Life Lord be Gracious to all Mankind pity those who are in a State of Ignorance and Barbarity and send the glad tidings of Salvation to them Grant that they who have this Blessed Light of the Gospel may walk honestly as in the Day that others seeing their good Works may glorifie thee our Heavenly Father Lord cleanse thy Church from the many and great Sins which abound in her Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity Have Mercy on these Sinful Lands Give Repentance to all sorts of Persons amongst us that all of us may search and try our ways and turn again to thee Lord turn us that we may be turned and draw us that we may run after thee and follow thee fully Be Gracious to our King and Queen direct and prosper them in all their good Designs make them the happy Instruments of promoting Religion amongst us Bless the rest of the Royal Family Guide ouâ— Judges and Magistrates Grant that they may Execute Justice without Respect of Persons Sanctifie and assist all thy Ministers make them Diligent and Faithful grant that their Endeavours for the good of Souls may be attended with great Success Raise up many Faithful Pastors to feed thy Flock with Wisdom and Vnderstanding Shew thy Pity upon all who are any ways afflicted or distressed in Mind Body or Estate Sanctifie their Afflictions unto them give them Patience under them and a Happy Issue out of them Let thy Blessing be upon this Family let no harm come near our Dwelling this Night or at any time Lord bless our Children take them into thy Gracious Protection give them a Heart to Fear and Love thee cause them to Remember thee their Creator in the days of their Youth possess them with a deep sense of thy Infinite Power Wisdom Faithfulness and Love that they may walk before thee in Holiness and Righteousness all their Days Be thou their God and Guide and Portion for ever Bless all others for whom we are obliged to pray to thee bless them and us in our Souls and Bodies and in all our Interests and Concerns Blessed be thy Name for bringing us safely through the past Day for preserving us from a great many Dangers and for bestowing upon us innumerable Mercies Preserve in us an Affectionate and Grateful Remembrance of all thy undeserved kindness to us Lord watch over us this Night refresh us with comfortable Rest and Sleep defend us from all the Powers of Darkness save us from all vain and sinful thoughts from all sad accidents and from every evil thing When thou seest fit to remove us out of this vain World translate us into that Blessed and Happy State which thou hast prepared for thy Ransomed Ones And if thou art pleased to prolong our time grant that we may spend it to good purpose in such Designs Words and Actions as may tend to thy Honour and Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. In whose Blessed Name and Words we continue to pray as he hath taught us saying Our Father c. A short Prayer for the Morning or Evening when through Extraordinary Occasions there is not time for the other O Lord our God look down with an Eye of Pity upon us thy unworthy Servants this Morning Pardon us the many Sins whereof we are Guilty before thee in our Thoughts Words and Deeds Have Mercy upon us and be reconciled to us through Jesus Christ thy dear Son Sanctifie and assist us by thy Holy Spirit that for the time to come we may do thy Will and seek thy Glory We bless thy Name for all thy Mercies especially for thy wonderful Love in Christ Jesus whom thou hast sent into the World to die for us to purchase for us an Everlasting Kingdom Give us Grace firmly to believe in him heartily to love him and constantly to obey him Grant that it may be our sincere Endeavour to follow his Blessed Example in all Lowliness and Self-Denyal in Meekness and Patience in Charity and Compassion in Sincerity and Vprightness in Temperance and Soberness in Thankfulness and Contentedness in Purity and Holiness in Watchfulness and Circumspectness and in fervent and prudent Zeal for thy Honour and Glory O Lord we bless thee for bringing us safely through the last Night Watch over us this Day Keep us mindful of thy All-seeing Eye that we may avoid every thing that is displeasing to thee Be Gracious to all Mankind Have Mercy on these Lands Bless and Guide our Rulers and all thy Ministers Be near to all who are in trouble and Sanctifie their Afflictions to them Be with our Friends and Relations every where Bless them and us with all things needful for our Souls and Bodies Make us sensible of our Frailty and Mortality give us Grace so to number our Days that we may apply our Hearts to Wisdom When this vain and short Life is at an end make us Partakers of Everlasting Life and Happiness through Jesus Christ our Lord who hath taught us when we pray to say Our Father c. SOME FORMS OF PRAYER WHICH Parents may teach their Children according to their Age. A Morning Prayer to be taught Children when they begin to speak O Lord