Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-12-13

The text was Con. XVIII. 10. The
translation of the Revisers was adopt
ed as being the more accurate version.
It reads as follows: For 1 have known
m(Abraham) to the end that he may
command his children and his house
hold This servants) after him, that
they may keep the way of the Lord to
do Justice and judgment; to the end
that the Lord may bringlupon gAbra-
ham that which He hath spoken of
him."
Shall / hide from Abraham that
thing which I do? No. For "the Sc
cret of the Lord is with them that fear
Him. Psalm 25. IA. The awful trag-
edv of Sodom and Gomorrah is about
to be enacted. The catastrophy is all
the more dreadful to Abraham because
his nephew, Lot Is resident there.
Hence his earn, st Plea in behalf of the
guilty place. Lots utter failure in his
family training and uphringing of his
children lends !, profound emphasis to
the family covenant and Its provisions
for the raising up of godly seed to
Jehovah. Abraham has but recently
been honored with the appointment to
be the organizer oflthe visible church on
earth. God gives wide promise to him.
In him shall all the families of the
earth be blessed. Gen. XII. 1-3. See
Gal. Ill. 26 30. With Lots example
before him, Abraham Is warned to
avoid the rock of parental inefficiency
and unfsithfulness to his children on
which that unhappy man had made
such inglorious ship-wreck. The gos-
pei provides q more excellent way.
The christian man is taught that he
is as much respon sible for the saliva
ton of his children as he Is for his OWE,
so far as faithfullness in their religious
training Is concerned. Tc this end
then have l kpown Abraham. i. e.
have effectually called him by the
Holy Spirit, that he may command
his children and his household after
him.
vine Appointment for the Salvation
of the Children born therein.
l. Let the fact be noted that the hus-
band and father is the head of the
house: and SO becomes responsible for
the religious life and education of the
children that God committe to his care.
He is not "boss" to domiaeer over
woman's weakness or child's help
lessness, He is Gods representative
to seeare the plishment of Gods
interests in the lives and souls of vt he
house." 1t is his to do right and to re-
quire his children 10 do right by train
ing them both by precept AID example.
He is an educator in religious life and
duty. Modern advanced thought and
practice, which seek to place woman
in mans position and TO relieve him
from all possibility about his child
rem will be found to b no improve
ment upon Ged'o plan. Woman has
to exercise her capacities than in the
Preservation of the sweetness and
purity ofthe home. Ii she may see
her sons and daughters whom she has
reared for God serving Him acceptab-
ly, she has done more for humanity
than by any display that she might
otherwise make in the arena of the
public reformer. Gods way is for tn :
husband to rule his house in the fear
OF God; and let the father and the
mother work together for the salvation
OF their children. Let there be no an
tagonism between them They need
each other Their children need them
both God entered into covenant with
A0am with, Noah, with Abraham,
with Isaac, with jacob, but not with
their wives. See /. Cor. IL: 3.
,. The husband being the head If
the house. is invested with authority
to command his children and his
household after him.
The lesson of obedience is in itself
essential TO the formatlos of true char
acter. No man can ever learn to COM
mand until he has learned to obey. 1t
Is not only necessary to do right, but
10 do the right because it is command
ed. If one does what is right simply
as matter of inc inati n or of exped-
Iency, ard not because of authority,
MS act is but whim or willful hom-
age paid to his selfish nature. Cbel-
dience is to be enforced and!rendered as
d matter of moral obligation. "Chil-
dren obey your parents in the Lord,
lot this is right" Obey in the Lord;ie.
% a religious duty'Obey for the Lord S
SAKE, your parents, fol this is right,
aad therefore not to obey is wrong and
nreligiOus, unckristian. To ask ODE