September 30

"If then I be a father, where is mine honor?" Malachi 1:6.

WE admire the scripture mode of allusion and comparison. Its images are taken from the most obvious and simple things; and while they illustrate the spiritual subjects to which they are applied, they also impart moral lessons. While they enjoin the duties we owe to God, they remind us of those we owe to our fellow-creatures. Thus the child is instructed and reproved by the address which informs and admonishes the Christian.

In the words before us, here is first a principle supposed; indeed, it is expressed in the foregoing sentence: "A son honoreth his father."

It is a dictate of nature, of custom, of observance, in all ages and countries. The child, as soon as he can reason, finds himself under the control of a superior at once dear and venerable, to whom he is obliged, and on whom he is dependent; he asks of him information; he looks to him for provision; he confides in his care and wisdom; he obeys his orders, and submits to his discipline. If stricken, he does not reproach or think of striking again. "The eye," says Solomon, "that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pluck it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." A modern writer has made free to turn these words into ridicule, by ranking them with those senseless bugbears by which nurses often terrify children. But if the ignorance of infidels with regard to every thing scriptural was not extreme, he might have known that, under the Jewish law, filial disobedience was a capital offence. "Every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him." And Moses mentions also the mode. "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; and they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear and fear." Hence, what is threatened might have been literally accomplished. But when we consider how figuratively the Easterns expressed themselves, we may admit the reality of an awful penalty on the transgressor without pleading for the literal execution. We have a remarkable instance of filial honor in the regard the Rechabites paid to the authority of their father. "They said, we will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: but we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us." It is lamentable to think how little of this obedience is to be found in children now. Yet there is far less piety in the world than morality.

Here is, secondly, an obligation inferred. It is, that if other fathers are to be honored, we are much more bound to honor God; for he is a Father far above the truth of the relation in all other cases. We have had fathers, but they were fathers of our flesh; but he is the Father of our spirits. They were fathers only subordinately, and neither the sex, nor the form, nor the talents of the child resulted from their choice; but he is supremely, efficiently, absolutely our Father; he made us, and endued us with all our powers, and from him must spring all our hopes.

And therefore, not only is the reality of the relation found in him, but the perfection too. He always acts the part of a wise and good Father, and always acts it completely, divinely. Other fathers often chastise their children for their own pleasure, but he for our profit. They may be implacable, but he is ready to forgive. They may neglect to educate or provide, but he teaches us to profit, and suffers us to want no good thing.

The duty also is enforced by the eminence of his character and the grandeur of his condition. His understanding is infinite; his power is almighty; his dominion is everlasting; he is Lord of all. "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in; that bringeth the princes to nothing: he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity." To this consideration he himself appeals in the close of this chapter. "Cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen."

Thirdly, here is a complaint alleged. "If I am a Father, where is mine honor?" And has he no ground for this inquiry? Men often complain without cause. They are unreasonable in their demands and expectations. They may be mistaken with regard to the nature and design of many actions, because they judge after outward appearances. But God's claims are unlimited. He sees motives; he looketh to the heart; he takes our meaning; and passing by our mistakes and infirmities, accepts and commends our aims and endeavors. And yet even he complains. And how deeply deserved, and how extensively applicable is the charge he brings! See the generality of mankind—have they any concern to please him? Take the professors of his religion—what do they more than others? Take even the subjects of his grace—even in them where is his honor? Is it here, in constantly asking, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Is it here, in meekly submitting to his rebukes? Is it here, in speaking well of his name, and recommending him to others?

Let us make the deficiencies and sins of others a mirror in which to behold our own. Do I meet with ingratitude in a fellow-creature that I have relieved? Let it soften my resentment, and keep me from resolving to do no more for him. Let me inquire how I have behaved towards my heavenly Benefactor. Do I reflect on an undutiful child, and perhaps justly too? Yet let me ask whether my heavenly Father has not much more reason to condemn me. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquity, O Lord, who should stand?