Pg. 292

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 4 THE SPOILED CHILD. [292

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 God, learn, to our sorrow, that they are employed, in our old age, as the rod in God’s hand to chastise our criminal indulgence!

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 1 It has been unfeelingly asserted, particularly by some who are unfriendly to religion, that “pious parents, have generally very wicked children.” But facts do not warrant the assertion. On the contrary, the fact of an eminent Christian, whether minister or layman, having a profane child, always calls forth very marked attention as something which the public did not expect in such a family: whereas it is never a wonder with any one, that wicked and profane children should proceed out of wicked and profane families. The Christian parent, however, in the hour of sorrow for the waywardness of his children, will make great searchings of heart into the causes of it. The promise of God is full before him, he seeks not to pervert or modify its import, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” He bemoans his delinquencies in many, yea, in innumerable instances, which the eyes of the world have never perceived, but which his own delicate conscience promptly discovers. Such was the fact with the father, whose character we have been describing. No enlightened Christian, perhaps, was ever more ready to admit his delinquencies before God; or more earnest, by prayer and supplication, to regain the ground he had lost, and subdue what had hitherto baffled his skill.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 1 It was on one of those beautiful days in our autumn, when every thing in the country is smiling under the profusions of the divine beneficence, that Doctor F. the Pastor of the village of B—, made a visit to Mr. C—l, who was a ruling elder in his church.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 He found him sowing his fields with the winter grain. He would not permit him to desist from his labor, and thereby interrupt the arrangements of the day: but he walked side by side with him, discoursing on general topics; and finally, on the state of the church, and the happy prospect of an answer to their prayers, in a revival of religion. For often had that village been blessed with seasons of refreshings from the presence of the Lord; accompanied by a rich