HIM' also wise to salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.' God made this child not only a comfort to his mother, but a comforter; and thus, 'out of the mouths of babes and sucklings he perfects praise.' "Looking at his brother," says Mr. Watt, "he said, 'Jem, you would be happy to be in my state, but prepare to meet your God.' He now grew worse; and was greatly convulsed during the night, and departed the next day in perfect ease, (Friday, the 2d of November, 1800,) aged twelve years and nine months.” Having given you, dear children, this account of one of your school fellows, we wish to add two or three remarks for your use. 1. This case is sent you for INSTRUCTION. You hear accounts of true religion continually; but here you see it. In this little boy you see what your Bible means, by being 'born again—a 'new heart'a 'lively faith-a 'hope full of glory.' You see, also, the fruits which they bear, who are truly religious; that is, are united by faith to the tree of life, Jesus Christ. This child not only loved God, and his Word, and his Church: but he was a blessing, a comfort, yea a comforter to his parents, and an example to all. Nor is true religion that gloomy, uncomfortable thing, which some children foolishly suppose. You see the contrary in your schoolfellow. He was happy and thankful in life-happy in deathand is gone to be happier than I can tell you, for ever. 'For godliness is profitable for all things; having the promise of the life that now is,' so far as there is any thing good in it; and the promise of the life that is to come,' in which there is nothing but good: 1 Tim, iv. 8. 2. This case will afford you ADMONITION, that is, warning and caution. You see how early children may be called away by death: and, therefore, our Lord says to all, young as well as old, 'Be ye also ready, for at such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh ;' and when He cometh, we are told the small as well as great must stand before him in judgment: Rev. xx. 12. To be ready when the Judge shall come, was the grand concern of this child: he pressed this upon all around him: he begged his father to charge you to 'prepare to meet your God,' and to say this expressly from HIM. We pray you to consider how awful a witness he will be against you in that great day, if you continue in a careless state. Godly children will then be witnesses against other children. God, in having servants of all ages and in all stations, will leave others of all ages and stations without excuse. If therefore you are tempted to sin with ungodly children-so as to tell untruths-to break the sabbath-to slight instruction-to disobey your parents, and to wish to break loose from their restraints that you may follow the course of this world; Oh beware, lest God in judgment to you should say, "Let that wicked child take its course. I will give him up to his heart's lusts. He shall go on his way to destruction!" For the day shall come that shall burn as an oven, and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble. But, to such as fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings' Mal. iv. 2. 3. The case of this child offers ENCOURAGEMENT to children. God has put it into the hearts of your parents and friends to bring you to the House of God for instruction, and He has put it into the hearts of others to instruct you there. They would, with his blessing, take you by the hand and guide you from that 'broad way which leads to destruction,' into the 'narrow path which leads to everlasting life.' They will feel well rewarded for all their pains and expense in bringing, if but one of you, into the right way. They know one soul is of more worth than a whole world. You are shown, in the success that has attended their labours with this little boy, what they would do for you. Watch, therefore, against the temptation of Satan, of a wicked world, and of a deceitful heart, which would discourage you, and tell you that you are but a child, and cannot yet seek God: know and trust in Christ; and be truly religious. This account proves how well a young child may, by divine grace, enter God's ways, and prepare to meet Him. This child was born with the same corrupt nature as yourselves; yet, by the help of his God, he turned out of the course of this world, and took the same path as Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and others of the saints of God. Like the child Samuel, he early knew and served the Lord 'in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom he shone as a light in the world.' He owned his God, and his God owned him, and blessed him in life and in death. It should also afford great encouragement to you, Dear Children, that God has set his mark of approbation on this our endeavour in setting up a school for you. He has said, 'they that seek me early shall find me:' Prov. viii. 17, and he has fulfilled this promise before our eyes in this little boy. We see Jesus still taking young children into the arms of his love and blessing them. Take encouragement from this, and call upon him with Jabez, 1 Chron. iv. 9, 10, "Oh, thou that wouldest bless me indeed, that thine hand may be with ME, that thou wouldest keep ME' from evil, as thou didst my late school fellow, that, with him I may finally inherit thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.” schoolfellow, EARLY PIETY RECOMMENDED IN A DISCOURSE, ADDRESSED TO THE SCHOOLS FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, AT ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, BEDFORD ROW, MAY 1, 1802. Those that seek me early shall find me.. PROV. viii. 17. ... Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.-Ecclesiastes, xii. 1. My dear children, this discourse is particularly addressed to you. Our 'heart's desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be saved.' We cannot but recollect the errors and snares of our own childhood: we admire and adore the Hand of God, by which alone we escaped: we bless him for timely help afforded us by our friends: and, in turn, we would now assist you. Oh! that your prayers and endeavours may join ours, and that the divine blessing may rest upon us both, while we call you to 'remember your Creator in the days of your youth!' The Wise Man concludes a variety of instruction with an Admonition to youth; and, in order to your more clearly perceiving the meaning and importance of it, I proceed to state, I. How, you are called to remember your CREATOR. II. WHEN, you should specially remember Him: 'In the days of THY YOUTH.' III. Way, such remembrance should not be deferred: because 'evil days come, and years draw nigh, in which thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them.' I. Consider HOW, you should remember your CRE ATOR. Begin by remembering WHO HE IS. I assure you, we, your Ministers, must come to the Bible as our only guide, to know any thing of this grand truth: and there we find our Creator to be that same and only God, into whose name ye were baptized; namely, the FATHER, the Son, and the HOLY GHOST; three persons, but one GOD. Any other notion of God is but a creature of the imagination; and to worship such a creature, is to worship an Idol. Then, you should remember HE HAS DONE. your Creator as to WHAT For all we, like sheep, have gone astray.' You have heard of wicked persons, who, by toys and promises, entice silly Children from their Parents' door; and, after carrying them to a distant spot in some wood or cellar, there strip them, and sometimes murder them. It is thus that Sin and Satan deceive and ruin us; and thus, robbed of every good, we must have perished in our lost state and condition, if 'God' had not 'so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' This, Dear Children, is your only hope, as well as mine. We can now come to God the FATHER, through the complete atonement of God the SON, and by the assistance of God the HOLY GHOST. And consider, after what God has thus DONE, 'how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?' Again you should remember your Creator as to WHAT HE IS DOING. He is not only your Creator and Governor, but also your Friend. He is raising up ministers to instruct ر |