Part 17 (1/2)

Q Who was the new-born king? A Jesus Christ Q Who are sinners? A We, and all men Q What are flocks? A A number of sheep Q What are shepherds? A Those who take care of the sheep Q What are plains? A Where the sheep feed Q Who are ? A Jesus Christ Q What is meant by Emanuel's name? A Jesus Christ

Here the teacher can inform the children, that Jesus Christ is called by a variety of names in the Bible, and can repeat them to the children if he thinks proper; for every correct idea respecting the Saviour which he can instil into their minds will serve as a foundation for other ideas, and he will find that the more ideas the children have, thehis questions; for ression is his grand distinction above the brutes

LAZARUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD

The picture being suspended as before described, we proceed thus:-

Q What is this? A Jesus Christ raising Lazarus from the dead Q Who was Lazarus? A A man who lived in a town called Bethany, and a friend of Christ's Q What is a town? A A place where there are a great nu in them Q What do you mean by a friend? A A person that loves you, and does all the good he can for you, to whoht to do the same in return Q Did Jesus love Lazarus? A Yes, and his sisters, Martha and Mary Q Who was it that sent unto Jesus Christ, and told him that Lazarus was sick? A Martha and Mary Q What did they say? A They said, Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick Q What answer did Jesus make unto thelory of God Q What did heso? A He ain by the power of God, and that the people that stood by should see it, and believe on him Q How many days did Jesus stop where he hen he found Lazarus was sick? A Two days Q When Jesus Christ wanted to leave the place, what did he say to his disciples? A He said, let us go into Judea again Q What do you mean by Judea? A A country where the Jews lived Q Did the disciples say any thing to Jesus Christ, when he expressed a wish to go into Judea again? A Yes, they said, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again? Q What did Jesus Christ tell thes, and at last told them plainly that Lazarus was dead Q How rave before he was raised up? A Four Q Who went to ? A Martha; but Mary sat still in the house Q Did Martha say anything to Jesus when she met him? A Yes, she said, Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died Q Did Martha tell her sister that Jesus Christ was come? A Yes; she said, the Master is coo to meet Jesus Christ? A Yes; and when she saw him, she fell down at his feet, and said, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died Q Did Mary weep? A Yes, and the Jews that ith her Q What is weeping? A To cry Q Did Jesus weep? A Yes; and the Jews said, Behold, how he loved hi else? A Yes; they said, Could not this man that opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Q What took place next? A He went to the grave, and told the persons that stood by to take away the stone Q And when they took away the stone, what did Jesus Christ do? A He cried, with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth; and he that was dead carave clothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin-Jesus saith unto theo; and s which Jesus did, believed on him Q If anted any more information about Lazarus and his sisters, where should we find it? A In the Bible Q What part? A The eleventh and twelfth chapters of John

I have had children at the early age of four years, askother things, the children have said, when being examined at this picture, ”That if Jesus Christ had cried, softly, Lazarus, coht so, they have answered, ”Because God can do anything;” which is a convincing proof that children, at a very early age, have an idea of the O Oh, that oodness to the children of men!

PICTURE OF THE LAST SUPPER

Q What is this? A A picture of the Last Supper Q What do you mean by the last supper? A A sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ himself Q What do you understand by a sacrament? A There are two sacraments, baptism and the holy supper, and they are both observed by true Christians Q We will speak about baptism presently, but as we have the picture of the holy supper before as, let me ask if it is called by any other name? A Yes; it is said that Jesus kept the passover with his disciples, and when the even was come he sat doith them, and as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my body Q What took place next? A He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it the, This is my blood, the blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many Q Did Jesus command this ordinance to be observed by his people? A Yes; he said in another place, This do in reht those persons to remember who do this? A They should remember that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save sinners Q Is any thing else to be understood by the sacrareat deal more Q Explain some of it A When they drink the wine, they should recollect that they ought to receive the truth of God into their understandings Q What will be the effect of receiving the truth of God into our understandings? A It will expel or drive out all falsehood Q What ought they to recollect when they eat the bread? A They should recollect that they receive the love of God into their wills and affections Q What will be the effect of this? A It will drive out all bad passions and evil desires; for it is said, he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth ins? A Much et older Q Hoill you learn this? A By reading the Bible and going to a place of worshi+p[A]

[Footnote A: There are , more simple, which accompany the pictures and apparatus which I supply for Infant Schools; the profits from which will assist to enable th, still further to extend the systeht before the infant s of the heart, as well as the powers of the understanding, be called into exercise; let babes have ”the puremeat;” let as little stress as possible be laid on ”the mere letter,” and as much as possible on ”the spirit” of ”the truth;” let it be shewn that piety is not ree practicable; let this be done with diligence, faith, and prayer, and I hesitate not to say, that we shall have an increase of the religion of the heart

