This will guard you against unscriptural expectations. It is painful to see how much corruption and evil there is in a young child’s heart and how soon it begins to bear fruit: violent tempers, self-will, pride, sullenness, passion, idleness, selfishness, deceit, cunning, falsehood, hypocrisy, a terrible aptness to learn what is bad, a painful slowness to learn what is good, and a readiness to pretend anything in order to gain their own ends. You must not think it strange and unusual that little hearts can be so full of sin. It is the only portion which our father Adam left us; it is that fallen nature with which we come into the world.
Never listen to those who tell you your children are good and well brought up and can be trusted. At their very best they want only a spark to set their corruptions alight. Parents are seldom too cautious. Remember the natural depravity of your children, and take care.
“Cast thy bread upon the waters,” says the Spirit, “for thou shalt find it after many days” (Eccl. 11:11Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1)). Many children, I doubt not, shall rise up in the day of judgment and bless their parents for good training, who never gave any signs of having profited by it during their parents’ lives. Go forward then in faith, and be sure your labor shall not be altogether thrown away. Three times did Elijah stretch himself upon the widow’s child before it revived. Take example from him and persevere.