莱尔主教upper_room-第66章
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whom he heard preach； the panions who used to play with him；all
these； it may be； have passed from his memory； and left no mark behind。
But you will often find it is far different with his first prayers。 He
will often be able to tell you where he knelt； and what he was taught
to say； and even how his mother looked all the while。 It will e up
as fresh before his mind's eye as if it was but yesterday。
Reader； if you love your children； I charge you； do not let the
seed…time of a prayerful habit pass away unimproved。 If you train your
children to anything； train them； at least； to a habit of prayer。
VII。 Train them to habits of diligence； and regularity about public
means of grace。
Tell them of the duty and privilege of going to the house of God； and
joining in the prayers of the congregation。 Tell them that wherever the
Lord's people are gathered together； there the Lord Jesus is present in
an especial manner； and that those who absent themselves must expect；
like the Apostle Thomas； to miss a blessing。 Tell them of the
importance of hearing the Word preached； and that it is God's ordinance
for converting； sanctifying； and building up the souls of men。 Tell
them how the Apostle Paul enjoins us not 〃to forsake the assembling of
ourselves together； as the manner of some is〃 （Heb。 10：25）； but to
exhort one another； to stir one another up to it； and so much the more
as we see the day approaching。
I call it a sad sight in a church when nobody es up to the Lord's
table but the elderly people； and the young men and the young women all
turn away。 But I call it a sadder sight still when no children are to
be seen in a church； excepting those who e to the Sunday School； and
are obliged to attend。 Let none of this guilt lie at your doors。 There
are many boys and girls in every parish； besides those who e to
school； and you who are their parents and friends should see to it that
they e with you to church。
Do not allow them to grow up with a habit of making vain excuses for
not ing。 Give them plainly to understand； that so long as they are
under your roof it is the rule of your house for every one in health to
honour the Lord's house upon the Lord's day； and that you reckon the
Sabbath…breaker to be a murderer of his own soul。
See to it too； if it can be so arranged； that your children go with you
to church； and sit near you when they are there。 To go to church is one
thing； but to behave well at church is quite another。 And believe me；
there is no security for good behaviour like that of having them under
your own eye。
The minds of young people are easily drawn aside； and their attention
lost； and every possible means should be used to counteract this。 I do
not like to see them ing to church by themselves； they often get
into bad pany by the way； and so learn more evil on the Lord's day
than in all the rest of the week。 Neither do I like to see what I call
〃a young people's corner〃 in a church。 They often catch habits of
inattention and irreverence there； which it takes years to unlearn； if
ever they are unlearned at all。 What I like to see is a whole family
sitting together； old and young； side by side；men； women； and
children； serving God according to their households。
But there are some who say that it is useless to urge children to
attend means of grace； because they cannot understand them。
I would not have you listen to such reasoning。 I find no such doctrine
in the Old Testament。 When Moses goes before Pharaoh （Ex。 10：9）； I
observe he says； 〃We will go with our young and with our old； with our
sons and with our daughters： for we must hold a feast unto the Lord。〃
When Joshua read the law （Josh。 8：35）； I observe； 〃There was not a word
which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel； with the
women and the little ones； and the strangers that were conversant among
them。〃 〃 Thrice in the year；〃 says Ex。 34：23； 〃shall all your
men…children appear before the Lord God； the God of Israel。〃 And when I
turn to the New Testament； I find children mentioned there as partaking
in public acts of religion as well as in the Old。 When Paul was leaving
the disciples at Tyre for the last time； I find it said （Acts 21：5）；〃
They all brought us on our way； with wives and children； till we were
out of the city： and we kneeled down on the shore； and prayed。〃
Samuel； in the days of his childhood； appears to have ministered unto
the Lord some time before he really knew Him。 〃 Samuel did not yet know
the Lord； neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him〃 （1
Sam。 3：7）。 The Apostles themselves do not seem to have understood all
that our Lord said at the time that it was spoken： 〃These things
understood not His disciples at the first： but when Jesus was
glorified； then remembered they that these things were written of Him〃
（John 12：16）。
Parents； fort your minds with these examples。 Be not cast down
because your children see not the full value of the means of grace now。
Only train them up to a habit of regular attendance。 Set it before
their minds as a high； holy； and solemn duty； and believe me； the day
will very likely e when they will bless you for your deed。
VIII。 Train them to a habit of faith。
I mean by this； you should train them up to believe what you say。 You
should try to make them feel confidence in your judgment； and respect
your opinions； as better than their own。 You should accustom them to
think that； when you say a thing is bad for them； it must be bad； and
when you say it is good for them； it must be good； that your knowledge；
in short； is better than their own； and that they may rely implicitly
on your word。 Teach them to feel that what they know not now； they will
probably know hereafter； and to be satisfied there is a reason and a
needs…be for everything you require them to do。
Who indeed can describe the blessedness of a real spirit of faith？ Or
rather； who can tell the misery that unbelief has brought upon the
world？ Unbelief made Eve eat the forbidden fruit；she doubted the
truth of God's word： 〃Ye shall surely die。〃 Unbelief made the old world
reject Noah's warning； and so perish in sin。 Unbelief kept Israel in
the wilderness；it was the bar that kept them from entering the
promised land。 Unbelief made the Jews crucify the Lord of glow；…they
believed not the voice of Moses and the prophets； though read to them
every day。 And unbelief is the reigning sin of man's heart down to this
very hour；unbelief in God's promises； unbelief in God's
threatenings；unbelief in our own sinfulness；… unbelief in our own
danger；unbelief in everything that runs counter to the pride and
worldliness of our evil hearts。 Reader； you train your children to
little purpose if you do not train them to a habit of implicit
faith；faith in their parents' word； confidence that what their
parents say must be right。
I have heard it said by some； that you should require nothing of
children which they cannot understand： that you should explain and give
a reason for everything you desire them to do。 I warn you solemnly
against such a notion。 I tell you plainly； I think it an unsound and
rotten principle。 No doubt it is absurd to make a mystery of everything
you do； and there are many things which it is well to explain to
children； in order that they may see that they are reasonable and wise。
But to bring them up with the idea that they must take nothing on
trust； that they； with their weak and imperfect understandings； must
have the 〃why〃 and the 〃 wherefore〃 made clear to them at every… step
they take；this is indeed a fearful mistake； and likely to have the
worst effect on their minds。
Reason with your child if you are so disposed； at certain times； but
never forget to keep him in mind （if you really love him） that he is
but a child after all；that he thinks as a chil
