, xxviii. 9, 10.
LESSON XLV. MARY MAGDALENE. John , xx. 1-19.
LESSON XLVI. THE TWO FRIENDS. Luke , xxiv. 13-48.
LESSON XLVII. THOMAS. John , xx. 24 to end.
LESSON XLVIII. THE DINNER. John , xxi. 1-19.
LESSON XLIX. THE ASCENSION. Matthew , xxviii. 16 to end. Luke , xxiv. 46 to end. Acts , i. 4-14.
LESSON L. PETER IN PRISON. Acts , ii. xii. 1-23.
LESSON LI. JOHN. Rev. i. 9-19; iv. 1-5; xxii.
LESSON LII. THE JUDGMENT DAY. I. Thess. iv. 15-17. Rev. xx. 11 to end.
PREFACE.
This little work aims to be the very least of all;—not in size, but in the humility of its contents. It aims at the superlative degree of littleness; and in this point seeks to resemble the least watch ever made—the least picture ever painted—the tiniest flower that ever grew. It desires to be among books as the humming-bird among birds.
As soon as a child’s mind is capable of receiving systematic instruction, this humble work attempts to convey it.
From a very early period a pious mother will, by casual remarks, endeavor to lead her child to the knowledge of his Creator and Redeemer; and in due time she will impart systematic instruction. It may be at three years of age—it may not be till five—that the child is prepared to listen to these little lessons. But—sooner or later—he will give evidence of his immortality by willingly hearkening to discourse concerning the Invisible—the Eternal—the Infinite.
The simplicity of the language may seem unworthy of the sublimity of the subject treated of in these pages; and some may smile at the contrast;—but the little one will not smile—except with joy to hear of his Heavenly Father, and of his Incarnate Redeemer; for the merry inmates of the nursery are capable of tasting higher pleasures than toys and dainties can afford.
THE PEEP OF DAY.
LESSON I.
OF THE BODY.
Dear Children:—You have seen the sun in the sky. Who put the sun in the sky?—God.
Can you reach up so high?—No.
Who holds up the sun that it does not fall?—It is God. God lives in heaven; heaven is much higher than the sun.
Can you see God?—No. Yet He can see you, for God sees everything.
God made everything at first, and God takes care of everything. God made you, my little child, and God takes care of you always.
You have a little body; from your head down to your feet, I call your body.
Put your hand before your mouth. What do you feel coming out of your mouth? It is your breath. You breathe every moment. When you are asleep, you breathe. You cannot help breathing. But who gives you breath? God does everything. God gave you this little body, and he makes it live, and move, and breathe. There are bones in your body. God has made them strong and hard. There are some bones for your arms, and some bones for your legs. There is a bone for your back, and more bones for you sides.
God has covered your bones with flesh. Your flesh is soft and warm. In your flesh there is blood. God has put skin outside, and it covers your flesh and blood like a coat. Now all these things, the bones, and flesh, and blood, and skin, are called your body. How kind of God it was to give you a body. I hope that your body will not get hurt.
Will your bones break?—Yes, they would, if you were to fall down from a high place, or if a cart were to go over them.
If you were to be very sick, your flesh would waste away, and you would have scarcely anything left but skin and bones.
Did you ever see a child who had been sick a very long while? I have seen a sick baby. It had not round cheeks like yours, and a fat arm like this. The baby’s flesh was almost gone, and its little bones were only covered with skin. God has kept you strong and well.
How easy it would be to hurt your poor little body!
If it were to fall into the fire, it would be burned up. If hot water were thrown upon it, it would be scalded. If it were to fall into deep water, and not be taken out very soon, it would be drowned. If a great knife were run through your body, the blood would come out. If a great box were to fall on your head, your head would be crushed. If you were to fall out of the window, your neck would be broken. If you were not to eat some food for a few days, your little body would be very sick, your breath would stop, and you would grow cold, and you would soon be dead.
You see that you have a very weak little body.
Can you keep your own body from being sick, and from getting hurt?
You should try not to hurt yourself, but God only can keep your body from all harm, from fire and water, from wounds and bruises, and all kinds of sickness. Kneel down and say to God, “Pray keep my poor little body from getting hurt.” God will hear you, and go on taking care of you.
My little body’s made by God
Of soft warm flesh and crimson blood:
The slender bones are placed within,
And over all is laid the skin.
My little body’s very weak;
A fall or blow my bones might break:
The water soon might stop my breath;
The fire might close my eyes in death.
But God can keep me by his care;
To him I’ll say this little pray’r:
“O God! from harm my body keep,
Both when I wake and when I sleep.”
LESSON II.
OF A MOTHER’S CARE.
I have told you about your little body. Was your body always as big as it is now?—No. Once it was very small indeed.
What were you called when your body was very small?—A baby.
Now you can take a little care of yourself, but then you could take no care at all. Can babies walk, or talk, or feed themselves, or dress themselves?—No.
But God sent you a person who took great care of you when you were a baby.
Who was it?—Your dear mother; she took care of you then. She nursed you in her arms, and fed you, and took you out in the air, and washed you, and dressed you. Do you love your mother?—Yes.