Page:The Life and Works of Christopher Dock.djvu/103



It is, beyond dispute, one of the first duties of parents and rulers to rear and rule their children and subjects in the fear of God. This, above all else, requires our greatest diligence and care in a twofold, yea, threefold manner: First, we shall look upon them as precious gifts which God has entrusted to us, not only that we should play with them and have in them our temporal delights, but that we are under obligation to exert every effort to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephes. vi, 4.) Knowing that we shall be called to account for all that is given us, for unto whomsoever much is given, whatever it may be, of him shall much be required. (Luke xii, 48.) A pious teacher writes that parents may earn heaven or hell by their children, just as they bring them up.

Second, in addition to this, therefore, is required not only a formal admonition; “Not so, my children, do not such evil things,” as did the old priest Eli in I Saml. ii, 23, etc., nor with constant nagging or beating whereby children are incensed to anger, but rather an earnest admonition to the Lord, with sound punishment if these admonitions are not sufficient to suppress evil, and a good, steadfast life in godliness; for bad examples ruin more than all good precepts combined can build up. Children keep a