I praise thee for all thy Mercies and for thy Care of me this Night Watch over me this Day Forgive me all my sins and make me thy Child for Jesus Christ's sake This Prayer may be used likewise at Night only changing that Petition watch over me this Day into watch over me this Night When Children come to be four or five years old the following Prayer may be used O Lord my God what shall I render unto thee for all thy Mercies I bless thee for giving me Life and all things needful to keep me alive But above all I bless thee for sending Christ to dye for me that he might wash me with his Blood and make me fit for the Kingdom of Heaven For his sake have mercy upon me and forgive me all my sinful thoughts words and deeds Give me Grace to serve thee as I ought to do that I may not do nor say a naughty thing lest thou be angry with me and cast me into Hell fire Lord bless and preserve my Father and Mother and all my Friends and Relations I praise thee O God for preserving me this Night watch over me this day save me from every evil thing Good Lord hear me and grant me whatever thou knowest to be best for me for Jesus Christ's sake in whose holy Name and Words I pray Our Father c. This Prayer may be likewise used at Night by changing only two words and saying instead of preserving me this night preserving me this day and instead of watch over me this day watch over me this night A Morning Prayer for Children when they come to twelve or fourteen years of Age sooner or later according to the ripeness of their understanding LORD teach and assist me by thy
when I came forth out of Egypt c. And v. 14. And it shall be when thy Son asketh thee in time to come saying What is this to wit that is said about setting apart unto the Lord the First-born That thou shalt say unto him by strength of Hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt from the House of Bondage And it came to pass when Pharaoh would hardly let us go that the Lord slew all the First-born in the Land of Egypt Therefore I Sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the Matrix but all the First-born of my Children I redeem Likewise Josh. 4 6 7. 'T is said When your Children ask their Fathers in time to come saying What mean you by these Stones Then ye shall answer them that the Waters of Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord when it passed over Jordan And these Stones shall be a memorial unto the Children of Israel for ever See also Exod. 10. 1 2. Joel 1. 2 3 4. From all which it appears how important and necessary a Duty it is for Parents to acquaint their Children with the Providences of God a due sense whereof will above all other things tend to make them wise and good Some Directions to Parents how to render their Endeavours effectual Now to render your Admonitions and all other Endeavours effectual for the good of your Children First you must give them good Example when you bid them read or pray or partake of the Holy Sacrament or attend the publick Worship you must so far as is needful and fit do the same things your selves When you exhort them to be humble to be of a mild and gentle Temper to bear patiently uneasie things to be sober and temperate to be Charitable to the Poor to judge favourably of those who differ from them in small matters not to be unkind or uncivil to any tho' they agree not in their Opinion with them in some lesser points of Religion but to love all those who fear and love God and who are Followers of Jesus Christ. I say when you direct and exhort your Children to do such things you must joyn with your Instructions a suitable Example let it appear to them that you your selves are Humble Mild Patient Sober Charitable Kind and Loving to all who are sincerely Pious and Virtuous without making any difference on the account of Indifferent things I mean such things which God hath neither commanded nor forbidden This is the only way to make your Instructions and Admonitions successful when in this manner you go before them your selves in the way wherein you desire them to walk Children learn more by the Eye than by the Ear if they see you do contrary to what you advise them they will be apt to think you do not believe what you say or that you are very cruel and unmerciful towards them to bind heavy Burdens upon them and not to touch them your selves And if you should constrain your Children to do what you do not your selves what would it signifie It would only make them Hypocrites and Dissemblers to do that which they have no Heart unto and which they are not perswaded to be their Duty Such Children when once the restraint and force which is upon them is removed will be sure to give themselves the full swing in all manner of Folly they will do those things which they have seen in you and learned by your Example But if you shine before your Children in the constant Practice of true Piety walking in the Fear of God and in Obedience to all his Holy Commandments your Example will propagate Religion more effectually than all the Admonitions and Instructions in the World And besides the Influence which your Pious Example is apt to have on your Childrens lives this is the way for you to entail a Blessing on your Posterity The Just Man saith Solomon Prov. 20. 