But to thwart and control the incli

the mastery over this disposition in and impeaches the veracity of the Most himself, he will then the better under- High. In such a controversy, whose stand how to apply proper correc-decisions shall stand? In such an istives to the same malady in his chil-sue, whose cause shall be maintained? dren. Let him be very cautious how he indulges himself in the very com-nations of children is cruel and unmon fault of discrediting every thing which impeaches the innocence of his children; of imagining his children to be faultless. Let him take the fact as it is; let him believe, feel, and acknowledge, that even his offspring, his darlings, are naturally perverse; that they are by nature just as bad as the children of other people; that they are possessed of the same natural temper, have the same malignant passions, and that their faults are viewed with no greater complacency by the eye of Him, who can never be a respecter of persons.

kind. Yet in what does this cruelty consist? To be cruel, is to inflict unnecessary pain. To confer a benefit, is to be kind. If your children possess dispositions that lead them into sin, it surely cannot be cruel to check those dispositions, or give them a new and better direction. It is very strange that Christian parents should deem it cruel and unkind, to refuse their children the pleasures of sin; for to this the indulgence of their perverse and froward tempers actually amounts.They, certainly, ought to know that all children,, their own included in the Some parents from a false affection number, have naturally corrupt pas for their children, have always some sions and propensities; that such passort of excuse ready at hand for every sions and propensities, without restraint, error which they commit. The child will certainly lead to sin; and sin conis sick, is fatigued, is affrighted, is abu- ducts to endless rain. They, certainly sed, is grieved, or is something else, ought to know, that the Most High rewhich is sure to have no harm in it, gards whatever tends to sin with utter whenever he manifests any ill humor. abhorrence, and that sin is that abomThough he should rave and storm like inable thing which his soul hates. How a maniac, still human corruption has then can they view with such complano hand in it; some common place a-cency, what he regards with indignapology is made in his behalf; and the||tion; or deem that as cruel, which child, half smothered with caresses, is saves their children from the effect of pronounced sweet-tempered as a lamb. His displeasure? Can they deem it an Exactly in proportion as he is ill-natur-act of unkindness to teach their chiled, he is indulged; and the more in-dren habits of obedience, both to didulgence he receives, the more he de- vine and parental authority; and for mands; till at length it becomes a this purpose to give them lessons of question of no doubtful solution, which self-denial in the ways of sin, or even governs, the parent or the child? But to compel them to cease to do evil, and let it be remembered, that every palli- to learn to do well? Is it an act of unation of a fault gives countenance to it kindness to attempt to save a soul from ---is a premium set upon iniquity; and death? Yet such, let it be remembered, that no parent can offer such a premi-is the natural tendency of parental disum and be guiltless. To his guidance and care are committed the interests of an immortal soul; he is deeply responsible for the trust. If he allows and fosters that which God abhors; if he calls that innocent and good, which God pronounces evil; and justifies that which God condemns, he opposes the divine constitution of right and wrong,

cipline when properly directed. I do not say that it will of itself infallibly produce this desirable effect; but certain it is, that it tends that way, and that it serves to prevent their progress in the opposite course, which leads to the chambers of death. Here then are powerful motives to attempt the proper government of children; motives

