Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	affection_n	great_a	see_v	2,872	5	3.1437	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47513	A new family-book, or, The true interest of families being directions to parents and children, and to those who are instead of parents : shewing them their several duties, and how they may be happy in one another : together with several prayers for families and children, and graces before and after meat : to which is annexed a discourse about the right way of improving our time / by James Kirkwood ... ; with a preface, by Dr. Horneck.	Kirkwood, James, 1650?-1709.; Horneck, Anthony, 1641-1697.	1693 (1693)	Wing K647; ESTC R15399	107,616	291

and to do The careful and Religious use of it would tie Children more strictly to mind the great concerns of their Souls it would afford them occasion to consider what it is to have been Baptised and to be a Christian It would work in them a more Powerful Sense of the Obligations of Christianity and make them more careful to live up to that Holy Religion whereof they made so publick a Profession It would make them more afraid to do bad things against which they had protested so solemnly And not only fear but shame in this case would restrain them from doing wickedly This would be to young People a great defence against Temptations Bad Men would not so boldly ask them to sin if they knew they had openly and Solemnly disowned and renounced them and all their wicked Courses and if they were tempted they would be more apt to say in their own minds Shall we do such wicked things and run the hazard of being Covenant-breakers and Perjured Persons Shall we commit such Villanies and practice such Abominations and thereby break our Solemn Vow and Engagement Shall we by our Folly and Impiety give occasion of Offence and Scandal to the Church of Christ which he hath purchased with his Blood Shall we renounce the Captain of our Salvation and prove Deserters who have so lately vowed to renounce the Devil and all his Works What a mighty defence would this be to your Children when Assaulted by the fiery Darts of the Devil the Vanities of the World and the Lusts of their own Deceitful Hearts to consider that by their own actual Consent they have renounced all these and given up themselves into the Hands of God to be kept by his Mighty Power through Faith unto Salvation They have Vowed and they ought to perform it to keep his Righteous Judgments These things being impartially considered should mightily excite Parents to see that their Children do openly and Solemnly pro●ess their Faith in Christ Crucified their Resolution to Obey him to Serve him and Love him to fight under his Banner against Sin the Devil and the World and to continue his Faithful Souldiers and Servants unto their lives end Is not this your Glory that your Children are Christians And do you think it a Shame or Dishonour for you or them if they make a Solemn Profession of their Christianity that they avo● their Religion and will by God's help make good the Promise which was made in their Name in Baptism Of so great Importance is this Custom that the greatest Men amongst the Reformers did highly commend it and did earnestly wish that it might be restored as a thing of great use towards the reviving the true Spirit of Christianity 8. Duty to encourage them to come to the Lord's Table Eightly When they are fit for it you should encourage them to come to the Table of the Lord that they may be strengthened in their most Holy Faith and further assured of the Love of God that they may make a publick Profession of their Christianity of their Love to their Lord and Master Jesus of their Charity to all Men and of their sincere Affection to those who are Christ's Members and Followers They ought to make use of this Holy Sacrament that their Love to their dearest Lord and Saviour may be kindled and enflamed by remembring his Love and shewing forth his Death that they may bind themselves more strictly to Serve and Obey him and to fulfil their Baptismal Engagement How glad should Parents be to see their Children advanced to this Honour to eat and drink at their Lord's Table to partake of so great a Testimony of his Kindness and Friendship How earnestly should they encourage them to embrace this opportunity of renewing their Covenant with the Lord to live and to die his Faithful Servants Do you not desire to have them saved to have them delivered from their Lusts and Passions their Pride and Vanity their Bitterness and Wrath their Malice and Envy and from all manner of Sin and Folly To be made pure and clean in Heart and Life to be made meet for that Holy Place where no unclean thing can enter Do you not desire that their Sins may be blotted out that they may be washed with the Blood of their Saviour And yet do you not advise and entreat them for their Souls Health and Safety to come to the Holy Communion which is designed as a means for these excellent and great Ends and Purposes to as many as are qualified according to the Terms of the Gospel that is who unfeignedly repent of their Sins and believe in the Lord Jesus with all their Heart But alas how far are too many Parents from doing this for their Children How many do either wholly or for the most part neglect and slight this Holy Ordinance themselves as if our Lord had without any just or necessary ground appointed it How can such Persons expect the precious Fruits