The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-28

If PARENTS realized in all cases the
relative value of the two worlds. there
would be more thought and more care
and more prayer expended to get posi-
tlons for their children in the future
world than upon getting good places for
them in this. How we toll to make our
children smart" and to give them a
thorough education, and to fit them to
cut figure in society and how negli-
gent we often are of their religious train
lng. How many parents make it their
t1rSt care to secure the salvation of their
children? how few spare any endeavor
and expense to get them well-settled in
business We often send our young men
over to Europe to finish their edaca-
ton, and do not think it serious item
an the venture that they may there i'm
olbe opinions which will make an utter
ahlpwreck of their hopes for the next
world
A great many Christians lament that
there is no Christian work exactly suited
to them; there is one field of Christian
endeavor that is always open, andawhat
grand results would follow if it were
thoroughly worked That field is their
own household their own little ones
who are dearer to them than life. Who
can teach religion to children like their
own father or mother; what can the
teacher Secular or at the Sunday SCHOOL,
do IN comparison with what the father
can do, If the proper relation exists be-
tween him and his children? But there
are many, many Christian fathers who
never mention this subject to their chill
dren there are many, many Christian
hresides where it is prohibited topic.
There is vague reliance that it will all
come right; but alas in very many cases
1t does not come right, and the children
grow up. and go out into the world with
little instruction and little exhortation
from the fathers lips
This is very strange but everything
IS strange when men touch this question
Of religion. They treat it as they treat
no other interest; many are not very
careful as to themselves with regard to
lt. and how can we expect them to be
very mindful of the souls of their chill
dren
If we would only think, it would not
be so. AS soon as the father learned to
love his boy; as soon as he began to be
charmed by his childish prattle; so soon
would he say to himself, How shall I
save my child's soul? how shall | secure
Tor him that inheritance which is above
all earthly possessions? AS is the child.
so Ordinarily is the man. AS the twig is
bent, so is the tree But if the father does
not incline the tender heart of his child
to receive religious impressions, the more
1T will become averted from all such sug-
capabilities, as childhood passes into
youth, and youth into manhood. When
that young heart is full of human impress
slbllity, then is the time to write on it in
lndelible characters. Nothing can do
this like mothers or a fathers love
and, perhaps, the boy is more readily in
huenced In such matters by the father
than the mother. If the mother gives
him such lessons, and the father never
refers to the subject, or never presses if
upon him, he has logic enough to argue
that it is all very well for the girls, but
not the kind of stuff for boys.
There is no neglect like this. There
is no remorse like that which looks back
on an insufficient attention to the saliva
ton of your own child-when it is be-
come too late to remedy the neglect.
1t is very likely you pray for them
out do you uork for them? How then
can you expect your prayers to be an
swered? You ask God to do a thing in
which you refuse to cooperate.