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
to Christian Parents That you may the better act your part 't is fit for you when you call your selves to an account about your Lives and Conversations to make enquiry particularly how you perform the Duties of Parents towards your Children as to their Souls their Bodies and Outward Concerns And if upon serious enquiry you find that you sincerely endeavour to do whatever you know your selves to be bound to do for them then bless and praise God who gives you both to will and to do according to his good Pleasure Beg his pardon for those Imperfections and Defects that attend all Humane Actions Resolve to go on and not to grow weary in your Duty towards them that so they may be as happy in all respects as is possible for you by the help of God to make them But if upon inquiry you find that you have been very negligent in your duty towards your Children that you have done very little good for their Souls and not what you should and might have done for their Bodies and outward Estate and that perhaps you have done them a great deal of hurt by your Evil Counsel and Prophane and Wretched Example that you have led them on in the Broad Way which leads to the Chambers of Death that you have robbed God who bestowed them on you of their Service and Obedience and have made them the Servants of Sin that you have contributed to the making them Heirs of Wrath and Children of Disobedience who were made by their Baptism Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven that you have done what tended to destroy eternally those Souls and Bodies which God intrusted with you that you might take care of them and do what you could to make them happy If I say upon enquiry into your hearts and lives you find your selves guilty of those things how great reason have you to be in bitterness and grief of Heart to weep and lament to abhor your selves in Dust and Ashes to confess and acknowledge your Sins with great Humility and Contrition to implore the Divine Mercy and Forgiveness with all earnestness for the sake of his dear Son to resolve and purpose sincerely to amend your ways and doings to beg Grace from God that he would assist you that he would compass you about with his Salvation and never leave you nor forsake you that he would give you his Holy Spirit to sanctifie you to wash and cleanse you to lead and guide you to support and strengthen you to revive and quicken you to carry you from strength to strength and from Grace to Grace till you come and appear before him in Sion Consider the particular things wherein you have hurt the Souls of your Children and failed in your Duty to them as to their Bodies and Outward Concerns And the more you find you have done amiss resolve so much the more to be zealous to do them good to double your diligence in promoting the welfare and happiness both of their Souls and Bodies Tell them so far as is meet what you now see and feel let them know that you have been out of the way that you have misled them and brought both your selves and them in danger of being undone and ruined Eternally Tell them what you resolve to do and what you and they ought to do and must do or else that you will certainly perish Delay not to do this one moment fly like a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowler Your Souls lie at the stake and therefore do what Men use to do to save their Lives Skin for Skin and all that a Man hath will be give for his Life Men are ready to part with any thing to save their Lives They 'l part with House and Lands with Silver and Gold with their whole Estate and Substance to save their Bodies alive which must die at last and for ought they know may die within a very few days or hours How much more ought you that you may save your own Souls and the Souls of your Children to part with your â—ile and unruly Lusts and Passions your vain foolish Habits and Customs which are your reproach and dishonour which are the worst things in the World which can do you no good if you hold them still but will certainly do you a great deal of mischief They will prove the cause of your destruction they will deprive you of all that is good and excellent they will cut you off from the favour of God the Love of Christ and the fellowship of the Blessed Spirit they will likewise deprive you of the Assistance and Ministry of the Holy Angels and the Comfortable Society of the Saints departed they will exclude you for ever from the Kingdom of Heaven the Crown of Righteousness the Peace the Joy the Love and Glory of the future State All this your sins will deprive you of and instead thereof they will expose you to the Wrath of God to the devouring fire to Everlasting Burnings to blackness of darkness to weeping and gnashing of Teeth to the wretched and cursed Company of Devils and damned Souls to the Worm which never dieth which will gnaw you and torment you for ever And will you chuse all this rather than part with your Lusts that you may be for ever happy and have fulness of Joy and Pleasures for evermore Will you be so mad as to prefer Hell and Death everlasting Misery and Woe to Heaven and Everlasting Life to Blessedness and Glory And will you still continue to be so cruel to your poor Children as to draw them along with you to the bottomless Pit Now is the time for you to become either happy or miserable if you repent and amend and act the part of Wise and Religious Parents you may be happy for God will have Mercy upon you Isa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts And let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Follow therefore the Example of the Psalmist Psal. 119. 