of the Death of Christ who will not remember his Death when he so lovingly and kindly calls and invites them to do it Do this says he in remembrance of me What a great Argument is it of a wonderful decay of true Piety and Religion in the World when Men do thus despise and set at naught the kindness of their Lord and Saviour When they refuse to do a thing so just and reasonable and so easie as this is which tends so much to his Glory and their own true Happiness and Welfare both here and hereafter 9. Duty to take care that they accustom themselves to Self-Examination Ninthly When they are fit for it see that they accustom themselves to Self-Examination that they spend a few Moments every Night if another time of the Day be not more convenient for them to do it in in calling themselves to an account that they may see what good or what evil they have done that they may give Praise and Thanks unto God for any thing they have done which was good and right and that they may confess their Sins and Follies begging his Gracious Pardon and renewing their Purposes and Resolutions to do better for the time to come But besides these daily short Reviews of their Heart and Life 't is fit to call ●pon them when they are well advanced i● Years to a more strict and Solemn Examination of themselves to Prayer and Fasting as their Age and Strength can bear it This may be done at first once a Month or once i● two Months or once a Quarter at least but after some time it may be done oftner according as your necessary Affairs and your Circumstances in the World will permit They who are Great and Rich ought so much the more frequently to call upon their Children to those private extraordinary Excrcises of Devotion because their outward Estate in the World does ordinarily afford them enough of time and leisure for such Performances if they will but redeem it from Idleness and

2. 24. he said Therefore shall a Man leave his Father and Mother and cleave unto his Wife and they shall be one Flesh. Now by Virtue of this near Relation and close Union they ought to have a tender regard for the Interests and Concerns of one another and the dearer any thing is to the one the greater affection ought the other to have towards it As therefore 't is past all doubt that Children are the dearest and most valued and beloved Earthly thing that Natural Parents have upon this account it is very reasonable that Step-Parents should express a great Regard and Affection for them 2. This is the way to preserve and to increase that mutual Love which ought to be 'twixt Man and Wife If a Step-Parent is kind and loving to the Children and careful to promote their Happiness and Welfare it cannot but have an Influence on the Natural Parent so as to produce an Increase of Love and Respect which will render the lives of the married Persons very easie and comfortable Whereas on the other hand if Step-Parents are rough unkind and unnatural to their Step-Children it must needs cause a great deal of mischief it will certainly cool if not quite alienate the affection of the Natural Parent and when once this happens there is thenceforth nothing but strife and contention jealousies and suspicions which are ordinarily attended with very sad and dreadful effects to the utter Ruin of one or t'other Party if not of both 3. This is the way to make the Children very respectful and kind and very dutiful and obedient to them when they use them kindly are careful to seek their happiness and welfare and carry themselves towards them in all respects as they ought to do Whereas on the contrary by being unkind to them and unconcerned for their happiness and welfare they provoke them to hate them and to prove Disrespectful and Disobedient to them 4. This is the way to gain a great deal of Love and Respect from all those who are Related to the Deceased Parents who cannot chuse but resent it very kindly when they see the Children of their Friends well used and taken care of both as to their Souls and Bodies This will make them ready upon all occasions to serve them and to do them the best Offices which are in their power Whereas on the other hand if they see the poor Children of their Deceased Friends neglected and contemned wrong'd and abus'd by unkind Step-Parents they must needs take it in very ill part and resent it heavily yea and all other Persons who see or hear of such unkindness severity and injustice towards poor Children cannot chuse but think very ill of those who discover themselves to be altogether void not only of Religion but of Humanity also From what hath been said it appears how very just and reasonable it is for Step-Parents to be heartily concerned both for the Spiritual and Temporal welfare and happiness of their Children And therefore how much are they to be Condemned who make no Conscience at all of doing any thing for the benefit of either their Souls or Bodies As to their Souls some Step-Parents are so far from endeavouring to season them with good Impressions and to fortifie them against Tentations that they themselves are their greatest Tentation and do them the greatest hurt and prejudice As to their Bodies they grudge them necessary Food and Rayment and seldom let them have any thing with good will And as to their Outward Estate they are so far from improving for their Advantage the Portion of Worldly Goods that belongeth to them that on the contrary they use their utmost Policy to rob them and