Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-07-19
VOLUME 23,---NUMBER %.

The season Of youth is peculiar and very
Interesting. Each generation is the reproduc.
ton Of the race; and il affords splendid op.
portunity 10 better its moral and social condi.
tiOn, BY kind and proper training. The youth.
tul heart is very susceptible Of good impres.
siOns and enduring in its recollections. It is
genial soil for religious truth and holy aspira-
tons. The seeds Of corruption and lust are
there, it is true; but as yet they have not ger
minated. Worldly care and avarice have not
yet taken possession. How important then
that such religious truth should lie sown early;
that 1t may take root in this virgin soil.
And this is the business of the Sabbath
School, to teach young chdreh-such as are
here to day, and such as attend here from Sab
bath to Sabbath, the woid Of God That
word which is able to make them wise unto
salvation. To present it to their minds in its
most attractive form and simplest illustrations
To teach them to stud dy it by the bestowment
of little prizes and an appeal to their ambition
to excel. When in this, or any other way q
habit is once formed of committing TO memory
it becomes comparatively easy, and pleasure
rather than a task
For the salutary moral effects Of the Sabbath
school we confidently appeal to the reports of
the religious instructions of State prisons
houses of correction, and aims houses in our
large cities: and county prisons and poor
, houses in country places; from them it will be
found that not one in thousand OF those chill
dren who were regular attenders on the Sab
bath School ever find their way to those places
when they grow up to be men and women. Is
! barn burnt. horse stolen. a man killed, you
may be sure it was not Sabbath School
; scholar that did t. Is a man druIk and whips
his wife, and turns his children into the street
or is he pestiferOus, troublesome neighbor
and bad citizen, you may set it down for GER
tain that he had not learned the lessons of the
Bible in the Sabbath school,
|, In those towns and cities where there is the
greatest proportion Of Sabbath school instruc-
ton, there is the highest tone of moral feeling
and religious interest And there is a very
perCeptible difference observable even in small
towns like this; and in sparcely settled commu-
mites In the United States there are immense
numbers of Sabbath Schools and many hun.
dreds of thousands Of children are gathered in
to them every Sabbath day, Those young la.
dies and gentlemen who are farther advanced
in years and knowledge act as teachers and
, hear the almost innumerable verses which are
reoiLed from time to time from the Bible and
hymn book, and communicate much valuable
instruction. The Jews committed 10 memory
their scriptures: the Psalms of David, and many
of the traditions of the fathers. And this kept
them in the straight path of duty and of safety
for many centuries. In like manner the Sab
bath school of our day is bringing up and
training up the infant church.
We see here before us to day many children
doubtless who shall one day be men and women
in Christ Jesus. Some, perhaps, who shall be
ministers of the eV eVerlasting Gospel; and others
office bearers in the church Of Christ. Not
here it may be, but in distant day in some
far distant home where the providence of God
may lead them. 1t is gOu also, my dear chill
dren, who are to be the future legislators and
law givers of this great Nation. Who shall be
its Presidents, its Judges. its Generals. Before
long you shall own all these fair lands, and
goods, and silver, and gold which are now the
property of your fathers; for they will have
fallen asleep, and shall no longer need them.
But remember, that for all their blessings you
shall give account to that just and holy God
whose eye is ever upon you, and who knows
your heart.
If this, then, is to be your high destiny my
young friends, how careful you should be to a.
void everything that is evil, and cling only to
that which is good. All liars shalt have their
part in the lake that burneth with Ere and brim
stone-therefore never tell lie Swear not
at all says God-but if you swear God will
punish you with utter obstruction. The drunk.
ard is an abomination TO God and man ; and
the thief cannot be trusted, but is of the party
Of Judas who betrayed his Lord. And al
though all these worldly good things shall
surely fall to the next generation, yet it is GER
tain they will not fall into the lap Of the lazy
there fore always be industrious. And al
though all the rich spiritual blessings of the
Bible shall surely be given to the righteous,
yet none shall receive them who do not seek
them-and that. earnestly and perseveringly-
therefore my dear children seek diligently for
the inestimable treasures of Gods love- seek
it in his word-in joyous songs of praise to
mercy. What Is all this wide world to you.
could you obtain it, if when you die you lose