Pg. 303

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 303] THE SPOILED CHILD. 15

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 are the truths which my soul loves. We have erred, I think, less in the matter, than in the manner of applying them. Will you, dear Pastor, have the goodness briefly to notice the usual failures here.”

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 “Touching this matter,” said the Pastor, “it is not only our duty, but a pleasure to copy the manner of our divine Master in all points practicable. Now, it must have struck you that our Lord exhibited the most perfect kindness, tenderness, and benevolence, in the whole manner of his instruction. Let us, then, put kindness, tenderness, and benevolence foremost, in the list of the graces of parental government. Let our whole souls flow forth in kindliest emotions. O! let us ever think of the unutterable value of the souls of children entrusted to our care; let us lose no opportunity, let us spare no pains to pluck them as brands from the burning. Let us never cease to woo over their souls to Christ, by our entreaties, by our tears, by our prayers, by our love, by our example. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, let us use the most touching persuasions which the yearning of parental love can suggest.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 2 “But, alas! how often do parents err in this point! The error sometimes arises from an irritable temper; passion overwhelms reason and reflection; we do not stop to recollect how much our own dear parents bore with our waywardness and follies: we forget how much, and how long our heavenly Father has borne with us; we forget how inconsistent is this hasty spirit with the character of Christian parents, who must be ‘apt to teach;’ and therefore, patient and long suffering. The error sometimes proceeds from a failing leaning to virtue’s side. A Christian has warm and strong feelings of piety; these hurry him on; and he does not exercise calm reflection, so as to make the proper and necessary allowances for youth’s thoughtlessness and follies. But did our Father in heaven bear with us? Did our Master forgive us ten thousand talents, and shall we not bear with our children, and forgive them a hundred pence? Shall we, who profess to be the children of the light, not remember that we must subdue the young heart by the discipline of truth, applied with labor and prayer, not by force or the spirit of persecution!