Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

when they know that three out of five children, as well as their tender and affectionate mother, sleep in the cold grave; but it is hoped their spirits are with the just made perfect. Will they not pray, that those who remain may so live, as to meet those who are gone to the world of glory, and there together, as an "unbroken family," mingle their voices in anthems of praise throughout eternity?

For the Mother's Magazina.

"TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO."

Solomon.

"FATHER, I mean to tell my mother of you," said a little boy, three times, who was apparently four or five years of age, in a complaining tone of voice, to his father, in my hearing, as I sat in the bar-room of a tavern a few days since. The father, with his back towards the boy, appearing to be uncommonly busy just at that time, at length, with a suppressed laugh, said, "What do you mean to tell your mother of me for ?" "Because you threw my handkerchief into the stove," said the little boy. "What?" said the father. 66 Because you threw my handkerchief into the stove, and I don't like it; I mean to tell my mother of you." Saying this, with much apparent ill-humor, he left the room to tell his mother of "father." After he had gone into the other room to tell his mother, the father made himself very happy, by telling the company, that the little boy had a handsome handkerchief, with which he was wiping every thing, and if it was washed every three hours, it would always be just so dirty; and he had slyly caught it, and had thrown it into the stove, where it was burned. The little boy missed his handkerchief, and on inquiry, the maid told him what had become of it. The story created a laugh from the whole company but myself I could not laugh-I pitied the father, the mother, and the boy. Instead of chiding the boy, and rebuking him for addressing a parent in so improper a manner, the father, by the course he took, encouraged him in it. The manner of his taking the handkerchief from the boy was wrong, and the

issue was still more wrong. I looked forward a few years :that little boy is become a great boy. A pleasant story of the difficulty between him and his father is the beginning ;-domestic trouble, discord, strife, alienation, perhaps (may heaven forbid) separation of husband and wife, is the end. The fire was kindled; and behold how great a matter a little fire sometimes kindleth! It only needed the fuel which such children give it, and the flame will burn and burn, still more and more furiously, to entire destruction! The points of issue are now comparatively small, but as the child increases in age, these increase also; and the child, who ought to be the means of drawing the hearts of parents together, is not only estranged himself, but by his conduct tends to separate them also. Was not the fact of the boy's going to his mother to tell her of "father," pretty strong evidence that the mother was in the habit of hearing complaints against the father? If so, can there be domestic happiness in that family, or in any other similar family, especially if instead of one little boy to make divisions, there are three or four grown up boys and girls who pursue the same course? I think not, but the very reverse. I thought, had I the voice that would reach the ear of every parent on the face of the globe, I would say, Never allow your children to carry complaints from one parent to the other-depend upon it the effect is bad: but train up your children in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it. Teach your children to honor their parents, that their days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Remember, “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the raven of the valley shall pluck it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." A TRAVELLER.

Massachusetts, Dec. 1, 1836.

Teach

ANECDOTES OF SAMUEL KNILL.

ANECDOTES of Samuel Knill of St. Petersburgh, communicated in a letter to a young friend, by the Rev. Mr. Knill, in which he says, "Perhaps you may be able to turn them to good account with your young folks."

1. His regard for truth.-His parents have never known

him to tell a lie; but in many instances has he evinced the utmost solicitude, lest he might unconsciously do it. What I am going to mention, is his love of truth in others.

He had a beautiful flower in a pot, which a friend gave him, and one day when some other children were playing at our house, Samuel perceived that some of the flowers were gone. An inquiry was set on foot, to ascertain who had picked the flowers. At last the question was put to William-William, did you pick the flowers? He answered, Yes, Sammy, I did. Samuel immediately clapped him on the head, kissed him, and said, You are a good little fellow, Willy, because you told the truth; I forgive you.

2. The Lord's Supper.-One Sunday, on returning from. chapel, our servant said to him, Samuel, you are late to-day; what is the matter? Oh, said Samuel, it is sacrament day. And have you had the sacrament?

