New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-27
FIRST LESSONS.
Sermon Preached Sunday, Decembev 20,
1874, by Rev, Edward &, Taylor.

Sermon Preached Sunday, December 20
1874, by Rev, Edward &. Taylor.
Train up child in the way he should go. an
Sghen be Is old he Will not depart from it-PrC
serbs xxi, g,
This was said nearly 5000 years ago b,
the shrewdest of observers and the wises
OF men, and each succeeding generation hal
proved its truth.
1t is objected that in some instances thi.
sentiment is not literally true. We are
pointed to exceptions where children care
fully and religiously brought up. who have
been tenderly watched over and fervently
prayed for, have at last broken through all
such defenses, and have gone far astray.
The old SANDER Of minister's children lie
Shrust in our faces to disprove it. To which
we reply that this text is one of tendencies,
presenting an underlying principle which is
undeniably true, even ii there seem to be
some exceptions. Furthermore, there is
most likely some infractiOn Of this law in
Che apparent exceptions; some fundamental
defect IN the moral training of such as have
seemed to be properly directed. There
are many unwise Christian parents.
evhos with the best intentions, have
done jill either by under or over
training. and even sorrow and tears
and the best desires can not made amends
DOR weak indulgence or undue severity. The
promise is not to such as desire to have
their children well trained, but to such as
train them in the way they should 90. Be-
sides, many excellent parents begin too late
with moral and spiritual culture. They do
not realize how quickly the child natures,
9nd while waiting for the period to come to
begin to sow the seed OF the kingdom they
ma II past, and the ground preoccupied |
with tares. Some one has said, LET me |
have the children of the land no to five |
years of age, and will make them what
please" mother who had all of large |
fancy OF children converted early to Christ, |
and useful and active Christians, was asked |
the secret OF it.. She answered. AS each |
child came to the age Of seven l took him
or her into my closet and wrestled with God |
in prayer and prevailed for that child be-
heving that dare not delay its conversion
beyond that period" But very few appre-
ciate this. Many children are allowed to
run riot in their early years with the mis-
taken idea that they are too young for that
radical transformation by the spirit of God.
A pastor was once demonstrating with
parishioner concerning his carelessness in re.
ligiously educating his children. The man
replied: II have concluded to wait until |
they are of age. and then let them choose
for themselves To which the pastor said,
''All very WELL if the devil would wait also,
but while you are Indifferent he is at work"
just then. passing by o garden overgrown
with weeds, the pastor shrewdly remarked
that the owner was simply waiting until
the garden was old enough to choose for
itself whether it would produce weeds or
flowers.
l. The text says: Train up a child. 1t |
does not leave the work for manhood or
Children are susceptible Of controlling
moral impressions at very early age. They
nay not understand didactIc utterances or
! logical array of doctrines, but they are
live to the subtle and all-powerful inhu. Z
nee OF manner, example, tone of voice and q
Q the simple teachings Of the Divine t
Word. The infant in its mothers arms a
5 educated by smile or frown, by the Y
ough or kindly voice, and is oftentimes re. n
Giving there training which shall mould Ii
Is whole after life. The nursery is the p
eeding place, and woe to that child who is t,
he subject daily of petulant words from | p
louth that should speak only in tenderness 81
nal love- and sees upon mothers face the G.
xpresaiOns of irritation and anger, and be- CT
sDes familiar with the hsrshness and acid Of
3 of IN ungOverned temper, too often Of
nphasizsd by the hasty slap or smart box di
tAe' ears Afperward atoned for in q gush tr
spasmodic affection, by owe, indulgence; fr
hose iqfapek ipatead Of being passed in eli
9 Aweet a4d serene atmosphere OF loving
?, 4 trssF ,Iat ~ n