“He will not let love’s work impart
  Full solace, lest it steal the heart.”

But when pure and holy sympathy goes out, in its softening influence after the young;—­

  “Then, feeling is diffused in every part,
  Thrills in each nerve, and lives in all the heart.”

Such sympathy has a saving influence upon both the parent and the child.  It softens and refines the former, while it forms and allures the latter.  The child fondly leans upon the parents, looks up to them for support and enjoyment, and is led by them in whatever path they choose.  By its influence the feeling of natural and spiritual helplessness becomes developed in the child; the sense of dependence on a superior is awakened; and with these, all those feelings of confidence and veneration, which lay the foundation of religious affections, are unfolded.  The parent’s influence, both as to kind and degree, depends, therefore, upon the character of home-sympathy.  If it is but natural, the parental influence will not extend beyond the worldly gain and temporal welfare of the child.  The parent will exert no power over the soul.  But if it be spiritual, and extend beyond the mere instincts of natural affection, it will expand the mind, and develop all the melting charities of our nature.  It will pass with a new transferring and transforming power, from husband to wife, from parent to child, from kindred to kindred.  Wherever it finds its way; whatever fiber of the heart it may touch, it begets a new and holy affection, unites the energies, lightens the toils, soothes the sorrows, and exalts the hopes, of all the members.  It reflects a softening luster from eye to eye, goes with electric flash from heart to heart, glows in its warmth throughout all its moral courses, accumulates the home-endearments, stimulates each member to religious exertions for all the rest, and lays the foundation in each heart for an unbroken home-communion of their sainted spirits in heaven!  It cements them together in their tent-home, creating a sweet concord of hearts and hopes and joys; and then elevates them unitedly in fond anticipation of reunion in their eternal home.  They blend their tears together over the grave of buried love, and enjoy the saintly sympathy of loved ones gone before them.

This is its most lovely feature.  Tell me, is there not a bond of sympathy between Jesus and His people here,—­between loved ones in heaven and their pious kindred on earth?  Do not the tears of the Christian home reflect the tears of Jesus?  These are to the heart like the dews of Hermon,—­like the dews that descended upon the mountains of Zion.

  “No radiant pearl which crested fortune wears,
  No gem that, sparkling, hangs from beauty’s ears,
  Not the bright stars which night’s blue arch adorn,
  Nor rising sun that gilds the vernal morn,
  Shine with such luster as the tear that breaks
  For others’ woe, down virtue’s lovely cheeks.”