Religious instruction iven in other ways Let the teacher take a flower or an insect, and ask the, children if they could make such a one; and I never found one ould answer, ”Yes” A e of its wonders The teacher may then make a needle the subject of remark; the children will admit that it is smooth, very smooth; let him tell them it is the work of man, and as such will appear i theh and full of holes As a contrast, let hiive thee its superiority over the needle But on viewing it through the microscope, astonishment will be increased, and I have heard reat) Godmay then be pointed out, as unlike the needle, and perfectly smooth; and thus truth htful

The influence of such considerations on character is obvious When the greatness of God is spoken of, allusion may be oodness est the evil of unkindness, and the importance of benevolence; and his truth may lead to remarks on its necessity, and the sin of falsehood

A sround rains of wheat, barley, or rye may be sown, and theyforth Often will they go, and anxiously watch for this; and at length they will say perhaps, ”Please, sir, such a thing has come up; we know it is so, for it is just what you said it would be” Week after week the progress of vegetation will be observed, and the fulfilreatly tend to increase his influence So great will he appear, that his words and coarded; while it will be his object to trace the wonders which he predicted to their divine Source I have frequently observed, on such occasions, what I should term an act of infant worshi+p Often has the question been put to me, ”Please, sir, is it wicked to play?” as if the spirit were awed, and transgression against God were regarded with dread Caution has been also discovered in the use of the divine naht to such re a hymn, we may say Gad, or if we talk about the sun, wehis name in vain, is it? But e talk of God as boys do in the street, that is very wicked!”

The following facts will illustrate the benefit of scriptural instruction

A little boy, about four years and a half old, belonging to an Infant School, went to see his cousin, a little girl about his own age At bed-tiet into bed without having said her prayers The little fellow immediately went up to the side of the bed, and put this question to her: ”Which would you rather go to, heaven or hell?” The little girl said, ”I don't know!” ”Not know!” said the boy; ”Why, wicked people go to hell, and the good go to heaven, a happy place” The little girl then said, ”Why, I should like to go to heaven” ”Ah!” but replied the little fellow again, ”You did not say your prayers; and all that go heaven pray to God” She then said, ”Will you teach me to pray your prayer?” ”If I lived with you,” said he, ”I would; but if you go to the Infant School, they will teach you to say your prayers, and sing hymns too”

One day, while the teacher of an Infant School was speaking to his little children, from the conversation of our Lord with the woentleo to worshi+p God?” When a little boy answered, ”To a throne of grace” ”And where is a throne of grace?” ”Any where,” answered the boy; ”for where we kneel down, and pray to God with our hearts, we are then at a throne of grace”

There are tiious instruction than others A teacher of observation will soon perceive this, and act accordingly; if, however, the thing is overdone, which it may be, and which I have seen, then the effect is fatal Hypocrisy will take the place of sincerity, and the heart will remain unaffected and uni anecdote, being six years of age, and forward in his learning, I considered him fit to be sent to another school; and inforly The father came immediately, and said, he hoped I would keep hi, that he hadthe request I told hin of the Institution to take such children as no other school would ade of six, he would be received into the national school; moreover, as we had a nuer, I could not grant his request He then said, ”I understand that you ood reason to approve of thee Bible in the house, Matthew Henry's, which was left me by my deceased mother; like many more, I never looked into it, but kept it merely for show The child, of course, was forbidden to open it, for fear of its being spoiled: but still he was continually asking me to read in it, and I as continually denied him; indeed, I had i this book, and had no inclination to read it, and was not very anxious that the child should However, the child was not to be put off, although several ti e, the child would frequently ask ood humour; and at last I complied with his wishes; 'Please, father,' said the child, 'will you read about Soloment' 'I don't knohere to find it,' was the reply 'Then,' says the child, 'I will tell you; it is in the third chapter of the first book of Kings' I looked as the child directed, and, finding it, I read it to hi done so, I was about to shut up the book; which the child perceiving, said, 'Now, please, father, will you read about Lazarus raised from the dead?' which was done; and, in short,” said the father, ”he kept ht, and co rid of hiht be renewed the application, with 'Please, father, will you read about Joseph and his brethren?' and he could always tell me where these stories were to be found Indeed, he was not contented with etabout; and if I said I could not tell hio to church, for his master had told hi, 'and I will go with you, father' In short, he told me every picture you had in your school, and keptfor ht; this, therefore, is one reason why I wish the child to remain in the school” A short time afterwards, the mother called on me, and told me, that no one could be happier than she was, for there was so much alteration in her husband for the better, that she could scarcely believe hiround, in the evening, spending hisat hoo for ga to buy books, hich, in conjunction with the Bible, they were greatly delighted, and afforded both hireat deal of pleasure and profit

Here we see a whole faion and duty, by the instrue I subsequently made inquiries, and found that the whole family attended a place of worshi+p, and that their character would bear the strictest investigation

