The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-05-14
CHILDREN OF THE COVENANT. "

Inc "OAA VI stoieOsJ PhSf >, 0AAOA NAAAO,
ing was ali done in Richmond. Its clear
beautiful pages show that it is executed in
the best style Of the typographical art. The
binding is also Of superior kind. Com
pairing it with a number Of other similar
volumes bound in muslin, both American
and English, we did not, among those ex-
amine6, find any so substantially bound. The
Committee Of Publication and the Church
have reason to congratulate themselves on
the success Of this home work.
The author has been most successful in
the execution Of his task, pleasant no doubt
to one who enters with so much sympathy
into the scenes he pOrtrays, aud yet not
without its difficulties. Sound judgment and
good taste have marked the selection and
use Of his materials in preparing this vol
ume. The style is chaste, and well adapted
&c tAs slasses for whom especially, different
parts Of the work are written.
The general sympathy which was excised
throughout our Church, with DR.. Kerr, when
at the close Of the Assembly in Memphis,
Tenn, over which he presided, his loved and
lovely boy was taken from him so suddenly,
and this bereavement was followed by two
others ofhke character, this sympathy will en-
sure tender welcome to this narrative Of the
development of Christian life in the hearts
Of these children. The young readers will
fnd a pleasant Introduction to them in the
well executed steel engrsyipgs of their por-
traits.
The subject Illustrated in these narratives,
indicated by the title ' Children of the Cove
nant and then more fully discussed in the
appended addresses to children and parents,
is one that claims the serious attention of
all, but especially of believing parents and
their baptized children.
1. The promise of the covenant, "to be
a God to thee and to thy seed after thee"
leads US to expect to see piety in a regular
line of descent from parent to child, genera
ton after generation. The experience of
the Church veriGes the truth of this inter-
probation Of the covenant promise. Many
of our most useful ministers, elders, and
private members, trace their descent through
long line of pious ancestors, not few
reaching back like the family of these chill
dren, to the cOyenanters of Scotland. And
yet this happy result in the family of the
pious is not to be looked for without the dill
gent use Of means. God said Of Abraham,
with whom he made the covenant; know
hiu that be viii command his children and
his household after him, and they shall keep
the way Of the Lord, to do justice and judg-
ment; that the Lord may bring upon Abra-
han that which he hath spoken of him"
Early religious instruction, tender and free
intercourse between parent and child on the
subject Of personal religion, and prayer for
the gracious influence of the Spirit, are
means which God has appointed, and which
he blesses to the salvation of children of the
covenants
?. Whilst the promise does not allow us
to despise the use of means. whilst We may
not expect its ful6lment where the condition
enjOined is not complied with, yet We may
not detract from the fulness of meaning in
that promise. The language of Scripture is
strong; "a God to thee and to thy seed after
thee. If the promise is full of gracious
blessings as applied to the parent, why take
from it its meaning, when applied to the
child, the language being the same We
may not be able to see how covenant bless
ings can be transmitted, along with the trans
mission of a sinful nature; but still the
word Of God stands sure. Nor may we be
able always to explain those apparent excep-
tons, where the children of piOus and faithful
parents grow up in waywsrdness and folly.
Yet if exceptions, they are rare, and do not
invalidste the rule of the covenant
8. Under the promise of the covenant,
parents ought to look for piety in their chill
dren in early life. Some Ike jeremiah and
John the Baptist are regenerated in infancy.
Some like Little Willy" grandson of DR..
Thomas Scott the Commentator, are pious
as early as the age of four. Others like
Sallie Kerr show the grace of God working
in the heart at the age of six or seven. We
may not limit the Spirit of God in this mat
ter, and may always hope for the fulflment
Of the promise.
4. Let parents and pastors impress upon
the Saptized children of the Church, the
value Of their birth-right, under the "ever-
lasting covenant. If blood, and name, and
nationality, and social position, and heredi-
tary titles are to be priced among men
much more should the children of the
Church learn to prize their precious heri-
tage. They are the children of Gods own
children, with the promise that He will be
their God also. His sacred name has been
named upon them. They are members of
His visible kingdom; "Of such is the king
dom of heaven" And the advantages are
equal to the hOnors of their birth-right But
We cannot pursue this subject farther.
Again We commend to our readers the
book which suggested this train of remark
and hope it viii find place in at least every
family Of our Church.