they returned. This is an inconceivable advantage. It is a common complaint that children are not fond of their catechism. Make them understand it and you will find this difficulty vanish. Having had not only a family of my own to educate, but for many years the superintendence of a sabbath school, I can claim the privilege which experience gives of advising those who are just entering upon their duties as mothers or teachers. And first let me beg you to consider the value of a soul. I shall not attempt to describe it: here language fails. You will acknowledge that it is infinite; but do you act as if it was so? Do your children feel that their salvation is your chief concern? How often have I seen a child corrected for tearing its clothes, when a lie would pass almost unnoticed. This may be done thoughtlessly, but it helps to form the character. I have known mothers, whose piety I would not doubt, to pacify a fretful child use promises or threats which were never meant to be performed. The child soon discovers this, and learns that there is no confidence to be placed in the word of his mother. But can his good mother do that which is very wrong? Certainly not Then a lie can not be so wicked as he is told it is; and when his mo ther tells him "all liars shall have their portion in the lake that burns with brimstone and fire," she only intends to frighten him to be good, as she has frequently done before. This is the way he will reason, and it will take years to do away the impression thus thoughtlessly made. I would warn you then never let your children discover that you dare to tell an untruth. If you would teach your children to keep the sabbath day holy, do not allow too much of the morning to be taken up in dressing them for church; and while employed in putting on their clothes, do not talk about them; but let them see by your serious countenance and conversation, that you are thinking of the duty about to be performed and of the great privilege to be enjoyed, and not of the appearance they are to make. This is of more importance than many would believe who have not thought much upon the subject. I fear indeed that the excessive love of dress which is overlooked, I might say encouraged in many religious families, tends greatly to injure the minds of youth, and is the ruin of many souls. I believe all mothers who know any thing of religion, teach their children to repeat a form of prayer on going to bed. This is right: much good is to be expected from so good a habit early formed; but it may be necessary to warn you against being satisfied with teaching them to repeat words' which they do not understand. Let the forms which you shall teach them be adapted to their capacities; instruct them in the character of the Being they address; teach them to look to him as the source of all their enjoyments, and to fear him as being able to withdraw at any moment his gifts. Tell them that he is a sin-hating God, and endeavour to convince them that they are sinners, and thus prepare them to receive the glad tidings of salvation through a crucified Saviour. In this way you may teach them not only to say prayers, but to pray. I believe much depends upon the manner of delivering instruction to children. I would advise you always to appear pleasant if not cheerful when you are speaking upon the subject of religion in their presence. Let them believe that your happiest moments are those in which you feel most of its power. If possible lead them to look upon God as the best of Fathers and not a hard task-master. In order to do this, frequently mention particular instances of his goodness; but take care of countenancing, on the other hand, a very common and fatal error that God is so merciful that he will not punish sin, or at least not such little trifling sins as are commonly committed by children. When they have been guilty of a fault, then let them see your countenance change, not to the expression of anger, but of sorrow: and in this case spare not the rod, lest you spoil the child. Some persons plead that all this without a change of heart is nothing, and that as God can change the most ignorant and depraved as easily as the best educated, therefore it is not necessary to take so much pains. But, my friends, consider: what does God mean when he says, "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it"? May we not understand it as a promise that he will bless the sincere and prayerful endeavours of christian parents to lead their children to him? What did those mothers gain who presented their children to Christ, while he was on earth? Did they not obtain for them the unspeakable happiness of being blessed by him, whose blessing maketh rich indeed, and did not many, very many, think you, miss this glorious privilege in consequence of their parents' neglect in not seeking it for them? And will you act in the same way? Is he not as able, is he not as willing to receive them now as then?. O my sisters, I beseech you by the tender love you bear |