In the
choice of a companion for life, we should consider an agreement in
religious as well as in social character. How many unhappy matches and
homes and children and parents have been made by disobedience to the divine
precept, "Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers?" Isaac and Rebecca
showed their appreciation of this precept in the care they took to procure
a pious wife for Jacob. "I am weary of my life," says Rebecca, "because of
the daughters of Heth; if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such
as these, what good shall my life do me?" This should be the solicitude of
every Christian parent. Parents should possess unanimity of spirit and
practice in making up and giving the home-example. They should walk
unitedly, like Zacharias and Elizabeth, in all the ordinances and statutes
of the Lord blameless.
CHAPTER XXI
THE CHOICE OF PURSUITS.
"For what then was I born? to fill the circling year
With daily toil for daily bread, with sordid pains and pleasures?
To walk this chequered world, alternate light and darkness,
The day-dreams of deep thought followed by the night-dreams of fancy?
To be one in a full procession?--to dig my kindred clay?
To decorate the gallery of art? to clear a few acres of forest?
For more than these, my soul, thy God hath lent thee life!"
The choice of positions and pursuits in life is one important and
responsible mission of home.
Pages:
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237