Saturday, October 27, 2007
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD
The more vile Christ made Himself for us
(Thomas Brooks, "Apples of Gold" 1660)
"Let the thoughts of a crucified Christ," says one, "be
never out of your mind, let them be food and drink
unto you, let them be your sweetness and consolation,
your honey and your desire, your reading and your
meditation."
Ah! remember this:
His wounds were deep,
His burden weighty,
His cup bitter,
His suffering painful,
His agony and torment above conception, beyond expression.
That blessed head of His--was crowned with thorns.
Those eyes of His, which were purer than the sun
--were put out by the darkness of death.
Those ears of His which now hear nothing but hallelujahs
--were filled with the blasphemies of the multitude.
That blessed beautiful face of His, which was fairer than
the sons of men--was spit on by beastly filthy wretches.
That gracious mouth and tongue, which spoke as never
any man spoke--was slandered and accused of blasphemy.
Those hands of His, which healed the sick, which gave
out pardons, which swayed a scepter in heaven--were
nailed to the cross.
Those feet, which brought the glad tidings of peace and
salvation into the world--were also nailed to the cross.
All these great and sad things, did Jesus Christ suffer for
His people! Oh! The more vile Christ made Himself
for us--the more dear He ought to be unto us.
Take a pilgrimage in thought, to Gethsemane
and Calvary! Gaze upon His sufferings! He knew
all the sorrows that await Him--the shame, the
suffering, the anguish--but He takes the bitter
cup, and, with His heart set on the salvation
of His people--with His heart set on you--the
blessed Savior drains it to the very dregs!
See Him on Calvary . . .
unpitied by the crowd;
deserted by His disciples;
forsaken by His Father;
the Lamb led to the slaughter;
and all for you!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
DOES GOD GET THIS MAD?
"Mom and Dad" as well as "husband and wife" effectively have been banned from California schools under a bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who with his signature also ordered public schools to allow boys to use girls restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa, if they choose.
SAN DIEGO — More than 346,000 homes in San Diego have been ordered evacuated after a dozen wildfires continued their relentless assault on Southern California, displacing more than a half million people, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses, and forcing federal officials to assist firefighting efforts.
Any connection here?
Ezekiel 13:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Isaiah 11:15And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
Jeremiah 51:1Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;
Rev. 19:15 of "the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
If the wrath of a king be as the roaring of a lion,what is the wrath of God? But it is not only said the wrath of God, but the fierceness and wrath of God, or the rage of his wrath; and not only so, but the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. O what is that! the fierceness and rage and fury of Omnipotence! of a being of infinite strength! What an idea does that give of the state of those worms that suffer the fierceness and wrath of such an Almighty Being!
You have to ask yourself if a man like Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to ban "Mom and Dad"as well as "husband and wife" being used by children in the school system and to also ordered public schools to allow boys to use girls restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa, if they choose.Do you think this might just get God mad enough to allow the forest fires that are now happening in California? DO you think God can get that angry? I do.....
Cristina
Saturday, October 20, 2007
THIS LION OF HELL IS EVER HUNTING AFTER HIS PREY
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy.
He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour!
" 1 Peter 5:8
Consider Satan's diligence in tempting. He neglects no time.
He who would have us idle--is always busy himself.
This lion of hell is ever hunting after his prey!
He compasses sea and land to make a proselyte.
He prowls around--he watches where he may
throw in the fireball of temptation.
He is a restless spirit; if werepulse him,
he will not desist--but come again with a new temptation.
Satan's diligence in tempting, is seen in the variety
of temptations he uses.
He does not confine himself to one kind of temptation--
he has more plots than one.
He has many tools to work with. If he finds one temptation
does not prevail--he will utilize another.
If he cannot tempt to lust--he will tempt
to pride. If temptation to covetousness does
not prevail--he will tempt to extravagance.
If he cannot make men profane--he will try
to makethem religious formalists. If he
cannot make them wicked--he will tempt
themto be erroneous. Error damns as well
as vice. Vice pistols; error poisons!
Satan has acquired long experience in the art of
temptation. He has been a tempter for as
long as he has been a devil. Having such
experience, he knows what the temptations
are, which have foiled others, and are most
likely to prevail--as the fowlerlays those
snares which have caught other birds.