7. walketh in his Integrity his Children are blessed after him And Psal. 112. 2. 't is said His Seed shall be mighty upon Earth the Generation of the Vpright shall Blessed And Ex. 20. 6. God hath prâ—â—mised to shew Mercy unto Thousands 〈◊〉 them that love him and keep his Coâ—â—mandments 2dly Chuse good Coâ—â—pany for your Childreâ— so far as you have oppoâ—â—tunity and ability to 〈◊〉 it otherwise neither your Admoâ—â—tions nor Examples will signifie mucâ—â— Their ordinary Company if naughtâ— will pull down faster than you are aâ—â— to build Corrupt Nature is easâ— drawn away by the Example and Aâ—â—lurements of Sinners This is like gâ—â—ing down hill which is easie consideâ—â—ing Mens natural bent anâ— Inclination Whereâ—â— Self-denyal and mortifyinâ— our Lusts and Passions 〈◊〉 more difficult especially at first 〈◊〉 going up hill When therefore yoâ— see your Children falling into the acquaintance of Vicious and Foolish Persons delay not to rescue them froâ— the Snare to break off their Familiâ—â—rity that they be not corrupted thereâ—by and utterly ruined We see hoâ— careful People are to keep their Children from those who have the Small Pox or any other infectious Distemper and yet what a strange madness is it for them to trust them to the Society of those whose Lives and Manners are full of the deadly Poyson of Sin which infects and kills the Soul As you ought to do all you can to preserve your Children from all sorts of vicious Company so particularly from Flatterers Endeavour to save them from this dangerous Snare than which there can be nothing of more dreadful Consequence unto them Such vile and servile Society will very quickly pull down all that you have built They will utterly corrupt your Children and render their condition desperate For when once they are under the power of Flatterers the Gate is thenceforth shut against Truth and against plain and upright dealing when their delight is only in those who praise and commend them in all they do or say when such who admire them and who study nothing but to please them in every thing right or wrong are their only Favourites to be sure they who are their Best and Wisest and most Faithful Friends who tell them the truth and speak not so much what may be pleasing as what may be profitable unto them will not be very welcome or acceptable to them And because such Flatterers are found often amongst Servants who in hopeâ— of serving their covetous or ambitious or perhaps other base and wicked designs do make it their business by all sorts of vile Compliances to gain the Favour and Love of the Children of Richer or more Honourable Persons Therefore 't is not only the Duty but the Interest of Parents to be very careful what Servants they receive into their Family or what Persons they admit to stay in their House knowing that according to the Proverb One Scabbed Sheep will infect the whole Flock The Example of the Psalmist ought to be a Rule in this matter Psal.
End confessed and acknowledged before their Death that their slighting and profaneing this Day made way for all those Villanies and Impieties which at last brought God's heavy Judgments upon them That your Children may attend the publick devotions of the Church and the preaching of the Gospel with greater profit and advantage 't is necessary that you endeavour to possess them with a great regard for those whom God employs in so Holy a Service that they may esteem them very highly in Love for their Works sake 1 Thes. 5. 13. When the Persons employed in Divine Ministraitons are loved and esteemed their Doctrine is apt to make the greater Impression and to be the more successful Whereas if People are prejudic'd against them tho' never so unjustly what they say will be slighted or very little regarded for most part even tho' what is spoken be most excellent in it self and expressed in such a manner as might otherwise very much affect and excite the dullest Hearers The Truth of this did not only appear in the Holy Prophets but in our most Blessed Master Himself who tho' He spake as never Man spake yet what He said was but very little regarded by most part of the Jews and ev'n by his own Brethren and Kinsmen who were possess'd with most unjust and groundless prejudices against him The Consideration of this ought to make you Careful to beget in your Children a due Sense of the Dignity and Excellency of the Pastoral Office and likewise a just value for the Persons themselves whom God makes use of to Minister unto Him in Holy Things whom He calls to be the Guides of Souls and Stewards of the Mysteries of God If Men