The Signs of the Times, vol. 13

“The Fifth Commandment. No. 4” The Signs of the Times 13, 42, pp. 664, 665.

LAST week’s article closed with the Scripture quotation, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him,” and stated that “the rod of correction” is the only remedy that the Bible gives for this universal defect. Of course it is not meant that children shall be ruled by the rod, nor that it is to be wielded so promiscuously and indiscriminately that they shall live in constant dread of it. That would be tyranny. But children must be held accountable for their actions. Strict obedience must be required; and transgression and disobedience must be visited with inevitable penalty. Nor does it follow that every act of disobedience or transgression must be visited with the same invariable penalty of the rod. Yet it is emphatically true that there are times in the life of every child when nothing but a good whipping will meet the requirements of the case; there are times when in no other way can a parent do justice either to himself or to his child. SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.1

We know that in many quarters this idea is considered too old-fogyish for the enlightened progressiveness of this age; and we know likewise that because it is so considered is the very reason of the so widespread defiance of law and discipline of this age in the home, in the school, in the church, and in the State. There is a good deal being said just now about “progressive theology” that is in fact a theology that has progressed, or is fast progressing, beyond the theology of the Bible. Yet just as much might be said, and with a good deal more propriety, of this progressive system of parental discipline, which has “progressed” beyond that laid down in the word of God. In that Bible hand-book of every-day life, the book of Proverbs, there is a good deal said directly upon this subject; and the two sides of the subject are so clearly and forcibly presented that we shall here reproduce them in full. SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.2

“He that spareth his rod hatheth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Proverbs 13:24. “Betimes” means early. “He that loveth him chasteneth him early,” is the real meaning of this phrase. The reason why it should be done early is explained in the next passage: “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Chap. 19:18. Chasten him early, while there is hope,—before he becomes confirmed in the wrong way, for then the habit will be stronger than the impression that will be made by the correction, and more than this, the wrong habit will then be strengthened by a will confirmed in perverseness. Let the principle of obedience and respect for authority be the first that is rooted in the heart of the child, and do not leave him to follow his own way till it is too late to do him any good. Chasten him early, while there is hope. The reason why you are not to “spare for his crying” is manifest,—if you do, it will be but a little while till he will make “his crying” take the place of the correction every time. Let him know that when correction is deserved he will receive what he deserves with no allowance for crying, and your task is half done. SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.3

“Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” Chap. 23:13, 14. “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” Chap. 29:17. SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.4

The good and sufficient reason for all these directions is given in the following: “The rod and reproof give wisdom; but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Chap. 29:15. Yet, evidently true as this is, there are to-day many parents who leave their children to themselves, and the inevitable consequence follows—the parents are brought to shame. Nor is it alone that many children are left to themselves, but we have seen parents who would actually advocate the principle of so doing, some pleading that they could not bear to punish “the dear little things,” and others who seemingly expected to fulfill with the rod the whole course of training, saying that whipping did no good, and both classes saying, “Just let the child alone till he gets older, and then he will know better and do better of his own choice.” So they leave the child to himself, and he brings his mother to shame. How can it be otherwise? How shall the child know better when he grows older if he is not taught better now? No; such ways will never do. The Scripture is right in its direction to “chasten thy son while there is hope.” SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.5

But one of the worst features about the ways of such parents is that they think they love their children, when in fact they hate them. This is the fat, for the Lord says: “He that spareth his rod hatheth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Yet, although the Lord says it, many parents cannot see how they can punish their children and at the same time love them. They cannot as long as they mistake for love the puling sentimentalism which now too often passes for love. But the truth is that no child should ever be punished from any other motive than that of love. Nor should it be alone love to the child, but love to God as well. SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.6

No child should ever be punished in anger, because anger begets anger. Anger in the parent will only tend to provoke anger in the child; and this is directly forbidden by the word of God: “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger,” and the all-important reason is given, “lest they be discouraged.” Colossians 3:21. Whose case is more deplorable than that of the man who is discouraged? He is totally unmanned. He can do nothing for himself, and all efforts of others to get him to do are lost on him. It is not only a cruel but a dreadful thing to discourage a child. But for parents to provoke their children to anger will discourage them, and to punish them in anger will provoke them to anger. The Lord is careful to guard both extremes—leave not the child to himself, but chasten him early while there is hope, lest he bring his mother to shame; provoke him not to anger, lest he be discouraged. Another scripture to the same point is: “Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4. SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.7

But some may ask, “Does the nurture and admonition of the Lord allow chastisement? does it allow the use of the rod?” It certainly does, or the Lord never would have commanded it at all, much less as often as he has. Yet we are not left to even this necessary conclusion: we have the plain word of God to the effect that this is allowable in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Here is the whole subject set forth both in the precept and in the principle, and in such a way that it might be woven into the very texture of the life of all Christians under God, and of all parents over their children. “Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:5-11. And the Faithful and True Witness says: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” Revelation 3:19. Therefore, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. SITI November 3, 1887, page 664.8

J.