Trim the Lesser Lights.
By C. E. Babb
It is not enough to teach our children Scripture and catechism, and hymns, and prayers: we must live before them the Christ; we must shine before them as light reflecting the purity and beauty and power of the gospel. In vain do we point to the sun and moon and stars, or to the truths as high and as radiant, if we do not show them in our works or deeds what true religion is. Cleveland harbor has two set of lights: those on the high bluff to show the mariner the general direction, and others down near the water line to guide him amid the rocks that the upper lights are too high to reveal minutely. A vessel was coming into this harbor on a dark stormy night. The beacon on the bluff showed how to enter. But when it came inside the lower lights were not shining. The pilot said to the captain, "What shall we do? We cannot anchor here; we cannot turn and go out again in the lake, for the storm is too violent, and the night is too dark, yet it is impossible to find the channel to guide our vessel between the sunken rocks without those shore lights. He said, "We must try to steer as well as we can by the beacon on the bluff. It is a great risk, but it is our only hope." The pilot kept his eye on the beacon. He guided the storm-tossed bark by it as well as he could. But soon, in spite of his care and all the help that upper light could give, he struck upon a rock, and the ship was wrecked. So with many a youth who goes forth from our so-called Christian homes. He has been well instructed. He knows his catechism. He has heard the eloquent expositions of the plan of salvation. Intellectually he is orthodox. But his heart is not renewed. Why? He has not felt the magnetism of living piety in the nursery and at the fireside. The spirit prevailing the home circle has been worldly. The conversation there has not been about Christ, the riches of his grace and the hope through him, that is full of glory; but about making money, keeping in good society, enjoying the things that are seen and temporal. Thus the lower lights of holy influence and example being dim, the youth drifts away among the breakers and makes shipwreck of his soul. A great urgent need of our day is "piety at home"—not a long-faced, sanctimoniousness, but a cheerful, living, joyous newness of life in Jesus Christ. This has never failed to charm young hearts and to win them to walk in the ways of pleasantness and paths of peace. Trim the lower lights; let your children see that with you religion is the first and highest object, and that it makes you happy. Show them by your example that it is the "good part," and they will choose it.—Rev. C. E. Babb.