The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 48

is not poss!hlr t'.' tracf> tlw linC's an;l, say wlH'rc parental responsibility ends and the TC'spons1b1hty ut 1he dnkl hcgms. l he two factors are to be reco-'niscd. l\lorcovcr anterior physical causes, operating pe~-1!iciously throug!1 ancestirs, may act dctri~ mentally on the mental and moral cond1t10n. But allowrng for these and otl,er un- traceable clemC'nts of the case, there are causes of this sad featnre of domestic life- I. IN nrn C'HILDnEx. The natural depravity of the heart is a grave fact. It is t lie first foe to be encountered in seeking a child's salvation. Its subtle power is beyond all knowledge. There may not he the complications of wickedness which exist i~ the ~ull-grown_ n~tnre_ of th~ -~dult_ after years of developed sin, but the power 1s persistent and msmuatmg. Eh s cluldren shared this tendency in common with others. The special vropensiJies in!ieri-ted are sometimes very strong, and seL'~1 to parta~e of the force of the old habits of the ancestors from whom they were de1wed .. It 1s also a fact that where a malformation, or unequal development of the phys!ca_l system, su_perYenes on t~1e inhe~itance of special evil propensities, these latter gam immensely m force. A hne of pious ancestors, as a rule, would guarantee freedom _from such abnormal develo_Pments, because continuous piety tends to the symm~tncal development of the entire man ; but occasionally there are backward leaps m nature, and old elements reappear. Possibly some of Eli's blood-relatives were not so good as they ought to have been. No doubt grace can subdue even the worst natures, but the elements referred to must be considered in connection with other causes. II. IN THE TRAINING. It cannot be supposed that Eli was perfect in this respect. Few persons consider how much of care, of wisdom, of forethought, of yearning sym- pathy, of specific, well-adapted guidance, and .of prayer is involved in the "nurture .and admonition" required in training children for God. There may be a fatal lack -of faith in the very possibility of infant piety; an expectation that, as a matter of course, a child v--ill grow up in sin till an age for conversion arrives ; a cold, cruel cast- ing of the spiritual welfare of a child on teachers, attendants,,official aids-the .parent, under pressure of business, declining to bear his offspring ever on his heart before -God ; or a lack of discretion in dealing with each soul according to its temperament: Absence of a mother·s deep and tender interest tells most prejudicially. An unwise method of instilling religious truth; an assertion of mere authority in severe tones; a lnck of discipline to check wrong tendencies; a constant appeal to a sense of fear; an a,oidance of the essential truths of the gospel, or-a low, grovelling representation of them, may create aYersion, awake silent resistance, and finallyset the entire nature against what is falsely supposed to be religion. Perhaps there is no department of religious obligation so little studied as this. The tender, susceptible nature ?f children -cannot be safely trE:ated without much thought and prayer. No wonder if the pro- mise which hangs on a faithful discharge of most delicate and solemn duties carried -on year by year should sometimes not be fulfilled. Parents have need to pray, "Search me and try me." III. IN EXAMPLE. This is part of training, but, as exercising a perpetual and uncon- scious influence, it may be regarded as distinct from direct efforts. Children learn more of religion from what they observe in parents than by any other means. The life they see lived is their d-aily book of lessons. If it is selfish, hard, formal, worldly, no amount of verbal teaching or professed interest will avail. There is no -surer encouragement for a child to despise all religion than a discovery of insincerity in the professioDB of a parent. Real character comes into clear view in the ~ome, and those who. under influence of public considerations, restrain themselves m the world, but give freedom to unhallowed feelings in private, cannot wonder if children -do not covet the piety they witness. IV. IN ASSOCIATIONS. Associations out of the home circle, both in youth and early manhood, exercise much influence over character. It is not every youth that is solely formative on others. Most young people receive more from companion~ than t~ey impart. The good of home may be largely neutralised by the ton~ of soc1e~y outside the home. Eli's sons were not strong enough to counteract the evil tendencies of _the age, and their father erred in not taking precautions adequate to !he occasion. Probably one reason why the sons of good and eminent men s~metime_s beco!lle flotoriously godless is, that the utter absorption of the parent m public affairs, en. 11. 11-2G.J THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 43