Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-11-07
Rev. Geo. q. cram.

sermons, and in the present instance our most
sunguine expectations were more than realized
The sermon was neatly and skillfully knitted
and diversified togsther forming a most com
plete and charming whole, interspersed with
chaste and striking illustrations. grand and
beautiful thoughts. aud The most stirring relic
tions. We wish we could give our readers an
epitome of Mir, Orum's deeply interesting ad
dress, but nothing less than the speakers own
language would do him anything like justice.
The text was from one Of the Saviour's most
solemn and pathetic diseOurses. in which, after
declaring that He had come to seek and to save
that which was lost. introduces a most striking
simile. II man have an hundred sheep aud
one Of them be gone astray, doth he not leave
the ninety and nine and seek the lost one2-
And II so be that the lost is found, be reioicelh
more over that sheep than over the "pinsty
and nine" which went not astray; then He
breaks forth in the sublime language, which
was selected by our speaker as his text: "Tven
so it is not the will of your Father which is
10 hesYen that one Of these little ones should
perish" Matthew ls ID Jesus loved little
children, they wers the objects Of special regard
and tender are He says, "suifer little children
to come unto me and forbid them not" That
little child standing in the midst of the discp
Piles was the preventative Of all little children,
as all might, in one sense, stand In the press
ence Of Jesus, under the sweet light of His face,
the object of His regard and tender love.
The speaker claimed we should especially re.
gard these little ones-ittle now but buds Of
promise for the future; yes little in The estima.
tion Of those who neglect them, and refuse to
care for their uehtal and spiritual wants =
Things which are small are sometimes, in them
selves great and noble. That twinkling star
in the distant heavens-how little it appears
a tiny spark; mere speck upon the face Of
the sky; but put a telescope to your eye. look
at it In the light Of science--pass within it's orr
bit aud a world, grand and glorious, spreads
out before you. fadiaut with the displays of di.
vine greatness, the abode perhaps, Of physical
aud intellectual life. Lookst these little chill
dren in the light Of the Bible, phce their fu.
ture within the range of your vision and how
great aud interesting they become. That beau
tiful star, that distant world may perish but
that mind Of reason, that INN rial soul, all
L IS great, sublime aud dignifed in man
s!4,l never perish. Your neglected boy, dear
hearer, may become poet, a statesmau,a phil
ospher, and dazzle the world with the sple ndor
Of his genus; but, oh ! terrible thought he
may become a prodigy Of wickedness aud rs
tonish the world with the boldness of his
crimes. That abandoned woman, now so lost
to shame, was once beautiful sweet little girl.
Oh, how gentlaand loving then, how lost and
ruined now nowl That poor ragged boy, the
boot black for the students of Oxford College,
how insiguifcan, and mean he appeared, but II
few years transformed into the prince of orators,
the devoted Whitfield. The speaker next ads
veried to the danger which the young are cons
stantly exposed.
The very thought of child in dan ger startles
US. Were it drowning, strong men would
plunge in to save it. Were il lost in the wild-
erness whole community would fly to its
rescue But dangers beset it on every side,
more terrible than these-dsngers deep and
dark as hell and vast as eternity. If one Of
you boys, should follow the canal, you will
haps a reservoir, SO If you trace the evil actions
Of men back to their source--that source will
be found to be the heart. That heart is repre>
scented as being desperately wicked and de
ceitful above all things." Who has not seen
the dimpled hand strike the loving bosom,
where, ere thPt. it fondly nestled. What anx~
ious mother has not wresiled with the self will,
pride, and jealousy Of that little one, Thou gh
feeple now, these passions may be, who can re
sist their power or curb absolutely their devel
opmentH 'Twere easier to chain the burning
desert wind. or stay the rolling river Of lava
from the Volcano Then above all things as
you value the safety Of your child exert your
self 10 stay its evil disposition aud TO keep it'
nassons in subordination, before the strong
tides of its nature carry il far beyond your con
troll Bad example is another danger Parents
themselves sometimes give their children de
cidedly bad example while living, and dying
bequeath to them a dark aud dreadful legscJ
Of rreligiOn, infdelity, sin aud crime. which
after being perpeiualed they in turn bequeat
TO another generation. Besides, evil ahounds
10 your midst. 1t looks in at your windows
forces itself in at your doors and presses upon
you like a besieging enemy on every side
Men of rank, influence, talent, wit and learn
ing, stand up in every community the foes o
good and the revilers Of religion. Bad compa
ny is another fruitful source Of danger to thu
, young. The speaker here described the balefu
effects of evil associations with much warmth
and effect. warning the young against the com
pany Of those whom pleasure is to entice h
yospg to sin, to cOunteract the advice Of parent
and poison the very springs Of virtue. Bs'
. books were also referred to as a source of dan
ger. He had word Of warning on this point
The light and fashionable literature Of th
times was dissecled and its hideousness, 40
baleful influence upon the mind and heart, el
hibited in their true light. Popular amus'
ments, cards and drinking were also referred I
as constant sources Of danger. The speakt
then closed with most eloquent and tellin
demonstration Of our duty to our children an
. Of the Saviour's unwilliDgness that any shOul
go away. We have gwen very feeble az
: imperfect note Of few Of the mary points
this truly elegant. beautiful. aud thrilling sci
h mon.