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And surely reason itself might teach us this lesson。 Children are weak
and tender creatures； and； as such； they need patient and considerate
treatment。 We must handle them delicately； like frail machines； lest by
rough fingering we do more harm than good。 They are like young plants；
and need gentle watering；often； but little at a time。
We must not expect all things at once。 We must remember what children
are； and teach them as they are able to bear。 Their minds are like a
lump of metalnot to be forged and made useful at once； but only by a
succession of little blows。 Their understandings are like narrow…necked
vessels we must pour in the wine of knowledge gradually； or much of it
will be spilled and lost。 〃Line upon line； and precept upon precept；
here a little and there a little；〃 must be our rule。 The whetstone does
its work slowly； but frequent rubbing will bring the scythe to a fine
edge。 Truly there is need of patience in training a child； but without
it nothing can be done。
Nothing will pensate for the absence of this tenderness and love。 A
minister may speak the truth as it is in Jesus； clearly； forcibly；
unanswerably； but if he does not speak it in love； few souls will be
won。 Just so you must set before your children their duty；mand；
threaten； punish； reason； but if affection be wanting in your
treatment； your labour will be all in vain。
Love is one grand secret of successful training。 Anger and harshness
may frighten； but they will not persuade the child that you are right；
and if he sees you often out of temper； you will soon cease to have his
respect。 A father who speaks to his son as Saul did to Jonathan （1 Sam。
20：30）； need not expect to retain his influence over that son's mind。
Try hard to keep up a hold on your child's affections。 It is a
dangerous thing to make your children afraid of you。 Anything is almost
better than reserve and constraint between your child and yourself； and
this will e in with fear。 Fear puts an end to openness of
manner；…fear leads to concealment；fear sows the seed of much
hypocrisy； and leads to many a lie。 There is a mine of truth in the
Apostle's words to the Colossians： 〃Fathers； provoke not your children
to anger； lest they be discouraged〃 （Col。 3：21）。 Let not the advice it
contains be overlooked。
III。 Train your children with an abiding persuasion ca your mind that
much depends upon you。
Grace is the strongest of all principles。 See what a revolution grace
effects when it es into the heart of an old sinner；how it
overturns the strongholds of Satan；how it casts down mountains； fills
up valleys；…makes crooked things straight；and new creates the whole
man。 Truly nothing is impossible to grace。
Nature； too； is very strong。 See how it struggles against the things of
the kingdom of God；how it fights against every attempt to be more
holy；how it keeps up an unceasing warfare within us to the last hour
of life。 Nature indeed is strong。
But after nature and grace； undoubtedly； there is nothing more powerful
than education。 Early habits （if I may so speak） are everything with
us； under God。 We are made what we are by training。 Our character takes
the form of that mould into which our first years are cast。 ＇15＇
We depend； in a vast measure； on those who bring us up。 We get from
them a colour； a taste； a bias which cling to us more or less all our
lives。 We catch the language of our nurses and mothers； and learn to
speak it almost insensibly； and unquestionably we catch something of
their manners； ways； and mind at the same time。 Time only will show； I
suspect； how much we all owe to early impressions； and how many things
in us may be traced up to seeds sown in the days of our very infancy；
by those who were about us。 A very learned Englishman； Mr。 Locke； has
gone so far as to say： 〃That of all the men we meet with； nine parts
out of ten are what they are； good or bad； useful or not； according to
their education。〃
And all this is one of God's merciful arrangements。 He gives your
children a mind that will receive impressions like moist clay。 He gives
them a disposition at the starting…point of life to believe what you
tell them； and to take for granted what you advise them； and to trust
your word rather than a stranger's。 He gives you； in short； a golden
opportunity of doing them good。 See that the opportunity be not
neglected； and thrown away。 Once let slip； it is gone for ever。
Beware of that miserable delusion into which some have fallen； that
parents can do nothing for their children； that you must leave them
alone； wait for grace； and sit still。 These persons have wishes for
their children in Balaam's fashion；they would like them to die the
death of the righteous man； but they do nothing to make them live his
life。 They desire much； and have nothing。 And the devil rejoices to see
such reasoning； just as he always does over anything which seems to
excuse indolence； or to encourage neglect of means。
I know that you cannot convert your child。 I know well that they who
are born again are born； not of the will of man； but of God。 But I know
also that God says expressly； 〃Train up a child in the way he should
go；〃 and that He never laid a mand on man which He would not give
man grace to perform。 And I know； too； that our duty is not to stand
still and dispute； but to go forward and obey。 It is just in the going
forward that God will meet us。 The path of obedience is the way in
which He gives the blessing。 We have only to do as the servants were
manded at the marriage feast in Cana； to fill the water…pots with
water； and we may safely leave it to the Lord to turn that water into
wine。
IV。 Train with this thought continually before your eyes that the
soul of your child is the first thing to be considered。
Precious； no doubt； are these little ones in your eyes； but if you love
them； think often of their souls。 No interest should weigh with you so
much as their eternal interests。 No part of them should be so dear to
you as that part which will never die。 The world； with all its glory；
shall pass away； the hills shall melt； the heavens shall be wrapped
together as a scroll； the sun shall cease to shine。 But the spirit
which dwells in those little creatures； whom you love so well； shall
outlive them all； and whether in happiness or misery （to speak as a
man） will depend on you。
This is the thought that should be uppermost on your mind in all you do
for your children。 In every step you take about them； in every plan；
and scheme； and arrangement that concerns them； do not leave out that
mighty question； 〃How will this affect their souls？。 〃
Soul love is the soul of all love。 To pet and pamper and indulge your
child； as if this world was all he had to look to； and this life the
only season for happinessto do this is not true love； but cruelty。 It
is treating him like some beast of the earth； which has but one world
to look to； and nothing after death。 It is hiding from him that grand
truth； which he ought to be made to learn from his very infancy； that
the chief end of his life is the salvation of his soul。
A true Christian must be no slave to fashion； if he would train his
child for heaven。 He must not be content to do things merely because
they are the custom of the world； to teach them and instruct them in
certain ways； merely because it is usual； to allow them to read books
of a questionable sort； merely because everybody else reads them； to
let them form habits of a doubtful tendency； merely because they are
the habits of the day。 He must train With an eye to his children's
souls。 He must not be ashamed to hear his training called singular and
strange。 What if it is？ The time is short；the fashion of this world
passeth away。 He that has trained his children for heaven； rather than
for earth； for God； rather than for man； m he is the parent that will
be called wise at last。
V。 Train your child to a knowledge of the Bible。
You cannot make your children love the Bible； I allow。 None but the
Holy Ghost can give us a heart to delight in the Word。 But you can make
your children acquainted with the Bible； and be sure they cannot be
acquainted with that blessed book too soon； or too well。
A thorough knowledge of the Bible is the foundation of all clear views
of religion。 He that is well…grounded in it will not generally be found
a wavier； and carried about by every wind of new doctrine。 Any system
of training which does not make a knowledge of Scripture the first
thing is unsafe and unsound。
You have need to be careful on this point just now； for the devil is
abroad； and error abounds。 Some are to be found amongst us who give the
Church the honour due to Jesus Christ。 Some are to be found who make
the sacraments saviours and passports to eternal li