STRICTNESS OF DISCIPLINE.
By J. Clarke
We say sometimes, of those who are very particular and careful in discipline, that they are very strict. And we admire the trait if it is well tempered with good sense and a kind regard for the feelings of others, if it does not descend to fault-finding, and does not mistake the meaning and motives of such as may seem to need advice. Sometimes a mother is so anxious for the good behavior of her child that she fairly persecutes the poor thing, and is continually correcting it. It is never doing right, nor out of mischief; for all it does seems to be improper in her eyes. Soon she loses the child's affection and respect, and all good, rational authority is at an end. Such a child will be happy to be free from a parental restraint where no traces of affection appear, and the worry of doing right makes it almost a pleasure to do wrong. And as a willful lie meets no greater reproof than the accidental fall of a glass tumbler, perhaps less, the child's moral sense is necessarily very much perverted, the conscience is blunted, and the feelings are rendered obtuse. Strictness of discipline, to have the best tendency, should be tempered with the purest love and the greatest wisdom; for ignorance will cause mistakes; and mistakes in discipline are, if often committed, grave errors, becoming very offensive and annoying to the injured party, and being often followed by rebellion and hard feelings. David had the most complete control over his people. He was strict in discipline. He, however, was very cautious of censure. His ablest general was at heart wicked, and his offenses were many; yet David bore long with him. David says of those in authority, in 2 Sam. 23:3–4, “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” None but God could frame counsel for men in authority so gentle and wise as this. After the fitful, unsteady, tyrannical discipline of Saul, the predecessor of David, it must have been a delightful change to the people of Israel, when David took the charge of the armies and of the people. The great secret of David’s success in governing his people was in the fact that he loved God supremely; and consequently he had wisdom given him from God. He kept up continually (with few exceptions) a close and constant connection with Heaven, and light from that glorious place constantly illuminated his mind. Most of his moves were so replete with wisdom and good sense that his people were delighted with their government and their king. But human nature is ever the same, obdurate and hard to be governed; and the troubles David had with his rebellious subjects attest the fact that no government, however good, will in the end please all. Some will ever be found who will foment discord and dissension. Submission, humility, and love are essential to the happiness of all. If it is necessary for those in authority to possess these good, noble, and God-like traits, it is just as necessary for the governed to be imbued with the same characteristics. The general prosperity of David’s reign and of the early part of Solomon’s was attributable to the fact that the people were then more faithful and devoted to God. A continual revival attended these years of spiritual and temporal prosperity; souls were converted; God was honored, and everything was prosperous. But when Solomon fell into sin, his people also relapsed; religious dearth followed, and then came anarchy and rebellion. The Jews, after their captivity, became a very particular people; but they did not take care to live near to God. Their strictness was admirable if it had been kept within proper bounds; but as they were not filled with love to God, Satan took the advantage, and they were left to make mistakes. In their comments on the law, they made many unimportant additions, which paved the way for the terrible apostasy of later times. Strictness in spiritual things is necessary; it is indispensable; but God must be honored in it all. The great mistake of the Jews was, they allowed self and selfish feelings and interests to get in the way. God was not loved above all other objects; then it was that tradition took the uppermost seat. When the humble Jesus came along, these traditions were in his way and had to be corrected. Alas, for the strict Jew then! He had not humbled himself before God. He had, for many years, prided himself upon his strictness of principle and life. Now came one who required something more; yes, far more. Jesus required love to God. A great gap was now seen between Jesus and the Jews. They had been many years traveling out of the way; the distance now was great; they could not see the great error of their lives. Alas, for them! love to God was not the highest love. They thought to win Heaven by strict attention to secondary matters. The love of God and of man dropped out of the heart; malice came in, and the Jews ceased to be the chosen people of God. J. CLARKE.