p. 30 | Duties of Parents by C. A. Osgood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1871

Duties of Parents.

By C. A. Osgood

The family relation is one of a very interesting character. How pleasant it is to visit those families where each member fulfills his or her duty to every other member faithfully—where love rules in every heart. And it is still more pleasant to be a member of such a household. Such a family is an honor to the cause of God. But alas! there are disorderly homes among those who are called commandment-keepers! The fifth commandment reads: “Honor thy father and thy mother.” One of the crying sins of these last days is disobedience to parents. This disobedience is, to a great extent, the result of unfaithfulness on the part of parents. Great responsibilities rest upon parents; yet few realize this.

Children should be regarded, not as playthings, or pets, but as moral beings who may be saved, or lost. The early instruction and training of children has very much to do in shaping their future course, and determining their final destiny. This instruction and training, to a great extent, devolves upon parents.

Let us consider some of the things so important to be taught to the young.

To revere God and his worship. They should learn that the Bible is a sacred book; that the Sabbath is a sacred day; and that the worship of God is sacred. They should be taught to behave with propriety during the seasons of morning and evening devotion in the family. Then everything else should be laid aside; and as the word

of God is read, and prayer offered, all should be quiet, and respectful attention should be given to the word and worship of God. How unbecoming on such occasions for some of the children to be absent, and others who are present to be engaged in play, making wry faces, sitting in some strange posture, reading books, or making sport, or talking about passing things around, and paying no attention to the solemn worship of God! And in public worship, there should be order. Noise and confusion ought not to be there.

Children should be taught to treat older persons with proper respect. [In olden times, the young were required to pay especial regard for the “hoary head.” Now little children do not pay so much regard to their grandparents and other very aged persons as they do to children like themselves. Parents are treated by them with great impertinence; contradicted, disobeyed, abused! Among the families of the openly ungodly we expect these things; but such things are disgraceful in the families of Sabbath-keepers! And yet they do occur among us. And parents are responsible for it.

Again, children should be effectually taught obedience in all things. In many houses, family government is a farce, nothing more! The commands of a father or a mother are never enforced. These houses are often scenes of confusion in consequence. Family government is essential to the present and future happiness of both parents and children. There can be no family government worth anything when obedience is not secured. This obedience is not a languid and dilatory yielding to repeated threats; or arguments and persuasions; but a prompt and ready acquiescence in the will of the parent. Without this is secured, all prayers, good instructions, and constant efforts to please and make the children happy, will be of no avail to secure the object.

Parents should commence their efforts to secure obedience at a very early period of the child's life; just as soon as the children can understand what the wishes of the parents are. This should be taught so effectually that the child will feel that he must not disobey. Children in their earliest years naturally look to their parents for instruction. God's law is the great rule of right, by which human beings are to be judged in the last day. How important, then, that all should understand it. It should be taught diligently to children, not merely alluded to occasionally. They should be taught so that they may understand it thoroughly. It should be a theme of discourse “when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” As diligently and thoroughly as the sciences are taught in good schools, should the law of God be taught to our children.

And they should be taught the signs of the times, that they may realize the importance of making haste to be ready to meet our soon-coming Lord. The way of salvation by repentance, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, should be explained to them; and they should be led to Christ, and so gain the favor of God. As time grows shorter, and the day of God comes on apace, parents should hasten to do their duty to their loved little ones, that together they may experience the blessings of salvation, which shall so soon be given to the faithful.

C. A. Osgood.

Rochester, N. Y.