Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-03-08

tics of tamil y worship, and ought, whenever
it is possible, to be cultivated, as prcpara-
ton for this department of social worship.
The prayer which follows, should be
intclicibla 10 the Youngest children present.
1t should be fcrvcnt, not dull and formal
not SO lengthy as to weary, and not so short
as to prevent presenting the wants OF the
family at the throne of grace. The prayer
of the head of the family should be In We.
nv peculiar degree tamily prayer. 1t should
respect the children, the domestcs, ana also
all the circumstances of the household. All
slouhl feel that the service belongs to them,
and not merely to the individual who prays,
or to the church, or the world. But ftrvor,
life. and carncs,ncss, as opposed to what is
dull and formal, is of immense consequence.
"In the devotion of this little assembly,
saws DR.. Dwight, "parents pray for their
children. and children for their parents the
husband for the wife, and the wife for the
husband; while brothers and sisters send
up their requests to the throne OF infinite
mercy. to call down blessings on each 9TH
er. Who that wears the name OF man,
! can be Indifferent here! Must not the VEN
crablc character Of the parent, the peculiar
tenderness Of the conjug:l union, the aitcc-
tionate intimacy of the filial and fratcrnal
rclations-must not the nearncss OF rcla-
tons long cxisiing-thc interchange OF
kindness long continued, and the oneness
of interests long cemented-all warm the
heart, heighten the importance Of every pc.
ti.ion, and increase the fervor Of every de-
votional effort" No instrument to effect
the important objects Of Christian educa-
ton is so nccdiul, as that lervent, perscver.
ING prayer of faith which has been implied
| in the foregoing remarks. The effect Is
first produced on the parent, and then on
the child. The parent becomes interested
in the great subjects, which are made the
burden of his petitions from hour to hour,
and from day to day. He becomes con.
vinced Of the value and importance of
Christian education. He becomes qualified
to act and uses unwcaried efforts to benefit
the souls committed to his charge, with re-
ference to the great subject which rests with
so much weight on his mind. The cultiva-
ton of devotional feelings prepares him to
labor, to instruct with eamestness, and to
watch with intense interest, the result Of ef.
forts made in their behalf On the child,
also, it produces important effects. 1t con.
vinccs him Of the sincerity of the parent,
, and that he more earnestly desires his SAL
vation than any thing else. 1t leads him to
contemplate his spiritual interests as those
which are far more important to be secured
than any temporal good. 1t will lead him
to pray for himself and not only to pray,
but to strive to enter in at the straight gate.
But if the conversion Of children does
not succeed Immediately, or in the lifetime
Of the parents, it is impossible for them to
resist the influence Of prayer. They arc
convinced of the truths which Gods word
reveals, and Of the necessity Of holy life.
They will be better children, better members
Of society will make better friends-bct.
ter husbands, wives, or parents, from the pi.
Gus influence which they have thus expert.
enced. They are in state in which it is
reasonable to hope the Gospel will produce
an effect on their hearts. The parent who
desires that his children should become
what God requires, must, and ought to make
prayer one of the greatest and most con-
stant means. From this he has right to
hone much. But let it ever be remember
ed, however, that it is not the cold, formal
lifclcss prayer which is so often Witnessed
It's not that prayer which has no effect on
the parent, and which asccnds no higher
than the head from which it originates.
| No, by no means. 1t is that Player
which produces effect on the parent as well
as the child, and which will be attended with
u course Of daily conduct corresponding to
it. Parents have no right to hope, while
they ask lavors of God, and conduct them
selves in direct opposition to their prayers,
that these will prevail. unfeeling, formal,
selfish prayers, will never reach the throne
of God. Here is found one great reason
why so many Of the children Of the church
arc still out of the fold Of Christ.
[The preceding remarks seem to leave
out Of view the important truth that the
prayer of faith is ansuered. The impious,
infdsz theology, too common now in this
country, which ovcrlooks or undertakes to
explain away the peculiarities-the plain
meaning, of the Bible, has to be carried
but a little farther and it will be Identical with
the Rationalism of Germany. What
mockery would it be in the Deity to invite
and urge men to pray 10 him, if the only
answer TO their prayers were the mere nat
ural effect of the exercise upon their afec.