But most of his time is passed in a neighbouring public-house, where he spends far more than the profits of his Sunday trading. As to the children, they are either displaying tawdry finery in the streets, or following the mother's example, and spending the precious hours in idle talk.
So the days and weeks go on unmarked by rest—either for soul or body. No walking to the house of God together; no taking sweet counsel together; no telling of the love of Jesus to the little ones, or bringing them to footstool for a welcome or a blessing. Seven working days in each week means no time for the concerns of any other world than this. No time for the Bible, for prayer, for thought of what is to follow when this world, its work, and its bustle, are ended for us; no time to think of a home beyond the grave, or to prepare for the great and solemn change that must come to us all sooner or later.
It seems strange that two families so unlike each other should continue to live side by side for years, and each go on its own way unchanged. But the Sabbath-keeper has tried many a time to influence the Sabbath-breaker, and it grieves him to see his neighbour's children, and especially a fine lad of fifteen, growing up in this godless fashion.
"Why don't you take John to church?" he asked, one Sunday morning, as the father and son were lounging by the shop door.
"He may go," was the answer. "They may all go. I tell them so always. Don't think I hinder them."
"You should take your children, not send them," said the other. "If I had only said 'Go' to mine, they would have been like yours. We all go together, and that is why we like it twice as well. I tell you, neighbour, that if one of us is kept away from God's house on the Sabbath, we feel as if we had lost something all the week through."
Depend on it, when we are called on to give an account at the last great day, it will be a poor excuse for us parents if we can only say that we gave them leave to do right if they liked; but never either used our authority as parents, or set them an example to induce them to do it.
We would repeat this Sabbath-keeper's advice. "Do not send, but take your children to church. Work together through the week. Worship together on the Sabbath; and so may you hope to be able, through Christ, to stand in His presence at the last, and to say with joy, 'Behold I and the children which God hath given me.' A family chain without one missing link."
