3. As the rights and duties of the parent, at one period, are absolute, and at another cease altogether; it is reasonable to infer, that the control of the parent should be exercised on more and more liberal principles, that a wider and wider discretion should be allowed to the child, and that his feelings and predilections should be more and more consulted, as he grows older; so that, when he comes to act for himself, he may have become prepared for the responsibility which he assumes, by as extensive an experience as the nature of the case admits.

4. Hence, I think that a parent is bound to consult the wishes of his child, in proportion to his age, whenever this can be done innocently; and also, to vary his modes of enforcing authority, so as to adapt them to the motives of which the increasing intellect of the child is susceptible. While it is true that the treatment proper for a young man, would ruin a child; it is equally true that the treatment proper for a child, might very possibly ruin a young man. The right of control, however, still rests with the parent, and the duty of obedience still is imposed upon the child. The parent is merely bound to exercise it, in a manner suited to the nature of the being over whom it is to be exerted.

The authority of Instructers is a delegated authority, derived immediately from the parent. He, for the time being, stands to the pupil, in loco parentis. Hence the relation between him and the pupil is analogous to that between parent and child, that is, it is the relation of superiority and inferiority. The right of the instructer is to command, the obligation of the pupil is to obey. The right of the instructer is, however, to be exercised, as I before stated when speaking of the parent, for the pupil's benefit. For the exercise of it, he is responsible to the parent, whose professional agent he is. He must use his own best skill and judgment in governing and teaching his pupil. If he

and the parent cannot agree, the connection must be dissolved. But as he is a professional agent, he must use his own intellect and skill, in the exercise of his own profession, and in the use of it is to be interfered with by

no one.

CHAPTER IV.

THE LAW OF CHILDREN.

I SHALL Consider in this chapter, the duties and the rights of children, and their duration.

First. THE DUTIES OF CHILDREN.

I. Obedience. By this I mean, that the relation between parent and child, obliges the latter to conform to the will of the former, because it is his will, aside from the consideration, that what is required seem to the child best or wisest. The only limitation to this rule, is the limitation of conscience. A parent has no right to require a child to do what it believes to be wrong; and a child has no right in such a case, to obey the commands of a parent. The child must obey God, and meekly suffer the consequences. It has even in this case no right to resist.

The reasons of this rule are manifest.

1. The design of the whole domestic constitution would be frustrated without it. This design, from what has been already remarked, is, to enable the child to avail itself both of the wisdom and knowledge and experience of the parent; and also of that affection which prompts the parent to employ all these for the well-being of the child. But, of these advantages the child can never avail himself, unless

he yield obedience to the parent's authority, until he have acquired that age and experience which are necessary to enable him to direct and to govern himself.

2. That this is the duty of children, is made apparent by the precepts of the Holy Scriptures.

Exodus xx. 12.-Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. This, as St. Paul remarks, Eph. vi, 2, 3, is the only commandment in the decalogue, to which a special promise is annexed.

In the book of Proverbs no duty is more frequently inculcated than this; and of no one, are the consequences of obedience and disobedience more fully set forth.

A few examples may serve as a specimen :

Proverbs i. 8, 9.-My son, keep the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. They shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head (that is a graceful ornament), and chains about thy neck.

Proverbs vi. 20.-Keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother.

Proverbs xiii. 1.—A wise son heareth his father's instructions, but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

The same duty is frequently inculcated in the New Testa

ment.

Ephesians vi. 1.—" Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." The meaning of the phrase, "in the Lord," I suppose to be, in accordance with the will of the Lord.