The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-20
The Problem Solved.
BY AN EX PASTOR.

In late number of the Illustrated
Christian Weekly, there appeared an in
teresting article entitled, els the Prob
lem Solved?" in which an account was
given Of family very carefully and pray
erfully brought up, but none of whom,
when reaching adult age, became mem
bers of the church, although in all other
respects most worthy and excellent. 1t
is indeed a problem of very grave impor-
lance, all worthy of solution, if it be
possible, since the land abounds with sim
liar cases. And as tentative suggestions
in the direction indicated, the following
lines are penned.
1t is a question worthy of serious con-
sideration by all pious parents, who are
lntelllgently and conscientiously educat
ing their children in 1.-The nurture and
admonition of the Lord" whether they
ought to demand, or expect, from them
those definite and express mental exer-
cises, more or less pungent, spasmodic,
and profound, which are so commonly
identified with conversion, and which
were denominated by one of the former
presidents Of Princeton College, {" a great
convulsion of the soul" Is there not
danger that our offspring, though reared
In goodness, yet unduly held off from full
church communion, may eventually drop
away from the reach of such blessing
altogether, becoming entire aliens and
strangers from the commonwealth of Is
rael? May there not be such thing as
very quiet, almost an unconscious re-
generation or renewal of heart? "To
silence all directors, says Calvin, "God,
by sanctifying John the Baptist in his
mothers womb exhibited an example of
what he was able to do for others" And
Richard Baxter says, 81 aver from my
heart that neither know the day, nor
even the year, when began to be sin
cere." And what mistake, had he not
been encouraged to identify himself with
Gods people by an open profession OF
faith
Bound by covenant and custom to those
means and agencies Of regeneration and
sanctifcation' that are provided for us in
the church, viz, prayer, praise, the com
munion Of saints, and the celebration of
the Lords supper, multitudes, no doubt,
have had reason to testify that {" in them
they have foaIad eternal Hfe." The Lord,
by the favored birth of such children as
the article in question mentions, has shell
tered them in his nurturing and nourish-
ing church, where he expects them to grow
up as his sons and his daughters. But
how often do we, by some mistake afford
them but stinted forms of this designed
shelter and nurture, and eventually turn
them adrift, as Abraham did Ishmael,
into the wilderness, as though they were
the children of the bond woman" and
then stand aghast, with tears in our eyes,
straining our sight for the glad spectacle
Of their returning footsteps to their old
birthright home, to knock for permitted
entrance But how many Of them never
turn and come again, but, gradually do
mesticated on the arid sands, spend there
their entire lives, and also leave offspring
after them according to their own hope
less pattern
Christian parents, educate and encour-
age your children early Ito call them
selves by the name of Jacob, and surname
themselves by the name Of Israel, " and
then see if the problem be not in part
solved.-Ch Christian Weekly
Peace is bond, as it unites persons,
Il Il -