San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-05-08
Reported for the Pass Rssss.
ADOnl Rs9S

Delivered at tie AnxHal Sabbath
School Rexniom at San Marcos,
april 30sh. 1880. BY Rev. J.H,
ZIvLIY. M.
LADIES AND GENTLExEN. AND. rs
PEoIALLY THE SupERINTENDENTs
TIACHIRs AND SCHOLARS, OF THI
VARIOUS SABBATH SCHOOLS HERE
REPREsENTED ~.
II affords me great pleasure 10 meet
you, one and all. on this joyous, festive
occasion. and to contribute my mite
| in little speech for your entertain
ment. We may well felioitAte our
selvesas 10 the nature Of tho occasion Il
self. and as to the good cheer which
seems to pervade every heart.
When I look into the sunny faces
Of these bright. happy children, and
think Of the millions and millions, oi
other children. that are now enrolled
in Sabbath Schools, and who are being
cared for in every hamlet. and town,
and city throughout our country and
the civilized world. and, who are con.
stantly receiving faithful, enlightened
and prayerful culture, in the Oracles
Of Divine Truth. my heart thrills with
the conviction. that. already, perhaps,
the keynote Of the jubilant song Of
salvation for the young, has been
struck | Yes; let US hope that the
golden harps Of heaven are already At.
tuned for the full chorus BY and by.
that shall proclaim the work finished
We can never forget that Jesus loved
children, while here upon earth-that
''he took them up in his arms. put his
hands upon them and blessed them
that he said suffer the little children
to come unto me and forbid them not.
for Of such is the kingdom Of God" "
"Take heed that ye despise not one Of
these little ones for I say unto you,
that in heaven their angels do always
behold the face Of my Father which is
IN heaven"
We may be sure, then, that Jesus
loves them still, and will always love
them. This very work in which you
are engaged, Of teaching them them
the Scriptures, which are able to
make them wise unto Salvation" and
the beautiful songs Of Zion. to lift
their thoughts above, 10 = proof Of his
love. Yes, Jesus loyes the childrep-,
he loves to hear them sing he said on
On one memorable ocassion, to his Fa.
ther. "out Of the mouth Of babes and
sueklings hast thou perfected praise" !" !,
He loved the hosannss of children
then; he loves them now, Is when In
Jerusalem be rebuked the Pharisees
who fain would have silenced the little
ones. But their song shall never cease.
The streets Of all the cities Of the
earth shall yet be full Of boys and
and girls" shouting to the praise Of
the great King who was Graded in Z
manger and died upon . GROSS. Heaven
will echo back the strain the ransom.
ed little ones Of Bethlehem whom Her
cd slew, swell the chorus. whilst the
theme of the great anthem shall ever
be. Redemption. Redemption, Redemp
tion ! as,a ~ --.--
And is not this, my Christian friends,
what We all sincerely wish, and what
we devoutly pray for. on behalf Of our
children?
The intellectual. moral, and reli.
gious training Of our children--the
respectability. usefulness. prop.
er settlement in this life, and. above
all, their preparation Tor and happy
transition into the life beyond, are not
these the subjects of constant reflection,
desire and prayer. on the part Of every
parent Who hears me to-day7 IA
And, may / not ask. Is there not q
sense. feeling of responsibility. too.
which preys continually upon the mind
and heart of the parent. and which will
give him no rest, day or night, unless
be comes up to the full measure Of his
ability. 10 dischsrgiug his duty towards
his offspring In this particular
God has implanted this sense Of OBJ
legation in our minds. for the protee-
ton of our offspring. 1t grows out Of
their dependent situation, and no par
eut can disregard it with impunity.
Look at the helpless infant God has
intrustsd TO your care. bone Of your
bone and Aesh Of your fesh-vas there
ever such . personi6catiou of helpless
ness and dependence Witnessed before2
That child. ut its birth. occupies q sort
of mid die ground between life and
death-its eyes cas not see distinctly.
iss ears cannot bear distinctly. The