SUNDAY READING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 65, 25 June 1910, Page 6

SUNDAY READING.

(By the Rev. F. 13. Meyer, 8.A.)

ON BEING A CHRISTIAN AT HOME.

When David ha<l acquired the city of Jerusalem, he'determined to make it the c&pital of his kingdom, as especially the •focus of its religious life. With this view he determined to bring the Ark of God, 'which h;ul for some time been in neglect, to a temporary sanctuary which he had erected close beside his own palace. The people came in great multitudes to celebrate the great event. Instead of conveying the ark on the -shoulders of the Levites, according to the old LeviticaJ rubric, it was (placed on a new cart on which it travelled safely for some distance, till, as it descended a sharp decline by the threshing-floor of Chidon, there was some fear of its being upset. Uzza immediately put forth his (hand to steady it and instantly fell dead. I Consternation spread through the assembly and arrested the procession and the King resolved to convey the sacred emblem to the humble dwelling of Obededom, where it stayed with his 'and his family" for three months,

THE ARK IN THE HOUSE. That house probably resembled many which are springing up in the new lands of the West, ft was the humble home of a Levite, who dwelt there with his wife and eight boys. How startled the family was when the great .procession was arrested at their doftv. sinr! the little group of Levites 'were seen bearing the ark straight to their home and finally depositing it in the best chamber of the house. When night fell upon the land and the people had retired, as the wind breathed through the forest trees, the children would cluster close to each other and whisper about the wonderful ark of which their father had so often spoken and which had come to reside with them. mat happened to that family? First, surely the boys would become reverend and thoughtful. It almost seemed as if they were dwelling in the very presence of 'God. But after a while there came a sweet sense of security. God's angels had made a cordon round the house, and if any of the children were inclined to nervousness, they would be re-assured by tlife thought that God's presence was" an absolute security against all harm. Following' that there must surely have 'been a new harmony into the home, nearly every household has some note of discord. Even Martha found faul't with her sister because she did not help her. In a family of eight boys there would surely be a good deal of sparring, but when the ark arrived it seemed as though the music of a perfect love were always sounding forth in a rhythm of tender forbearance and unity. There would also be a new spirit of [prayer. The father would 'kneel not far off the ark and pray. The children would come stealing in one (by one to say their childish prayers and feel that Gcfd was listening and the whole household learned the meaning of fellowship and communion with the Almighty. Finally, a tide of prosperity set in. "The Lord (blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had." We are reminded of out Lord's words: "All these things shall be added unto you." And his apostles'i "Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is."

This incident may have its counterpart with all of us because the ark is a symbol of Christ. God taught in kindergarten form aspects of our Lord's ministry, which the Hebrews could not have conceived of in their abstract form and shape. We surely are justified in accepting the ark in the house of Obededom as a symbol of the living Christ as He enters the heart of the individual or the family to rejuvenate and revive it. But there are several outstanding features of the Christian demeanor in the home.

TH® FAMILY ALTAR. There must be certain definite Christian exercises. We can hardly exaggerate the importance of maintaining the habit of reverent grace before and after meals—or at any rate (before. We cannot insist too earnestly upon the maintenance of the family altar, even though it is impossible to do much more than read a short passage of Scripture and join in the Lord's Prayer, whilst the breakfast or supper is waiting on the table. Surely, also, a Christian home will be marked 'by a careful observance of the rest day. The breakfast may be later but all the children should be there. Where the children are brought up oil these lines from the first and where an endeavor is made not simnlv to prohibit them from doing wrong, but to fill the hours with al manner of brightness, golden instruction, sacred music and blessed intercourse. The very atmosphere will be favorable to the growth of young life and to the development of early piety. The Christian's home life will /be characterised by great thoughtfulness for others. The Christian daughter will take notice of the tired servant and help her in some of the lighter offices; the Christian mistress will not ring the bell 1 needlessly and give her maid two errands when one will suffice; an interest will ibe taken on the part of the employers in the sorrows, joys, and family interests of the employed. The whole household will become bound in common interests aud pervaded by the .spirit oi uniting love. THE LITTLE AMENITIES OF LIFE. The Christian will also be very tender in speech and behaviour. One of the saddest regrets that can enter the human heart is at the grave of some beloved one to remember thoughtless and hasty words which ought never to have been spoken; little deeds of selfishness which caused ipain and ought never to have been done, or the omission of those small courtesies which add so much to the smoothness of life's motion. Next to our sins against the love of God are our sins against the love of 1 men, women and children with whom we daily associate. By nature so many of us are so abrupt, so quick to take an j affront, so inclined to be dictatorial and | imperious, so impatient with slowness,

weakness, illness, but all these things do more than we know to grieve the Spirit of God. They are like grit- in the eyes or small pebbles in the boot. So soon as the Spirit of Christ comes, they are rendered impossible . Xot unscldom I have said to my men at the close of our meetings, when the Spirit of God has been at work, "Go home, my brolhers, and kiss your wives and children, and let them realise that the love of God makes you sweet and gentle; Christ's men must 'be gentlemen!" More often than once I have been gratified to discover the little amenities between the men and women which they had dropped when the courting days had ceased have come back again and that the jars and discords which spoilt the music of the home have passed out of sight. CHRIST lAMT Y MEANS UNSELFISHNESS.

The Christian in the home will alwavs put the interests of others before his own. Christianity means absolute unselfishness. We must hesitate to impose our miseries upon the rest of the family circle, but he quick to share our joys; we must make an effort to put on the garments of joy .that they may conceal the spirit of heaviness. We must carefully remove the tho..n- from the roses before we pass oi> ' of flowers to the hands of th;-: ; i> whom we love. If we have had a '"ul night there is no need to impose its weariness up°n the whole 'breakfn h-.lile; if we Are suffering from pai'.i v.-Hch we can bear there is no need to tr r ntion it in every other breath. Some times when the 'heart is breaking the surest cure i s to compel ourselves to take our share in the innocent mirth and merry laughter of the children.

Every family in heaven and earth, the apostle tells us, is named with the name of God. We should look upon our home as though Christ were really an inmate, as, indeed, He is; we siiould ask Jlim to sit at every meal, to accompany us to our work and fill the atmosphere with the 'Shekinah glory of His holy presence.