to disinherit them that they may build their own Childrens Fortune upon the others Ruin for which end they make it their business to alienate the Affection of their Natural Parent they invent a great many wicked and malicious Stories which with great boldness and impudence they fasten upon them and they never give over working and undermining till they have brought about their cruel and cursed Devices But surely he that sits in Heaven and beholds all their contrivances even he who is the God of Recompences will in due time bring to Light their hidden Works of Darkness and will vindicate the cause of those poor Children and render to their cruel Persecutors according to their Works he will fooner or later cause them to feel the heavy Load of his Just and Terrible Indignation The Duties of Guardians GUardians are either chosen by Parents before their Death or by Children themselves after their Parents Decease or by the Magistrate Which way soever they are chosen their Duty is to do what they can for the benefit and advantage of their Pupils both in Spiritual and Temporal Things As to their Souls they must take care of their good Education according to their Age and Capacity If they are not as yet taught to read they ought to make choice of a skilful and prudent Schoolmaster or Tutor for them of whose fitness for such a Charge they are well assured But they must not so intrust them to the Care of such Persons as never to mind them more themselves They ought to enquire after them now and then and either by themselves or others more fit for it make tryal of their proficiency that so they may be able to judge and resolve what is further to be done for them As for the way of training them up in true Piety the Directions given to Parents are to be observed and practised As to their Bodies the former Directions likewise to Parents concerning Childrens Diet and Apparel ought to be followed As to their outward Estate when they are fit for a Trade or some sort of business they ought to take care to settle them in good Company so far as is possible and in such a way of living as is most agreeable to their Genius and Inclination and which their Friends and Relations reckon most sutable and convenient for them It will afford great peace and satisfaction to Guardians whatever be the Event if in this matter they have a due regard to Childrens own Inclination and to the Opinion of their Friends and Relations As to their Marriage when it is time to dispose of them that way they onght to do nothing by force and violence They must not constrain them to Marry unless they have a mind themselves And tho' they are not bound absolutely to approve of those whom their Pupils fancy without any regard to their fitness yet they are obliged by the Law of Justice and Equity not to impose upon them such Matches as they cannot like As to their Patrimony and Inheritance they ought to improve it as much as may be for the Childrens good and to employ it wholly for their use except so far as the Law does allow them their necessary Charges in which they ought to govern themselves by that Golden-Rule Mat.

consider that they are to be employed in the greatest the most painful and most dangerous work in the World and therefore 3 dly They ought to do all that in them lies to fit and prepare such Children that they may undertake this Sacred Employment as they ought to do More than ordinary care is to be taken that their minds be furnished with good Impressions that they be inspired with a great Love to God and with a mighty Zeal for his Honour and Glory They must be daily trained up in the Practice of Humility of Meekness of Patience of Temperance of Charity and of all other Virtues and Graces they must be kept from seeing and hearing bad things so far as may be their minds must be strongly fortified against Temptations and all that is possible must be done to keep them from the danger that comes from evil Company and corrupt Example They must be entrusted to the good Conduct of Excellent and Worthy Persons by whose means they may be formed to as high a sense of true Piety as may be that so when they come abroad into the World their light may shine before others If Parents who dedicate their Children to the Holy Ministry would in this manner endeavour to act the part of Men who have a lively sense of God upon their Souls who are possessed with a mighty Zeal for his Glory and are earnestly desirous to promote the Kingdom of Jesus Christ we might hope to see very speedily the Blessed Effects of their Pious Endeavours Religion would flourish more than it does at this day and Impiety and Irreligion would not so much Triumph as alas they do Secondly When they are fit for Marriage Parents are so to dispose of them as that in all likelyhood they may be happy in such a state of Life They are not to constrain then to marry against their Will for such Marriages are seldom Happy they end too often in somewhat or other very Tragical and Calamitous to one or t'other Party if not to both Great care is to be taken that there be not too great inequality of outward state and condition for that occasions often neglect and contempt of the Person that is Inferiour to the other in some External Advantages Nor yet too great Inequality of Years for that doth likewise sooner or later cause an Abatement and Decay and sometimes an utter Extinction of that Respect and Love which is necessary to make those who