59 60. I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments Resolve without delay to forsake your wicked Customs and Practices Begin in earnest to work out your own Salvation and do all that lies in your power to make your Children wise and good But if instead of this you continue in your sin and folly setting at naught God's Counsels and despising his Reproofs putting the Evil day far from you promising your selves peace and safety tho' you walk after your own Hearts Lusts making a mock at Sin and laughing at all that is sacred and serious and by your wicked Example destroying the Souls and Bodies of your poor Children then assure your selves God will not be mocked he will at last whet his Sword and bend his Bow and make ready his Arrows against his
Holy Spirit to worship thee as I ought to do Lift up my heart unto thee What shall I render unto thee O most Gracious God and most Merciful Father for all thy Mercies to me and to all the World I bless thee for making me a reasonable Creature and for affording me all things which be needful to support my Life I bless thee for my health liberty and safety for my Food and Rayment for the use of my Reason and Vnderstanding and of my Senses for thy corrections and deliverances and for all the advantages I have had by good Examples and good Instructions But chiefly I praise and bless thee for the redemption of Mankind by the Lord Jesus Christ That I was born within thy Church where I was early given to thee in Baptism that I have had the benefit of Christian Education that thou hast afforded me the means of Grace and called me to the hope of Glory But notwithstanding thy goodness and love I have gone astray from thee I have not cared so much as I ought to have done to know thee and to do thy Will but have done my own will in many things and followed my own foolish and sinful inclinations I have broken many of thy most Holy and Just Laws in Thought Word and Deed whereby I have deserved thy Wrath and Curse Father of Mercies have mercy upon me and forgive me all my sins for Jesus Christ his sake who dyed for sinners Give me a true and hearty Repentance for all mine iniquities that I may not wilfully break thy Laws any more Make me always mindful of my Baptismal Covenant to forsake the Devil and all his Works to believe in God and to serve him Lord never leave me nor forsake me Hold up my goings in thy Paths that my footsteps may not slide Grant that hencesorth I may love thee with all my heart and may be afraid to sin against thee Work in me a true Faith and a lively hope make me humble meek and patient sober and temperate in all things Charitable and Compassionate towards all that are in distress true and faithful in my words and sincere and upright in my Actions well content and thankful in every condition of Life and zealous for thy Glory Grant that I may daily grow in Grace and Spiritual Knowledge Create in me a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me and cause me to walk in thy ways O Lord send thy Gospel through the World Pour out plentifully the Blessings of thy holy Spirit on all thy People Bless and preserve our King and Queen Guide our Judges and Magistrates Sanctifie and assist the Ministers of the Gospel Be with all my Friends and Relations particularly bless and preserve my Father and Mother Reward them for their care and kindness towards me Make me a loving and dutiful Child unto them Comfort all that are in trouble and sanctifie their afflictions to them I thank thee O Lord for thy care of me this Night Watch over me this Day Bless and direct me in all I do or say Keep me mindful that I am always in thy sight that I may be in thy fear all the day long Cause me to remember that I musâ— shortly dye and come to judgment thâ—â— I may not mispend my precious time but employ it in a constant â—â—d chearful Obedience to thy Holy and Righteous Laws that when this vain and short life is at an end I may be made partaker of everlasting Liâ—â— through Jesus Christ our Lord in whâ—â— Holy Name and Words I pray Our Father c. This Prayer may serve likewise at Night until you come to the last part which begins with these words I thank thee O Lord for thy care of me this