It is true that His promises are
conditional, and their fulfillment depends upon the parent's performance
of his part as the condition, yet to every duty he has attached a promise;
and wherever He has made a promise for us, he has given us the ability to
use the means of securing its fulfillment; and as soon as their conditions
are thus met, they become absolute. "Train up a child in the way he should
go." Here is the duty. "And when he grows old he will not depart from it."
Here is the promise. The condition is, that you discharge the duty. If you
do so, the promise becomes absolute, and shall with certainty be divinely
fulfilled in your child, though the time and manner of this fulfillment may
not meet your expectations.
But some may object to this position, and remind us that pious parents are
known to have ungodly children who died in their sins. They may refer us to
the case of Absalom, and to the sons of Eli. In reply we would state that
this is begging the question. It is here taken for granted that these pious
parents did fulfill the conditions attached to the above promises. This is
a mere assumption; for Absalom was not properly trained; and both he and
the sons of Levi, were ruined by the misguided fondness and extreme
indulgence of their parents. And thus also does the foolish partiality of
many pious parents prevent their fidelity to their children. We must not
think that all pious parents are faithful to their duty to their children.
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