A small plot of ground may moreover be appropriated to the children; some grains of wheat, barley, or rye may be sown, and they may be told that, at a certain time, they will spring forth.  Often will they go, and anxiously watch for this; and at length they will say perhaps, “Please, sir, such a thing has come up; we know it is so, for it is just what you said it would be.”  Week after week the progress of vegetation will be observed, and the fulfilment of the master’s promise will greatly tend to increase his influence.  So great will he appear, that his words and commands will be more regarded; while it will be his object to trace the wonders which he predicted to their divine Source.  I have frequently observed, on such occasions, what I should term an act of infant worship.  Often has the question been put to me, “Please, sir, is it wicked to play?” as if the spirit were awed, and transgression against God were regarded with dread.  Caution has been also discovered in the use of the divine name; and I have listened with delight to such remarks as these:  “Please, sir, when we sing a hymn, we may say Gad, or if we talk about the sun, we may say God made it; and it isn’t taking his name in vain, is it?  But when we talk of God as boys do in the street, that is very wicked!”

The following facts will illustrate the benefit of scriptural instruction.

A little boy, about four years and a half old, belonging to an Infant School, went to see his cousin, a little girl about his own age.  At bed-time, the little boy, to his great surprise, saw her get into bed without having said her prayers.  The little fellow immediately went up to the side of the bed, and put this question to her:  “Which would you rather go to, heaven or hell?” The little girl said, “I don’t know!” “Not know!” said the boy; “Why, wicked people go to hell, and the good go to heaven, a happy place.”  The little girl then said, “Why, I should like to go to heaven.”  “Ah!” but replied the little fellow again, “You did not say your prayers; and all that go heaven pray to God.”  She then said, “Will you teach me to pray your prayer?” “If I lived with you,” said he, “I would; but if you go to the Infant School, they will teach you to say your prayers, and sing hymns too.”

One day, while the teacher of an Infant School was speaking to his little children, from the conversation of our Lord with the woman of Samaria at the well, a gentleman present asked the following questions:  “Where should we go to worship God?” When a little boy answered, “To a throne of grace.”  “And where is a throne of grace?” “Any where,” answered the boy; “for where we kneel down, and pray to God with our hearts, we are then at a throne of grace.”

There are times when the children are in a better state to receive religious instruction than others.  A teacher of observation will soon perceive this, and act accordingly; if, however, the thing is overdone, which it may be, and which I have seen, then the effect is fatal.  Hypocrisy will take the place of sincerity, and the heart will remain unaffected and unimproved.