“Religious Education of Children,” by John Angell James, 1846

“You should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

Look into some families of professors. Follow them through the history of only one week, and see their worldly-mindedness, gaiety, frivolity, unsanctified tempers, worldly reading, amusements, an homage to talent, low esteem of holiness, negligence of family prayer, neglect of godly instruction to their children –and who can wonder that young people brought up amidst such scenes, do not become piou, but go off into the world, or into sin?

Too often, the children are like their parents.  They bring into the church no higher or better kind of religion than what they have learned at home! And thus, a low tone of piety, a lukewarm Laodicean spirit, is extended and perpetuated.

There must be a revival of piety in the parents! It is vain to expect that a worldly-minded father, whose spirituality, if he ever had any, has been utterly evaporated by the exclusiveness of concern about business and politics. Or a frivolous, pleasure-loving mother, who thinks far more about adorning the bodies of her children, than about saving their souls–should be at all concerned about the pious education of their children.

Recollect what a solemn thing it is to be a parent! What a weighty responsibility attaches to those who have the immortal souls of their children committed to their care!

“You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4