have a great Respect for Ministers of State and for the Ambassadors of Earthly Princes who are employ'd to manage the Concerns of the Kingdoms or Principalities of this World shall they account the Ministers and Ambassadors of Jesus Christ unworthy of the least regard and esteem Whom the King of Kings and Lord of Lords hath chosen out of the rest of Mankind and whom He hath set apart for His own immediate Service to publish His Will and to offer Life and Salvation to the Sons of Men to rescue them from their evil Courses to direct them what they must do to be saved and to shew them not only by their Doctrine but Example the way wherein they ought to go And tho' some of those who are of this sacred Employment are far from being what they should yet you must be careful what you say concerning them before your Children you ought to keep from their Knowledge such faults and blemishes as are not obvious and notorious Beware of taking occasion of reproaching them and thinking meanly of them for their Infirmities And when their miscarriages are very heinous and such as cannot be concealed you ought to take care not to aggravate them or make them worse but to speak of them so as your Children may see you are only Enemies to their Vices and not to their Persons or Holy Office That you may fortifie your Children against the danger they are in from such sad Examples shew them that our Holy Religion is not the worse because some of those who are Ministers do not live suitably to their Calling and Profession that it is Men the best of whom are Imperfect and Sinful and subject to the like Passions with others and not Angels who are put by God in the Office of the Ministry That amongst the twelve Apostles of our Blessed Master and Saviour one of them was a Thief and a Traitor that the Holy Doctrine which such Persons Preach is not in it self the less excellent and worthy of acceptation because it is delivered by those who do not live as they Preach that there were many such Teachers in the days of our Saviour and yet he for had not the Jews to hear them only he gave them a caution to beware of their ill Example The Scribes and Pharisees says he Mat. 23. 2 3. sit in Moses Seat and therefore whatever they bid you observe that observe and do but do not ye after their Works for they say and do not I thought it so much the more necessary to suggest this Direction because 't is none of the least Sins of this Age and Kingdom that too many are very apt to despise and speak ill of the Ministers of Jesus Christ to listen to all Reports which are to their disadvantage to believe them too readily and to repeat them in all Companies and even before their Children with a great deal of pleasure And there want not those who have a very fruitful Invention on this Subject who contrive a great many Stories to bespatter them and to lessen and destroy their Reputation whereby they too successfully promote the Kingdom of Satan and shew themselves to be his Ministers When once the great Enemy of Souls has gain'd this point to make the Persons of Ministers contemptible 't will be no hard matter for him to make Men undervalue and despise the very Office it self And what can be the consequence of this but the rise and growth of Heresies of Factions and Schisms of Atheism and Irreligion and of all that can be thought of that is any way dishonourable to God and destructive to the Souls of Men Of all which there are but too many sad Instances at this day which are a most certain Evidence of the great decay of real Piety and Christiâ—nity and that there is but very little of true Religion to be found amongst us And as this so common Contempt of the Clergy is a sign of the great Wickedness of the Age so it is a Presage of heavy Judgments When the Messengers of God were mocked and his words despised and his Prophets abused the Wrath of the Lord arose against his People till there was no Remedy 2 Chron. 36. 16. 7. Duty to make them understand their Baptismal Covenant Seventhly Do all that you can to make them understand their Baptismal Covenant and if there be opportunity to own and renew it publickly and solemnly fail not to encourage their doing it It 's of great Importance for them to make a Solemn Profession of their Faith and to declare their Resolution of performing their Baptismal Promise It is of great advantage to them at such an occasion to have the Prayers of the Church and particularly of those who are appointed of God to bless the People It is true the great abuses which have been committed in the performance of this Ancient Ceremony have made many People to slight and neglect it but 〈◊〉 Confirmation were performed with that care and seriousness which ought to be used on such an occasion it is a Custom which might be of marvellous benefit in the Church both to stir up Parents to instruct their Children and Ministers to Chatechise them and acquaint them with those things that are needful for them to know to believe
