whatsoever their parents mand them。 Where； indeed； is the honour
which the fifth mandment enjoins； if fathers and mothers are not
obeyed cheerfully； willingly； and at once？
Early obedience has all Scripture on its side。 It is in Abraham's
praise； not merely he will train； his family； but 〃he will mand his
children； and his household after him〃 （Gen。 18：19）。 It is said of the
Lord Jesus Christ Himself； that when 〃He was young He was subject to
Mary and Joseph〃 （Luke 2：51）。 Observe how implicitly Joseph obeyed the
order of his father Jacob （Gen。 37：13）。 See how Isaiah speaks of it as
an evil thing； when 〃the child shall behave himself proudly against the
ancient〃 （Isa。 3：5）。 Mark how the Apostle Paul names disobedience to
parents as one of the bad signs of the latter days （2 Tim。 3：2）。 Mark
how he singles out this grace of requiring obedience as one that should
adorn a Christian minister： 〃a bishop must be one that ruleth well his
own house； having his children in subjection with all gravity。〃 And
again； 〃Let the deacons rule their children and their own houses well〃
（1 Tim。 3：4…12）。 And again； an elder must be one 〃having faithful
children； children not accused of riot； or unruly〃 （Tit。 1：6）。
Parents； do you wish to see your children happy？ Take care； then； that
you train them to obey when they are spoken to；to do as they are bid。
Believe me； we are not made for entire independence； we are not fit for
it。 Even Christ's freemen have a yoke to wear； they 〃serve the Lord
Christ〃 （Col。 3：24）。 Children cannot learn too soon that this is a
world in which we are not all intended to rule； and that we are never
in our right place until we know how to obey our betters。 Teach them to
obey while young； or else they will be fretting against God all their
lives long； and wear themselves out with the vain idea of being
independent of His control。
Reader； this hint is only too much needed。 You will see ninny in this
day who allow their children to choose and think for themselves long
before they are able； and even make excuses for their disobedience； as
if it were a thing not to be blamed。 To my eyes； a parent always
yielding； and a child always having its own way； are a most painful
sight；painful； because I see God's appointed order of things inverted
and turned upside down；painful； because I feel sure the consequence
to that child's character in the end will be self…will； pride； and
self…conceit。 You must not wonder that men refuse to obey their Father
which is in heaven； if you allow them； when children； to disobey their
father who is upon earth。
Parents； if you love your children； let obedience be a motto and a
watchword continually before their eyes。
X。 Train them to a habit of always speaking the truth。 Truth…speaking
is far less mon in the world than at first sight we are disposed to
think。 The whole truth； and nothing but the truth； is a golden rule
which many would do well to bear in mind。 Lying and prevarication are
old sins。 The devil was the father of them；he deceived Eve by a bold
lie； and ever since the fall it is a sin against which all the children
of Eve have need to be on their guard。
Only think how much falsehood and deceit there is in the world！ How
much exaggeration！ How many additions are made to a simple story！ How
many things left out； if it does not serve the speaker's interest to
tell them！ How few there are about us of whom we can say； we put
unhesitating trust in their word！ Verily the ancient Persians were wise
in their generation： it was a leading point with them in educating
their children； that they should learn to speak the truth。 What an
awful proof it is of man's natural sinfulness； that it should be
needful to name such a point at all！
Reader； I would have you remark how often God is spoken of in the Old
Testament as the God of truth。 Truth 。seems to be especially set before
us as a leading feature in the character of Him with whom we have to
do。 He never swerves from the straight line。 He abhors lying and
hypocrisy。 Try to keep this continually before your children's minds。
Press upon them at all times； that less than the truth is a lie； that
evasion； excuse…making； and exaggeration are all halfway houses towards
what is false； and ought to be avoided。 Encourage them in any
circumstances to be straightforward； and； whatever it may cost them； to
speak the truth。
I press this subject on your attention； not merely for the sake of your
children's character in the world；though I might dwell much on
this；I urge it rather for your own fort and assistance in all your
deal…lugs with them。 You will find it a mighty help indeed； to be able
always to trust their word。 It will go far to prevent that habit of
concealment； which so unhappily prevails sometimes among children。
Openness and straightforwardness depend much upon a parent's treatment
