San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-05-08

observe and do according 70 the teach
ing Of Gods holy word. 40 .slr
Their psefplnsss and comfort deeply
involve tho honor and the welfare Of
nultitudss AROUND thsm, but thsir
usofulasss and ooufort depend on their
early adoption Of those principles Of
piety and faith which God has reveal
cd in his word. and which are 70 b
urged By ''preoept upon prsospt and
line upon line." arst from parental
lips. .ls..,,.
q This d task. ny dear Christian
friends. requiring no ordinsry in>slli-
ssnes. plsty. and soal-Aud you 10
doubt often feel your inoompetsncy 10
its full discharge. 'su'
To aid you IA these circumstances
God. 10 his Providenoe. has givsa yop
various helps-and, above oil. perhaps.
the Sabbath school Il the most elRci.
ent and successful.
God has. ~ il were, affixed his sesl
Of appreciation 70 this ihssitutlon, By
GROWING il with sigual success. You
cannot point to . well-conductsd Sab.
bath school, / care not how short .
time it may have been in existence. ip
which the hsppisst effects ars not visi.
bio. In most Of the reviyals which
have occurred Of late years. 10 all parts
Of our country. it is . gratifying and
encouraging fact, that the work, has
commenced With. and,in most iastihsss
been confined TO- the Sabbath school
scholars.
Of the lesser advantages. and yet Of
immense importance in itself, arising
from Sabbath school instruction, Inay
mention tho acknowledged fact, that
they tend to promote the observance
Of Gods Holy Day. Childrsa brought
up in the Sabbath school ara, usually,
Sabbath keepers. They become ,mor.
al, industrious and happy. On tho
other hand, those who arc not thue
trained arc usually. Sabbath. breakers,
and become wicked, profane, and nst
unfrequently, the inmates OF our State
prisons.
Another apparent Advan ntage; ID sus,
tanning ahs Sabbath school, you -afc
aiding your ohildten- 10 cultivate :
taste for knowledge. and that Of tho
purest and most exalted kind. ,a.;is
Upon the improved system st pres
ent pursued, Of international uniform
lesson papers-with commentaries and
expositions Of oaoh lesson. fresh from
the best theological representative
minds Of all our churches. the subject
Of each lesson is treated exhaujlvsly,
and a wonderful desire for Enowledgeis
impaired to the children. Nov tho
effects Of this ardent desire for Scrip
tural knowledge upon their characters
and lives, must DO attended with i1-
calculsble good to them--the comnu.
nifty and the world. III es,,.,,,, .so,.,
It should be bofnain mind. however.
that the Sabbath school does not d..
mipish the amount Of parental duty.
It is intended to facilitate the. discharge
Of ito rebuke supineness, and to rc.
peat 10 the parents ears, as each holy
day returns, the Divine Injunction,
"Whatsoever thy hand hndeth 70 do,
do it with all thy might'creminding
you that you have -lsborers, ia
the great work Of preparing your of.
spring for the skies, and that they
have beon raised up to supply thst lack
Of service over which you -havc 80 Oft.
On wept in bitterness Of spirit.
Let me say, in conclusion, that the
tendency Of your Sabbath schools, 10
this community, to promote good. viii
depend, lsrgely upon tho faithfulness
and punctuslity Of parents, superin-
tendcns, and tcaohers-aDd. upon tho
thoroughness and correctocss Of the
truths impaired. You should fenem.
Der. at oil times, that you are impart.
ing instruction to immortal minds,
which will tell upoa tho destinies OF
and tbst God will hold you
responsible for the impressions which
you make. "a tt.-
One thing should bo constantly pres
ent TO your minds-thst obedience to
the truth is Religion-snd this thought
you must keep before the minds OF
your pupils. snd urge il in every les
son. For example. when The lesson re-
lates to the greatness Of God-you are
not merely to explain what Il is, but to
urge the duty of veneration.
When Gods sovereignty n brought
out. tbcn you are 70 urge the daty OF
rst ii So. -
When His law is the subject Of the
lesson, then the duty OF compliance
With ali jfs requisitions.
Does The lesson relate 20 sbe subject
of sin2 Then the duty OF repentance.