The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-09-30
Bsligiuus afliseeIlamp.
Meaning Of the Family Institution.

" He brought him unto Jesus" Such
are the simple words in which the
apostle John describes Andrews presen-
tation OF his brother, Simon Peter, to
the new Master of Israel. Very sig
nificant these few words are; for they
present fine illustration of the mean
ing or final cause of the family institu-
ton. The Creator did not ordain it so
much for its own sake, or for the sake
of human society, or even for the sake
of the Joy it ministers the household,
as for the sake of the church and the
church's Lord. There is a peaceful
sanctuary in sequestered spot more
beautiful to the spirits eye than that
grand cathedral; there is music softer
and richer than the swelling minstrelsy
of orchestra and chorus; there is a
prayer purer and understanding than
the sonorous litany of surplced prelate;
there is a preacher whose silvery voice
flows forth in melodies more subduing
than the studied cadences of oratory:
there is a sermon whose eloquence car
ries conviction more powerful than
any demonstration which logic ever
welded, facination more magical than
ticed. That sanctuary is home; that
music and prayer are the psalmody and
supplication at the family altar; that
preacher is love; that sermon is hus-
bands eXpostulation, wife's pleading,
fathers sigh, a mothers tear, a
brothers invitation, sisters entreaty,
little sons trembling appeal, lit
tie daughters Sunday-school carol.
Oh! who can resist ministry so sacred
as this? Observe now what stupendous
service Andrews little act of brotherly
affection accomplished. In thus merely
bringing his brother to Jesus, he was
celebrating, without knowing it, one of
the inaugural services attending the
setting up of the visible, triumphant
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, even the kingdom of that faith
which for nearly two millenniums has
been sceptering the hearts and con-
sciences and actions of untold millions.
And how was this tremendous kingdom
organized? Not by miracle, not by
stately edict of him who is its divine
Head, not by formal decree of an
ecumenical Of far-sighted theologians
by the Jordan: but by the simple, I'M
ODIIuSlNc uucllly VI Andrew 10 Une
heaven-ordained instincts of natural
affection. The Characterization of the
world began in the household bosom.
Again, we learn from the way in which
Peter was introduced to Jesus that the
grandest movements in Messiah
church may sometimes be started by
the humblest, most unnoted instrument
tally. No name appears so prominently
in the records of the apostolic college
as the name of Peter: scarcely any
name appears so seldom as the name
of Andrew. Nevertheless, this one
brotherly act of Andrew was among
the colossal forces of Messiah's king
dom; for it gave to Christianity Simon
Peter, even that rock on which Messiah
would build his church. Yet it was a
very simple thing which Andrew did
he simply obeyed the instincts of natu-
raj affection and brought his brother to
Jesus. 1t is great lesson for us. We
know not the majestic, far-reaching con-
sequences which our Heavenly Father
may hang on the faithful discharge of
the very simplest, minutest duties of
life. BE faithful, then, in the discharge
of every duty, however trivial it may
seem. Especially be faithful, as An
drew was, in the sphere of home; for
so, it may be thine, o friend, through
heavenly grace, to give to the church of
the living God even Simon Peters,
George ID. Bodrdman, DID,.