Night c. instead thereof you may say as follows I thank thee O Lord for thy care of me this Day watch over me this Night and grant me quiet Repose save me from every Evil thing for the sake of thy dear Son Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I conclude my Imperfect Prayers saying Our Father c. A Grace before Meat WE Bless thee O Lord for making this Provision for us who are less than the least of thy Mercies Grant that by a moderate use of these thy good Creatures we may be made more fit for thy Service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen After Meat BLessed be thy Name most Gracious God for all thy Mercies freely bestowed upon us and for refreshing our Bodies at this time with thy good Creatures Cause us to hunger and thirst after Righteousness Feed our Souls with the Bread of Life Let it be our Meat and Drink to do thy Will Provide for all in want through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS * Chrysost. Plat. l. 2. de Republ. Aristot l. 6. Politic. c. 1. Hierom Ep. 7. ad Laetam How Parents ought to be affected while Children are yet in the Womb. How they ought to be affected when their Children are born The Right of Children to Baptism Children are to be acquainted with Scripture Histories †Plutarâ— in Lycurgo What is to be done if they are sturdy and proud If they be given to Lying If they are Cunning and Deceitful If they are peevish and passionate If they are Revengeful and Malicious If they are Jealous and Suspitious If they are too credulous If they are Envious If they are very impatient If they love their Belly too well * Xenophon â—â—lls us that the Dyet of the Persian Boys till they were 16 or 17 years old was Bread and Cresses their Drink was Water Paediae Cyr. lib. 1. If they discover any tendency to Vnchast and Immodest Actions * Nil dictuâ— fâ—dum visuqâ—e haec limina â—angat intra quae 〈◊〉 est Procâ—â— hinc procâ—l inde 〈◊〉 Lâ—â—â—num Cantus perâ—â—â—â—â— parasitâ— Maxima debetâ—r pâ—ro Reverentia c. Juven Sat. 14. If they curse 〈…〉 * Pythagoras forbad his Followers to Swear by the Gods and required them 〈◊〉 to live that they might be believed without an oath Diog. Laert in Pythag. Clinias one of his Followers chose rather to pay a Fine of 3 Talents than to violate the Precept of his Master tho' he could have made Oath very innocently If they are very Changeable and Vaconstant If they are surly and morose * This way of instructing Children by Fables was very much used in Ancient Times by the Wisest Nations see Plato Dialog 2. de Repub. Strabo lib. 15. Geograph If they are disrespectful to Aged Persons * Plutarc Lacoâ—â— Apopâ—â— * Plutarc Lacoâ—â— Apâ—pâ—â— If they quarrel much with one another * De Fraterno Amore. If they are over curious to know their Lot and Fortune in the world a That is who foretelleth what is to come and discovereth what it secret by unlawful Arts. b That is who judgeth one day lucky and another dismal and unlucky and therefore begins or forbears his Designs accordingly c
shall the Child learn Sobriety where the Father is often drunk Or how is it possible the young man should be meek and patient where the Father is Cholerick and hath no command of his passion I do not restrain the Grace of God and am sensible that the very impiety of the Parents hath sometimes contrary Effects upon certain Children and they learn to be good by the Wickedness of their Superiors but this is an extraordinary Providence which God exerts sometimes to manifest his Omnipotence and to let Men see that he can bring light out of darkness but the ordinary way of Edifying those under our Charge is to teach them by Example And though even this proves ineffectual sometimes yet it 's enough that it is our Duty and that we have discharged it and have taken that way which was most rational and of God's prescription I am so pleased with St. Jerom's Advice to Laeta concerning the Education of her Daughter that I cannot forbear to transcribe part of it I will let you see saith he what Education you are to give to a Daughter whose Soul ought to be the Temple of God Let her hear nothing learn nothing speak nothing but what may inspire the fear of God into her Let her not listen to prophane Discourses nor be enamoured with Love Songs or amâ—rous Ditties Let her use her self at certain hours to sing Psalms let none be about her but sober Servants and keep her from running into Company light and vain where she will learn more ill than good Use her to reading and to work and labour and promise her Rewards and incite her to Emulation excite her to Virtue by praises and Commendations and make her ambitious to excel others in Virtue and good Works Let her learn Scripture Sentences by heart and chuse her a Master that may not only teach her to read but instruct her in good manners Give her a Nurse neither debaucht nor tatling nor given to strong Liquors and let her Habit be modest and such as becomes her