We are here taught the imprudence, and we might add, sin, of pious persons forming a matrimonial alliance with wicked and ungodly persons.  In the choice of a companion for life, we should consider an agreement in religious as well as in social character.  How many unhappy matches and homes and children and parents have been made by disobedience to the divine precept, “Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers?” Isaac and Rebecca showed their appreciation of this precept in the care they took to procure a pious wife for Jacob.  “I am weary of my life,” says Rebecca, “because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, what good shall my life do me?” This should be the solicitude of every Christian parent.  Parents should possess unanimity of spirit and practice in making up and giving the home-example.  They should walk unitedly, like Zacharias and Elizabeth, in all the ordinances and statutes of the Lord blameless.

CHAPTER XXI

THE CHOICE OF PURSUITS.

  “For what then was I born? to fill the circling year
  With daily toil for daily bread, with sordid pains and pleasures? 
  To walk this chequered world, alternate light and darkness,
  The day-dreams of deep thought followed by the night-dreams of fancy? 
  To be one in a full procession?—­to dig my kindred clay? 
  To decorate the gallery of art? to clear a few acres of forest? 
  For more than these, my soul, thy God hath lent thee life!”

The choice of positions and pursuits in life is one important and responsible mission of home.  Children look up to their parents to aid them in this.  They are to have them prepared for a useful citizenship in the state.  Life demands that each of us, in obedience to the law of self-preservation and of our relations to human society, prepare for some useful occupation, not only for a livelihood, but also for the benefit of the state.  The duty and the interest of the parent are to bring up the child to such a pursuit as is best adapted to his circumstances and abilities.  Our character, success and happiness in life, depend upon our obedience to this law of adaptation.

As such pursuits are chosen and prepared for, while under the guardian care of our parents, it is evident they should take an active part both in the choice and the preparation.  They are responsible for these as far as their influence extends.  It is their duty to afford their children aid in choosing and preparing for a useful and appropriate occupation, to fit them for the circumstances in which the Providence of God may place them, and to educate them for an efficient citizenship in the state.