which all parents, and especially Chris- The connexion between your comtian parents, ought most sensibly to mand, and his obedience, should be as feel. Yet strange as it may seem, ma- certain as that between cause and efny, who call themselves Christians, fect; the one should be the unfailing are, in these matters, as greatly delin- consequence of the other. It is hardquent as the mere people of the world; ly necessary to say, that your comas prone to complain of the cruelty of mands should respect things lawful and enforcing their commands on their off-proper to be done; for surely unlawspring, and equally indulgent to their ful commands have very little to do wayward caprices. Some, who make with good government. Your comno pretensions to religion, often excel mands may indeed respect things prethis class of persons, in correct and viously indifferent; but the moment. wholesome discipline; more effectual- you command them they lose that by restrain their children from evil character, and become positive duties, courses; better accustom them to use- the performance of which is as indisful habits; and with more scrupulosi-pensable, as your authority to enjoin ty bar the avenues to sin and ruin. But them was proper and unquestionable. Christianity, if rightly understood and But you will ask, am I to whip and applied, ought to insure, and will in- torture my children for every little insure, a better education, than mere fraction of my orders, and play the ty morality, or a mere sense of propriety, rant in order to enforce their obedience? can ever produce. When those, there- A hard case surely-but one of your fore, who are styled Christians, fail to own making. Habitual obedience has train up their children to virtuous and no need of such severities; it is yielduseful habits, it is very apparent that ed readily, and as a matter of course. they neglect their trust, and poorly Nothing short of very obstinate and employ the talents committed to their habitual disobedience can bring matkeeping. They wound the cause of ters to such extremities. Parents, who religion, and lead the ungodly to say, govern well, never suffer their children if not actually to believe, that religion to arrive at such a pass, that nothing tends to licentiousness, and presents short of torture will coerce them.— less imposing motives to obedience, They commence the business in seathan the maxims of mere human pru-son, and enforce obedience by gentler dence and invention. methods; they master the disease at

But to insure, as far as may be, the its first appearance, and so avoid the proper beliavior of his children, let necessity of desperate remedies. A every parent make it his inflexible de-moderate, but equable regimen, aftertermination that he will be obeyed-wards succeeds; such as is calculated invariably obeyed. An uniform adhe-to prevent relapses, and to invigorate rence to this resolution will save him the system. It is worthy of observafrom a multitude of difficulties, and tion that parents, who govern badly, produce incalculable good. The sum usually correct their children most; and substance of good government is and how should it be otherwise? If to be obeyed; not now and then, when children are not taught to obey habitthe humor suits; but always, and in-ually, how can obedience be expected variably. The child should know on from them occasionally, without resort what it has to depend, and should not to compulsory measures. The child be lost in uncertain conjectures, wheth-that is accustomed to disobey in nine er you really intend to be obeyed; cases out of ten, will always rememwhether you merely propose obedience, ber that the chance of escaping punor actually command it. If you do not mean to enforce obedience, it ought not to be commanded; if you mean to command it it ought to be enforced.

ishment is in his favor, and nothing short of actual smarting will suffice to convince him that obedience is really demanded. The truth is, children al

ways learn to obey, at first, from a all the excuses which parents make, sense of necessity, not from a sense of to cover their neglect of training up moral duty. If they consider this ne- their children to obedience, have their cessity to be uniform, their obedience origin in sheer selfishness; in their own will be so; if the necessity be only self-gratification and caprice, more than occasional, such also will be their obe-in any real tenderness towards those dience. Hence it happens, that those objects of their indulgence; and that parents who suffer their children to dis- they in fact prefer their own humors obey them generally with impunity, to their children's welfare. find themselves really obliged to resort to severe methods, in order to enforce their commands.

But what says Divine truth on the subject of correcting children? The Spirit of inspiration, surely, has given I am no friend to frequent and se-no improper directions on this topic; vere punishment; I neither consider it necessary, nor an evidence of proper discipline. But to abstain wholly from correction, except in some extraordinary cases, when probably both parent and child are extremely exasperated, affords surely no proof of suitable parental affection. It may,however,prove one point, that this parental tenderness, so much extolled, can be dispensed with, when the gratification of other pas-chasteneth him betimes. He begins in sions comes into competition; while it affords little evidence of any great progress in the art of self-government.

