Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Habits of virtue are of the same nature with dexterity in the mechanical or other arts. Would we acquire this dexterity, we must exercise ourselves early and constantly whether in the virtues or the arts. It is necessary for us to train up children to virtue with all possible care from their earliest infancy, and continually to exercise them in it, if we would have them truly virtuous persons. To do this we should find out their temperament, and conduct ourselves accordingly: we should habituate them to act from principle and design; we should teach them to be attentive to the consequences of their actions; we should strive to make their duty their pleasure. Further rules are — 1. Inure them from their earliest infancy to obedience and submission. 2. Inspire them with a predominant love for truth, for sincerity and frankness. 3. Train them to diligence, to method, and to industry in their affairs. 4. Be very careful to bring them up to humility and modesty. 5. Endeavour to inspire them with a sincere affection and hearty good-will towards all mankind, without distinction of rank, of religion, of country, or of outward fortune. 6. Neglect not to train them to compassion and benevolence. 7. Train them to patience in sufferings, to fortitude and courage in misfortune, to a steady and intrepid behaviour in all situations. These qualities and virtues are indispensably necessary to us in our present state. We must learn first to practise them in trivial matters if we would do so afterwards in riper years and more important emergencies. (G. J. Zollikofer.) Parallel Verses KJV: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.WEB: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. |
    |