Sunday at Home.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 29, 21 October 1893, Page 11

Sunday at Home.

> Dr. White, St. George’s, Edinburgh.)

OBSTINATE.

“ Be ye not as a mule.”—David. Little Obstinate was born and brought np in the city of Destruction. His father was old Spare-the-Eod, and his mother’s name was Spoil-the-Child. Little Obstinate was the only child of his parents; he was born when they were no longer young, and they doted on their only child, and gave him his own way in everything. His parents were not in themselves bad people, hut, if Solomon speaks true, they hated their child, for they gave him all his own way in everything, and nothing would ever make them say no to him or lift up the rod when he said no to them. There are other ways of teaching an obstinate - child than the way that GHdeon took with the men of Succoth when he taught them with the thorns of the wilderness and with the briars thereof. Oeorge Oifor, Bunyan’s quaint editor, gives this personal testimony: *■ After bringing up a very large family, who are a blessing to their parents, I have yet to learn what part of the human body was created to be beaten.” At the same time the rod must mean -something in the word of God j it

certainly means something in God’s hand when His obstinate children are under it, and it ought to mean something in a godly parent’s hand also. God’s children are never so soft, and sweet, and good, and happy, as just after he restrains them, and has laid the rod of his correction upon them. They then kiss both the rod and Him who appointed it, and earthly fathers learn their craft from Ged. The meekness, the sweetness, the docility, and the love of a chastised child has gone to all our hearts in a way we can never forget. Rut young Obstinate, having been born like Job’s wild ass’s colt, grew up to be a man like David’s unbitted and unbridled mule, till in after life ha became the author of all the evil and mischief associated with his evil name. Obstinate all his days was a densely ignorant man. He had not knowledge enough or good temper enough to reason out a matter. He hated those who had ah acquaintance with the sub ject he had in hand. “ Nothing is more like firm conviction than simple obstinacy. Many of our firmest convictions, as we now call them, when we shall have let light enough fall upon them, we shall be compelled and enabled to confess to be at bottom mere mulish-; ness and pride of heart, The mulish, obstinate and proud man never says, I don’t know. He never asks anything to be explained to him. He never admits that he has got any new light. He never admits having spoken or acted wrongly. He never takes back what he has said. Unfortunately he shows worst in h’a home life and in matters of religion. A man will be the best of company, the soul of it abroad, and then instantly he turns the latch key in his own door he will relapse into silence. He swallows bis evening meal, and then sits all night at the fireside with a cloud out of nothing on his brow. His sunshine, his smile, his universal urbanity is all gone now ; he is discourteous to no'bcJ'dy but his own wife. Nothing pleases him ; he finds nothing to his mind. It is not that he does not love and honour his household, but by an evil law of the obstinate heart its worst obstinacy and mulishness comes out among those it loves best. But worse than all that, our hearts are enmity against God. AVe know as well as we know anything that in doing this, and not doing that, we are going every day and night in the teeth both of God’s law and God’s grace, and yet in the sheer obstinacy of our hearts we still go on in what we know quite well to be the suicide of our souls. As to the cure of obstinacy, reading and obeying the best books on the subjugation of the heart will cure it. Descending with Dante to where the obstinate have made their beds in hell will cure it. And much and most, agonising prayer will above all cure it.