The Forrest City times., 1891-05-08
1" FAMILY RELIGION. ]"
Preached on Sunday Morning, May 8, 1891, by Rev.
 J. Fl. CasOn.

woke not your children to wrath, but brinp 1 tho Lord.''
 | The Scriptures VIC read in the opening show that the husband Is the head of the family. This text takes another step and
 shows that he Is the priest. the spiritual | guide, of the children. The marriage rite is | as old our race. It is fraught with bless. 1 ings to humanity. The influence is far
 reaching and potent for good or evil, for weaior woe. Our lifcwork is bound up with the children; our blood circulates through their veins; they are to take our plsces in society when VIC are gone; they inherit our homes and bear our names. When they go out from the parental door they bear bless ings in their hands, or curses to our race. They go forth to honor or to dtshonor, to heaven or to hell. In view of these possibili- ties we are inclined to say that no man is pre- pared to assume the responsibilities of a family until he is able to be religious guide for it. Be not startled ut that statement. It is better not to have family than fail to give it the right direction. This cannot be done without personal piety on tho part of the fathor. Where the husband will not or can not act the part of father honor and bless the true and noble woman who coneecrates her life to the religious culture of her chill drcn. There are women placed in this double responsibility by tho death of the husband. Those who accept the situation W :th brave heart are the worlds greatest heroncs, and will in . coming day wear the brightest crowns.
 The Old Testament cnjoins the duty, to teach the children. on the father Exodus xiii l4: And it shall be when thy son askcth thee in time to come, saying. What Is thisS thou shalt say unto him. By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the house of bondagc."
 This passover, with tho slain lamb and the blood-stained doors. was to be kept before the children. and the father was to tell the story of escape from bondage. and to point to that blood that taketh away the ain of the world. Deut. vi. [: And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house. and when thou walkest by the way. and when thou Hest down and when thou riseth up The Lord reminded the fathers of the oppor. tunities that He has placed within their reach, When the widening circle is formed around the blazing hearth the family will talk. Then let the father speak of God. His law and His mercy. Burns "Cotter's Saturday Night" is enough to make the fame of the author inn mortal. The down sitting. and uprising. and family walks on holy Sabbaths alike furnish opportunities for well-timcd allusions. These opportunities. it will be observed. make no demand on tho fathers time. werc the heart right 1t would be as easy to speak of heavenly as earthly things.
 The Old Testament did not omit the public worship of the children. Dcut xvii F. When the tribes were divided, and half of them were on the foot of Gerixim and half on Eaba the children were 10 hear the curses and blessings of the law. Deut. xxi. la: Gather the people together-men. women and children. and thy stranger within thy gates-that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God, and ob- serve to do all the words of his law"
 The Lord demands that all shall boar and learn. Gather the children, This law Is as necessary and as binding to-day as when Is- racl stood before the burning mount. Where arc your children to-day? There is room for them in your pews, and they ought to be here. Their young lives need the solcmnitics and the lessons Of public worship. Why will you leave the chidron at home, and thus open the door of temptation evon on the holy day of rest It Is also your duty to gather the strangers from tho hotels and the men from tho streets. A vcry little attention In this direction will realize a rich reward The systems of misbelicf arc reaching out with plausible error. to catch the children. The advocates of dark unhelief are reaching the children. If you want to save your chil- dren for the church and for heaven you must instruct and guide them.
 Gladstone. the scholar the statesman and philosopher of all the ages, has said the power of the nation depends upon its morals; tho morals of the nation depend upon tho family. and the morals of the family depend upon its religion. He is right. A nation without sound morals Is q mob, q horde of the violent. Let the religion of tho family be pure. and tho nation will fear God and work righteousness. How may this desirable result be accomplished My text places the bur den on the father. Tho negative injunction Is important: Provoke not your children to anger" Fathers may be too imperious too exacting too impatient. While Intending well, and loving ardently they may alienate tho boy and drive him from home to seek companionship. If 90. Tom Sawyer. Huckle- berry Finn and other street arabs will take up the boy and give him lessons to his ruin. Tho home ought to he tho brightest and most happy place on earth for the children. There tho father ought to unbend and be a com paniop for babes. There ought to be a family Bible and suitable table for 1t. and it ought to be placed daily within tho family circle, and the father ought to read it aloud. Tho children ought to hear the manly. masculine voice of father in prayer and praise. Tue father ought to use the sacred book so as to make the children regard 1t as the most pre- cious book on earth. Tho old family Bible ought to bc among the memories of childhood days. The toiler in this worlds strife is un- fortunate who has family Bible among the sacred stores of memory. When pious father assumes his obligations, however clumsily. the correct training of the family 10 easy. with the hearty and cordial co-opera- ton of . christian wife. Tho sweet and holy inhucnccs of mother combining with tho de- vout efforts of father make heaven below. if there is such q place on our earth.
 What Is to bc done for children must be done quickly. At an early ago the boy is more away from homc and must act for him. self Indeed the girl has similar trial. The training must be done the seeds must he planted before that time. Hut once planted and watered with pious tears the fruitage will be sure. The mother of John Newton was called away when he was between seven and eight years of age. The mother laid down her burden early. shc took him daily into a little closet of the house. Aftcr her death he fell into irrelgious hands and bad company. He became pirate on tho high seas. Finally