An infant class manual: designed for teachers of infant classes

Front matter

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AN

DESIGNED FOR

Part I. Lessons From The Oid Testament

Lesson. page.

I. About the Body 19

II. About God in his Providence 25

III. About the Soul 29

IV. About the Angels 38

V. Of the Wicked Angels 42

VI. More about Satan . 44

VII. About God— God or the Bible 46

VIII. God, or the World. Part 1 48

IX. God, or the World. Part 2 50

X. God, or the World. Part 3 52

XI. God, or the World. Part 4 54

XII. God, or the World. Part 5 55

XIII. God, or the World. Part 6 57

XIV. God, or the World. Part 7 58

XV. God, or the World. Part 8 61

XVI. God, or the World. Part 9 62

XVII. The Creation of Man. Part 10 65

XVIII. The Dominion of Man. Part 11 67

XIX. Man, or Adam and Eve. Part 1 69

XX. Paradise, or Adam and Eve. Part 2 71

XXI. The Tree of Life— The Tree of Knowledge.

Part 3 72

XXII. The Tempter. Part 4 74

2 17

18 CONTENTS.

Lesson. tags,

XXIII. The Serpent Crushed. Part 5 76

XXIV. God, or the Punishment. Part 6 78

XXV. The Overthrow of Satan. Part 7 79

XXVI. Paradise Lost. Part 8 81

XXVII. Satan, or the Disappointment. Part 9. 84

XXVIII. Satan, or the Disappointment. Part 10. 85

XXIX. Satan, or the Disappointment. Part 11. 87

XXX. Adam and Eve— The Preview. Part 1. 89

XXXI. Adam and Eve— The Review. Part 2. 91

XXXII. Adam and Eve— The Review. Part 3. 93

XXXIII. Adam and Eve— The Review. Part 4. 95

XXXIV. Adam and Eve— The Review. Part 5. 97 XXXV. Adam and Eve— The Review. Part 6. 99

XXXVI. The Lord Jesus, the Savior of the

Fallen Family— The Review. Part 7. 101 XXXVII. Of the Savior— The Review. Part 8. 103 XXXVIII. Of the Savior— The Review. Part 9. 105 .XXXIX. Adam and Eve and family — The Savior—The Review. Part 10 107

XL. The Review. Part 11 109

XLI. About the Hiding of God's Face 110

XLII. About Faith, or what Faith Does 113

XLIII. Sacrifices God's Way of Pointing out

the True Sacrifice 116

XLIV. How God Keeps the World in Mind of

Christ's Death 119

XLV. About God in his House, or what People do in God's House...... 124

XLVI. About the Worship of God 127

XLVII. The History of Cain and Abel. Parti. 131 XLVIII. The History of Cain and Abel. Part 2. 134 XLIX. About the Generations from Adam to

Noah and the Flood. >.. 138

L. Something more about the Flood 151

THE

INFANT CLASS MANUAL.

Part I. Lessons From The Old Testament

LESSON I.

ABOUT THE BODY.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive them that trespass against us :

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil;

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

And the glory forever, amen.

Dear Children, — I suppose you know

something about God; but I wish to talk

with you, and tell you what the Bible says

about him. Yes, 't is the Bible that tells us

about God and ourselves, and about heaven and hell. Would you not like to learn about those things ? And will you not try to learn what I tell you?

What book is it that tells us about God, and about ourselves, and about heaven and hell? (Replies.)

God has done ever so many great and wonderful things. He made the sun and placed it up in the sky, and holds it there so it does not fall. God made every thing in the world at first, and he takes care of every thing he has made. If he did not take care of us we could not live at all.

Who made every thing in the world at first? (Replies.) God made every thing in the world at first; but besides that, what does he do for every thing he has made ? (Replies.) If God did not take care of us, how would it be with us? (Replies.)

God is not like us. He lives every-where, he is all around us in this world, and he is in heaven, too. In every place that you can think of, God lives. You can not see God; but God can see you, for he is every-where.

Where does God live? (Replies: Yes, he lives in heaven, and in this world, too?) Is there any place that you can think of where

God does not live? (Replies.) Why can not you think of a place where God does not live ? (Replies : Because lie is every-where.) Where is God? (Replies.) How is it that God can be in heaven, and yet at the same time be all around us in this world, and see us? (Replies: It is because he is every-where.) Can we be every-where at once? (Replies.) Who is the only person that can be every-where at once? (Replies.)

