the rest; I begged mercy-mercy for every one of them, and absolutely and unreservedly devoted them, myself-my whole self, estate, interest, and life-to the will and service of that God from whom I received all. Father, hallowed be thy name!” Can we wonder that a household, ordered and ruled in accordance with this spirit, was a means of blessing to all its members? The moral influence of such a home-life is incalculable; and such influence can be exerted nowhere but at home. There is a peculiar sanctity attaching to the family relationship when thus hallowed. The natural and the spiritual blend, and gain in their union new beauties. Happy the children of such a home. All sweet and holy thoughts will, in after life, cluster around it. It will be fragrant with holy memories. It will be an unfailing source of comfort and instruction. Its lessons will teach, and its influences will sway, the gray-headed man. From that hallowed centre of light and love, a light shall go before each new pilgrim, which, by the blessing of God, shall guide him to the very gates of the celestial city. A truly Christian home is the most beautiful thing earth can know. It is “A joy for ever ; Its loveliness increases, it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and pious breathing." Matthew Henry, inheriting his father's spirit, and influenced by his example, furnished in his own history a singular proof of the blessedness of Christian homelife. In the spirit of his father he resolved, "If ever God shall call me to the charge of a family, I will walk before my house in a perfect way, with an upright heart, not doubting but that thou, God, will come unto me my house shall be a Bethel; wherever I have a tent, God shall have an altar: and Joshua's resolution shall be mine; whatever others do, I and my house will serve the Lord." And he faithfully fulfilled his resolve. His biographer has taken great pains to describe with much explicitness and minuteness his family life. And thus he is set before us as a man whose "relative affections were not only very tender and sincere, but were of a holy and spiritual nature, such as became a Christian." But his family piety, like his father's, was not confined to the regular and devout observances of family worship, and the impartation of religious instruction. Religion was the life of his life, and sanctified all the relationships and duties of home. "He was one of the most affectionate relations and most faithful friends in the world. This he made to appear by his constant prayers for them, by writing good and kind letters to them on all occasions. To his parents he was a truly dutiful and affectionate child. Few parents were so happy as they in every one of their children, and in him especially. No place was so good to him as his father's house." 1 But it is rather from the tone of his whole life, as it is revealed in his biography, than from any particular statements, that we get the most valuable witness to his "piety at home." All that concerns himself, his affairs, his children, his parents, his friends, is recognised and spoken of in its relation to the highest and most important interests of life. The Christian hus 1 Life, by W. Tong. band, father, master, friend, is evident in every trivial record. He felt, and was not ashamed of expressing, his dependence upon God and his allegiance to Him in all things. The joys and sorrows, the ever changing events of family history, are all seen in his letters and diary in the serene light of his fellowship with God. Religion was inseparably associated and blended with all his family life. The life of Mr. Wilberforce furnishes another very beautiful illustration of the nature and value of home piety. "Some men appear all nobleness in the eye of the public, but we dare not follow them into the family circle. Not so Mr. Wilberforce. The name to which the civilized world did homage acquires fresh lustre amidst the sanctities of home. There, especially, was to be seen the full sunshine of his kindliest affections." He is described as "having always the spirit of a boy, and, in his country walks with his children, singing like a blackbird, and making the shades resound to his voice. . . In his own household he was the priest as well as the loving friend. The senator, in the midst of his children and servants, reading and expounding the book of God, kneeling before the throne, and praying with a pathos and fervour which none who ever heard forgot, is a picture of deeper interest and sublimer meaning, than the same man on the hustings encharming the multitude, or in the senate delighting the legislature with his eloquence." 1 What peaceful, happy scenes are thus suggested to our imagination! The spirit and power of holiness breathes over all the house. Everything is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. Every influence to 1 Life of Wilberforce. Religious Tract Society. which the families of such homes were subjected, would, we feel, be a hallowing one. There is all due restraint, but no lack of wise liberty. Philip Henry "allowed his children a great freedom with him, which gave him the opportunity of reasoning with them, and not frightening them into that which is good." The ordinances of religion are duly honoured, and its observances strictly enjoined, but there is no sanctimoniousness. The best proof is in the result. The promise in these cases was literally fulfilled, "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord." The secret of all this, if secret it can be called, is not very difficult to discover. A church in the house was the ideal of these men, and, by the Divine blessing, they attained their aim. The personal piety of the parents was the forming principle of the family life. The natural union was cemented, the family affection was deepened, by the diviner relationships of the gospel. The amenities of social life, the pure joys of home, were rendered a thousand-fold sweeter by a common relationship to a Father in heaven, by the fellowship of the Elder Brother, and by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Every enjoyment was heightened by being shared together as the gift of a reconciling God, and every sorrow transmuted into a blessing by the recognition of his paternal wisdom and love. They are hallowed spots, these pious homes, "Where streams of love, from Christ the spring, And heavenly peace, with balmy wing, Shades and bedews the whole." 42 CHAPTER IV. HOME PIETY AND HOME HAPPINESS. THERE is some serious defect either in the religion itself, or in the mode of family government, where "piety at home" is repulsive in its character. It ought to add a charm to domestic enjoyment, and to amend that defect in it which otherwise will cause it to pall upon the appetite. In by far the larger number of instances it does so. Other things being equal, the family in which genuine piety is the pervading influence is the most contented and happy. There the domestic relationships are an unfailing source of pleasure, and childhood is freest and fullest of life. "There is a spot of earth supremely blest, Two men among the most illustrious of modern times for genius and piety, John Foster and Dr. Chalmers, 1 |