nor can their Heavenly Parent be supposed to have a less tender and suitable regard to his children, than have their earthly ones. By consulting the Scriptures, we shall find that those parents do not best consult their children's welfare, who withhold correction from them, when they forsake their duty. He that spareth the rod, hateth his son; but he that loveth him,

season, and repeats the chastening so often as there is occasion; and this, instead of showing that he has no affecBut, says one, I too am of opinion tion for his son, proves that he loves that it does no good to chastise chil- him. Foolishness is bound in the heart dren perpetually; the little things, as of a child; but the rod of correction they grow in years, will grow in dis-shall drive it far from him. Withhold not cretion, and will of themselves soon correction from the child, for if thou learn to lay aside improper habits, and beatest him with a rod, he shall not die, to conduct correctly. I never use the A very different sentiment from one rod; when they arrive at a proper age, often peevishly intimated-shall I kill I endeavor to reason them into their my child to make him obey me? It is duty. My feelings are too tender to believed, however, that few children suffer my children to be put to unne- die in that way. The rod and reproof cessary pain. give wisdom; but a child left to himself, This very sensitive parent must per-bringeth his mother to shame. Another mit me to ask him one or two ques- sentiment altogether opposed to one tions. Is it out of regard to yourself, very prevalent among parents, that disor to your child; to save yourself or cipline makes a child dumpish and stuhim, from pain, that you never chas-pid, impairs his mental faculties, and tise him? Is it not more from a regard to your own feelings, than to his good, that you are so very lenient in a plain case of duty? Are you willing to have the trouble of doing your duty to your children? Have you not some whim, some prejudice, some conceit, of which you are, in reality, more tender, than you your children's welfare? To be frank, my own opinion is, that almost

are of

oppresses his animal spirits. But it seems that the plainest declarations of Scripture are to pass for nothing, provided our criminal negligence can find a covering. Many affect to believe, that a child left to himself will bring his parents to honor; will grow up a man of spirit, superior to low and vulgar prejudices. The experience of all ages, however, proves them to be mis

taken, and that in this case, as well as takers, then are ye bastards, and not in others, God is true, and men, when sons. But how many children are there opposed to him, are liars. So true is it amoug us at this day, who from the that a child left to himself bringeth his want of proper chastisement, are more mother, in other words, his parents to like illegitimate than acknowledged shame; that such a child always car-sons; who grow up as untutored as do ries with him the badge of his own and those unfortunate beings alluded to, their disgrace. His want of subordina-cast off from the birth, unacknowleged, tion betrays itself in every successive groping into manhood without a guide, stage of life; at home and abroad; in and without a helper! Need parents to his boyish pastimes, and in the pursuits be exhorted to rescue themselves and of manhood; in private and in public their children from the imputation of relations. How common is it to re-such disgrace?

mark, that such an one shows his bring- Let it be admitted, then, that chiling up; that he betrays his breeding;dren ought to be trained to obedience, that he learned his bad habits at home; and, if necessary, to receive chastiseand to conclude with saying, it is no ment: at what age shall parental auwonder, for his parents always indul-thority be exerted for this purpose? I ged him. Such remarks are not made answer, there is little danger of its bedirectly to the parents themselves; ing exerted too soon; the danger is they, in the mean while, are congratu- altogether on the other side. I know lating themselves secretly, and perhaps not that a child was ever injured by publicly, on their superior wisdom in commencing the habit of obedience managing, or rather not managing their too young; very many have been ruchildren; idolizing them in imganina-ined by neglecting it till too late. A tion, at the expense of their fellows.- child will learn either to obey, or disoNo fault is told a person with more re-bey; there is no middle ground. If he luctance, than that he fails in family learns the first, you have your desire, government; hence he commonly con- and your subsequent task to continue tinues ignorant of his mistake, till some the habit will be comparatively light. flagrant misconduct convinces him of First impressions ought to be good; it, and he is usually brought to shame they are easiest made,and usually strong at a time, and in a manner, which he and abiding. But if the child first achad least expected, and while priding quires the habit of disobeying, you himself that his children thus left to have then not only to teach him a new themselves would bring him to honor. habit afterwards, but have also an old Again, it is commanded, Chasten thy one to obliterate; and you need not be son while there is hope, and let not thy told how much easier it is to establish, soul spare for his crying. That is, de- than to destroy a habit. If a child is fer not this duty until it shall be too taught to obey, and knows of no way late, nor let false compassion keep you to avoid it, he will obey of course, and from its performance. It is here wor-do it cheerfully. If you compel him thy of remark that an Apostle teaches only now and then to listen to your Christians to infer, from the chastise-commands, and suffer him at other ments which they receive, that they are times to do as he pleases, he will obey the children of God, in the same man-you only from compulsion, and never ner, and for the same reason, as they from habit. But in beginning to estabwould infer, that a child which receiv- Jish your authority over him, it is advied correction from an earthly parent, sable that your first commands should was not illegitimate. If ye endure chas- be of the negative kind. Order him tening, God dealeth with you as with not to do a thing, rather than to do it. sons for what son is he whom the fa- You can more easily compel him to ther chasteneth not. But if ye be with desist from an action, than to perform out chastisement, whereof all are parone; and in that way you establish

