Smyrna times., 1856-10-15
Religious Education of the Young.

DI tnis Town, preached an interesting and IN 'S'
strnctive sermon, in the NJ E.sChurch, upon A
the Religious Education of the Young. He IN
selected for his text, the last clause of the 18th
verse of the 2lst ch. OF st. John: FEED MY ei
LAMBs," and, after some preliminary remarks OF
explanatory of the connection, proceeded to
say s'
Childhood is, in every age, the same deeply u
interesting period--perhaps more than any
other stage in human life. Who Can contem-
plate the little child in all its freshness of beauty
the youth with all his sprightliness of man. v
ners-and not feel the current o life to ebb and
! flow with a warmer, quicker tide, whilst the
mind runs onward and anticipates the future of
this worlds history, in the stirring events OF
which, these little ones will share actively, and
wonder concerning their final destiny! The
confidence OF childhood, lie susceptibility for
instruction, render it a period of the deepest
interest to the philanthropist and the man Of
God.
If we consider the young, from the lowest
possible standpoint, an animal merely, form
ed of the dust Of the ground though, in this
peculiarity can claim no higher origin than the !
J beasts of the field-when brought in contrast
with every other creature God has made, his
superiority is pre-eminent. Witness the for
nation of the body, its upright position, the
symmetry of its structure the gracefnness of
!. its motion, the beauty of complexion, the ex-
= pressiveness of the cOuutenance all of which
:, have the most pleasing development during
childhood. But, as an intellectual being, the
\, subject of our remarks is more 10 be admired.
e 1t is this particular that constitutes in part, the
e image of GUd, in which Man was created-he
ol was formed for the acquisition of knowledge,
and how trnly wonderful the achievements of
- the human intellect even under the unfa vor-
able circumstances we have been placed by the
Sel fall, every work of God that comes within the
is range of his observation, must undergo the phi
as Iosophc scrutiny of the human mind neither
II NAV we regard the achievements of the past
o. the limit for future investigation-there may
w. remain phenomena in nature unexplained, that
est may prove the subject for discovery and devel-
lle opm6nt for The young of the present generation
ny ay, even of this community. But, a moral
~, being, the youth is to be most admired; be-
81. canse, in this popularity he most resembles
I'd God. and in the exercise of his moral powers
to- he is rendered most happy. And this peculiar
VI nature is to be perpetuated during the limites
'hs future, and its happiness misery determined
mn 10y the moral character sustained in the momen
sed Of dissolution.
US u.s. THE proper education of the young is dut,
-. the Importance of which will be denied but b.
we lew. There are those who neglect the deci
nee dcdly religious culture OF their children, fror
Y is reasoning that would lead as concusively to tn
u'u neglect of the commouest moralties of life
they allege they are afraid of infringing upo
=. the moral freedom OF their children; their rea
the soning is, allow them to grow up until the
the reach period capable OF choice; then, wit
the their judgments unbiased, they may decide fc
Dc themselves. These very persons train the
,es children TO industry, economy and beneVoence
IKE. and if you ask their reason for so doing, the
sis Will promptly reply, these things result in fl
and tnre good to the young, and childhood seen
the H. -, .,;,,hIo ,;,,o g.. ,ho;. ,,;n.,;a.
But is there not the same justification for ii
=, i. neglect of these commoner virtues of life, th
the there is for the neglect of religion and wou
,ear their reasoning not give greater importance
o,v. a. positively religious education!
wlv "The proper education of the young will vi
the doubtedIy embrace the culture of each pecul
rec arity of the compound nature with which Of
,ree Creator has endowed us. With regard to Il
di cultivation OF the physical, little need be salt
the It's importance is universally admitted. Wi
rday respect to the intellect, the same may be salt
oro- and it is not little gratifying to know, Will
leg our country is in the infancy of her nationalit
yson she is far in advance of the Old World in h
and systems Tor oopular instruction. According
the The census of 1850, we have 234 Colleges a
Universities, 6,032 Seminaries and Academi,
50,97l Public Schools, educating 4,0S9,5 81
''i! scholars--and these numbers are increasl
'"" daily. This machinery is mighty TO awak
'a''' the slumbering intellects Of the young of o
: !" Republic. What results may we not anti
'ne patel The suitable education of the you
'een will most certainly include the cultivation
10 ~ the moral element in our nature, and yet hC
yms sadly is this department of instruction negle
'"'e' ed The fashionable folles are cultivated;
" what adorns the character a religious lif
US Without undertaking the accomplishments
ANA ,a ,,.n,o.s nor n,ooor i,,allao,,.l 10;
mus ing, we are compelled to give precedence tc
ID" religious education from the following reason
O'su ' LIST. Should the parent only supply the nee
s. sary nourlshment during infancy. with no ca
oroe for the adornment of its person, the super
-;na tending care of God is so constant and alp
Her vading, that the very best physical proportic
neral "ouo DC oo'ainsu' SO ai'' WIN 'le ii''ei''
ms TO -shouid " pe "hoiiy nes'eeseu' '"e oo"'"0'
,,;o, the chlId with the world, IN lis experience a
b. observu tion, would acquire much useful kno
r,io. ledge; but, should the soul be neglected, i,
= o,vs an IRE eparable neglect. 2dy. positively
,,0ed ligious training yields the largest measure
- haoninass Adv IL qualities for superior a