l11w, or rough human 11dmi11istration of law, but. the rig·ht of him who discornelh between the eYil ond the good, "too wise to err, too g·ood to be unkind. "-R. Ver. 19.-God's ru.le in the family. "For I know him, that he will command his childre_n and his housel!old ofter him, and they shall keep the way of the Loni." The promise to Abr:aham mc~uded-(1) understanding of God's acts; (2) tho.t he should become a m1:ghty nation; (3) that h~ should be ancestor of the promiseq Seed; (4) that he lumself should be a blessing to others, O.f these points two at least are not confined to him personally, but belong to all who will. 'l'o know what 90d d_oeth _a man must be taugl!t of the Spirit (1 Cor. ii. 14? cf._ Isa. vii. 12). There 1s a,W1de difference between seemg an event, or even foreseeing 1t, and understanding God's lessons therein. To be able in everything to mark the love, and care and wisdom of God ; to walk with him as a child, accepting what he sends not m~rely as inevitable, but as loving; to learn lessons from all that happen11, and through the works of his hands to see our Father's face-this is peace, and this is what the v.isdom of this world cannot teach (Matt. xi. 25; 1 Cor. i. 20, 21). Again, .Abraham was to be not merely the ancestor of a nation, but the father of a spiritual family by influence and example (Matt. iii. 9; Gal. iii. 7). In this his calling is that of every Christian (Dan. xii. 3; Matt. v. 13, 14). Text connects. the godly rule of a family with both these blessings. Christianity is not to be a selfish, but a diffusive thing (Matt. v. 15; xiii. 33); and the influence must needs begin at home (cf. Num. x. 29; ActR i. 8), among those whom God has placed with us. I. THINGS NEEDFUL FOR Tnrs WORK. 1. Care for liis own soul. I£ tliat is not cared for a man cannot desire the spiritual good of others. He may desire and try to train his children and household in honesty and prudence ; to make them good members of society, successful, respected; and may cultivate all kindly feelings; but not till he realises eternity will he really aim at training others for eternity. Might say that only one who has found -peace can fully perform this work. A man aroused with desire that his family should be saved. But, he cannot press the full truth as it is in Jesus. 2. Love for tlie souls of othe:rs. Christians are sometimes so wrapped up in care for their own souls as to have few thoughts for the state of others. Perhaps from a lengthened conflict the mind has been too much turned upon its own state. But this is not the mind of Christ (1 Cor. x. 24). It is not a close following of him. It tells of a halting in the" work of faith" (2 Cor. v. 13, 14 ; cf. Rom. x. 1). 3. Desire to advance the kin[Jdom of Clirist. When a mo.n has this Le sees in every ono a soul for which Christ died (cf. John iv. 35), and those with wLom he is closely connected must chiefly call forth this feeling. IL THE MANNER OF THE WORK. Family worship; acknowledgment of God as ruling in the household; his will a regulating principle and bond of union. Let th_is be a reality, not a form. Let the sacrificial work of Christ be ever put forward m instruction and in prayer. Personal example-constantly aiming at a holy life. To pray in tLe family and yet to be evidently making no effort to live in the spi_rit of the prayer is ~o do positive evil ; enc?uraging the belie~ t!iat God may be_ worslupped with words, without deeds; and tendrng to separate relig10n from daily hfe. Prarer in private for each member-children, servants, &c. ; and watchfulness to deo.1 with each as God shall give opportunity (Prov. xv. 23). Let prayer always accompany such efforts.-M.
Ver. 19.-.Abraham and family training. "For I know him, that he will c_om- mand l1is cl1ildren and his household after him," &c. Under the shady terebmth celestial visitants partake, or appear to do so, of a meal hastily provided by the patriarch. 'l'he whole narrative is given in such a way that,-after the mnnner of tl1e iime,-to God are ascribed human passions, desires, hesitancy, and resolve. Hence God is described ae resolving, on two grounds, to reveal to Abraham that which he is about to do in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: (1) that Im would become a great and mighty nation; (2) that he would direct his household to follow in the ways of righteousness and truth. Notice- 1. THE VALUE GOD PLACES ON EARLY BPIItl'l'UAL 'l'RAINING. Chil<lren and servants are both to be bronght under spiritunl iufluence. The heart will not become p11ro en. xv111. 2il---53.J THE BOOK OF GENJ<;SIS.
naturully, ~!1y more tlmn the bo~t le~t _to itself _wo~ld '!lake head way against a st~<mg current. lho set of the world-tide 1s IIl &n evil duect1on. Abmham had no wntten book to aid him in his work. His unwritten Bible was the tradition of God's deal- ings with the rnce and with himself. He could tell of the promises of God and of the way of approach to him by sacrifice. Evidently there had been careful training in this respect; for when Jenae was going with hie father to the mount of sacrifice he no- ticed that,although the fire and wood were carried, they had no lamb fora burnt offering. II. GOD NOTICES HOW SPIRITUAL TRAINING IS CARRIED ON. " I know him." He could trust Abraham, for he would "command," &c., not in the dictatorial tone3 of a tyrant, but by the power of a consistent life. Many children of reli"'ious parents go back to the world because of the imperious style of training they h~ve received. In tro.ining,,every word, look, and act tells. In many homee there is, alas, no train- ing given and no holy example set. Parents are held accountable for failure, and ehould therefore be firm and loving in training. They should not readily delegate to others the work of training, either in secular or religious knowledge. Sunday-school teaching should supplement, not supplant, home training. III. Goo MADE THE BEST0WMEN'l' OF INTENDED BLESSINGS CONTINGE,IT ON THE FAITHFUL DISCHARGE OF DUTY. "That the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he bath spoken of him." If Abraham had not been faithful his name would have died out, and there would have been no handing on of the narrutive of his devoted life and tenacious hold of the Divine promises. Isaac followed in his father's steps and was a meditative man. •Jacob cherished the promises and handed them on to his sons. The Jews preserved n knowledge of God when all other races were sunk in polytheism. From them cnme the One who was the Saviour of the world. All, however, depended on the right training of Isaac. The rill flowed to the strenmlet, the streamlet to the creek, the creek to the river, the river to the ocean. Influence ever widened, and God's aim with respect to Abraham was carried out. Let nll stril'e so to act that the chnracter of the life may not undo the teachings of the lip.-H.