A Word to Parents.

One of the saddest and most tragic features of our twentieth-century "Civilization" is the awful prevalence of disobedience on the part of children to their parents during the days of childhood, and their lack of reverence and respect when they grow up. This is evidenced in many ways, and is general, alas, even in the families of professing Christians. In his extensive travels during the past thirty years, the writer has sojourned in a great many homes. The piety and beauty of some of them remain as sacred and fragrant memories, but others of them have left the most painful impressions. Children who are self-willed or spoiled, not only bring themselves into perpetual unhappiness but also inflict discomfort upon all who come into contact with them, and envision, by their conduct, evil things for the days to come.

In the vast majority of cases, the children are not nearly so much to be blamed—as the parents. Failure to honor father and mother, wherever it is found, is in large measure due to parental departure from the Scriptural pattern. Nowadays the father thinks that he has fulfilled his obligations by providing food and clothing for his children, and by acting occasionally as a kind of moral policeman. Too often the mother is content to be a domestic drudge, making herself the slave of her children—instead of training them to be useful. She performs many a task which her daughters should do, in order to allow them freedom for the frivolities of a giddy set. The consequence has been that the home, which ought to be—for its orderliness, its sanctity, and its reign of love—a miniature heaven on earth, has degenerated into "a filling station for the day, and a parking place for the night," as someone has tersely expressed it.

Before outlining the duties of parents toward their children, let it be pointed out that they cannot properly discipline their children, unless they have first learned to govern themselves. How can they expect to subdue self-will in their little ones and check the rise of an angry temper—if their own passions are allowed free reign? The character of parents is to a very large degree reproduced in their offspring: "And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years—and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image" (Gen. 5:3). The parent must himself or herself be in subjection to God, if he would lawfully expect obedience from his little ones. This principle is enforced in Scripture again and again: "You therefore who teach another, teach you not yourself?" (Romans 2:20). Of the elder or pastor, it is written that he must be "one who rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity. For if a man knows not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" (I Tim. 3:5, 6). And if a man or woman knows not how to rule his own spirit (Proverbs 25:28), how shall he care for his offspring.

God has entrusted to parents a most solemn charge, and yet a most precious privilege. It is not too much to say that in their hands are deposited the hope and blessing, or else the curse and plague—of the next generation. Their families are the nurseries of both Church and State, and according to the cultivating of them now—will be their fruitfulness hereafter. Oh, how prayerfully and carefully should you who are parents discharge your trust. Most assuredly God will require an account of the children from your hands, for they are His, and only lent to your care and keeping. The task assigned you is no easy one, especially in these superlatively evil days. Nevertheless, if trustfully and earnestly sought—the grace of God will be found sufficient in this responsibility as in others. The Scriptures supply us with rules to go by, with promises to lay hold of, and, we may add, with fearful warnings lest we treat the matter lightly. We have space to mention but four of the principal duties devolving on parents.

First, it is your duty to INSTRUCT your children. "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deut. 6:6, 7). This work is far too important to allocate to others; parents, and not Sunday School teachers, are Divinely required to educate their little ones. Nor is this to be an occasional or sporadic thing—but one that is to have constant attention. The glorious character of God, the requirements of His holy Law, the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the wondrous gift of His Son, and the fearful doom which is the certain portion of all who despise and reject Him—are to be brought repeatedly before the minds of your little ones. "They are too young to understand such things" is the Devil's argument to deter you from discharging your duty.

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). It is to be noted that the "fathers" are here specifically addressed, and this for two reasons:

(1) because they are the heads of their families and their government is especially committed to them;

(2) because they are prone to transfer this duty to their wives.

This instruction is to be given by reading to them the Holy Scriptures, and enlarging upon those things most agreeable to their age. This should be followed by catechizing them. A continued discourse to the young is not nearly so effective as when it is diversified by questions and answers. If they know they will be questioned on what you read, they will listen more closely, and the formulating of answers teaches them to think for themselves. Such a method is also found to make the memory more retentive, for answering definite questions fixes more specific ideas in the mind. Observe how often Christ asked His disciples questions.

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