The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 19

XXI. That it is required of Fathers to keep their Children under discipline. And ye also, O Fathers, reprove and instruct your children, that they keep the commandment of the Lord, and follow the way of Christ. And command them that they learn some art and labour of the hands, and that they sit not idle; for so will their hearts be lifted up, and they will depart from doing that which is good. Wherefore instruct them diligently, and spare not to correct them; for children die not by correction, but are thereby saved from condemnation. For he saith. Keep not back thy rod from thy son, for thy hope is good: if thou beat him with the rod, thou hast saved his soul from death. And moreover he saith. He that correcteth not his son, is a fool. Beat thy son, and scourge his sides, while he is young; lest he become hardened, and go astray from thee. He that correcteth not his son, hateth him. Teach then your children the word of the Lord; and correct them from their youth with sharp correction, that they may become humble, and obedient to every one. Teach them to write, and to read the Holy Scriptures; and leave them not to live' in idleness, lest they neglect and transgress your commandments. Neither suffer them to enter the house of the seller of strong drink; lest they be polluted, and corrupted with fornication. For if the fathers neglect to teach them, they will become partakers in sin with their children. And when they come to the maturity of youth, let each take unto him a wife in a pure union, lest the desires of youth and of fornication assault them, and they fall into transgression; for the Lord will for this require the sin at the hand of their fathers, in the day of recompence.