The Formation of the Minds of Children
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.


1. Repress not their curiosity or their inquisitiveness. It is in itself no fault. It is rather a strong impulse and an excellent means to become intelligent and wise.

2. Accustom your children or your pupils to the use of their senses; teach them to apprehend justly.

3. Beware of giving them false or not sufficiently precise ideas of any matter, though of never so trifling import.

4. Set them to learn nothing which, either on account of their tender age or from the want of other kinds of knowledge necessary to that purpose, they cannot comprehend. Measure not their capacities by yours.

5. Endeavour not only to increase and extend their knowledge, but likewise to render it solid and sure. It is far better for them to know a few things thoroughly than to have only a superficial acquaintance with many.

6. Guard them from being hasty in forming conclusions, and avail yourself of all opportunities for leading them, by observations, to circumspection and precision in their inferences and judgments.

(G. J. Zollikofer.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

WEB: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.




The Formation of the Hearts of Children
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