In the moral derangement of our children the inward tendency to immorality makes it impossible to educate them to a true and perfect standard of morality without G.o.d"s aid. Have we and our children no other source of strength to do battle with the evil pa.s.sions but the force of the human will? Who has succeeded in subduing or controlling an angry disposition in themselves or their children to the extent that there is no impatient speech or abrupt action, by their own will power? We admit that some men-as the ancient heathen philosophers-have succeeded in educating themselves to a high standard of morality by using all the power of the human will as a vigilant police force and carefully avoiding occasions of temptation. It is said of one of these philosophers that in order to absent himself from the races and games and bull-fights and other worldly gatherings he would only shave one-half of his face, thereby making himself too ridiculous in appearance to a.s.semble among men. Such is the struggle to attain any moral excellence without divine a.s.sistance.
Children should be taught what sin is, and of G.o.d"s judgments against it, and as early in life as possible be led by instruction and seeking the aid of the Holy Spirit into a Christian experience. Some seem to think that children have no correct ideas of G.o.d, and never feel the influence of his Spirit. In this they may be mistaken. The tender heart of a child very often receives a deep and sacred impression by the Holy Spirit. Were we watchful and took advantage of these seasons to tell them of G.o.d and heaven we would be workers together with him, and he would reward us by faithful children. The communication of the Spirit with the hearts of children is more wonderful and frequent than we may sometimes understand.
A lady recently told us that her parents never taught her to pray, but very early in life she was inclined by the Holy Spirit to kneel at her bedside and pray when un.o.bserved.
Who is the reader that can not remember instances in his early life when he felt the influence of some good spirit and had thoughts of G.o.d? Had he in those tender childhood days been rightly instructed he could have been led into the beautiful walks of a Christian life. We remember a child of less than ten years of age, who, hearing his father using bad language, fell upon his knees and clasping his arms around his father told him of his sin and besought him to pray for forgiveness.
A lady writer in one of her excellent works ("Mothers" Counsel to Their Sons"), records the instance of a little girl of four and a half years who felt the guilt of sin, and by her Christian mother was led to Jesus, and there she was blessed by him, even to the witnessing of his Spirit that her sins were gone and she was his child. The child was at one time moved to plead with an unsaved relative to come to Jesus. She lived triumphant in the sweetness of redeeming grace until the age of fifteen, when her mission on earth was ended and she went to her home in heaven. Oh, how glorious! What if that mother, when this child came expressing her sense of guilt, had not instructed her in the ways of salvation? In all probability it would have resulted in a lost soul.
When our children are brought into a Christian experience the victory is only partly won; life lies before them with its temptations. Many are the allurements to turn those young feet into worldly paths. We have witnessed the bright, happy conversion of many children. We have seen their countenances beaming with the light and joy of Christian love and heard their voices ring with spiritual praise, only to soon yield to the influence of the world and lose that sincere devotion to G.o.d. This is not the inevitable course, thank G.o.d, but it is the course of many. To teach our children the fear of G.o.d and enable them to retain in their hearts a deep reverence and devotion to him has been a subject of much prayer with us. We find the Christian life is a warfare. There are temptations to be resisted, there are watchings and prayings, there must be a constant looking upward to G.o.d for his aid and direction.
One trouble with many parents has been that as soon as their children were converted they seemed to think the battle was over and the victory was won, when really the battle was only begun. The first thing necessary in keeping our budding "olive plants" in deep spirituality is to keep very spiritual ourselves. Now whatever means are necessary to promote a growth of spirituality in our hearts, the same means are necessary to develop and deepen the spiritual life of our children. A habitual effort to cultivate a deeper sense of the divine presence is necessary and one of the most beautiful employments of the sanctified heart. Those reverential feelings toward G.o.d must daily become stronger. Those inmost affections of the soul must reach out with greater yearnings and deeper longings toward the Holy One. A benevolent regard in our hearts for our fellow men must become stronger and more true. O beloved, if you would have your child to grow up into a beautiful Christian character you must teach him to suppress every selfish feeling, to banish every idle, careless thought, and to resist all temptations to envy or impatience. The purest of meditations must be entertained. We and they must be strictly disciplined by the sacred Scriptures, "Watch and pray." Spiritual prayer unfolds the life into the beautiful life of G.o.d as the bud unfolds into the blooming rose.