Infancy and in the days of their Youth when they were not so capable themselves to reflect thereupon it would have a great force upon Ingenuous minds to stir in them Pious and Religious Dispositions It would likewise very much serve this end if Parents would often reflect on God's kind Providences to selves and now and then talk of them to their Children and acquaint them sometimes with one Instance of God's care and kindness towards them and sometimes with another this would insensibly make an Impression on tender minds and in due time might bring forth good Fruits Shew your Children therefore How God was pleased to provide for you when you were in great necessity and want How he raised up Friends to help you in the day of your Distress How he preserved you from Danger How he delivered you out of many and great Afflictions and Troubles How he comforted you in the days of your mourning How he raised you up when you were brought very low How he defeated the designs of your malicious Adversaries How he disposed a great many uneasie and afflictive things sometimes for your Temporal and always for your Spiritual Advantage How he assisted and seconded your endeavours to serve him with great and unexpected Success How he rewarded and blessed you when you did those things which were good and right before him And how he punished and chastened you when you omitted your Duty or did and said a bad and wicked thing How he heard your Prayers and Granted you the desires of your Souls How he prevented you with his loving Kindness and tender Mercy How he satisfied your longing Souls with good things And how he deals with you exceeding abundantly above all that you could think or ask In this manner according as you have met with particular Instances of the good and kind Providence of God you ought at some times when you find it most likely to do good to talk thereof to your Children that thereby they may be awakened to observe and consider the Powerful Just Wise and Kind Providence of God and may be excited together with you to bless his Holy Name for his great his marvellous and undeserved Love towards you You ought also to discourse sometimes to them concerning some of the most Signal Instances of Divine Providence towards others which either you have observed your selves or which you have received an account of from Persons of very good Authority For Example Shew them how God has brought down proud and lofty Persons when their Hearts were lifted up How he covered them with Shame and Reproach and made them Loathsome Vile and Contemptible almost to every body And how he raised up humble and lowly Persons How he followed them with the Expressions of his Mercy and Love How he turned Peoples Hearts towards them inclining them to love and honour them and to do them many good and kind Offices This will tend to teach your Children Humility and to restrain them from Pride and Self-conceit Tell them what has befallen many Passionate and Impatient Men How they have run into the Pit of Destruction when they gave up themselves to to the Conduct of their own violent and unruly Passions And how the meek and patient Ones have been directed assisted and preserved by the good Providence of God And how they have enjoyed a great deal of Peace Joy and Happiness amidst the many Afflictions and Troubles they met with in the World This will tend to teach them to be meek to restrain their Passion and to beware of Impatience Tell them How God has punished those who have got Wealth and Riches by false unjust and indirect means How he has cursed their Estates and sent a moth into them which has in a short time insensibly wasted and consumed them And how he hath blessed the Estate and Substance of those who have got their Wealth by honest and lawful means This will tend to make them honest and sincere in their dealings in the World and to hate false and crooked ways Tell them how God has punished Cursers and Vain and False Swearers how the Curse has followed them how often it has happened to such Persons according to their mad and horrid Imprecations Tell them how God by very unexpected and surprising ways and means has discovered and cut off Traitors Murtherers Adulterers Thieves and Robbers False Witnesses c. Tell them how he has appeared sooner or later in behalf of his Servants and Children How he has wonderfully defended and preserved sincere and upright Men How he has avenged Innocent Blood How he has defended the Widow and Fatherless How he has heard the cry of the Stranger of the Desolate and Oppressed c. Such things as these being seasoâ—â—bly and frequently suggested to Children may at some time or other work upon their minds and cause thee to take notice of the Power Wisdom Mercy and Justice of God which they cannot do in good earnest but thâ—â— must needs be thereby stirred up to fear him to love him to obey him and to walk