We must not suppose that because a divine promise exists detached from expressed conditions, it will be fulfilled without the use of means.  There is a manifest compatibility between the absolute promises of God and the use of the means in our power for their fulfillment.  The promise to Paul in the ship in which he was conveyed to Rome, that none of the passengers should perish, was not incompatible with Paul’s declaration, “except these persons abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.”  Neither were the efforts of the mother of Moses to save him, incompatible with the absolute promise of God that “this babe shall be saved, and be the deliverer of Israel.”  What she did to preserve his life was accompanied with an active, confiding faith in the divine promise concerning him.  And thus should faith in God’s promises stimulate Christian parents to zealous activity in the use of all those means which secure their fulfillment.

The Christian home should ever keep in lively remembrance the solemn promises made by her to God.  In marriage, in holy baptism, she has made vows unto God, and he says to her, pay thy vows.  “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it; for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee.”  These parental promises made to God regard themselves and their children; and their faithful fulfillment brings them within the glorious promise which God gave to Abraham; for, says Paul, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise:”  Gal. iii., 29.

Christian parents:  the promises of God shine forth as brilliantly now as over they did upon the pages of sacred history.  They are as bright for you as they were for Abraham and Joshua, when they trembled in sublime eloquence upon the lips of God.  Let them, therefore, be not in vain.  The promises are unto you, and to your children.  And you in turn have promised God that you would bless your household, and be faithful to your children.  Hold, fast to these promises without wavering.  Hang all your hopes upon them.  Cling to them with the wrestling spirit of Jacob.  And remember that you cannot shake off your vows and promises made to God.  He will sorely require it of thee.  Therefore pay thy vows unto the Lord.  God will reward you for so doing.  “The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee:”  Isaiah liv., 10.

[Illustration:  Rural Landscape.]

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE BEREAVEMENTS OF THE CHRISTIAN HOME.[A]

[Footnote A:  In this chapter we have made free use of poetical quotations for the benefit of the afflicted.]

  “On, long ago
  Those blessed days departed, we are reft,
  And scattered like the leaves of some fair rose,
  That fall off one by one upon the breeze,
  Which bears them where it listeth.  Never more
  Can they be gathered and become a rose. 
  And we can be united never more
  A family on earth!”