Train up your children while they are young

I recently read this advice from a man named Richard Baxter. He lived around the 1600s and this is his advice to parents regarding work and children:

"Train up your children in a life of diligence and labor, and do not accustom them

to ease and idleness when they are young.

Many children are taught no calling, nor exercised in any employment,

but only such as is fit for nothing but ornament and recreation at the best.

Recreation should have but a small proportion of their time.

By the sin of their parents, many are early engaged in a life of idleness, which afterward

is almost impossible for them to overcome.

They are taught to live like swine or vermin-which live only to live,

and do small good in the world by living.

They rise, and dress, and adorn themselves, and go to dinner, and thence to cards (or PlayStation or xbox) or chat (txt) and idle talk. Then to supper, and to chat again, and then to bed.

This is the lamentable life of too many who have great obligations to God.

Richard Baxter

Work, it's a good thing..

a very good thing.

Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work, that he may have something to distribute to someone in need. - Ephesians 4:28