Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-01-30

lie or in private, of those awful subjects
which pertain to the interests of the un-
dying soul,-and especially deserving the
attention of mothers, in their efforts 10 i'm !
part religious instruction to their child
rem.
The obligation to give such instruction
1t is presumed no enlightened Christian
mother will deny Under less spiritual
dispensation than the present, parents
were required, at the earliest practicabl
period, to make their children Familiarity |
acquainted with the Divine commands
" These words" it was said, (which | |
command thee this day, shall be in thine
heart; and thou shalt teach them dilgent-
y to thy children, and shalt talk of them
when thou sittest in thine house, and |
when thou walkest by the way, and when
thou Hest down, and when thou risest up"
IL will not surely be pretended, that those
parents who are favored with the clearer
light of the gospel. should be less solicit
Gus that their children may understand its
pure, and holy, and benevolent principles,
and become the subjects of its transform
ing power. .......
But while the obligation in question
may be readily admitted, and while Chris
tan fathers and mothers, in general, may
not be entirely Negligent Of this duty. it
is to be feared that, in many instances,
they fail to select the best and most effect
i've method of discnarging that duly
Much of the religious instruction given
to children, there is reason to believe, is
lost, or worse than lost, for want of suila-
BILE care to render it Ineligible. The pi-
Gus mother, sensible in some measure of
the solemn responsibilities of her station,
and earnestly DESTROYS Of the spiritual
welfare of her children, gathers her little
flock around her. She tells them, per-
haps, of their native depravity, and ex-
posture to The wrath of God, and the way
of salvation through crucified and risen
Redeemer She talks of the necessity Of
a change OF heart, of repentance, and of
faith in Christ. In word, she gives
them just such instruction as they need
All that she says is correct and scriptural,
bnt in saying it, she forgets that their in
tellectual powers have only just begun to
be developed, and that their Thoughts are
probably as crude, as their knowledge of
words is limited and imperfect. She neg
lects to adapt her instructions to their ca
paclties,-to "Speak so as to be under
stood - and hence, her little auditors, not
clearly comprehending her meaning, are
almost or quite as likely to embrace error
as truth. Error in religion is always
dangerous; and especially is it to be de.
rI0rod hot efo
a subject SO momentous, should be inn
blbed under circumstances of unusual
interest, and at an age when every deer
impression may be expected to be perma
nent. -... .s......
The Christian mother, then. in giving
: religious instruction to her children, car
scarcely estimate too highly the import
ance of making her language ineligible
She should study to speak with sinplici
ty. She should be careful to select sucl
words as her little ones are able. perfect,
to comprehend, land should either ex
PLAIN 10 them what may be termed tn
technacaIataes of religion, or else avoid
2 them altogether. In attention to this, OF
, the part of the mother, will pro badly pre-
t vent. her success. Instead of enlghlen
Y ing, she will confuse and perplex th,
0 mind Of the child, and perhaps create
: strong aversion 10 the whole subject o
: religion. .#.
e Letzme illustrate this remark by fac
It which fell under my own observation.
n little girl of three or four years was toll
: by her mother, that before she could b.
n happy In heaven it was necessary thu
j Coo should change her heart.
e But MAJ said she, .hoaO can Go
l. change my heart2' ..
l. By taking away your wicked hear
II my daug hter, and giving you new hea
D, "a heart to love and obey him.
Her feelings were deeply and pain full
affected; and the mother, thinking he
e. distress arose from fear that God nigh
I'd not interpose to effect the requisite chang
kindly assured her of his readiness to
so, and gently urged her to pray for it.
% But, ma she replied, Il can't pra
a, that God would change my heart.
d don't want him to change my heart
lie For several days. she would occasional
le ly recur to the subject, and always wit
h apparent anguish. 1t evidently dwelt az
al on her mind with fearful power
lie length, in an agony Of tears. she inquire
n whether God could cut out her wicke
n, heart, without killing her p When ii
n matter was properly explained. and ST
It. obtained a correct notion of what w;
n, meant by change of heart. she was pc
r. fecIly astoEIshed, and exclaimed. Is th
ne ALP
n The above example may show the in
e portance of the point am urging,--th
IS is, in giving religious instruction TO chi
N. dren, TO be careful not to mislead ihem.-
lat Ii should teach mothers TO be cautio