I suppose that most professing Christians are acquainted with this text. The sound of it is probably familiar to your ears, like an old tune. But, after all, how little is the substance of this text regarded! The doctrine it contains appears scarcely known; the duty it puts before us seems fearfully seldom practised.
Your own eyes are witnesses that I speak the truth. … We live in days when there is a mighty zeal for education in every quarter; we hear of new schools rising on every side; we are told of new systems and new books for the young, of every sort and description; and still, for all this, the majority of children are manifestly not trained in the way that they should go, for when they grow up to man's estate they do not walk with God.
Come now and let me place before you a few hints about right training. Reject them not because they are blunt and simple; despise them not because they contain nothing new.
First then, if you would train up your children rightly, train them in the way they should go, and not in the way that they would.
Remember that they are born with a decided bias towards evil, and therefore, if you let them decide for themselves, they are certain to choose wrong. The mother cannot tell what her tender infant may grow up to be - tall or short, weak or strong, wise or foolish; he may be any of these things, or not – It is all uncertain. But, one thing the mother can say with certainty, he will have a corrupt and sinful heart. "A child left to himself," says Solomon, "bringeth his mother to shame". It is the sin of man, says Isaiah, that "we have turned every one to his own way". It was an unsatisfactory state of things in Israel when "every man did that which was right in his own eyes". Then be merciful to your child and leave him not to the guidance of his own will. Think for him, judge for him, act for him, just as you would for one weak and blind; but, for pity's sake give him not up to his own wayward tastes and inclinations.
It must not be his likings and wishings that are consulted: he knows not yet what is good for his body. You do not let him decide what he shall eat, and what he shall drink and how he shall be clothed. Be consistent and deal with his mind in like manner. Train him in the way that is right, and not in the way that he fancies.
Train him in the way that he should go, and not in the way that he would.
This Page Title – A Sermon for Parents by J. C. Ryle (Part One) from Proverbs 22 verse 6The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 51 – placed on line November 2004 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |