We have divine promises to punish the unfaithful members of the Christian home.  If the parent becomes guilty of iniquity, it will be visited upon the children from generation to generation.  There is no consideration which should more effectually restrain parents from unfaithfulness than this.  Let them become selfish, sensual, indolent, and dissipated, and soon these elements of iniquity will be transmitted to their offspring.  What the parent sows, the child will reap.  If the former sow to the flesh, the latter shall of the flesh reap corruption.  Thus, whatsoever the parent sows in the child he shall reap from the child.  The promised curse of the parent’s wickedness is deposited in the child so far as that wickedness affected the child’s character.  This is all based upon the great principle that the promises are unto you, and to your children.

But while this great principle is ominous of terror to the ungodly, it is a pleasing theme to the pious and faithful.  Home is a stewardship; and if faithful to its high and holy vocation, it has a good reward for its labor of love.  “If ye sow to the spirit ye shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.”  This promise of reward is “to you and to your children.”  “Many souls shall be given for its hire.”  Their children shall reap the reward of the faithfulness of the parents.  Of them it shall be said, “this is the seed which the Lord hath blessed.”  Faithful parents have thus a glorious recompense of reward.  God shall reward thee openly.  Make your household a true nursery for the soul; and He will give thee thy wages.  The blessing of the Most High will descend like dew upon you and your children.  And when they grow up to manhood, He will make them His agents in rewarding you.  They will honor and comfort you in your declining years.  They will not depart from the ways of the Lord in which you trained them.  Though they may be in a distant land,—­far from you and the cherished home of their childhood, yet they will obey your admonitions, gratefully remember your kindness; and their grateful obedience and remembrance will be your great reward from them.  They will rise up and call you blessed.

    “Though we dwell apart,
  Thy loving words are with me evermore,—­
  Thy precious loving words.  Thy hand, and heart. 
  And earnest soul of love, are here impressed,
  For me, a dear memorial through all time. 
  Mother!  I cannot recompense thy love,
  But thy reward is sure, for thou hast done
  Thy duty perfectly, and we rise up
  And call thee blessed; and the Lord shall give
  Thy pious cares and labors rich reward.”

And when you descend to the grave and are gathered to your fathers, the assurance of fidelity to your home-trust, the prospect of meeting your children in heaven, and all the brilliant hopes that loom up before you, full of the light and glory of the eternal world, will furnish you a great recompense of reward.