Will you look at two pictures, and see if either one belongs to you?
The first is of a little boy. I will not tell you his name, nor his
age, nor where he lived, nor who are his parents. I am sure he would
not like to be known; but I must tell you about him, that you may
avoid his faults, and take good warning by his conduct.
This little boy has a kind mother, and she wishes that he should grow
up to be a useful and pious young man. Yet, sad to tell, he does not
himself care to do right, or to obey his parents, or to please God.
There can be no doubt that he has a very hard and wicked heart; for
when he is naughty, and grieves his mother, he does not care for her
tears. And when he is told of a fault, he is stubborn, and will not
ask to be forgiven, nor show any desire to amend.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to die for sinners,
was once a little child. He has left a pattern for children who wish
to be like him. As a child he was “subject in all things.” He never
grieved his mother’s heart by a sullen or evil temper, nor made her
shed a tear by any unkind conduct. O, how much did Mary love the holy
child Jesus! But the little boy of whom we write does not wish to
be like Jesus. He does not love to hear about him as a kind Saviour.
I do not think he ever truly prays to God to change his hard heart,
and to give him the grace of his Holy Spirit, that he may be a better
child. He may say his prayers, but he does not really pray, for he
does not mean what he says, but is looking about him all the time he
is on his knees, or is thinking of something else.
What is to become of this little boy, if he does not seek for grace
to turn him from his evil ways? He will certainly grow worse. He will
walk in the path of the wicked all the days he lives on earth; and
then, when he dies, how sad will his end be!
Now, let us look at another picture. It is that of a little boy who
obeys his parents, because it is right, because they love him, and
because God has said, “Honor thy father and thy mother;” one who is
as careful to obey them when out of sight as when under their eye.
There are several lads seen standing at the corner of a street. One
proposes to the rest that they should all go and see the people on
their way to the flower show. “O, yes! capital! so we will!” they
all cried. “But, see, here is William Hall coming; let us ask him
to go with us.” Then they said, “Come with us, William, and see the
gentlemen and ladies at the flower show.” “Yes,” said William, “if my
mother will give me leave: I will run and ask her.” “O, O! the baby!”
they shouted aloud; “so you must run and ask your mother!” “I did not
ask my mother,” said one boy. “Nor I,” said two or three more. “Come
along with us,” they still said, “if you do not want to be called a
coward as long as you live. Do you not see we are all waiting?”
William stood with one foot forward, and a flush on his face. Tears
came into his eyes, as he heard the word “coward.” Now was the time
to see if he was brave enough to be called a coward, rather than do
wrong. “I _will not_ go without I first ask my mother,” said he,
firmly, “and I am no coward either. I promised that I would not go
out of the street without she gave me leave; and I should be a coward
if I were to tell a wicked lie.” The rest now ran away, mocking
and shouting; and William went quietly to his home. In the evening
William was seen, with a happy face, taking a pleasant walk along
with his dear mother.
Will you look at these two pictures, and see if you can find your
own likeness in either? Are you like the boy who does not honor his
parents? Then you do not fear God nor obey his word, and he is angry
with you every day. Or, are you like him who would rather have the
scorn and bad name of the rude lads than disobey his mother?