Christian Profession Let her not bore Holes in her Ears for Pendants neither let her use any Paint or Wash to beautifie her self Let her not be nice in ordering the Hair of her Head neither suffer her to adorn her self with Gold or Pearls or precious Stones except you design her for Hell fire When she comes to riper Age let her go with her Parents to the Temple but let her not return to the Gayeties of the World Advise her to keep her self in her Chamber and let her not go to Feasts and merry Meetings I would not have her use too much Fasting and Abstinence which may hurt her health at least till she be stronger and better able to bear it Let her use God's Creatures for necessity and not for voluptuousness sake Suffer her not to be at Musical concerts nor to be fond of Fiddles and Lutes and Harps but let her repeat every day some passages out of the Word of God Let her not go abroad any where without her Mother nor be very familiar or enter into intreagues with any Servant Appoint her a Governess that 's sage and wise and who may teach her to rise at midnight to sing Praises to her God Let her pray and work Day and Night Teach her to handle her Needle to Spin and to Exercise her self in turning the Spindle Suffer her not to imploy her self in Imbroideries of Gold and Silver Let her Cloaths be plain and decent and let her eat soberly and temperately and let her not take pleasure in common Baths I know what will be objected here that this is the advice of a Hermit and to teach a Daughter how to be a Nun. But still I appeal to any unprejudiced Person whether this be not the most likely way to Salvation and whether these Precepts be not agreeable to the Gospel of Christ And though I will grant that all are not under the same Circumstances and all cannot give the same Education yet as to the principal part of the advice which is to teach Children by Word and Example how to die to Sin and to the World it must be granted it 's very practicable This Age indeed hath learnt to shake off these stricter Rules but they should shew us too what Warrant they have from the Word of God to do so It was judiciously observed of Fabius that a soft and effeminate Education breaks the strength of Body and Mind and whilst we breed up Children to all the Arts of Vanity and Luxury they continue strangers to God and to themselves The Vine grows wild if it be not cut so doth Youth if they be not betimes curbed in things which war against the Soul Vnderstand this ye Parents and be instructed ye to whom God hath committed the care of Education ye are God's Stewards and your Children are the Goods you are to manage to your Master's Glory Their blood God will require at your hands Have not ye read the Curse God pronounced against Eli for his negligence and are not ye afraid of the same Judgment Ye are the persons by whom your Children must be taught to serve God in their Generation ye are the persons from whom they are to learn their Duty to God and Man at your door the fault will lie if they miscarry through your carelesness Are their Souls so contemptible in your eyes that you will let them perish for want of Admonition Did Christ think them worth purchasing with his own Blood and will ye let them lie without fence or wall or cultivation You take care that they may live comfortably in this World Is it not a greater Duty to bestir your selves that they may enjoy God for ever It is joy to you to see them do well here and ought it not to be a greater joy to find that they are like to reign with Christ and his Saints in a better World You love them but how doth it appear you do while you let their Souls die Is this your Love to provide for their flesh and to neglect enriching their better part with religious Principles You would have them go to Heaven when they die but how is it possible they should when you are loth to be at the trouble to shew them the way that leads to that Paradise Was ever any Man saved without Holiness and do you hope they will be without this qualification If you teach them not by Word and Example to practise that Holiness how can you or they hope to ascend into the Mount of God or dwell on the everlasting Hills Do you believe a future Account and do not ye enquire whether you discharge your Duty to your Children Or is this no part of the Account ye are to give Ye are the Persons who are to breathâ— goodness into them and to give them life and happiness Ye are their Gods as it were and from you they receive their motion and their spiritual as well
