They
should furnish them with all the necessary means, opportunities, and
directions, of a Christian education. Give them proper books. "Without
books," says the quaint Bartholin, "God is silent, justice dormant, science
at a stand, philosophy lame, letters dumb, and all things involved in
Cimmerian darkness." Bring them up to the habit of properly reading and
studying these books. "A reading people will soon become a thinking people,
and a thinking people must soon become a great people." Every book you
furnish your child, and which it reads with reflection is "like a cast of
the weaver's shuttle, adding another thread to the indestructible web of
existence." It will be worth more to him than all your hoarded gold and
silver. Make diligent use of those great auxiliaries to home-education,
which the church has instituted, such as Sabbath schools, bible classes and
catechisation.
Home-education does not imply a system of parental training isolated from
the educational ministrations of the church; but is churchly in its spirit
and in all its parts, and should in all respects be connected with the
church. Home training is a duty you owe to the church. By virtue of your
relation to her, she has the authority to demand of you such a training of
your child; and by virtue of your relation to the child, he has a right to
such an education, and can demand it from you. It stands on the basis of
parental duty imposed on you by God Himself.
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