We have said God made every thing at first. Yes, and he made you, and he has given every one of us a body, and your bodies are alive. A book, you know, is not alive; it is not warm, like your bodies; but is very cold; it has no breath as you have, nor can it move, for it has no life.

Who made you? (Replies.) What has God given every one of us? (Replies.) When our bodies have breath in them, what are we said to be? (Replies: Said to be alive.) Why is a book said to have no life ? (Replies: Because it has no breath in it, it can neither breathe nor move.) A book can neither breathe nor move because, what? children. (Replies : Because it has no life in it.) What is the difference between yoiu* bodies and a book? (Replies: Our bodies have life and breath in them; but a book has no life.)

Your bodies have bones in them to make them strong; the bones are covered over with flesh. Feel your arms and see whether there is flesh over the bones; this makes them soft. The flesh has blood in it, and the skin is outside of this flesh, and covers it all over like a coat.

What have you in your bodies to make them strong? (Replies.) What are your bones covered over with? (Replies.) What is there in the flesh, and what is it? (Replies.) What is outside of the flesh, and covers it all like a coat? (Replies.)

Now you may learn and sing this verse about it.

(The children repeat in concert with the teacher.)

" My little body 's formed by God, J Tis made of living flesh and blood; The slender bones are placed within, And over all is laid the skin."

You see, children, God has made your bodies to live, and breathe, and move. He thinks of you every minute, or you could not breathe, but would die. God has made these bodies so that they must be fed, for if you were not to eat any thing for a few days, you would die. Your breath would stop, and your heart would not beat, and your body would grow cold and stiff, like a stone.

If we would keep the body from dying, what must be done for it? (Replies: It must be fed.) It is easy to hurt the body. Did you ever cut your finger? Then you know how easy it is to hurt the body. It is easy to break the bones; did you ever see any one with his arm broken? And then a very little thing will make the body die. Fire will burn it, and water will drown it; and what can be done to the body so as to cause it to die ? (Replies : It may be hurt.)

God has made your bodies to live, and breathe, and move; but then, how has he made them? (Replies: He has made them so as to be fed, and to be kept from getting hurt, or they will die.)

Yes, and every one of you may say, as the little verse says, which you may now repeat.

u 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."

You see, children, God has made your bodies so that you must take great care of them. You must do all you can to keep them from getting hurt, and from dying. But then no one can keep these bodies from all harm, and from dying, neither yourself nor any one else, but God only.

Even though we do all we can to keep these bodies from getting hurt, and from dying, can we either ourselves or any one else keep them from all harm, or from dying? (Replies: We can not.) Who alone can do it for us? (Replies.) Then, that you may remember how we can not, either ourselves or any one else, keep these bodies from all harm, that none but God only can do it, you may learn and say this verse :

" But God can keep me by his care ; To him I'll say this little prayer; God, from harm my body keep, Both when I wake and when I sleep."

You may now sing the hymn in the beginning of the lesson.

(The children sing.) "Our Father, who art in heaven," etc.

LESSON II.

ABOUT GOD IN HIS PROVIDENCE ; OR, THE CARE OP MOTHER, FATHER, AND GOD.

"Great God, and wilt thou condescend To be my Father and my Friend ? I a poor child, and thou so high, The Lord of earth, and air, and sky !

Art thou my Father ? canst thou bear To hear my poor, imperfect prayer ? Or stoop to listen to the praise That such a little one can raise ?

Art thou my Father ? then at last, When all my days on earth are past, P Send down and take me in thy love,

To be thy better child above."

Your bodies, children, were not always as big as they are now. Once you were very small, you were called little babies. You can take some care of yourselves now, but when you were babies you could not take any care of yourselves at all. Now you may see bow very good Grod has been to you, for when you could not take care of yourselves God gave you kind mothers to take care of you and to do every thing for you that you needed and could not do for yourselves, and he gave you fathers to earn money to help your mothers to get bread, and clothes, and every thing that you might need, when you were so very helpless and could not look out your own living.

