Heaven, to save us from our sins, and from God's anger. Hark! what is that I hear?

"The praises of my tongue,

I offer to the Lord;

That I was taught and learnt so young,

To read his holy word.

"That I am brought to know,
The danger I was in,
By nature and by practice too,
A wretched slave to sin.
"That I am led to see,

I can do nothing well,
And whither shall a sinner flee,
To save himself from hell.

"Dear Lord, this book of thine,
Informs me where to go
For grace to pardon all my sins,
And make me holy too."

3. Remember, that many children who die while they are so wicked and without a new heart, are eternally lost. Can you think, my dear children, that those who curse and swear and tell stories, can go to Heaven when they die? no, God is angry with wicked children every day. Can you think that those who disobey their parents, and break the sabbath, can live with God and his holy angels? no, they cannot no, you never will dwell with God, unless you love him; and if you love God, you will not do any thing that will make him angry. But why should you be afraid of God's anger?

Because he can kill my body, and make my soul miserable after my body is dead. You know what your little hymn says,

"There is beyond the sky

A Heaven of joy and love,
And holy children, when they die,
Go to that world above.

"There is a dreadful hell,

And everlasting pains;
There sinners must forever dwell,
In darkness, fire and chains."

II. We find that search was made for Jesus, "And they sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance." Under this remark, I will mention three things more, which I wish you to remember.

1. That children when accidentally lost, are sought for with the greatest anxiety and sorrow by their parents. Could you see them, I think you would not go from home, without their knowledge, any more. Could you hear them saying, Have you seen my little girl, and where? -Do you know where my little boy is gone?Every possible enquiry is made, every place where you are accustomed to play or to be found, is searched; but no little boy or girl is to be found. Many accidents may happen to you, while absent from home; you may fall, or otherwise hurt yourselves, and be obliged to be carried home to your tender parents. If you play near the water, you may fall in and be

drowned; or brought home to your parents dead you may be rode over by a horse or waggon, and many other things might happen to you therefore, you should never go from home, without first telling your parents where you are going; and if they refuse to let you go; you may be sure that the place is improper, or else they would not make any objection.

2. That as all children are, naturally, born in sin, they are sought for by the Lord Jesus Christ, and his ministers, with the tenderest regard for the salvation of their souls that is the reason of my talking to you now, that you may know Jesus Christ, and who he is, and what he has done for you. I hope I shall be able to persuade some little boy or girl who is here, to love him, and to ask him for a new heart, and the pardon of their sins.

"Seek Jesus, he alone can give,

That grace by which a child must live,
All other hope is false and vain,

None enter Heaven till born again."

Jesus Christ came to seek and to save those that are lost; and, as I said before that all children are lost in sin, therefore Christ came to seek and to save little girls and boys, as well as men and women; little children are all sinners, and Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; even the very chief, the greatest sinner, Christ is able to save the most sinful child, Christ is able to pardon and make one of

his lambs. Come to Christ, my dear children, and he will give you a new heart, the pardon of all your sins, and save you from the wrath to

come.

"Come children, 'tis Jesus that calls,

The voice of your Saviour obey;
When Jesus invites you to come,
No disciple shall turn you away.
"The children he folds in his arms,
Must surely be blessed indeed;
For Jesus alone can bestow,

The spiritual blessings they need."

3. That children are sought for with the greatest malice and hatred by Satan. That he may tempt you to commit sin, which makes God angry Sin is the cause of your souls being lost forever. The Bible says, that "the devil goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." It is Satan that makes children disobedient to their parents: It is he that persuades them to tell stories, and teaches them to curse and swear; and when they hear other children say wicked words, Satan tempts them and tells them to say the same: he makes them idle and lazy.

"Some children by old Satan taught,

Can dare to use the liar's tongue,

Such children must to Satan go,
To such, eternal flames belong."

H

It is Satan that entices children to break the sabbath it is he that lulls them to sleep when they go to church, that they may not hear the sermon, because he hates every thing that is good it is he that teaches children to cheat and deceive persons; he fills their hearts with pride, anger, malice, hatred, and makes them quarrel and fight and do mischief.

"The devil tempts one mother's son,
To rage against another;

Thus wicked Cain was hurried on,
Till he had kill'd his brother."

It is Satan makes children hate God and their Bible; he endeavours to keep them from praying to God, because he hates prayer.

III. That Jesus was found in the temple. Here are three things more which I hope you will remember.

1. Children are sometimes found at very improper places. In the word of God, among other marks of the prosperity of Jerusalem, a multitude of little children is mentioned by the prophet Zechariah viii. 5. "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof." My dear children, the street is very often an improper place to play in. If the streets are not very wide, you cannot play with safety: children should not be found in roads where many carriages are continually passing by; I had rather see children at play in a yard, or garden, or field, where they