Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-04-12
pR HUMPHREYS THOUGHTS on
EDuCATlpN

Ihate aifra.t ir CffBfrc uiing uisAn TIC irc-
aiog,,r. as8 60 SIC iourh commandment,
a. tAe aailsossutc standard 81 appel va our
families. sith regard "a tsc obsvrs ancc and
sassiidcsuea Of no ssi.balh. What then -
the sshhaucal law. and how Is II o. b. admin
isaesod IN the religious cdpcaiion Of chi'dtcn'
II. a. has been often ard | aa sure tru.y sad
che Christian Sabbath ~ esseniiAl, Dot ouly TO
thc PROSPERITY Of Tic church. bat 10 il,o very
erssa1oc Of pure and uadchcl religion va
she world. II follows a. matter 81 course.
thsi childtcn cannot he htoughi 0p 'n nc fear
Of God, without It's restraining and haliowed
Influences They must ng' cnly le taught as
far 80 parental amtstiiy ran reach. be rcquif-
cd 10 " Rerlrrpt-cs il,c sabbath day, so keep !,
holy. Pss.at. un 50 fss ifcrn having night
10 ps nHy secular lapot upon them on the
iosd's dsy, TIN they ap socmnly bound to
Keep them from u The language Of the com
snsDd on thus point, il 100 eKplicitto be ms
understood. 'ln Il, thou shalt no, do amy
work it,oa nog H., svn nor thy daughter, nor
IN the fed nor 20 iho shop, nor ibo warehouse.
nor the factory, Ror tho mll--nyi 10 gather and
secure the moa precious fruits OF the earth, ~
the most onncal season, even" tuf Ia caung
time sDd In harvest shalt thou rest" The
psrm Who allows lis sons 10 work under any
circumstances nihn Sabi aih, sins most grew
ioOsl, not only sgsiusl God, bot against them
likewise fof when iheS have once oveflcapcd
the sacred barrier, what shall keep ihem itom
habi,ually trampiing upon the divine insiiiu-
non, as ilcY quicken tisclf stcps down tho"
bsosd way wAich losdeih 10 desTuc,ionl'
Ba Che spii,, OF tie fourth ccmmancmcn,
pors much further Than this ll"iothideih TIC
omission, OF careless performance olihc duties
required, and the proianlng the day by Idloness,
az doing that which is 10 itself sinful, OF hy
unnecessary thoughts, words or works, about
worldly omploymenis and recreauons. We
arc bound therefore, while &C spend some par
OF every L,f Dis day IN teaching our children
the great principles and duties Of religion, TO
watch over them morning I'LL night 10 know
where they arc, and as far as practicable, no"
they arc employed: and Ia restrain them rom
whatever is inconsistent with the design oi'bc
sacred institution. | know II is extremely
difficult TO arrest perpetual m"ion,lp the nurs'
ery even for lew minutes; and II seems as
II some indulgence of locnmo,ion within re-
s,ncied limits ought TO he granted, to very Young
children They cannot SIT still, all day, they
would. Tie ever sparkling spon'anei'y oil
usurc, will assert Its prerogaiive over their
fiule frames but then, hold that there
ough, 10 I've very great difference, even IN the
nursery, between the Sabbath and other days
OF the wsek.--Chldren of two or three years
old, can be restrained, and II does them no hurt,
10 lniermt their noisy frolics, ono day in seven.
They enjoy themselves so much III, more,
when the restraint is taken oil and TO be often
called upon when they arc acting rude TO re-
pea, tina, beautiful little verse;
81 mus, no, work, must not play,
Upon Gods holy Sabbath day"
has powerful tendency to imprint a sacred
ness upon their memories, walch | believe is
rarely II ever obteraied.
As for The older children, they ought not
only To he confined within door, butIo he kept
sill, and TO be employed as much of the time
as they can be, wiihou, real WEAKNESS, in read
ing the Bible and other suitable religious
books, and IN receiving oral instruction. If
you give them an inch they will take an ELL
II YOU allow them to 20 GU, Ia the morning, or
after the public exercise Of the day, TO walk,
they Will play, or al any rate, II viii be setting
bad example TO other Children IN the neigh
borbood. IL you permit them to spend much
time in the garden, they will IN one way or an
other, take Liberties, which il you saw them,
yoa could no, but disapprove. II you send
your boys off a mile or two, ON Sabbath morn
ing, 10 salt the sheep, or young cattle, YOU
must not expect that they will ihink that there
~lll be any harm ia stopping 10 pick berries,
or IN amusing themselves with other boys,
whom they may happen TO meet on the way;
and II they should rob orchards, a1l do other
mischief, how can YOU wonder n ~
1,my be question with some pare 1t, how
early il is best 10 take their children with
them to the house OF God cannoi advise
them. habI,ually to carry their infants IN their
arms TO meeting because it can be of no pos
sible advantage 10 the children, and may give
much disturbance to the congregation. Al the
same a pious mother who hungetinu for tho
bread OF life, comes occasionly with her babe,
because there Is no one with whom she can
safely leave 1t at home. Much, however, Will
depend upon the habits and circumstances Of
the people. la many places IT can scarcely be
<sDc at all. But II were settle | over very
poor and sparse congregation, or II were a
missionary IN ono OF our new settlements, am
sure should rather see mothers with their
babes the place OF worship, than not 10 have
them cnsne al ali
Thai II is the duty OF parents TO lead their
little ones up 20 the courts OF the Lord, as car
~ as they can he kept still, during the exer-
-eises, and before they can understand what
they hear, think every one who looks at the
SUBJECT eandidly. must admit. The utmost
tina, any child should be able in after life ID
do, Is lest Ia remember the FIRST time, when he
swea, with he mother to the house oiGod, Snt
naosiag wi,h wonder at the preacher am
Ssxsnned with mute aslnnishmeni to the song
Of Zlon. The habit OF attending pUblic NOR
ship on the Lords DAY cannot he ionusl To-
--sfly. and when thus formed. il eXers pow
etful, Influence upon the fat urc character, an,
IN . nrahiiase ofczSes, doItA not upon ihi
eternal destiny OF the chiid. la every house @
worship, pace ats and ohildTon ought io be sen
I'D s<sxe,hsr. Strongly a. confess mysci
-asaaea,<s 20 a great many oil pufliSnlCal no