"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the
land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
We are living in dark days on this question too. It really seems as if
the days the apostle Paul wrote about are upon us: "In the last days
perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, _disobedient to
parents, unthankful_, unholy, _without natural affection_, despisers
of those that are good, . . . ." If Paul was alive to-day, could he
have described the present state of affairs more truly? There are
perhaps more men in this country that are breaking the hearts of their
fathers and mothers, and trampling on the law of God, than in any
other civilized country in the world. How many sons treat their
parents with contempt, and make light of their entreaties? A young man
will have the kindest care from parents; they will watch over him, and
care for all his wants; and some bad companion will come in and sweep
him away from them in a few weeks. How many young ladies have married
against their parents' wishes, and have gone off and made their own
life bitter! I never knew one case that did not turn out badly. They
invariably bring ruin upon themselves, unless they repent.