hope in God." This, then, is the doctrine that lies before us in the present discourse,-That children may hope in God, they must be instructed in religion. To illustrate this doctrine it is proposed, I. To show for what blessings children should hope in God; II. To show the importance of their hoping in God for these blessings; and, III. To show that they may hope in God for these blessings, they must be instructed in religion. It is proposed, I. To show for what blessings children should hope in God. 1. They should hope in God for the common mercies of his providence. It is God, who gives and preserves the lives of men. It is he, who gives health and all outward blessings. On his providence, mankind are wholly dependent for direction and success in their secular employments and pursuits. All these blessings God bestows and witholds as he pleases. No degree of present prosperity, nor the most promising appearances respecting futurity, can secure the bestowment and enjoyment of the common mercies of divine providence. Yet all mankind, and the young in a special manner, are disposed to rely upon their present prospects for temporal happiness. Children are commonly disposed to set their hope in their parents, in wordly property, in earthly connections, and in their proposed employ ments for the blessings they may need in the present life. But many, who have had, in early life, the strongest hopes and the fairest prospects, have soon found themselves destitute and friendless.— On the other hand, many, who, in early life have been destitute and friendless, have found in God a portion and a friend from childhood even to old age. God is the only source of those blessings, which are necessary to the temporal happiness of mankind.These blessings he provides and distributes as he pleases. And for these blessings the young should look to God and hope in him. 2. Children should hope in God for support under the evils of the present life. The particular afflictions and distresses, which they, who are now young, may be called to experience, cannot be foreseen by any created being. But it is written, "Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” From what God has said in his word and from what has been seen in all ages of the world, every person has reason to expect many evils, before his trials on earth shall be finished. Under their afflictions many persons have been depressed and disheartened. And they have wasted their days in grief, and hardened themselves in sorrow. Where they have looked and hoped for support, they have found darkness and trouble. But if they had set their hope in God, they might have been supported under their heaviest afflictions. For "God is a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." God has ever been a powerful and faithful friend to the children of affliction and sorrow, who have hoped in his mercy. In a world of constant changes and in the midst of troubles, on whom but God can the young depend for support? They should early set their hope in God for support under the evils they have to meet and endure in this dark vale of tears. are capable of having such an hope, as early as they are capable of receiving religious instruction. Many in their childhood and youth have been sensible of their need of salvation from the present and the eternal displeasure of their holy creator. And for this salvation they have truly hoped in the mercy of God. As all the young are sinful and guilty creatures, they need to be pardoned, that they may be saved from endless misery. But it is only in God, that they can safely place their hope of future and eternal salvation.Having shown for what blessings children should hope in God, it is now proposed, II. To show the importance of their hoping in God for these blessings. These blessings are of unbounded importance. And they can be obtained only from God. Nor can they be obtained from him by any persons, who do not truly hope in his name. But to all, who 3. The young should hope in Ged for salvation from endless misery. As all mankind are, by nature, sinners, they deserve the curse of the law. And this curse they must suffer, unless they are pardoned and saved through the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. For God hath said, "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." And the whole gospel shows, that no human being can be saved from endless woe, without the mercy of God. They, who are in early life, are justly exposed to endless misery. Nor can they depend upon their own goodness and innocence for the favour of God. For, as the apostle declares, "we are, by nature, children of wrath." But God offers salvation from deserved punishment unto sinners. 1. That if children do not hope And by a good hope through grace, in God for the blessings they need sinners may, in early life, obtain they will persist in sinning against the forgiveness of their sins and him. God requires all persons to the salvation of their souls. They hope in him and be happy. And truly hope in God, they are promised and secured. It is therefore as important that children should set their hope in God, as it is that they should receive and enjoy the blessings they need, both in their present and future existence. But we may be more particular in our observations on this part of our subject. And it may be observed, and portion of the rising generation, they will have their portion on earth; they will receive all their good things in their life-time. And what is man when viewed in he speaks to the young on this subject with peculiar affection and kindness. They, therefore who refuse to hope in God, reject his most kind and gracious requirements. They reject the counsel the happiest condition on earth? of God against themselves. Such Let divine truth give the answer: conduct is a daring expression of "Man, at his best estate, is altoenmity and disobedience against gether vanity." Without the fathe greatest and best of beings.