Wesley explicitly rejected reasoning with children in favor of swift physical correction
Evidence
Some persons greatly approve another method, which to me does not appear approvable; namely, to talk to children continually, and reason with them, and gravely show them their faults. This method, in some special cases, may be useful: But I prefer the other, which is shorter, and likewise to be more effectual. Suit the punishment to the offence: Give them no harder usage than is needful. Use them with all the tenderness which is consistent with bringing about the great end. But never let it be said of you, that for fear of giving the child pain you suffered him to perish in his sins. — , The Rod and the Child, 3207
Categorization
- QUESTION: Worth chasing: how did Wesley’s stated preference for physical over verbal correction interact with his own verbose, reasoning-heavy preaching style?
- XREF: connects to: George Fox rejected literal Proverbs rods in favor of inner-light correction — , The Rod and the Child: A Global History…, 3041