to his Will and Pleasure to do what he thinks best The happiness of Parents does not consist in having Children of this or that Sex Sometimes Sons who are most desired ordinarily may prove useless in the World yea very hurtful in many regards they may occasion great grief of Heart and lasting Anguish and Vexation to their Parents by their mad and foolish Courses and wicked doings And on the other hand Daughters may prove great Blessings in the World great Comforts to their Parents and great Examples of Piety and of Zeal for the honour of God On which accounts Parents ought to resign their will to God and be ready with all gratitude to accept whatever he bestows Secondly When a Child is born Parents ought with all thankfulness to return Praise to God who hath bestowed such a blessing upon them giving them a living Child sound and perfect in all its parts and proportions without either defect of necessary parts or excess and deformity thereof They ought to admire and adore the Powerful and Wise Providence of God which appears in framing and fashioning their Infant so curiously and wonderfully in the Womb in preserving it and making it grow up from a very small and imperfect beginning to such a bigness with all those comely shapes and proportions which they behold and at last in bringing it safely from the Womb which is one of the great and wonderful Works of the Power and Goodness of God tho it be little regarded because it is so common They ought to look upon their Children as given them of God to be taken care of both as to their Souls and Bodies to be bred up in his fear for his Honour and Glory to be made fit to serve him here and to live with him for ever hereafter The Soul being the chiefest part oâ— the Charge committed to Parents â— shall first shew what they ought to dâ— for their Childrens Souls The first Duty of Parents for the Souls of their Children is to Consecratâ— them to God in Baptism First They ought to Consecrate their Children to God in Baptism so soon as conveniently they can They cannot better express their gratitude to God for blessing them with Children than by presenting them to him again in this holy Ordinance that he may set his Seal upon them and admit them into his House and Family that he may bestow upon them the Priviledges of his Children and give them a Right and Title to the Blessedness the Grace and Glory purchased by Jesus Christ. It is for this End that Baptism is instituted not only to be a Ceremony of Admission into the Church but to Seal unto us the Pardon of our Sins to assure us of the Divine Favour to make us Members of Christ Heirs of God and Inheritours of the Kingdom of Heaven if we by wilful impenitency and unbelief do not afterwards hinder and frustrate the Virtue thereof It is not necessary for Parents to enquire how such things are done by Baptism it is enough for them to know That God hath appointed Baptism for those Ends and we are sure that He appoints nothing in vain Our Saviour is said Eph. 5. 26. To sanctify and cleanse his Church with the washing of Water by the Word And Tit. 3. 5. he is said to save us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost And in the 22 d. of the Acts and the 16. it is said by Ananias unto Paul Arise and â—e Baptized and wash away thy Sins And St. Peter having spoken of Noahs being saved with his Family in the Ark he adds 1 Epist. 3 21. The like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth now also save us And St. Paul tells us 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. For as the Body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one Body being many are one Body So also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all Baptized into one Body And Gal. 3. 26 27. He saith For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Which words import not only our owning and acknowledging him as the Saviour of the World who alone is able to wash and cleanse us with his Blood but also our Professing our resolution to live holy lives to walk in newness of life according to his Example in token of which in the Ancient Church they who were baptized were presently cloathed with White Rayment to testify their resolution to live in holiness and to put off the Old man that is all their former Wicked deeds and Customs and filthy Practices Likewise Rom. 6. 3 and 4. it is thus written Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his Death Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of Life These words import not only our belief of a Crucified Saviour who dyed and was buried for sin to save us from it but also our Repentance whereby we renounce Sin as dead and buried to it for the time to come The general Design of this Sacrament being sufficiently plain and clear from these and other Scriptures it is to little purpose and oftentimes it proves to very ill purpose to enquire any further as to particulars for by so doing a great many persons judging of Divine things by their own weak and foolish apprehensions have reasoned themselves if I may so speak both out of their Reason and Religion As to the Right of Children to Baptism It will appear if you Consider that the Covenant Blessing of God's being the God of Abraham and of his Seed Gen. 17. 7. is not only continued to those of the Jewish Nation who are converted to Christianity for if the first Fruit be holy the Lump is Holy and if the Root be Holy so are the Branches Rom. 11. 