1 THE CHRISTIAN PARENT'S LEGACY. For the Mother's Magazine. THE CHRISTIAN PARENT'S LEGACY. I HAD a friend who was a rare example of the influence of religion on the daily deportment. He possessed quick sensibilities, gentle and very tender affections, a noble spirit, and with great ardor and energy united a sound judgment. These desirable native qualities were balanced and tempered by religion. The fear and love of God habitually governed his conduct. He had so cherished and cultivated tenderness of conscience that his standard of duty was high. He kept the sabbath in that quiet, solemn, yet cheerful manner, that shed a holy influence through his family, and made even the young children feel that it was a sacred day. So perfectly was his standard of duty understood, that his presence was a reproof visibly felt by the child that had done wrong, even though he did not know that it was in fault. His authority was not a grievous bondage, but the sway of love requiring, and habitually receiving cheerful, and affectionate obedience. In his dealings with mankind, he aimed so to act, that if all his pecuniary transactions were laid open to the view of the whole world, he would stand clear of the slightest delinquency. In regard to his obligations to his Lord, he seemed intent to please Christ, and strove so to rule both his body and spirit, as should best fit him for his service. To this end he was strictly temperate in eating as well as drinking; did not allow himself in the morning to pass the hour in sleep which should be spent in devotion; watchfully improved his opportunities for doing good to the souls and bodies of his fellow men; and when the cause of Christ and his own ease, honor or emolument came in competition, sternly put aside his personal interest as not worthy to be mentioned. In short, close and long observation of him convinces me that his ruling purpose was, so to live that the world should be the better for his having lived in it. Not that this friend was perfect, he was not faultless; but the influence of religion was powerful and constant in him; and every one about him felt that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God he had his conversation in the world. He is gone to the world of spirits, but his family and intimate friends, to say nothing of others, will feel the salutary influence of his example while they live. The example of this man of God has led me to reflect much upon the importance of living in such a manner that mothers shall do good to their children after they are dead. There have beer many Christians who, like Abel, though dead, yet speak, and will long continue to speak to the glory of Christ and the salvation of souls. There have been many too, who we hope are in heaven, that shed but a feeble light while on earth, and whose inconsistencies, even now that they are gone, are stumbling blocks in the way of their children and neighbors. Are not such saved so as by fire? And is it not melancholy to think how little they honored Christ while here, and how injurious their example is likely to prove to those that come after them. Every affectionate parent when she thinks of dying, is reminded of her THE CHRISTIAN PARENT'S LEGACY. 5 children; and with anxiety she considers what will be their situation, and how they will get along in this world of trouble without her. But the tenderest parental love, joined to the clearest foresight, and most consummate wisdom, cannot secure them from trouble, temptation, and sin. There can be no security for their welfare in either world except that which is found in the love and favor of God. His blessing "none can reverse." "His favor is life; his loving kindness is better than life." Christian parent, what are you doing to insure the well being of your children when you are in the world of light? What are you doing by which, when dead, you shall yet speak? Will your memory be a treasury of useful recollections that will cheer, admonish, restrain, and guide them till they close their pilgrimage, and meet you in eternity? The thought sometimes, perhaps often, passes your mind that you cught so to live that the remembrance of you will do them good. But these raudom, occasional reflections produce no abiding effect. It must be your steady purpose to act every day in all the scenes of home and of business, in such a manner that when you are dead, the memory of your example shall be to your children like a wakeful conscience, the very thought of you reproving them for sin and arming them with decision in the ways that are right. If, though a professor of religion, you are living mainly for this world, regulating your dress, style of living, and conversation by its maxims rather than by the rules of the Bible, what do you expect will be the influence of this course upon your family when you are in eternity? Do you not deceive yourself in supposing that you are a Christian? and would not the minds of your children be more open to a conviction of the value of religion if it were not associated in their view with the inconsistencies of their earthly-minded parent? If your life and conduct do not convince your children that your supreme desire for them is that they should "glorify God, and enjoy him forever," do not expect their conversion either while you live, or after you are dead, Let a worldly spirit in a parent take what form it may, no instructions, prayers, or reproofs can counteract its effect upon her family. 