Back to Oxford; A Search for the Essentials of Methodism (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ...to the subject. "What shall we do for the rising generation?" he asked. And here are the answers he helped to frame: "1. Where there are ten children in a society, meet them at least an hour every week. "2. Talk with them every time you see any at home. "3. Pray in earn33t for them. "4. Diligently instruct and vehemently exhort all parents at their own houses. "5. Preach expressly on education.... 'But I have no gift for this.' Gift or no gift, you art to do it; else you are not called to be a Methodist preacher. Do it as you can, till you can do it as you would. Pray earnestly for the gift and use the means for it." It will thus be seen that Methodism from the start has been in earnest for the salvation of boys and girls. The Formation Of Character Our present Disciplinary provisions all have this important end in view. Reasoning people know that childhood offers the supreme opportunity for shaping character. It is the most propitious period in life for instilling those precepts, ingrafting those truths, and forming those habits which adorn a Christian soul. In the vicinity of Paris there is a quarry the stones from which are at first soft and pliable, but after being laid in the wall they become hard as adamant. The youthful mind is like that pliant stone. In its early state you can shape it almost as you will, but when it is once shapen and set it becomes firm and hard. Some one has said that, "It is common sense to put the seal to the wax while it is soft, to bud the tender twig with the fruit it should bear, to go to the fountain head to guide the current of the stream, and to lay hold on the young tendrils of the shooting vine, and to train them as we would have them go." Who, wishing to...