Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 206

"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, _lest they be discouraged_."

Col. 3:21.

14. By what means may the mother bind the hearts of the loved ones at home together?

"She openeth her mouth with _wisdom_; and in her tongue is _the law of kindness_." Prov. 31:26.

NOTE.-"We want to get into the hearts of our children if we hold them, and help them, and bless them, and take them to heaven with us."-_Frances Murphy._

15. How will such a mother be regarded?

"Her children arise up, and _call her blessed_; her husband also, and _he praiseth her_." Verse 28.

NOTE.-"Show me a loving husband, a worthy wife, and good children, and no pair of horses that ever flew along the road could take me in a year where I could see a more pleasing sight. Home is the grandest of all inst.i.tutions."-_Spurgeon._

16. How faithfully should parents teach the precepts and commandments of G.o.d to their children?

"And thou shalt _teach them diligently_ unto thy children, and shalt talk of them _when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up_." Deut. 6:7.

NOTES.-"The home should be made a school of instruction, rather than a place of monotonous drudgery. The evenings should be cherished as precious seasons, to be devoted to the instruction of the children in the way of righteousness. But how many children are sadly neglected! They are not educated in the home, that they may comprehend the truth of G.o.d, and are not trained to love justice and to do judgment. They should be patiently instructed, that they may understand the laws that govern them, and that they may know the springs of their actions. They are to be brought into harmony with the laws of heaven, to cherish the truth as it is in Jesus. In this way they may be fitted to join the society of the angels, and to stand in the presence of the adorable Redeemer."-_Sabbath School Worker, August, 1896._

"A church within a church, a republic within a republic, a world within a world, is spelled by four letters-home! If things go right there, they go right everywhere; if things go wrong there, they go wrong everywhere. The door-sill of the dwelling-house is the foundation of church and state.... In other words, domestic life overarches and undergirds all other life.... First, last, and all the time, have Christ in your home."-_Talmage._

17. What is the great secret of a happy home?

"Better is a dinner of herbs where _love_ is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." Prov. 15:17.

Happy the home when G.o.d is there, And love fills every breast; When one their wish, and one their prayer, And one their heavenly rest.

Happy the home where Jesus' name Is sweet to every ear; Where children early lisp His fame, And parents hold Him dear.

Happy the home where prayer is heard, And praise is wont to rise; Where parents love the Sacred Word, And live but for the skies.

Religion In The Home

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Wors.h.i.+p In A Cavalier's Home. "First, last, and all the time, have Christ in your home."-_Talmage._

1. How well acquainted is G.o.d with each individual's life?

"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising. Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compa.s.sest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether." Ps. 139:2-4.

2. What is the beginning of wisdom?

"_The fear of the Lord_ is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments." Ps. 111:10.

3. Upon whom is G.o.d's fury to be poured?

"Pour out Thy fury upon _the heathen that know Thee not, and upon the families that call not on Thy name_." Jer. 10:25.

4. How are parents instructed to bring up their children?

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but _bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord_." Eph. 6:4.

NOTE.-"Religion is love, and a religious home is one in which love reigns. There must be love in action, love that flows out in all the home intercourse, showing itself in a thousand little expressions of thoughtfulness, kindness, unselfishness, and gentle courtesy."-_"__Week-Day Religion__"_ by J. R. Miller, D. D., page 83.

5. How faithfully should parents teach their children the Word of G.o.d?

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and _thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children_, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deut. 6:6, 7.

6. What is the value of proper early instruction?

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and _when he is old, he will not depart from it_." Prov. 22:6.

NOTE.-No man ever said that he began the service of G.o.d too young.

No parent ever regretted bringing up his children to love, fear, honor, and obey G.o.d.

7. How early were the Scriptures taught to Timothy?

"And that _from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures_, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. 3:15.

NOTE.-Timothy's father was a Greek, and his mother a Jewess. From a child he had been taught the Scriptures. The faith of his mother and of his grandmother in the Word of G.o.d had early been implanted in him through their faithful instruction. 2 Tim. 1:5. The piety which he saw in his home life had a molding influence upon his own life. This, with his knowledge of the Scriptures, qualified him to bear responsibilities and to render faithful service later in the cause of Christ. His home instructors had cooperated with G.o.d in preparing him for a life of usefulness. Thus it should be in every home.

8. Why did G.o.d confide in Abraham, and commit sacred trusts to him?

"For 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." Gen. 18:19.

9. Wherever Abraham went, what was his practise?