Сс

your authority to the full as well, for without punishment and without a contest. I have known the experiment to be made in part, and so far with entire success. But on this particular topic, and the subject of education generally, I cannot do so well as to refer my readers to the author himself in his "Letters on Education;" a work which eve

tains more practical good sense on the subject in hand, than I remember to have seen in any other book, the Bible excepted.

you teach him to obey, and that is the whole which you have in view. When once taught to obey your negative commands, he will readily submit to such as are positive. I have known parents spend more time, use severer measures, and put their children to more pain, in endeavoring to procurery parent ought to read, and which contheir submission to one single positive command, and give up the point at last, than would have been necessary to secure their obedience for life, had the|| business been undertaken in season, Many parents will not hesitate to acand conducted properly afterwards.-knowledge themselves culpable in negIt is unnecessary, perhaps impossible, lecting the proper discipline of their to assign any precise age at which this || children. The task, they say, is difficult, work of obedience is to be commen- and one to which they are not equal: ced. It is sufficient to say, that as soon their will is good, but their resolution as a child is old enough to form wishes feeble. Having said this, they seem to that ought not to be gratified, to be feel as if they had disburdened their malignant, obstinate and turbulent, if consciences by so frank a confession, he is crossed in obtaining them, it is and then very quietly pursue the same time to deny him the gratification of path which they had previously trodhis desires, and to restrain his resent-den. But in such a case, something ment which may in consequence en-more is required than empty confessue. If he is old enough to be spiteful,sions of allowed faults, to remedy the and vindictive, when you interfere with mischief which they have occasioned. the objects which he covets, it is time If they have erred, this furnishes no that you teach him self-denial, and re-reason for continuing the error, but a duce him to a better temper. Here be- very strong one for relinquishing it.gin; here interpose your parental au-Nor is proper discipline so difficult a thority; accustom hem to be denied, task as it is represented. The real diffi& to take it patiently; habituate him to culties lie on the other side; the obsubmit his will to yours, and to takeject of discipline is to avoid, not to crepleasure in gratifying you, as well as ate them. Who meets with most diffihimself. My own opinion is, that by culties; the parent who has his chilthe time a child is two years old, the||dren under due subordination, or he important work of securing his obedi- that suffers them to live without any ence may and ought to be accomplish-control? But allow the task to be as ed; often times still earlier; and that difficult as it is represented; are you the business is better and more effectu- unwilling to encounter a few obstacles ally done then, than at a later period. for the sake of your children? Had you It was the advice of the late president || rather ruin them by your neglect, than Witherspoon, that sagacious observer of human nature and truly great man, to begin with the infant, as soon as he should manifest a fondness for a play thing, and, before he should obstinately covet it, to take it from him, and so gradually habituate him to self-denial, and to his parent's authority. It was his opinion that in this way, the child might be taught the habit of obedience

promote their best interests at the expense of a pittance of your present ease? Is a plain and obvious duty to be abandoned, because some trifling obstacle may oppose its fulfilment? The truth is, great numbers of our countrymen have gone very far in the neglect of parental discipline, and are more willing to acknowledge or paliate the fault, than they are to renounce it. Every