "Children our kind protection claim, "Delightful work! young souls to win, And turn the rising race, From the deceitful paths of sin, To seek redeeming grace. "Almighty God! thy influence shed, THE END. |