but a child after all；that he thinks as a child； he understands as a
child； and therefore must not expect to know the reason of everything
at once。
Set before him the example of Isaac； in the day when Abraham took him
to offer him on Mount Moriah （Gen。 22。）。 He asked his father that
single question； 〃Where is the lamb for a burnt…offering？〃 and he got
no answer but this； 〃God will provide Himself a lamb。〃 How； or where；
or whence； or in what manner； or by what means；all this Isaac was not
told； but the answer was enough。 He believed that it would be well；
because his father said so； and he was content。
Tell your children； too； that we must all be learners in our
beginnings；that there is an alphabet to be mastered in every kind of
knowledge； that the best horse in the world had need once to be
broken；that a day will e when they 。will see the wisdom of all
your training。 But in the meantime if you say a thing is right； it must
be enough for them；they must believe you； and be content。
Parents； if any point in training is important； it is this。 I charge
you by the affection you have to your children； use every means to
train them up to a habit of faith。
IX。 Train； them to a habit of obedience。
This is an object which it is worth any labour to attain。 No habit； I
suspect； has such an influence over our lives as this。 Parents；
determine to make your children obey you； though it may cost you much
trouble； and cost them many tears。 Let there be no questioning； and
reasoning； and disputing； and delaying； and answering again。 When you
give them a mand； let them see plainly that you will have it done。
Obedience is the only reality。 It is faith visible； faith acting； and
faith incarnate。 It is the test of real discipleship among the Lord's
people。 〃Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I mand you〃 （John
15：14）。 It ought to be the mark of well…trained children； that they do
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