'Tis a vain hope, and she that trusts in it will, in all probability, be disappointed. Perhaps you are earnestly engaged in making money, not scrupulously just in all your dealings, availing yourself of opportunities to overreach in your bargains. Will your memory testify to your children's consciences that your treasure was in heaven,-that the universe would have been a blank to you without God, and that having him for your portion, you had all things? Oh, how much more would Christians do, both in life and in death, for the salvation of souls, did their behavior habitually say, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on the earth that I desire beside thee !" When your interest and the temporal and eternal welfare of men comes in competition, do you, heedless of the latter, take care to secure the former? Will not this teach your children to set lightly by the immortal soul? How can they be expected to care for their own salvation, when you esteem the eternal well-being of your neighbors such an insignificant concern that you will not relinquish that source of gain which is to them the seal of perdition? 6 THE CHRISTIAN PARENT'S LEGACY. Are you soon angry? Have trifles the power to disturb your spirit so that you speak unadvisedly with your lips? Such things inflict deep wounds not easily healed. You call yourself a follower of Jesus,-but he did not thus. Is the law of kindness upon your tongue, and your speech evil of others, thus violating the rule, which, if perfectly kept, would make this wretched world a heaven? These things perhaps seem small in your eyes; but every such violation of the spirit of the Gospel tells with fearful certainty upon the future character of your children. Are the books which you purchase, and the associates whom you choose, such that you may safely resign your children to their influence when you leave the world? These are immensely important considerations; and it is of the highest consequence that our minds be firmly established as to the proper course for a Christian to pursue on these subjects; and that we adhere to the principles we profess. Do your children know, without your telling them so, that you love the Bible, and esteem it more than all riches? or do they see you hastily read your one chapter to pacify conscience, and then find in the pressure of business or professional duties, a repeal of the law which commands you to teach its glorious truths" to them diligently." Deut. vi. 7. If they see that your "delight is in the law of the Lord," and that you earnestly seek to have " your ways directed to keep his statutes," when you are gone to heaven they will never take up the Bible without remembering you; they will read it with the more interest because you loved it; and as they read, will remember how you were governed by such and such precepts; and recollecting the tenor of your deportment, will perceive that the spirit of the Bible was infused into your whole character. Thus your influence will become one of the most powerful and sacred that can be brought to bear upon the soul of man. Such an influence, you may confidently hope, the spirit of God will own and bless to their salvation. The manner in which the sabbath is kept by parents, takes a deeper hold of the character, future course, present and everlasting happiness of families, than perhaps any other part of their example. Are you careful so to arrange your affairs toward the close of the week, not only that your worldly concerns shall not encroach upon holy time, but also so that your children, laborers, and domestics, shall not enter upon it with bodies so wearied as to forbid all preparation of mind for its sacred duties? Do you not only avoid worldly conversation and books, but read the Bible much, and converse only on such themes as are adapted to quicken your faith concerning Christ and heaven? Heaven is the reality of which our sabbaths are the emblem; and did we observe them in that holy manner which we ought, each one would bring us nearer and nearer in the temper of our hearts, to our glorious home. Our faith concerning heaven would approach so near to sight, that all undue interest in temporal concerns would be overcome. We could not then be worldly-minded Christians. Perhaps some parent, whose earthly heart shrinks from spiritual services will say, "This severe solemnity in keeping the sabbath, prejudices the minds of children and young people, and makes them dread the day." I answer, a truly devout and heavenly frame of mind is inconsistent with severity or moroseness. God is love, and the more we commune with him, the more visible will be the sweet and mellowing influence on our behavior, and every heart in our family will feel something of its power. And after we have long enjoyed the pure pleasures and holy worship of the upper world, the memory of those sacred seasons which we observed on earth, will hold back our children, and through them succeeding generations, from a disregard of the day; and more than that-will keep them from those gradual departures from the spirit of the commandment, which are in the end fatal to the highest influence of the Sabbath. Christian mothers, most of these remarks apply specially to you, for you can never be neutral. If you do not aid, you will at least paralyze the influence of your husband. Keep in remembrance the hour when death shall take you away, and your work for your children be finished. Remember that