16. but is likewise extended to the Gentiles who by Faith in Christ are made one Body with the Jews and so have a Right to the Blessings promised to Abraham and to His Children Rom. 4. 9 10 11 12. Cometh this blessedness upon the Circumcision onely or upon the uncircumcision also For we say that Faith was reckoned to Abraham for Righteousness How was it then reckoned When he was in Circumcision or in uncircumcision Not in Circumcision but in uncircumcision And he received the sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised That He might be the Father of them that believe tho they be not Circumcised that Righteousness might be imputed unto them also And the Father of Circumcision to them who are not of the Circumcision only but also walk in the Steps of that Faith of our Father Abraham which he had being yet uncircumcised From
but did it not they punished him severely for they judged that they who were unthankful would also neglect their Duty to God to their Parents their Country and Friends Amongst other things to be suggested to your Children to stir them up to be Thankful you may represent to them what a shame it is for them to be unthankful when the very Beasts both Tame as may be seen every day and wild as several Authors tell us do things which look like a grateful acknowledgment to their Benefactors If you find them to be of too Prodigal a Temper apt to be too profuse in their Expences ready to throw away their Money upon Trifles and when there is no reasonable occasion for it you ought by all prudent and proper Methods to endeavour to make them a little more discreet and careful That they waste nothing in vain that may be of use to poor People That they do not throw away that which may do good at some time or other Suggest often to them that we are Stewards of whatever God bestows upon us that he will call us to an Account and that therefore we ought to employ to good purpose all those good things he gives us Shew them what our Saviour said to his Disciples after he had fed five thousand men with five Loaves and two Fishes Joh. 6. 12. When they were filled he said unto his Disciples Gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost He would not have any thing lost 〈◊〉 thrown away unnecessarily whi◠might be useful afterwards to one 〈◊〉 other If you find them of a Covetous Temper endeavou◠to enlarge their thoughts b◠the Principles of Christian Charity Shew them what an excellent thi◠it is to do good to shew mercy an◠kindness to make Peoples hearts glad◠Accustom them to the doing such kin◠and charitable Offices for which en◠give them now and then money an◠other things to bestow on those wh◠are poor and needy Shew them th◠evil of Covetousness that it 's the ro◠of all evil that it take◠the heart off from God an◠rendereth it unfit for th◠consideration of Divin◠things and for all worthy and useful designs that it disposeth◠man for the basest and vilest action◠and undertakings as it did Judas to betray his Lord That it bereaves him of true repose and satisfaction of mind and pierceth him through with many sorrows 1 Tim. 6. 9. 10. If you perceive them to be naturally melancholy and fearful of every little thing endeavour to chear up their Spirits Suggest to them such considerations and possess them with such Maxims and Principles as tend to fortifie their minds against those things which are apt to make them uneasie and are the occasion of their fear If their distemper proceed from some bodily indisposition as oft-times it does use such helps as are necessary When such evil habits of body are once rooted and strongly fixed and when the blood and spirits are deeply infected therewith they are a very grievous clog to the Soul and a great hindrance to that chearfulness and liberty of Spirit wherewith people ought always to endeavour to serve God If you see them to be of too gay and airy a Temper so that they cannot fix and be stayed at any time you are to use a great deal of prudence and discretion to compose and settle their Spirits See that they use their Wit and Fancy without giving offence and that they hurt no body by indecent reflections Let them by no means take liberty to indulge their humour in jesting about things that are Sacred or that have any relation thereto But you are to take heed lest your endeavouring to cure one fault occasion another lest your striving to deliver them from one extream drive them to the contrary that is lest instead of their being too gay you make them melancholy and dull Their Wit and Spirit is not to be rooted out but reformed and rightly managed for this may be of use for seasoning and sweetning Conversation If you observe them to be rash and forward ready to speak and act without due consideration strive to make them more cautious and circumspect to reflect and think a little more on what they say and do