The power and influence of the home-example are incalculable.  Example is teaching by action.  By it the child inherits the spirit and character of the parent.  Such is its influence that you can estimate the parent by the child.  Show me a child, polite, courteous, refined, moral and honorable in all his sentiments and conduct; and I will point you to a well-conducted nursery, to noble and high-minded parents, faithful to their offspring.  Theirs is a holy and a happy home; and the blessing of God rests upon it.  But on the other hand, in the wayward, dissolute child I discern unfaithful parents who have no respect for religion, and who take no interest in the spiritual welfare of their children.  Thus the child is a living commentary upon its home and its parents.  The fruits of the latter will be seen in the character of the former.  The child is the moral reproduction of the parent.  Hence the pious parent is rewarded in his child, and the immoral parent is cursed in his child.  Whatsoever thou sowest in thy child, that shalt thou also reap.

[Illustration:  Sunshine of Youth.]

The precepts of home are unavailing unless enforced by a corresponding example.  Nothing is so forcible and encouraging as the “Follow me.”  It proves sincerity and earnestness; and is adapted to the imitative capacity and disposition of the child.  It is all-commanding and resistless.  Says Solomon, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”  Says Paul “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”  Says Shakspeare, “One drunkard loves another of the name.”  Says Dr. Young—­

  “Ambition fires ambition; love of gain
  Strikes like a pestilence from breast to breast;
  Riot, pride, perfidy, blue vapor’s breath;
  And inhumanity is caught from man,
  From smiling man.”

If such is the influence of example, we must admit the necessity of a true Christian example in the family.  It is necessary because it is the condition of the efficacy of home-precepts.  “During the minority of reason, imitation is the regent of the soul, and they who are least swayed by argument are most governed by example.”  We learn from example before we can speak.  Hence if we would have our children walk in the way of God’s commandments, we must go before them; we must take the lead; we must exemplify in our action what we incorporate in our oral instructions; our light must shine not only upon, but before them; they must see our good works as well as hear our good precepts.  Said a man once to J.A.  James, “I owe everything under God, to the eminent and consistent piety of my father.  So thoroughly consistent was he, that I could find nothing in the smallest degree at variance with his character as a professor of religion.  This kept its hold upon me.”  It was the means of his conversion to God.