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EARLY PIETY RECOMMENDED

IN A

DISCOURSE,

Addressed to the Schools for Religious Instruction,

AT

ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, BEDFORD ROW,

MAY 1st, 1802.

Those that seek me early shall find me.-Prov. viii, 17.

PUBLISHED FOR THE USE OF THE SCHOOLS, AT THE REQUEST OF THE SUPERINTENDANTS.

TO THE CHILDREN OF THE SCHOOLS OF
ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL.

YOUR kind friends, who superintend your Schools, ever watchful for your best interests, have requested me to print for your use the substance of the Discourse which was delivered to you last May-Day. Though it was not intended by me for publication, yet, submitting to their judgment, and desirous of promoting your welfare by all means, and also that of other young persons who attend your Anniversary, I readily comply with their wishes, and remain

Your affectionate Minister,

May 7th, 1802.

R. CECIL.

A

DISCOURSE,

&c.

ECCLESIASTES xii. 1.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

My Dear Children, this discourse is particu

Our hearts desire and that you may be saved.

larly addressed to you. prayer to God for you is, We cannot but recollect the errors and snares of our own childhood: we admire and adore the Hand of God, by which alone we escaped: we bless him for timely help afforded us by our friends: and, in turn, we would now assist you. Oh! that your prayers and endeavours may join ours, and that the divine blessing may rest upon us both, while we call you to remember your Creator in the days of your youth!

The Wise Man concludes a variety of instruction with an Admonition to youth; and, in order to your more clearly perceiving the meaning and importance of it, I proceed to state

I. How, you are called to remember your CREATOR.

II. WHEN, you should specially remember Him: In the days of THY YOUтh.

III. WHY, Such remembrance should not be deferred because evil days come, and years draw nigh, in which thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them.

I. Consider HOW, you should remember your CREATOR.

Begin by remembering WHO HE IS. I assure you, we, your Ministers, must come to the Bible as our only guide, to know anything of this grand truth and there we find our Creator to be that same and only God, into whose Name ye were baptized; namely, the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST; three persons, but one GOD. Any other notion of God is but a creature of the imagination; and to worship such a creature, is to worship an Idol.

Then, you should remember

WHAT HE HAS DONE.

your

Creator as to

For all we, like sheep, have gone astray. You have heard of wicked persons, who, by toys and promises, entice silly Children from their Parents' door; and, after carrying them to a distant spot in some wood or cellar, there strip them, and sometimes murder them. It is thus that Sin and Satan deceive and ruin us; and thus, robbed of every

good, we must have perished in our lost state and condition, if God had not so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. This, Dear Children, is your only hope, as well as mine. We can now come to God the FATHER, through the complete atonement of God the SON, and by the assistance of God the HOLY GHOST. And consider, after what God has thus DONE, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?

Again: you should remember your Creator as

to WHAT HE IS DOING.

also

He is not only your Creator and Governor, but your Friend. He is raising up Ministers to instruct you. He is sending you invitations and messages of grace. He is sending a word to you by his minister at this time. He not only affords you the common help and care of your Parents, but disposes kind friends in this place to instruct you in his ways and ordinances, and thus to lead you to Himself. Remember, therefore, your Creator, in these his means of Grace. Remember him by prayer, reading his word, and constantly attending his house. Thou meetest those, saith the Prophet, that remember thee in thy ways. Particularly watch against sabbath-breaking, the neglect of God's house, or inattention to its services while you are in it: for this is not only to forget Him, who is present, and who hath said, In all

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