of this matter in the days of our infancy。
XI。 Train them to a habit of always redeeming the time。 Idleness is the
devil's best friend。 It is the surest way to give him an opportunity of
doing us harm。 An idle mind is like an open door； and if Satan does not
enter in himself by it； it is certain he will throw in something to
raise bad thoughts in our souls。
No created being was ever meant to be idle。 Service and work is the
appointed portion of every creature of God。 The angels in heaven
work；they are the Lord's ministering servants； ever doing His will。
Adam； in Paradise； had work； he was appointed to dress the garden of
Eden； and to keep it。 The redeemed saints in glory will have work；〃
They rest not day and night；〃 singing praise and glory to Him who
bought them。 And man； weak； sinful man； must have something to do； or
else his soul will soon get into an unhealthy state。 We must have our
hands filled； and our minds occupied with something； or else our
imaginations will soon ferment and breed mischief。
And what is true of us； is true of our children too。 Alas； indeed； for
the man that has nothing to do！ The Jews thought idleness a positive
sin： it was a law of theirs that every man should bring up his son to
some useful trade；and they were right。 They knew the heart of man
better than some of us appear to do。
Idleness made Sodom what she was。 〃This was the iniquity of thy sister
Sodom； pride； fulness of bread； and abundance of idleness was in her〃
（Ezek。 16：49）。 Idleness had much to do with David's awful sin with the
wife of Uriah。I see in 2 Sam。 11。 that Joab went out to war against
Ammon； 〃but David tarried still at Jerusalem。〃 Was not that idle？ And
then it was that he saw Bathsheba；and the next step we read of is his
tremendous and miserable fall。
Verily； I believe that idleness has led to more sin than almost any
other habit that could be named。 I suspect it is the mother of many a
work of the flesh； the mother of adultery； fornication； drunkenness；
and many other deeds of darkness that I have not time to name。 Let your
own conscience say whether I do not speak the truth。 You were idle； and
at once the devil knocked at the door and came in。
And indeed I do not wonder；everything in the world around us seems to
teach the same lesson。 It is the still water which bees stagnant and
impure： the running； moving streams are always clear。 If you have steam
machinery； you must work it； or it soon gets out of order。 If you have
a horse； you must exercise him； he is never so well as when he has
regular work。 If you would have good bodily health yourself； you must
take exercise。 If you always sit still； your body is sure at length to
plain。 And just so is it with the soul。 The active moving mind is a
hard mark for the devil to shoot at。 Try to be always full of useful
employment； and thus your enemy will find it difficult to get room to
sow tares。
Reader； I ask you to set these things before the minds of your
children。 Teach them the value of time； and try to make them learn the
habit of using it well。 It pains me to see children idling over what
they have in hand； whatever it may be。 I love to see them active and
industrious； and giving their whole heart to all they do； giving their
whole heart to lessons； when they have to learn；…giving their whole
heart even to their amusements； when they go to play。
But if you love them well； let idleness be counted a sin in your
family。
XII。 Train them with a constant 。tear of over…indulgence。 This is the
one point of all on which you have most need to be on your guard。 It is
natural to be tender and affectionate towards your own flesh and blood；
and it is the excess of this very tenderness and affection which you
have to fear。 Take heed that it does not make you blind to your
children's faults； and deaf to all advice about them。 Take heed lest it
make you overlook bad conduct； rather than have the pain of inflicting
punishment and correction。
I know well that punishment and correction are disagreeable things。
Nothing is more unpleasant than giving pain to those we love； and
calling forth their tears。 But so long as hearts are what hearts are；
it is vain to suppose； as a general rule； that children can ever be
brought up without correction。
Spoiling is a very expressive word； and sadly full of meaning。 Now it
is the shortest way to spoil children to let them have their own
way；to allow them to do wrong and not to punish them for it。 Believe
me； you must not do it； whatever pain it may cost you unless you wish
to ruin your children's souls。
You cannot say that Scripture does not speak expressly on this subject：
〃He that spareth his rod； hateth his son； but he that loveth him；
chasteneth him betimes〃 （Prov。 13：24）。 〃Chasten thy son while there is
hope； and let not thy soul spare for his crying〃 （Prov。 19：18）。
〃Foolishness is bound in t