The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-08-02
The Bible and the Family.

address, which merits sPecihc altenHon, as Iue
Bible, we fear is too often neglected as a book
for the family:
ave car never adequately estimate the val-.3
ue or trace the relations of the family to the
State, and of the Bible to both. - ~ F5}ss
"Thc family form the basis of the social eom:
munty, and effectively reaches the largers
spheres Of the government and the State:-I;s
When pure, it is the copous fountahisof alt
that is good and hopeful, as it is, when corrupt;
the fatal source of all that is pernicious and de-
struc!ivc. ~ -
"The recollections of childhood, the fathers
counsels, the first prayers of the mother, often =
hallowed by the. thoughts Of bereavement and
the wastes of the grave, meet and glow togeth: (
CIR in manhood to exact the agency coming
from the family among the most epentful on 2
the character and. destiny of man.
"The sagacous observer of men aud indr.
cnce who deem the ballads ofa pastoral people {
I'of so much moment, could with reoref truth
have sale, Allow me the open way fans
lily; grant me to pour upon the household at,
the fire-side, at the social table, at hesbohe;
coming Of labor from its tolls, the. light and
power l" may bring to shape the mnld, toi
mould the will and guide the thought, and,Adns
der God, l will hold the reins Of public csseutis
ment, and fix the standard ofcharacteL, tie
law of conduct. Yes, he .mightsadd, with fear,y
ful truthfulness, will make orsunmake e:anys
people by such permitted agencies. Z ., @,
at was ofthe Divine purpose to clohe.tte
family with energies of peculiar powef,aaNt
that it should be, through all time, the gerPpf
social existence and character. He well knew
l. al, riTrfp-
up to life, and how fruitfuly the blossom Would
ripen to the harvest He constituted tlis5 do
mestic relation on the very first days of fcrea:;
ton, while Eden still bloomed. in all its sinl3o--
cence. 81 will make him help meet for hinj,.
and they shall be one flesh. For this cause
shall man leave his father aud mothcr, and,
shall cleave uuto his wife" They shal1he one
in joy, and sorrow. and sympathy -oResinE
thought, and purpose, and counsel. Aadasith
it the Bible holds inseparable eomm1nioD.iA =
There is no law but in Gods Word that can
preserveGthe family in healthiuls condition.sskii
history SHOWS that there mo other bond that
can bind together its various interests Let
that green and verdant spot where childhood
and youth yield so freely to first impressions.
and are moulded into the man and the citizen
let that be neglected or perverted, ,land no,
regrets or reproaches can repair the mischjefs
AS well might we expect grapes of thornssas
virtuous and honorable manhood from neglect
ed and wicked youth. Whatsoever oman
soweth, that shall he also reap" Thesshrt-
wind for the wind is as true for nations as for
man, and the harvest viii show che seeds that
are sown. 1t is universal law and sWays all
creation. Wicked parents and lawlesst cbil.s,
dren will grow into corrupt communities, and
at last overthrow the wisest systems, of socinl
civil order ever raised by the wisdom andsAll
OF men. The family is benfgnantly designed
and fitted to be the nurse ofvrtue and te,be.
such, the Bible must rule the family. ,Thetau-;;s
thority Of God, and the influence of his Word
and Spirit, must fence around this sacred place
against hostile intrusons and corrupting temp,
tations. The charities of home must be guatdS
ed and cherished by the doctrines and prscepts:
Of the Bible, ,,s,5s
"There can be no stronger plea forathes BIZ
bic, and especially here, with our free ,institu,3
tions the work under heaven Of our hands, ,ands
with laws the fruit of our own legislation, We.
must have the Bible, in its power,and glorified
course, bearing light and purity and peace in-j
to every cottage and naighborhood, anddwell-,
ing place, or the tides Of evil that threaten us:
will very soon roll over US nroumes ofover,
whemng desolation. And the AmelicansBiss
Bile Society is honored by this. blessed instru-
mentality. God in his mcrcilul providcnee,has
raised up this institution for these great ends;
and we would devoutly acknowledged the good
ness which has given to it SO much favor and
crowned it with so many tokens OF. His app'o-
baton" i
THE MEMORY OF TIE DEAD-It is an,ex.
quisie and beautiful thing in our nature, that
when the heart is touched and softened by
some tranquil happiness or afectionate feeling,
the memory of the dead comes over it most
powerfully and irresistibly. Itwonld seem al
most as though our better thoughts and sympa.
thies were charms, in virtue of which the soul
is enabled to hold some vague and mysterious