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the top…stone and seal of all you do。 I suspect the child of many
prayers is seldom cast away。
Look upon your children as Jacob did on his； he tells Esau they are
〃the children which God hath graciously given thy servant〃 （Gen。 33：5）。
Look on them as Joseph did on his； he told his father； 〃They are the
sons whom God hath given me〃 （Gen。 48：9）。 Count them with the Psalmist
to be 〃an heritage and reward from the Lord〃 （Ps。 127：3）。 And then ask
the Lord； with a holy boldness； to be gracious and merciful to His own
gifts。 Mark how Abraham intercedes for Ishmael； because he loved him；
〃Oh that Ishmael might live before thee〃 （Gen。 17：18）。 See how Manoah
speaks to the angel about Samson； 〃How shall we order the child； and
how shall we do unto him？〃 （Judg。 13：12）。 Observe how tenderly Job
cared for his children's souls； 〃He offered burnt…offerings according
to the number of them all； for he said； It may be my sons have sinned；
and cursed God in their hearts。 Thus did Job continually〃 （Job 1：5）。
Parents； if you love your children； go and do likewise。 You cannot name
their names before the mercy…seat too often。
And now； reader； in conclusion； let me once more press upon you the
necessity and importance of using every single means in your power； if
you would train children for heaven。
I know well that God is a sovereign God； and doeth all things according
to the counsel of His own will。 I know that Rehoboam was the son of
Solomon； and Manasseh the son of Hezekiah； and that you do not always
see godly parents having a godly seed。 But I know also that God is a
God who works by means； and sure am I； if you make light of such means
as I have mentioned； your children are not likely to turn out well。
Fathers and mothers； you may take your children to be baptized； and
have them enrolled in the ranks of Christ's Church；you may get godly
sponsors to answer for them； and help you by their prayers；you may
send them to the best of schools； and give them Bibles and Prayer
Books； and fill them with head knowledge：…but if all this time there is
no regular training at home； I tell you plainly； I fear it will go hard
in the end with your children's souls。 Home is the place where habits
are formed；home is the place where the foundations of character are
laid；home gives the bias to our tastes； and likings； and opinions。
See then； I pray you； that there be careful training at home。 Happy
indeed is the man who can say； as Bolton did upon his dying bed； to his
children； 〃I do believe not one of you will dare to meet me before the
tribunal of Christ in an unregenerate state。〃
Fathers and mothers； I charge you solemnly before God and the Lord
Jesus Christ； take every pains to train your children in the way they
should go。 I charge you not merely for the sake of your children's
souls； I charge you for the sake of your own future fort and peace。
Truly it is your interest so to do。 Truly your own happiness in great
measure depends on it。 Children have ever been the bow from which the
sharpest arrows have pierced man's heart。 Children have mixed the
bitterest cups that man has ever had to drink。 Children have caused the
saddest tears that man has ever had to shed。 Adam could tell you so；
Jacob could tell you so； David could tell you so。 There are no sorrows
on earth like those which children have brought upon their parents。 Oh！
take heed； lest your own neglect should lay up misery for you in your
old age。 Take heed； lest you weep under the ill…treatment of a
thankless child； in the days when your eye is dim； and your natural
force abated。
If ever you wish your children to be the restorers of your life； and
the nourishers of your old age； if you would have them blessings and
not curses； joys and not sorrows； Judahs and not Reubens； Ruths and not
Orpahs； if you would not； like Noah； be ashamed of their deeds； and；
like Rebekah； be made weary of your life by them： if this be your wish；
remember my advice betimes； train them while young in the right way。
And as for me； I will conclude by putting up my prayer to God for all
who read this paper； that you may all be taught of God to feel the
value of your own souls。 This is one reason why baptism is too often a
mere form； and Christian training despised and disregarded。 Too often
parents feel not for themselves； and so they feel not for their
children。 They do not realize the tremendous difference between a state
of nature and a state of grace； and therefore they are content to let
them alone。
Now the Lord teach you all that sin is that abominable thing which God
hateth。 Then； I know you will mourn over the sins of your children； and
strive to pluck them out as brands from the fire。
The Lord teach you all how precious Christ is； and what a mighty and
plete work He hath done for our salvation。 Then； I feel confident
you will use every means to bring your children to Jesus； that they may
live through Him。
The Lord teach you all your need of the Holy Spirit； to renew；
sanctify； and quicken your souls。 Then； I feel sure you will urge your
children to pray for Him without ceasing； and never rest till He has
e down into their hearts with power； and made them new creatures。
The Lord grant this； and then I have a good hope that you will indeed
train up your children well；train well for this life； and train well
for the life to e； train well for earth； and train well for heaven；
train them for God； for Christ； and for eternity。
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＇14＇ As a minister； I cannot help remarking that there is hardly any
subject about which people seem so tenacious as they are about their
children。 I have sometimes been perfectly astonished at the slowness of
sensible Christian parents to allow that their own children are in
fault； or deserve blame。 There are not a few persons to whom I would
far rather speak about their own sins； than tell them their children
had done anything wrong。
＇15＇ 〃He has seen but little of life who does not discern everywhere
the effect of education on men's opinions and habits of thinking。 The
children bring out of the nursery that which displays itself throughout
their lives。〃Cecil。
＇16＇ As to the age when the religious instruction of a child should
begin； no general rule can he laid down。 The mind seems to open in some
children much more quickly than in others。 We seldom begin too early。
There are wonderful examples on record of what a child can attain to；
even at three years old。
＇17＇ Some parents and nurses have a way of saying； 〃Naughty child；〃 to
a boy or girl on every slight occasion； and often without good cause。
It is a very foolish habit。 Words of blame should never be used without
real reason。
＇18＇ As to the best way of punishing a child； no general rule can be
laid down。 The characters of children are so exceedingly different；
that what would be a severe punishment to one child； would be no
punishment at all to another。 I only beg to enter my decided protest
against the modern notion that no child ought ever to be whipped。
Doubtless some parents use bodily correction far too much； and far too
violently； but many others； I fear； use it far too little。
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CHAPTER XVII
Phil。 1：1。
THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF LAY CHURCHMEN。
＇19＇
〃Paul and Timotheus； the servants of Jesus Christ； to all the saints in
Christ Jesus which are at Philippi； with the bishops and
deacons。〃Phil。 1：1。
THIS opening verse of St。 Paul's Epistle to the Philippians is a very
remarkable text of Scripture。 I suspect it receives far less attention
from Bible… readers than it deserves。 Like the gold of California； men
have walked over it for centuries； and have not observed what was under
their feet。 In fact； if some Anglican divines had stood at the
Apostle's elbow when he wrote this verse； I believe they would have
hinted that he had made a mistake。
Now what do I mean by all this？ What is the remarkable point to which I
refer？ The point on which I place my finger is St。 Paul's mention of
〃the saints〃 before the 〃bishops and deacons。〃 He places the laity
before the clergy when he addresses the Philippian Church。 He puts the
body of the baptized in the front rank； and the ministers in the rear。
There is no room for dispute about the various readings of manuscripts
in this case。 Here； at any rate； the Revised Version does not touch the
language of the text。
It was unmistakably given by inspiration of God； and written for our
learning。 As such； I see in it the germ of a great truth； which demands
special notice in the present day。 In short； it opens up the grave
subject of the rights and duties of the lay members of a Christian
Church。
There are th