Were you always as big as you are now? (Replies.) What were you called when you were so very small? (Replies.) You can take some care of yourselves now, but when you were babies, could you take any care of yourselves at all? (Replies.) Why not? (Replies.) What did God give you kind mothers for? (Replies.) What did God give you fathers for? (Replies.)*

Yes, God caused both your mother and father to love you very dearly. Your mother does a great many things for you; and your father lets you live in his house, and gives you a part of his things to make you happy.

Why does your mother do so many things for you ? (Replies : She does them because she loves us and wishes to make us happy?) Why does your father let you live in his house, and give you a part of his things? (Replies.) Who is it that causes both your mother and father to love you? (Replies.) When you were so very small and helpless, what did God give you that you might be taken care of, and have bread, and clothes, and a home ? (Replies.)

0, how you ought to love God for all his great goodness to you, children !

How are you to behave toward your parents? God teaches you in the Bible, children, that you must honor your mother and father; you must love them and be thankful to them for their love and care for you ; you must be good children to them, always mind what they say, and do what they bid you. Children, never forget to honor your father and mother, for it is one of God's great commandments ; if you break it you disobey both God and your parents.

You may now repeat the commandment of God about honoring your parents.

Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Now you may sing the verses about it.

(The children sing.) "How sweetly does the time fly," etc.

Your father may die, and then you would be fatherless; but you would still have the best of all fathers left. Yes, you have another father besides the one you have at home. God, who lives in heaven and every-where, is your Father, and he loves you, and a great deal more than the one you live with does. He will take care of you when your father is dead. He says, I will be a Father to the fatherless. Your Father in heaven will never die ; he looks at you and thinks of you every moment. He gives you a part of his things, and he wants you to come after awhile and live with him in heaven.

Who is your Father besides the one you have at home ? (Replies.) Who is the best Father of all fathers? (Replies.) If the father you have at home were to die, what would you be? You would be fatherless, would you not? Then who would take care of you ? (Replies.) What has God promised to be to the fatherless? (Replies.) Will your Father in heaven ever die? (Replies.) How much does your Heavenly Father love you? (Replies.) What does he do for you? (Replies.) Where does he wish to have you come and live after awhile? (Replies.) How much, then, you ought to love God your Father I

You may now repeat — or sing — the hymn the beginning of the lesson.

"Great God, and wilt thou condescend," etc.

LESSON III.

ABOUT THE SOUL.

"There is an hour when I must die,

Nor do I know how soon 'twill come; A thousand children, young as I,

Are call'd by death to hear their doom.

Let me improve the hours I have, Before the day of grace is fled;

There's no repentance in the grave. Nor pardon offer' d to the dead.

Just as a tree cut down, that fell To north or southward, there it lies,

So man departs to heaven or hell, Fixed in the state wherein he dies."

God made the animals, too. He made them and keeps them alive, just as he keeps you alive.

Who made you, children ? (Replies.) Who made the animals ? (Replies.) How does God keep the animals alive ? (Replies : Just as he keeps us alive.)

And he made their bodies of bones, and flesh, and blood, but if you look at any of them — your horse or cow, your dog, or cat, or chicken, or bird, or even a little fly or spider — you will see that their bodies are not like your bodies.

What are the bodies of animals made up of? (Replies.) But when you look at the bodies of any of the animals, what do you see ? (Replies : We see that their bodies are not made like our bodies?)

But there is a greater difference than this between you and them. They can not think about God or any thing else; you can. They can not learn about him, nor love him.

What is it that animals can not do ? (Replies.)

The Bible tells us that God has made us better than the birds or beasts. None of them have souls, they have only live bodies.

What is it that animals have only ? (Replies.)

But you have both souls and bodies. When God made your body he put a soul in it, but when he made the bodies of the animals he did not put a soul in any of them.

What does the Bible tell us about the animals ? (Replies : It tells us that they have no souls.) When God made your bodies what did he put in them ? (Replies.) What have you then ? (Replies : We have both bodies and souls.) When God made the animals did he put a soul in any of them ? (Replies : He did not) Can not animals think about God, or of any thing else? Can not they learn about him and love him ? (Replies : They can not.) Why not ? (Replies : They have no souls, and are only live bodies.) How does the Bible say we are made? (Replies: We are made better than the animals.) What have we more than they? (Replies.)

