(Continued from page 162.)
Next, Hannah sees to the clothing of Samuel. Clothing, in Scripture, seems to mean those principles and habits according to which a person acts. Thus a garment of mixed texture-woolen and linen- was forbidden, as indicating mixed principles and habits _"neither cold nor hot." The woman was forbidden to wear a man's clothing, and the man that of the woman,- neither was to act in a manner unbecoming the sex. Leprosy in the garment had to be either torn out or the whole burned,-defilement in habits was to be purged away. The garment spotted by the flesh is in contrast with that pure religion which keeps itself unspotted from the world ; while, in glory, the fine white linen in which the saints are clothed is their "righteousnesses"-righteous acts. Thus the care for the clothing typifies that care for the habits, principles, and acts which go to make up the outward appearance of the child. Hannah could not change Samuel's heart; she could see to his outward appearance. Because parents are helpless as to regeneration, there is no reason why they should not be careful as to the conduct of their children. But mark the occasion when Hannah took the new garment to her child. It was when she went to offer sacrifices. As the precious truths of the atonement are set forth in these, so the effects of it are shown in the garment. Doubtless she sought to have the child enter with her into the precious meaning of the sacrifices, and thus he could appreciate that holiness which becometh God's house. So now, parents should ever connect in their own minds, and in the instruction of their children, these related truths. Constant care as to the behavior, apart from the blessed truths of Christ's redemption, would result in making the child either a self-righteous moralist or drive it to the opposite-extreme looseness and indulgence; while linked with the constraining power of Christ's great love, filling and overflowing the heart, behavior becomes but the natural outcome of that love, seen, believed, and received. For will not God bless His gospel in thus saving and keeping the children of believers ?

We come now to see the contrast in these two examples of the parent as last seen. Eli hears the doom of his house from the Lord, still allowing his sons to go on in their course. They are slain in battle, carrying the ark upon their shoulders, thus showing that God will never link His holiness with sin,-that His ark had better fall into the hands of enemies than be defended by defiled priests. Eli, as he hears the message of his own bereavement, but worst of all of what had befallen the ark, falls from his seat and dies. How sad the ending of a life which had such opportunities ! And when we ask why, our answer must be, in the words of Scripture, "Because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." We know this marked an epoch in Israel's history, but we are speaking now of the simple but intensely solemn individual application for all parents. Hannah celebrates with a song God's goodness to her, and passes from her own personal joy to the complete victory God would soon secure in the earth. It is a song of triumph, sung by one who had passed through the darkness into the "large place" of deliverance. And what spirit can be so strong to deal with the difficult and real trials of bringing up a child for God as the spirit of exultant praise?-God has triumphed; He will do so still. And so the last we see of Hannah is thus praising God, still enjoying his blessing, and yearly going up to the house of God to offer sacrifices and see to the apparel of her child. How simple, how happy her life ! And what was the key to it all ? She took God into her thoughts, plans, and actions for her child.

Of the importance of this subject it is needless to speak. Every Christian parent with an awakened conscience has often thought and prayed about it. Many have the joy of seeing their prayers answered and their children growing up to be a comfort to them and an honor to God. Many, alas! are seeing the reverse, and their hearts are crushed with grief as they think of the ruin that has come into their own homes ; and multitudes of others are going on with unconcern, their children growing up in the world and of it. For these latter, surely some word of earnest warning is needed. Will they bring dishonor on God and the blessed name of the Lord Jesus? will they imperil the souls of their children by allowing in them habits or associations which can only bring damage ? But what can be said to those who have failed and are conscious of it? It is easy to point out the cause of the ruin, but is there not, in some measure at least, recovery for Eli ? The example of Jacob is an encouragement. His sons had made his name to stink among the Gentiles; but God calls him back to Bethel,-back to the place of meeting God, of seeing self in all its helplessness and God in His all-sufficiency. Under the power of that call, Jacob can speak to his family and be obeyed by them. There must a bowing under God's hand, and owning His chastening. There must also be a thorough restoration in one's soul to God,-the first love regained, and then taking up the broken and scattered threads of responsibility, the soul is to seek, in God's fear and by His help, that authority over, that respect in, the children had been lost. God blesses every sincere turning to Himself, though He does not pledge Himself to undo our misdoings. His holiness,_nay, our own needs require that we should taste some of the wholesome bitterness of that cup which a Father's love hands to us- "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

May our gracious God "Stir up the hearts of Christian parents to a firm faith in His power to save early in life their children, to a sense of responsibility in bringing them up for God, not for themselves. Were there this spirit of humiliation and prayer, how soon would weeping give place to joy, and Hannah's song be on many lips !