hands filled； and our minds occupied with something； or else our
imaginations will soon ferment and breed mischief。
And what is true of us； is true of our children too。 Alas； indeed； for
the man that has nothing to do！ The Jews thought idleness a positive
sin： it was a law of theirs that every man should bring up his son to
some useful trade；and they were right。 They knew the heart of man
better than some of us appear to do。
Idleness made Sodom what she was。 〃This was the iniquity of thy sister
Sodom； pride； fulness of bread； and abundance of idleness was in her〃
（Ezek。 16：49）。 Idleness had much to do with David's awful sin with the
wife of Uriah。I see in 2 Sam。 11。 that Joab went out to war against
Ammon； 〃but David tarried still at Jerusalem。〃 Was not that idle？ And
then it was that he saw Bathsheba；and the next step we read of is his
tremendous and miserable fall。
Verily； I believe that idleness has led to more sin than almost any
other habit that could be named。 I suspect it is the mother of many a
work of the flesh； the mother of adultery； fornication； drunkenness；
and many other deeds of darkness that I have not time to name。 Let your
own conscience say whether I do not speak the truth。 You were idle； and
at once the devil knocked at the door and came in。
And indeed I do not wonder；everything in the world around us seems to
teach the same lesson。 It is the still water which bees stagnant and
impure： the running； moving streams are always clear。 If you have steam
machinery； you must work it； or it soon gets out of order。 If you have
a horse； you must exercise him； he is never so well as when he has
regular work。 If you would have good bodily health yourself； you must
take exercise。 If you always sit still； your body is sure at length to
plain。 And just so is it with the soul。 The active moving mind is a
hard mark for the devil to shoot at。 Try to be always full of useful
employment； and thus your enemy will find it difficult to get room to
sow tares。
Reader； I ask you to set these things before the minds of your
children。 Teach them the value of time； and try to make them learn the
habit of using it well。 It pains me to see children idling over what
they have in hand； whatever it may be。 I love to see them active and
industrious； and giving their whole heart to all they do； giving their
whole heart to lessons； when they have to learn；…giving their whole
heart even to their amusements； when they go to play。
But if you love them well； let idleness be counted a sin in your
family。
XII。 Train them with a constant 。tear of over…indulgence。 This is the
one point of all on which you have most need to be on your guard。 It is
natural to be tender and affectionate towards your own flesh and blood；
and it is the excess of this very tenderness and affection which you
have to fear。 Take heed that it does not make you blind to your
children's faults； and deaf to all advice about them。 Take heed lest it
make you overlook bad conduct； rather than have the pain of inflicting
punishment and correction。
I know well that punishment and correction are disagreeable things。
Nothing is more unpleasant than giving pain to those we love； and
calling forth their tears。 But so long as hearts are what hearts are；
it is vain to suppose； as a general rule； that children can ever be
brought up without correction。
Spoiling is a very expressive word； and sadly full of meaning。 Now it
is the shortest way to spoil children to let them have their own
way；to allow them to do wrong and not to punish them for it。 Believe
me； you must not do it； whatever pain it may cost you unless you wish
to ruin your children's souls。
You cannot say that Scripture does not speak expressly on this subject：
〃He that spareth his rod； hateth his son； but he that loveth him；
chasteneth him betimes〃 （Prov。 13：24）。 〃Chasten thy son while there is
hope； and let not thy soul spare for his crying〃 （Prov。 19：18）。
〃Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child： but the rod of
correction shall drive it from him〃 （Prov。 22：15）。 〃Withhold not
correction from the child； for if thou beatest him with the rod he
shall not die。 Thou shalt beat him with the rod； and deliver his soul
from hell〃 （Prov。 23：13…14）。 〃The rod and reproof give wisdom： but a
child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame。〃 〃Correct thy son；
and he shall give thee rest； yea； he shall give delight to thy soul〃
（Prov。 29：15…17）。
How strong and forcible are these texts！ How melancholy is the fact；
that in many Christian families they seem almost unknown！ Their
children need reproof； but it is hardly ever given； they need
correction； but it is hardly ever employed。 And yet this book of
Proverbs is not obsolete and unfit for Christians。 It is given by
inspiration of God； and profitable。 It is given for our learning； even
as the Epistles to the Romans and Ephesians。 Surely the believer who
brings up his children without attention to its counsel is making
himself wise above that which is written； and greatly errs：
Fathers and mothers； I tell you plainly； if you never punish your
children when they are in fault； you are doing them a grievous wrong。 I
warn you； this is the rock on which the saints of God； in every age；
have only too frequently made shipwreck。 I would fain persuade you to
be wise in time； and keep clear of it。 See it in Eli's case。 His sons
Hophni and Phinehas 〃made themselves vile； and he restrained them not。〃
He gave them no more than a tame and lukewarm reproof； when he ought to
have rebuked them sharply。 In one word； He honoured his sons above God。
And what was the end of these things？ He lived to hear of the death of
both his sons in battle； and his own grey hairs were brought down with
sorrow to the grave （1 Sam。 2：22…29； 3：13）。
See； too； the case of David。 Who can read without pain the history of
his children； and their sins？ Amnon's incest； Absalom's murder and
proud rebellion；Adonijah's scheming ambition： truly these were
grievous wounds for the man after God's own heart to receive from his
own house。 But was there no fault on his side？ I fear there can be no
doubt there was。 I find a clue to it all in the account of Adonijah in
1 Kings 1：6； 〃HIS father had not displeased him at any time in saying；
Why hast thou done so？〃 There was the foundation of all the mischief。
David was an over…indulgent father； father who let his children have
their own way； and he reaped according as he had sown。
Parents； I beseech you； for your children's sake； beware of
over…indulgence。 I call on you to remember； it is your first duty to
consult their real interests； and not their fancies and likings；to
train them； not to humour them； to profit； not merely to please。
You must not give way to every wish and caprice of your child's mind；
however much you may love him。 You must not let him suppose his will is
to be everything； and that he has only to desire a thing and it will be
done。 Do not； I pray you； make your children idols； lest God should
take them away； and break your idol； just to convince you of your
folly。
Learn to say 〃No〃 to your children。 Show them that you are able to
refuse whatever you think is not fit for them。 Show them that you are
ready to punish disobedience； and that when you speak of punishment；
you are not only ready to threaten； but also to perform。 Do not
threaten too much。 ＇17＇ Threatened folks； and threatened faults； live
long。 Punish seldom； but really and in good earnest； frequent and
slight punishment is a wretched system indeed。 ＇18＇
Beware of letting small faults pass unnoticed under the idea 〃it is a
little one。〃 There are no little things in training children； all are
important。 Little weeds need plucking up as much as any。 Leave them
alone； and they will soon be great。
Reader； if there