than the young of any other animal. Its growth, which is to
reach so much higher, is slower, and it is feebler during the process.
And the reason of this is plain to every thoughtful observer. God has
willed that the race of man should be bound together in the closest
relationships, both spiritual and secular; and family affection prepares
the heart for membership alike of the nation and the Church. With this
inner circle the wider ones are concentric. The pathetic dependence of
the child nourishes equally the strong love which protects, and the
grateful love which clings. And from our early knowledge of human
generosity, human care and goodness, there is born the capacity for
belief in the heart of the great Father, from Whom every family in
heaven and earth derived its Greek name of Fatherhood (Eph. iii. 15).

Woe to the father whose cruelty, selfishness, or evil passions make it
hard for his child to understand the Archetype, because the type is
spoiled! or whose tyranny and self-will suggest rather the stern God of
reprobation, or of servile, slavish subjection, than the tender Father
of freeborn sons, who are no more under tutors and governors, but are
called unto freedom.

But how much sorer woe to the son who dishonours his earthly parent, and
in so doing slays within himself the very principle of obedience to the
Father of spirits!

No earthly tie is perfect, and therefore no earthly obedience can be
absolute. Some crisis comes in every life when the most innocent and
praiseworthy affection becomes a snare--when the counsel we most relied
upon would fain mislead our conscience--when a man, to be Christ's
disciple, must "hate father and mother," as Christ Himself heard the
temptation of the evil one speaking through chosen and beloved lips, and
said "Get thee behind Me, Satan." Even then we shall respect them, and
pray as Christ prayed for His failing apostle, and when the storm has
spent itself they shall resume their due place in the loving heart of
their Christian offspring.

So Jesus, when Mary would interrupt His teaching, said "Who is My
mother?" But imminent death could not prevent Him from pitying her
sorrow, and committing her to His beloved disciple as to a son.

From the letter of this commandment streams out a loving influence to
sanctify all the rest of our relationships. As the love of God implies
that of our brother also, so does the honour of parents involve the
recognition of all our domesti