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are not in any kind of danger: children should not be found in a stable where there are horses: children should not be found near the water: children should not be found among a crowd of people, because they are likely to be pushed down and trampled on, or hurt by squeezing: children should not be found in Belzebub's temple, for that is the devil's boarding school: it is a school of scandal and of vice; the certain road to ruin and everlasting misery: there you will learn all kinds of wickedness, every thing that can corrupt the mind, or ruin the soul-I mean the play-house, or any place of public amusement.

2. Sometimes children are found at places where they are not expected to be found: I have read of three little boys, who used to meet to pray in a saw-pit: who would think of finding children in a saw-pit at prayer to God, for the pardon of their sins, through the blood of Christ?

3. What a delightful thing it is, when children are found in the place where Jesus was; in the temple, the house of God: the church is the temple of God; the church is his temple. There you hear the word of God: there you hear how much Christ loves little children: there you hear the commands of God, and you are bound to obey them: there you hear how happy good children will be, and how miserable wicked children will be: there you are told of the joys of Heaven, and the miseries of hell:

there you hear the ministers of God praying for you, that you may be good and obedient children; the lambs of Christ, that you may go to Heaven when you die.

"For you the public prayer is made,

O, join the public prayer;
For you the secret tear is shed,
O, shed yourselves a tear.

"We pray that you may early prove
The Spirit's power to teach;
You cannot be too young to love
That Jesus whom we preach."

IV. We find that Jesus was found in the midst of company, sitting in the midst of the doctors. Here are three more things for you to remember.

1. Children should not be found in idle company: idleness is a root from whence many other sins spring, that are offensive to God. You cannot learn to pray from those who never pray themselves: children learn the ways and words of those children with whom they play.

"From one rude boy that's used to mock,
They learn the wicked jest ;
One sickly sheep infects the flock,

And poisons all the rest."

Good children will not be idle, they will always find something to do; if they are in want of employment, they will study their Bibles, where they will find both instruction and en

tertainment. Idleness brings want: It is very sinful to waste your time in idleness. Samuel

was not idle, when he was a very little boy he waited upon the Lord: Timothy was not idle, no, he knew the scriptures from a child, so he read his Bible, and remembered what he read : Bees are not idle, ants are not idle, birds are not idle. It is a shame for children to be idle.

"In books, or works, or healthful play,

Let your first years be past,
That you may give for ev'ry day

Some good account at last."

There are

2. Children should behave in a suitable manner when they are in company. some children who take the advantage when they are in company, because they know that their parents cannot then correct them for their faults. My dear children, you do not know how much you injure yourselves, and your characters, as well as hurt the minds of your parents, by this conduct. The persons who are present take notice of your behaviour; and when they go home, they say to their children or others, "I was quite sorry to see how such a little boy, or such a little girl behaved, if it had been a child of mine, I should have been ashamed, and have punished it severely for such bad conduct: I hope, my dear child, you will never behave so; if you did, I should be very angry with you." Those children may go and tell

their school-fellows and playmates of your bad behaviour, and they will shun you, they will avoid your company; they will reprove and tell you of your faults, and reproach you. Then learn, my dear children, how necessary it is for you to behave well when you are in company: a good name is better than great riches.

3. Children should be found in the company of the wise and good. Christ was found among the doctors: If you are in the company of those who are truly wise, you will gain much knowledge.

"Away from fools I turn mine eyes,
Nor with the scoffers go;

I would be walking with the wise,
That wiser I may grow."

You will find a greater delight in the compa ny of wise and good children, than in the company of those who are mischievous and wicked. Children should take delight in going to school, for there, if they are diligent scholars, they will learn much and grow wiser every day: I wish it may be said of you, my dear children, as it was of Christ, that he grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Good children are never alone; God is always with them; they are not afraid in the dark, for God their Father is with them there. A little boy who was at sea in a great storm was playing about the cabin, while both the passengers and sailors were much terrified and alarmed: when

the storm was over, he was asked why he was not afraid? O, said the child, why should I be afraid, when my father was at the helm? Remember to keep company with wise and good children.

V. We find that Jesus was well employed in this company, both hearing them and asking them questions. Here, my dear children, you may learn much from the example of Jesus Christ, when he was a little boy: what was he doing among the doctors in the temple?

1. He was hearing them; that is, listening attentively to what they said. From this part of the employment of Christ, first learn to be attentive: how is it posible for you to know what any body is saying to you, if you are looking about you, and playing and laughing, when you should be looking at the minister? you should be attentive to your parents, when they speak to you; to the minister, when he speaks to you from the pulpit; to your teacher, when he calls out, silence in the school.

2. Learn to be humble, never think that you know enough; always be a learning, you cannot know too much: remember what you are made of, that you are dust, and must return to dust again. What have you to be proud of? nothing: be always ready to learn, and remember that there are others who have been many more years in the world than you. Why, you are but beggars, after all your pride and vanity.

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