The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-10-18
minds are not received as authority on any
question of morals, and that
"All's not offence that indiscreton finds,
And dotage deems so.' :,
GA LAYMAN."
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
PREACHING TO THE CHILDREN.

1 n n II HTT
A-"'
All truth essential to salvation is in the
Bible: and has been there sufficiently revealed
ever since the canon has been closed. This
system of truth is perfect; so that nothing
can be added to it by uninspired men. But
the churches have never understood some Of
the doctrines as well, or appreciated them
as adequately as they have others. AS in a
mining region. where the precious minerals
are widely distributed. some veins of ore are
wrouobt while oth eg rich are overlooked
or neglected. sect, and even the
whole church ID of its history
has had have been
taught to exces. were unnoticed
or forgotten. T. tent of Church His
tory will recall many examples. He will
remember how the doctrine of the Trinity
was brought out into the sharp, full state
mon+ of tho NicAnA Greed by the controyer-
.;o, of tho first four centnries.-bow the
doctrine Of Justification bv faith was raised
from the Grave and preached again with
Pauline clearness and power: how the mis-
sionary spirit after long slumber awakes, and
men with pristine zeal 90 forth bearing the
precious gospel to heather lands.
And the thouobtfnl student will wonder
how the great commission of the Master
conld have heen even for century. so i'm.
rorfoctlv understood. ond how after almost
tbroo con+ur;o0 of pro+oo.ant effort il should
howe boor 1of. for Robort Ro;kAs to orioi-
no+o sobbo+b Schools Rut this student of
Church History will MT wonder (ofter bav-
;nc .oon - 60 of.on ,ooIiroA tbot o+bor GREAT
truths Obould omorco from tho obscuritv Of
aces of NEGLECT: should stir the heart of the
church and be notent for rood It NAV be
that this theme is one of those that needs,
and that awaits paztnoeaesia new birth.
IF O. careful test shall show that the direct
and dilioent effort to secure the conversion
of the sinner is made for each single youth
at a period of time, five, or seven, or even
ten wears later than it ougbt to have been
made the correction Of this error NAV make
mighty difference in the result Newton
was almost ready to abandon the theory that
the earth's attraction reached to the moon,
and that the force of this attraction dimin.
shed in a certain ratio as you went farther
from the earth; because, some Of the data
on which his calculations were based, were
erroneous, and his results -are far from the
truth. After patient investigation the errors
were detected, and new calculations were
made which laid the foundations for the
magnificent discoveries of our modern AStron
omy. 1t may be found, that atmany preacher
clock has always been five years too slow, anC
that he has always been beginning, too late
to preach to the young; and that many a
lamb has been caught By the wolves tha
prowl around the sheep-fold, and is lost iron
the flock for ever. Shepherd the lambs
are the hope of the flock. Gather then
early into the fold. Christians are the ligh
of the world. Let the lamps be lighted early
that they may burn the longer, and brighter
One of our most beloved and successful
ministers said, more than twenty years ago
"It is probable that as the millennium ap
proaches, we shall expect the children to b.
converted while Young" And here We re
member those words ola better than he
"For of such is the Kingdom of heouen.
The Master is speaking of real little chill
dren: not of feeble Christians; not of adult
recently converted; not of the lowly an(
simple minded saints of mature years; bu
little e1ildreu like these "infants that TAX
in nv arms and bless"
The nastor that once in three weeks. O
once in four weeks breaches for the cbjldrel
NAV look for four.fold benefit from sucI
sor,ronO
Firet the saving mower of the word on III
soul Of the child Then a deem impressio,
~ 4bo mind of the admit Christian as III
+rntb uttered in freshness earnestness an,
cbild-Gka sinnIicitv sinks down into hi
beart
hath School tea ave lone tried