Smyrna times., 1878-12-11
Continued.
The Fatal Consequences of a Neglect
ed Education.

a child left to himself bringeth his
mother TO shame"
We have seen in former article, what is
meant by leaving a child to himself. We
shall now consider some Of its effects.
solomon tells us it "bringeth his mother
to shame" 1t is not said that he bringeth
his mother to sorrow, to trouble, to sore
disappointment, though this is true, and
many are the witnesses and subjects of it,
but bringeth his mother to shame, to dis
grace. Nor is this the only effect to be de-
plored; but solitary one out of many. In
such eases we see the destruction of the
child himself-oi his virtue, usefulness and
happiness. Besides this, look at the many
poisoned. corrupted and ruined by his
perniciOus principles and wicked example
For God has pronounced all such to be a
curse. And zone sinner dcstroycth much
good" But why has the inspired writer
named this particular effect, above all
others, Bringeth his mother to shame"
Doubtless, for the purpose Of producing a
proper degree Of care and anxiety concern
ing the religious education of their children.
| This conviction of duty must be wrought be-
fore mothers will perform it. When was
pastor of the church in the city Of Harris
burg, and had preached upon the religious
| education Of children upon the Sabbath, on
| Monday morning passed by the residence
of lady who was sitting in her front door,
and her little boy, her only child, was play
| ing before the door. She remarked to me,
| | have never given any serious thought
| concerning the religious education of my
child, until | heard you preach yesterday.
Since, | have thought much. Heretofore,
| l felt concerned mainly about his food, raj
ment and general safety, but now feel
must care for his soul also. When about
fifteen years of age he died, very happy in
the faith taught him by his mother. The
| training Of our children in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord is one Of the first and
self.evident duties. Upon its faithful per.
formance, mutually depends the best inter.
ests of parent and child. Therefore paren-
tai dshonor is selected as the penalty we
are to suffer above all others. 1t is the
severest of all punishments-that which a
parent most of all breads, to be disgraced
by your own child. And how affecting the
thought, that the fond parent who now
overlOoks, through a misguided affection
the folies and vices of the child, may at a
period too late for correction, be subjected
to a broken heart, unmitigated reproach
confusion and shame. This most humilia
ting and painful result, can only be Ger
tanly averted by educating the child il
the way he should go. But, why is the
mother named only? Is not the father in
cluded also? | answer yes, for the fathe
and mother are one, and one in duty anC
responsibility but the mother is nameC
because of the peculiar position which sh,
occupies in the domestic constitution. Sh,
is not only the mother, but preminentl,
the divinely authorized teacher and guild
of the children. They are placed in he
hands to train for heaven and the glory O
] God, and fshe neglect them and leave then
in all their weakness and helplessness t
themselves, the penalty will fall upon her
she must bear the shame. Mothers,
> > would have you remember, that the frs
and youngest years Of your children ar
yours, and instead of leaving them relil
| iously to themselves, you must graft tn
tree with the fruit you wish it to bear-yo
must sow the seed you wish the land t
produce. Begin at oncel
Instances of children left to themselve
. bringing their parents TO shame, are r
corded in the Holy Scriptures, and aboun
III all gradatiOns of society, from the higl
10 est to the lowest. None are so high
~ worldly Rosition as not to be reached By i
at none so low as not to have this, the wor
of all earthly Affections, quartered upc
them. There is no escape. Adonijah. II
fourth son Of David, king of Israel, W
left to himself and brought his venerab
father to shame. 1t said that his indu
% gent father never displeased him-nev
n reproved him for any of his faults, howev
|, many and aggravating. His father bell
in feeble health, he conceived the idea
being king OF Israel himself, and drive
father from his throne into exile. In ord
to this, he made all necessary preparatio
4 to seize the throne and declare hms
king. But Nathan the prophet receivi
Sc intelligence of his purpose, informed Dav
through his son Solomon, whom he {
signed for his successor to his thror
3S defeated his plans and saved his faith
Adonijah being of restless, turbule
spirit, was still suspected as to his king
, intentions, and Solomon commanded Bel
=. niah his general to put him to death. I'll
o"' ended child left to himself, with fail
brought to shame.
: Eli, jewish high priest, left his two so
Hophni and Phineas, to themselves, a
was brought to shame by them. Eli wa
o.o good man himself, but his sons were
w" tremely wicked. They INDUCED the
selves in every kind of profanity and s
But their father failed to restrain them,
our even to reprove them sharply. The cor
e. quence was, they were both slain and c