The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1892-08-10
SPIRITUAL HEREDTTY.

in the older lexicons, but coined
from the older cognate words, and
current among literary men of the
present day. 1t refers to that
physical, mental, moral personality,
which is born to every person, from
the parents. In some, the elements
of the mother predominant over
those of the father, and vice versa.
In some children, there will be the
physical structure or constitution
of the father, and the mental con-
stitution of the mother. In others,
even girl may inherit from a
mother a masculine mind, and from
her father feeble frame. Physio-
Iogists have vainly tried to account
for anomalous cases; and all sorts
of theories have been suggested, to
explain the phenomena.
Without intermeddling with these
improved hypothesis" it is readi-
Iy granted that we all derive from
our parents a physical, mental, and
moral heredity, so that family
likeness" is easily detected among
the children of the same parents.
But has this anything to do, as a
factor in what may be called spiri-
tual heredity? Are the children of
pious parents naturally prone to be
pious? No. Are the children of
pious parents heirs to the personal
piety of one, or both parents2 No.
They are all descended from the
first pair, by ordinary generation 4;
and hence, sinned in them and fell
with them in that first transgres-
sion. They are all born in sin,
children of wrath, heirs of a COM
mon heritage of woe.
But for all that, there does seem
to be what may be rightly called a
spiritual heredity, on the part of
children of a pious parentage. For
one thing, they are born under the
covenant, and have a precious birth
right. Some of them, like Esau,
may not esteem it very highly, and
sell it for a mess of pottage, but the
birthright is theirs by heredity. AS
such, they inherit from godly par
ents covenant blessings, which God
promises, on his part to grant, in
answer to faithful and inviolate
observance on the part of the par
ents. These blessings are spiritual,
and more precious to the properly
instructed child, than all the heredi-
znents that could come from the
wealthiest parents. They are SUNNI
ed up in grace here, and glory in
the world to come.
The boy of talent may rightly
thank God for a father or mother
of brilliant mind. The girl of
beauty in body, mind and charac-
Ger, may rightly thank God for a
mother, to whom she is indebted
for the elements that formed that
original, which has been developed,
until she has become a universal
favorite.
But beyond all this, and more
desirable than all this, the children
of pious parents owe a debt of
gratitude for that secret and silent
heritage which God recognises, and
which, under God may throw a
halo of purer light over all the
graces of body, mind and character.
A good name is rather to be chosen
than great riches, and to inherit
the name of a pious father and
mother, is to have a fortune yes a
fortune not to be estimated by a
money standard, for it is too great
FOR that.
The fact that children, as chill
dren, do not so esteem their bereditv
in this line, is not more strange
than that the children of a king do
not at first rightly estimate the
character and raj k in which they
we're born. The young Prince OF
Princess does not appreciate the