Grace and Truth Books, n.d., 34 pgs.
Summary: Ryle teaches that parenting is about Christians fulfilling their duty to God and their children by raising them in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Because wisdom is a learned skill about applying the word of God to particular situations (cf. Prov. 26:4-5), Ryle provides general guidelines within a biblical framework:
“As to the best way of punishing a child, no general rule can be laid down. The characters of children are so exceedingly different, that what would be severe punishment to one child, would be no punishment at all to another. . . .Doubtless some parents use bodily correction far too much, and far too violently; but many others, I fear, use it far too little” (24).
Benefits/Determents: An incredible helpful reminder that childrearing is about wisdom and not about following a list of quasi-biblical principles as additions to God’s moral law.