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It is really pitiable to find so large a proportion of young parents who
seem to think that but little instruction can be imparted, and in fact
that but little is needed in the care and management of _infants_,
whereas their education commences, in very many respects, and in a very
important sense, as soon as they are born.
Man is a complex being, composed of mind, soul and body, mysteriously
united as to their functions, in beautiful harmony with each other, yet
so distinct as absolutely to require widely different methods of
training, that each shall do its office without encroaching upon the
others, and in a way to secure a symmetrical character.
No wonder the proper training of children should become painfully
interesting to Christian parents, when they consider the pains-taking,
the watchfulness, the restraints, the self-denial, and the encouragement
which may be requisite for this. The faith and prayers which may be
necessary to bring their children into the fold of the Good Shepherd,
who in his last commission to his disciples did not forget to remind
them, saying, "Feed my lambs," and whose promise and prediction, before
his coming into the world, was, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings
I have _ordained_ praise." The Scriptures inform us that it was the
purpose of God when he "set the solitary in families," to "seek a goodly
seed.
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