by long life and prosperity? The answer is, that this, like all other such promises, is a revelation of a general purpose of God, and makes known what will be the usual course of his providence. That some obedient children are unfortunate and short lived, is no more inconsistent with this promise, than that some diligent men are poor, is inconsistent with the declaration, ‘The hand of the diligent maketh rich.’ Diligence, as a general rule, does secure riches; and obedient children, as a general rule, are prosperous and happy. The gen- eral promise is fulfilled to individuals, just so far “ as it shall serve for God’s glory, and their own good.”
V. 4. The duty of parents, who are here represented by the father, is stated in a negative and positive form. And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath. This is what they are not to do. They are not to excite the bad passions of their children by severity, injustice, partiality, or unreasonable exercise of authority. A parent had better sow tares in a field from which he expects to derive food for himself and family, than by his own ill conduct nurture evil in the heart of his child. The positive part of parental duty is expressed in the comprehensive direction, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκτρέφετε αὐτὰ ἐν παιδείᾳ καὶ νουθεσίᾳ Κυρίου, i. 6. educate them, bring them up, developing all their powers by (ἐν instrumental) the in- struction and admonition of the Lord. Παιδεία is a comprehensive word; it means the traiming or education of ὦ child, including the whole process of instruction and discipline. Nov@ecia, from νουθετέω (νοῦς, τίθημι) to put in mind, is included under the more general