How shall I govern my children, so as
to secure their virtue and happiness?
for this is right." Ephesians 6:1
How shall I govern my children, so as
to secure their virtue and happiness?
OBEDIENCE is absolutely essential
to proper family government. Without this,
all other efforts will be in vain. You may
pray with, and for your children; you may
strive to instruct them in Christian truth;
you may be unwearied in your efforts
to make them happy, and to gain their
affection. But if they are in habits of
disobedience, your instructions will
be lost, and your toil in vain!
And by obedience, I do not mean
languid and dilatory yielding
to repeated threats--
but prompt and cheerful
acquiescence to parental commands.
Neither is it enough that a child should
yield to your arguments and persuasions.
It is essential that he should submit
to your authority.
The first thing therefore to be aimed at,
is to bring your child under total subjection.
Teach him that he must obey you.
Never give a command that you
do not intend to be obeyed!
There is no more effectual way
of teaching a child disobedience,
than by giving commands that you
have no intention of enforcing.
A child is thus habituated to disregard
its mother; and, in a short time,
the habit becomes so strong and
the child's contempt for the mother
so confirmed, that entreaties and
threats are alike unheeded.
Accustom him to immediate and
cheerful acquiescence to your will.
This is obedience. And this is absolutely
essential to good family government.
Let it be an immutable principle in family
government, that your word is law!
a child left to himself disgraces his mother."
Proverbs 29:15
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GraceGems has published John Abbott's superb article,
"The Mother's Authority". Must reading for all parents!
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