Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-12-14

SSl'eu nOW immediate an eHect remark
thrown IN, in reading the scriptures, has
IN arouslng and fixing the attention ofall
present. Even ifthe explanatory remark
expresses nothing in itself very new or
valuable, it is of great importance for the
purpose of keeping the audience interest
ed and attentive.
g. Family prayer should be short, sim
pie, varied and appropriate. Many of the
members of the household are persons of
unculuvated minds, unaccustomed to long
mental effort, and others are very Young,
and 1t is better to secure good attention for
short period than WEAKNESS and restless
ness for longer time. Hence the pray
ers should be short. These minds, too,
are unable to grasp what is abstruse or
general, or lofty in sentiment or diction
therefore they should be simple. The
circumstances of family, too, are con-
stantly varied; the morning and evening
prayers should vary too The petition
should not always be the same,-it should
be the simple, heartfelt expression of the
desires of the head of the family, for the
time being; and he should bring the
wants of his household before God in sim
pie and minute detail
4. The head of the family, in conduct
ing family prayer, should not have in
mind its effect upon his household, but up
on God. That is, he should not be think
ing, while at prayer, of influencing, by
means of It, the minds of his family, but
should take the attitude ofsimple suppica-
ton before the throne of God, asking him
for favors which he only can bestow.-
There is indeed a very great direct effect
produced in family by the influence of
the morning and evening petition; but
this effect is not what ought to be in the
mind of the speaker. To be acceptable
to God, prayer must be really what it pre-
tends to be, honest, heartfelt supplication
for the blessings which the heart DESIRES
The heart, therefore, must be on God, and
not on the hearers around.
The duty of family prayer, thus per-
! formed, will have a vast influence upon
the character and happiness of the house
hold. l. 1t will have an immense influ-
ence in softening and soothing all the ir-
ritating passions so likely to creep into a
family. If a father calls together his
children and domestics, and reads and ex-
plains portion of the Bible, and offers a
simple and heartfelt prayer in their pres
ence, one that they can understand and ap-
preciatc and join in, what an influence it
must have upon them during the day
The father will be more kind and patient,
the mother more considerate for those en-
ployed BY her, the children more peaceful
and accommodating; and ali this will
take place as a natural effect of the exer-
else, independent of any direct agency the
prayer may have in bringing the inf1u-
ences of the spirit upon their minds. If
man does not thus recognise the hand
Of God in the government of his house.
hold, the members of his family have no.
thing to remind them of their accounta-
bility to any higher power. From Mon
day morning to Saturday night, there is
nothing to bring before them their rela-
tons to God, and their need of salvation.
They are thus trained up for the world,
and worldly influences will ofcourse have
control
2. The practice of family prayer will
bring down the blessing of God u pom the
children as they grow up and 60 out into
the world. In all thy ways acknowl-
edge him, and he shall direct thy paths -
Such is the PROMISE and if we habitually
and heartily acknowledge God in our
households, he will direct US in training
them up for him. He will guide US in
all our plans and arrangements for them
and order everything for them in this
world, in such way as to promote their
best good. A man who brings up his
children without the fear of God, canno
possibly expect to have them prosper in
, the world. Nothing is more common ir
business, mercantile community, thar
for man to neglect the worship of God ir
his household, in order that he may de,
vote his whole time to his plans for max.
ing money,-and then he finds at last, az
his children grow up, their moral habits
neglected, and destitute of all religious
principle; they are utterly incapable O
preserving or enjoying what their fathe1
q. made slave of himself to procure fol
- them; and the fortune, to procure which
he neglected God, and ruined his soul
they scatter to the winds in dissipation anc
: vice as soon as they get possession. All
e there is no gain In the end, of any sort
in attempting to live without God.
: 3. Family prayer is the most read y and
: efficient of the means of securing the sal
= vation of the souls of our children. This
service, if the parent is honest and sin
cere in it, has steady and constant infu
i ence in keeping religious obligation be
fore the minds of children, and in prepar
ing their hearts . be effected by othe
: means.
l. WHAT A LITTLE CHILD DID.
g In the spring Of the last year. a girl
o about twelve years of age. who is a schol