The Young Christian

years, time to read a great many pages; and as each discusses different topics, or presents them in new a and relations, it is well that books of this class shou multiplied. If twenty different individuals in various of our country, whom Providence has placed in suc cumstances as to interest them particularly in the y would write for them, the books would all be read in were properly written, and would all do good. They be different, if they were the results of the indepe reflection and observation of the authors, and each coöperate with and assist the others.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

CONFESSION.

Introduction-Nature of confession-Case supposed Story of the boys' diso-

bedience on the ice-Consequences-Their unhappiness-Guilt a burden-

Means of relief-The boy's confession-His conversation with his father-

Confession of little faults-The torn letter-The anonymous letter-Repa-

ration compared with confession-Confession of great crimes-Punishment

-Story of boys on the ice continued-To parents and teachers-Confession

a privilege-Depression of spirits-Its remedy-Careless confession-Anec-

dote-Punishment-An experiment-Story of the dulled tool-Story con-

tinued Confession to God-Necessity of true repentance-Immediate re-

pentance-Salvation by Christ,

CHAPTER II.

THE FRIEND.

Story of an infant school-The new scholar-The protector appointed-Quali-

fications Power and sympathy-Story of the sailor-boy-The captain's

want of sympathy-The little ship-The Saviour-His thirty years of life

-Howard-Story of Howard-Imaginary scene-The voluntary prisoner

-The Saviour-The child's little difficulties-Human sympathy-The

murderer's cell-Sympathy for the guilty-The keeper's kindness to the

prisoner The Saviour-The Saviour's sympathy-Common distrust of it

-Illustration-Case of the sick man-Jesus Christ a physician-Strug-

gling with temptation-The benevolent teacher-The teacher imagined to

become a scholar - Howard-Sympathy of Christ-The bruised reed-The

metaphor of the bruised reed,.

CHAPTER III.

PRAYER.

The absent son-The father's promise-Its implied limitations Improper
requests Requests in an improper manner-The letter-Our Saviour's
promise-Prayers denied-Power of prayer-Granting requests in another
form-The boy asking for a knife-The sick man unexpectedly cured-
Submissive spirit-Prayers of the young-The packet-Description of the

packet-The calm-The Christian traveller-Books and tracts-The long

passage-The approaching storm-They watch the light The storm in-

creases-Going about-Splitting of the topsail-Danger-Protection never

certain-Object of prayer in danger-True composure in danger-The

prayer at sea- Effects - Sincerity of prayer-Ardor in prayer-All can

pray who wish to.

A difficulty about selfishness-Reply-Invitation to the weary-The prodigal

-The nobleman-The desk - The father's refusal - Real selfishness-

Prayer of faith-The morning prayer-meeting-The young Christian's

difficulty-The mother-God decides-A favorable answer to prayer never

certain-Danger of perversion-The humble teacher-Conclusion-Story

of the ship concluded-The storm subsides-They arrive safely at Prov-

incetown,

CHAPTER IV.

CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING DUTY.

Neglecting duty-Injury which this book will do-The disobedient child-The

message disregarded-The Christian message.

Story of Louisa--Her character-The evening meeting-Louisa's interest

in religion-Conversation with her-Increasing interest-Unwilling to

yield to God-Her sickness-She sends for her pastor-Her alarm-Her

increasing anxiety-Death-bed repentance-Increasing sickness and mental

suffering-Danger-Louisa's despair-Her advice to her young friends-

Last visit-Her sufferings She dies at midnight-Her feelings at last, 78

CHAPTER V.

ALMOST A CHRISTIAN.

Almost a Christian-Louisa's case a common one-Neglecting duty when it

is clearly pointed out-Secret causes of continuing in sin-First, procras-

tination-The student's evening walks-The admission to college-Resolu-

tions for vacations; for senior years; for future life-Now is the accepted

time-Second, love of the world-Sacrifices necessary in becoming a Chris-

tian-Losing a friend; an enjoyment Third, fear of the world-Difficul

ties foretold by the Saviour-Entire surrender required-Real submission

-Changing sides-Address to a young man,

CHAPTER VI.

DIFFICULTIES IN RELIGION.

Story of the Chinese and the map-Difficulties in all subjects-Astronomical
difficulties Difficulties in religion to be expected First difficulty-At-
tempt to avoid it Conversation continued-Second difficulty-Extent of
the creation-Difficulty-The existence of suffering inexplicable-The
pirate condemned to die-Accountability-Foreknowledge-Story of father
and son-Imaginary conversation with an infidel-Answering prayer-
Case supposed-The sick son-Miraculous interference in answering prayer
-Sources of difficulty-Algebra-The surd-Difficulty theoretical-None
in practice.

Objects of this chapter-1. Inquiries-Disobedient school-boy-2. Perplexi-
ties of Christians-Way to avoid them-Plausible reasoning sometimes
unsafe-Scholars in geometry-Drawing inferences-Story of the knights
and the statue-The shield of brass and iron-One kind of controversy-
3. Difficulties of children Children's questions-4. Difficulties of parents
and teachers-The school-boy's question-A humble, docile spirit,

106

CHAPTER VII.

EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.

The doubting clerk-The unexpected letter-The sick child-Possible mis-
takes-Men act from reasonable evidence-Evidences of Christianity, His-
torical, Internal, and Experimental-Illustration-The phosphorus.

1. Historical Evidence—Seal-Miracles-Examining witnesses-The court

-The court-room-The prisoner-His accusation and trial Testimony of

the owner; of the watchman-The lawyer's question-The watchman's

story-The prisoner convicted-Points secured on trials-Three points to

be attended to-Irruption of the barbarians-Old manuscripts-Genuine-

ness of the Scriptures-Quotations Illustration-Use made of quotations

-Paley's Evidences-Necessity for proving the genuineness of the Scrip-

tures-The original records not remaining-The second point Opportuni-

ties of knowing-The housebreaker's trial-Sacred writers could not have

been mistaken-They were eye-witnesses-Third point Their style of

writing-Impartiality-Elevated views They were disinterested-Our

Saviour's farewell address-Interested witnesses Battle of Lexington-

Parliament and Congress-Points proved-Argument from prophecy-

Prophecies False prophecies-Subject difficult-Were the Christian wit-

nesses believed? - Contest with paganism-Power of truth.

2. Internal Evidence-Unity of the Scriptures-The Bible a number of

books-Its single object-The Bible a history of Christ-Sacrifices-

Meaning of sacrifices-Their moral influence Conclusion of the book-

Appropriate language-The advent of the Saviour-Its time and place-

The Mediterranean sea-Interesting associations-Character of God-Lan-

guage of nature; of the Bible-The sufferer in the hospital-Jehovah just,

as well as merciful-Butler's Analogy.

3. Experimental Evidence-Case of sickness supposed-Medicine-Proof

of it The mother-The mother and her sick son-The unbeliever-Power

of Christianity-Particular case-Prisons-Old and new system of dis-

cipline-Stories of the convicts-The disobedient son-Conversation-

Struggles with sin-Second story-Nature of ardent spirit-W.'s crime-

Learning to read in prison-First lesson-Effect of the Bible upon W.-

Sins against God-W.'s mental sufferings His prayer-His way of find-

ing the 51st Psalm - His relief-Close of the convicts' stories-Charlestown

state-prison-Old building-Crowded night rooms-Arms-Prison yard-

Chapel-Prisoners going to Sabbath-school-Aspect of the school-Pris-

oners' dress-Limited circulation of the Bible-Fear of death-The sick

young man-Sting of death-The dying mother-Practical directions-

Difficulties-Disputes-Doing duty,

133

CHAPTER VIII.

STUDY OF THE BIBLE.

Way to study the Bible-The young man's experiment The family circle-

Distribution of books-Interest of the children-Particular directions-

Familiar sounds-The motto in the school-room-Description from the

Bible-Vivid conceptions-Picturing the scene to the mind-Clear con-

ceptions-West's picture of Christ rejected-Effect upon the assembly-

Writing questions-God's command to Abraham-Questions upon the

passage-Questions written by a boy-Many faulty Utility of writing

questions-Many questions on one verse-Experiment tried by a mother-

A Sabbath-school teacher-Rewriting Scripture-The boy's evening work

-Actual case-Passage-Difficulty arising-Explanation of it-Story of

Micah, a specimen-Two specimens on the same subject--Questions-

Collating the Scriptures-Plan tried by James and John-Effect of this

method-Three accounts of Paul's conversion-Advantages of the plan-

List of lessons-Difficulties to be anticipated-Studying by subjects-The

Sabbath-Jerusalem-List of topics Too little intellectual study of the

Bible-Object of the historic form-Reading practically-Daily reading

of the Bible-Useless reading-The apprentice-Reading two verses

History of the Sabbath-Change from Saturday to Sunday-Beginning of the

Sabbath-Idle controversies-A father's command to his boys-The ques-

tion about the clock and the dial-Universal principle-Two doves-A day

of twenty-three and a half hours-A day at the pole-A day lost-No

sunset for months-Sabbath in Greenland-Change to first day-No change

in the command-The creation-Principle important Non-essentials-

Liability to evasion-Human and divine laws-Spirit of the law-James'

way of reading the Bible-A boy studying his lesson-The boat The

careful mother-Way to interest children-Conversation with the children

-Ingenuity and effort necessary-The heart to be reached-Variety-

Remarks of a clergyman-Necessity of variety-Religious books-Way

of spending the Sabbath-Various duties-System in religious exercises-

Waste of time prevented-Rest on the Sabbath-Distinct duties to be

performed-Way to make self-examination interesting and useful-Mi-

nuteness of self-examination-Prayer-Studying the Bible, and conversa

tion on the Sabbath-Frivolous conversation-Public worship-Responsi-

bility of the hearers-The farmer and his boys-Duty of the hearers to be

Interested-Sinister motives at church-Way to detect them-Heartless

worship-Way in which it is indicated-Appearance of evil-The summer

evening-A walk-Walking, riding, sailing on the Sabbath,

257

« Anterior Continuar »

Libros

The Young Christian: Or, A Familiar Illustration of the Principles of ...