y in
keeping our budding "olive plants" in deep spirituality is to keep very
spiritual ourselves. Now whatever means are necessary to promote a growth
of spirituality in our hearts, the same means are necessary to develop and
deepen the spiritual life of our children. A habitual effort to cultivate
a deeper sense of the divine presence is necessary and one of the most
beautiful employments of the sanctified heart. Those reverential feelings
toward God must daily become stronger. Those inmost affections of the soul
must reach out with greater yearnings and deeper longings toward the Holy
One. A benevolent regard in our hearts for our fellow men must become
stronger and more true. O beloved, if you would have your child to grow up
into a beautiful Christian character you must teach him to suppress every
selfish feeling, to banish every idle, careless thought, and to resist all
temptations to envy or impatience. The purest of meditations must be
entertained. We and they must be strictly disciplined by the sacred
Scriptures, "Watch and pray." Spiritual prayer unfolds the life into the
beautiful life of God as the bud unfolds into the blooming rose.

A Christian Home.

Nowhere is Christianity more effectual and more beautiful than in the home
life. Nowhere is the power of divine love so truly manifested as in a
sincere Christian home. We will set a picture before you. A father and
mother with their children are grouped together for the evening worship.
The father out of the deep affections of his soul, in spiritual tones,
speaks of God and his holy commandment. A tear of gratitude and joy is
glistening in the mother's affectionate eye. The children's faces are
beaming with admiration as they hear extolled the character of Christ.
They kneel in prayer; a holy awe and sacredness rests upon the scene;
their prayers arise as sweet incense into the nostrils of God and delight
his great heart.

Such a scene as we have pictured only fitly represents a true Christian
home. The father is all tenderness and love to his wife and children. He
is kind and sympathetic. He regards his wife as the weaker vessel and is
mindful of her happiness. The wife deeply reverences her husband.
Affection and appreciation sparkle in her eye. To attend to the husband's
wishes is her delight. They love their children and in gentleness are
bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The children
love each other and are kind and self