A Christian Home.
Nowhere is Christianity more effectual and more beautiful than in the home life. Nowhere is the power of divine love so truly manifested as in a sincere Christian home. We will set a picture before you. A father and mother with their children are grouped together for the evening worship.
The father out of the deep affections of his soul, in spiritual tones, speaks of G.o.d and his holy commandment. A tear of grat.i.tude and joy is glistening in the mother"s affectionate eye. The children"s faces are beaming with admiration as they hear extolled the character of Christ.
They kneel in prayer; a holy awe and sacredness rests upon the scene; their prayers arise as sweet incense into the nostrils of G.o.d and delight his great heart.
Such a scene as we have pictured only fitly represents a true Christian home. The father is all tenderness and love to his wife and children. He is kind and sympathetic. He regards his wife as the weaker vessel and is mindful of her happiness. The wife deeply reverences her husband.
Affection and appreciation sparkle in her eye. To attend to the husband"s wishes is her delight. They love their children and in gentleness are bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The children love each other and are kind and self-denying. They obey their parents through love. Alas! such a family is rarely found upon this sin-cursed earth. But such is taught and commanded in the Bible, and it is possible.
If a father and mother and children lived toward each other just as the Bible says they should live, we would have a scene that would fitly represent heaven. It is our privilege to have just such a home. "Ask, and it shall be given you." A happy home life is the most blessed life on earth. "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table." Psa. 128:3.
Duty Of Children To Parents.
It was the original design of G.o.d that children should be a blessing to their parents. "My son, be wise, and make my heart glad." Prov. 27:11.
"The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice." Prov. 23:24, 25. "A wise son maketh a glad father." Prov. 15:20.
You will observe, children, in each of the above texts that it is wisdom in a child that makes parents rejoice. Then you should "seek wisdom, seek understanding." "Wisdom is the princ.i.p.al thing; therefore get wisdom."
Prov. 4:7. What is wisdom? "The fear of G.o.d is the beginning of wisdom."
The highest honor a child can pay to a true parent is to honor and obey G.o.d: "And shalt return unto the Lord thy G.o.d, and shalt obey his voice according to all I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart and with all thy soul." Deut. 30:2. "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not." Eccl. 12:1.
The duty of children is to fear their parents: "Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father." Lev. 19:3. To honor them: "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy G.o.d giveth thee." Ex. 20:12. This, it is true, is an old-time commandment, but the spirit or principle of it is carried into the dispensation of the gospel. "Honor thy father and mother." Eph. 6:2.
Children should attend to the faithful instruction of their parents: "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother; for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy heart, and chains about thy neck." Prov. 1:8, 9. "Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father." Prov. 4:1. "My son, keep thy father"s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother." Prov. 6:20. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right." If it is right to obey, it is wrong to disobey. Many children do not have a due regard for the instruction of the father and mother. They oftentimes think they know more than their parents and so follow their own ways without natural affection.
Children should imitate the example of righteous parents, but are commanded not to walk in the footsteps of the unholy: "But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols." Ezek. 20:18.
One important duty of children is to care for the parents. If the parents become old and feeble, or the mother a widow, the Word of G.o.d places children under the obligation of caring for them. "But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before G.o.d."
Duties Of Masters To Servants.
Masters are commanded to forbear threatening their servants: "And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, [servants], forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him." Eph. 6:9.
In our land the days of slavery are no more, but men and women have their hired man and maid servant. Their duty toward such servants is to treat them with kindness, not to threaten them, or treat them in an overbearing, authoritative manner because they are servants. Be as kind and mild and respectful to them as to the children of the rich, for G.o.d is no respecter of persons.
Masters should give unto their servants that which is just and right for their labor done. If a man"s labor is well worth two dollars per day, but because he is needy (or for any cause) and must work at any price, you take advantage of him and give him but one dollar, you are a dim light in the world. In truth your light has gone out, and your deeds have become darkness. "Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal: knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven." These words. "Knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven," are contained also in Eph. 6:9, where masters are commanded to forbear threatening. They are intended to impress the master with his obligation of dealing with his servants in the fear of G.o.d, before whom he must some day appear and give an account for the deeds done in the body, or in this life.
The rich man"s fraudulent deeds toward his servants is taken account of in heaven: "Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth." Jas.
5:4.
