The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-02-27
DUTY IS FOR ALL
EVERY CHILD SHOULD % OATH.
Erred INTO the EMBRACING
FOLD or SUNDAY SCHOOL.

tne ages or ~ and IL. 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, and they
are either your children or tho chill
dren OF other parents
Who are our childrenf
In Jesse's case II included the whole
family. adults az we'll as girls and
boys. When God called Jesse to sac
rifce unto the Lord. Jesse took II for
granted that the 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 OUT n God
thought some too large or too small.
especially n they were our children'
God would not say that Jesse and Ruth
and Willie should 20 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 smail' The ideal way and
the scriptural way 10 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 q
responsibility concerning them. II we
are our brothers keeper. then we are
also the keeper Of our brothers chill.
dren There are q lot OF spiritual
waits all about us. children without
religious home training. example or
Influence. The parable OF the good
Dor Ia any one In need that We can
help. These children OF the streets
and OF the homes OF irreligtous or neg.
iigent parents are our children accord.
ing to the teachings OF Christ. They
are our neighbors. They are In need,
and we have II In our power to help
them. They are worse than sheep
without a shepherd They are the lit.
tie. innocent, helpless lambs without q
shepherd Don't let us think we have
no responsibility n we have no chill.
drer Don't let us think we have done
our full duty II our own children are
In the church and Sabbath school Are
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 thlngs'
No Better Place for Children.
II they are not here, why not, 10
/ II because OF Indifference or lack OF
effort7 Is Il because we think like
4 Topsy. 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 II more interesting
Isn't II proftableI Come. ye children
bearken unto me: I will teach you the
fear OF the Lord" This Is what we
sing and teach. Isn't that profitable,
Can a better place be found for the
children7 What good reason Is there
for our children not being heref David
was keeping the sheep, and many to-
day are keeping children. or staying
by the stun" In the backyard base
ment. garden. farm or field II IL
thought they are not needed and not
especially wanted. But God Is provid.
ing himself from among them. He Ia
providing future rulers. pastors, on
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 hopor
and responsibility!
God's House Makes Call.
II they are not here where are they
What Is the alternative7 What Is the
substituted Are they at homei A
good place to be. ordinarily. But Gods
house Is even a better place on his
holy day. Are they visiting relatives
and friendsf A very good thing to do
on proper occasions. But II Is even
better to visit with God. commune
with him when he has asked II. Are
they out walking for exercise and rec
reation' Very good also on proper
occasions. But better to exercise on
Gods holy day In walking to Gods
house. David afterward said: Il was
glad when they said unto me. let US
20 into the house OF the Lord" These
are the three best substitutes: home.
visiting. walking. But It does not
stop there. Next II is the public park.
pleasure resorts. excursions. baseball.
anything. everything And II Is usual.
ly to the sorrow of both children and
parents sooner or later.
And here all thy childrenf Let US
make q greater EFFORT to have all of
them In the Sabbath school. big and
little, our own and our neig hbor's. For
tunate are those parents who can say.
Behold. I and the children whom the
Lord hath given me."-Unitsd Prssby-