New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-08
FAMILY RELIGION.

by THE REV. j. G. HARRISON. ID. d., OF LONDON.
Madam de Sta6l has remarked that if you
ask an Engshman the very end OF the world whero
| he is going he will be sure to reply. " home" His
thoughts his hopes whatsoever his distance from his
country turned always toward home. The love Of
Engshmen for their homes appears TO have been even
then notorious and 1t Is still conspicuous feature in
their national lifo They spend much Of their time at
home they seek their chief pleasures at home; above
all their principles and character formed, for tho
most part at home. Now mans character is for him
the principal thing What no IL. IS OF far more import
than what he possesses His outward lo IS not in
deed matter of small moment; but how he will use
this how hs win enjoy IT, to what account he will turn
It. must Always depend on what he Is hlInss And as
home with peculiar tcnderdness and gratitude. 1t
ought to furnish IL was Intended by Cod FURNISH the
personal influence must always have greater share IN
the formation OF character than the explanation or en-
forcement Of any abstract principles Tho child needs
adult is seldom quite sure that he has understood an
abstract thought I'LL it is illustrated by
example Right truth, love, purity must be seen In ac-
tua life II their nature "a to be clearly apprehended.
and especially II their nigh aud holy beauty Is 10 be felt
Home is the place where personal influence Is in the
cendant All that child should learn all tho princi-
pes which he should embrace and exempfy he sees In
those dearest to him, and catches and realizes IN
himself what he admires IN them. They present or
by precept and the child, under this double
power, takes his ultimate character. Then there is
certain moral atmosphere IN when alone tho lie grows
quite heahily-the character Is nodded To the greatest
advantage. Where love Is warm and dsinterested
where JOY is constant as the sunshine where so l. I0r
gotten for others, whore disust Is shut by
natural confidence. whore purity reigns supreme there
you have tho condition which the highest results may
be expected aud nowhere on these conditions To DO met
with surely and fully as In piOus home. you
watch group OF little you tnat their various
faculties pleasantly exercised because obedience 10
gained by love- not enforced BY fear generosity prac-
tlced not sehshness religion Is JOY, not gloom the
mind is never crushed down by hard, stern law put Is
frightened by kindly words of encouragement and help
Hence these genial formative influences have been
provided from toe very beginning Family lie Is as old
has survived the FALL and contains beyond aug4t else
the promise aud earnest Of restoration AS you read
their principal charm lies in their descriptions OF happy
family life the loving nndisputed authority OF parents
household governed by the law OF tho Lord GA THIS te
individual was IN in those DAYS almost TSS
especially religious knowledge. Instruction IN
schools OF church apparently DTS a NOV oS eA pa
rents These words thou shalt teach diligently 10 my
thine house, and when thou wakest by the way, and
when thou lest down and when thoa rlsest up feope
would perpetnato not only but their princ
pies, and wished TO see In them the reproduction hoG
the propagation of divine knowledge must be also inc
latest the best aud tho most natural Again.
out OF tho family the nation The family was tho
germ out OF which the nation grew The patriarch
was father Of his household. then the head OF MS
tribe then the ruler OF tho nation The principles whioh
at the basis OF family life thus naturally became
the basis OF national life. with only such notifications
aud expansions altered conditions demanded AS the
family tho unit from which the nation sprang 80
the patton when 1t had reached It's widest extent was
simply congeres OF families, and the character OF tho
nation depended, moro than upon any other thing, ON
character OF the household. National lie th6n no
loss than individual took its form and temper from the
discipline of home, and gave TO the family position
which ut once paramount and sacred. pae same
thing holds good STILL and ever must do The character
OF people will always DO as the character Oh tnolr
the household, which was the great charm and
privilege OF tho jewish family, Is always Ways il1-
dren; both are embraced Ia the covenant. Parents
train up their children In the nurture and ad-
monton Of the Lord children are to obey their parents
In ali things. Acquaintance with the Word OF God as
the result OF hometrainng. Is mentioned as subject OF
the Holy Scriptures which are able TO make thee wise
salvation through faith which is In Christ Jesus
The descent OF piey from parents To children looked
for. and when seen. calls forth tho most grateful 10y
In thy grandmother Lois aud thy mother Eunce anu
persuaded that In thee Also And IN the Acts OF the
those records OF the beginnings OF
Christianity, 1t Is most instructive TO observe To now
largo an extent the Church was punt 10 OF eonve,tea
of Lydia aud the Pnilppan Jaer wore added To
known, was givon 70 individual. still
incorporate families as widely possible that Jst AZ
nation ia con gerles or families the Chnroh be
oongeres OF religious families aud tho trading OF tho
family might lend richness and ylgOr " thD life OF tho
Church. me Church FAR from usurpug the place OF
the family must DO dependent on tne family Tor It's
real strength. for Its BEST most oonssten most stead
fast, useful members and In proportion ploty
rules tho home VIII the Church itsof DO found 10
flourish.
DR.. Farrar, his Seekers after Cod has remarked
that "the ancient writer's the anclons poets, but
rarely refer In the moot cursory manner ~ their
early years whereas there Is scarcely e modern
poet who has not fingered with undhgused feeling or
happiness the youth memories OF hs h4lOJd."
and adds that generally tho explanation rc5s in
fact that In all probability childhood anon. tho ancenIs
was a dsre garded and Ia most cases, Tar happy
period than with us. and frOm tue waus Of proper
homo niiuonoes, the yory eptlon Vi 1ora was 80
faint them Wherever Christianity Is In any consider
abe degree mpro grated with tno old Pagan e,smenI.
IN Romansm. there ecelesiasca oOssryancos override
domestic Of religion. anu individual
pryato worship transferred frum tho homo the
Church. as N tho home were "o.snIon," Tho Onurob
sacred. Now, whLo 10 10 no douDt 0i.an mailer VI