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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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( ion I ^ WlIa i « j ^ rn of ; to 4 wu * ^ V " Siftn ^ S l * made oifqye tQ i $° d * We tell our chiU drea that God loves us , and is
our JJearenly Fatter ; and the love which they have towards us , begins to unite itself with the idea oiGad . Where we have ourselves right feelings towards God , they will often influence our tones and
manner jof speaking ; and these , by the influence of our associated nature , call up and exercise simi - Jarfeejings in their minds , and thus unite th ^ m more firmly , frith the idea of God .
Jf we are sufficiently in earnest in cultivating the religious affections of our children , we shall find various opportunities of giving
ttefPj t proofs of the goodness of God- suited to the state of their : \ oderstandings , in the works of nature around us , in the formation of our pwn frame , in the events of life ,. &e . ; and while seeking for
these proofs , for the cultivation of their affections , we shall cultivate our own . We shall lead them to think of God , as the giver of every good thing . And we shall often speak of him as having sent our Lord Jesus Christ to teach us how
to b ? good and happy . We shall tell : them that he loves those who try to please him by being and doing good . We shall shew how much gopd it does to us to do what God has commanded us : —and we shfljl afte n speak to them of that world where God will for ever
m *| ke the good happy , happy beyond any thing we can now think ° f « As opportunity offers , and the understanding will bear it , we s " 9 Wld explain , as far as we are a Mjq , t t >^ se things which at firs t S ! 8 ^ t appea r inconsistent with the fioodness of God ; and especially
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we should lead them to feel com . plete confidence in the divine goocU ness , though they cannot perceive that all things are for good . Filial confidence should be early and carefully cultivated towards the parent , and then it will be easily transferred towards God .
Though we should frequently introduce thoughts of the divine goodness , we must be careful to take opportunities , when the minds of our children are favourably disposed to the reception of them ^ when the attention will be excited
by them , and thus some impression be produced . And , considering how short the time must be , during which the attention of a child can be given to thoughts of an unseen being , we should rather aim
at frequency of impressions , than at the long continuance ojf any one . I have only spoken of the cultivation of the religious affections , by conversation respecting the
divine goodness ; but it is obvious that this is only one means . The delightful representations of God , which are given in the scriptures , —and all that children read in
other books , respecting his goodness and mercy and paternal care , —and all that they hear to the same purpose , in the house of religious instruction , will , if suffi * ciently attended to , contribute their share towards the love of
God by calling into exercise the affection which is already formed , and by leaving new ijnpressiona which will contribute to its livelu ness and vigour . And there are two .
other most important means , the one is , leading them to e ; cpres * their feelings in prnyet to God ; and the other , so guiding their conduct and disposition * by parent cept , discipline and example , that
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for God On Early Religious Education . 5 SS
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1811, page 535, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2420/page/23/
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