DUTIES OF MIDDLE AND OF OLD AGE. 311 ness is the bane and corrupter of youth; but particularly is it the bane and the dishonor of middle age. Middle age, as well as youth, has its dangers. The love of pleasure in youth is succeeded by the passion for gain or power, which too often absorbs the whole soul and debases the character. (3.) It is also the duty of those in middle life to lay a foundation for comfort in old age, which they hope to see. For old age, as for every other thing, a certain preparation is requisite; and that preparation consists chiefly in three particulars: in the acquisition of knowledge, of friends, and of virtue. (4.) Among the measures thus taken for the latter scenes of life, no one should forget to put his worldly affairs in order in due time. This is a duty which every one owes to his character, to his family, or to those, whoever they be, that are to succeed him. To live long, ought not to be cur favorite wish, so much as to live usefully and well. c.) Duties of Old Age. As in the day of human life there is a morning and a noon, so it is fit that there should be an evening also, when the lengthening shadows shall admonish us of approaching night. In these circumstances 673. (1.) The duty of the old is to consider that all the seasons of life have their several trials allotted to them, and that to bear the infirmities of age with becoming patience, is as much their duty, as is that of the young to resist the temptation of youthful pleasure. (2.) It is their duty not to allow themselves to entertain a peevish disgust at the manners, and to pass a malignant censure upon the innocent enjoyments of the young. In order to make the two extremes of life to unite in amicable society, it is greatly to be wished, that the young would look forward and consider that they shall one day be old; and that the old would look back, and, remembering that they once were young, make proper allowances for the temper and manners of youth. (3.) The aged should guard against a miserly covetousness, arising often from an apprehension of want, as they feel the weakness of old age coming upon them. (4.) The voice of nature calls the aged to leave to others the bustle and contest of the world, and gradually to disengage themselves from a burden which begins to exceed their strength; retiring more and more from public observation to domestic scenes and serious thoughts. Το (5.) A part of the duty of the aged consists in studying to be useful to the race who are to succeed them. them it belongs to impart to the young the fruit of their long experience; to warn them of the various dangers of life; and, both by precept and example, to form them to piety and virtue. Old age never appears with greater dignity, than when, tempered with mildness, and enlivened with good-humor, it acts as the guide and the patron of youth. (6.) In the midst of their endeavors to be useful to others, the aged should not forget those religious employments which their own state particularly requires. "Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours, And ask them what report they bore to heaven; And how they might have borne more welcome news." In silent and thoughtful meditation, it becomes them to walk as on the shore of that vast ocean upon which they are soon to embark, and also to make a frequent retrospect of the long journey of life, in order to notice and extol the watchful care and undeserved beneficence of God, who had thus far conducted them. [Dr. H. Blair.] XI. Effects of the universal Violation of the Fifth Precept. 674. Were this precept reversed, or universally violated, every social tie would be torn asunder, every principle of subordination destroyed, every government overturned, and the whole assembly of human beings converted into a discordant mass of lawless banditti. [Professor Dick's Lectures.] 595. What is the general design of the Fifth Commandment? 596. How may the relations of society be classified, in regard to their origin or basis? 597. Relate the anecdote of the school-boy? 598. What, in a general view, is implied in the command to honor our parents? 599. What is involved in the duty of love to our parents? 600. How may the duty of filial reverence be explained? 601. What is the duty of children residing at home with respect to the regulations of the family? 602. What is the duty of children in regard to the misconduct of parents? 603. What illustrations of the duty of kindness to parents may be added? QUESTIONS ON THE FIFTH PRECEPT. 313 604. What may be said concerning the duty of children to consult their parents? 605. What is the nature and extent of that obedience which children are under obligation to render their parents? 606. What is implied in the duty of submission to family discipline? 607. What are some of the motives to the performance of filial duties? 608. What duties do the children of a family owe to each other? 609. What general view may be given of parental duties? 610. What important prerequisites are there to the successful and proper discharge of parental duties? 611. What are some of the branches of parental duty? 612. What may be said respecting the duty of maintenance? 613. What may be said respecting the duty of affording scholastic instruction? 614. What remarks are made respecting the selection of a school? 615. What remarks concerning the just idea of education? 616. What remarks are offered upon a due regard to the health of children? 617. What notions concerning wealth and worldly show ought to be instilled early into the minds of children? 618. What is said of the forming of industrious habits? 619. What is said of economy? 620. What of regular employment? 621. What of generosity? 622. What of prudence? 623. What of the education of circumstances? 624. What of the responsibility of fathers? 625. How soon should religious instruction begin, and how conducted? 626. What anecdote is related of Thelwall and Coleridge? 627. What are important parts of religious education? 628. Is discipline a part of parental duty; and how should it be conducted? 