(_Sunday School Anniversary Sermon._)
xxviii. 9, 10. _Whom shall He teach knowledge? &c._
Whether we regard these verses as the language of the drunkards of
Ephraim, deriding the Lord's messengers for the plainness and urgency
of their unwelcome instructions, or as the language of the prophet
himself affirming interrogatively the spiritual ignorance and
imbecility of the people, with their prophets and priests, they
suggest the importance of earnestly instructing the young in the
knowledge of our relations to God and eternity. We may turn to them
more hopefully than to the old. Youth is the time for learning. In
the first ten years of life are laid the foundations of the social
and religious character which every man carries to the grave.
Therefore we should not leave them to be laid haphazard, but should
do our utmost to bring it to pass that they shall be such that on
them can be built the structure of a holy life. To accomplish this we
must instruct them in the revealed will of God. 1. The youth learns
nothing good until he is taught. Though wise to do evil, to do good
he has no knowledge. 2. The young mind is susceptible of deep and
enduring impressions (H. E. I., 775, 776, 786). 3. Scriptural
knowledge is not only of surpassing value, but is more easily
imparted to the young than most of that human knowledge for which the
opening powers are often severely taxed. If difficulties arise from
immaturity and levity of mind, they are more than balanced by freedom
from the prejudices of age, and the perplexing cares of life; by
their docility and instinctive desire to penetrate the unknown; by
the eagerness with which they seize upon the explanations of facts in
nature and providence, or on similitudes and allegories; and by their
unsuspecting confidence in the ability of their appointed teachers.
Their natural aversion to God is but partially developed, and waits
the coming of riper years to mature its strong resistance to the
Divine claims. 4. The weightiest obligations rest on parents to give
their children religious instruction (H. E. I., 803-806). When
parents are unable to do so personally, through defect of ability, or
the urgency of paramount duties, it is their privilege to do so
through the kind offices of others. 5. A failure in the discharge of
parental obligations to children imposes on others who fear God the
duty of teaching the knowledge. They are immortal; for them Christ
died. Of the fulness and glory of the results of a faithful
performance of this duty no adequate conception can be formed by us
on this side of heaven.--_R. S. Storrs, D.D., American National
Preacher,_ xix. 121-141.