AN

ADDRESS TO THE CHILDREN

ATTENDING THE SCHOOLS FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, AT ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, BEDFORD ROW,

Occasioned by the Happy Death of one of their Schoolfellows.

Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes....MATT. xi. 25.

DEAR CHILDREN:

YOUR friends lately set up a school for your religious instruction: and, as they would do you good in any way, and by every method they can think of, they desire now to put another tract into your hands. It is a short account of one of your schoolfellows. It will show you the benefit of religious instruction, as well as the blessing which God has already given to the endeavours of your friends. Above all, we publish it with a hope that it will encourage you to be followers of one of your number, who has lately through faith and patience inherited the promises.'

This little boy (whom most of you knew) was the son of Mr. James Watt, of Eyre Street; whose office it is to go continually round the chapel, to see that strangers are seated whenever there is room.

Mr. Watt has been desired to give some account of his child, and he writes as follows:

"I became a hearer

at St. John's Chapel about eight years ago, and took my son, then not five years old, with me." Observe here, dear children, that a parent taking his child to God's house, puts him in the way of God's blessing, for, 'them that honour him, he will honour;' I Sam. ii. 30.

Mr. Watt goes on to say, "I was soon surprised at the quickness with which he found out the different parts of the Church Service: he would stand on a seat in the aisle by my side, and join me in singing praises to God." Don't you see here, that, if some children are idle, inattentive, and disorderly at church, it is not because they CANNOT join in the worship with their parents, and profit by the service, but because they are wicked? Pray consider this, lest you provoke God on the very day, and in the very church which he hath appointed to prepare you for his church above, and lest, in the Day of Judgment this child should be a witness against you. But let us go on with Mr. Watt's account. time after, several children who stood about the Chapel were collected together, among whom was my son: they used to attend at the house of Mr.to repeat the Scriptures and Hymns which he set them. My son met with encouragement there, both from Mr. and Mrs., whọ separately bestowed books upon him; and once, when he had received more books than others, my son told me that Mr. desired them 'not to fall out by

the way.'

"Some

"Soon after this the School for Religious Instruction was most happily instituted, by which he obtained help from the different superintendents; but, being more immediately under Mr., I must beg to refer to him, as well as to the other gentleman, for the observations they made on his conduct; and also to Mr. Mathews, the schoolmaster, as to his behaviour during the time of Divine service."

From these gentlemen, and from Mr. Mathews, we learn that William Watt was of a sickly habit, but had a strong memory--That his great attention to instruction encouraged those who taught him, and naturally drew their attention to him in return. The phy

sician found him reading his Bible whenever he visited him; and never heard him utter a murmur under his sufferings.

"At home," says Mr. Watt, "he was pious, dutiful, and obedient; chiefly employed in reading his Bible, the Pilgrim's Progress, (of which he was very fond,) and other religious books. He often explained what he read, in a manner that surprised us. He seldom mixed in play; and when invited to a schoolfellow's house, I have been told he has left his playfellows for the parlour and a book. What is remarkable in a boy of his age, he had not at the time of his death, a single plaything. His books he desired to be given to his brother, and to four other boys belonging to the school; and to all of them (as I shall have occasion to mention again) he left a charge that they should 'prepare to meet their God.'"

This is not put down as if there was any harm in a child's having a few playthings: but to show you that while even OLD people will have their playthings and amusements, for want of a heart towards something better; so, on the contrary, the heart of a child may be so renewed and exalted by divine grace, as very early to 'put away childish things.'

"I will mention," says Mr. Watt, "only one out of many other instances of his dutiful affection for his mother, who, being unwell one night when he was in bed, he offered to rise and go out for any thing she might want that might do her good. To try him she desired he would; on which he immediately arose and dressed himself. He strictly observed the truth; and always spoke to us in a thankful and obliging manner. When I conversed with him on religion, he listened with reverence, and would make happy observations thereon. In company, he was reserved, yet would readily sing a hymn if requested."

We have never observed a child, which, like this, was dutiful to his parents, upon whom God did not set some mark of his approbation. 'Honour thy father and thy mother, is the first commandment with promise:' Eph. vi. 2. And, if God spares your lives, Dear Children, you may also observe how often he sets a black mark upon such as have been undutiful.

His father goes on to write, "In a former illness in which we thought we should lose him, he said many comfortable things: he was much engaged with the Scriptures, and in prayer. I have no doubt but the instruction that he received from Mr. and the other gentlemen, together with the sanctified affliction which he underwent, were the grand means of his being brought to the knowledge of 'the truth as it is in Jesus.'

"I will now come to the close of his life. On the morning of Sunday the 26th of October, he hastened to be in time at the Chapel; and, though he had an umbrella, he got wet. He went through the Scriptures appointed him to learn; and then came to me, informing me that his clothes were wet. I bid him mention it to Mr. Mathews, the schoolmaster, who immediately gave him leave to go home: he returned, had his clothes changed, and continued at home the remainder of the day, reading the Book of Martyrs. His breath, however, began to fail: we therefore found it necessary again to call for the assistance of Dr. —, who, much to his honour, has displayed a truly Christian benevolence in his kind offices and ready attention to my children, which I shall ever regard with gratitude.

"The dear boy, however, grew worse; and awaking after a short sleep, he said to his mother, 'I never was sure I should die before, but now I am sure I shall die, and go to heaven.' He begged her to forgive him all

he had done amiss; and, after a pause, he said, 'God hath forgiven me all my sins.'

"I came into the room at this time, when he said to me, Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' He went on, saying, 'The Lord is our shepherd we shall not want. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly-Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'"

Here you see, dear children, what true faith does. It brings a burden of guilt and sorrow to Christ the Saviour: it takes Him for its teacher-trusts his worddepends on his power-is satisfied with his favour-endeavours to obey his will-and confesses him before men. And, that the Holy Spirit can make a YOUNG CHILD such a true believer, as well as its parent, you plainly see in the case before you. We could also tell you of many other such instances, if it were necessary.

"On my asking him," continues Mr. Watt, "whether it was not a great mercy that he had such Scriptures, he said, 'I feel great comfort from them;' and then said, 'Prepare to meet your God.' On asking him whether he was not thankful for the instruction which he had received at St. John's Chapel, he said, 'Tell Mr. —, I thank him for teaching me.' Afterward he said, 'I feel comfortable: I think I shall go to heaven.' On my asking him, what I should tell the boys at St. John's, he said, 'Tell them to prepare to meet their God; and tell them that I said so.'

"Seeing his mother shed tears, he requested me to tell her how Abraham offered up his son Isaac; and not to grieve." Observe, dear children, that your schoolfellow (like young Timothy*) knew, while a child, the Holy Scriptures, which were able to make

* 2 Tim. iii. 15.