629. Is correction an essential part of good discipline? 630. Remarks upon corporeal punishment? 631. Rules for infliction of chastisement? 632. Caution to parents not to foster certain propensities in children? 633. Robert Hall's reproof? 634. Necessity of a good parental example? 635. Necessity of careful parental inspection? 636. Duty of prayer on the part of parents? 637. Anecdote of Earl Roden? 638. To what class of duties will these most nearly correspond? 639. What prominent objects does it fall within the duty of the instructor to promote? 640. What duties does he owe to himself in the character of an instructor? 641. What prominent duties does he owe his scholars? 642. What duties does the pupil owe to an instructor? 643. What preliminary remarks are offered? 644. What does the duty of justice to servants demand? 645. What does the duty of kindness to servants demand? 646. What duties of religion do masters owe to their servants? 647. What, in general terms, are the duties of servants to their employers? 648. By what is the extent of their obedience limited? 649. Upon what are duties of this class founded? 650. Is civil government a human or a divine institution? 651. What, according to Scripture, is the design and proper scope of civil government? 652. The question here arises, how far civil rulers are to be obeyed— how far the duty of submission extends? 653. To whom belongs the right of deciding when the duty of obedience ceases, and that of resistance to civil authority begins? 654. How far has civil government a right to interfere in matters of religion? 655. What is the history of the contest between the rights of civil rulers and the rights of conscience in the mind of the subject? 656. In view of these preliminary discussions, what appear to be the duties of rulers? 657. What is the first class of duties belonging to a subject or a citizen? 658. Duty of a citizen at the ballot-box? 659. Are there any circumstances in our country at the present time which give great importance to the duties just described? 660. Duties necessary to the proper support of government and order? 661. Duty of prayer for rulers? 662. Duty of prayer for fellow-citizens? 663. How far does Christianity encourage particular patriotism? 664. What is the true definition of patriotism? 665. What unjust, unlawful, unchristian forms of patriotism may be noticed that conflict with the definition just given? 666. Does Christianity, on the other hand, encourage the doctrine of being "a citizen of the world," and of paying no more regard to our own community than to every other? 667. What is the proper mode in which patriotism should be exercised? 668. What, briefly, is the duty of the former? 669. What brief account can you give of the duties which a people owe to their religious minister? 670. What is a primary duty of the young? 671. What virtues is it peculiarly necessary for the young to culti vate? 672. What duties peculiarly befit those in middle life? 673. What duties befit old age? 674. Were this precept to be reversed, or universally violated, what scenes of anarchy and confusion would ensue? SIXTH COMMANDMENT. "Thou shalt not kill." 675. Its prominent design is, to guard human life against violence, to render it a sacred thing, which is not to be touched but by Him whose gift it is, and who has a right to resume it at his pleasure. 676. A distinction is made between it and the life of the lower animals, in one of the precepts delivered to Noah. Man holds a higher rank in the scale of being; his life is therefore of much greater value, and to take it unjustly away, is a crime which ought not to pass with impunity. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made He man." THE KILLING OF ANIMALS. I. Killing of Animals. 315 677. In itself the precept is unlimited, and prohibits the taking of the life of any animal. Nor has man any right to limit it to the human family. None but God himself, the author of life, can give authority, in any case, to kill. He has allowed us, however, by express statute, to take away the life of the lower animals, when they are necessary for our food, or when they are hostile and dangerous to us. This permission was first granted, immediately after the flood, to Noah and his descendants: "God said to Noah and his sons, everything that moveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." Without such a positive grant from the Creator, man could have had no more right to take away the life of an ox, or a sheep, than he has to imbrue his hands in the blood, or to feast on the flesh of his fellowAccordingly, the Antediluvians, notwithstanding their enormous crimes, never feasted on the flesh of animals. Dr. Dwight has hence clearly shown that infidels, who deny the divine revelation of the Scriptures, can plead no right to eat the flesh of animals. men. The authority for killing animals dangerous to our own lives is found in Genesis ix. 66 Surely your blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it; and at the hand of man.” Under the Jewish law, "the ox which gored a man or woman was commanded to be stoned." This law implies that ferocious and dangerous animals may be anticipated in the act of destroying human life, by being themselves put to death. 678. Although the inferior animals are subjected to our use by their Creator, no permission is granted us to treat them with neglect, harshness, or cruelty, or to kill them for the sake of sport and amusement. And, therefore, the man who wantonly takes away the lives of birds, hares, fishes, and other animals, for the mere gratification of a taste for hunting or fishing, can scarcely be exculpated from the charge of a breach of this commandment. If man's convenience, health, Or safety interfere, his rights and claims Are paramount, and must extinguish theirs. Else they are all-the meanest things that are As free to live, and to enjoy that life, As God was free to form them at the first, Who in his sovereign wisdom made them all. COWPER. |