are Married Happy Parents are not in disposing of their Children in Marriage to govern themselves wholly by their respect to Riches and Honour but are to have a regard to Virtue and Goodness so far as to prefer one who is Discreet and Wise of a Virtuous and good Disposition to another that is foolish or indiscreet and Prophane and Atheistical tho' attended with greater degrees of Wealth and Earthly Honour 'T is reported of Themistocles a Famous Athenian Captain that when several young Men came i● Suit of his Daughter he preferred one who was a Wise and Virtuous Person to another that was very Rich. When some People wondered at this choice he told them he had rather have a Man without Money than Money without a Man What a great reproach is it to our Religion to think that so many Parents in disposing of their Children only consider how much Wealth they may have and what Friends and Alliances they may make by marrying into such a Family or what Profits and Preferments may be expected thereby As for any other thing they do not much trouble their heads about it They know no other Happiness but in the things of this life and therefore they seek nothing else for their Children but to make them Great and Wealthy by which means it often comes to pass that they bring their Children into a most miserable and unhappy state of life in which they must pine away their days in Sorrow and Grief in the company of Foolish and Wicked Wretches who are often in a fury and rage who spend their time in Gaming and Drinking in Cursing and Swearing in Quarrelling and Fighting in Whoring and Ranting and such like woful doings which cannot but prove to those who have any the least degree of real goodness so very uneasie and afflictive that Wealth and Riches can make no amends for them Such unfortunate Persons cannot but often envy the happiness of those who are in a very poor and low Estate and Condition but yet live in Peace and Quietness in Love and Concord and in the fear of Cod and so enjoy real satisfaction and contentment and have a great deal of Comfort to sweeten their outward Wants and Necessities For as the Wise Man says Prov. 15. 16 17. Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Better is a Dinner of Herbs where Love is than a stalled Ox and Hatred therewith But besides all this it too often falls out that they who are given in Marriage to Vicious and Profligate Persons are sooner or later involved in those Judgments which are caused by the Sins and Follies of the Persons to whom they are matched 'T is true such Persons have a great deal to support their Spirits if they have not been Partakers with them in their works of Darkness In this case there is no doubt but their Merciful and Gracious God will order what they suffer for their good But alas it too often comes to pass that they who are unequally yoked either with Persons of a false Religion or of a Wicked Life do by degrees degenerate from their strict and Virtuous Education Tho' formerly they seemed to have a right sense of Religion and a great Inclination to the best things yet sooner or later by the Example and Perswasions of their Irreligious and Atheistical Relatives they lose all sense of God and give up themselves to all manner of Wickedness 'T is said of Jehoram who was Educated under a Religious Father Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 21. 6. That he walked in the way of the Kings of Israel like as did the House of Ahab for he had the Daughter of Ahab to Wife c. Where 't is very observable that this unequal Marriage of Jehoram is noted as the cause of his great Wickedness And from the following Verses it appears how many heavy Judgments fell upon him for his Impiety To what hath been said may be added that the hurt and inconvenience attending such Marriages does not only affect the Married Persons themselves but likewise extends to their Off-spring and Posterity who are in great danger of being corrupted as to their Religion and Manners by the Influence and Example of their Parents 'T is observed as one principal cause of the Wickedness of Rehoboam 1 Kings 14. 21. That his Mother was an Ammonitess which is repeated v. 31. to shew us that 't is a matter which deserves to be taken notice of To the same purpose 't

Law of Moses that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest and whithersoever thou turnest thy self That the Lord may confirm his Word which he spake concerning me c. 2 dly Pray to God to bless them to sanctifie them and to preserve them that he would never leave them nor forsake them that he would be their God and Guide and their Portion for ever that he would possess them with his fear and keep them in his love and preserve them from sin and from all their Spiritual Enemies and that he would order all things for their good The fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man availeth much at all times but never more than when he is stepping into Eternity and going to his Heavenly Father Parents therefore at this time ought to be Importunate with God especially for Spiritual Blessings to their Children that he would grant them his Grace to walk in his ways and to keep his Commandments and that his kind Providence may be their Inheritance 3 dly It will be very fit at such a time to commend them to some of your Friends whom you have found true and faithful sincere and upright and kind and loving to you and yours This is especially needful