them； think often of their souls。 No interest should weigh with you so
much as their eternal interests。 No part of them should be so dear to
you as that part which will never die。 The world； with all its glory；
shall pass away； the hills shall melt； the heavens shall be wrapped
together as a scroll； the sun shall cease to shine。 But the spirit
which dwells in those little creatures； whom you love so well； shall
outlive them all； and whether in happiness or misery （to speak as a
man） will depend on you。
This is the thought that should be uppermost on your mind in all you do
for your children。 In every step you take about them； in every plan；
and scheme； and arrangement that concerns them； do not leave out that
mighty question； 〃How will this affect their souls？。 〃
Soul love is the soul of all love。 To pet and pamper and indulge your
child； as if this world was all he had to look to； and this life the
only season for happinessto do this is not true love； but cruelty。 It
is treating him like some beast of the earth； which has but one world
to look to； and nothing after death。 It is hiding from him that grand
truth； which he ought to be made to learn from his very infancy； that
the chief end of his life is the salvation of his soul。
A true Christian must be no slave to fashion； if he would train his
child for heaven。 He must not be content to do things merely because
they are the custom of the world； to teach them and instruct them in
certain ways； merely because it is usual； to allow them to read books
of a questionable sort； merely because everybody else reads them； to
let them form habits of a doubtful tendency； merely because they are
the habits of the day。 He must train With an eye to his children's
souls。 He must not be ashamed to hear his training called singular and
strange。 What if it is？ The time is short；the fashion of this world
passeth away。 He that has trained his children for heaven； rather than
for earth； for God； rather than for man； m he is the parent that will
be called wise at last。
V。 Train your child to a knowledge of the Bible。
You cannot make your children love the Bible； I allow。 None but the
Holy Ghost can give us a heart to delight in the Word。 But you can make
your children acquainted with the Bible； and be sure they cannot be
acquainted with that blessed book too soon； or too well。
A thorough knowledge of the Bible is the foundation of all clear views
of religion。 He that is well…grounded in it will not generally be found
a wavier； and carried about by every wind of new doctrine。 Any system
of training which does not make a knowledge of Scripture the first
thing is unsafe and unsound。
You have need to be careful on this point just now； for the devil is
abroad； and error abounds。 Some are to be found amongst us who give the
Church the honour due to Jesus Christ。 Some are to be found who make
the sacraments saviours and passports to eternal life。 And some are to
be found in like manner who honour a catechism more than the Bible； or
fill the minds of their children with miserable little story…books；
instead of the Scripture of truth。 But if you love your children； let
the simple Bible be everything in the training of their souls； and let
all other books go down and take the second place。
Care not so much for their being mighty in the catechism； as for their
being mighty in the Scriptures。 This is the training； believe me； that
God will honour。 The Psalmist says of Him； 〃 Thou hast magnified Thy
Word above all Thy name〃 （Ps。 138：2）； and I think that He gives an
especial blessing to all who try to magnify it among men。
See that your children read the Bible reverently。 Train them to look on
it； not as the word of men； but as it is in truth； the Word of God；
written by the Holy Ghost Himself； all true； all profitable； and able
to make us wise unto salvation； through faith which is in Christ Jesus。
See that they read it regularly。 Train them to regard it as their
soul's daily food； as a thing essential to their soul's daily health。 I
know well you cannot make this anything more than a form； but there is
no telling the amount of sin which a mere form may indirectly restrain。
See that they read it all。 You need not shrink from bringing any
doctrine before them。 You need not fancy that the leading doctrines of
Christianity are things which children cannot understand。 Children
understand far more of the Bible than we are apt to suppose。
Tell them of sin； its guilt； its consequences； its power； its vileness：
you will find they can prehend something of this。
Tell them of the Lord Jesus Christ； and His work for our
salvation；the atonement； the cross； the blood； the sacrifice； the
intercession： you will discover there is something not beyond them in
all this。
Tell them of the work of the Holy Spirit in man's heart； how He
