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The Principles of Mental and Moral Training, and of Industrial Discipline
The Principles of Mental and Moral Training and of Industrial Discipline Author:Henry Smith Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: me proof that God had given even him sincere repentance. And for eighteen months that proof he did give. He had been the petted hero and king among his wicked co... more »mpanions, who prized him for his bold daring, and success in deceiving those to whose charge he was committed; but he broke from their company, and for twelve months endured much persecution from them. He became retiring and modest, and was exemplary in his conduct. None could say a word against him, though many watched, with an eagle's eye, to discover a flaw if any existed. It was not, however, before eighteen months had elapsed, that I allowed him to know that I believed him sincere. Many imagine that we religious people are easily gulled by a specious profession. I cannot, however, think that any will reckon this as an example of it; but I take it as a proof of what God can do, even for the most abandoned, and of what He will do if we faithfully use such means as He has appointed. Are these the only examples I know of? No, I know of scores of others, and I dare not any more despair of the reformation even of the most criminal. But here we are—this is the turn we must take. What! not like, do you say, to entrust yourself down there ? Well, it is a dangerous spot to be sure, but the inhabitants know me, and you will be safe. But let me make one remark: if this place is so bad that you are afraid to go into it,lest you should be robbed and perhaps maltreated, what can we expect a child to be, who was born and brought up there, and educated in crime? There is, in such a place, the absence of everything good, and the presence of every kind of evil; and what chance has the child of either knowing what is right, or of doing it ? And if in his life he shows the natural effect of such associations, is he not to be pitied mor...« less