“Take my soul and body’s powers;
Take my mem’ry, mind and will;
All my goods and all my hours;
All I know and all I feel;
All I think, or speak, or do;
Take my heart, but make it new.”
Whether, therefore, we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, it will be done for the glory of God. Your fruit—unto holiness, and your end—everlasting life.
XIX.
Without Natural Affection.
Has earth a scene more lovely than the family circle—father, mother, sons and daughters, well-bred, loving each other tenderly, and bending all their energies to do the will of God on earth, that they may finally gain the skies? I think not. Then how gladly they welcome additions to this lovely group. Baby, with its little pug nose, flaxen hair, ruddy cheeks, soft eyes, and such a sweet, expressible mouth, are sources of wondrous delight and admiration. How sad, indeed, must those families be that are not blessed with children. One of the grandest and most sublime features of the world that is to come will be the children. “For of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
The family relation is recognized by the Almighty as a holy relation. He gives us to understand that children are a blessing, and not a curse. “Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them;” for they shall be “like olive plants around thy table.” And yet there are a great many that are ashamed of God’s blessing.