With the Children on Sundays Through Eye-Gate and Ear-Gate into the City of Child-Soul — Edition Insights

Who was the first woman? Eve.

Who was the first murderer? Cain (Gen. iv: 8).

Whom did he kill? His brother Abel.

Who went to Heaven without dying? Enoch and Elijah.

How old was Enoch "when God took him"? 365 years (Gen. v: 23, 24). The same number of years that there are days in a year.

Who was the oldest man? Methuselah.

How old was Methuselah when he died? 969 years (Gen. v: 27).

Who built the Ark? Noah (Gen. vi).

How many persons were saved in the Ark? Eight (Gen. vii: 7). Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives.

How old was Noah at the time of the Flood? 600 years (Gen. vii: 6).

Who had the coat of many colors? Joseph (Gen. xxxvii: 3).

How many brothers did Joseph have? Eleven (Gen. xlii: 3, 4).

What did they do with Joseph? Cast him into a pit and afterwards sold him to the Ishmaelitish merchantmen (Gen. xxxvii: 28).

Where did the Ishmaelitish merchantmen take Joseph? To Egypt.

To whom did they sell him? Potiphar (Gen. xxxix: 1).

Who lied about Joseph and had him cast into prison? Potiphar's wife.

Who were in the prison with Joseph? The king's chief butler and chief baker (Gen. xl: 1, 3).

Who was King of Egypt at the time Joseph was in Egypt? Pharaoh.

Why did Pharaoh make Joseph ruler? That he might gather the grain during the seven years of plenty to lay up in store against the seven years of famine.

What did Pharaoh dream? About seven fat kine, or cows, and seven lean cows (Gen. xli).

What did Joseph do with the grain he gathered during the seven years of plenty? Put in great store houses.

Why did his brothers come to Joseph in Egypt during the famine? That they might get food (Gen. xlii).

Did his father, Jacob, and family go to live in Egypt? Yes.

How old was Joseph when he died? 110 years (Gen. l: 26).

How long did Jacob's descendants remain in Egypt? A little more than two hundred years.

Why did they desire to leave Egypt? Because of the oppressions and cruelty of Pharaoh (Ex. i: 8, 14).

Whom did God raise up to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt? Moses.

How long did they wander in the wilderness? Forty years.

Was Moses permitted to enter the Promised Land? No.

Who led the Children of Israel into the Land of Canaan, which was the Promised Land? Joshua.

How did the Children of Israel cross the Red Sea and the Jordan? The waters were divided and they crossed "dry shod."

Who was the strongest man? Samson.

Who was the meekest man? Moses.

Who, as a ruler, was a man after God's own heart? David.

Who built the Temple? Solomon.

Who went to Heaven in a chariot of fire? Elijah.

On whom did the mantle of Elijah fall? Elisha.

Who was swallowed by the great fish? Jonah (Jonah i: 17).

Who destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem and carried the Children of Israel into captivity? Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24, 25).

Where did he take them? To Babylon (2 Kings 25).

How long were they captive in Babylon? Seventy years.

Who interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream? Daniel.

How did Nebuchadnezzar reward Daniel? Made him ruler over Babylon (Daniel ii: 48, 49).

What were the names of Daniel's three friends? Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

What heathen names were given them instead? Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego (Daniel i: 6, 7).

What befell the three friends of Daniel? They were cast into the burning fiery furnace.

Why were they cast into this furnace? Because they refused to fall down and worship a great golden image which Nebuchadnezzar, the King, had set up in the plain of Dura.

Were they consumed in the furnace? No, God delivered them (Daniel iii).

What befell Daniel years later, when Darius was King? He was cast into the den of lions (Daniel vi).

Why was he cast into the den of lions? Because he prayed to the true God.

Did the lions harm Daniel? No, God stopped the mouths of the lions and delivered Daniel.

_The author's intense interest in the safeguarding and saving of the boys and girls from the evils which have wrought the ruin of such countless multitudes, prompts in connection with this introductory word, to call the special attention of the parents to an advertisement which has been placed at the close of this volume._

Through Eye-Gate and Ear-Gate Into the City of Child-Soul

THE OYSTER AND THE CRAB.

SUGGESTIONS TO PARENTS:--It will awaken the curiosity and add greatly to the interest of the children if the parent will have them secure during the week preceding a couple of oyster shells. In most of cities and towns, these can be easily obtained. It is better for the children themselves to secure them, because it makes them participants and important factors in what is to be done. Do not tell them in advance what use is to be made of the oyster shells; simply say that they are for use in connection with Sunday afternoon.

Introduce the play idea from the beginning. Let the children arrange the chairs to "drive to church," as shown in the preceding pictures. If there are two children who both want to do the driving, suggest that one can drive to church and the other can drive when returning from church--and a third may drive from the house to the stable when the horses are to be put away.

At the church service let everything be done reverently, and make it a matter of real worship. One of the children can act as usher, and if there is but one child, this one can usher her dolls to seats; or imaginary people may be shown to seats. All of this will appeal very strongly to the child. Select hymns suited to the children's tastes and such as they can sing. Do not sing too many verses. Children like variety.

