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The Family in its Offices ofInstruction and Worship

by M Palmer

common Father of us all. Is it possibleto overstate these advantages of his position for giving shape and direction tothe immortal spirit which opens itscareer in his hand? Hence the proverbial power of these infantile impres-sions. However they may be overborne, or seemingly erased, they abidewith a secret and reserved power. When

disappointments shall break the spellof

life's delusions; when sickness andom the earliest period in the voluntary movements of the muscles sorrow shall place us under arrest; or

history of the Church, the du- and limbs are brought under the control when death comes, with its fierce exe-ty of Family instruction has of the will. The imperceptible educa- cution upon all earthly hopes--howbeen emphasized as the most tion of the mental faculties begins in often they arise, to lead the soul back to

important of all agencies in perpetu- God and to peace. Eternity alone will re-ating the knowledge of Divine truth. In veal the value of these early asso-Deuteronomy 11:19, the command is ciations, as the silver threads whichthus laid upon Israel: "Therefore shall have bound even the worst of sinners toye lay up these My words in your heart a destiny of blessedness and glory in theand in your soul, and bind them for a kingdom of heaven.sign upon your hand, that they may be Consider, next, the instinctive a./feeas frontlets between your eyes; and ye tions which bring their aid both inshall teach them your children, speak- imparting and in receiving instructioning of them when thou sittest in thine Fortunately, these affections do nothouse, and when thou walkest by the depend upon the will for their existence,way, when thou liest down, and when but have their ground in nature. Thethou risest up. The same injunction is will may regulate their exericse, butrenewed in the parting address of does not determine their being. ThusMoses, just before he ascended Mount the child, with the supreme sense of

Nebo to die: "Set your hearts unto all : : ; : ; ; ; : ~ r { V 7 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ = = = ~ : ~dependence which characterizes its firstthe words which I testify among you experience, looks up to the parent withthis day; when ye shall command your a reverence that is essentially religious.children to observe to do all the words t knows no being who is greater, orof this law." In the new Testament, it higher. The parent stands to it as Godis only necessary to refer to Paul's com- Himself, in whom it consciously livesmendation of Timothy, as one that and moves. The whole being of the"from a child had known the holy Scrip- child is at first bound within that of thetures," and in whom the immense ad- parent, who appears to it almost asvantages of a pious descent were signal- the cradle, far beyond the point which creator. The thought is almost over-ized, as he "called to remembrance the the memory is able to reach. The first whelming in its solemnity, that in anyunfeigned faith that dwelt first in his observation has to be made; the first human relation we should stand in suchgrandmother Lois, and in his mother comparison to be instituted; the first resemblance to the Infinite God, as toEunice." Without pausing to collate judgment to be framed; and so onward, give being to another like ourselves.the testimonies upon this topic, it will until, at maturity, the perfect man is No wonder the parent should be chargedserve our purpose better to indicate the developed in the furniture of all his with such a providence as that whichconspicuous advantages possessed by powers, corporeal and intellectual. watches over the fortunes of the child,

the Family for the transmission of this Just here, at the very springs of our and that he should be filled with such atraditional knowledge and influence. being, the parent is appointed to stand. wealth of love as stumbles at no sacci-For example, the parent is the only He watches the mind, as it first awakes flee for its good. And no wonder that,

teacher w o is permitted to stand at the to conscious activity. He answers its in the child's view, a sort of "Divinitybeginnings o human life and to shape earliest questions, when it looks forth should hedge about" the parent, and thatthe first thoughts which arise in the in wonder upon the strange world into affection should be mingled with amind. The infant is endowed at birth which it is introduced. He seizes the species of awe. But what must be thewith certain capacities, as yet wholly first thoughts, and directs them upward influence of this in rendering the childundeveloped. The very senses, which to God, who has "made everything docile and tractable? What weight he-are the inlets of all knowledge, require beautiful in its time." He shapes the longs to the utterances of one whoseto be trained to their respective func- first feeling of reverence in a religious wisdom, and power, and love are to thetions: the eye to see, the ear to hear, mould, and turns the earliest affection child the very shadow o f the Divinethe touch to discern. Gradually the in- towards the Great Being who is the (Continued on page 36)

The Counsel of Chalcedon Aug.-Sept. 1989 p ge 15

8/12/2019 1989 Issue 7 - The Family in Its Offices of Instruction and Worship - Counsel of Chalcedon

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Instruction and WorshipContinued from page 15

What school can equal that of the Family, where the teacher stands at the fountain head of our being, armed with prerogatives so sacred as these

