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You should bless your house-holds —

I. BY YOUR PRAYERS. Spiritual sacrifices of prayers and praise will ever be presented on the domestic altar by those who are alive to the spiritual interests of their families. It will be their constant practice to take them by the hand, as it were, to the throne of the heavenly grace, and there devoutly to pray with them and for them. The importance of such engagements, in the great and important business of blessing our households, cannot possibly be estimated. You. should bless your households,

II. BY YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. "That the soul be without knowledge, it is not good." Hence the importance of sound Scriptural knowledge to the young of our different families. You should bless your households,

III. BY YOUR DISCIPLINE. It is said of David that "he had not offended Aronijah in any thing in saying, What hast thou done?" How neglectful was this renowned and illustrious individual, in this particular instance, of a most important part of a parent's duty! Every one acquainted with a parent's relation and obligations, and conversant with the management and direction of a family, must be fully aware of the importance of discipline to comfort, good order, and regularity. There must be established, in our different houses, an inviolable connexion between authority and obedience. Remember that discipline is God's established law. He exercises it in his family; and we must in ours. You should bless your households,

IV. BY YOUR EXAMPLE. Not only in the church and the world, but also in your different families, is faith to be shown by. your works.

(W. Snell.)

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KJV: Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

WEB: Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"