Pg. 306

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 18 THE SPOILED CHILD. [306

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 “And finally, my friends, a painful defect shows itself in the want of a proper unity between the parents. One parent scolds when he ought to administer solemn but affectionate rebukes; while the other parent takes the child’s part, and makes an apology for it: one of the parents corrects in wrath; the other interferes, and pities the ‘poor child ’ and insists that it shall not be corrected. The child thus creates an insurrection in the family, and contrives to escape in the unseemly brawl. The result is, that he laughs at the weakness of both parents, and soon begins to set parental authority at defiance.”

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 While the Pastor was uttering the last three specimens of parental delinquency in the manner of conducting family discipline, the elder and his wife, having turned their eyes mutually on each other with more of sorrow than reproach, began to testify their unaffected grief: they were both bathed in tears. It had occurred to them that this was the main origin and source of the evil which they were now bitterly deploring.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 Toward evening the Pastor, previous to his departure, took some pains to find out the youth; and bringing him in, placed him by his father’s side, and addressed another of his pastoral admonitions to him. There was a dignity in the Pastor’s manner which seldom failed to command the awe and attention of this young man, when in his common moods. It is true, he had insulted him in the field, but it was in a gust of passion, which was now, for a season at least, soothed into a calm. But the Pastor knew not the depth of that youth’s depravity: he was silent, but unsubdued.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 2 The Pastor commenced his address to him in a tone of unaffected tenderness, while he sought to conceal the tears which coursed down his cheeks: but it had no effect on him. He rose by degrees into the most touching pathos, as he addressed himself to the youth’s conscience: then he spread out before his mind the terrors of the law and the majesty of the Almighty; and told him of the coming hour of death, of judgment, and an eternal retribution.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0 “My poor boy!” cried the Pastor, with the utmost tenderness, “I will not fail to tell thee thy duties, whether thou wilt hear, or whether thou