Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-02-19

it refers to the authors life in his
home. To be sure the home is roy
al court, and yet the principles which
should govern there should govern in
a humber sphere
2. The text suggests the thought of
Family Religion, and the opening OF
the New Year is a good time to make
our resolves in regard to it. The i'm
portance of the family in the redemp
tion scheme is seen in tllis-that OF
the three fundamental agencies to re.
form and save the world, the family
comes before either the church or the
state, for without it neither of them
could survive. And then. too, the
family is the place where our true
character is exhibited and our most
potent influence is exercised
8, The text suggests at least two
things that will be true of the home
wherein each one seeks to walk with
a perfect heart" First, it will have
family altar Even the heather have
their household gods representing the
deities they worship, and surely We
who know the true God should have
some acknowledged of him in our
homes. But the family altar can only
be sustained where the true Christian
life is lived behind it. The odor of true
piety nlanifests itself, not only in
words, but in looks and tones and in
the general atmosphere pervading
cuoY-vfhinU opd MISUNDERSTANDING ovor If
4. We should note particularly that
family religion is a personal matter.
The Psalmist) says: "P will walk
within my house with a perfect heart. :"
The husband cannot throw this re
sponsibility upon his wife and relieve
himself of 1t, nor vice versa. 1t is
the obligation of parents no less than
children, and Of children no less than
parents. But it is very clear that if
the resolution is to be carried out on
the part of any or all, the strength to
do it must be looked for only from the
Lord We must do what David did
even before he gave utterance to his
vow, when he exclaimed, "Oh. wher
wilt thou come unto me?" It is only
as God comes unto US, as he fills Us
with his, Holy Spirit through our faitf
In Christ, that we can be SO instruct
ed and sanctifed and quickened as tc
discharge this solemn duty. Let US
| then seek him in a new sense anC
with renewed conservation at the be
ginning of this year, that dwelling il
US individually in power, he may
dwell in our households.
o happy house! where thou art loved tn
best,
Dear friend and Savior of our race,
| Where never comes such welcome, hon
ored guest,
| Where none can ever fill thy place;
Where every heart goes forth to NEE
thee,
Where every ear attends thy word,
Where every lip with blessing greets thee
Where all are waiting on their Lord.
o happy house! where man and wife i
heart
In faith, and hope are one,
That neither life nor death can ever pal
The holy union here begun; f
Where both are sharing one salEation,
And live before thee, Lord, always,
In gladness or in tribulation
In happy or in evil days.
5. 1t has been assumed throughou
that Christians were being addresse
in this discourse, and by Christian
is meant those who have receive
Jesus Christ as their Savior by a def
mite act of faith, and by his grace ar
seeking to follow him as their Lore
Only such as these have a desire
walk within their house with pc
feet heart" and only such as thes
know the source of power to accon
plish it. If at the beginning of thi
new year therefore, you are not yet
Christian in that sense, let me affe
tionately plead with you to becom
such. The things that are happenin
in the world today must convince I
that no abiding hope or help can com
from man, and as we look forward
!, the future serious questions mus
, arise within us. What about that f
ture? Whittier am l going? How ma
be right with God? o husband
and fathers; o wives and mothers
J o parents and children, let me plea
with you to accept Christ. that yo
may possess the peace and joy I
| known salvation. In this way first /
all, must God come to you in ord
! to have awakened within you a
sire for a perfect heart, and after tn;
/ there is a continual coming of b
J grace to you which strengthens ye
: in that desire and helps you to see
realized.