Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

such things there is something curious for us to learn, and much besides which is past our finding out. Do you think that the most ingenious man on earth could make a butterfly? He might make something to look like a butterfly, but he could not cause it to live, and to feel. No; he could no more make a butterfly than he could make a star. For my own part, I would as soon undertake to make a magnificent starry world, and hang it up, millions of miles away in the sky, as to make a real living butterfly, or a beetle, or a creeping worm. Therefore, children, you should be careful never to despise those little things as some people very unwisely do. It is much wiser to study and admire them. But if you should not have time or inclination to study them, I do hope that you will never be so silly as to despise them; for you may rest assured, that what God, in his wisdom, has seen fit to make, and nothing but his wisdom and power could make, it does not become you, or any one else, to treat with contempt.

My children, hearken unto me a moment longer, and then I shall finish this sermon. In explaining to you how you may know that God made you, and all things, I spoke only of your bodies, and did not mention your souls. But if God made your bodies, much more must he have been the Maker

of your souls-those souls which think, and remember, and feel, and are listening to me now-for those souls are even more wonderfully made than your bodies, or than the stars of the sky. Or, if they are not more wonderful, they are certainly more important to each one of you. But as I shall have occasion, at some other time, to speak to you more about your souls, or that most important part of you which thinks, and understands, and acts, I will only say now, that the soul of every child is dear to God who made it; and I sincerely believe, that though God is pleased to see the sun, and moon, and stars, shining to his praise, and the grass springing, and the flowers blowing on his own earth, and all creatures enjoying the life which he gave them, he is more pleased to see the soul of a child shining with the light of virtue, and growing up in goodness, and usefulness, and joy, like a beautiful and healthy plant.

and are

IfI find that you understand this sermon, interested by it, I shall preach to you some more discourses, which I hope will be pleasant and instructive. And now let us, together, ascribe unto Almighty God, our Creator and Heavenly Father, all praise and glory for ever.

SERMON II.

GOD CREATED YOU TO BE GOOD AND HAPPY.

REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH.

My children will find the text of this my second sermon, in that book of the old Testament which is called Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher, and was written by King Solomon. That book has been divided into twelve chapters; and the text is a part of the first verse of the twelfth chapter.

In my first sermon, I told you how you could know that God is your Creator. I shall go on to tell you how you may remember your Creator in the days of your childhood and youth. For certainly, as he is your Creator, as he made you so wonderfully, and placed you in this world, and sur

rounded you with the other wonderful works of his hand, and gave you all that you have, you ought to remember him; that is, you ought to think of him often and seriously, and learn what it is that he wishes you to do, and sincerely resolve and try to do it. Surely it must be very wrong for any one to forget the great Being who made him. I hope, my children, that you never will forget him, but will take care to remember him, in the days of your youth, and all the days of your life.

In order that you may learn what it is that your Creator wishes you to do, you must consider why it was that he made you. He must have had some purpose in making you; now, what was that purpose? For what did God make you? Did he not place you in a magnificent and beautiful world, and make it very pleasant for you to look upon all the grand and lovely sights, which it contains? Is it not pleasant to exercise your bodily faculties, that is, to see, and hear, and to taste the food which God has provided for you, and to run about and play? And, is it not pleasant to exercise your mental faculties, that is, to get all the knowledge which is suitable to your age, and to feel that you are growing wiser as you grow older? And is it not pleasant to exercise your affections, that

« AnteriorContinuar »