The Young Christian

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,

CHAPTER VII.

EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.

106

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 Script ares-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

aright,
221

CHAPTER IX.

THE SABBATH.

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

CHAPTER X.

TRIAL AND DISCIPLINE.

1. Nature of Trial-The steam-boat on trial-Efforts of the engineer-Im

provements-Final results-Her power-Safe and successful action-Life

a time of trial-Trials of childhood-The child and the forbidden book-

Commands-Pain-Advantage of trial in childhood-Putting playthings

out of reach-Conversation with a mother-Trials not to he shunned-

Instruction and practice-The merchant's plan for his son-A voyage of

difficulty-Its effects.

2. The uses of Trial-Self-knowledge-The deceived mother—True submis-

sion distinguished from false-The engineer was watchful-Trial a means

of improvement—The boy studying division-The moral and arithmetical

question-Practical directions-God's providence universal-Losses of

every kind from God-The careless engineer-Neglect of duty-Conclud-

ing remarks,

294

CHAPTER XI.

PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT.

1. Moral Improvement General improvement a Christian duty—Moral
improvement-Faults-The vain boy-Way to reform him-Conversation
with his father-Instances of vanity-The boy's list-Effect of this con-
fession-Secret confession to be minute-Secret prayer often too general
-Way to make prayer interesting-Formal confession-Excuses-Way
to make secret prayer interesting-Private prayer-Examples of minute
confession-The father's letter-Object of this illustration-Faults to be
corrected-Young and old persons-Other means of correcting faults-
Exposure to temptation-Conversation between the boy and his friend-
Great and small temptations.
Growing in grace-Unavailing efforts-The mother-The man of business-
The dejected Christian-Direct efforts-Freedom of feeling and freedom of
action-Way to mould the heart-Metaphysical controversy-Story of the
Duke of Gloucester-Richard's artful plan-The council-Violent meas-
ures-Murder of the boys-Analysis of the story-Richard's wicked char-
acter-Sense in which character is voluntary-Distinction between charac-
ter and conduct-Importance of it-Moral obligation-Ways of influencing
the character-Effect of Christian knowledge-The mother-The child-
Gratitude-Christian action-Why Howard became interested for prison-
ers-Paul-Dependence upon the Holy Spirit-An evil heart-Divine
influence necessary.

2. Intellectual Improvement-A finished education-Object of education-
1. To strengthen the powers-Robinson Crusoe's supposed experiment
with Friday-Conic sections-Difficult studies-2. Acquisition of know-
ledge-3. Skill-Three experiments with Friday-Teaching him to count
-Study of mathematics-Imperfect education-Neglect of important
duties Intellectual progress of a young mother-1. Reading-System
-Variety-Thorough reading-Short works-2. Conversation-Difficulty
of cultivating it-Means of cultivating it-Experiments proposed-Plans

and experiments-Digesting knowledge-3. Writing-Private Journals

-Form and manner-Running titles-Family journal-By brothers and

sisters-Its advantages-Subjects-Notes and abstracts-True design of

taking notes-Form of books-Plan-Variety-Specimens-Reynolds—

Humboldt-Chronology-Synagogues-History of the Bible-Sir Hum-

phrey Davy-Story of the sea-captain-Hiring children-The Saviour's

thirst on the cross- -Deceiving children-Narratives-Ellen, or "Boast not

thyself of to-morrow"-The dying bed-The patient's interest in religion—

Her address to her husband-Her affecting remarks to her children-

Moral aspects of what is seen and heard-Power of the pen,

CHAPTER XII.

CONCLUSION.