Duty Of Servants To Their Masters.
Servants should honor and respect their masters: "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of G.o.d and his doctrine be not blasphemed." 1 Tim. 6:1. Especially are they to reverence them if they are believers: "And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit." 1 Tim. 6:2.
Servants are under obligation to obey their masters: "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart as unto Christ." Eph. 6:5. The servant"s service to his master should not be wholly for the hire. He should not fear to do him ill service because of not receiving his wages, but his service should be in singleness of heart-an honest, upright purpose-as unto Christ.
They should seek to please their masters: "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things." t.i.tus 2:9.
They are to be subject to them: "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear: not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." 1 Pet. 2:18. Servants are to do good service and not defraud their masters, and thus adorn the doctrine of G.o.d. "Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of G.o.d our Savior in all things." t.i.tus 2:10. The word "purloin" is from the Greek word "_nosphizomai_," and means "to hide or to secrete, to steal." In this text it would include the idling away of time that belonged to the master.
We believe we have done justice to the subject of "Domestic Relationship."
In conclusion we would be pleased to set before you a picture, not to be excelled in sublimity, sacredness, elevation of character, or soul inspiration by anything on earth. "For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table." Psa. 128:2, 3. This picture is set in a beautiful frame, found in the preceding verse and the one following, "Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways."
Ver. 1. "Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord." Ver. 4. The picture of a happy Christian man, a loving wife, devoted children, embossed with the blessings and glory of G.o.d, is one of greatest admiration.
Chapter XIV. Evil Habits And Injurious Indulgences.
The Word of the Lord may not denominate in plain terms every particular sin and evil practise man may engage in; however there are general terms and principles of righteousness that prohibit and condemn every possible sinful act man may perform. The words card-parties, picnics, fairs, shows and theaters are not found in the writings of the apostles; however indulgence in these is "revelry," "living in pleasure," "rioting" and worldliness, of which the Scriptures say the partic.i.p.ants do not love G.o.d and can never enter heaven. Also the terms "whisky," "alcohol," "opium,"
"morphine," "tobacco," "tea," and "coffee," "secret vice," etc., are not made use of by the New Testament writers. They are included, however, in the general term "l.u.s.t of the flesh." To make mention of all the things that may be done as a l.u.s.t of the flesh would make a lengthy catalogue indeed. Anything, no matter what it may be, if done to satisfy the l.u.s.t of the flesh is very damaging to spiritual life.
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly l.u.s.ts, which war against the soul." 1 Pet. 2:11. "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the l.u.s.t of the flesh. For the flesh l.u.s.teth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye can not do the things that ye would." Gal. 5:16, 17. "For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Rom. 8:13.
By these tests we plainly understand the "flesh" to be antagonistical to the Spirit. G.o.d has created us with a fleshly nature, or made us a fleshly being. He has also created things for the sustenance of this fleshly life.
He has created food and drink for man"s use. A proper use of these is not a l.u.s.t of the flesh. An improper use may be considered l.u.s.t. Our eating and drinking should be to the glory of G.o.d. The primary object in our eating should be to sustain life and promote health and strength, that we may be able to labor for and glorify G.o.d.
If we have a pure and undefiled conscience and are conscientious before G.o.d, and fully comprehend that we are not our own, but that we are G.o.d"s property and that we should glorify him in our body and our spirit, we then most certainly would eat and drink such things to the extent of our knowledge as are most conducive to development of physical energy, and mental activity. It is not a l.u.s.t of the flesh if we eat and drink to the glory of G.o.d. Temperance in natural G.o.d-given food and drink is the law of Heaven. It is of surfeiting that the Son of G.o.d warns us to beware. Luke 21:34. There are a great many things in creation which G.o.d never designed for the use of man as food and drink. Temperance does not mean a moderate use of these things. Their use is wholly forbidden.
Again man may by certain processes change the natural into an unnatural and make it in opposition to G.o.d"s law. Because man has not always had the glory of G.o.d as his object in eating, drinking, and clothing, but became intemperate in the things which he allows, many have through the l.u.s.t of the flesh been led to indulge in things from which the Word of G.o.d and the laws of health demand total abstinence. The injurious indulgences are so many and various as to furnish subject enough for volumes. We can only mention briefly the ones that are most generally indulged in, and which are destroying soul and body.
Alcohols.