Yet it is a self-chosen one. God did not choose it for them. They chose it for themselves. God invites, nay, pleads hard with them to quit it, yet they will not. Wretched as it is, they yet prefer it to the friendship of him, with whom their heart is at enmity, and whose presence is to them all
§loom and terror. Yet he continues to entreat them. He oes not let them alone. The " many sorrows" which com- pass them about are his many messages of grace, his un- wearied knockings at their fast-closed door. He writes " van- ity" upon the creature, " weariness and vexation" upon earth's best delights, that men may not place their confidence in these. Most mercifully does he hedge them about with disappointment of every form, that they may lift their eyes above this earth, and beyond these heavens, to the enduring blessedness that is at his right hand for ever. With what kindness, though with seeming severity, does he mar their best friendships, that he may attract them to the communion of his own far better and everlasting companionship 1 With what compassion does he break in upon their misguided at- tachments, that he may draw them away from earth, and bind them to himself by the more blessed ties of his own far sweeter love 1 With what tenderness does he tear asunder the bonds of brotherhood and kindred, that he may unite them to him- self in far dearer and eternal relationship ? WTith what mercy does he overthrow their prospects of worldly wealth, and bring down their hopes of earthly power and greatness, that he may give them the heavenly treasure, and make them a " royal priesthood" to himself in the glorious kingdom of his Son. With what love does he ruin their reputation among men, breaking in pieces their good name which was their idol, that he may show them the vanity of human praise, leading them to desire the honor that cometh from God, to know that in his favor is life, and that the light of his countenance is the very sunshine of heaven.
Oh, that a weary, broken-hearted world would learn these lessons of grace ! Oh, that they would taste and see that God is good. Let them but come home to him. He will not mock them with shadows, nor feed them upon husks. He will satisfy their craving souls ; he will turn their midnight into noon ; he will give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heavi- ness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord.
VI PREFACE.
Let the world, however, regard God's dealings with them as they may : let not " the children" despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when they are rebuked of him. They at least should know the meaning of his actings towards them, for they know HIMSELF. The world may misunder stand his rebukes, or put an unkind construction upon them; they cannot, for they know that " God is love."
The thoughts that follow are designed to assist them in in- terpreting God's ways ; not merely in finding comfort under trial, but in drawing profit from it. I have at least attempted to contribute something towards this end. I have done what I could, rather than what I would. But it may be that the Head of the family will own it, and send it with his own blessing to the scattered members near and far. He knows that they need some such words in season ; and that, if thickening signs deceive not, they will ere long need them more. In such a case even this little volume may be helpful.
It is written in much weakness, and with many sins to mar it : amid what trials it is of little moment for a stranger to learn. It is written by one who is seeding himself to profit by trial, and trembles lest it should pass by as the wind over the rock, leaving it as hard as ever; by one who would fain in every sorrow draw near to God, that he may know Him more, and who is not unwilling to confess that as yet lie knows but little.
fclto, Dec. 19, 1843.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAOB
The Family .... .9
CHAPTER II. The Family Life ... .23
CHAPTER III. The Family Badge ... .33
CHAPTER IV. The Family Discipline . . . . .44
CHAPTER V. The Family Rods .... 65
CHAPTER VL The Types .... . . 79
CHAPTER VII. The Proving .... .86
CHAPTER VIII. The Rebuking . . . . . .97
V1U CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
PAOB
The Purifying . . . . .107
CHAPTER X. Ths Arousing . . . • .119
CHAPTER XI.
The Solemnizing . . . • .129
CHAPTER XII. The Warning . . . . • .139
CHAPTER XIII. The Recollections . • • • • 154
CHAPTER XIV. The Consolation . . . • .162
CHAPTER XV. The Eternal Results . . . • .175
CHAPTER I.
THE FAMILY.
IT was God's purpose from the beginning, not merely to redeem for Himself a people out of a world of sinners, but to bring that people into a peculiar relationship to Himself. It was his purpose to draw them nearer to Him- self than any other order of his creatures, and to establish a link between them and Godhead of the closest and most peculiar kind.