Such a
spiritual patrimony it is within the power of all Christian parents to
bestow. And without its enjoyment by your children, you fail to minister
unto them as a faithful steward of God. You may minister to their bodies
and minds; you may amass for them a fortune; you may give them an
education; you may establish them in the most lucrative business; you may
fit them for an honorable and responsible position; you may leave them the
heritage of social and political influence; and you may caress them with
all the passionate fondness of the parental heart and hand; yet, without
the heritage of true piety,--of the true piety of the parent reproduced, in
the heart and character of the child, all will be worse than vain, yea, a
curse to both the parent and the children.
Having thus briefly pointed out some of the essential features of the
children's patrimony, as physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual, we
shall now advert to the principles upon which parents should proceed in the
distribution of their property to their children.
They should not give them more than a competency. That they should lay by
something for them is conceded by all. This is both a right and a duty. It
is included in the obligation to provide for them; and he who does it not
"hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel." Natural affection, as
well as supernatural faith, stimulates the parent to provide thus for his
offspring.
Pages:
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283