Last meeting we found that it is useless to enforce the necessity of truth, unless the mother is consistent in her _example_. Besides this: II. Enforce it by instruction and by precept. Tell—how God hates lying. Prov. vi. 16, 17; xii. 22. Tell—histories from Scripture to show how God hates it. Satan, Gen. iii. 4. Gehazi, 2 Kings, v. 25. Ananias, Acts, v. 1–11. Tell—who is the father of lies. John, viii. 44. Tell—the consequences of lying. Ps. v. 6; lv. 23. Rev. xxi. 8. III. Avoid severity. Children are often frightened into deceit by fear of their parents’ severity. IV. Do not put temptations to lie in a child’s way. Do not encourage them to conceal anything from their father, schoolmaster, master, or mistress, if in service. V. Correct for a lie. It is a false love which dispenses with a needful chastisement. Prov. xiii. 24; xix. 18. But always with prayer. VI. Let the child see that you are grieved for his sin. That it gives you _sorrow_, not only causes _anger_. Ps. cxix. 158. VII. Make it a subject of prayer with your child that the way of lying may be removed from him. Ps. cxix. 29. Prov. xxx. 8. V. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN. Prov. xxxi. AS A WIFE. I. A wife _ought_ to be a chief blessing; a good wife _is_ so. Verse 10. Prov. xii. 4; xviii. 22; xix. 14. II. Her husband can safely trust her. Ver. 11. Money—children—sure of her affection—no secrets. III. She does him good, and not evil all the days of her life. Verse 12. Not like Eve. Gen. iii. 6. Or Samson’s wife. Enticing—coaxing—teazing—weeping—betraying. Judg. xiv. 16. IV. She cares for his bodily wants. Verses 15, 23. To do this must be a ‘keeper at home.’ Tit. ii. 5. V. She submits if wills clash. Not often the case in a happy home. Yields cheerfully, not grudgingly, when in accordance with God’s will. Col. iii. 18. Eph. v. 22. VI. She endeavours to _win_ her husband, does not try to _drive_. 1 Pet. iii. 1. 1 Cor. vii. 16. Win to religion by displaying its beauty and brightness in your lives. VII. She is a spiritual help to her husband. 1 Pet. iii. 7. ‘Mutual help and comfort.’ Marriage Service. Not a hindrance. Luke, xiv. 20. A wife has more opportunity than any one of seeing her husband’s faults. Do not _talk_ about them, but _pray_ about them. VI. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN. Prov. xxxi. IN HER HOME. I. She is diligent. Verses 13, 15, 18, 19, 22, 27. So 1 Tim. v. 10. Rom. xii. 8. No gossiping; standing at doors; idling at neighbours. Observe what is said of the diligent in the Book of Proverbs. Maketh rich. Prov. x. 4.