The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-20
FoR THE CENTRA sEsBYrERIAN.
THE AIM OF THE S BBATH SCHOOLS
TCONCLUDED.1 |

CONCLUDED.
And now, 3rd. 1t Is an accordance wsth
Gods Word not only to expect, but to ac-
tively seek the Scrlpta~al benefit of adults
under the Gospel, and the same rule IS IN
force soith regard to children.
Where, in all of HisGsselations, has God
set time or age, before which, a soul can
not receive Spiritual good? Has He not on
the contrary, given US actual knowledge of
a saving grace which can separate a child
as His, even from it's infancy? All admit
that He can. bring His power sayingly upon
lost souls after what we term ''years of dis
cretion, or maturity" are reached. But
''who can stay His hand; or say unto Him
what doest thou?'" Who shall set limit
upon the times and ages of sins victims,
that Jehovah may not pass it to save them !?
When | read in this Gospel that Christ
Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not, for of
such is the kingdom of God," dare place
other words beside these, which this same
Jesus sent to our world ;-"If any man
preach any other Gospel unto you than that
ye received, let him be aecursed."
1t is in bringing children to Christ ac-
cording to this Gospel e0hich we haze re
ceived, that the Sabbath school has its proper
work. Its striving should be to present
them perfect in Christ, and not to cultivate
mental or simply moral progress. Yet is
not this coming together Of Christ and the
child too much regarded as something for
future attainment? Is not the work done
too much upon the idea that children can
not, as yet, understand what the great Faith
er says? But they can be made to under
stand-and savingly too. He has spoken
specially of them, and to them, and often
wrought in them by His Spirit. Therefore,
noe the child, but he who looks only to ma
ture years for this childs salvation, is the
one who cannot, or does not understand
God. This working for future good ;
working merely to form habits of religious
character, sets everything at variance, and
ever stops short of the main point. This
point is, | repeat, to present the child
perfect in Christ. And to this end should
be the striving of all who have to do with
the child; but especially of those who sit
down with it among the Gospel ordinances
for this professed purpose. Let this be,
and we shall have the true Sabbath school.
Mental trainings, moral trainings, these are
home works-not works for the Gospel to
lost souls, They come strictly under the
head of parental responsibility. Nor can
this responsibility attach to the Church as
such, though the children never obtain this
secular education. Her work is to seek then
SalpatiOa, to give Christ the Saviour unto
them; aud to seek and to give in conformity
with the terms by which Christ has present
ed both Himself and his salvation; "Be.
hold now is the accepted time; now is the
day of salvation" Forgetfulness or repudi
alton of this truth stands condemned before
God, and will bring the Church to such an
account as He held against Jerusalem, wher
He asks through His prophet-''Is this &
small matter, that thou hast slain my chill
dren?"
In many more cases an we suppose, th'
future spiritual dealt the old man ma.
be the result of the pr 1t spiritual starva
ton of the child. 1t too much to say
nay more---it is altos Ter aside from th'
truth to say that child n never hunger fo
''the bread of life" that in their tender littl
hearts there is never thirsting which onl!
''the water of life" will satisfy. They do s,
hunger and thirst. God has commando
that their wants be supplied. Christ Jesu
is also Saviour calling them to Himself
The Holy Spirit is ever present to seal then
unto the day of redemption; and to Sabbatl
schools, as much as to any, are the iDjunC
tious, "Grieve not the Spirit" "-"Quenc
not the Spirit.
Thus, with all sufficient means of grace il
possession; with Gods approval; Christ
blessing, and the actual working of the Hol
Spirit, what more is needed to make Sab
bath school the place where many preciou
souls may be born unto righteousness, e1
cept that the aim and striving be for tn
present spiritual good of all within it
sphere?
Such is the work. The reward is that W
may be able to stand at last in the hgh
now inapprOachable, wearing crowns of re
joicing, made glorious by settings as of star
for the souls which we have led to Christ
saying, "Here Lord, are we, and the chi
dren which thou gavest US. And to gai
this reward, the present strength and consC
5 lations are that the love of Christ constrair
$ eth us.