The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-04-19

all tnat interests tnem. SppnsIDpuS. the
nephew and successor OF Plato in the
academy, had pictures OF ioy and vladness
hung all around the schoolroom. You must
not give your children the impression that
when they come TO you they ar' playful rip
pies striking agains: n rock. You must have
them understand tnat YOU were boy once
yourself. that you know hoy's hlarities. u
boys temptations. u boys ambition--yea.
that you nre boy yet. You may de,eivs
them and try to give them the idea that you
are some distant supernatural effulgencp.
aud you may shove them OF hy your rigor-
ous behavior. but the time will come when
they will find out the deception, and they
will have for you utter contempt.
Aristotle said that boy should begin TO
study Mt seventeen years ofage. Before that
his time should he given to recreation. /
cannot adopt that theory Bat this suggests
u truth in the right direction. Childhood IL
too brie;. and we have not enough sympathy
with its sportiulness We want divine grace
TO help us In the adjustment OF alt these
matters.
Besides that. how are your children ever
To become Christians II you yourself are not
u Christian? | have noticed that however
worldly aud sinful parents may he they want
have presented themselves FOR admission in
to our membership. | have said To them.
Are your father and mother willing you
shall come?' And they have said. "Oh, yes
they ars delighted To nave US come. They
have not been in church for ten or ftteen
years. but thcy will be here next Sabbath TO
SEQ me baptlzed.' | have noticed that pa
rents however worldly, want their children
good.
SO It was demonstrated in police court
in CANADA. where u mother. hcr little child
In her arms. sat by y table on which her own
handouts lay. and the little babe took up
the handcliTs and plavel with them and had
Ina Gl,.Kl Na ha ~ th..
hour. And then when the mother was sent
to prison the mother cried out so God,
let not this babe go into the jail Is there
not SONS mother hera who will take this
child2 IL Is good enough for heaven. II is
pure. L am bad. / am wicked IL there
not some ono who will taNe this chidp I
cannot have II tainted with the prison.
Then brazen creature rushed mp aud said.
Yes, I'll take tls child. mo. no." said
the mother. mot YOU. not you. l. there not
some good mother here VINO will take this
rhild?' And then when tine officer OF the
lHw In mercy and pity TOOK thechlld to carry
II away TO ilni - home Tor II the mother
!; ;ssed It lovingly pooiby aud said Good
by. my darling. II Is better you should
never see me uga.n
However worldly and sinful people are
they want their children good. How are you
going 10 have them goolP Buy them "a few
good booksI Teach them few excellent
,ltechisms? Bring them To church? That is
all very WELL but OF little llnal result unless
YOU do u with the grace OF God in your
heart. DO you no; realize that your children
are started for eternity Are they on the
right road? Those little forms that are now
SO bright and belutiiul- when they have
scattered in the dust, there will be an i'm
mortal spirit living on in mighty theatre OF
action. aud your faithfulness or your neglect
now IL deciting that destiny.
There is contention already among minis
tering spirits Of salvation and fallen angels
as 10 who shall have the mastery of that i'm
mortal spirit. Your children ARE soon go.
ing out III the world. The temptations OF
life will rush upon them. The most rigid
resolution will bend in the blast OF evil
What will be the rasultf IL will require all
the restraints OF the gospel. all the strength
Of fathers prayer. all the influence OF u
I Christian mothers ex unple to keep them.
You say IL il too early to bring them. Too
/ early to bring them TO God? DO You know
/ how early children were taken to the
ancient passover? The rule was just as soon
as they could take hold OF the iather's hand
/ and walk up Mount Moriah they should be
takea 10 the passover. Your children are
not too young;o come TO God. While you
re and think of them perhaps their
iorms now so bright aud beautiful vanish
from YOU and their disembodied spirit rises.
aud you see 1t after the life OF virtue or
crime is past and the judgment is gone, and
eternity IS here.
A Christian minister said that in the first
year OF his pastorate he tried 10 persuade
/ young mechanic of the Importance Of family
/ worship. Some time passed, and the me-
chanic came to the pastors study aud said .
"Do you remember that girl? That was my
] own child. She died this morning very sud
denly. she has gone 10 God, j have no
doubt. but IL so she mas told Hin what tell
I YOU now-that child never heard prayer in
| her fathers house, never heard "A prayer
from her father = lips. On, # only hud her
/ back again one day TO do my duty " Will
! he tremendous thing al the last day II some
/ shall say OF rs II nayer heard my father
pray. | never heard my mother prayer
/ Again, ! remarS, we want religion In all
/ our home sorrows. There are 10000 ques-
! tions that come up in the best regulated
household that mus he settled. Perhaps the
/ father has one favorte in the family, the
] mother another fayorte in the family, and
there are many questions that need delicate
/ treatment.
/ Tyranny and ARBITRARY decision have no
! nlace in u household Ii the parents love
God, there will be spirit Of sell sacrifice and
| n spirit of forgiveness, and u Rndnsss which
I will throw its charm over the entire house
! hold. Christ will come iuto that household
and will say Husbands. love your wives
and be not bitter against them. Wives. see
! that you reverence your husbands. Children.
/ obey your parents in tine Lord. Servants,
! he obeiient 10 your masters. Aud the fam
| lily will be like a garden on u summer morn
/ ing-.he grass plot, and the flowers, AMI the
vines, and the arch OF honeySuckle standing
In IN. sunlight glitterns with dew
/ But then there will be sorrows that will
| come to the household. There are but lew
/ families that escape the stroke OF financial
! misfortune. Financlai misfortune comes 10
house wners there IL no religion. They
! kick against divine allotments, they curss
/ God for the incoming calamity, they with
| draw from ths world because they cannot
| hold as high position In society as taey
once did, aud they fre'. ani they scowl, ana
| they sorrow. and they die. During the past
! few years there have been tens of thousands
| OF men destroyed by their financial dis
[ treSses.
/ But misfortune comes 10 the Christian
/ household. II religion has frll sway in that
| home, they stoop gracefully. They say.
| "This is right" The father says Perhaps
money was getting 10 be my idol. Perhaps
/ God is going to make me "A better Christian