Good example is particularly incumbent on all who are exalted to rule,
whether in larger, or smaller communities. In the history of Israel we
observe the morals of the nation commonly agreeing with those of the
governing prince. Nor was this peculiar to that people; it holds
generally, in a considerable degree, of every other. The manners and
morals of all who live in society, usually take a tinge from those of
their rulers. This is particularly the case with smaller societies;
especially with families. Children often imbibe the sentiments, learn
the manners, and catch somewhat of the tempers of those with whom they
live, as well as learn their language. _Do we seek a godly seed_? It
concerns us to be careful what examples we set before the youth who
attend us.
Youth watch and observe adults, especially those to whom they look up
as friends, and whose love and kindness they daily experience. Adults
are disposed to think favorably of those who shew them kindness. From
the view of a child, it hides every fault. That a thing was done by a
respected parent justifies it to a child, however criminal it might
appear in another.
The temper and conduct, of a benefactor, make a deeper impression than
his words, and have more influence on the judgment of those entering
on life. Even little children feel the force of our Savior's rule of
judging--"By their fruits ye shall know them." Every thing conspires
to prejudice children in favor of parents, and to dispose them to
follow their examples. Bad example is in them especially seducing.
Children generally follow it, where it is set before them. Coinciding
with their natural bias, precept and counsel are commonly lost upon
them, if taught by parental example to do evil. It is therefore of the
greatest importance, especially to the members of a family, that the
head should "behave himself wisely in a perfect way, and walk within
his house with a perfect heart."
5. Prayer, _especially family prayer is another means seeking a godly
seed_.
This duty is important, as it tends to solemnize the heart, and
produce a serious and devout temper; and as it tends to draw down the
divine blessing on those who attend it.
When children witness a parent daily looking up to heaven, and
fervently imploring the divine blessing on himself and them--when they
hear him humbly confessing sin, and its demerits, and imploring
pardon--when they observe him devoutly thanking God for existence, for
continuance in life, and for all its comforts--when they hear him
asking grace to help and divine direction and guidance--when they see
him besieging the throne of grace for the Holy Spirit to renew and
sanctify them, enable them to do every duty, fill them with love to
God and man, enable them to bear injuries and requite them with
kindness, yea, to be good and do good--to make them faithful unto
death and then to receive them to the mansions of glory, and are
called to join in these solemn addresses to heaven, What other lesson
is equally instructive? What hath so dire a tendency to solemnize the
heart and impress it with the most just and weighty religious
sentiments? In this view, family prayer is of vast importance. If
attended as every serious person may attend it, cannot be wholly
without effect, and hath often the happiest effect.
It is not great talents, or showy gifts, but seriousness, solemnity
and fervor, which render prayer prevalent with God and beneficial to
man, as a means of exciting to other duties, and producing religious
awe and reverence.
This duty is also important, as tending to draw down the divine
blessing on the devout worshipper and on his connexions.
Every good gift cometh down from God; but his gifts are usually
bestowed in answer to prayer--"Ye have not because ye ask not--Ask,
and it shall be given you--for every one that asketh, receiveth."
--Spiritual mercies are seldom given but in answer to prayer; and
seldom long denied to earnest persevering prayer. This is the spirit
of one of our Savior's parables, * and the purport of many passages in
the word of God.
* Luke xviii. 1, &c.
And when a person hath omitted nothing in his power to make his
children wise to salvation, what so natural, what so reasonable, as to
bring them to God, and pour out his soul before him, for his blessing
upon them? And what so prevalent with "him who heareth prayer?"
It is storied of Augustine, who lived in the fourth century, that
though the son of an eminently pious mother, he was a very vicious
youth--that a Christian seeing him pass in the street, spake of him as
an abandoned character, with whom it was disgraceful to associate
--which another hearing, observed, that he was the child of so many
prayers, _that he could not believe that he would be lost_--nor was he
lost. Those prayers were heard. He was called of God, and like Saul of
Tarsus, made a chosen vessel to bear God's name to a scoffing world,
and do much in the cause of the divine Redeemer. *
* Witherspoon's Sermon on Education.
