WhEN everything is as it should be in domestic matters, how endearing is this title. From the account we have in the Bible of the introduction of sin into the world, with all its fearful consequences, the wife played a conspicuous part; and ever since that eventful period, she has had a great share in shaping the condition of the family circle. Much of domestic happiness depends upon the conduct of the wife.
Is the wife a truly devoted christian, one who has a lively sense of the high position she fills in the domestic relations, especially if she be a mother, blessed with a good understanding? How sacred, how heavenly, are the joys of home, how well calculated to inspire love to God. Look at the wife who passes through the constantly accumulating cares of domestic life, with a cheerful, sweetened temper; how elevating the influence. Passing over the unnumbered cases given in the book written for our learning, let each one of us who live down here in the "hour of His judgment," draw the contrast, and labor with a zeal commendable to the times, to imitate the best examples. In all we do, if we are Bible christians, we should demonstrate to all our associates, the religion of that book.
Among us, who believe in the coming of the Lord Jesus, who believe that we shall live to behold his coming in the clouds, with power and great glory, (unless we die inordinarily soon) the wife should be a religious economist. No stock of living faith on the part of the husband and father, can stand the constant leakage of extravagant words, and mismanagement of her own, and the children's temperament. Though he like Lot may barely make his escape, ten chances to one if the result is not a broken up family. Let us say, therefore, to the wives and mothers of "the remnant," think of Sarah, whose daughters you are if so be that you are saved from the corruption that is in the world through lust. Stand not in the way of a well regulated, patriarchal, family government. Do not think that you will lessen your influence for good, by taking the second place in the family relation. Your mother Sarah did not overestimate her husband's, nor weaken her own authority by calling him lord. In view of bringing about this happy state of things, in all its simplicity and excellence, let each "husband know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and holiness."