Nurturing Piety and Character in Children: A Puritan Perspective

Children are a heritage from the Lord, and as stewards of these precious souls, parents bear the solemn duty of cultivating their hearts in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The wise man declares, Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Prov. 22:6). This holy charge must be undertaken with diligence, prayer, and unwavering faithfulness.

The Duty of Early Instruction

From their earliest years, children must be instructed in the ways of God. Their minds are tender and susceptible, and thus, the truths of Scripture should be instilled with both gentleness and firmness. The Apostle Paul exhorts parents, Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). The soul of a child, like soft wax, takes the impressions of instruction, whether good or evil. If left untended, sin will take root and flourish as weeds in an uncultivated field.

Frequent readings of the Holy Scriptures, along with the singing of psalms and hymns, are powerful means to impress divine truth upon young minds. Parents should also catechize their children, helping them to grasp the doctrines of faith in a structured manner. The great Puritan Thomas Watson wrote, To teach children the knowledge of God is one of the greatest mercies. Indeed, such training prepares the soul for a lifetime of walking in obedience to God.

The Power of Example

Instruction alone will not suffice if parents do not themselves walk in holiness. A father who commands piety yet lives in worldliness preaches with hypocrisy, and such duplicity will not escape the discerning eyes of children. Let parents, therefore, be earnest in their own devotion, diligent in prayer, and careful in their speech, for children will learn more by what they see than by what they hear. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).

Mothers and fathers should exemplify patience, humility, and charity. The Puritan Richard Baxter noted, The husband and wife must walk as those who desire to help each other towards heaven. A home filled with reverence for God is the best school for raising godly children. Mealtime prayers, family devotions, and steadfast service to the Lord provide children with an anchor for their souls.

The Discipline of Love

Correction, when necessary, must be administered with wisdom and love. A child left to his own way brings shame, but excessive harshness may drive him to despair. The rod of discipline, tempered with kindness, instructs the heart and turns the child from folly. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (Heb. 12:6). Parents must strive to balance firmness with tenderness, ensuring that correction leads to repentance, not resentment.

A child must learn early that sin has consequences. However, discipline must always point them to Christ, the only true remedy for their sinful nature. Let chastisement be accompanied by instruction in the mercy and grace of God, teaching the child that the love of the Lord surpasses all human failings.

The Call to Prayer

No labor of the hand nor instruction of the mind can yield fruit unless the Spirit of God moves in the heart. Parents must, therefore, be fervent in prayer, committing their children unto the Lord. Let them daily plead for grace upon these young souls, knowing that salvation is of the Lord. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it (Ps. 127:1). May every parent kneel before the Throne of Grace, crying out for the eternal welfare of their children.

Prayers should be both personal and corporate. Parents ought to pray with and for their children, beseeching the Lord to grant them wisdom, strength, and a heart that seeks after righteousness. Church attendance and the fellowship of the saints further reinforce these spiritual disciplines.

The Fruits of Godly Parenting

When children are raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they become instruments of His grace in the world. They are trained not only to obey their parents but to honor God in all things. Such training yields a harvest of righteousness, and parents shall one day see the fruits of their labor in their children’s steadfast faith.

As the Puritan John Flavel wrote, The souls of children are the most precious treasures a parent can guide toward heaven. May Christian parents remain faithful in their charge, never wearying in their labors. For the Lord has promised, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Gal. 6:9).

Conclusion

The nurture of children in piety and godliness is a work of eternal consequence. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are children in their youth (Ps. 127:4). Let them be aimed heavenward through sound instruction, godly example, loving discipline, and fervent prayer. In this, parents shall not only fulfill their duty but shall also, by God’s grace, rejoice to see their children walking in truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 1:4).

May every Christian parent take up this holy charge with reverence and devotion, trusting in the Lord for wisdom and strength. The eternal souls of their children depend upon it.