54

REV. THOMAS HALIBURTON.

As a student, Grotius had his books frequently conveyed into the castle in a chest, and after that practice had been continued long enough to lull suspicion, he was himself carried out instead of his books. His wife presided with intense anxiety over every stage of that critical operation, and as her own liberty was imperilled by the measure, she deserves to be ranked among the women who saved the lives of their husbands at the risk of their own. Like the case of that Queen of England who sucked the poison from her husband's wound, and put her own life in jeopardy for his, the case of Grotius tells how completely two may be made one — actually identified by that ordinance of God which stands second among all that he has given for the guidance, or the happiness of man.

But on the subject of marriage and its influence upon Home, it is more to our purpose to select some purely Christian model, and we instance the case of a Scottish worthy-the Reverend Thomas Haliburton.

When he was in circumstances which permitted him to marry, his firm purpose was to be guided, in a measure so solemn, by heavenly wisdom alone. He was determined at the outset "not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever," and therefore went first to God for direction. No worldly advantages were permitted to warp him from that resolution.* As a Christian, Haliburton would be a Christian always, and surely never more than in that transaction on which so much of his blessedness in time and for ever depended. He knew that marriage was ordained by God to promote man's happiness, but he also knew that man often perverts it to aug

*The Rev. Samuel Walker, of Truro, declined a matrimonial alliance because he discovered that the lady possessed £10,000.

THE JOYS OF HOME.

55

ment his misery; and he tried to avoid that rock in the step which was second in importance only to that by which he would pass up to his eternal home. Haliburton, in short, set the Lord before him, and was jealous over all wisdom except that which comes from above.

He had been disappointed in one case, and was rendered more circumspect in the next proposal, which ended in his marriage. He tested his own spiritual condition, to ascertain whether he had any ground to expect a real blessing from his God. Solemnised by what is unquestionably momentous, however the frivolous may pervert it, this man of God would not move without the pillar of cloud or of fire before him, and he was blessed as all will be who wait upon the Lord for guidance. He might be cast down to-day, but hope brightened to-morrow; difficulties cleared away, for he tried to keep the lamp in his hand,* and in due time, the appointed helpmates were united-they were blessed and made blessings to each other. Prayer preceded, prayer accompanied, and prayer followed all that Haliburton did, and parents and children together were thus made happy from on high.

Now the contrast between this good man's conduct, and that of many who name Christ's name, is sufficiently remarkable. He was prepared for the joys of Home, and they were copiously shed down upon him. He made his marriage a part of his religion, not something separate and distinct, and his union was one which his Lord would have graced by his presence, as he did the marriage at Cana. In a word, Haliburton adopted the course which the only wise God had scribed, and marriage was to him, not what superstition

*Psalm cxix. 105.

pre

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THE BLESSING WHICH MAKES RICH.

makes it on the one hand, a Sacrament, nor what worldliness makes it on the other, scarcely a decent ceremonial, but what the Word of God makes it, a source of solemn thoughts and of satisfying blessedness. It gladdened all the days of Haliburton, as the palm-trees and the water of Elim gladdened the Hebrews in the desert. He sought the Lord in the matter the Lord heard—and that man's joy was both heart-deep and life-long.—It would be ever so, did men solemnly consult the Counsellor in the most momentous step of mortal life, next to the hour which closes it.

THE FATHER AT HOME.

CHAPTER VI.

THE FATHER AT HOME.

The Pulse Its varieties-Sin in our Homes-Its varieties-A Father's place and functions-His power-When Teaching should commence-The Prophet of Home-The Priest-The King-The extent of a Father's rule-The rod-Sowing in tears-Severity-Eli, a warning-The "Jealous God"-Princes wandering where there is no way-Guiding the young to Christ-Examples-President Edwards-Another-Oliver Cromwell.

WHEN an inexperienced hand is placed upon the pulse at the wrist, only the more general characters of its beating can be detected. It may be quick, or it may be slow; it may be regular, or it may be intermittent; but these are nearly the only distinctions which unskilled fingers can detect.

On the other hand, however, when a skilful practitioner feels the pulse, it is well-known that he can distinguish upwards of twenty different kinds, indicating as many different states of the body. Frequent, slow, intermittent, equal, regular, variable,-full, long, labouring, bounding, feeble,hard, sharp, strong,-wiry, weak, soft, yielding,—quick, tardy,—large, small,*—all these can be distinguished by a practised physician, and all these are helpful to him in dealing with the diseases with which he must grapple.

And who has not noticed that in the government or the training of a family, similar distinctions meet us among the dispositions of its members? Their temperaments may vary

* Isaac Taylor, in "Home Education."

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DIVERSE TEMPERAMENTS.

as much as the contours of the human countenance, though one thing they all have in common, namely, a fallen, sinful nature. Amid endless diversities that much is identical, and often little more. Sin is thus encountered in forms as various as the number of inmates in a Home. It is ready to resist authority, or impose upon goodness; it resents restraint; it refuses to profit by the counsels of experience; and ignorance, rashness, waywardness, and folly often prevail, in spite of prayers, of lessons, and example. There are, indeed, some gentle natures fashioned for the quiet enjoyment of life, and they, from their youth upwards, seem to make Truth their pole-star, and Duty their delight. But, even in such cases, the Father of all may not be loved. There is affection felt and duty done to others; but the God of our mercies may all the while be forgotten.

But whatever be the component parts of Home, a father has to guide and fashion them according to the supreme wisdom embodied in the Scriptures. Placed at the centre of influence, and near the hearts of his children, he is to wield all his authority-an authority unmatched in the world—in training them for God. Long ere they can reason, or act as responsible beings, that training should commence, and ever onwards should whatever can repress the wrong or . encourage the right be lovingly employed. Often amid these duties, the thought may occur, "Who is sufficient for these things?” and there may be times when the heart seems ready to faint and fail. But difficulty or danger to the creatures whom he loves, will just make a Christian father more circumspect, or more decided; he will watch for their souls like one who must give an account. By thought, word, and deed, he will try to get possession of the young heart for