what you do now is done forever; for eternity is the only limit of your influence. As you would hope to meet them in heaven, rule your own spirit, let the law of kindness be on your tongue, repress parental ambition, keep the Sabbath holy, walk with God, live for the good of others. Then will your example be to your daughters a steady light, leading them into the path of eternal life when you are not here to watch over them. And your sons-nothing but religion can so powerfully guard them from the temptations of this evil world, as the remembrance of your constant love, your faithful instructions, your consistent piety, and your prayers. PARENTAL GOVERNMENT. HAVING been a constant reader of the Mother's Magazine, from its first number, I feel a deep interest in its contents. Its object is one of prime importance, involving responsibilities and relations co-extensive with eternity. The work has, thus far, met my expectations. But there is one view of maternal responsibility, that is seldom fully apprehended: I refer to a mother's duty in the administration of parental government. I speak of a mother's duty, in this particular, because your Magazine is especially designed for her use. But one father, at least, has derived some instruction from your hints to mothers, and, I hope, more than one. To the united head of every house, God, for wise purposes, has committed the right to govern, with all its fearful responsibilities. All that is addressed to one parent, on this subject, is, therefore, equally applicable to the other. God deals with his creatures as subjects of law. His will is their rule of action: and he requires instant, unconditional, and unquestioning obedience.. Our views of the expediency of any of his commands, are wholly immaterial. Our business is simply to obey. Yet he sometimes tells us the reasons of his commands, and presses us with motives, addressed to the different capacities of our natures. But, in doing this, he never leaves us to regard him in any other relation than that of law-giver: and all our conduct is to be weighed in the scales of a prescribed and immutable standard. Parental government is of so high a nature, that God has required obedience to parental authority under the tremendous sanctions of the divine law. To such an institution, we cannot, then, attach too much importance. In committing this authority to parents, respect was had, not simply to the temporal well-being of children, but, also, to the securing of their obedience to God. Let me not be misunderstood. I do not say that conversion is to be the result of corporeal punishment; nor that a child, through fear of the rod, can be made to submit to the terms of the Gospel. But a habit of filial obedience, may go very far towards removing one obstacle in the way of the sinner's submission to God, which is found to be almost universal. One principal reason why the sinner does not sooner yield to the influences of the Holy Spirit, is a fixed determination, on his part, not to be governed by the will of another. 66 Thy will be done," is a sentiment which we are all slow to adopt; and yet every sinner, if he would enter heaven, must come to this very point. The sinner's opposition to this requirement, is often greatly strengthened by a spirit of insubordination and by false notions of independence, acquired under the paternal roof. Conversions among that class of individuals, who have never been taught due subjection to the authority of their parents in early life, are believed to be of very rare occurBut let a child be taught uniformly to govern his conduct by the will of his parents-let him form the habit of instant, unconditional and unquestioning obedience to parental law, and he will find less difficulty in submitting himself to God. When the law and the testimony are brought to bear upon his heart and conscience, his filial habits will plead loudly for instant submission. On this point God has not left himself without a witness. He said of Abraham, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him;" and he then adds, as a consequence, that "they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and mercy." rence. The idea has extensively prevailed, that a family may be sufficiently controlled by the mere art of persuasion. To persons who adopt this opinion, my views may appear somewhat tyrannical. But, although I am free to admitt that ordinary motives may be so presented to a child, as to secure a right action and prevent a wrong one, it remains to be shown that a habit of obedience can be thus formed, of sufficient strength to secure its favorable influence when the reasonableness of the command is not apparent. He may thus be taught to obey such requirements as are approved by his reason. It would be quite an anomaly to find a child who would not yield to the dictates of his own will. But this is not the obedience which God requires; and the parent who has no other principle of governing, may be said in most emphatic language, to leave his children to themselves. The consequences of such a course are evident: they are recorded by the pen of inspiration: "The rod and reproof give wisdom, but the child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." If these views are correct, every mother is solemnly bound to form in her children the habit of unconditional and instant submission to her authority, authority, as a means of leading them to exercise the same disposition in |
