row_ in body and in soul. And that you will only do if
you are happy. The human soul, says a wise man, is like a plant, and
requires _sunshine_ to make it grow and ripen. And the heavenly Father
has given you sunshine in your hearts that you may grow into hearty,
healthy-minded men. If young people have not sunshine enough, if they
are kept down and crushed in youth by sorrow, by anxiety, by fear, by
over-hard work, by too much study, by strict and cruel masters, by dark
and superstitious notions about God's anger, by over-scrupulousness about
this and that thing being sinful, then their souls and minds do not grow;
they become more or less stunted, unhealthy, unhappy, slavish, and mean
people in after-life, because they have not rejoiced in their youth as
God intended them to do.

Remember this, you parents, and be sure that all harshness and cruelty to
your children, all terrifying of them, all over-working of them, body or
mind, all making them unhappy by requiring of them more than the plain
law of God requires; or by teaching them to dread, not to love, their
Father in heaven--All these will stunt and hurt their characters in after-
life; and all are, therefore, sins against their heavenly Father, who
willeth not that one little one should perish, and who will require a
strict account of each of us how we have brought up the children whom He
has committed to our charge. Let their hearts cheer them in the days of
their youth. They will have trouble enough, anxiety enough hereafter. Do
not you forestall the evil days for them. The more cheerful their growth
is the more heart and spirit they will have to face the trials and
sorrows of life when they come.

But further, the text says to the young man, Walk in the ways of thy
heart. That is God's permission to free men, in a free country. You are
not slaves either to man or to God; and God does not treat you as slaves,
but as children whom He can trust. He says, Walk in the ways of thine
own heart. Do what you will, provided it be not wrong. Choose your own
path in life. Exert yourselves boldly to better yourselves in any path
you choose, which is not a path of dishonesty and sin.

Again, says the text, Walk in the sight of thine eyes. As your bodies
are free, let your minds be free likewise. See for yourselves, judge for
yourselves. God has given you eyes, brains, understanding; use them. Get
knowledge for yourselves, get experience for yourselves.