But in saying this I think we must bear in mind that it is rather a point of Christian prudence than of Christian principle, and be therefore extremely careful in condemning the conduct of those who differ from us. It is possible that a truly Christian person may think that he has discovered a safe stopping place in the sliding scale; and, if so, we must be careful how we blame him for conformity to the world, if he goes up to what he considers the safe limit. We may entirely differ from him, and believe that he is walking on very dangerous ground. But he may still be sound in principle, and sincerely anxious not to be conformed to the world. (6.) But the next suggestion is one of principle, and of the utmost importance to the practical consideration of the subject; viz., this: _That no amusement should be entered into by young persons without the full and hearty concurrence of their parents_. By ‘full and hearty concurrence’ I do not mean reluctant permission, almost extorted from them by the fear of paining their children; but I mean that real approval which makes the young persons’ pleasure theirs. I am persuaded that in such matters the young Christian cannot well make too much of his parents’ wishes. I am prepared to adhere to this even in those cases in which I believe the young person to be right, and the parent mistaken. Of course if a clear command from God were involved, the authority of God must overrule that of a parent; but if the question turn on some point which the Word of God has left undecided, then surely the young person is called to yield. To take an example. A daughter is convinced of the great Scriptural principle, ‘Be not conformed to this world,’ and on the strength of it wishes to give up balls. But her mother wishes her to accept an invitation to one, and there is a collision between the judgment of the child and the will of the mother. How, then, should that young person act? It is an open question so far as the Scripture is concerned, whether going to balls is conformity to the world. The young person thinks it is, as I do. But after all, this is human opinion; whereas it is a Divine command to honour the father and the mother. But in all cases the human opinion must give way to the Divine authority, and therefore the right course appears to be for the young Christian, under such circumstances, to say to her mother with the utmost affection and most dutiful respect, that she wishes from a sense of duty to abstain from such amusements; but that, if her mother requires it as an act of filial obedience, she is ready as a child to obey. I have given this advice to many young persons, and I never knew an instance in which I had occasion to regret it. But surely the same advice must be given when it acts in the contrary direction, and, as long as young people are under their parents’ roof, even though they may differ from them, the parents’ wish must be held supreme.