He knows not how to rule a kingdom, that cannot manage a Province; nor can he wield a Province, that cannot order a City; nor he order a City, that knows not how to regulate a Village; nor he a Village, that cannot guide a Family; nor can that man Govern well a Family that knows not how to Govern himself; neither can any Govern himself unless his reason be Lord, Will and Appetite her Vassals: nor can Reason rule unless herself be ruled by God, and (wholy) be obedient to Him.”
Hugo Grotius, 1654*
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32, NIV
If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?
1 Timothy 3:5 NIV
The Christian Principle of Self-government, at the heart of the Christian Gospel, is the key to solving the prevalent misunderstanding of the Republic in our country and the key to its future.
Teach the children:
- First: Each of us must give account to God.
- Second: We must earnestly seek to know the will of God so that we might obey it.
- Third: When we are not self-governed we are choosing to be externally governed and unable to enjoy liberty.
Consider and Ponder: It is important for children to learn the difference of being controlled, or learning to accept God’s authority in their lives by learning how God governs our hearts, our feelings, our thoughts and our actions if we are in the Will of God. They need to be taught that the external authority of parents and teachers will grow less as they become more and more responsible for what they do.
*Teaching and Learning America’s Christian History: the Principle Approach, p. 188.