Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-07-18

sons or daughters, no matter what vi
cissltudes may occur What ifthey
should be forced to labor in some hum
Bile but honest calling7 Ii has the
sanction Of heaven. Millions of God 5
saints, of those who will hold the high
est rank in heaven, have done the
same. The favored Evangelists and
Apostles were chosen from such. The
incarnate Deity lived in an age when
not TO work was crime and disgrace !;
and his supposed father, unto whom he
was subject, labored at an honorable
occupation. And can we suppose that
the youthful Saviour was idle What
matters IL as to our condition upon
earth, so that we eat not the bread of
idleness, and learn to be content in the
station which we occupyl Why de-
sire case and wealth for our children,
seeing that such hard things are spo.
ken of them in the word OF God---that
those sons who have them so often
abuse them, and those daughters who
inherit them, are but the objects of
speculation to unworthy fortune hun.
ters. Let our great aim be that they
live to God, in whatever station they
may be. Let us seek for them as FOR
ourselves the kingdom of heaven and
its righteousness and be assured tina.
to honest industry God will add all
other things that are needful. | know
that it will be said---alI this is not so
easily done. Orthat am well aware
but has God ordained i, that any good
thing shall easily DO done know
that great frmness and resolution are
necessary. Parents must not do with
themselves or children as others do, but
as they ought to do. They mus, dare
to be singular. They must look for.
ward and consult for the real and per-
manent welfare oftheir children, and
not fall into present customs which are
unsuitable to their means and circum.
stances.
And here might we make an appeal
to those who more abound in the goods
OF this world, and entreat them not to
tempt their poorer neighbors and rela-
tives TO a style Of living, and mode Of
training their children above their
means, by setting an example Of extra
VACANT indulgence, but rather to fall
below their own ability, and by their
simplicity and economy encourage all
around TO industry and frugality. But
if the rich will yield to temptation and
indulge themselves in ali that their
hearts can wish and means anord--let
not their poorer neighbofs bring them.
selves and families to beggary aud
shame, and prepare their children for
modification and ruin, by following
the customs of the rich. Surely it is
not necessary that all who live in the
same village, town or neighhorhood,
should have houses and furniture and
table equally large and fine, and
sumptuous, no matter how different in
fortune. 1t cannot be necessary that
all who come up to worship in the same
house Of God should ride in carriages
equally splendid and with horses equal
ly caparsoned, or that they should all
dress alike, no matter how unable some
Of Aem may be to vie with the rich in
those thipgsl 1t is great weakness in
the poor, and those of moderate cir
cumstances, to think Of such folly and
yet it is weakness too common in our
land.
When think ofsuch things and look
around on the young ones who are ev-
cry where growing up through our
State, cannot but ask, what is to be-
come ofthem ?--where will their lot
be cast l--how are they prepared in
body and mind for encountering the
trials and discharging the duties of
life? When think Of these things,
whether as itregards our own sons and
daughters, my heart sinks within me.
When | remember how many OF the
sons Of Virginia have become idle vag.
abonds, under the name Of gentlemen
and others become gamblers and
drunkards, g. sunk to untimely graves
and brought down the grey heirs Of
their parents with sorrow 10 the grave;
and how many daughters, Though for
the most part far more amiable and pi-
ous) by means of their improper edo
cation, have grown up weak IN char
acter, feeble IN health, incompetent TO
much effort either in body or mind, and
forced either to depend OH others or
throw themselves away on some I'M
worthy and unsuitable person for a
mere support, feel my spirit stirred
within me to do or say something TO a
vert these calamities from the rising
generation, and would that all parents
and ministers could heartily unite in
teaching the young ones (according to
the words Of our excellent catechism, }
"not to covet or desire other mems
goods, but to earn and labor truly to
get their own living and to do their du.
ty in that state OF life into which it
shall please God 10 call them"