The fervent prayers which godly parents offer up for their children,
ascend like the prayers and aims of good Cornelius for a memorial
before God. When sincere and persevering, they return not empty. They
often draw down the divine blessing on those for whom they are offered
up. If they fail through filial obstinacy and perverseness, they draw
a blessing on themselves, to their eternal joy.
* * * * *
These are some of the ways in which parents should seek a godly feed.
But, alas! These duties are much neglected; therefore the declension
of religion, and the prevalence of vice.
Those who enter into covenant with God, bind themselves to discharge
these duties. Others are not devoid of obligation to do the same. They
are duties which rise out of the parental relation, and are
indissolubly connected with it.
Parents have a fondness for their children, and with their felicity.
But do not some who believe them made for eternity, take care only for
the mortal part, which after all their care must ere long become food
for worms, and turn to dust! Are there not parents who neither
dedicate their children to God, nor teach them his fear, nor walk
before them in the right way, nor commend them to the divine mercy!
Cruel parents! Unhappy children! How difficult, how dangerous
their situation! By nature disposed to error--assaulted by subtil
enemies, whose temptations fall in with their natural bias, and are
strengthened by the conduct of those whom they love as friends and
revere as guides! Little chance have such unexperienced and
unsuspecting creatures to escape the snares which surround them!
Dangerous, and almost desperate is their situation!
Perhaps the endless misery of some may be greatly chargeable on those
who under God, gave them being! Affecting thought! It concerns parents
to think on these things. If they consider, they must feel their
obligation _to seek a godly seed_, and be afraid to neglect it.
And let pious parents be persuaded to labor and not faint in the
discharge of the duties which they owe to God, and the young immortals
committed to their care. Though their counsels may be condemned, and
their prayers seem not to be regarded by him who hath power to change
the heart, let them not be discouraged, but persevere. "Those who sow
in tears shall reap in joy." Though the seed lie long under the clods,
it will not be lost, but some how, bring forth fruit.
The counsels, warnings, and examples of faithful godly parents
commonly make some impression on the children who affect to disregard
them. The most dissolute have their serious moments; their pangs of
remorse and terror. At such seasons their parents' warnings, prayers
and tears recur to their minds, and seem to rise up before them. This
often happens after parental labors have ceased; and after the
impressions they might have made, were supposed to have been effaced,
they sometimes produce happy effects.
Few children who have been dedicated to God, taught to know and serve
him, and the consequences which will follow their conduct here, and
witnessed their parents' deep concern, and earned cries to God in
their behalf can forget them--they must, they do, at times, affect
them. While any thing of this nature remains, there is hope.
Some, who in early life, scoff at warning and counsel, are afterwards
brought to repentance: And such often testify, that impressions made
by parental faithfulness in their tender years, were the means of
their awakening and amendment. This should encourage those whose
children give them little hope, to persevere in the discharge of duty.
"The Lord said of Abraham--I know him, that he will command his
children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of
the Lord, to do justice and judgment, _that the Lord might bring upon
Abraham that which he hath spoken of him_." What? The richest and most
lasting blessings--_because "he would command his children--to keep
the way of the Lord_."
"It is not a vain thing to serve God. Then--(when he maketh up his
jewels) shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the
wicked; between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not."
In no other way can we serve him more acceptably than by following
Abraham's example--"commanding our households to serve the Lord," and
setting them the example. Whoso doth it, "shall in no wise lose his
reward."
And happy the youth who second the endeavors of their parents to
render them _a godly seed_. Such "will find life and obtain favor of
the Lord." Here, they rejoice the hearts of those who love them, and
smooth the rugged path of age. The years which to others have no
pleasures in them, are not devoid of comfort to those who witness
filial piety and hope to live again in a godly offspring. Such parents
rejoice in death, and their _godly seed_, will rejoice with them
forever, in heavenly mansions.
* * * * * *