to be done for those Children who are less able to look to themselves 'T will be of unspeakable Advantage to them in many respects to be directed and assisted by those who are their true Friends who by their counsel and advice and by doing other good Offices for them will be as Eyes and Hands and Feet unto them and will prove a defence unto them against a great deal of danger and mischief till such time as they are capable to mind their own Business and are fixt and settled in the World HAving discoursed of the Duties of Natural Parents 't will not be amiss to say somewhat concerning the Duty of those who are in the place of Parents such as Step-Fathers and Step-Mothers or Fathers and Mothers in Law and Guardians And first Concerning the Duties of Step-Fathers and Step-Mothers The first and chief thing which belongs to the care of Step-Parents is to do all that they can for the benefit of their Childrens Souls They ought to endeavour to season their tender minds with the Fear and Love of God to reform what is amiss in their temper and humour by all kind and prudent Methods to teach them to worship God to Remember their Creator in the days of their Youth They ought to see that they be taught to read that they spend the Lord's Day well and that they frequent the place of Publick Worship They ought to make them understand what was promised in their Name at their Baptism and to encourage them to renew their Baptismal Covenant if they have an opportunity They ought to advise them to come to the Lord's Table so soon as they are fit for it and then as also at other times to examine themselves and to call themselves to a strict and serious account They ought to observe what remarkable Mercies and Providences they meet with and to acquaint them therewith so soon as they are capable to reflect on such things They ought likewise to talk to them often of the various Providences which either they have met with themselves or which they have observed in the World that thereby the Childrens minds may be affected with a due sense of the Power the Greatness the Wisdom the Mercy and the Justice of God To render all which endeavours effectual they must be Examples of Piety to them They must see what Company they use and do what they can to keep them out of ill Company and to acquaint them with those who have a sense of good things They must reprove them when it is needful but with great mildness and discretion And as for correcting and chastening of them they ought to leave that part to the Natural Parent if alive but if the Natural Parent be dead then they may correct them when it is necessary according to their Age But in this great caution ought to be used they must do it with the greatest gentleness and tenderness that is possible not only out of Conscience but Prudence to prevent all occasion which a great many are apt to take to reflect upon them and to censure them severely and unjustly when they do any thing that looks like unkindness or sharpness to their Step-Children 'T is therefore very adviseable when Correction is necessary to acquaint some of the Childrens Relations if they be not at too great a distance with their fault and so to correct them by their advice and if possible in their presence that they may be as it were Witnesses of their doing nothing but what is absolutely fit and needful to be done for the advantage of the Children Step-Parents ought also to take the opportunity of their Childrens sickness or of any other Adversity they meet with to set home upon their minds such Admonitions and Counsels as they were not so apt to mind when they were in health And to all their other Endeavours they ought to joyn their daily prayers to God for them that he would bless them and make them his faithful and obedient Children and Servants As Step-Parents ought principally to take care of the Souls of their Step-Children so they must not neglect their Bodies Their Duty as to this is in a word to take care that they have necessary and convenient Food and Rayment As to the outward Estate of Step-Children tho' Parents are not obliged to give them any great Portion of their Worldly Goods especially if they have or are like to have Children of their own to give such things to yet they ought to be careful that the Portions which of right belong to their Step-Children be preserved and improved for their use and advantage according to the Will of the Deceased Parent When they are fit for a Trade or any honest way of getting their Livelyhood they ought to assist them all they can that they may be placed forth as happily and comfortably as may be In like manner when they are fit for Marriage they ought to express a great deal of readiness and chearfulness to serve them to the utmost of their Power they ought to assist them with their best advice and hearty Counsel in a matter of so great Importance And in a word they ought not to be wanting to them in any thing that may be useful and beneficial to them either as to their Souls or Bodies or as to their outward Concerns Some Motives to stir up Step-Parents to do these things It cannot but excite Step-Parents to perform the above-mentioned Duties for the Benefit of their Children both in their Spiritual and Temporal concerns if they seriously consider 1 st The Nature of their Marriage Relation whereby they become one Flesh with those to whom they are married When God made the Woman and brought her to the Man Gen.

