He promises to punish the unfaithful parent, and to
reward the faithful parent. He also promises to visit both the evil and the
good of the parents upon their children. Such is the constitution of the
family, and such are the vital relations which the members sustain to each
other, that by the law of natural and moral reproduction, the child is
either blessed or cursed in the parent. What the parent does will run out
in its legitimate consequences to the child, either as a malediction or as
a benediction.
We have divine promises to punish the unfaithful members of the Christian
home. If the parent becomes guilty of iniquity, it will be visited upon the
children from generation to generation. There is no consideration which
should more effectually restrain parents from unfaithfulness than this. Let
them become selfish, sensual, indolent, and dissipated, and soon these
elements of iniquity will be transmitted to their offspring. What the
parent sows, the child will reap. If the former sow to the flesh, the
latter shall of the flesh reap corruption. Thus, whatsoever the parent sows
in the child he shall reap from the child. The promised curse of the
parent's wickedness is deposited in the child so far as that wickedness
affected the child's character. This is all based upon the great principle
that the promises are unto you, and to your children.
But while this great principle is ominous of terror to the ungodly, it is a
pleasing theme to the pious and faithful.
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