p. 1 | Talk It to Me, Father by George Wright, Jr.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 1, 1863

Talk It to Me, Father.

By George Wright, Jr.

"THERE is no one of us but can find something of interest to write. The little things of human experience are the warp and woof of the most interesting books ever written, the Bible not excepted."

The above from the pen of another, I heartily endorse. And the Poet has written truthfully,

"Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, Make this earth an Eden like the heaven above."

I think I was never more forcibly reminded of my duty to my children than by a little incident small in itself, yet one which I trust has taught me a life long lesson.

A few months ago I was reading 1 Samuel iii, to my little daughters. After reading, one of them said, with her countenance lighted up with interest, "Now talk it to me, father." This fully opened the way to explain how the Lord called to young Samuel in the night, and gave him that fearful message for Eli the fallen priest, because he restrained not his wicked sons. The chapter seems full of instruction and warning, both to parents and children.

One of the most lovely sights in this age of disobedience is a well regulated household, where each one strives to contribute to the happiness of the others, united in serving the Lord. Then his ministering Spirits gather around and fill the place with light.

On the other hand where there is disobedience, darkness reigns, evil angels triumph, and such a state of things must result at last in one common ruin.

A beloved Bro. in the ministry, once questioned my children on some of the plainest Bible subjects, and they were scarcely able to answer anything correctly. Our feelings as parents can be better imagined than described. As professed followers of Jesus it was a shame to neglect so plain a duty and what added keenness to it, this brother had some of these facts, with others of a similar nature where he traveled, published, generously withholding names. When we read it, little Helen who now sleeps in Jesus, said, "Pa, that means me," and began to weep. This was all right. In our hearts we thank the Bro. for it all to-day. We have all tried to profit by it, and it was especially blessed to Helen who began to read and love God's blessed book, which she continued to do more and more, until she fell asleep. Sweet thought to have the blessed assurance, that they will be brought from the land of the enemy; to know that the Lord is soon coming to unlock the dark prison house of the dead, and bid

our loved ones come forth, and clothe them with immortality and eternal youth in the paradise of God!

Amid the care and toil incident to this mortal life we are apt to forget our duty, or at least to excuse ourselves, and seem to need something to stir us up. The child-like request of my little daughter, "now talk it to me father," like the still small voice keeps ever and anew whispering to my memory of my duty. Let us turn to that never falling source of instruction and we find here a little and there a little all through the book of God, what the Lord requires of us. Speaking of his statutes and judgments it says thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house," at all times, and in all places, when we lie down and when we rise up.

Now is a special reason. Now the Lord is turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Now God's ministers feel a special burden for the children of the remnant. Gather the children, saith the Lord by the prophet Joel, looking down in vision to to the closing scenes. Says the Saviour, He that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Suffer them to come unto me and forbid them not. O, then let us lead them to Christ by a good example. Pray fervently and earnestly for their conversion. Carry them to the Saviour in the arms of faith and love, cultivate cheerfulness in our home, enter into the joys and sorrows of our children. In this way we shall get a strong hold of their affections and thus lead them on to the Saviour. Talk of the goodly land, the bright inheritance just before us. Mention them one by one around the family altar. Are we not too general in our prayer for our households. I remember our departed child a few mornings before her death, after family prayer said to her mother, Pa didn't pray for me this morning. That low plaintive voice of rebuke—methinks I can hear it yet.

If the above little incidents in my experience shall admonish or encourage any dear soul to greater diligence in the instruction of their children in the way of righteousness, I shall be richly paid for writing out these passing thoughts.

"How can we see the children, Lord, In love whom thou hast given, Remain regardless of thy word, Without a hope of heaven?"

GEO. WRIGHT, JR.

Lapeer, Mich., Aug. 16, 1863.