- vour of God the blessings of this In our context there is a descrip- life are a dream and the fairest tion of the Israelites, who perish- prospects the world can present a ed in the wildernes by their diso- mere shadow. Without his supbedience and unbelief. And they porting presence the evils of this are called "a stubborn and rebel- life are a burden, which is too lious generation, that set not their heavy for our feeble spirits. heart aright, and whose spirit Should the young gain the greatest was not steadfast with God." Thus happiness this world can afford, if stubborn and rebellious will be all they do not set their hope in God, those children, who will not set what will be their state at death their hope in God for the blessings and their condition forever? They they need from him. They cannot will gain nothing that is worthy of refuse to hope in God without their pursuit; and what they do being guilty of the most obstinate gain must soon be lost. It is cerwickedness against their holy cre- tain that their expectations of hapator. This consideration shows, piness will perish at death, if they that it is highly important that do not place their hope in God. It children should set their hope in is then as important, that the God. young should hope in God, as it is, that, with all their expectations of happiness, they should not find themselves attended with vanity and vexation of spirit through life, and then at death sink into endless disappointment. For unless they set their hope in God, all their expectations of happiness, however confident and delightful, will soon end in despair. It may be observed, 2. If they do not set their hope in God, they will be disappointed in all their expectations of happiness. With their lively and joyful feelings the young are apt to indulge themselves in the most flattering imaginations. And they can hardly believe that a person who does not encourage their expectations of happiness, is any better than an enemy. Yet such hopes as are not founded on the favour and friendship of God, are entirely delusive. If God be not the hope 3. Unless the young do hope in God for the blessings they need, they will be subjected to his right eous displeasure. Such persons had never been born.-It is now proposed, as are not proper objects of divine love and favour, are under the wrath of God even in this life. For it is written, "God is angry with the wicked every day." And again—“He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." God has no delight in the character of sinners, though they in this life be indulged with many privileges and enjoyments. But if they do, through life, persist in their enmity and disobedience against their Maker, they will be formed into vessels of wrath, and fitted for destruction. Unto every soul that doeth evil, God declares he will render indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish. There is no way in which any persons, who do not set their hope in God, can escape his displeasure. They have therefore no good reason to hope for any enjoyment, so long as they continue of their present charac ter. But they have reason to fear every evil they can suffer. For they are already condemned and subjected to the righteous displeasure of their holy Creator. They who are now in childhood and youth, unless they be induced to set their hope in God, cannot expect to enjoy his favour; but they must forever suffer his displeasure. Surely, then, it is highly important, that they should hope in God for the blessings which they need and which he only is able to bestow. Otherwise, it would have been good for themselves if they III. To show that the young may hope in God for the blessings they need, it is necessary they should be instructed in religion. In all instances knowledge is necessary to the existence of holiness and happiness in rational beings. And that they who are in childhood and youth, may obtain the knowledge which is necessary to their hoping in God and receiving the blessings they need, they must be constantly and faithfully instructed in religion. For, 1. They will not be sensible that they need to receive these blessings from God without religious instruction. All mankind naturally possess a proud and selfish spirit. They are unwilling to see and feel their necessities and their entire dependance upon God for the blessings they need. And so long as they are ignorant and insensible of the favours they need from God, they will not look to him, nor set their hope in him. The young have little knowledge of themselves; or of the world in which they live. Nor will they know, unless they are taught, that they can safely depend upon nothing, but the favour of God, either for present or future happiness. Without religious instruction, they will set their hopes and their hearts upon the trifles of time and never raise their attention and their affections to their creator.They will live and die under the influence of delusion and vanity, unless they are taught to fear God and that they may set their hope and to hope in his mercy. For in him. In the character, conduct they will not be sensible, that they and designs of God, as they are are guilty, needy and dependant described in the scriptures and creatures, unless they are shown displayed in the works of creation, their character and condition, as and by the events of his provithey are described in the holy dence, are to be found the reascriptures. Without the plain and sons, that should induce the young faithful instructions of religion, the in early life, to seek him as their young will be insensible of their portion and their hope. But withnecessities, and will never be in- out a correct and extensive knowlduced to hope in God for the edge of God, as the creator, preblessings they need. server and governor of all things, they will see no reasons for hoping in him. And such knowledge the young will never obtain without religious instruction. they will not see, unless they are taught, the reasons by which they should be lead to set their hope in God. Again, 2. That the young may see that they may safely hope in God for the blessings they need, they must be instructed in religion. Without such instruction they will be as ignorant and insensible of the divine fulness, as they will be of their own necessities. Unless they are taught the true knowledge of God, they will see no reason for hoping in him for any blessings. None can truly hope in God without a knowledge of his charac ter. Both his natural and moral perfections unite in forming that foundation, which renders him worthy of the hope of his sinful, needy and dependant creatures. God has power to enable him, and goodness to dispose him, to bestow all needed favors upon those, who hope in his name. The power and the goodness of God, as they are manifest in the gospel, constitute the foundation for hoping in him. And the young should be taught what God is, and what he has said, and what he has done, and what he designs to do, that their hearts may be turned to him, For 3. Unless the young are instructed in religion, they will not see the duties they must perform in order to their having a good hope in God for needed blessings. Without that holy obedience to the divine commands, which God requires, no person can receive from him the blessings he offers. Yet many presume to hope in God for the blesings they need, while they conduct in such a manner as will bring upon themselves his wrath and curse. Holy obedience is necessary to the enjoyment of the divine favor. But such obedience can never exist without a knowledge of what God requires. The young must be taught to fear and obey God, before they can truly hope in his mercy. They will never do, unless they know; |