The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-15
For rHE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY.

It requires no labor and little time to
prove that great insensibility and much con-
sequent neglect prevails in regard to the
parental and iial relation.
That the family is a society divinely In
stituted, and as such must be instructed and
governed; and that both the right to rule
and instruct this society devolves upon the
parents, is a truth which few seem to regard
as of much Importance. The prevalent opin-
ion with many is, that the exercise of paren-
tai restraint is an infringement on the right
of children, and tends to eufeeble their spirit
But this view of the case is obviously in
conflict with reason and the law of Cod
This law is immutable, eternal, and the par
ent who from weakness, negligence, or any
other cause disregards it, sows for himself
and children the seeds of future misery, and
viii, sooner or later, find that he is cherish
ing viper, the sting of which viii bring his
grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.
The relation subsisting between the parent
and child is not one of mere convenience or
expedieney, but is part of the constitution
under which God has placed US. 1t is the
relation of a superior to an inferior, impos-
ing on the parent the right to command, and
on the child the obligation to obey. While
this is the relation, the motive which should
control both parties is affection-flial and
parental love.
As this relation is of divine origin, and
as the obligations resulting from it are
equally binding on both parties, the failure
of one does not abrogate or materially weak
en- the obligations of the other. However
disobedient and refractory child may be,
the parent is still bound to seek that childs
real good, and to act parents part in
striving to train it up in the way it should
90. If the parent should be unreasonable
and severe in his demands, yet is the child
bound to love, honor and obey the parent.
Parents should never forget that the safe
ty, respectability aud destiny, Of their chill
dren are, to a great extent, committed to their
hands. If they are neglectful, others viii
be, and the poor, neglected child may say,
" No man cares for my soul, and at once
becomes the victim of evil company, of un-
bridled Iusts, of Satan and of death
The heart of the child is not barren
waste, but field in which the seeds of cor
ruption are already sown, and in which they
begin to vegetate as soon as life begins The
effort to eradicate theseseeds must be prompt,
vigorous, skiIfuI and prayerful. Not one
day nor hour should be lost. now seek to
help in this great work, and would suggest a
few general thoughts both to fathers and
mothers.
/. Parents should guard against thinking
more highly of the persons and intellects of
their children than they ought to think, All
the affections tend to blind or bias the judg-
ment, and none more so than parental love.
This thought should render them distrustful
of their own opinions, and incline them to
think that their admiration may be excessive.
If these extravagant opinions are enter
tanned, the expression of them should be
carefully suppressed, especially in the pres
enoe of the children The seeds of pride
and vanity vegetate at much earlier age
than many suppose.