§. 58. The power, then, that parents have over their children arises from that
duty which is incumbent on them, to take care of their offspring during the
imperfect state of childhood. To inform the mind, and govern the actions of
their yet ignorant nonage, till reason shall take its place and ease them of
that trouble, is what the children want, and the parents are bound to. For God
having given man an understanding to direct his actions, has allowed him a
freedom of will and liberty of acting, as properly belonging thereunto within
the bounds of that law he is under. But whilst he is in an estate wherein he
has no understanding of his own to direct his will, he is not to have any will
of his own to follow. He that understands for him must will for him too; he
must prescribe to his will, and regulate his actions, but when he comes to the
estate that made his father a free man, the son is a free man too.
