Dangers of the Young
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from the hearts of careful, faithful parents. Yet even then the labor of
the parents must not cease. The children then should not be left to take
their own course, and always choose for themselves. They have then
just commenced the warfare in earnest against sin, pride, passion, envy,
jealousy, hatred, and all the evils of the natural heart. And parents
need to watch and counsel their children, and decide for them, and
show them that if they do not yield cheerful, willing obedience to
their parents, they cannot yield willing obedience to God, and it is
impossible for them to be Christians.
Parents should encourage their children to confide in them and
unburden to them their heart griefs, their daily little annoyances and
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trials. If they do this, the parents can learn to sympathize with their
children, and pray for them and with them, that God would shield and
guide them. They should point them to their never-failing Friend and
Counselor, who will be touched with the feelings of their infirmities.
He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.
Satan tempts children to be reserved to their parents, and choose
their young and inexperienced companions as their confidants; such
as cannot help them, but give them bad advice. Young girls and boys
get together and chat, and laugh, and joke, and drive Christ out of
their hearts, and angels from their presence, by their foolish nonsense.
Unprofitable conversation upon the acts and doings of others, small
talk about this young man, or that girl, withers noble, devotional
thoughts or feelings, and drives good and holy desires from the heart,
and leaves it cold and destitute of true love for God and his truth.
Children would be saved from many evils if they would be more
familiar with their parents. Parents should encourage in their children a
disposition to be open and frank with them, to come to them with their
difficulties, and when they are perplexed as to what course is right to
lay the matter just as they view it before their parents, and ask advice
of them. Who are so well calculated to see and point out their dangers
as godly parents? Who can understand the peculiar temperaments
of their own children as well as they? The mother who has watched
every turn of the mind from infancy, and is acquainted with the natural
disposition, is best prepared to counsel her children. Who can tell as
well what traits of character to check and restrain, as the mother, aided
by the father?