of feeding the flock, is depicted in Ezek. xxxiv. Oh that every shepherd of Christ's flock would ponder these things, and be wise! And what is the people's duty, in the consideration of such a subject as this?— 1. Let all be anxious to avail themselves of the religious privileges which they possess. Have you a good shepherd and faithful pastor? Are your souls cared for, as the Church designs? Have you the lively oracles preached, means, ordinances, &c. in rich abundance? Then see to it that these become not to you an occasion of falling use them diligently, humbly, thankfully—with much prayer. Strengthen the hands of your pastors, not only by constantly praying for them, but by upholding their influence, and furthering their pious designs. : 2. Is it your misfortune to have a slothful husbandman in that portion of the vineyard to which you belong? -Do not therefore desert the Church, and strengthen the bands of schism: unite in prayer for him; use all legitimate means afforded you by the laws of the Church, to introduce a more faithful shepherd; and then wait on God in meek submission to his will. He can send his own heart:" ask him to do so! 66 a pastor after Let us strive together in prayer, that the Head of the Church would pour out his Holy Spirit on her, and increase the number of devoted ministers, who shall declare to a willing people the unsearchable riches of Christ.* *Here any cause relating to the extension of Church influence might be introduced. XXXV. PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. Proverbs xxiv. 30-34. I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone-wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. THERE are few subjects upon which more has been written and spoken in the present day than upon the early education of youth; and yet is it an inexhaustible topic, and one on which christian parents need much exhortation and instruction. Great difficulties oppose their pious efforts, and grievous mistakes are continually made by well-intentioned persons; and not a few circumstances combine, in most cases, to produce faulty and inefficient instruction. If, therefore, by the help of God's grace, I can suggest any considerations which may guide, or animate and encourage the instructors of the young, our present labour will not be in vain. The pleasing imagery of the text, obviously applicable in its primary sense to him who by indolence in his worldly calling, has involved himself in difficulties, is not less appropriate when applied to the efforts which we may make for the spiritual benefit of ourselves or of others. Let us see what light may thus be thrown upon the subject of christian education. I. THE FIELD OR THE VINEYARD TO BE CULTIVATED, IS THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN WITH WHICH GOD HAS Here observe the nature of the soil: a mistake here may render our whole system of husbandry abortive; and this lies at the root of all false systems of education: men mistake the nature of the soil-the hearts of the children. They know not, or will not believe, that their young hearts are full of all evil-that folly and sin are bound up in them— that left to themselves they will yield nothing but weeds of vice and foolishness-and that despite the best cultivation, weeds will spring up, and that continually. If men will educate children as little angels and innocents, they must be disappointed: scripture and experience are against them. "As soon as we are born we go astray and speak lies." (Psalm lviii. 3.) Yea, "we are conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity," (Psalm li. 5); and in every child there are the seeds of all those sins which our Saviour says proceed out of the heart. (Matt. xv. 19.) Whatever our system may be, we must remember throughout, the nature of the soil on which we have to work; a sinful, wayward, rebellious, unbelieving, polluted heart-a heart full of enmity to God. II. THE MEANS PUT INTO OUR HANDS FOR CULTIVATING THIS APPARENTLY UNPROPITIOUS SOIL: IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. God has given parents and teachers great authority, and they must use it. This is the foundation of all scriptural education: for this Abraham was commended, (Gen.xviii. 19); and for want of this Eli was condemned and punished. (1 Sam. ii. 24.) Children must be taught to believe and to obey, before they are permitted to require a reason: they are to be taught, not as young philosophers, but as ignorant, wayward, foolish, little children, who are to depend upon their parents and teachers, and look to them as in the place of God! This is the voice of nature, reason, and religion ; though scouted in some schools of modern empirics. As they rise out of infancy, what ample means of cultivation do we possess. The rich treasures of God's word-full of all that captivates the youthful mind; the sound and scriptural formularies of our church—the restraints and covenants of the baptismal vow-pious example-early acquaintance with public worship-preparation for the solemn rite of confirmation, and the holy ordinance of the Lord's supper;—all these supply the diligent and sensible parent with ample means of ploughing, sowing, and weeding the field of the youthful heart not to speak here of the judicious and contemporaneous additions of all useful secular learning. Still the work is great, and often very discouraging; many a fair bud of promise is nipped off-many evils supposed to be destroyed revive again-the parental toil never ceases, it is daily, perpetual, and often accompanied with tears and sighs: and long time must we wait for the wished-for result. It would be a hopeless task, but for the promises of God to cheer us. III. THE SPECIAL PROMISES TO THE LABOURERS IN THIS FIELD. They are numerous and familiar. The many commands to parents in Scripture, upon this subject, imply promises; and the obvious blessings conferred, both on parents and children who have fulfilled their duties, offer strong encouragement. Isaac, Joseph, Samuel, David, Daniel, Timothy, and many others, exemplify the blessedness of early piety, and of early pious instruction. "From a child," from infancy," thou hast known the Holy Scriptures," &c. (2 Tim. iii. 14-17, and i. 5.) "Train up a child in the way he should go," &c. (Prov. xxii. 6.) God himself specially delights in infant piety. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, he perfects praise," &c. (Psalm viii. 2.) Their worship was accepted of Christ, when Pharisees blasphemed. (Matt. xxi. 16.) Let, then, christian parents wait for the final blessing in earnest prayer, and reposing faith. The hearts of children and parents are alike in his handshe alone can turn them-all our cultivation is vain without him. He must make the seed grow, and cause his sun to shine on it, and water it with his blessing, and shelter the young plants from frost and blight and storm, and cause the fruit to ripen to perfection. The spirit of prayer is the secret principle of vegetation and fruitfulness. IV. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT IS A CHRISTIAN FAMILY OR SCHOOL, THUS CULTIVATED WITH DILIGENCE, INTELLIGENCE, AND PIETY! Was ever field or vineyard half so beautiful? See these animated plants which the Lord hath planted; see the careful, pious teacher, how he cherishes them, watches over them, marks their dispositions, tendencies, and character! As the skilful gardener suits the aspect and the soil and the season of planting to each shrub and flower, so the spiritual vine-dresser! He teaches them "as they are able to bear it;" he strives to shelter them from the cold blasts of worldliness and vice; he enriches their minds with the simple truths of God; he corrects them, pruning the exuberances of youthful feeling; chastens them in love; prays with them and for them. Nor is he without reward: what intelligence, animation, pleasure, and goodness sparkle in these countenances ! -what beautiful traits of infant piety!--what obvious restraints of self-will and selfishness! Surely they shall grow up as young plants and olive branches round about his table! (Psalm cxxviii. 3; cxliv. 12.) The result will generally be according to the labour bestowed: in proportion as we labour according to the will of God, in faith and prayer, waiting for His blessing, so shall our joyful harvest eventually be, perhaps after we are silent in the grave! V. BUT SEE THE NEGLECTED FIELD AND VINEYARD AS DEPICTED IN THE TEXT : -the wall broken down, and the wild flowers creeping about, and thorns and nettles and brambles growing where once there were pleasant plants and choice fruits. (a) How affecting the view of a neglected family! "children |