Of Domestical Duties, Treatise 6 · Section 46
§. 46. Of correcting children.
The latter and more proper kinde of correction which is by ſtripes and blowes is alſo a meanes appointed by God to helpe the good nurture and education of children. It is the laſt remedy which a parent can vſe: a remedy which may doe good when nothing elſe can.
It is by the holy Ghoſt both expreſly commanded, and alſo very oft preſſed vnderunder theſe and ſuch like phraſes, bPro. 19. 18.Ch…ſten thy ſonne: c& 29. 17.correct thy ſonne: d& 23. 13.with-hold not correction from the childe: eVerſ. 14.thou ſhalt ſmite him with the rod. Were there no other motiue, this were ſufficient. Gods charge was ſuch a motiue to Abraham, as at it he would hauehave ſacrificed his ſonne: Gen. 22. 2, 3.and wilt not thou at Gods command correct thy childe?
It is further commended by Gods owne example, which is not only ſet forth in ſome particular inſtances, but by his generall conſtant dealing with all, and that as an eſpeciall token and fruit of his louelove. For whom the Lord loueth he chaſteneth, Heb. 12. 6, 8.and ſcourgeth eueryevery ſonne whom he receiueth. If ye be without chaſtiſement wherof all are partakers, then are ye baſtards and not ſonnes. Let this example of God be well weighed, for it is of great weight. Who can better tell what kinde of dealing is fitteſt for children then God? Who can better nurture children then God? Who doth more truly aime at, and procure the good of children then God? Yea who doth more tender children then God? If God the father of ſpirits in wiſdome and louelove thus deale with his children, fathers of the fleſh may not thinke by the contrary to ſhew wiſdome or louelove. Their wiſdome will be folly, their louelove hatred. VponUpon theſe grounds it is taken for a thing granted, that parents (who tender the good of their children as they ſhould) doe chaſtiſe their children as need requireth: for it is ſaid, that the hPro. 3. 12.Lord correcteth whom he loueth, as a father the ſonne in whom he delighteth. If parents vſed it not, this were no good inference to ſay, as a father: againe, as a thing without controuerſie it is ſaid, iHeb. 12. 9.we hauehave had fathers of our fleſh which corrected vsus.
The grounds of the equitie of this dutie, reſpect partly the Reaſons to moue parents to correct.children corrected, and partly the parents that correct. In regard of children, it freeth them from much euill, and worketh in them much good.
Correction is as phyſicke to purge out much corruption 1. Benefits of correction to the parties corrected.which lurketh in children, and as a ſalue to heale many wounds and ſores made by their folly. In which reſpect Solomon ſaith, that kPro. 22. 15.Fooliſhneſſe is bound in the heart of a childe, but the rod of correction ſhall driue it farre from him: and againe, l& 20. 30.The blewneſſe of a wound is a purging medicine againſt euill: ſo doe ſtripes the inward parts of the belly. In regard of the inward operation of this phyſicke, correction is further ſaid to preſerue a childe from death, (mPro. 23. 13. if thou beatest him he ſhall not die) and that not only from temporall death (as many children are thus preſerued from the Magiſtrates ſword) but alſo from eternall death (nVerſ. 14. thou ſhalt deliuer his ſoule from hell.) Note this ye cockering parents, whoſe ouer-much lenitie is very great crueltie. For may we not iuſtly count him a cruell parent, that ſhould ſuffer diſeaſes, boiles, ſores, and wounds to remaine, increaſe, and feſter in his childe, and giuegive him no phyſicke, nor apply any plaiſters, or medicines to him? Nay rather who ſeeth his ſonne running into a flaming fire, or deepe water, and would not hold him backe? Euen ſo cruell, and more cruell are they, who ſuffer their children to runne on in euill, rather then correct them.
Obiect. Who can endure to make his owne childe ſmart, and to put him to paine?
Anſw. The future fruit is more to be conſidered, then the preſent paine. Potions, pills, and coraſiues, are fulſome, bitter, and painfull; but becauſe there is a neceſſitie of vſing them, and great miſchiefe is preuented by the vſe of them, wiſe parents will not forbeare them for the ſenſible bitterneſſe, and paine. Fitly doth the Apoſtle thus anſwer that obiection, No chaſtning for the Heb. 12. 11.preſent ſeemeth to be ioyous, but grieuous; neuertheleſſe, afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſſe. This may be applied to parents corrections as well as to Gods.
The good which correction bringeth to children, is by Solomon noted in this and ſuch like phraſes, The rod giueth wiſdome: Pro. 29. 15.for it maketh children obſerue, what is good, and what euill; what commendable, and what blame-worthy: and accordingly to doe the good, and leaue the euill, which is a great point of wiſdome.
Obiect. Inſtruction will better doe this.
Anſw. Inſtruction may giuegive them more knowledge, but it is correction which bringeth them to practiſe what they know, which is the qMatt. 7. 24.chiefeſt point of wiſdome.
In regard of parents, due correcting of their children both freeth them of many inconueniences, and alſo bringeth to them 2. Benefits of correcting to him that correcteth.much quiet.
1. It ſpareth them much paines. For many admonitions oft repeated, and inculcated againe and againe, will not make many children ſo much to heed wholſome and good aduice, as a little correction. They are much more ſenſible of ſmart, then of words.
2. It preuenteth much griefe, ſhame, and vexation: for rPro. 17. 25.a fooliſh ſonne is a griefe to his father, and bitterneſſe to her that bare him. But it is ſ& 22. 15.the rod of correction that driueth away fooliſhneſſe, and ſo preuenteth that griefe and bitterneſſe.
3. It freeth them from the guilt of their childrens ſinne, ſo as they are not acceſſarie thereto, as tSam. 3. 13.Eli was. For correction is the laſt remedie that a parent can vſe: if by that he can doe no good, it is preſuppoſed that he hath done his vttermoſt endeuour: in which reſpect, though the childe die in his ſinne, yet the parent hath deliuered his owne ſoule.
The quiet which is brought to parents by correcting their children, is thus noted out by Solomon, uPro. 29. 17.Correct thy ſonne, and he ſhall giuegive thee rest, yea he ſhall giuegive delight vntounto thy ſoule. For children well nurtured, and by correction kept in a filiall awe, will ſo carrie themſelues, as their parents may reſt ſomewhat ſecure, and not diſquiet themſelues (as they doe with children ſet at libertie) yea, as trees well pruned, and ground well tilled, they will bring forth pleaſant and abundant fruit; and ſo their parents will hauehave iuſt cauſe to reioyce in them.