are dedicated to
him; and even as the reception of any other gift of God, brings under an
obligation not merely to improve it for his service, but also to vow to
do so; the inheritance of children demands that solemn Covenant
engagements in reference to them, should be habitually made to the Most
High. The people of Israel Covenanted to obey the command,--"These words
which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt
teach them diligently unto thy children."[259] And the following words
of the Psalmist, speaking the language at once of inspiration and of
believers, must be considered both as a promise and a vow which should
be adopted by all. "I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark
sayings of old; which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told
us. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation
to come, the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful
work, that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and
appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they
should make them known to their children; that the generation to
come might know them, even the children which should be born, who
should arise and declare them to their children: that they might set
their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his
commandments."[260] Not less than the performance of the duties of
parents to their children ought the obedience of children to their
parents or guardians to be Covenanted. When the duties of the moral law
are promised in covenant, these are vowed. The performance of the duties
of the fifth commandment is due to parents. That and the service of
vowing to discharge these duties all owe to God. Obedience to parents
_in_ the Lord cannot be fully performed without the resolution to render
it solemnly expressed to the Lord. In one word, the various duties to
one another obligatory on members of families ought to be performed, by
being specially Covenanted, _in_ and _to_ the Lord. "Whatsoever ye do,
do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."[261] What a
blessedness would reign in families, were they thus consecrated to the
Lord! Then love in the midst of them would not be an impulse that might
be neutralised by selfishness or any other evil propensity, but a flame
kindled and sustained by the grace of God, and diffusing an influence
for lasting good; fanned by every fresh breath of Divine influence