How Should a Child Be Trained?

Train» upma — child in’ the way “he should go, and when ‘he is old he will not depart from it. — Prov. 22:6.

I suppose that most professing Christians are acquainted with the reset “aa theses debe thigupage: tarie sound of it is probably familiar to your ears, like an old tune. It is lkely you have heard it, or read it, talked of it, or quoted it, many a time. Is-1t, not so?

But, after all, how little is the sub-Stance of this text regarded! ‘The doctrine it contains appears scarcely known; the duty it puts before us seems fearfully seldom practiced. Reader, do I not speak the truth?

It can not be said that the subject is a new one. The world is old, and we have the experience of nearly six thousand years to help us. We live in days when there is’a mighty zeal for education in every quarter. We hear of new schools rising on all sides. We are told of new systems and new books for the young, of every sort and description. And still, for all this, the vast majority of children are manifestly not trained in the way they should go, for when

they grow up to man’s estate, they

do not walk with God.

Now, how shall we account for this state of things? The plain truth is, the Lord’s commandment in our text is not regarded; and therefore the Lord’s promise in our text is not fulfilled.

Reader, these things may well give rise to great searchings of heart. Suffer, then, a word of exhortation from a minister about the right training of children: <, Believe: me, the=sabjecrers one that should come home to every conscience, and make every one ask himself the question, “Am I in this matter doing what I can?”

It is a subject that concerns almost all. There is hardly a household that —

it does not touch. Fathers, mothers, nurses, teachers, preachers, uncles, aunts, brothers, — sisters — all have an interest in it. Few can be found, I think, who might not influence some parent in the management —

of his family, or affect the training

of some child by suggestion or advice. All of us, 1 suspect, can ‘do 6

h oh ee r
nett.

Lin po es a ern
a ee eR ay ee

Something here, either directly or indirectly, and I wish to stir up all to bear this in remembrance.

It is a subject, too, on which all concerned are in great danger of coming short of their duty. This is pre-eminently a point in which men can see the faults of their neighbors more clearly than their own. They will often bring up their children in the very path which they have denounced to their friends as unsafe. They will see motes in other men’s families, and overlook beams in their own. They will be quick-sighted as eagles in detecting mistakes abroad, — and yet blind as bats to fatal errors which are daily going on at home. They will be wise about their brother’s house, but foolish about their own flesh and blood. Here, if anywhere, we have need to suspect our own judgment. This, too, you will do well to” bear in mind.*

*As a minister, I can not help remark-. ing that there is hardly any subject about which people seem so tenacious as they are about their children. |] have sometimes been perfectly astonished at the slowness of sensible Christian parents to allow that their own children are in fault, or deserve blame. There are not a few persons to whom I would far rather speak about their own sins, than tell them their children had done anything wrong.

Come, now, and let me place before

you a few hints about right training.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost bless them, and make them words in season to you all. Reject them not because they are blunt and simple; despise them not because they contain nothing new. Be very sure, if you would train children for heaven, they are hints that ought not to be lightly set “aside.

l.. Kirst, ther, m -you would train

your children rightly, train them in

the way they should go, and not in the way that they would.

Remember, children are born with a decided bias toward evil, and therefore, if you let them choose for themselves, they are certain. to choose wrong.

The mother can not tell what her

tender infant may grow up to be —

tall or short, weak or strong, wise or foolish; he may be any of these things, or not — it is all uncertain. But one ‘thing thes mothe ean” say with certainty: he will have a corrupt and. sinful-heart. ‘Itlis#matiral to us to do wrong. “Foolishness,” says Solomon, “is bound in the heart

of as child” (Prove 22:15)5 GA schi tae

left to himself bringeth his mother to 8

es shame’ (Prov. 29:15). Our hearts are like the earth on which we tread — let it alone, and it is sure to bear weeds.

If, then, you would deal wisely with your child, you must not leave him to the guidance of his own will. Think for him, judge for him, act for him, just as you would for one weak and blind; but for pity’s sake, give him not up to his own wayward astes and inclinations. It must not be his likings and wishes that are consulted. He knows not yet what is good for his mind and soul, any more than what is good for his body. You do not let him decide what he shall eat, and what he shall drink, and how he shall be clothed. Be consistent, and deal with his ‘mind in ‘like manner. Train him in the way that is scriptural and right, and not in the way that he fancies.

If you can not make up your mind to this first principle of Christian training, it is useless for you, to read any further. Self-will is almost the first thing that appears in a child’s mind; and it must be your first step to resist it.

II]. Train up your child with all tenderness, affection, and patience. I do not mean that -you are to spoil him, but I do mean that you should let him see that you love him.

Love should be the silver thread

that runs through all your conduct.

Kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, forbearance, patience, sympathy, a willingness to enter into childish troubles, a readiness to takepart in childish joys — these are the cords by which a child may be led most easily, these are the clews you must follow if you would find the way to his aheants

Few are to be found, even among grown-up people, who are not more easy to draw than to drive. There is that in all our minds which rises in compulsion; we set up our backs and stiffen our necks at the very idea of a forced. obedience: We Mareasike young horses in the hand of a breaker: handle them kindly, and make much of them, and by and by you

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