1till, even so, painful to the parent, whilst it injures the child in the opinion of ric,ht- .1J1indrd people. [Common shame of doing, or refusing to do things out of respect to a parent's wishes. At most, if the wish is respected, it is merely a" humouring of the 0 1,J. people," a~ though the command were" humour," instead of "honour" "thy father and mother."] Why ch11fe at such simple duties as those which spring from the most Aacred of rel11tions. There is a far worse bondage than that of "a mother's apron strings;" it is not well to rupture needlessly those cords of a man which are the bonds of love. If you w11nt a reason for the command:- 11. HoME REVERENCE Is THE ROOT OF WORSHIP. That ladder which Jacob saw is always reared within the shadow of the home. Even with him, an exile, it was the God of his father who stood above it. The pa.rents, or those who stand in the pince of parents, are the .:mly God a child knows at first. Worship, like other things, comes by practice and experience : the first lessons are learnt in the home. Practically, God is revealed through the parent; other things equal, no reverence for parents, there will be no reverence for God. No doubt there are homes and homes; some where you can almost catch the rustle of the angel wings; others, withered husks of home, blasted before the breath of hell. Still, even in the worst homes the ladder is planted, could one but see it. Take away home and its associations, and you leave it with no ground to stand on. Notice in this light the great responsibility of parents. Further:- Ill. HOME RF.VERENCE IS THE SOURCE OF INDIVIDUAL AND NATIONAL PERMANENCE. The position of the commandment teaches its connection with worship, the promise attached to it its connection with prosperity. It ensures :-1. The prosperity of the individual. The man who does not honour and respect his parents has not gained the habit of reverence; he does not honour God, he does not honour all men. What f9llows ?-(1) Not honouring God, there is no power but self to restrain self. Impulses, desires, etc., are likely, unreined, to run away with him. A. man so run away with is rushing post haste to death. (2) Not honouring men, he will hold aloof from men. They may hinder, they are not likely to help him. The friction of life intensified; all that is done-done with twice the effort. Such a man may be successful, not likely to be long-lived. The needless friction must wear out the life. Could the test be applied, an insurance company would be justified in charging a lower premium on one who kept this-commandment, than on one who habitually disregarded it. 2. The prosperity of the nation. For (1) That nation is most stable which founds itself in reverence for the past. 'l'he "Land of settled government" is the land- " Where Freedom broadens slowly down From precedent to precedent."
(2) '!'hat nation is most stable which adopts the principle of the fourth commandmeni and respects autholity above numbers. 'l.'he commandment does not say, "Honour the family vote," it says, "Honour thy father and thy mother.n Conclusion.-Home is linked with heaven; the earthly parent with the Father of eternity. Would you reach heaven, then reverence home; would you worship God, then honour your parents.-G. Ver. 13.-The second table. Fraternal relations; the outward-looking aspect of life. May clllssify them either (1) as they affect us personally, or (2) as they affect man generally. According to (1) they deal with our actions, our words, and our thoughts. According to (2) they teach us :-The sanctity of life, of home, of property, of character; whilst the tenth commandment shows further that the heart is the source whence springs reverence for these sanctities. Notice as regards this sixth commandment:- 1. ITs BEARING ON ACTIONS. Murder, the criminal taking of life, varies in character; according to the nature of the life destroyed and according to the nature of the action ot the destroyer. Life is threefold, of the body, of the mind, and of the spirit: anc. murder, as against each, may be deliberate or careless, resulting from action or from inaction. Illustrate from cases affecting the bodily life :-1. Deliberate murder. Life taken of malice aforethought. 2. Careless murder, resulting from negligence or cul- pable ignorance; e.g., the house builder who so builds his house as to injure the health of a tenant, neglecting drains, etc.; or the parent who spreads some infection., di..order J!iB THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [011. XX. 13-14 ----------------------------------