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the sacraments saviours and passports to eternal life。 And some are to
be found in like manner who honour a catechism more than the Bible； or
fill the minds of their children with miserable little story…books；
instead of the Scripture of truth。 But if you love your children； let
the simple Bible be everything in the training of their souls； and let
all other books go down and take the second place。
Care not so much for their being mighty in the catechism； as for their
being mighty in the Scriptures。 This is the training； believe me； that
God will honour。 The Psalmist says of Him； 〃 Thou hast magnified Thy
Word above all Thy name〃 （Ps。 138：2）； and I think that He gives an
especial blessing to all who try to magnify it among men。
See that your children read the Bible reverently。 Train them to look on
it； not as the word of men； but as it is in truth； the Word of God；
written by the Holy Ghost Himself； all true； all profitable； and able
to make us wise unto salvation； through faith which is in Christ Jesus。
See that they read it regularly。 Train them to regard it as their
soul's daily food； as a thing essential to their soul's daily health。 I
know well you cannot make this anything more than a form； but there is
no telling the amount of sin which a mere form may indirectly restrain。
See that they read it all。 You need not shrink from bringing any
doctrine before them。 You need not fancy that the leading doctrines of
Christianity are things which children cannot understand。 Children
understand far more of the Bible than we are apt to suppose。
Tell them of sin； its guilt； its consequences； its power； its vileness：
you will find they can prehend something of this。
Tell them of the Lord Jesus Christ； and His work for our
salvation；the atonement； the cross； the blood； the sacrifice； the
intercession： you will discover there is something not beyond them in
all this。
Tell them of the work of the Holy Spirit in man's heart； how He
changes； and renews； and sanctifies； and purifies： you will soon see
they can go along with you in some measure in this。 In short； I suspect
we have no idea how much a little child can take in of the length and
breadth of the glorious gospel They see far more of these things than
we suppose。 ＇16＇
Fill their minds with Scripture。 Let the Word dwell in them richly。
Give them the Bible； the whole Bible； even while they are young。
VI。 Train them to a habit of prayer。
Prayer is the very life…breath of true religion。 It is one of the first
evidences that a man is born again。 〃Behold；〃 said the Lord of Saul； in
the day he sent Ananias to him； 〃Behold； he prayeth〃 （Acts 9：11）。 He
had begun to pray； and that was proof enough。
Prayer was the distinguishing mark of the Lord's people in the day that
there began to be a separation between them and the world。 〃Then began
men to call upon the name of the Lord〃 （Gen。 4：26）。
Prayer is the peculiarity of all real Christians now。 They pray；for
they tell God their wants； their feelings； their desires； their fears；
and mean what they say。 The nominal Christian may repeat prayers； and
good prayers too； but he goes no further。
Prayer is the turning…point in a man's soul。 Our ministry is
unprofitable； and our labour is vain； till you are brought to your
knees。 Till then； we have no hope about you。
Prayer is one great secret of spiritual prosperity。 When there is much
private munion with God； your soul will grow like the grass after
rain； when there is little； all will be at a standstill； you will
barely keep your soul alive。 Show me a growing Christian； a going
forward Christian； a strong Christian； a flourishing Christian； and
sure am I； he is one that speaks often with his Lord。 He asks much； and
he has much。 He tells Jesus everything； and so he always knows how to
act。
Prayer is the mightiest engine God has placed in our hands。 It is the
best weapon to use in every difficulty； and the surest remedy in every
trouble。 It is the key that unlocks the treasury of promises； and the
hand that draws forth grace and help in time of need。 It is the silver
trumpet God mands us to sound in all our necessity； and it is the
cry He has promised always to attend to； even as a loving mother to the
voice of her child。
Prayer is the simplest means that man can use in ing to God。 It is
within reach of all；the sick； the aged； the infirm； the paralytic；
the blind； the poor； the unlearned；all can pray。 It avails you
nothing to plead want of memory； and want of learning； and want of
books； and want of scholarship in this matter。 So long as you have a
tongue to tell your soul's state； you may and ought to pray。 Those
words； 〃Ye have not； because ye ask not〃 （Jas。 4：2）； will be a fearful
condemnation to many in the day of judgment。
Parents； if you love your children； do all that lies in your power to
train them up to a habit of prayer。 Show them how to begin。 Tell them
what to say。 Encourage them to persevere。 Remind them if they bee
careless and slack about it。 Let it not be your fault； at any rate； if
they never call on the name of the Lord。
This； remember； is the first step in religion which a child is able to
take。 Long before he can read； you can teach him to kneel by his
mother's side； and repeat the simple words of prayer and praise which
she puts in his mouth。 And as the first steps in any undertaking are
always the most important； so is the manner in which your children's
prayers are prayed； a point which deserves your closest attention。 Few
seem to know how much depends on this。 You must beware lest they get
into a way of saying them in a hasty； careless； and irreverent manner。
You must beware of giving up the oversight of this matter to servants
and nurses； or of trusting too much to your children doing it when left
to themselves。 I cannot praise that mother who never looks after this
most important part of her child's daily life herself。 Surely if there
be any habit which your own hand and eye should help in forming； it is
the habit of prayer。 Believe me； if you never hear your children pray
yourself； you are much to blame。 You are little wiser than the bird
described in Job； 〃which leaveth her eggs in the earth； and warmeth
them in the dust； and forgetteth that the foot may crush them； or that
the wild beast may break them。 She is hardened against her young ones；
as though they were not hers： her labour is in vain without fear〃 （Job
39：14…16）。
Prayer is； of all habits； the one which we recollect the longest。 Many
a grey…headed man could tell you how his mother used to make him pray
in the days of his childhood。 Other things have passed away from his
mind perhaps。 The church where he was taken to worship； the minister
whom he heard preach； the panions who used to play with him；all
these； it may be； have passed from his memory； and left no mark behind。
But you will often find it is far different with his first prayers。 He
will often be able to tell you where he knelt； and what he was taught
to say； and even how his mother looked all the while。 It will e up
as fresh before his mind's eye as if it was but yesterday。
Reader； if you love your children； I charge you； do not let the
seed…time of a prayerful habit pass away unimproved。 If you train your
children to anything； train them； at least； to a habit of prayer。
VII。 Train them to habits of diligence； and regularity about public
means of grace。
Tell them of the duty and privilege of going to the house of God； and
joining in the prayers of the congregation。 Tell them that wherever the
Lord's people are gathered together； there the Lord Jesus is present in
an especial manner； and that those who absent themselves must expect；
like the Apostle Thomas； to miss a blessing。 Tell them of the
importance of hearing the Word preached； and that it is God's ordinance
for converting； sanctifying； and building up the souls of men。 Tell
them how the Apostle Paul enjoins us not 〃to forsake the assembling of
ourselves together； as the manner of some is〃 （Heb。 10：25）； but to
exhort one another； to stir one another up to it； and so much the more
as we see the day approaching。
I call it a sad sight in a church when nobody es up to the Lord's
table but the elderly people； and the young men and the young women all
turn away。 But I call it a sadder sight still when no children are to
be seen in a church； excepting those who e to the Sunday School； and
are obliged to attend。 Let none of this guilt lie at your doors。 There
are many boys and girls in every parish； besides those who e to
school； and you who are their parents and friends should see to it that
they e with you to church。
Do not allow them to grow up with a habit of making vain excuses for
not ing。 Give them plainly to understand； that so long