If such, then, are its influence and necessity, we can easily infer the duty of parents to show their children a Christian example.  If they form their character upon the approved model of their parents, then the duty to give them a Christian model is very obvious.  They will rather follow your ungodly example than obey your godly precepts.  “To give children,” says Archbishop Tillotson, “good instruction and a bad example, is but beckoning to them with the head to show them the way to heaven—­while you take them by the hand to lead them in the way to hell.”

This duty is, therefore, enforced by the most powerful motives.  The influence and benefit of a pious example; the promised rewards attending it; the deep curse that attends its absence; the misery which a bad example entails upon all the members of the Christian household; and especially the fruits of both a good and bad example, in eternity,—­all these considerations should prompt you to the faithful performance of this duty.  If the members of your household may he ruined here by a bad example, what will be its consequences in the eternal world?

                          “If men of good lives,
  Who, by their virtuous actions, stir up others
  To noble and religious imitation,
  Receive the greater glory after death
  As sin must needs confess; what may they feel
  In height of torment, and in weight of vengeance,
  Not only they themselves not doing well,
  But set a light up to show men to hell?”

We see a similar inducement to this duty in the blessings and rewards of a pious example.  Its blessings are unspeakable both here and hereafter.  The temporal and eternal welfare of your home, the hope of meeting your children in heaven, and receiving there the promised reward of your stewardship, depend upon this duty.  That family is happy as wall as holy, where the parents rear up their children under the fostering influence of a Christian example.

  “Behold his little ones around him! they bask in the sunshine of smile;
  And infant innocence and joy lighten these happy faces;
  He is holy, and they honor him; he is loving; and they love him;
  He is consistent, and they esteem him; he is firm, and they fear him. 
  His house is the palace of peace; for the Prince of peace is there. 
  Even so, from the bustle of life, he goeth to his well-ordered home.”

A serious obstacle to the efficacy of a good example is, the too frequent want of agreement in the example of the parents.  That of the father often conflicts with and neutralizes that of the mother.  They are not one in their example.  This the children soon see, and disregard the good rather than the bad example.  “How can two walk together except they he agreed?” The child cannot follow the pious father in the way of life, when the ungodly mother secretly and openly draws him back.  Operated upon by two opposite influences, he will move between them.