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they are divided in their opinions, and embittered in their feelings; if they look on each other with jealousy and distrust; if they frequently fall into passionate altercations and disputes; if the wife pays no regard to her husband's pleasure, and he puts no confidence in her discretion; prayer will be hindered, or performed without devotion. For how can they unite in prayers and praises to God, who unite in nothing else, and are become more distant in affection, than if they never had been made one flesh. How can they command obedience from their children, who appear to have no government of themselves ?-How can they form their domestics to virtue, who exhibit an example inconsistent with virtue, and shew themselves to be wanting in a most capital branch of religion?

Let us then who stand in this connexion, by reciprocal love and good offices honor our profession and promote each other's happiness, as being heirs together of the grace of life. Then our prayers will not be hindered.

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Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath ; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

IN these words the Apostle states the duty of children to their parents, and the duty of parents to their children,

We will consider them distinctly. First.

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The Apostle addresses himself to children in an exObey hortation to obey and honor their parents. your parents in the Lord;" or in compliance with the command of the Lord, which says, "Honor thy father and mother." To enforce this exhortation he re. minds children, that the command to "honor their parents," is distinguished from the others by a parti. cular promise of the divine favor.. "This is the first commandment with promise."-The promise is, "Thou shalt live long on the earth." This promise the Apostle interprets, not as confined to temporal prosperity, nor yet as absolutely insuring long life; but as signifying in general, that "it shall be well with them;"

"Obey

or that God will bestow on them such things, as his perfect wisdom sees to be best for them. your parents-for this is right." It is plainly reasonable in itself and acceptable to God, that children, who are young and inexperienced, weak and dependent, should honor and obey those who naturally care for them, who are charged with their support and education, and whose superior wisdom and riper experience, enable them to judge for their children, better than children can judge for themselves.

The obedience and honor, which children owe to their parents, comprise several things which are of great importance in this relation.

1. Children owe to their parents an inward affection and regard.

Their obedience should flow from love, gratitude and esteem.

Without a correspondent principle in the heart, external tokens of honor are of little value. The love which parents bear to their children entitles them to reciprocal affection.

Consider, you who are young, in what various ways your parents have expressed and continue still to testify their regard for you. They have supplied the wants of your helpless infancy; watched over the motions of your heedless childhood, and guided the steps of your giddy and unthinking youth. They have spared no pains to inform your minds and regulate your manners, to rear you to manhood, and mould you to virtue. They have anxiously attended you in times of sickness and trembled for you in hours of danger. And your happy return to health and safety has filled their hearts with joy, and their mouths with praise. You, who have seen a brother or a sister wrapt in the funeral shroud, have, at the same time, witnessed the anguish of your parents. Such would have been their anguish, had the same shroud embraced your cold limbs. How are they distressed, when, by your unworthy behavior,

you bring shame and dishonor on yourselves! What pleasure fills their souls, when they see you improving in knowledge and goodness, and rising to reputation and esteem! All their worldly labors and cares have your welfare and honor for their principal object. Their earthly hopes and prospects are in you.

Can you, my young friends, think seriously on these instances of your parents' regard and affection, and not feel yourselves bound to return love for love? You love those companions, who associate with you in your amusements and diversions. Can you be indifferent to your parents, who daily employ their time, strength and thoughts in promoting your comfort and welfare, and in laying a foundation for your honor in this world, and your happiness in the next?

If at any time, you feel uneasy under the restraints, which they lay upon you, consider, whether they have not given you full proof of their benevolence; and believe that these restraints are kindly intended.

2. You are to honor your parents by external tokens of respect.

Solomon, though his regal dignity raised him superior to all around him, yet forgot not the honor due to a parent. When his mother approached him, he rose to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and placed her on his right hand.

The natural superiority of your parents, and the important relation which they bear to you, oblige you to be submissive in your carriage, dutiful in your manners, and respectful in all that you speak to them in their presence, or say concerning them in their ab

sence.

There is nothing which shocks us more, than to see a youth behave toward his parents with insolence, or to hear him treat their characters with derision.

Never, my children, never expose the secret failings of a parent. You will thus bring dishonor on yourselves, and on the family. If, at any time, you should

have occasion to mention some public instances of his misconduct, speak with prudent caution and tenderness-with filial grief and concern ;__ not in a way of ridicule, mockery and contempt. The impiety of Ham in deriding his father's miscarriage, brought on him a lasting curse; while the filial dutifulness of the other sons, in endeavoring to conceal his shame, entailed a blessing on them and their posterity.

3. You are to obey the just commands of your par

ents.

"Obey your parents in the Lord." You are to honor God as supreme, and them in obedience to him. "If any man love father or mother more than me,' says our Lord, he is not worthy of me." If a parent should enjoin any thing contrary to the will of God, you cannot be bound to obey: For the authority of God, and the obligations of virtue are always superior to the commands of men. "Obey your parents in all things" says the Apostle, "for this is well pleasing to the Lord." You must make it your first aim to please God; and in all things agreeable to his will, you must be obedient to them. In matters of which you are not competent to form a judgment, you must submit to their authority, and confide in their superior wisdom. If in these cases you err, the error will be to them, not to you.

You should obey them cheerfully, without complaining, or answering again-without evading or shifting off their orders. For this you have the example of Christ, who, in his youth, was subject to his par ents. There is a particular curse denounced againt the child," whose eye mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother."

4. You are not only to obey their express commands, while you are under their authority, but to receive, with decent and humble regard, the instructions, counsels and reproofs, which they may see fit to communicate afterward. From their age and experience you

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