Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-10-30
DUTY IS FOR ALL.
EVERY CHILD. SHOULD Bu GATH.
Erred INTO THE EMBRACING
FOLD or SUNDAY SCHOOL.

OA-4 1T O8NNAFFN y 49, - =
RI 4 RE here ali thy childrenS- q
- Sam. 1919 How many
children do you havef II
you have i've boys between
the ages of IA and is, four Of them are
not here. Four Of them are out in the
world, out In the wilderness of sin. At
least. that is the proportion. andrthey
are either your children or the chill
dren Of other pArents-
Who are our ch4kdrenf
In Jesse's case Z secluded the whole
family. adults ais we'll as girls and
boys. When God called Jesse TO $40
rffce unto the Lord, Jesse took 1t for
granted that tho entire family was In
cluded. and acted accordingly. and
even made mistake By leaving one
at home, the one he thought would not
be missed or needed.
God includes all, and would we not
| grieve II he left any outf II God
thought some too large or too small.
especially II they we're our childreni
God would not say that jesse and Ruth
and Willie should go to Sabbath
school, but George and James and
| Mary are too old Our hair may be-
come silvered, yet we are but children.
as students Of Gods word children in
Christian life and service. Old and
young we are all children of God, and
need to be taught Of God. Are here
all thy children, both old and young,
great and smalli The ideal way and
the scriptural way is the whole family
in the service of public worship, and
| the whole family in the Sabbath
school. And then there are our neigh
boris children. They are also our chill
dren In this particular. We have =
| responsibility concerning them. II we
are our brothers keeper. then we are
also the keeperSof our brothers chill
dren. There tie lot of spiritual
waits all about US, children without
religious home training, example or
influence, The parable of the good
Samaritan teaches us that our neigh
Dor is any one in need that we can
help These children of the streets
and of the homes of irreligious or neg
ligent parents are our children accord
ing to the teachings of Christ They
are our neighbors. They are in need.
and we haye 1t in our power to help
them. They are worse than sheep
without shepherd. They are the lit
tie, innocent, helpless lambs without q
shepherd. Don't let US think we have
/ no responsibility If we have no chill
dren. Don't let us think we have done
our full duty If our own children are
| in the church and Sabbath school. Arc
here all thy children, in the large
sense ?-our own children. large and
small, and our neighbours children.
| all that we are responsible for, all
that we can influence and instruct in
spiritual things2
No Better Place for Children.
II they are not here, why not? Is
1t because of Indifference or lack OF
effort? Is 1t because we think like
i Fopsy, they will just grow up, without
spiritual birth. training or INSTRUCTION?
| Isn't the Sabbath school interesting?
The addition of every scholar, old or
young, will make 1t more interesting.
Isn't it profitable? Come. We children,
hearken unto me; will teach you the
fear of the Lord This Is what we
j sing and teach. Isn't that profitable?
Can better place be found for the
children? What good reason is there
for our children not being here? David
was keeping the sheep. and many to-
day are keeping children or Staying
| by the stuff III the backyard. base
rnent. garden, tAxn OF field. 1t is
thought they are not needed and not
especially wanted. But God is provid.
Ing himself from among them. He is
providing future rulers, pastors, Off
GERS and teachers. What kind will
they be? That depends largely upon
us, Are here all thy children?' Here
where they should be to receive the
proper training for positions of honor
and responsibility?
Gods House Makes Call.
If they are not here where are they?
What Is the alternative? What Is the
4 substituted, Are they at home? A
good place to be, ordinarily. But Gods
house as even a better place on his
Il lll1y I'd - <AE6 LuSy NIoltliiS TCtdllV6S
and friends? A very good thing to do
on proper occasions. But it is even
better to visit with God. commune
with him when he has asked it. Are
they out walking for exercise and rec.
| reation? Very good also on proper
occasions utsbetter to exercise on
Gods holy day in walking to Gods
house. David afterward. said: Il was
glad when they said unto me. let us
so into the house of the f.ord :" These
are the three best substitutes: home,
visiting. walking But it does not
stop there Next 1t is the public park,
pleasure resorts. excursions, baseball.
anything everything And it is usual,
ly to the sorrow of both children and
parents sooner or later
And here all thy children? Let us
make a greater effort to have all OF
them in the Sabbath school. big and
little, our own and our neighbours. For
tunate are those parents who can say
Behold, and the children whom the
Lord hath given me. United Presby.
terrain.
/