The service ought to be such as is in harmony with that regularly attended by the parents, and such as the children are familiar with. It may be as informal as the Salvation Army, or a greatly abridged form of the "Episcopal Service" can be used. The Lord's Prayer may be repeated in unison, or sentence prayers used, or a brief selection from the Prayer Book. The preaching by one of the children should precede the reading of the Object sermon.

After carrying out the idea of the church service, the other ideas presented may be introduced, and after the imaginary drive home some simple refreshments can be served, as also mentioned in the chapter of "Suggestions to Parents" on page 17.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: I want to speak to you to-day about "Having a good conscience." (I Peter iii: 16.) This is rather a hard subject, but I desire to make it plain by the use of a familiar object. "What's this I have in my hand?" I rather expected that you would say an oyster; but, really it is nothing but an oyster shell. I suppose you have all eaten stewed oysters, or oyster broth. I remember, when a little boy, that one day when we had stewed oysters for supper, I found a little yellow something in my broth. I did not know whether my mother had put it in purposely, or whether it had fallen in by accident; whether I should push it aside of my plate, that it might be thrown with the crumbs to the chickens, or whether I should eat it to discover what it was.

I suppose you have all seen these little animals in your soup, and know that they are called crabs. Now, do you know how the crab comes to be in with the oyster? I will tell you how it is. The oyster lives in the water at the bottom of the bay, and some bright day, when the sun is shining down genial and warm, just the same as in the summer, we open the doors, and sit out on the porch to enjoy the cool of the day; so the oyster opens his shells and lets the cool currents of water move gently through his house. But while lying there with his shells wide open, along comes a great hungry fish. He sees the oyster, but the oyster cannot see him. The oyster cannot see, for he has no eyes. He cannot hear, for he has no ears. Of the five senses which each of us have, hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting and feeling, the oyster can only tell of the presence of his enemy when he feels himself being dragged out of his house, and being quickly swallowed by the fish. But his knowledge of what is happening only comes when it is too late.

Now, with the little crab, who also lives in the same neighborhood with the oyster, it is quite different. The crab has eyes, and can see the hungry fish that comes to eat him up. He has legs, with which to try and run away; but the fish can swim so much faster than the little crab can run that he is sure to be devoured before the race is half over. So what do you think the little crab does? He crawls along quietly, and creeps into the shell with the oyster, and the oyster and the crab enter into a kind of partnership for mutual protection. After this, when the oyster opens his shells, the little crab uses his eyes very diligently to look around, and watch for the approach of any fish. As soon as he spies any sly fish coming near, he pinches the oyster, and immediately the oyster closes his shells very tightly, and the oyster and the crab are both within, safely protected from the fish.

Now, boys and girls, we are something like the oyster. We are constantly exposed to the danger of being destroyed by sin. We cannot see sin, we cannot hear sin, we cannot perceive it by any of our senses. So God has given us a conscience, which means "to know with God." When you are tempted to do a sinful act, it is conscience that quickly whispers, "Now that is wicked," "If you do that, God will be displeased."

Let me illustrate this thought. One real pleasant day, when the birds are singing, and everything is attractive out of doors, Johnnie thinks how hard it is to be studying his lessons in what he calls a prison of a school-room. He knows that papa and mamma will not give him permission to stay at home; so a little before nine o'clock, as he saunters towards the school, Satan suggests to him to play "hookey," and when he comes to the corner of the street, looking back to be sure that no one sees him, he turns the corner to remain out of school, intending to come home at the regular time for dinner and escape discovery. Just as soon as he turns the corner, and even before that, conscience has seen the danger, and whispers strong and clear, "Johnnie, this is wicked; you will surely get into trouble, and you will make papa and mamma sad, and also displease God." Now, if Johnnie does not turn right back when conscience warns him, he is sure to go on without having any pleasure all that forenoon, because his conscience continues to warn and reprove him.

Or suppose that Willie goes down the street and sees Mr. Brown's dog a little ways off. He looks around quickly for a stone, and immediately conscience says, "Now, Willie, don't hit the poor dog, for the stone will cause him pain, just as it would if some one were to hit you with a stone." But Willie does not listen to conscience. He throws the stone with all his might. It strikes on the pavement, just by the side of the dog, glances and breaks in many pieces the large plate glass in the window of the drug store.

Willie is more frightened than the dog, and without a moment's forethought he runs around the corner, to get out of sight. And after concealing himself for a time in the alley, he steals quietly into the house at the back door. How he dreads to meet his father and mother. Every time the door bell rings he thinks surely that it is the druggist or the policeman. Oh! how this sin pains him; just like the oyster would be hurt if he does not heed the little crab, when he warns him that the fish is coming to destroy him. If Willie had only listened to conscience, what sin and trouble it would have saved him. So, boys and girls, God has given each of us a conscience, and if we want to be saved from sin and suffering, we should always be quick to obey our conscience. Let each of us try and "keep a good conscience."

