Our future soldiers, sailors, servants, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, &c., &c. II. Important to _yourselves_. The babe—the child—the young man—the young woman. A gift (Gen. xxxiii. 5; xlviii. 9) which must prove either your crown (Prov. xvii. 6; Ps. cxxvii. 3) or your bitterness. Prov. xvii. 25; Gen. xlii. 38. III. Important to _themselves_. That child must live for ever. A living soul committed to your care. That child must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Rev. xx. 12. IV. Important in the sight of _their Father who is in heaven_. So important—that for them He gave His only Son to shed His blood. So important—that He especially calls, ‘Suffer little children,’ &c. Mark, x. 14. So important—that He gives His angels special charge over them. Matt. xviii. 10. ‘Take heed then that ye despise not one of these little ones.’ No jewel so precious as the soul of your child, but how far more do parents often prize the casket containing it, than the gem itself! No plant so needing watchful care and culture; Oh! neglect it not! What have YOU done with your jewel, your plant? II. THE TEMPER OF THE WIFE, AND MOTHER. I. What she should _not_ be. 1. Provoking. Eph. vi. 4. Prov. xv. 1. Gal. v. 26. 2. Easily provoked. 1 Cor. xiii. 5. Jam. i. 19. 3. Brawling. Prov. xxi. 9; xxv. 24. 4. Contentious. Prov. xix. 13; xxi. 19; xxvii. 15. II. What she _should_ be. 1. Gentle. 1 Thess. ii. 7. 1 Pet. iii. 4. Children are soon frightened by rough words, or rough treatment. 2. Forbearing. Eph. iv. 2. Col. iii. 13. If _you_ cannot bear with your children, who will? 3. Patient. 1 Thess. v. 14. Eccles. vii. 8. A mother has need of great patience. 4. Loving. Tit. ii. 4. III. In your daily temper take Christ as your example. ‘_Consider Him_ who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary, and faint in your minds.’ Heb. xii. 3. III. TRUTH. 1. Importance of truth. Prov. xii. 19. The liar’s portion. Rev. xxi. 8; xxii. 15. How can you enforce the necessity of truth, and the sin of lying upon your children? I. You must enforce it by _example_. 1. Never deceive them. The word passed must never be broken. Be careful, then, how you promise or threaten. 2. Always adhere yourself closely to truth. In _little_ things as well as _great_, in _deed_ as well as _word_. What a warning is Rebecca (Gen. xxvii.) of the danger of the first downward step, and the baneful influence of a mother’s evil example! 3. Let them see that you cling closely to truth, even when it is to your own disadvantage. Ps. xv. 5, Prayer-book version. 4. Never get out of a difficulty by an untruth. II. To do this be ever— Watchful. Ps. cxli. 3. Prayerful. Ps. cxix. 29. IV. TRUTH. 2.