Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-12-25
From the Lutheran and Visitor.

PARENTS: In addition to the passa-
yes from Scripture, bearing on this
subject, quoted in our last, we will
now call your attention 10 The argu-
ment furnished us from Scriptural ex.
ampIes.
We all know, the force of example
in convincing and gaining the consent
of the wind OF any one open 10 cou-
vlction.
Hence it il, doubtless, that the Bi.
ble teaches, 10 80 ggeat an exleut, by
tho use "f example.
Samuel, whose birth seems to be il,
direct answer to the pra, er of Han
nah, his mother, early bocarne Il child
It God-ho y early. we hpve no pos
Tive mea's of determining. But 1t
is our firm bcli"f-apd no one can
prove the contrary-that in answer
10 the pray els If his godly parents,
N connection with the il Auence OF
their pure example, be grew up in
The love aud practice Of holiness. Al
the aye of three Years he was placed
IN The temple, and the very best uc-
count we have of him there, is indi-
cative of the favor, in which he was
held by G"d. That he was sincere
follower Of the Lord Jenovah, his
whole life, from the time OF his en-
tering upon it's duties, most concln
sively proves. When ho entered upon
that service, is not revealed, but eve.
ry thing goes To prove that it was in
his early childhood. We therefore,
point to the example OF Samuel as au
argument 10 favor of early piety.
Jeremiah, aud John The Baplist, are
also examples of this sune precious
truth. II: is written OF them that
they nre "sanctified from The womb
and however earnestly and ingoni-
ously some have Iabored to prove that
this only referred to their being then
Get apart TO their special and 'respec-
tive missions, there does not appear,
in their subsequent history, any thing
to teach directly or remotely that this
sano!ihcation did not, primarily, refer
to their regeneration. II it be OBJ
jected that, even admitting this 10
have been the case, yet it was mirac-
u'ous, we reply, that every conversion is
miraculous, whether occurring in early
Ito or IL maturer manhood. TO raise
W life the dead, ever has been, and
ever wall DO q miracle. Scott uses,the
Following language CONCERNING John
the Baptist:
Though "oonceived in sin" like 9th.
or men, yet a saving change would be
wr4ught in his soul, by the regenera.
ting spirit of God, even at or before
bisSbirth; which would appear 10 his
eminent wisdom and plety from bis
earliest youth" La bis "Practical
Observations" on the same subject,
hs adds this additional jud,cious and
Appropriate reflection: I'VE should
curly devote them, !. Q. our children
to k3pd, AID briug them up for him
aHd, M come have been 'sfilled with
tks Holy Spirit from their mothers
womb" !" We should hope and pray ,ha,
nats may be thus changed, in early
YOUTH, by divine grace !; and we Ought
~ inssruct them IN Che truth As soon
as they ere capable OF knowing good
sfsOm seii.". -.
The case of Timothy Ia an example
sjn point, "Train child" or as bod.
ridge renders 1t, from infancy, "hs had
known the holy soriptarss," which
adpub,iess, very easy made him "wise
unto Salvation" How soon Timothy
heaspe "a ne~ creature in Christ Jesus,
is,aot stated, bul enough Is' rev sal.I
70 isstify he declaration, that hs /.