And now I have done. I hope every child will try to recollect what I have said; but remember, you must not only recollect what you hear, but must feel it in your hearts, if it is to do any good. To remember the sermon is a good thing, to be able to give some account of the sermon is a good thing; but you must pray to God, that you may not only carry away the sermon in your heads, but feel it in your hearts by his grace, and thus you may all become indeed the lambs of Christ, the great shepherd, here, and be numbered with his sheep hereafter.

THE BLESSEDNESS OF CHILDREN'S

HEARKENING TO JESUS CHRIST.

A

SERMON,

ADDRESSED TO THE CHILDREN

OF THE

Schools for Religious Instruction,

AT

ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, BEDFORD ROW,

On Easter Tuesday, April 4, 1820.

FOURTH EDITION.

SERMON,

&c.

PROVERBS, VIII. 32.

Now, therefore, hearken unto me, Oye Children, for blessed are they that keep my ways.

My dear children, I am now to speak to you about God and religion; and I will try to be as plain as I can, so that a child of three or four years old may know what I mean. The text I have read was spoken by Jesus Christ, who in this chapter is called Wisdom; for he is the Wisdom of God. Therefore you must attend to what Jesus Christ says; and if you do this, you will be happy.

There are two things which I shall talk to you about. I will show you,

I. WHAT IT IS THAT JESUS CHRIST SAYS TO

CHILDREN.

II. WHAT IS THE BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE CHILDREN WHO HEARKEN TO HIM.

We will, then, first consider Jesus Christ as speaking to CHIldren.

Now all the great things taught you in the Bible, of the way of being saved and going to heaven, may be considered as spoken to you by Jesus Christ. I will mention a few particulars.

1. Hearken, then, my children, to what Jesus Christ says, when he bids you to be serious.

By being serious I mean being in earnest, and attentive to the things of God and salvation. There is no harm in your being gay and cheerful. It quite gives me pleasure to see children happy and playing about at their little sports. But then, my dear children, you must be serious at proper times. You must be willing to learn the way to heaven. You must not trifle and jest with religion; but take pains about it. A good child will be as earnest to learn the will of Jesus Christ, as a sick man is to know the will of his doctor or physician.

2. Hearken to what Jesus Christ tells you

of the value of your souls.

For you have souls as well as bodies. The soul is that which thinks and understands. When the body dies and is eaten by worms, the soul will go back to God and be judged; and then live for ever in heaven or in hell. The body is only like the scaffolding of a building,