Ephesians 6:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ye fathers, provoke not your children, &c.— "Ye fathers, be careful not to exasperate your children, by an overbearing and tyrannical behaviour; by rigorous severity; lest by this means you should excite them to such a secret indignation, as may make it difficult for them to restrain those expressions of wrath, which, in such a relation, would be very indecent: and, among other evil consequences of such a conduct, there is great reason also to conclude, that it would naturally prejudice them against Christianity, and thus would bring upon yourselves a share in the guilt of their disobedience, and their ruin." By the nurture and admonition of the Lord, is meant, "Such a course of discipline and instruction as properly belongs to a religious education; which ought to be employed in forming them for the Lord, by layinga restraint upon the first appearances of every vicious passion, and nourishing them with the words of faith, and of good doctrine." See 1 Timothy 4:6.