The following anecdote will also she early impressions are made on the infante of five and six years, being extremely ill, prevailed on his mother to ask me to come and see him The mother called, and stated, that her little boy said be wanted to see hisif he could see him The ed to et better after he had seenthe child considered that he could not recover The moment I entered the room, the child attempted to rise, but could not ”Well, my little man,” said I, ”did you want to see me?” ”Yes, Sir, I wanted to see you very much,” answered the child ”Tell me what you wanted ain, because I shall die” ”Don't say that,” said the ain” ”No,” answered the child, ”I shall not get better, I a a hymn overmade me promise that this should be done, observed, ”You told me, master, e used to say the pictures, that the souls of children never die; and do you think I shall go to God?” ”You ask me a difficult question, my little boy,” said I ”Is it, sir?” said the child, ”I am not afraid to die, and I know I shall die” ”Well, child, I should not be afraid to change states with you; for if such as you do not go to God, I do not knoill become of such as myself; and from what I know of you, I firmly believe that you will, and all like you; but you knohat I used to tell you at school” ”Yes, sir, I do; you used to tell me that I should pray to God to assist me to do to others as I would that they should do to me, as the hyht and ; and I used to pray for father and overness, and every body else” ”Yes, my little man, this is part of our duty; we should pray for every one; and, I think, if God sees it needful, he will answer our prayers, especially when they come from the heart” Here the child attempted to speak, but could not, but waved his hand, in token of gratitude forcalled; and I can truly say, that I never saw so nation, and true dependence on the divine will, rown person, on a death-bed, e of seven years I bade the child adieu, and was much impressed hat I had seen The next day the mother called on me, and informed me that the child had quitted his tenement of clay; and that just before his departure had said to her, and those around him, that the souls of children never die; it was only the body that died; that he had been told at school, while they were saying the pictures, that the soul went to God, who gave it The mother said that these were the last words the child was known to utter She then repeated the request about the children singing a hy The time arrived for the funeral, and the parents of the children ere to sing the hymn made them very neat and clean, and sent them to school I sent them to the house whence the funeral was to proceed, and the undertaker sent word that he could not be troubled with such little creatures, and that unless I attended o I told him that I was confident that the children would be no trouble to him, if he only told them to follow the mourners two and two, and that it was unnecessary for any one to interfere with the theht, however, that I would attend to see how the children behaved, but did not let theround As soon as I had got to the ground, some of the children saw me, and whispered, ”There's master;” when several of them stepped out of the ranks to favour round, the children were arranged round the grave, not one of as ave out the hy by the whole of the to the opinions of the by-standers, very well The novelty of the thing caused a great nuether; and yet, to their credit, while the children were singing, there was not a whisper to be heard; and when they had finished the hymn, the poor people round The minister himself rewarded one or two of them, and they returned well stored withthe school , ”Where do these children come from?” ”Why, don't you know?” replied others, ”from the Infant School” ”Well,” answered a third, ”I will try to get my children into it; for I should like thes When do they take theet thes,” answered another; and the following Monday I had no less than forty-nine applications, all of which I was obliged to refuse, because the school was full[A]

[Footnote A: This circumstance took place in the heart of London, and some of the chief actors in it are now men and women; and should this et the circuet their old teacher]

NATURAL HISTORY

When teachers are conversing with their children, they should always take care to watch their countenances, and the moment they appear tired, to stop An hour's instruction when the children's ed, is better thanelse In addition to thirty-four pictures of Scripture history, we have sixty of natural history, each picture having a variety of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, and flowers The first thing we do is to teach the children the nauish them by their forms; and, lastly, they are questioned on them as follows: If the animal is a horse, we put the pointer to it, and say-

What is this? A A picture of a horse Q What is the use of the horse? A To draw carts, coaches, waggons, drays, fire-engines, caravans, the plough and harrow, boats on the canal, and any thing that their masters want them Q Will they carry as well as draw? A Yes, they will carry a lady or gentleman on their backs, a sack of corn, or paniers, or even little children, but they must not hit them hard, if they do, they will fall off their backs; besides, it is very cruel to beat the? A To carry is when they have the whole weight on their backs, but to drahen they pull any thing along Q Is there any difference between those horses that carry, and those horses that draw? A Yes; the horses that draw carts, drays, coal-waggons, stage waggons, and other heavy things, are stouter and er than those that carry on the saddle, and are called draught horses Q Where do the draught horses coest comes from Leicestershi+re, and so, and are called Suffolk punches Q Where do the best saddle-horses come from? A They came at first from Arabia, the place in which the caood which are bred in England? Q What do they call a horse when he is young? A A foal, or a young colt Q Will he carry or drahile he is young? A Not until he is taught, which is called breaking of him in Q And when he is broke in, is he very, useful? A Yes; and please, sir, we hope to be ht Q What do you ht? A When we have as s have taken with thereat deal of trouble, and yet I endeavour to teach you A Yes, sir, but before Infant Schools were established, little children, like us, were running the streets[A] Q But you ought to be good children if you do run the streets A Please, sir, there is nobody to tell us how[B], and if the man did not teach the horse, he would not kno to do his work