in his ways And tho' these things do not produce their effect at the very time when they are told yet some time or other they may catch hold of the minds of your Children and have a very powerful and lasting Influence upon them The Example of Faithful Abraham ought to excite you to do these things For this end did God acquaint him with what he intended to do to Sodom because he knew that he would improve all his Providences that he would not smother them in his own Breast but acquaint his Children and Family therewith that thereby they also might learn to be wiser and better that they might see the terribleness of the Divine Justice against Incorrigible Sinners and his Infinite Compassion towards those who fear and love him that they might know the Power and Efficacy of Prayer and see how ready the Lord is to hear all those who call upon him in earnest not only for themselves but also in behalf of others And the Lord said Gen. 18. 17. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do and v. 19. For I know him that he will command or instruct as the word is used sometimes his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment c. Suitably to this Example we find a general Command given to the Jews Deut. 4. 9 10. Take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine Eyes have seen and left they depart from thine heart all the days of thy Life but teach them thy Sons and thy Sons Sons Especially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb c. To the same purpose we find a Direction given them touching the Passover Ex. 13. 8. Thou shalt shew thy Son in that day saying This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me
101. 6 7. Mine Eyes shall be upon the Faithful of the Land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me He that worketh Deceit shall not dwell within my House He that telleth Lies shall not tarry in my sight 'T will not be unfit in this place to mention what a Famous Author reports of the Ancient Romans 'T was their custom to make choice of an Elderly Kinswoman of whose Probity and Discretion they had good assurance to whom they committed the Charge of the Children Her business was to keep them from hearing and seeing whatever tended to corrupt their Manners to direct them in such little Studies and Exercises as were proper to their Years and to see that their Recreations and Divertisements were harmless and innocent and that they were used and managed modestly and inoffensively This course Cornelia took says this Author with her Sons the Gracchi Aurelia with her Son Caesar and Artia with her Son Augustus The Fruit and Effect of which Method was this The Spirits of the Children being kept pure and sincere straight and upright they were thereby made the more capable to receive Noble and Excellent Impressions which way soever they applied their minds whether to Military Arts to the knowledge of the Laws or the Study of Eloquence But now says he speaking of the Age in which he lived Children are entrusted to the care of a Grecian Girl and to one or other of the Servants of most base and servile Qualities by whose words and actions they are quite spoiled and utterly ruined Neither are there any in the Family who make account what they say or do before them And no wonder says he for the Parents themselves are so far from training them up to Modesty and Probity that they accustom them to Wantonness and extravagant Liberty by which means they grow Impudent and Impetuous in the pursuit of their wild and foolish Humours and Inclinations As this Rule of chusing good company for Children is necessary to be followed at all times so especially when Parents send their Children into Foreign Countries when they are fit to Travel how careful should they be not to trust them to every body But to the Conduct of those who not only may be useful to advance them in the Knowledge of the World to assist them in their Journeyings to take care about their Lodging and Diet to wait on them to visit great Men to see fine Places curious Fabricks Famous Monuments and Ancient Inscriptions to learn the Language of the Country and the different Modes and Fashions the Government and Policy and such like But who likewise through the Blessing of God on their Endeavours may preserve them from the Vices of those Countries where they Travel from those bad Customs to which they have a great Inclination Who may make it their business to season their Minds with deeper and more lively impressions of Virtue to possess them with a mighty regard for such excellent Examples as they have occasion now and then to see to Fortifie them against the many wicked and dangerous Opinions and Practices they meet with to acquaint them chiefly with the wisest and best Men by whose Conversation they may be improved in Wisdom and Virtue that they may return into their own Country with their Minds furnished with useful Notions with solid Principles