changes； and renews； and sanctifies； and purifies： you will soon see
they can go along with you in some measure in this。 In short； I suspect
we have no idea how much a little child can take in of the length and
breadth of the glorious gospel They see far more of these things than
we suppose。 ＇16＇
Fill their minds with Scripture。 Let the Word dwell in them richly。
Give them the Bible； the whole Bible； even while they are young。
VI。 Train them to a habit of prayer。
Prayer is the very life…breath of true religion。 It is one of the first
evidences that a man is born again。 〃Behold；〃 said the Lord of Saul； in
the day he sent Ananias to him； 〃Behold； he prayeth〃 （Acts 9：11）。 He
had begun to pray； and that was proof enough。
Prayer was the distinguishing mark of the Lord's people in the day that
there began to be a separation between them and the world。 〃Then began
men to call upon the name of the Lord〃 （Gen。 4：26）。
Prayer is the peculiarity of all real Christians now。 They pray；for
they tell God their wants； their feelings； their desires； their fears；
and mean what they say。 The nominal Christian may repeat prayers； and
good prayers too； but he goes no further。
Prayer is the turning…point in a man's soul。 Our ministry is
unprofitable； and our labour is vain； till you are brought to your
knees。 Till then； we have no hope about you。
Prayer is one great secret of spiritual prosperity。 When there is much
private munion with God； your soul will grow like the grass after
rain； when there is little； all will be at a standstill； you will
barely keep your soul alive。 Show me a growing Christian； a going
forward Christian； a strong Christian； a flourishing Christian； and
sure am I； he is one that speaks often with his Lord。 He asks much； and
he has much。 He tells Jesus everything； and so he always knows how to
act。
Prayer is the mightiest engine God has placed in our hands。 It is the
best weapon to use in every difficulty； and the surest remedy in every
trouble。 It is the key that unlocks the treasury of promises； and the
hand that draws forth grace and help in time of need。 It is the silver
trumpet God mands us to sound in all our necessity； and it is the
cry He has promised always to attend to； even as a loving mother to the
voice of her child。
Prayer is the simplest means that man can use in ing to God。 It is
within reach of all；the sick； the aged； the infirm； the paralytic；
the blind； the poor； the unlearned；all can pray。 It avails you
nothing to plead want of memory； and want of learning； and want of
books； and want of scholarship in this matter。 So long as you have a
tongue to tell your soul's state； you may and ought to pray。 Those
words； 〃Ye have not； because ye ask not〃 （Jas。 4：2）； will be a fearful
condemnation to many in the day of judgment。
Parents； if you love your children； do all that lies in your power to
train them up to a habit of prayer。 Show them how to begin。 Tell them
what to say。 Encourage them to persevere。 Remind them if they bee
careless and slack about it。 Let it not be your fault； at any rate； if
they never call on the name of the Lord。
This； remember； is the first step in religion which a child is able to
take。 Long before he can read； you can teach him to kneel by his
mother's side； and repeat the simple words of prayer and praise which
she puts in his mouth。 And as the first steps in any undertaking are
always the most important； so is the manner in which your children's
prayers are prayed； a point which deserves your closest attention。 Few
seem to know how much depends on this。 You must beware lest they get
into a way of saying them in a hasty； careless； and irreverent manner。
You must beware of giving up the oversight of this matter to servants
and nurses； or of trusting too much to your children doing it when left
to themselves。 I cannot praise that mother who never looks after this
most important part of her child's daily life herself。 Surely if there
be any habit which your own hand and eye should help in forming； it is
the habit of prayer。 Believe me； if you never hear your children pray
yourself； you are much to blame。 You are little wiser than the bird
described in Job； 〃which leaveth her eggs in the earth； and warmeth
them in the dust； and forgetteth that the foot may crush them； or that
the wild beast may break them。 She is hardened against her young ones；
as though they were not hers： her labour is in vain without fear〃 （Job
39：14…16）。
Prayer is； of all habits； the one which we recollect the longest。 Many
a grey…headed man could tell you how his mother used to make him pray
in the days of his childhood。 Other things have passed away from his
mind perhaps。 The church where he was taken to worship； the minister
whom he heard preach； the panions who used to play with him；all
these； it may be； have passed from his memory； and left no mark behind。
But yo