dered satisfactory, I must appeal to authority. This book is not more full of parables than were the discourses of Jesus Christ. I shelter myself under his example. III. REQUEST TO PARENTS. Every parent knows there is great danger that children will run over the pages of a book where narrative and dialogue are introduced to illustrate religious truth, and that they will, with peculiar dexterity, find out and read all that has the interest of a story, and skip the rest. There will, perhaps, in this volume be less danger from this, from the fact that the whole is so intimately interwoven as to render it in most cases difficult to separate. A mother can, however, effectually prevent it, if she pleases. If her children are young, and she fears this danger, let her read the book to them, or let her assign a distinct and a limited portion for each Sabbath; and after it is read, let her examine them in it, asking questions in regard to the plan and design of the chapter-the circumstances of each narrative-and especially the purpose for which it is introduced. This however must be done, not in the suspicious manner of hearing a lesson which you fear has not been learned, but with the winning tone of kindness and confidence. IV. THEOLOGY OF THE WORK. As to the theology of the work, it takes every where for granted that salvation is to be obtained through repentance for past sin, and trust for forgiveness in the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is not, however, a work on theology. It is designed to enforce the practice, not to discuss the theory of religion. Its object is to explain and illustrate Christian duty; but it exhibits this duty as based on those great principles in which all denominations of evangelical Christians concur. V. OTHER BOOKS OF THE KIND. There are already several most interesting and useful books before the public, whose object is the same with this—to give Christian instruction to the young. This work appears not as their rival, but as their companion. Most young Christians have, in the course of half a dozen years, time to read a great many pages; and as each writer discusses different topics, or presents them in new aspects and relations, it is well that this class of books should be multiplied. If twenty different individuals in various parts of our country, whom Providence has placed in such circumstances as to interest them particularly in the young, would write for them, the books would all be read if they were properly written, and would all do good. They would be different, if they were the results of the independent reflection and observation of the authors, and each would co-operate with and assist the others. CONTENTS. Introduction. Nature of confession. Case supposed. Story of the boy's disobedience on the ice. Consequences. Their un- happiness. Guilt a burden. Means of relief. The boy's con- fession. His conversation with his father. Confession of little faults. The torn letter. The anonymous letter. Reparation compared with confession. Confession of great crimes. Pun- ishment. Story of boys on the ice continued. To parents and teachers. Confession a privilege. Depression of spirits. Its remedy. Careless confession. Anecdote. Punishment. An experiment. Story of the dulled tool. Story continued. Con- Story of an Infant School. The new scholar. The protector ap- pointed. Qualifications. Power and sympathy. Story of the sailor boy. The captain's want of sympathy. The little ship. The Savior. His thirty years of life. Howard. Story of Howard. Imaginary scene. The voluntary prisoner. The Savior. The child's little difficulties. Human sympathy. The murderer's cell. Sympathy for the guilty. The keeper's kind ness to the prisoner. The Savior. The Savior's sympathy. Common distrust of it. Illustration. Case of the sick man. Jesus Christ a physician. Struggling with temptation. The benevolent teacher. The teacher imagined to become a scho- The absent son. The father's promise. Its implied limitations. Improper requests. Requests in an improper manner. letter. Our Savior's promise. Prayers denied. Power of prayer. Granting requests in another form. The boy asking for a knife. The sick man unexpectedly cured. Submissive tracts. The long passage. The approaching storm. They watch the light. The storm increases. Going about. Split- ting of the topsail. Danger. Protection never certain. Ob- ject of prayer in danger. Socrates. His peace of mind. True composure in danger. The prayer at sea. Effects. Sincerity of prayer. Ardor in prayer. All can pray who A difficulty about selfishness. Reply. Invitation to the weary. The prodigal. The nobleman. The desk. The father's re- fusal. 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. Dan- ger of perversion. The humble teacher. Conclusion. Story CHAPTER IV.-CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING Duty. Neglecting duty. Injury which this book will do. The disobe- Story of Louisa. Her character. The evening meeting. Lou- isa'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. Almost a Christian. Louisa's case a common one. Neglecting duty when it is clearly pointed out. Secret causes of continu- ing in sin. First, Procrastination. The student's evening walks. The admission to college. Resolutions for vacations; for se- nior 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. Difficulties foretold by the Savior. Entire surrender Story of the Chinese and the map. Difficulties in all subjects. Astronomical difficulties. Difficulties in religion to be expect- Objects of this chapter. 1. inquiries. Disobedient school-boy. 2. Perplexities of Christians. Way to avoid them. Plausible reasoning sometimes unsafe. Scholars in geometry. Draw- ing inferences. Story of the knights and the statue. The shield of brass and iron. One kind of controversy. 3. Diff- culties of children. Children's questions. 4. Difficulties of The doubting clerk. The unexpected letter. The sick child. Possible mistakes. Men act from reasonable evidence. Evi- dences of Christianity, Historical, Internal, and Experimental. 1. Historical Evidence. Seal. Miracles. Examining witnesses. 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 influ- ence. Conclusion of the book. Appropriate language. The advent of the Savior. Its time and place. The Mediterranean Sea. Interesting associations. Character of God. Language of nature; of the Bible. The sufferer in the hospital. Jeho- vah just as well as merciful. Butler's Analogy. 3 Experimental Evidence. Case of sickness supposed. Medi- |