Thomas Watson
He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour!
" 1 Peter 5:8
Consider Satan's diligence in tempting. He neglects no time.
He who would have us idle--is always busy himself.
This lion of hell is ever hunting after his prey!
He compasses sea and land to make a proselyte.
He prowls around--he watches where he may
throw in the fireball of temptation.
He is a restless spirit; if werepulse him,
he will not desist--but come again with a new temptation.
Satan's diligence in tempting, is seen in the variety
of temptations he uses.
He does not confine himself to one kind of temptation--
he has more plots than one.
He has many tools to work with. If he finds one temptation
does not prevail--he will utilize another.
If he cannot tempt to lust--he will tempt
to pride. If temptation to covetousness does
not prevail--he will tempt to extravagance.
If he cannot make men profane--he will try
to makethem religious formalists. If he
cannot make them wicked--he will tempt
themto be erroneous. Error damns as well
as vice. Vice pistols; error poisons!
Satan has acquired long experience in the art of
temptation. He has been a tempter for as
long as he has been a devil. Having such
experience, he knows what the temptations
are, which have foiled others, and are most
likely to prevail--as the fowlerlays those
snares which have caught other birds.
Thomas Watson
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
ARE WE TOGETHER IN THIS?
I wonder if we were in perfect unity as a Church as Jesus asks of us, what we could accomplish in His Name. Instead there is false doctrines being preached in many churches, believers are argueing amongst one another declaring what they believe is Truth ,and the world is watching. What kind of witness are we, when people see Christians tearing each other apart? Who would want to be a part of that?
Gal 5:19-21
21Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Unity bringing glory to God. "Labor mightily for a healing spirit. Away with all discriminating names whatever that may hinder the applying of balm to heal your wounds...Discord and division become no Christian. For wolves to worry lambs is no wonder, but for one lamb to worry another, this is unnatural and monstrous." Thomas Brooks
Rom 15:5-6
6Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are the Light of the World, our good works, while not the means by which we are saved, does bring glory to our Heavenly Father.We should be shining brightly!
Mat 5:14-16
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
“The best way to promote unity is to promote truth. It will not do for us to be all ‘united together’ by simply yielding to one another’s mistakes. We are to love each other in Christ; but we are not to be so united that we are not able to see each other’s faults! (and especially not able to see our own!) No, purge the house of God, and then shall grand and blessed times dawn on us.”
~Charles Spurgeon - April 8th, 1860, sermon 307
John 17:19-23
19"And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. 22 "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.
Finally we should realize the world is going to hate us because of His name sake, we will go through suffering and afflictions, But we can do it together, lifting up one another, learning from one another, loving one another...being united in truth with one another. If we can do all this, we can face the battle together in Unity found only in Christ.
2 Cor 4:7-10
10But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones--Ephesians 5:30
Gal 5:19-21
21Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Unity bringing glory to God. "Labor mightily for a healing spirit. Away with all discriminating names whatever that may hinder the applying of balm to heal your wounds...Discord and division become no Christian. For wolves to worry lambs is no wonder, but for one lamb to worry another, this is unnatural and monstrous." Thomas Brooks
Rom 15:5-6
6Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are the Light of the World, our good works, while not the means by which we are saved, does bring glory to our Heavenly Father.We should be shining brightly!
Mat 5:14-16
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
“The best way to promote unity is to promote truth. It will not do for us to be all ‘united together’ by simply yielding to one another’s mistakes. We are to love each other in Christ; but we are not to be so united that we are not able to see each other’s faults! (and especially not able to see our own!) No, purge the house of God, and then shall grand and blessed times dawn on us.”
~Charles Spurgeon - April 8th, 1860, sermon 307
John 17:19-23
19"And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. 22 "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.
Finally we should realize the world is going to hate us because of His name sake, we will go through suffering and afflictions, But we can do it together, lifting up one another, learning from one another, loving one another...being united in truth with one another. If we can do all this, we can face the battle together in Unity found only in Christ.
2 Cor 4:7-10
10But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones--Ephesians 5:30
Cristina
Saturday, October 13, 2007
UNITY
These are quotes about Unity in the Body of Christ.How much Unity is in your Chruch?
