Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

"Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:" avoid all severity; this
will hurt your own souls, and do them no good; on the contrary, if
punished with severity or cruelty, they will only be hardened and made
desperate in their sins. Cruel parents generally have bad children. He who
corrects his children according to God and reason will feel every blow on
his own heart more sensibly than his child feels it on his body. Parents are
called to correct, not to punish, their children. Those who punish them do
it from a principle of revenge; those who correct them do it from a
principle of affectionate concern.
Mrs. Wesley taught her children from their earliest age their duty to
their parents. She had little difficulty in breaking their wills, or reducing
them to absolute subjection. They were early brought by rational means
under a mild yoke; they were perfectly obsequious to their parents; and
were taught to wait their decision in every thing they were to have, and
in every thing they were to perform. They were taught also to ask a
blessing upon their food, to behave quietly at family prayers, and to
reverence the Sabbath. They were never permitted to command the
servants, or to use any words of authority in their addresses to them. Mrs.
Wesley charged the servants to do nothing for any of the children unless
they asked it with humility and respect: and the children were duly
informed that the servants had such orders. This is the foundation, and
indeed the essence, of good breeding. Insolent, impudent, and
disagreeable children are to be met with everywhere; because this simple,
but important, mode of bringing up is neglected. "Molly, Robert, be
pleased to do so and so," was the usual method of request both from the
sons and the daughters; and because the children behaved thus decently,
the domestics reverenced and loved them; were strictly attentive, and felt
it a privilege to serve them. They were never permitted to contend with
each other: whatever differences arose the parents were the umpires, and
their decision was never disputed. The consequence was, there were few
misunderstandings among them, and no unbrotherly and vindictive
passions; and they had the common fame of being the most loving family
in the county of Lincoln! How much evil may be prevented, and how
much good may be done, by judicious management in the education of