QUESTIONS.--Can the oyster see or hear? Can it feel? What often destroys the oyster? What lives down under the water near the oyster? Can the little crab see? Can he get away from the fish? How does he assist the oyster? How does he warn the oyster of danger? Can boys or girls see sin? What has God given each of us to warn us of danger when sin is near? Does every boy and girl have a conscience? Does conscience always give warning? Do boys and girls always obey their conscience? Should conscience always be obeyed? Will you always try to obey conscience in the future? The parent may ask additional questions or make application in any other manner they deem best.

Next Sunday the sermon will be about the worm in the apple. Let one of the children get a nice, large, perfect apple, and also another apple which has been dwarfed and deformed because of a worm inside the apple. These will be the objects which we shall use next Sunday.

THE WORM IN THE APPLE.

SIN IN THE HUMAN HEART.

SUGGESTIONS TO PARENTS:--The objects used to-day are a large perfect apple and a stunted, wormy apple. Have also a knife with which, at the proper time, to open the wormy apple. With these preparations made, let the children "drive to church" after the manner suggested for last Sunday.

After the singing of a hymn or two, prayer and collection, let one of the children, in the manner of the preacher speaking to his audience, tell in his own way of the "Oyster and Crab" and of God's purpose in giving us a conscience, and let him or her draw the moral lessons and impress the spiritual truths. Even if it is done in but few words, or a faltering way, do not embarrass or discourage by criticisms. Speak words of encouragement. If preferred, the little sermon may be a presentation of the sermon preached by the pastor in the morning, or one child may present the object sermon of last Sunday and another child the sermon by the pastor in the morning. The more who take part, the better, as variety adds to the interest.

Then gather the children around close so they can see the pictures as you read the following sermon. Have the apples at hand also for demonstration.

THE object which I have chosen to-day, is one with which I am sure every boy and girl is thoroughly familiar. The moment you see it you recognize it. This large and beautiful apple is one of the most perfect of its kind, large in size, beautiful in color, and one which tempts the appetite of any one who is hungry.

Now, boys and girls, I have here another object. Can you tell me what this is? I expected that you would say that it was an apple, and that is true. But you have not told me the whole truth concerning it. This is not only an apple, but it is a wormy apple. It did not grow as large as the other, and, by looking at the outside, I see that it is defective. It is stunted, like wormy apples quite universally are. You might think that the worm went into this apple because it was not full grown and strong and large, the same as it is sometimes thought that boys who have never improved their advantages, but have failed to become noble and good, therefore sin has entered their hearts. The truth is just the reverse; wickedness first possessed their hearts, and that has been the cause of their failure to improve their opportunities, and to become manly, and noble, and good, and kind. If they had first got the evil and sin out of their hearts, they would surely have stood a much better chance. They would have become Christians, and have grown up more and more like Christ, to be good, and kind, and generous, and useful.

I want to ask you a question concerning this worm. But to be sure that we are not mistaken, let me take a knife and cut this apple in two, and see whether or not there is a worm inside. Just as I said, this is a wormy apple. It has evidently had two worms in it. Here is one of them, and the other has taken its departure. Now, boys and girls, I want to ask you, did this worm eat his way into the apple, or did he eat his way out of the apple? Quite as I anticipated. I expected that you would say that he ate his way into the apple; but the fact is, he ate his way out of the apple. I am sure that you will ask immediately, at least in your minds, how then did he get in, if he ate his way out? I will tell you how it was. Early last spring, just after the apple trees had been in blossom, and when this apple had just begun to form on one of the branches, there came along a bug and stung this apple, and deposited in the inside the germ of the worm. As the summer grew warmer, and the apple grew larger, the germ began to develop, until finally it grew into a worm. When it began to grow strong, it discovered that it was confined in the interior of something, and soon it began to eat, and continued until it ate its way out of the apple. This other worm, which still remained in, had continued to eat in the various portions of the apple, and possibly because of having less bodily vigor had concluded to remain there for a time, but you can see from the inside of the apple that it has done great injury, at the very core or heart, and I suppose that if it had been left to itself, in the course of a few days, or a few weeks at most, it also would have eaten its way out of the apple, in order to escape from its confinement.

Now, boys and girls, this worm represents sin in the human heart, or wickedness possibly presents the thought better, and when you see a boy or girl doing wrong, they are simply giving outward expression to the wickedness which exists in their hearts. Boys are bad, not so much because the influences by which they are surrounded are bad, but because their hearts are sinful, and wicked, and bad. But I am sure that you will want to know how wickedness gets into the human heart. I will tell you how it is. Way back in the spring-time of the history of the human race, way back in the Garden of Eden, soon after God had created Adam and Eve, Satan came and inspired in the hearts of these first people the desire to disobey God. God told Adam and Eve that they should not eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree, and that when they did they would die, that is, they would be separated from God. Satan came and told them that they would not die, but that when they ate of the fruit of this tree they would become very wise. They believed Satan rather than God, and they did that which was wicked and wrong. And so throughout all the generations since, there has been that willingness to believe Satan and to do what he wants us to do, rather than to believe God and do what God would have us to do.