Puritan John Trapp
"Unity without verity [truth] is no better than conspiracy" (cited in The Golden Treasury of Puritan Quotations, p. 304).
A.W. Tozer
"The constantly recurring question must be: What shall we unite with and from what shall we separate? The question of coexistence does not enter here, but the question of union and fellowship does. The wheat grows in the same field as the tares, but shall the two cross-pollinate? The sheep graze near the goats, but shall they seek to interbreed? The unjust and the just enjoy the same rain and sunshine, but shall they forget their deep moral differences and intermarry? ... The Spirit-illuminated church will have none of this" (The Best of A.W. Tozer, p. 72).
C.H. Spurgeon
"On all hands we hear cries for unity in this and unity in that; but in our mind the main need of this age is not compromise but conscientiousness, 'First pure, then peaceable.' It is easy to cry 'A confederacy,' but that union that is not based on the truth of God is rather a conspiracy than a communion. Charity by all means: but honesty also. Love of course, but love to God as well as love to men, and love of truth as well as love of union. It is exceedingly difficult in these times to preserve one's fidelity before God and one's fraternity among men. Should not the former be preferred to the latter if both cannot be maintained? We think so" (The Sword and Trowel, April 1887, p. 196, as cited in C.H. Spurgeon and the Modern Church, by R.J. Sheehan, p. 22).
J.N. Darby
"Separation from evil is the necessary first principle of communion with Him ... Separation from evil is His principle of unity" (Separation of Evil: God's Principle of Unity, as cited in Biblical Separation, by Ernest Pickering, p. 116).
J. Gresham Machen
"Again, men tell us that our preaching should be positive and not negative, that we can preach the truth without attacking error. But if we follow that advice we shall have to close our Bible and desert its teachings. The New Testament is a polemic book almost from beginning to end ... It is when men have felt compelled to take a stand against error that they have risen to the really great heights in the celebration of the truth" (What Is Christianity, as cited in Biblical Separation, by Ernest Pickering, p. 97).
John Whitcomb Jr.
"Diversity and division is infinitely more precious than a satanic unity. The problem God's people are facing today: Satan wants unity in what? -- in error. God would infinitely prefer division because of truth. Do you know what Jesus said in Matthew 10? He said, 'I have come not to bring peace, not to bring unity, but to bring division, to set a son against his father, a daughter against her mother, so that people within their own households will be enemies of each other.' That is what Jesus said he came to do ... God's smashing of satanic ecumenical unity was an incredible blessing [Genesis 11: the Tower of Babel] ... The potential for satanic depravity is infinite, as long as what continues? -- a unity in error -- organized blasphemy. Measure this friends. Grasp it. Satan will, in his brief hour, at the end of this world, be given his opportunity to demonstrate what total unity is like in the human race, when every person will have a mark on the forehead or right hand, and will walk lockstep under incredible blasphemy ...
"You say, 'We want unity.' Oh, really? What kind of unity? 'We want all the churches to get together.' Oh, really? You mean in error, in confusion, in heresy? That is, dear friends, the ecumenical movement of our hour, in which all the great denominations and all the great church leaders are becoming more and more unified. In what? -- in compromise and theological error; and this is the ultimate horror" (from Human Races, a message delivered at Indian Hills Community Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, Fall of 1984).
Puritan John Trapp
"Unity without verity [truth] is no better than conspiracy" (cited in The Golden Treasury of Puritan Quotations, p. 304).
A.W. Tozer
"The constantly recurring question must be: What shall we unite with and from what shall we separate? The question of coexistence does not enter here, but the question of union and fellowship does. The wheat grows in the same field as the tares, but shall the two cross-pollinate? The sheep graze near the goats, but shall they seek to interbreed? The unjust and the just enjoy the same rain and sunshine, but shall they forget their deep moral differences and intermarry? ... The Spirit-illuminated church will have none of this" (The Best of A.W. Tozer, p. 72).
