example； is but beckoning to them with the head to show them the way to
heaven； while we take them by the hand and lead them in the way to
hell。〃
We little know the force and power of example。 No one of us can live to
himself in this world； we are always influencing those around us； in
one way or another； either for good or for evil； either for God or for
sin。They see our ways； they mark our conduct； they observe our
behaviour； and what they see us practise； that they may fairly suppose
we think right。 And never； I believe； does example tell so powerfully
as it does in the case of parents and children。
Fathers and mothers； do not forget that children learn more by the eye
than they do by the ear。 No school will make such deep marks on
character as home。 The best of schoolmasters will not imprint on their
minds as much as they will pick up at your fireside。 Imitation is a far
stronger principle with children than memory。 What they see has a much
stronger effect on their minds than what they are told。
Take care； then； what you do before a child。 It is a true proverb； 〃
Who sins before a child； sins double。〃 Strive rather to be a living
epistle of Christ； such as your families can read； and that plainly
too。 Be an example of reverence for the Word of God； reverence in
prayer； reverence for means of grace； reverence for the Lord's day。Be
an example in words； in temper； in diligence； in temperance； in faith；
in charity； in kindness； in humility。 Think not your children will
practise what they do not see you do。 You are their model picture； and
they will copy what you are。 Your reasoning and your lecturing； your
wise mands and your good advice； all this they may not understand；
but they can understand your life。
Children are very quick observers； very quick in seeing through some
kinds of hypocrisy； very quick in finding out what you really think and
feel； very quick in adopting all your ways and opinions。 You will often
find as the father is； so is the son。
Remember the word that the conqueror Caesar always used to his soldiers
in a battle。 He did not say 〃Go forward；〃 but 〃e。〃 So it must be
with you in training your children。 They will seldom learn habits which
they see you despise； or walk in paths in。 which you do not walk
yourself。 He that preaches to his children what he does not practise；
is working a work that never goes forward。 It is like the fabled web of
Penelope of old； who wove all day； and unwove all night。 Even so； the
parent who tries to train without setting a good example is building
with one hand； and pulling down with the other。
XV。 Train them remembering continually the power of sin。 I name this
shortly； in order to guard you against unscriptural expectations。
You must not expect to find your children's minds a sheet of pure white
paper； and to have no trouble if you only use right means。 I warn you
plainly you will find no such thing。 It is painful to see how much
corruption and evil there is in a young child's heart； and how soon it
begins to bear fruit。 Violent tempers； self…will； pride； envy；
sullenness； passion； idleness； selfishness； deceit； cunning； falsehood；
hypocrisy； a terrible aptness to learn what is bad； a painful slowness
to learn what is good； a readiness to pretend anything in order to gain
their own ends；all these things； or some of them； you must be
prepared to see； even in your own flesh and blood。 In little ways they
will creep out at a very early age； it is almost startling to observe
how naturally they seem to spring up。 Children require no schooling to
learn to sin。
But you must not be discouraged and cast down by what you see。 You must
not think it a strange and unusual thing； that little hearts can be so
full of sin。 It is the only portion which our father Adam left us； it
is that fallen nature with which we e into the world； it is that
inheritance which belongs to us all。 Let it rather make you more
diligent in using every means which seem most likely； by God's
blessing； to counteract the mischief。 Let it make you more and more
careful； so far as in you lies； to keep your children out of the way of
temptation。
Never listen to those who tell you your children are good； and well
brought up； and can be trusted。 Think rather that their hearts are
always inflammable as tinder。 At their very best； they only want a
spark to set their corruptions alight。 Parents are seldom too cautious。
Remember the natural depravity of your children； and take care。
XVI。 Train them remembering continually the promises of Scripture。
I name this also shortly； in order to guard you against discouragement。
You have a plain promise on your side； 〃Train up your child in the way
he should go； and when he is old he shall not depart from it〃 （Prov。
22：6）。 Think what it is to have a promise like this。 Promises were the