and wise Observations that they may be able either in a more private way or in a publick capacity to do somewhat not unworthy of those who have had such good occasions for improving themselves in those things which are excellent To serve this design Parents are to be careful of two things One is That their Children Travel under the Conduct of a Person who is wise and prudent and is of a sincere and solid Piety If he be one that is either Foolish or Prophane and Atheistical his Company must needs be very hurtful and dangerous It may utterly 〈◊〉 the young Persons who are intrusted to him tho' they have very good â—â—clinations and have been happy in a Religious Education We see that a straight Twig tied to that which is crooked and stronger than it self grows crooked also What an unaccountable thing is it to think that Men who are careful to have a skilful Groom to look to their Horses should be so mad as to venture their Children who are their chiefest Possession and the principal Objects of their care and kindness into the hands of those who have little discretion and less Piety The Second thing that Parents ought to be careful of in this matter is That their Children do not Travel till they are come to somewhat of stayedness and solidity of Judgment till their Understanding and Discretion is such as may give ground to hope that their Travelling shall do them no hurt but good It is none of the wisest parts in some Parents to send their Children too soon into Foreign Countries before their Judgment is prepared and made fit to make useful Reflections and Observations on the World before their minds are possessed with solid Principles of Virtue and with a deep sense of Religion so as not to be in great danger from the temptations which they are sure to meet with in most places Before they know any thing at home it is too soon to send them abroad Before they know themselves a little it is not advisable to send them into the wide World to know a vast multitude of other things Hence it too often comes to pass that a great many return after their Travels greater Fools than they went they bring back nothing but a load 〈◊〉 the Vices and Vanities of other Countries Thirdly Let not over-great fondness blind your Eyes so as not to see the Faults of your Children nor cause you to stop your Ears against just complaints It 's true there are some wicked People who love to sow Discord to kindle strife and contention to divide the nearest Relations But all aâ—â— not so very wicked you cannot buâ— know some who love you and your Children sincerely and when such Persons tell you of their Faults you ought to do the part of those who are wise as well as kind Parents that iâ— you ought to do all you can to reform their Faults and make them better and withal you ought to be heartilâ— thankful to those who do not flatter you and your Children to the hurt botâ— of you and them In order to their Reformation try first all gentle Methods to make them better Endeavour to conquer them with the Weapons of Kindness and Affection endeavour by Instructions and Admonitions to make them sensible of their Faults Use Promises and Encouragements to allure them to do what they ought if these gentler Methods do not succeed 't is fit to use Reproof to rebuke them sharply Reproofs of Instruction saith Solomon Prov. 6. 23. are the way of Life When Threatnings are necessary make
them they shall not return to you Now what a folly is it for Men to consume to disquiet and to torment themselves where it is to no purpose at all to do so And not only do you thereby no good at all to your selves but you do your selves a great deal of mischief and prejudice You provoke God to anger against you to bring upon you yet heavier and more grievous punishments and to deprive you of other Mercies and Comforts which you still enjoy You do thereby no small hurt to your Bodies you bring upon your selves very dangerous distempers which will make you unfit for the actions of Life and the Duties of your Calling You likewise do unspeakable mischief to your Souls you deprive your selves of that vigour and chearfulness of Spirit that is needful to make you fit to serve God acceptably You thereby weaken your Memory and darken and disorder your Reason and Understanding and so expose your selves to all the sad consequences of a disordered and distracted Mind Your Example does also a great deal of hurt to others Your impatience and immoderate sorrow and mourning teacheth others to do so upon the like occasion Hereby you bring no small reproach upon our holy Religion as if it were not sufficient to support and fortifie us against our crosses and afflictions and to comfort us amidst the uneasie things which God sees fit to exercise us with in this World What an excellent Example is David unto you in this matter When God struck his Child so that it was very sick he fasted and prayed but when the Child died he arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his apparel and câ—me unto the House of the Lord and worshipped Then he came to his own House and when he required they 〈◊〉 Bread before him and he did eat Then said his Servants unto him What thing is this that thou hast done Thou didst fast and weep for the Child while it was alive but when the Child was dead thou didst rise and eat Bread And he said While the Child was yet alive I fasted and wept for I said Who can tell whether God will be gracious unto me that the Child may live But now he is dead Wherefore should I fast Can I bring him again I shall go to him but he shall not return to me 2 Sam. 12. 