C.H. Spurgeon
"On all hands we hear cries for unity in this and unity in that; but in our mind the main need of this age is not compromise but conscientiousness, 'First pure, then peaceable.' It is easy to cry 'A confederacy,' but that union that is not based on the truth of God is rather a conspiracy than a communion. Charity by all means: but honesty also. Love of course, but love to God as well as love to men, and love of truth as well as love of union. It is exceedingly difficult in these times to preserve one's fidelity before God and one's fraternity among men. Should not the former be preferred to the latter if both cannot be maintained? We think so" (The Sword and Trowel, April 1887, p. 196, as cited in C.H. Spurgeon and the Modern Church, by R.J. Sheehan, p. 22).
J.N. Darby
"Separation from evil is the necessary first principle of communion with Him ... Separation from evil is His principle of unity" (Separation of Evil: God's Principle of Unity, as cited in Biblical Separation, by Ernest Pickering, p. 116).
J. Gresham Machen
"Again, men tell us that our preaching should be positive and not negative, that we can preach the truth without attacking error. But if we follow that advice we shall have to close our Bible and desert its teachings. The New Testament is a polemic book almost from beginning to end ... It is when men have felt compelled to take a stand against error that they have risen to the really great heights in the celebration of the truth" (What Is Christianity, as cited in Biblical Separation, by Ernest Pickering, p. 97).
John Whitcomb Jr.
"Diversity and division is infinitely more precious than a satanic unity. The problem God's people are facing today: Satan wants unity in what? -- in error. God would infinitely prefer division because of truth. Do you know what Jesus said in Matthew 10? He said, 'I have come not to bring peace, not to bring unity, but to bring division, to set a son against his father, a daughter against her mother, so that people within their own households will be enemies of each other.' That is what Jesus said he came to do ... God's smashing of satanic ecumenical unity was an incredible blessing [Genesis 11: the Tower of Babel] ... The potential for satanic depravity is infinite, as long as what continues? -- a unity in error -- organized blasphemy. Measure this friends. Grasp it. Satan will, in his brief hour, at the end of this world, be given his opportunity to demonstrate what total unity is like in the human race, when every person will have a mark on the forehead or right hand, and will walk lockstep under incredible blasphemy ...
"You say, 'We want unity.' Oh, really? What kind of unity? 'We want all the churches to get together.' Oh, really? You mean in error, in confusion, in heresy? That is, dear friends, the ecumenical movement of our hour, in which all the great denominations and all the great church leaders are becoming more and more unified. In what? -- in compromise and theological error; and this is the ultimate horror" (from Human Races, a message delivered at Indian Hills Community Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, Fall of 1984).
Monday, October 08, 2007
WORD OF GOD SPEAK TO ME
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say
[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness Word of God speak
I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music,
beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice
[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
EVERYDAY IS YOURS LORD
LORD TODAY IS YOUR DAY.
TODAY IS GOING TO INCLUDE
TEMPTATION,AND I KNOW MY
TENDENCY IS TO ACT IN THE
FLESH. I DON'T WANT TO DO
THAT. I WANT TO WALK IN
THE LIGHT .... IN YOUR
WILL. I WANT TO ACT IN
YOUR SPIRIT. I WANT TO
RESPOND AS YOU WOULD HAVE
ME RESPOND. SO I PLACE
MYSELF ON YOUR ALTAR AND
I ASK YOU TO ASSIST ME AS
I ACCEPT YOUR POWER TO
HOLD ME IN YOUR WILL.
HELP ME TO LIVE LIKE THAT
MOMENT BY MOMENT, ALL
THROUGH THIS DAY
TODAY IS GOING TO INCLUDE
TEMPTATION,AND I KNOW MY
TENDENCY IS TO ACT IN THE
FLESH. I DON'T WANT TO DO
THAT. I WANT TO WALK IN
THE LIGHT .... IN YOUR
WILL. I WANT TO ACT IN
YOUR SPIRIT. I WANT TO
RESPOND AS YOU WOULD HAVE
ME RESPOND. SO I PLACE
MYSELF ON YOUR ALTAR AND
I ASK YOU TO ASSIST ME AS
I ACCEPT YOUR POWER TO
HOLD ME IN YOUR WILL.
HELP ME TO LIVE LIKE THAT
MOMENT BY MOMENT, ALL
THROUGH THIS DAY
Friday, October 05, 2007
WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE
Revelations 7:9-12
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Forever and ever!
(Octavius Winslow, "This God is Our God")
"For this God is our God forever and ever; He
will be our guide even to the end." Psalm 48:14
Oh, that blissful word forever!
