Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-11
lANDoN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1886.

preston which was at first imperfect and
feeble, will be deeply and indelibly f1ed
upon his heart, and prove in his subse-
quent exposures to temptation, very pow
erful restraint. He will be likely to OBJ
tain, at an earl y age, enlarged and correct
views of the being and projections of God,
of his holiness, justice, goodness, and
truth, land if the exercise be judiciously
adapted to the capacities of the younger
members ofthe family, ofthe way ofsaIva-
ton, through faith in the suffering Messi-
all. He will lmbibe virtuous principles,
and contract virtuous habits, from his very
tmtamcy,-the period OF life, of all others,
at which the heart is most susceptible, and
when impressions are made with the most
ineffaceable power He will learn to rev.
erence the Bible, as the book of God,-to
regard it as the great moral directory and
guide of fallen man, able to make them
wise unto salvation; and to feel his obi
cations to conform his conduct to its holy
requirements. Nor will it be found an
easy matter, in after life, when he shall 90
out from the paternal roof, and mingle per-
haps with unprincipled and wicked men,
who would fain entice him away from the
peaceful paths of virtue,-to shake his
faith in his father God, or to destroy his
undoubting confidence in the Bible that
his mother loved. Even should he be in
volved for a season in the bewildering ma
yes of skepticism, and wander far from
God and from happiness-the hope may
yet be cherished, that in some favored
hour, the memory of the family altar by
which he knelt in childhood, and which
like blessed spell has ever been upon his
soul, shall a1cGke, with power not to be
resisted, and prove the means of his recov-
cry out of the snare of the devil, by whom
he was led captive at his will
Besides this happy moral influence Of
family worship upon children as indirid-
nails, i: will tend powerfully to secure har-
mony of feeling and mutual good will
among them to form them to systematic
and orderly habits and to promote suit
able respect and subordination to parental
authority. 1t will be found, in fact, if
properI " conducted, the right aim of fam
n.y. government,--possessing power to
subdue the turbulent and refractory, even
in those obstinate cases where persuasions,
threats, and chastisement would be alike
unavailing. If such be the beneficial eff
fects upon children, ofthe daily and regu-
lar observance of family Worship what
christian parent who loves his offspring
can feel himself excusable in neglecting to
Y promote their welfare, by the use of an in
StrumentaIitv so efficient and powerful?
10 ,t;l;t,, Of H. bI
further argued, from the fact that there
seems to be a sort Of affinity between the
f faithful observance ofthis duty, and high
! degree of watchfulness, circumspection
2 and christian fidelity in other matters. II
= whom do we look, for decided and evidrn
y tokens of piety, if not to those who ar,
/ punCtuaI and conscientious inthe discharg
= of this service? In whom else, do we *
= pect to find larger measure Of christian
y gentleness and kindness, of blame cSsncs
and purity of life, and of that conversatior
becoming the gospel of Christ, which in
dicates deep spirituality, deadn"ss to tn
world, and meetness for the inheritance O
the glorlfed! Who, is it supposed, vii
cherish the deepest interest in the prosper
o ny vi IIlC otOI1 VI
+ and the advancement of the precious caus
l. Of Christ or who, on the other hanC
IS will drive bargain most crattily and skill
fully, approach nearest the verge ofhOr
o esty and yet escape the imputatiOn offrauc
ID and evince by the general tenor of thei
3 conduct, that though they profess to hav
r. an unfailing treasure in the heGrenS, the
d are far more strongly attached to the eval
l. escent and corrupting possessions of earth
Even child may mark the difference.
will not say, that the observance
family worship lies at the foundation
& all the other christian duties; but wi
venture the assertion, that the profess(
will find it extremely difficult to separa
E other christian duties from this He VIII
y. by erecting a family altar, has given
- tacit pledge to every inmate of his hous
u hold that at stated hours of the day he Wi
u" bow in their presence, and call upon II
~ u name ofthe Lord, acting the part of an il
~ tercessor in their behalf, as we'll as a su
=" plant in his o1om,-will find it necessal
" to be cautious and circumspect in his d
pertinent and conduct, to guard his liz
:. and to watch over his heart with the U
r. most vigilance, lest the appointed seaso
90 of worship should find him unprepared
~ engage in so hallowed a service. Al
g 81 farther,-he who is accustomed to a
W God from day to day, to bless his famiI
ad to bless the church, and to bless imper
~ tent sinners around him, with spiritu
cd blessings in Christ, cannot long salts
e. his conscience, or persuade himself tt
u his conduct is sufficiently evincive ofsi
,or cerity in his prayers, without enterl1
H., upon a course of strenuous action, ada
ia1I ed, through the divine blessing to secu
10. the eternal interests of those for whom