tive blessings on the head of Timothy, what was the consequence? Why, that when but a young man, he was capable of being urged, by his spiritual Father, to reach the very height or acmé of all Christian excellence. "Let no man," said he to him, "despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity or love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." An "example" of these things did he urge? But are these all in which the Minister of Christ is to excel? Or is he left to gather, from general terms only, his peculiar obligations as a Parent of Children or the Master of a Family? What then, in these days, were the qualifications for office? Alas! my friend, what reply is ready for the man, for even any man who is able to stand up and say-"Look to the Children or Servants of that Minister! See how they conduct themselves, and judge how they must have been trained! Grace he cannot communicate, nor do we ask him; but has he been vigilant at home? Has he been patient and moderate at home?-generous, or given to hospitality, and not covetous? Has he, as a sine qua non, ruled well his own house, and had his Children in subjection with all gravity? Whence, then, this lightness-these expensive habits-and this insubordination? How can this man ever expect to make full proof of his Ministry? How can he take care of the Church of God? These, my reader, if we are wise, are not provoking questions. No; they are but the reverberations of Infinite Wisdom, come from what lips they may; and they ought to induce every man, who sustains the office of the Ministry, or the office of a Deacon, frequently to observe, that the Great Head of the Church, as has been already noticed, by glancing at this subject, and fixing the eye of his associated people, at the moment of induction into both offices, intended, while providing for the government of his own Family upon earth, to bring up also that of the Domestic Circle, to the highest possible state of perfection. And O were these Families once but what they ought to be-once but what they might beonce what the great Head of the Church hath actually demanded, and what therefore he must expect from them-then indeed would they prove, in their respective enclosures, like so many "trees of life" in the garden of the Lord. For such a consummation, however, though not a groundless expectation, let no Christian Parent wait. The frame of human society is incessantly giving way; Families are daily breaking up; and the Church universal has yet to pass the scrutiny of an omniscient eye: then must every man's work be made manifest— then must every man bear his own burden, and every man give an account of himself unto God. THE END. The Names of Individuals are noticed, in connexion with the Domestic Constitution, principally .227 Edwards, President,. Abraham, 70-72, 75, 156,212–218 | Eli, Abuse of Family Devotion,..342 Eliezer of Damascus, .136, 139 .156 222 Alfred the Great,.. .96-102 Faith in Christ Jesus, 260-267,350 in Scripture,. .361 Andrew, Apostle,.. 79 Family Blessings, .63-72 Apostles, Parents of, .77 Connexions, 15-50 Augustine, 135 Constitution,. ..9-14 Authority, Parental,.....215, 318 Minister's,. .330, 447 Extent of,... 424 Power of the,.....73-189 Bacon, Lady,. Lord,. Miss, Bates, Dr,..... .136 Reading... ..357 Baxter, Richard, .135, 136 Worship,. ..355 Beza,.... .136 Fenelon,....... ..135 Boerhaave, 120-123 Filial Piety of Jesus, ..83 Blessing, descending, ....63-72 Flavel,. .135 peculiar, .431 Gardiner, Colonel, ..135 Brainerd, 135 Generosity, .414 Brother and Sister, .37-40 Gospel of Salvation,. ..388 Cecil, Richard, ..135, 142, 321 Gratitude for the Scriptures, 360 Mrs,...... .147 Grotius,. .136 Centurion, Roman, 160 Hall, Bishop,. 135-137 Chandler, 135 Halyburton,... 135 Children, Saviour's love for, 433 Cimon,.. ...59 Harmony, Domestic,.. .327 Connexions, Domestic,.....15-50 Heavenly World, .389 Constitution, Domestic, ..9-14 Heber the Kenite, .170 Conviction of Sin,.. Cornelius,.... .296 Henry, M.,. .136 Cottons, Family of,.. .136 Herbert, Geo., .135 Cowper,... 132, 135 Hervey, ..ib. Cruelty to Animals, .404 Hobab, .168 David, King of Israel.. Deborah,. 157 Howe, John,.. .136 Devotion, Domestic, 333 Humanity,.. .109, 402 Devotional Spirit,.. .373 Husband and Wife, 15-21 Doddridge,. ..135, 138 Huss, John, .135 Dwight, .136, 139 Hutcheson, Mrs L.,.. .146 Mrs, Early Christianity, .443, 446 Industry and Economy,. .400 Ebedmelech,. Economy and Industry,. of Circumstances, 379 Instruction, Religious, ........384 Isaac, ..75, 157 |