The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-04
FAMILY WORSHIP.

We recommend to our readerStne following
extract from discourse on family worship,
by the Rev. J. 81. Merle DAubinge,. author
OF the history of reformation. It is taken
from volume OF d1scourses and essays, re-
Gently published.
Parents If your children do not meet with
a spirit of piety in your houses, II. on the
contrary your pride consists In surrounding
them with external gifts, introducing them
into worldly society indulging all their
whins, letting then: tc!!ow their Own course.
you will see them begin to grow proud and
vain, idle and disobedient, impudent and ex-
travagant. They will treat you with con-
tempt; the more your hearts are wrapped up
In them, the less they will think OF you
This Is seen but too often TO be the case; but
ask yourself II you are not responsible for
their bad habits and practices; and your con-
science will reply that you ore that you are
now eating the bread Of bitterness which you
have prepared for yourselves.
Nav YOU learn thereby how great Is your
sin before God. In neglecting the means
which were in your power for influencing
their hearts, and may they take warning from
your misfortune, and bring up their children
in the Lord. Nothing is more effectual In
doing this than an example OF Christian plety.
Public worship Is often too vague for children,
and does not sufficiently interest them; as TO
CQe worship VI LILO CioSct, my oo Ivy
stand 1t. A lesson learned by rote, II unac-
companied by anything else. may lead them
to look upon religion as q study, like those
of foreign languages or history. Here, as
everywhere, and more than elsewhere, exam
pie Is more effectual than precept.
They are merely to be taught out OF some
elementary book that they must love God,
but you must show them that God ts loved.
II they observe that no worship Is paid to the
God OF whom they hear, the very best IN.
struction will prove useless; but by means OF
family worship, these young plants Will grow
"like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in season; his
leaf also. shall not wither. Your children
NAV leave the parental roof, but they will re-
member in foreign lands the prayers of that
parental root, and those prayers will protect
them.
DO YOU RELIEVE WHAT IS SAID OF THAT
COUNTRY
Did we hear of a country in this world,
where we might live In continual fe-
licity, without toll, or sickness, or grief, or
fear. who would not wish to be there, though
the passage were troublesome? Have we
not heard enough Of heaven, to allure
US thither? or Is the creed OF eternal
truth suspected by ns? Are Gods
own reports OF Tue IutuIe glory un"oitny VI
our belief or regard? How many, upon the
credit of his word, are gone already trium-
% phanty y into glory, "who only seeing the
promises afar off, were persuaded OF them,
and embraced them," and never afterwards
owned themselves under any other notion
than OF pilgrims on the earth, longing to be
at home in their most desirable heavenly
country. We are not the fist that are to
enter heaven; the main body Of saints is al-
ready there it is, in comparison Of their num-
ber. but scattered remnant that are now
alive upon the earth. How should we long
TO be associated in that glorious assembly:
Methinks we should much more regret our
being so long left behind. But now, if only
the mere terror and gloominess OF dying
trouble thy thoughts, this of all others seems
the most reasonable pretence against will
ing surrender of ourselves.to death. Reason
hath overcome it. and natural courage. even
some mems etheism. Shall not faithT-
Howe.