only lamp of hope which cheered the hearts of the patriarchs before the
Bible was written。 Enoch； Noah； Abraham； Isaac； Jacob； Joseph；all
lived on a few promises； and prospered in their souls。 Promises are the
cordials which in every age have supported and strengthened the
believer。 He that has got a plain text upon his side need never be cast
down。 Fathers and mothers； when your hearts are failing； and ready to
halt； look at the word of this text； and take fort。
Think who it is that promises。 It is not the word of a man； who may lie
or repent； it is the word of the King of kings； who never changes。 Hath
He said a thing； and shall He not do it？ Or hath He spoken； and shall
He not make it good？ Neither is anything too hard for Him to perform。
The things that are impossible with men are possible with God。 Reader；
if we get not the benefit of the promise we are dwelling upon； the
fault is not in Him； but in ourselves。
Think； too； what the promise contains； before you refuse to take
fort from it。 It speaks of a certain time when good training shall
especially bear fruit；〃 when a child is old。〃 Surely there is fort
in this。 You may not see with your own eyes the result of careful
training； but you know not what blessed fruits may not spring from it；
long after you are dead and gone。 It is not God's way to give
everything at once。 〃Afterward〃 is the time when He often chooses to
work； both in the things of nature and in the things of grace。
〃Afterward〃 is the season when affliction bears the peaceable fruit of
righteousness （Heb。 12：11）。 〃Afterward〃 was the time when the son who
refused to work in his father's vineyard repented and went （Matt。
21：29）。 And 〃afterward〃 is the time to which parents must look forward
if they see not success at once；you must sow in hope and plant in
hope。
〃Cast thy bread upon the waters；〃 saith the Spirit； 〃for thou shalt
find it after many days〃 （Eccles。 11：1）。 Many children； I doubt not；
shall rise up in the day of judgment； and bless their parents for good
training； who never gave any signs of having profited by it during
their parents' lives。 Go forward then in faith； and be sure that your
labour shall not be altogether thrown away。 Three times did Elijah
stretch himself upon the widow's child before it revived。 Take example
from him； and persevere。
XVII。 Train them； lastly； with continual prayer for a blessing on all
you do。
Without the blessing of the Lord； your best endeavours will do no good。
He has the hearts of all men in His hands； and except He touch the
hearts of your children by His Spirit； you will weary yourself to no
purpose。 Water； therefore； the seed you sow on their minds with
unceasing prayer。 The Lord is far more willing to hear than we to pray；
far more ready to give blessings than we to ask them；but He loves to
be entreated for them。 And I set this matter of prayer before you； as
the top…stone and seal of all you do。 I suspect the child of many
prayers is seldom cast away。
Look upon your children as Jacob did on his； he tells Esau they are
〃the children which God hath graciously given thy servant〃 （Gen。 33：5）。
Look on them as Joseph did on his； he told his father； 〃They are the
sons whom God hath given me〃 （Gen。 48：9）。 Count them with the Psalmist
to be 〃an heritage and reward from the Lord〃 （Ps。 127：3）。 And then ask
the Lord； with a holy boldness； to be gracious and merciful to His own
gifts。 Mark how Abraham intercedes for Ishmael； because he loved him；
〃Oh that Ishmael might live before thee〃 （Gen。 17：18）。 See how Manoah
speaks to the angel about Samson； 〃How shall we order the child； and
how shall we do unto him？〃 （Judg。 13：12）。 Observe how tenderly Job
cared for his children's souls； 〃He offered burnt…offerings according
to the number of them all； for he said； It may be my sons have sinned；
and cursed God in their hearts。 Thus did Job continually〃 （Job 1：5）。
Parents； if you love your children； go and do likewise。 You cannot name
their names before the mercy…seat too often。
And now； reader； in conclusion； let me once more press upon you the
necessity and importance of using every single means in your power； if
you would train children for heaven。
I know well that God is a sovereign God； and doeth all things according
to the counsel of His own will。 I know that Rehoboam was the son of
Solomon； and Manasseh the son of Hezekiah； and that you do not always
see godly parents having a godly seed。 But I know also that God is a
God who works by means； and sure am I； if you make light of such means
as I have mentioned； your children are not likely to turn out well。
Fathers and mothers； you may take your children to be baptized； and
have them enrolled in the ranks of Christ's Church；you may get godly
sponsors to answer for them； and help you by their prayers；you may
send them to the best of schools； and give them Bibles and Prayer
Books； and fill them