DearMyBrotherandsisters:--

　　Incompliancewithanintimationgivensometimesince,thatIshould,Godwilling,addresssomeletterstoparents,Iwillnowcommencetheseries,withhopeofpromotingtheinterestsoftherisinggeneration.IshallcommencewithremarksuponProv.6:22:"Trainupachildinthewayheshouldgo;andwhenheisold,hewillnotdepartfromit,"andshallthrowmylettersuponthistextsomewhatintotheformofasermon.IndoingwhichIshallendeavortoshow,

　　I.Whatisimpliedintrainingupachildinthewayheshouldgo.

　　1.Itimpliessuchthoroughinstructionastorootandgroundthemincorrectviewsoftruth,andinrightprinciplesofaction.IfyouconsultthemarginalreadingofyourBibleyouwillperceive,thatthewordrendered"train"inthetext,isinthemarginrendered"catechise."TheideaisthatwhichIhavesuggested,tothoroughlyinstructtheminthegreatprinciplesofrighteousness.

　　2.Itimpliessuchthoroughgovernmentastorootandgroundthemincorrecthabitsinallrespects,suchashabitsofcheerfulobediencetoparents,correcthabitsinrespecttoearlyrising,earlyretiringtorest,correcthabitsinregardtotakingtheirmealsatstatedhours,andinrespecttothequantityandqualityoftheirfood,habitsofexerciseandrest,studyandrelaxation.Inshortalltheirhabitscomprisingtheirwholedeportment.

　　3.Itimpliesthetrainingthemtoaknowledgeof,andconformitytoallthelawsoftheirbeing,physicalandmoral.Thisisthewayinwhichtheyshouldgo,anditisinvaintoexpecttotraintheminthewaytheyshouldgo,withoutgivingthemthoroughinstructioninrespecttothelawsoftheirbodiesandminds,thelawsofnaturalandspirituallifeandhealth.

　　4.Itimpliesnotonlygivingthemthoroughinstructionintheserespects,butthethoroughgovernmentofthemandtrainingtheminallthingstoobservetheselaws.

　　II.Iwillnoticeseveralthingstobeavoidedintrainingupchildreninthewaytheyshouldgo.

　　1.Avoidinyourselfwhateverwouldbeinjuriousinthemtocopy,anddonotsupposethatyoucanyourselfbeguiltyofperniciouspractices,andbyyourpreceptpreventtheirfallingintothesame.Rememberthatyourexamplewillbemoreinfluentialthanyourprecept.Iknewafatherwhohimselfusedtobaccobutwarnedhischildrenagainstitsuse,andevencommandedthemnottouseit,andyeteveryoneofthemdiduseitsoonerorlater.Thiswasasmightbeexpected.Iknewamotherwhousedteaherselfbutwarnedherchildrenagainstitassomethingunnecessaryandinjurious,especiallytoyoungpeople,butallherchildrenfellintotheuseofitofcourse.Thefactisthatherexamplewasthemostinfluentialandimpressiveteaching.

　　2.Avoidallconversationintheirpresence,upontopicsthatmaymisledthem,andbegetinthemacavilingandwickedspirit,suchasallsectarianconversation,unguardedconversationuponthedoctrineofdecreesandelection,speakingofneighbors'faults,orcensoriouslyofanyhumanbeing.Inshortwhatevermaybeastumblingblocktotheirinfantminds.

　　3.Avoidalldisagreementbetweentheparentsinregardtothegovernmentofthechildren.

　　4.Avoidallpartialityorfavoritisminthegovernmentofthem.

　　5.Avoidwhatevermaylessentherespectofthechildrenforeitherparent.

　　6.Avoidwhatevermaylessentheauthorityofeitherparent.

　　7.Avoidwhateve