No; I very much wished it, but papa would not give it to me. Why? Papa says he cannot give it to anybody but those who love the Lord Jesus Christ; and I am sure I love Christ, and I told papa so, yet he did not give it to me.

3. These things occurred before he was seven years old. But on his birthday, August 12, he had some children to tea with him, and after singing a hymn, Samuel said he would preach to them. This is frequently their exercise. His text was, " And Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." And he quickly came to the application, and said, Willy, have you stretched out your hands unto God? Jane, have you? Susan, have you? &c. &c. going through all the names of his little party.

4. One morning very early Samuel awoke, and said to us, I. wish I could come into your bed, I am afraid. What are you afraid of? I have been dreaming of a bear. We said something to him to quiet his fears, and he soon fell asleep. When he arose, he referred again to his dream. Mamma, said he, I dreamed about a bear, and I was afraid at first; but then I thought of God, that he was near to us, and I prayed to him. What did you say to God? I said, Lord, take care of me, and then I was not afraid, but fell asleep again.

[blocks in formation]

I HAVE been particularly struck with the infidelity which prevails, even among Christians, in regard to United Prayer. That God is the hearer and answerer of prayer, they do not pretend to doubt; but that the joint supplications of his children avail more with the Almighty than the lone private petition, is what they are very loath to grant. How many, when urged to attend a meeting for prayer, give, and support by argument, this reply: "I can pray in my closet, and I believe God will hear and answer me as readily there, as in a crowded throng." Some, too, assert, that prayer for our children is a thing of altogether a private nature. They can attend a prayer-meeting for the conversion of the world, but when the salvation of their children is primarily concerned, they desire to be excused. Now, if united prayer avail for one object known to be holy and acceptable to God, will it not be equally prevalent in another of the same nature? God does, in his word, give special encouragement to the joint prayers of the faithful. (Matt. xviii. 19, 20.) Like the Shechinah of old, he vouchsafes to them his gracious presence; he says not, I will be, but, "I am in the midst of them;" and though there be but two or three, even the smallest number, yet if Christ be there, all power and glory is there, and hundreds or thousands would not add to the majesty of the assembly. When, in the time of Solomon, "the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound in praising and thanking the Lord, then the house was so filled with the glory of the Lord, that the priests could not stand to minister, by

[blocks in formation]

reason of the cloud." When Peter and John returned to their own company, and reported all that had been done to them, they prayed;" and the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." As Paul and Silas, with faith in united supplication, employed the lone hours of midnight in prayer and praise to God, there was a great earthquake, and God displayed his mighty and efficient arm in answer to their prayers. At the house of pious Mary were many gathered together praying; they supplicated for the imprisoned friend and disciple; when lo! he stands before their unbelieving eyes, even before they had anticipated the fulfilment of their request. How many can bear witness to the faithfulness of God, when he said, "Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear." When God intends a special answer to prayer, he calls for a solemn assembly, (Joel ii. 15,) and even commands us to "gather the children, and those that suck the breasts." God has appointed that prayer must accompany all our efforts for the conversion of sinners: "Pray one for another, that ye may be healed." St. John says: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us." Now, if Christians believed more firmly, that in meeting together, and pra ing for the conversion of sinners, they were asking according to his will, would they not possess more of the confidence of the beloved disciple, that he heareth them? Would not our Sabbath school concerts, our maternal associations, be far more numerously, more punctually attended?

God has shown, and is showing every day by his providence, that united prayer avails with him. I will give but one instance. A young and lovely sister returned from school to the bosom of a large and affectionate family. Health and smiles were on her cheek, and joy sparkled in her eye. She was formed to shine-to attract affection. But her heart was not right with God. A revival of religion commenced in the city where she resided, but it touched not her. She shunned, and ridiculed, and despised. A pious brother and sister, anxious for her salvation, united at a certain hour, each day, in beseeching Gcd to make her one of his redeemed. Two days had not

« PoprzedniaDalej »