True Art

Michelangelo

"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection."

Great Quotations on Biblical Family Life

I came across this on Vision Forum:

Here are a few of the memorable quotations from the Puritans’ (and their Reformer forebears’) rich teaching on the family that were highlighted at the Puritan Family Reformation conference on May 24, 2008:

John Hooper on the father as preacher to his family:

"God Commandeth His Word to be preached in the church, but also in every family and household of whatever degree he [the householder] be. . He should cause his family and children to read some part of the Bible for their erudition to know God. Likewise he should constrain them to pray unto God for the promotion of his holy Word and for the preservation of the governors of the commonwealth, so that no day should pass without prayer, and augmentation of knowledge in the religion of Christ."[1]

William Tyndale on fathers as preachers of the Word:

"Every man ought to preach the Word and deed unto his household, and to them who are under his governance."

Daniel Rogers (son of martyr John Rogers) on marriage:

"Marriage is the Preservative of chastity, the Seminary of the Common-wealth, seed-plot of the Church, pillar (under God) of the world, right-hand of providence, supporter of laws, states, orders, offices, gifts and services: the glory of peace, the sinewes of warre, the maintenance of policy, the life of the dead, the solace of the living, the ambition of virginity, the foundation of Countries, Cities, Universities, succession of Families, Crowned and Kingdomes."[2]

John Knox on the role of a father in his children’s education:

"Every man that is not degenerated to the nature of brute beasts, will appear to bear such love to his children that, to leave them riches in felicity and in good estate, he will patiently suffer troubles, and will do many things for the weal of his children, that otherwise are contrary to his pleasure. . . . Then, God would that the life and conversation of the father to be a schoolmaster to the children. Plain it is, that the true knowledge of God is not born with man, neither yet comes unto him by natural power, but he must have schoolmasters to train him up in that which he lacks. What image do you show to your children; yea, in what estate do you leave them, both touching body and soul?"[3]

The Eternal Child

Every Baby Bears Witness of Christ

Every child is a true St. Christopher--a literal 'Christ carrier.' The light and life of Jesus are within him. Every baby's birth is a message of salvation, as well as a reminder that we need to humble ourselves and become like little children. Maybe this is the secret of the world's progress--that every baby comes into the world with a message of hope and good news, and it can't help but to witness to his parents' hearts. We're also God's children, and He wants us to be like children. That's the message, and the newborn infant never fails to deliver it, even if we ignore it or forget it soon after we hear it. It's good for parents to reflect on these things because the child's state is a holy one, and it's the duty of parents to protect the little heir of blessedness.

Children Are Humble

It isn't possible to treat such a big subject comprehensively, but it might be useful to look at two or three characteristics of the child's state. After all, how can we protect what we don't even recognize, and how can we recognize something that we haven't given a careful look at? The mark of childhood is, more than anything else, humility. What we call innocence probably works like grace--it's offensive to man's nature until he crosses over and accepts and embraces it, and then he recognizes that it's something divine. An old, saintly writer, William Law, has an enlightening thought on this subject of humility: 'There has only been and only will be one humility in the whole world, and that's Christ's humility. No man since the fall of Adam has the smallest amount of humility unless it comes from Christ. Humility is one in the same sense and truth that Christ is one, the Mediator is one, redemption is one . . . There aren't two Lambs of God that take away the sin of the world. But if there was some other humility other than Christ's, then there'd have to be something else that could take away the sin of the world.'
Now, if there's only one humility in the world, and if that humility is Christ's humility, and if Jesus said that little children are humble, it must be because of the divinity that dwells in them. It must be the glory in children that we call innocence.

Humility is the Highest Road to Godly Character

This matter of humility isn't just a path to godly character, but might possibly be the highest road to godly character. It's a noble effort, and we suggest it to parents because we're confident that no endeavor is too difficult, no aim too high for those who are doing the most important part of advancing Christ's Kingdom by raising godly children.

Excerpts taken from Parents and Children Chapter 26 (Modern English version by Leslie Laurio)

Thinking out loud...

I am an ardent blog reader turned blogger. I probably won't blog every day; just when the notion strikes me. How often will remain to be seen.

Things I like to think & talk about.....

God's grace,
wifery,
children,
parenting,
empty-nesting,
family,

friends,

education,

Charlotte Mason principles and methods,
Nature,
books,
music,
cats,
making memories....

Most of all:

"...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Comment if you like or if you don't

SDG,
Jennie