The complement to both thesethoughts is found in the parent s author-ity to rmforce his teachings. Educationdoes- nor- cotisfsr solely m: the com:.munication of knowledge. Its primaryaim is discipline. The dormant facultiesneed to be aroused and developed. By agentle and constant compulsion theymust be held to certain exercises, untilthe permanent habits are formed whichmake the student and the thinker. Thisis, if possible, more conspic1,tously truein the sphere of morals. Virtue mustnot only be inculcated as a doctrine; itmust be practiced as a principle, and beacquired as a habit. The precepts whichare enjoined must be reproduced in s u ~cessive acts, until the character itself iscast perfectly into their mould. Here allthat has been said above applies withpre-eminent force. Armed with despoticauthority, which distinctly reflects theDivine supremacy, the parent enforceshis instructions upon the will. Thechild is held with a firm hand to thepractice of what he learns. The indolence and the rebellion of his nature areboth held under control, until the duty,

which was at. first irksome, becomeseasy by repetition. Of course, we willnot be understood as endorsing the Pelagi Ql view of making men Christiansonly by the power of habit But if theHoly Spirit must renew the soul "deadin trespasses and sins," we need notoverlook the training influence of suchan institute. as the Family, in whichmen are fitted to discharge the offices ofvirtue which devolve upon them in life.To this end, the teacher. .first providedfor the young is supplied with the high

authority to enforce the practice ofknowledge as fast as it is acquired, untilthe confmned habit shall establish it asa second nature, and make it as simpleas to breathe.

All this is not accomplished at once;but a long novitiate, covering nearlyone third part of human life, affords theparent opportunity for repeating anddeepening these impressions. t mattersnot what may occur to interrupt the continuity of the lessons . f the Family isp e ~ t t eto remain unbroken by death,

the pressure of parental influence isalways felt. Even the child at school isnot removed from it. e is surroundedby it as an atmosphere; and every recollection of home carries him back underits unseen power. The length and steadiness of this pressure is one of the leading featues of this beneficent discipline.Though it is modified each year, to acco:tiiiiiodate itselno the child's- expan-sion and growth, this very change onlyadds freshness to its power; which becomes more energetic just in proportionas it is more relaxed in its authority,and calls into play the voluntary virtueof the child,

' During this long period, there is theadvantage of contiguity to those whoare under training, and the manifoldforms in which instruction. is given Asto the former, the. parent enjoys a sortof omnipresence. In earlier years, thechild is constantly u:nder the eye of itsguardians; and these are the years whenthe foundations of character are laid.When the growth of years removes itfrom this closeness of inspection, theinfluence which this has exerted carriesthe presence of the parent mysteriouslyalong in a certain sense of its power,even where it is not visible. t is a profound truth, and as mysterious as it istrue, this diffusion of parental oversight, which reaches on to the years of

our manhood. Perhaps it is one of. thefeatures of that resemblance whichmakes the parent so much the representative of God in the household. We willnot press these analogies. We will leavethem to the reader's own thought, withonly this suggestion: that in the modified creatorship of the parent, in thepower of that instinctive reverence andaffection by which he holds the child,in the absoluteness of his authority, andin the seeming omnipresence of hisinfluence, there is much that invests the

relation with awe, and which explainsthe position of the fifth commandmentin the decalogue.

In what school but this does theteacher come in contact with all theshifting moods of the pupil--in hisseasons of elevation and gladness, andin moments of depression and ennui--inthe hours when the bounding heartpours out its love in all the gush ofenthusiasm, and when, coy and shy, itretires within itself, and chews the cudof its own reflections? In these varying

The Counsel of Chalcedon Aug.-Sept., 1989 page 36

tempers, the skillful parent drops the seeds of religious knowledge in exactaccordance with the mood; so that in athousand forms it challenges conviction, and the truth, resisted in oneshape, is accepted in another. Combineall these, and the value of the Family,as an institute for conveying religiousinstruction, is seen to be paramount;fulfillirig thus rie of the most ini-portant functions of the Church, which,therefore, subsidizes it to accomplishher own high and gracious ends.

The Scriptures equally emphasize thehousehold as the altar upon which thefue of a pure religious worship shouldever burn. They declare that God willpour out His fury upon the Familiesthat call not upon His name." Thepatriarch Abraham was specially commended for his observance of familyreligion: "for I know him, that he willcommand his children and his household after him, and they shall keep theway of the Lord." In the New Testament, the houses are carefully notedwhich gave a shelter to the infantChurch, under its new organization; andthe pious family at Bethany afforded aconstant retreat to the weary Savior,when e sought refreshment in the toilof His work. Wherever the ark of Godresides, it brings a blessing with it, likethat which rested upon the house of

Obededom.The Family is peculiarly fitted in itsarrangements to preserve the worship ofGod upon earth. The head of it, ifpious,_ is a personal representative oftrue religion to all beneath his wing.The influence of a godly character isdiffused through all the relations whichhe sustains, and the example of his devotions throws a savour of worshipover the household. The spirit of cortsecration rests upon it, constituting it atemple, in which God delights to reveal

His presence.Then there are distinct acts of wor

ship in which the household is dailyled. As often as bread is broken, thesolemn blessing of God is invoked, as"the Giver of every good and perfectgift;" and in their daily repasts thehouse is conducted in worship beforeHim who opens His hand, and suppliesthe wants of every living thing. Whenthe morning and evening sacrifice isoffered, and the pious father leads his

(Contiimed on page 38)

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