You can now not only see, children, how your bodies are made quite different from the bodies of animals, your horse or cow, your dog, or cat, or chicken, or bird, or even a little fly or spider, but you can see what the great difference is between us and them — we have souls, and none of them have any.

There are some pretty verses that will help you to keep in mind about yourselves, how you are better than animals ; you may repeat them.

"My hands, how nicely they are made To hold, and touch, and do ; I'll try to learn some honest trade, That will be useful, too.

My eyes, how fit they are to read, And mind my work, and look ; * I ought to think of that, indeed, And use them at my book.

My tongue was truly never meant

To quarrel and to swear ; To speak the truth my tongue was lent,

And to be used in prayer.

My mind, for what can it be given ?

For thinking, to be sure ; That I might think of God and heaven,

And learn my faults to cure.

My heart, and all the fear and love

That in my bosom dwell ; My love was made for heaven above,

My fear, to fly from ill."

You can not see your soul, but God can see it. He knows just what you are thinking about now.

Can you see your soul? (Replies.) Can God see? (Eeplies.) Does God see just what you are thinking about now ? (Replies.) How is it that God can see what you are thinking about ? (Replies : It is because he can see the soul.)

Your souls are worth a great deal more than your bodies; for your bodies are made of dust, and will die ; but your souls are made of the breath of God, and will never die nor grow old. What is your body made of?

(Replies.) What are your souls made of? (Replies.) What part of you is it that will die? (Replies.) What part of you will never die nor grow old? (Replies.) "Why can not the soul die ? (Replies : Because it is made of the breath of God.)

When an animal dies it is altogether dead, for it has nothing but a body. But when your bodies die and are put in the ground, your souls will not be dead, also; for they will not lie in the grave. Even a baby has a soul, and when the baby's body dies and is put in the little coffin its soul is not dead. Its little body is dead, and in the coffin, and in the grave ; but its soul is not in the coffin nor in the grave ; for it can not die like the body. It has gone up to God.

When animals die, how is it with them?

(Replies.) Why are they altogether dead?

(Replies : Because they have nothing but body.)

When your bodies die and are put in the

grave, will your souls be dead, also, and in

the grave? (Replies.) When the body is

dead and in the coffin, and in the grave, why

will not the soul be in the coffin and in the

grave, also ? (Replies : Because it can not die

like the body, neither can it be buried like the body,} And when it leaves the body where

does it go? (Replies.)

A body with a soul in it is like a cage wifch a bird in it; when the door is open the bird flies out, leaving the cage behind, and goes where it pleases up in the air among the trees, or from place to place on the ground. So, dear children, the body has a door; death opens the door and lets the soul out. When the body dies the soul goes right out of it — leaves its cage and goes back to God. If the soul has been good and loved God while it was in the body, then God takes it into heaven to live with him forever. But if the soul has been wicked God will send it to hell, where the devil and his angels are.

What is the reason that the soul is worth more than the body? (Replies.) When the body dies, what does the soul do ? (Replies.) Where does it go? (Replies.) And if it has been good while it lived in the body, what does God do with it? (Replies.) But if it has been wicked, then what does he do with it? (Replies.)

There are some verses that will suit this part of your lesson ; you may repeat them.

"Though I am young, I have a soul Can think, and love, and see, And while eternal ages roll, It will not, can not die.

For it will soar to worlds on high,

Where happy spirits dwell, Or buried with the wicked lie,

Low in the depths of hell.

Pardon me, cleanse me, God of peace

And let me holy be, All dressed, like Christ, in holiness,

And fit to dwell with thee."

Our bodies have to die, but the Savior will make them alive again, and bring the soul back into them. When the Savior makes the body alive again, he will so that it will not die any more, it will live forever; the soul and body will not be parted again, but will live together forever. When the body is made alive again, and the soul brought back into its own body — this is called the resurrection.

Some day, children, what will have to happen to our bodies ? (Replies.) But will the body and the soul never live together again ? Though our bodies have to die, what does the Savior tell us he will do for them ? (Replies.) When the body is made alive again, will it ever die any more ? (Replies.) Why not ? (Replies : Because when they are made alive again, our bodies are to be made so that they will never die.) When the body is made alive again, and the soul brought back into its own body, what is this called? (Replies.) What is the resurrection? (Replies.) After the resurrection, will the soul ever have to leave the body? (Replies.) Why not? (Replies : Because when the body is made alive again it is to be made so that the soul may live in it forever!)

