above rubies. The heart of her husband doth
safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do
him good and not evil all the days of her life." Prov. 31:10-12. "A
prudent wife is from the Lord." Prov. 19:14.

Duty Of Parents To Children.

Great are the responsibilities of the husband. Great are the
responsibilities of the wife, but greater are the responsibilities of
parents. Father and mother, God lays a responsibility upon you as you
receive your new-born child. A precious little immortal soul, whose
eternal destiny depends largely upon you. The proper training of children
is attended with many difficulties, and every parent certainly needs
instruction from God. Your child is given you from God, and you in return
should give him trustingly to God, like a mother of olden time: "For this
child I prayed: and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of
him: therefore also I have lent [see margin] him to the Lord: as long as
he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord." 1 Sam. 1:27, 28. This is the
consecration of children to God, which is the first duty of parents.

The successful training of a child, especially in the first years of its
life, is due more to example than to commandment. The influence of example
upon youthful minds is rarely comprehended. We are commanded to be an
example in faith, purity, conversation, charity, spirit, and to be a
pattern of good works. It is the parents' duty to love their children.
Titus 2:4. Perhaps every parent thinks and is ready to say, "I love my
child." True love as required by the Bible comprehends more than you may
have been aware. They who indulge their children in a worldly life do not
love them as the Bible commands. Because the priest Eli did not restrain
his children from the ways of sin, God sent an awful judgment upon him. 1
Sam. 3. If parents love their children as they should they will do the
very best thing for them. Now the instructions given in the Bible are the
safest and best to follow.

As you looked into the face of this thine own child did you remember the
little treasure was a heritage from the Lord? "Lo, children are a heritage
of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psa. 127:3. It may
be that you were unmindful of this "fruit of the womb" being a gracious
heritage from God: but such it was. In the creation of man and woman they
were formed to bear offspring. When Esau and Jacob met after their long
separation a