WORKS BY S. WILDERSPIN. THE INFANT SYSTEM; For developing the Intellectual and Moral Powers of Young Children. Seventh Edition, Price 5s. Dedicated, by Permission, to the Queen Dowager. This work gives explicit instruction for the organising of Infant Schools, and the training and educating of Children, much of which may be applied in the Nursery. EARLY DISCIPLINE ILLUSTRATED; Or the Infant System progressing and successful.—Third Edition. Price 58. This work contains the history of Infant Training from its rise in 1819, and the various journeys undertaken in furthering it, down to a late period. A SYSTEM FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG, Applied to all the faculties; founded on immense experience on many thousands of children, in most parts of the Three Kingdoms. With an Appendix and Plates.-Price 7s.6d. In this work the principles of training and educating are carried out to suit older children. MANUAL, FOR THE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE NURSERY AND INFANT SCHOOL: BIBLIO BY SAMUEL WILDERSPIN, ORIGINATOR OF THE SYSTEM OF INFANT TRAINING; AND T. J. TERRINGTON, SECRETARY TO THE HULL INFANT SCHOOL SOCIETY. Speaking the truth in love.-Eph. iv. 15. LONDON: HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW, R. CUSSONS, HULL. MDCCCXLV, PREFACE. RELIGIOUS Education is the most important part of instruction, and pure religious principles the only true foundation of right action. To this effect I have fully expressed myself in my other publications; and have always endeavoured to provide for such instruction in the numerous schools that I have organised, by furnishing an ample supply of select portions of Scripture illustrated by coloured plates. These pictures are of great importance in educating the very young, as they win the attention, and give more clear ideas. They chiefly consist of the miracles and parables of our Saviour, to which simple histories from the Old Testament are added, together with the Lord's Prayer, Ten Commandments, and Apostles' Creed. Select hymns from Watts, Jane Taylor, and others, I have been accustomed to teach; but it appeared to me that a series more simple in style and encouraging in sentiment was much wanted. It should always be our endeavour to impress upon the young mind a high notion of the happiness of true religion, the purity of the Christian character, and the greatness and goodness of God. To lead up infant minds to Him, through the works of creation, I have ever found one of the most effectual modes of instruction. Simple hymns, level to their unfolding understandings, they learn with ease; and it is hoped that several such will be found in this Manual. I first became acquainted with Mr. Terrington, who has assisted me in this work, by being invited over to Hull, to re-organise and train two infant schools which had been established on my plans about eighteen years, and this intercourse led to conversations on the subject of religious education, in which our views very closely coincided; and we therefore determined to unite our efforts for the production of the present work. A large portion of the pieces are by him, as he could write verse with greater facility-but these, for sentiment and style, have my most cordial approval, and long experience leads me to suppose that they are well adapted to the tender mind of a little child. We cannot present truth to it in a too simple, plain, and encouraging manner, or too soon make known the elementary and fundamental truths of Christianity-redemption and sanctification—in their practical bearings. It must however be constantly borne in mind that an overdoing is frequently an undoing, and that a little distinctly understood is far better than much held unintelligibly. The following hymns can be read to children, and some committed to memory by dictation, and sung. Singing is a great aid to instruction, especially in an infant school. The same can be done with the moral songs, and children can have them explained, and be questioned upon them. In the "Practical Religious lessons" it is attempted to give an out |