The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-11-08

his soldiers, " Go on" but always "Come
on, Come on, Folto,o me-" And the fame
of Caesar is yet unrivalled. But no where
is example more powerful than in the
family. 1t puts seal upon instruction,
and gives moral force to discipline, that
cannot fail to be effectual. Then bind
your children with this threefold cord
Instruction, Discipline and Example, and
their right conduct will be secured beyond
a peradventure. instruction will secure
the Judgment and conscience; discipline
Will form the habits and will; example will
ratify and confirm the whole. But deny
your children the benefit of good example:
require of them what you fail to practice
pourself, and the Influence of your instruc-
tion and discipline will be like the withs
that bound Sampson when the Philistines
were upon him; it will yield to the first
temptation to evil, and all your labor DO
lost. Charles Wesley puts this matter in
its true light:
and my house will serve the Lord;
But first obedient to his word
must myself appear:
by actions, words and tempers show,
That my heavenly Master know,
And served with heart sincere
must the fair example set:
From those who on my pleasure wait,
The stumbling block remove:
Their duty by my life explain,
And still in all my works maintain,
The dignity of love-"
Parents: give your children the benefit
OF good example, and you will confer on
them greater boon than the accumulated
treasures of earth; you will awaken in their
minds due reverence for your own person
and character; you will thus teach them to
respect the person and character of others;
you will lead them to responsibility and
usefulness in life; and they, in their turn,
will honor your gray hairs; and when you
shall lie down in the grave, they will rise
up and call you blessed. l know of no
higher happiness for parent, in this
world than to see his children grow up
wise, virtuous, and useful; and to feel as
sured, that when he is gone they will
bless his memory and walk in his footsteps.
One thought more. and we have done.
Having been the Instruments of giving
being to your children, your highest duty
now is, to render their being virtuous and
happy. You are justly concerned to pro-
vide for their temporal welfare, and to
have them occupy proper position in
society. But then, you should not forget
that your little ones have an immortality
of being. They appear ON the stage of
life few short years, and then pass
to that state which is eternal. The mo-
mensous question then is this: When
your children shall quit the scenes of earth,
will the light of an eternal day open upon
them? Or, will they sink into the dark
ness of perpetual night? Permit ME to
say, parents: you are now answering that
question, in the way you are training your
children. Yes; you are now stamping
upon them the seaiof their eternal destiny.
You are lifting them to heaven, or sinking
them to hell. You are making existence
to them the greatest possible blessing, or
the greatest possible curse. l beseech
you, parents, lay these things to heart.
And whatever else you give your children,
fail not to give them a proper religious
training. 1t may not be in your power to
give your children wealth, or honor, or
learning; but you can, by Gods blessing,
give them what is better than all these.
You can give them elevation of moral
character; you can give them respecta-
bility In society; you can give them train
ing for Immortality. And to all this you
are urged by every consideration of pater-
nal love, of patriotism, and of religion.
May you SO fulfill your obligation in this
matter, that you, and your loved ones, may
all meet, at last, in that house not made
with hands, eternal In the heavens.
Amen.