The Household by Jos. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 30, 1865

The Household.

By Jos. Clarke

If there is any thing left upon earth, at all resembling the Eden, from which Satan managed to banish our first parents, it is the household where peace, and truth, and piety reign.

To the weary traveler on the desert waste, how animating the sight of a human habitation, and how much gratification does he enjoy, in finding a resting place where God is worshiped, and obeyed, and honored; and with what a feeling of security does he repose his aching head, and tired limbs, upon the couch which true hospitality has provided.

How dreary and cold would even Eden's bowers become if solitary and lone, no habitations or blissful homes, where intelligent beings might dwell and enjoy the rich and beautiful possessions.

Even in this thrice-sin-cursed earth, how beautiful is home to us; whether our home is the costly mansion, prepared with artistic care and skill; or the rustic cabin, in the primeval forest, or on the wide spreading prairie.

But, alas! How few, happy, peaceful homes! Look at that elegant building over the way, with its tasteful and costly surroundings, its well furnished rooms, and its polished and intelligent inmates. Are they happy? Certainly, happy, says echo; but says rumor, It is doubtful. Let us notice the lord of that home as he returns from his office, where he has been wholly absorbed in business by means of which he has attained to wealth and fame.

How noble his demeanor, with what politeness does he treat his clients, with what affability does he address his friends; but follow him to his home, hear his tones as he addresses his family, has he studied to win his family as closely as he has to gain the good will of those whose votes he may need at some future day? Is it a wonder that his family is unhappy? Where in all the rustic cottages of the poor, do you see a countenance so utterly miserable and care-worn as hers, who sits at his table as a wife, but who trembles as much in fear as if she were a slave?

Can you wonder at the dissoluteness of his children who can see no beauty and delight in home?

Can you wonder at the misery of her who has committed her happiness to one who only makes his household a step for his own advancement?

How brutal is man! As the roaring lion would ruthlessly tear and rend the beautiful gardens of Paradise, heartlessly disarranging the beautiful flowers, and crushing them under his feet: or as the heavy

tread of the warhorse on the day of battle is among the dead and wounded, treading as heavily upon the bodies of men, as upon the clods of the field, so do men often regard the feelings of a household.

With such men, virtue is no defense, with them a broken, sobbing heart is no defense, childlike innocence is no defense, weakness is no defense, sickness is no defense.

On the other hand, feminine hands sometimes break down the bands of the house; but this is too dreadful to dwell upon. Let us draw the veil here, over many a deserted hearthstone, many a ruined home.

The house, how beautiful it is, with its windows, and doors, and rooms, and furniture, be they ever so rustic, if only adorned with honest simplicity and home virtues; the walls of unhewn logs surpass in excellence the kingly palace, and the roof of oaken boards is more beautiful than the dome of St. Peters, at Rome.

Households are so many Edens, which Satan visits, and succeeds in most cases in turning them into deserts; broken hearts, and ruined fortunes, and ruined characters; in these he delights. By means various and crafty, he pulls down the pillars of the house, and laughs in fiendish joy, as the falling edifice crushes its inmates.

As he visited our noble ancestors in the garden of Eden, instigating them to rebellion against God, so now does he work in mighty power, instigating inferiors to rebellion and stubbornness, and superiors to slackness and negligence, or to harshness and tyranny.

Into the household he instills all of his venom, and where he can find the way open, his work is easy and rapid; and most unnatural and hateful are the fruits of his labor. To head off this enemy, and keep him at a distance, a strenuous effort is required, and constant vigilance and care.

Great responsibility rests upon the head of the household. Let him be a good shepherd, caring for his flock, supporting the weak, and guiding the strong, instructing with patience and love, reproving with firmness and decision, not with overbearing, carefully abstaining from partiality, and favoritism, and invidious comparisons.

No man of discernment will reprove his wife in the presence of others, especially of children and domestics; and, if a gentleman, he will not chide her at all, but will seek some gentle way of enlightening her, if she needs such help, and vice versa.

We can hardly esteem that man (extreme cases excepted) who will talk even to his intimates, of the frailties of any of his family, especially of his wife and children; and even his domestics have a right to claim his protection. The practice is too common, of wives speaking freely of the faults of their husbands, and husbands in like manner of their wives. Such conduct is suicidal and churlish. That heart which is too small to contain a veil for the frailties of its nearest friends, is too small to contain the grace of God.

Let each member of our households, seek to emulate each other in acts of humility and diligence, and see who will be most forbearing and powerful for good.

Jos. CLARKE.