the parent root, so they are like their pirent, and they gather round, as the children do round the table at home. Yes, tho children are as the parent. The godly man will be blessed in his children : their father's God will their God; they will be as their father, and will hand on the fear of the Lord which they first learnt from him. May our children be as these olive plants 1-S. C.
Vere. 3-6. - " Home, sweet home/" Apart from the plain teachings of Holy Scripture- !. THE MIND OF GOD IS EVIDENT m REGARD TO FAMILY LIFE FROM THE NUMERICAL EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN. It is not alone that God, in the beginning, gave one woman to be the wife of one man; but his will is still expressed by the equality which seems perpetual and universal in the numbers of each sex that are born. The histories of patriarchs and kings who departed from this monogamic law are recorded, not for imitation, but for warning. No blessing ever resulted from it, but everywhere and always misery, discord, and strife. So it always has been, and so it ever must be. Family life, in the true sense of the term, was impossible in the crowded harems of men like David, Solomon, and so many more. It is possible only where God's pri.mmval law is obeyed. II. FBOM THE FACT OF PARENTAL LOVE, ESPECIALLY THE DEEP SELF-SACRIFICING MOTHER-LOVE, into which it is God's will that children should be born. This is to be the beautiful and wholesome atmosphere of the home as it generally is. The children bring the love for them along with them. III. THE PRESERVATION OF THE FAMILY INSTITUTION. What other institution, civil, ecclesiastical, political, has not had its day and disappeared? But not this. IV. THE TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE OF THE HOME UPON THE 0HILDBEN'. It is not alone their physical existence that they owe to their parents; but their mental, moral, and spiritual characteristics are, though not absolutely, yet almost entirely, dependent upon their parents. No child can escape the influence of its home. V. How BLESSED ABE, .AS A RULE, THE RESULTS OF THIS DIVINE ARRANGEMENT 1 What a vast proportion of the whole sum of human happiness springs from it I The very word "home" has a magic power in the hearts of most men. It summons up memories of delight. Our Lord himself portrays heaven itself to us as "my Father's house"-bis home. VI. lTs SUPREME PURPOSE. (Mai. ii. 15.) Cnn any one conceive ofa. more effectual and more beneficent and gracious method whereby the kingdom of God should be set up in the world? The Divine wisdom and love are conspicuous therein.--S. C. Ver. 1.-Practicalfear. "Feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways." "Let us cultivnte that holy filinl fear of Jehovah, which is the essence of all true religion ; the fear of reverence, of dread to offend, of anxiety to please, and of entire submission and obedience. '!'his fear of the Lord is the fit fountnin of holy living; we look in vain for holiness apart from it: none but those who fear the Lord will ever walk in his ways" (Spurgeon). The rabbis explain the sentence in this way: "Abstains from breaches of the prohibitory commandments of the Decalogue, and performs the positive ones." True foar is linked with obedience and righteousness. I. THE FEAR THAT PARALYZES EFFORT. This is the fear that takes form as.fright. Sudden alarm often renders persons absolutely helpless. There is a moral fear of persons which has a similar effect. We cannot be our true selves iu their presence. Because of overstrained nervous condition, Elijah felt this fear when he received tho ~hreatening message of Jezebel. But, in its bad form, this paralyzing fear is best illustrated by the one-talent man of our Lord's parable, who excused neglect of duty with the plea, "I knew thee, that thou art an austere man. .A.nd I feared." The true fear of God wakes such unworthy fear of any one, or anything, else impossible. II. THE FEAR THAT WASTES ITSELF IN SENTIMENT. There is a fear which belongs only to the emotions, and is but a watter of feeling. One of the great perils of modern religious life is making sentiment stand in place of righteousness. '!'he answer of the modern religious man to every inquiry respecting bis standing and his hope, is this, "I hFLve/elt." The fear of sentiment has in it more awe than love, and it is only too likely to grow into demoraliting superstition, that covers and excuses self-indulgence, 238 TffE BOOK OF PSALJIIS. [rs. oxxvm. 1-6.