God wished to perpetuate religion in the earth.

He knew that the family constitution would be the principal means of doing this, parents teaching and commanding their children, and so transmitting religion.

Because he knew that Abraham would do this, he gave it as a reason for his love and confidence in him, in not concealing from him his purpose to destroy Sodom.

'Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?
For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the ways of the Lord.' So, in order to remind Abraham of what was expected by the Most High in making his children the presumptive heirs of grace, and to remind the children of it when they came to years of understanding, God gave him and them this mark and seal." "Well, then," said Mr.Benson, "it seems to me Abraham was better off than we, if he had God in covenant with him for his children, and we have not.

I sometimes wish that I could have God covenant with me about my boy, as Abraham had about Isaac." "I should like," said Mrs.B., "to hear him say, 'I will be a God to him,' and then tell us to do something of his own appointment that should be like our signing and sealing a covenant together, as the Lord's Supper enables us to do with Christ." "If we have no such blessed privilege," said I, "then, as Abraham desired to see our day, I should, in this respect, rejoice to see Abraham's day.