15 16 c. Thus ought all Parents to do who fear God When the Lord layeth his hand upon your Children you ought to pray to God for them and to use all lawful means for their recovery But when he â—ees fit to take them away by death you ought patiently to submit to his Will This is your wisest course It is the way to make your selves happy and to enjoy comfort and satisfaction of mind under your crosses This is the likeliest and readiest way to obtain new Mercies and Favours from the Lord instead of those you are deprived of Thus you see the Lord dealt with Job Jam. 5. 11. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord That the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy And Job 42. 12 13. The Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning And vers 16 17. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years and saw his Sons and his Sons Sons even four Generations So Job dyed being old and full of days But if God see it more fit to withhold from you the blessings of the Womb and to bestow no more Children upon you he can and will make up this want with much greater and better Blessings What you want in Temporals you shall have in Spirituals As Elkanah said to Hannah 1 Sam. 1. 8. He will be better to you than ten Sons He will give you a Name better than of Sons and Daughters even an everlasting Name that shall not be cut off Isa. 56. 5. The Duty of Parents On their Death-Bed The shortness and great uncertainty of your Time ought to make you very careful while you are in Health to improve as well as you can the present opportunities of doing good to your Children both as to their Spiritual and Temporal concerns There can be no greater Folly than to delay the doing whatever is needful for your Childrens real Happiness and welfare meerly out of a vain Expectation of having time enough to do every thing of this kind when you lie upon your Death-Bed 'T is strange that Men who daily see the Casualties which others do meet with and who have power to consider the great Dangers their own Lives have been exposed to should notwithstanding flatter themselves with such Thoughts and be so far bewitched thereby as to neglect any Duty of Importance and Necessity which now they have sufficient opportunity to do And therefore while you are in Health fail not to do all the good you can to your Children both for their Souls and Bodies and for their outward Estate But if it shall please God to afford you time and leisure upon your Death-Bed to do any thing for their Benefit neglect not at such a time to do whatever your Weakness and Sickness will permit Particularly 1 st Give them your best Advice Direct them according to their Capacities Consider what their faults and defects most commonly have been and suggest to them such things as God shall bring into your mind to make them sensible of their faults and to rescue them from their evil Habits Consider what those things are whereby they are most likely to be endangered and strive to fortifie their Minds with such wholesom Precepts and Maxims as may tend to preserve them for the time to come Consider what good thing does appear in any of them and endeavour to stablish their Minds in Virtue and Goodness in the Fear and Love of God Amongst other things 't is 〈◊〉 to recommend to them Unity and Concord that they Love one another heartily and be ready to assist and serve one another to the utmost of their power that they be friendly Monitors to One another and take it kindly and thankfully when they are so deale with Then likewise you may advise them to endeavour as much as is possible to live peaceably with all Men to be careful not to wrong any body by Word or Deed but on the contrary to seek the welfare of others to strive to do all the good they can in the World and to make it as their necessary Food to glorifie God David's Example is worthy of the imitation of all Religious Parents at such a time of whom 't is said 1 King 2. 1 2 3 4. He charged Solomon his Son saying I go the way of all the Earth Be thou strong therefore and shew thy self a Man And keep the Charge of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways to keep his Statutes and his Commandments and his Judgments and his Testimonies as it is written in the