The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-04-28

o, mother, IL Is what you do that Is go
ing TO affect your children, and not what
you say. You tell your children to be-
come Christians while you are not, and
they will not. Do you think NOah's fam
lily would have gone into the ark II he
had not gone inr They would have said: /:
"NO, there Is something about that boat
that is not right. Father has not gone
in.' You cannot push your children
into the kingdom of GID. You have got
to pull them in. Many a General has
been in a tower or castle looking at his
army fighting, but that ia not the kind
of man to arouse enthusiasm among
his troops. 1t Is Garibaldi OF NapOi-
con :, who dashes into the conflict, aud
has his troops follow with wild huzzas.
SO you cannot stand of in your impeni-
tent state and tell your children to 90
ahead into the Christian life. They
will not go. You must yourself dash
into the Christian conflict. You must
lead them, and not tell them to 90.
Do you know that all the instruction You
give your children in a religious direc-
tiOn goes for nothing, unless you illus
trate 1t in your lifeI 1t is what you
are, not so much what you teach.
Have family altar. Let it be a cheer
full place, the brightest room in your
house. DO not wear out your children's
knees with long prayer. Have the whole
exercise spirited. IL you have an OrgRn,Or
piano, or a melOdeOn in the room, have
tt open. Then lead in prayers. II you
cannot make prayer OF your own, take
Matthew Henry's prayers, or the EpiscO-
pal prayer book, none better than that.
kneel down with your children morn
ing and night and commend them to
God. Do you think they will ever get
over 1t. Never. After you are under the
sod good many years, there will be
some powerful temptation around that
son, but the memory of father and moth
or at morning and evening prayers will
have its effects upon him. II will bring
him back from sin and death.
But l want you TO make strict mark,
a sharp, plain line between innocent hi
larity on the part Of your children, and
a vicious prOclivity. Do you think your
OOys will go to ruin because they make
a racket. A glum, unrespOnsive child
makes the worst form of a villain. Chill
dren, when they are healthy, always
make racket. l want you az the very
first sign Of depraYity in the child, to
correct IL. Don't laugh because its
smart. Ii you do, you will live to cry,
because IL ID malicious. DO not talk of
your ehildren's frailties lightly in their
presence, thinking they do not under
stand you. They 10 understand. Do not
eoiA ueSpalA AhBly VI yOuA OniluD making
him feel that ne Is reprObate. Do not
say to your little one, You are the worst
child ever saw" Ii you do, he will be
The worst man you ever knew. ~
Are your children safe for heaven
You know that better than any one else.
l put 10 you the question: Are your chill
dren safe for heAvenp 1 heard of a
mother who, when the house was a-fire,
in the excitement got out great many
Of the valuable things, many choice ar
ticles of furniture, but did not think to
ask, until too late. Is my child safer 1t
was too late then. The flames had en-
circled all. The child was gOnel Oh,
when sea and land shall burn in the
dnal confagratiOn, will your children
be safe2.
wonder If what have said this
morning has not struck chord In some
me in the audience who had a good ia
her and mother. but who Is not YET
Christian. Is that your historyP Do
you know why you came here this morn
mgr God sent you to have that memory
revived. Your dear Christian mother,
row she loved you'll You remember
when you were sick how kindly rhe at
tended your The night was not too
iOng, and you never asked her to turn
the pillow, but she did it. You Temeni-
Der her prayers, also. You remember
now some OF you, do not know where
The man Is in the audience, how some
one here broke his mothers heart. You
remember her sorrow at your wayward-
ness. You remember the old place where
-he did so many kindnesses; the chairs,
The table, the dOOrsill where you played,
he tones of her voice. Why, you eau
think them back now. Though they
were borne long ago on the air, they
come ringing through your soul today,
calling you by the tiTst name. You are
not "Mr." to her. 1t is Just your plain
hrst name. Is not this the time when
her prayer will be answered. Do you
not think God sent you in today to have
that memory of her revived? If you
should come to Christ this morning,
amid all the thrOngs of heaven, the glad
desC OF them would be your christians
who are in glory waiting for
your redemption. Angels of God shout
the tidingsI The lost has come back
again. The dead is alive. Ring all the
bell Of heaven at the jubileel Ringl
Ringl Ringl ~