ADDRESS

TO THE

CHILDREN OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

FEBRUARY 5TH, 1865.

THE LAMBS OF CHRIST'S FOLD.

PSALM XXXiv. 11

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

It is now three years ago since I last addressed all the children attending our Sunday-schools in this city, when they were gathered together in this Cathedral, as you are this day. One year I was absent in England, and last year I was prevented attending to many usual duties by ill-health. I thank God that we are enabled to be present here now in such full numbers. Five years ago was the first occasion of our schools meeting here, on the 5th February, 1860, just after the completion of this building, when about one thousand scholars were present. I now find by the returns I have received from the Clergy that the children on the books of the several Sunday-schools, in connection with our Churches in this city, amount to 2153, with 190 teachers; nearly 2000 of whom must be present here to-day. This is a great increase in actual numbers; but mere numbers are no test either of truth or excellence. They may, however, be made precious use of for teaching truth, and striving after what is excellent. I pray God that both you and your teachers may so turn the

tunities to account.

oppor

* The Lending Libraries connected with the Sunday-schools of our Churches in the City have 5238 volumes of religious and useful books for the benefit of the teachers and scholars.

I have taken for the subject of my address to you on this occasion, the verse which I have just read to you, from the 34th Psalm, one of the most spiritual and touching of all those beautiful inspired compositions. It was used at first by David as a song of praise to God, for having delivered him out of the hands of his enemies; but now to be used by the Christian to celebrate the far greater deliverance of his Saviour and himself from the power of far more formidable adversaries. I shall, however, simply confine myself now to the verse I have read to you: "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord." And for our present purpose, I will consider it as if addressed literally to children young in years, and as being a call to them to give heed to that instruction and training, which shall teach them “the fear of the Lord."

The first article in the Creed, or form of Christian belief, which you are taught, is, to "believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." This is the first beginning of all religion. To know of the being and nature of that God, who is the Almighty Creator of all things, is the true wisdom, the knowledge it most concerns us all to attain; and we cannot arrive at any just and sufficient knowledge of Him, without learning to fear Him. This is the first step we must take, according to the instruction given us in the Bible, that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Fear, however, is not the only feeling we are to entertain towards God; and there are also different kinds of fear there is a godly fear, which will make us approach Him with reverence, and be unwilling to offend Him; and there is a slavish fear, which will make us anxious to escape from His presence (if that were possible), because we dislike His laws, and are conscious that we are at enmity with Him. But without fear -godly, reverential fear—we shall have no just knowledge of God, or regard for Him. This, then, is what we are to say, when we call on you to come and receive instruction in our Sunday-schools: "( Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

But in order adequately to fulfil this promise, we must carry you on to some further degrees of knowledge; and true godly fear will not be maintained without a full and comprehensive

instruction, not only respecting God as the Creator, but respecting God, also, as the Redeemer of mankind. And to this it is, no doubt, that David prophetically alludes, in this very Psalm, where he says: "O taste and see how gracious the Lord is : blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." And, therefore, you are taught in the second article of the Creed, to believe "in Jesus Christ, God's only Son our Lord." Now to believe in a person, means so to believe, as to trust in him; to believe what he has said and promised, and act upon that belief. And thus, when you know more about God, and who He is, and what He has done for us, upon your reverential fear of Him, as a holy Almighty Creator, there should grow up a hallowed and chastened love of Him, as a merciful Father, revealed to us as such through Jesus Christ.

In this life these two principles are essential to the Christian character. Fearing, without loving, if we continue so long, will drive us away from God, and end in the despair of devils; and love without fear is only to be looked for where there is no sin and no temptation, when it is perfect, which can only be in heaven. In heaven perfect love will at last triumph, and cast out all fear for ever.

There are many reasons why we should be anxious to begin. religious training and instruction, at as early an age as possible. The grace of the Gospel, and the knowledge of its truths are necessary for all; as our Catechism wisely teaches of the two Sacraments "generally necessary to Salvation"; not absolutely, because there will be cases where they cannot be had. But what has been purchased for us, at so great a price, and is intended for the spiritual redemption of fallen human nature, must be as necessary in earliest infancy and childhood, as in advancing years; and, in addition to any gift derived from any ordinance of the Church of Christ, which will prepare the ground for the reception of good seed, we can scarcely venture to say at how early an age, the minds of little children are opened to receive, with grace and profit, instruction in simple religious truths. And as the actual battle of life, and the working of evil in the soul, begin from our birth, so we ought not to delay seeking such aid, and such gifts, as are provided and promised to us by God for counteracting the same.

Then again, there is the obvious fact, that the present time is all we are sure of; and that of the thousands of children that are born every year into this world of sin, a very large proportion die in infancy and childhood. And further, there can be no time so fitting for training the mind and forming the principles, after the Gospel rule, as these early years of children, when, as yet, whatever tendency to evil there may be, no inveterate bad habits have been actually formed-no grace often and presumptuously abused, -no convictions long or rudely stifled. Consequently, there is much less opposition to the truth, and less difficulty in sowing the good seed, if we faithfully and wisely labour to do so.

And surely the welcome given by our Saviour at all times to children to come nigh unto Him, and the great affection He manifested towards them, give us great encouragement to persevere in such labours, believing that there are none of which He will more approve or more abundantly bless. Of course, we may now and then see exceedingly wicked and even depraved children; and they will always be but too ready to imitate and practise the vices they witness in older people, with whom they live. But it has been remarked, that full as is every page of the Gospel with the wickedness of men, yet no bad word, no wicked deed is recorded of any child against Christ. And, moreover, when men were forward to follow Him, and made professions of zeal in serving Him, He put them back with awful warnings, speaking to them of taking up the cross and of first counting the cost; but not so with children. He drew them unto Him with unrestrained affection and bowels of compassion or yearning over them. We behold Him taking some of them up in His arms, and putting His hands upon them in blessing. And they alone of all mankind seem to have returned his affectionate care without deceit or guile; for we find children in the Temple celebrating His praise, when the scribes and priests were angry with them, because hearing them saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David." The children indeed did not understand all the meaning of these glorious words

A few lines here, and also at the conclusion, are taken from a sermon in Vol IV. "Plain Sermons."