Forever and ever in heaven!
Forever and ever associated with saints and angels!
Forever and ever gazing on the beauty of Jesus!
Forever and ever basking in the sunshine of His glory!
Forever and ever chanting the song of the Lamb!
Forever and ever swimming in the ocean of God's love!
Forever and ever growing in knowledge and holiness and glory!
Forever and ever with the Lord!
"For this God is our God forever and ever; He
will be our guide even to the end." Psalm 48:14
Home!
Yes, home! And what a home for us
to return to and abide in forever!
A home prepared before the foundation of the world.
A home in the many mansions.
A home nearest the throne and heart of God.
A home whose peace shall never be
broken by the sound of war or tempest.
A home whose brightness shall never be
overcast by the remotest shadow of a cloud.
How solacing to the weary spirit to think of
a resting place so near to God, and that resting
place our Father's house where we shall hunger
no more, neither thirst any more, where the sun
shall not scorch us, nor any heat, where the
Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall
feed us and lead us to living fountains of
waters, and God Himself shall wipe away
all tears from our eyes! We shall see him, beloved-- not abhorred, not despised
and rejected,
but worshipped,
honored,
crowned,
exalted,
served by flaming spirits,
and worshipped by cherubim and seraphim.
"We shall see him as he is."
Be strong as we wait apon our Lord, spread the word of the Glory of the God,
Spread the word of the Glory that can be shared with those who put their Faith in
the Lamb of God. Heaven is but a whisper away, no one knows when there time will be, when they leave this world, today is the day for salvation!
So great are the things God has planned for those who love Him. Joys unspeakable, sights unforeseeable, comforts unknown, blessings, as yet, undiscovered. Maranatha
Cristina
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
PARENTING
What a responsibility we have as parents. We are role models to our children. What ever we say or do, they may copy. The morals that we teach them as they grow up, may go with them. The Potter, Jesus Christ is molding His children into His image, we are molding our children by our image as parents. I am not saying we are to be the fault if our children grow up and be ungodly, but we sure can make a difference by how we live our lives and nurture our children. There is no perfect parent and no perfect child, but parents can teach their children the right way. Christiansare equipped with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to bring up a child, there is no better guide. Parenting is such a rewarding honor, to see our children grow up to be Godly adults is something I desire so much. To see our children walk with the Lord and someday become Godly parents and teach their children in a Godly manner. We as parents have SUCH a responsibility and we all need to pray for one another. The most important thing to teach our children is about God and be the image God wants us to be as parents.
The silent influence in parental conduct
(John Angell James, 1837)
Parents have a great power of influence over the minds and hearts of their children. Their children are almost continually with them--they are seen by them in nearly all they do, in their habitual conduct,and character at home. They are . . . heard in what they say; seen in what they do; studied in all their behavior;by little ears, and eyes, and minds, which are scarcely ever closed!
The child's heart is soft and pliable to a father's or a mother's influence. Their constant influence has been molding him from the dawn of reason.
What, then, ought to be the parents' behavior at home? The whole cultivation, and direction, and management of a child's mind, from the very dawn of reason, should be carried on with special reference to the formation of Christian character. This should be the one thing, to which all other things should be subordination. The silent influence in parental conduct is far greater, either for good or for evil, than most parents are aware of. They teach by what they say, they influence by what they do; and also by what they do not say, and do not perform. The pious parents, who embody a meek, benevolent, ardent, and consistent godliness in their character, exert a tremendous influence over the minds of their children!
But oh! the dreadful contrast in the case of those parents who are characterized by . . . ungodly dispositions, worldly associations, mirthful and extravagant living, trifling conversation, and lack of all seriousness and spirituality. Oh! what can be expected from such parents--but children who regard their religion with disgust? Every man is best known at home. Parents are ever doing something to prejudice their children in favor of true religion--or to prejudice them against it; doing something to draw them into the church--or to drive them into the world; lending a helping hand to lead then to heaven--or taking them by the hand and leading them to hell.Parents! Must you employ your influence in ruining the souls of your children--and sending them to perdition? Oh! tremble at the interview you must have with them at the day of judgment, and the dialog you must hold with them forever in the bottomless pit!!
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