7. 12. All things whatsoever ye would that Men should do to you do ye even so to them Some Motives to excite Guardians to do these Things The first thing which should stir up Guardians to perform their Duty towards their Pupils is A Sense of Justice When they are chosen for this End if they have no mind to undertake such a Charge or if they cannot attend it they ought to declare so much and peremptorily to refuse it that so care may be taken to get some other Body who will undertake it But when once they have undertaken it they ought to make Conscience of it and to do all that is in their power for the Childrens welfare and happiness in every thing 'T is both their Duty and Interest to fulfill their Ingagement and to act that part which they have undertaken which if they perform wisely and faithfully then they may expect the Praise Love and Esteem of not only the Children themselves and of their Relations but likewise of all good and worthy Persons who see or hear of their Fidelity and Carefulness for the benefit of their Pupils If Care is not taken in this manner to fulfill what is undertaken to be done and if there is no respect had to Covenants Trusts and Ingagements then the very Foundation of the Happiness of Society is subverted If there is no regard to Truth and Justice what a miserable thing must it be to live in Society To be united by any civil ●yes to those whose Promises and Ingagements are worse than none at all 2. Does not A Sense of Honour oblige Guardians to be careful of their Pupils and true and faithful to them 'T was the Opinion of their kindness and faithfulness and of their fitness and worthiness for such a Charge which made them be chosen before others And therefore if they have any thing in them of true worth if they have any sense of Honour they must needs strive to answer the Expectation of those who have testified so great a value and esteem for them 3 dly Does not Charity oblige Guardians to do these things Orphans have always been reckoned amongst the greatest Objects of Charity especially when they are very Young and are not able either in respect of Body or Mind to do any thing for themselves So great is God's Compassion and Tenderness towards such Children that he has been Graciously pleased to declare himself to be The Father of the Fatherless 'T is therefore the Duty of All who are Followers of God as dear Children especially of those who are chosen to perform so Charitable an Office as this I say it is their Duty to omit nothing that is needful to be done for the benefit of Fatherless Children both in their Spiritual and Temporal concerns We see a very worthy President and Example in Mordecai Esth. 2. Esther's Father and Mother being dead Mordecai took her and she was to him as his own Daughter How careful was he both of her Soul and Body How well did he instruct her As may be easily gathered from her Wise and Pious Carriage and Behaviour And when she was taken from him we find he was still mindful of her for v. 11. 't is said Mordecai walked every day before the Court of the Womens House to know how Esther did and what should become of her We find him likewise from time to time giving her his best Advice how to carry her self and how to glorifie God in that Honourable State to which it had pleased him to raise her How worthy is such an excellent Pattern as this of the imitation of all those who are called to be the Guardians the Guides and Defenders of Fatherless Children And for their encouragement let them consider how richly God did reward the Charity and Piety of Mordecai not only in raising him up to great Honour by Esthers means but also by making her the Instrument of preserving his Life and the Lives of all the Jews who were in the Provinces belonging to Ahasuerus From what hath been said it appears how great Reason there is for Guardians to be true and faithful to the Interests of their Pupils and to do all that ever they can for their Spiritual and Temporal Advantage Now if it be their Duty to do so what shall be said of those who are not only careless of seeking their good but do likewise too successfully seek their hurt and ruine As to their Souls they corrupt and poyson them by their wicked Example and by Atheistical Principles which they instill into them they breed them up in all manner of Licentiousness As to their Bodies they either too far gratifie their vanity and folly or they are too niggardly towards them in withholding from them not only Conveniencies but Necessaries As to their outward Estate they either suffer them to live idly or they put them forth to some Trade or other very unfit and unsutable to them And when they are fit for Marriage they force them to Marry as they think good according as they see it will best serve their own private and worldly base and vile Interests without ever regarding the Happiness of their Pupils As for their Patrimony and Inheritance they are so far from improving it that they impair it wofully and sometimes quite consume and waste it they study a great many Arts and Wiles to ruine the poor Children whom they have got into their merciless hands Instead of proving their Guardians they prove their Robbers instead of being as Parents to them they prove betrayers of them and their most Dangerous and Cruel Enemies But shall they escape who do such things No They shall not He who is the helper of the Fatherless will plead their Cause and will avenge them of those Treacherous and Perfidious Persons For He beholdeth mischief to requite it Ps. 10. 14. I shall conclude this Advice with what is written Ex. 22. 22. c. Ye shall not afflict any fatherless Child If thou afflict them in any wise and they cry at all unto me I will surely hear their cry And my wrath shall wax hot and I will kill you with the Sword And your Wives shall be Widows and your Children Fatherless And Prov. 23. 10 11. Enter not into the fields of the Fatherless for their Redeemer is mighty He shall plead their Cause with thee PRAYERS FOR FAMILIES A Morning Prayer for Parents or Masters of Families with their Family O Most Gracious and Merciful Lord God who affords us thy unworthy Servants the Honour and Liberty of drawing near unto thee Assist us by thy good Spirit to Worship thee with sincere Devotion to lift up Holy Hands without wrath and doubting We acknowledge O Lord we deserve not to appear in thy sight for we are not only Vile and Sinful by Nature being the corrupt Posterity of Sinful Parents but likewise we are Guilty of a great many actual Transgressions in our Thoughts Words and Deeds