Smyrna times., 1855-09-12


raging in Norfolk and Portsmouth. Va. and
the recent calamity on the Camden and Ambov
raliroad' by which so many lives were lost =
Inc reverend speaker was listened to atton.
tlVe'y throughout, and, we doubt NOT his ro-
harNS VIII. De long remembered, aud be produc.
tive of mucn good. ~.
0F The NJ. E. Church of this town WAS
largely attended on the morning ofSundav las,
"hen ITS Pastor, Rev. VIM. C. RopIvsov
preached very able and impressive sermon
dudOced from the words following: " Train mn
child in the way he should co. and when he is
oiu ne VIII depart from it,"--a brief outlin. Of
winch we give below. The subject is one Of
paramount Importance, and should elicit the
earnest attention of every reader:
Mr. H. IN his Introductory remarks, spoke Of
the Importance Of the subject of the text. viz .
'he proper instruction of children; and of the
iact' that, 1t had occupied the attention of tho
wiSest and best of every age Notwithstand-
ing It's Importance, many seem to feel M ro-
SPonslblllty. This might result from ipconsd.
GRAFTON, which alone is sufficient 70 ind,oo
inactivity Buthowevert the masses NAV rooord
the duty, the CHRISTIAN world shnu1d no
awake: because Inspiration has pointed ont
the period of youth, as pregnant with tho mos,
important events. He claimed thai ora ~.
age OF discrimination is reached. tbere sho,Ij
Dc some restraining agency emp'ored-brnce
Tile a0lH"nltion OF the text. Mr. r. proposed
10 Consider: First-The subject of trainino
"'conu-Ihe nature of the duty; and, Thirdly
The result to be antcpated
The subject proposed for traininr j., Tho H..
guage OF the text, is, ga child" One in tbo
morning of human existence, in his animal ~,
ture, one OF the feeblest of all the creatures of
God, and. without the unremittno caro- ,,d
protection of parental affection, must perish in
the beginning of life. Iu his intelectnoI M.
ture' Is IN possession of an unlimited soprce or
intelligence. But, in his moral or r.Ii,,;o,.
nature, the subject OF training is nost n ha
because in thisparticular, distinguish
Gu "'h all o'her creatures belonging TO this !
system and In this consist mostly. that likenoos
ol Uod IN which man was created-in the roc.
session OF which he is capable of KNOWN,
'oVlng and serving God, and rejecting the glorv
OF MS Creator. And, whilst We contemnIota
WIN adm'rat'on the moral capabilities of tho
c"iiu' II is IN this peculiarly he is to be pticd
most. because, herein he suffers n,ost---,lo ...d
results Of the trans1rcsson of orr fr-, o,.
But through Jesus Christ, we are enabled f.
overcome the unhappy Consequence. and fnlfI
the design OF God IN our creation.
Mr.. 4. contendod: The duty enforced, migb,
be understood to apply 10 the entire rompound
nature OF the child-physica, intellectual and
moral. In regard to the first. hide need ba
'atd' D"cause rs nporiIncn IS gcncraIlv admit
ed and pracuced upon; the same might he
'aid OF the second; buI, IN the latter particular
" winch the text more specially advcrts, there
; great delinquency, ii not incorrcctness oC
sentiment, IN practice. The ma iority of parents
ire utterly disqualified for conducting such
raining, because they are not decidedly njo,s
themselves; and, among those who are cano.
'ie' how few attend to the duty as they should.
ina al the same time are mr. st asslduous in their
hdcaVors to promote proper physical and in
development
MI K. insisted, that the MORAL nature. heinz
ne higher and more dignified part, deserves
he first consideration; in support of which he
rgued:
Moral or Religious training qualities for
uperlor citizenship, appealing to the history off
he past and Of the present, finding lbose mos, I
lhi"eht IN good upon whom the greatest atten-
ION had been bestowed in their religious Grain
lg' VINO have learned religion from mothers
pS and mothers lite, although their trainino
7suIt not IN decidedly religious life, thew are :
'Stralned from the grosser acts of wlckednnss y
Secondly. Such a training not only results t
the general good, but promotes individual /
lPplness, especially if i; lead to a RELIGIONS 7
fe; and :
Thirdly. The Scriptures give pre-eminencc "
the duty. In the Jewish economy, Jehovah a
ade ample provision for their instruction in
'lIgIon-~Deut. 6, A.; 0. The duty is no less q
operative under the Christian dispensa,on- t,
pin. 4, and Mark 10, l3: I6 The "wav"
that in which the Revelation of God tcacnes -.
ery one according to their understanding of n
c will of God.
lie next considered the means to be employ =;
: aud gave as his opinion, that the first essen ii
i is Proper Example. We are initiative tn
lngs and influenced by example, before pre- cI
pts OF virtue can be comprehended and even sa
er the mind is sufficiently maturcd to COM ~
ehend precePt, unless accompanied by cor. nj
'pondlng example, is useless. Next to Ex. pa
ple is proper Instruction-line upon line, tu
Precept upon precept, beginning with the
"nlng OF the intellect, if posslble--to sup. or
mt the evil tendency of our nature. Posi-. SCI
restraint must also be xerclsed--which OF OF
illustrated by an allusion to the training of p,I
no'ce vine. AS next in Importance, was ad- WI
Tod H..