in "holy things," you will not violate the command of God to all that shall be so engaged, "that they profane not my holy name, in those things which they hallow unto me." (Lev. i. 2.) Did time permit, I would here say a few things to you, children, sons and daughters, servants and members of those households, where, not the mere form, but the vital character of family religion is. But all I must now say is this: you have a blessed opportunity before you. See that you do not abuse or neglect it; for if you grow not in the love, and knowledge, and practice of things spiritual, while God gives you opportunity, he may take them from you, or leave you altogether dead and indifferent to them. There is no judgment on this side hell so signally dreadful : "Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea; and from the north, even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it." (Amos viii. 11, 12.) Remember the words of Christ-" Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." (John xii. 35, 36.) Το you, who are mistresses of households, and do not adopt family religion, and yet seem to make the religion you profess as of some account to yourselves, I would say, What argument do you need to persuade you? Of the use hereof, I have somewhat spoken already of the duty I have also spoken. How do you answer these? "Count me "not as an enemy," when I suggest the thought of your own earnestness in the gospel of Christ being the real obstacle; and when I repeat to you the apostle's command"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." (2 Cor. xiii. 5.) But, perhaps, you confess to the duty, and the use but you are afraid of being singular" among your kinsfolk and acquaintance." If you desire to be in Christ, you must be prepared to be accounted singular; for when you are not of the world, the world will no longer speak well of you. But still you have examples herein: few, indeed, among the great ones of the earth: "for," still, 66 ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (1 Cor. i. 26.) But still some "gleaning grapes, as the shaking of an olive-tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof." (Isa. xvii. 6.) Some there are, the great and noble in human names, but truly humble followers of Christ, who with the Bible in their hand, and with prayer in their heart 3 and tongue, gather the assembly of their households together, "cast their crowns before the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever," (Rev. iv. 10,) "the Lamb that was slain." And why should you be deprived, why should you deprive yourselves of this honoured privilege? Why should you withhold from your flesh and blood, the children whom God hath given you, such an example when you shall be gone ?—from your servants, such an opportunity, when they shall be bereft of their earthly master or mistress, gone to give account of their stewardship over them? If you have any right regard for them, and if you would have any real desire to honour Christ, you will do this thing henceforth for their sake, as well as for your own sake, and so exhibit your household, as far as you can exhibit it, as a "household of faith." It is, indeed, your Christian duty; Christ will require it at your hand, and now gives you great encouragement to perform it. Hear his own blessed words:"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. xviii. 19, 20.) Be this the ground of all your duty, and then when you are gone, your memory shall be blest, and your children and your servants shall speak of your good to them, and tell of you to those that come after, as a true child of Abraham, who "was called the friend of God." MUSEUM BRITANNICU THE END. LONDON: |