The Savior tells us that at the last day the trumpet of God shall sound, and that all who are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth ; that is, come out of their graves alive. Yes, no matter where their graves are, whether they are in the soft earth, or in the hard rock, or in the water, all shall hear the voice of the Savior and shall come out of their graves ; they that have been good shall live with God forever, and they that have been wicked shall live with the devil forever.

When is the trumpet of God to sound? (Replies.) When are all who are in. their graves to hear the voice of the Savior? (Replies.) Will it make any difference where •their graves are? Will they hear his voice just as well in one place as another — whether they are in the soft earth, or in the hard rock, or in the water? (Replies.) When the trumpet of God shall sound, and when all who arc in their graves shall hear the voice of the Savior, what will happen ? (Replies : All who are in their graves will come out alive.)

We have told you, children, how you have souls as well as bodies ; that your bodies can die, and what they are made of; and that your souls can not die, and what they are made of; but which is worth more than the other, your souls or your bodies ? (Replies.) Why so ? (Replies.) We have told you how our bodies ^vill have to die ; and that the Savior tells us they will be made alive again, and made so that they will never die; and that the soul and body will never part again, and will live together forever; but, at what time will our bodies be made alive again, and the soul brought back in its own body ? (Replies.) What did we say is called the resurrection ? (Replies : It is when the body is made alive again, and the soul brought bach in its own body.) We have told you about the soul when the body dies, what it does, and what becomes of it; but then, after the resurrection, when the soul and body meets, not to part again, to live together forever, whom are the good to live with? (Eeplies.) How long ? (Replies.) Whom are the wicked to live with? (Eeplies.) How long are the wicked to live with the devil? (Eeplies.) Which of the two, God or Satan, would you choose to live with? (Eeplies.)

You may now sing the first hymn in the lesson.

"There is an hour when I must die " etc.

LESSON IV.*

ABOUT THE GOOD ANGELS.

You know that God lives in heaven ; what does he sit upon in heaven? He sits on a great white throne. He has no body, for he is a spirit.

Does he live in heaven alone? No; angels stand around his throne.

* Note to Teachers. — The three foregoing lessons are deemed sufficient to show the method of teaching the lessons of this Manual. The teacher, therefore, in teaching, will now proceed,

Who are angels? Angels are spirits. They are bright like the sun, but they are not so bright as God, for he is brighter than the sun. The angels are always looking at God, and it is God who makes them shine so bright.

They sing sweet songs about God. They say, "How good God is, how wise, how great!"

There is no night in heaven, for the angels are never tired of singing, and they never wish to sleep. They are never sick, and they will never die.

They never weep ; there are no tears upon their cheeks, but sweet smiles, for angels are always happy.

You may now repeat, as the little verse says :

" Their faces, like the sun, are bright, And sweetest smiles they wear ; They never sleep — there is no night, Nor need of candle there."

as occasion may require, to analyze the lessons themselves, by interrogating the children on what they have heard, so as to bring out the points of instruction to be impressed upon the mind.

Whenever the hymns and verses occur they may not only be illustrative, but may be made a pleasing exercise for the children. The teacher may at pleasure require the children, either sitting or standing, to repeat them in concert ; sometimes changing the exercise of repeating to that of singing ; and sometimes either of those exercises may be accompanied with suitable gestures.

If the angels were wicked they would be unhappy. Wickedness always makes people unhappy. Angels are quite good. They love God very much, and mind all he says. Yes, as the verse says :

(The children or the teacher repeat.)

"Around God's throne above, The happy angels stand, And ever praise the God they love, And fly at his command."

They can fly very quickly. God sends them down here to take care of us. They are very strong, and can keep us from harm. But then they never go any where except when God sends them. God is their father. They have not two fathers, as you have. The angels are the children of God, and live in God's house in heaven.

(Children.)

"But though the angels live on high, They love us men below; And hope to see us in the sky, In garments white as snow."

When you mind what your father tells you, then whom are you like? You are like the angels who mind God.*

* Peep of Day. Pages 30, 31.

(Let the children sing or repeat.)

"I want to be an angel,