II. STYLE AND LANGUAGE. I have made no effort to simplify the language. It is not necessary to do this even for children. They will understand the language of maturity easily enough, if the logic and rhetoric are theirs. I have attempted, therefore, to present each subject in such an aspect, and to illustrate it in such a way, as is adapted to the young mind, using, however, such language as has suggested itself spontaneously. It is a great but a very common error to suppose, that merely to simplify diction is the way to gain access to the young. Hence a sermon for children is seldom any thing more than a sermon for men, with easy words substituted for the hard ones. This goes on the supposition that the great difficulty is to make children understand religious truth. Whereas, there is no difficulty at all in this. The difficulty is in interesting them in it. They will understand readily enough, if they are interested in the form and manner in which the subject comes before them. These principles will explain the great number of narratives, and dialogues, and statements of facts, which are introduced to give vividness to the conceptions of my readers. I am not certain but that some individuals of mature minds may object to the number of imaginary incidents which I have thus introduced. If the principles stated above are not considered satisfactory, I must appeal to authority. This book is not more full of parables than were the discourses of Jesus Christ. I shelter myself behind his example. III. REQUEST TO PARENTS. Every parent knows that 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, with peculiar dexterity, will 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 of 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 and jealous 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 everywhere 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,-to explain and illustrate Christian duty, not Christian truth; 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, the independent reflection if they were the results of and observation of the authors, and each would co-operate with and assist the other. CONTENTS. Introduction. Nature of confession. Case supposed. Story of the boys' disobedience on the ice. Consequences. unhappiness. Guilt a burden. Means of relief. confession. His conversation with his father. of little faults. The torn letter. The anonymous letter. Re- paration compared with confession. Confession of great crimes. Punishment. Story of boys on the ice continued. To parents and teachers. Confession a privilege. Depres- sion of spirits. Its remedy. Careless confession. dote. Punishment. An experiment. Story of the dulled tool. Story continued. Confession to God. Anxiety un- Story of an Infant School. The new scholar. appointed. Qualifications. Power and sympathy. the sailor boy. The captain's want of sympathy. ship. The Saviour. His thirty years of life. Howard. Story of Howard. Imaginary scene. The voluntary prison- er. 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. Struggling with temptation. The benevolent teacher. The teacher imagined to become a scholar. Howard. Sympathy of The absent son. The father's promise. Its implied limitations. Improper requests. Requests in an improper manner. 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 increases. Going about. Splitting of the topsail. Danger. Protection never certain. Object of prayer in danger. Socrates. His peace of mind. True composure in danger. The prayer at sea. Effects. Sincerity of prayer. Ardour in prayer. All can pray who A difficulty about selfishness. Reply. Invitation to the weary. The prodigal. The nobleman. The desk. The father's refusal. Real selfishness. Importunate prayer. just judge. Prayer of faith. The morning prayer meeting. The young Christian's difficulty. The mother. God de- cides. A favourable answer to prayer never certain. Dan- ger of perversion. The humble teacher. Conclusion. Story Story of Louisa. Her character. The evening meeting. Louisa's interest in religion. Conversation with her. Increasing inte- rest. 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. Neglect- |