lest otherwise they fall into a habit of speaking and acting impertinently and indiscreetly When they say or do a foolish thing for lack of consideration then take occasion to make them sensible what a shame it is for them to do so what a reproach to those who are reasonable Creatures to speak and act like Fools without Reason and Understanding Shew them some of the bad consequences which attend speaking and acting in this manner Particularly that such Persons not only expose themselves to Contempt and Scorn but likewise to a great deal of danger and trouble Tell them how a great many by their rash and unadvised though not ill intended Speeches and Actions have not only highly exasperated their Enemies but also provoked their Friends and forfeited their kindness which thereby has been changed sometimes into the utmost Indignation and Hatred Shew them how some by this means have lost their Estate their Honour and Life it self and not only have ruined themselves by their rashness and folly but likewise a great many of their best Friends and dearest Relations A due sense of these things ought to excite all Parents to do what they can to render their Children very considerate and wary in whatever they say or do And because for lack of knowledge and experience they are in hazard to fall into many miscarriages and to commit great absurdities if they govern themselves wholly by their own fancy and apprehension or by their inclinations and desires therefore direct them to ask you or to ask others whom you recommend to them whether it be fit for them to do this or that which they have a mind to do It will be of unspeakable advantage to them all their Life long to learn this piece of Wisdom betimes to wit to be jealous and not too confident of their own Apprehensions and Opinions and to have a great regard for the Judgment and Opinion of others Solomon makes this a distinguishing Mark betwixt a wise Man and a Fool that the way of a Fool is right in his own Eyes and therefore he scorns to ask the opinion or to follow the advice of others but he that hearkeneth unto Counsel is wise Prov. 12. 15. Thus you are to make it your Business to watch over your Children and to consider what are their defects and faults and to do all that you can to cure them thereof and to direct them in the ways of Wisdom and Virtue You are careful to pluck up the weeds in your Gardens while they are yet young and not deeply rooted lest otherwise the good Seeds should be choak'd up with them How much more careful ought you to be lest the Souls
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
he avoided doing or saying any thing that tended to make his Son uneasie The young Man finding himself at Liberty through his Father's Indulgence to live as he thought good gave up himself to all manner of Folly particularly to Drunkenness Notwithstanding this his Father still continued to be as fond as ever and would not do any thing to restrain him from doing what he had a mind to The consequence whereof was very dreadful and terrible for a little time after this wretched Son coming home very drunk killed his Father as also his Mother then big with Child he attempted to have Ravished his Sisters of whom two were Mortally Wounded by him Such sad Examples as these ought to awaken Parents to do what they can to Educate their Children in the Fear of God to train them up in the Study and Practice of true Piety and to restrain them by all due means from Sin and Folly Which things if they fail to do they may expect sooner or later to reap the Bitter and Cursed Fruits of so sad a Neglect Advice to Parents PART II. The Duties of Parents as to their Childrens Bodies HAving treated of the Duty of Parents towards their Children as to their Souls the better part I shall next shew what their Duties are as to the Bodies of their Children First It belongs to the Mother to give suck to her Children unless some bodily Imperfection great Weakness or Sickness or her circumstances in the World make it impossible or very dangerous and inconvenient both for her and the Children or for either For this end it is that God hath given Breasts unto Women and caused the Milk to flow into them that there may be nourishment suitable to the tender Infants in a readiness for them Neither can we suppose any other body capable of shewing equal Care and Love to the Children with that which it is natural for the Mother to express to the Fruit of her own Womb. Besides this it cannot well be imagined that the Milk of any other Body can be so fit for the Child as its own Mothers if she be but in tollerable Health We see that Sarah did not think that the greatness of her Quality or her great Age did excuse her from this Natural Obligation of giving Suck unto her Child Gen. 21. 7. And she said who would have said unto Abraham that Sarah should have given Children Suck For I have born him a Son in my Old Age. Which words suppose it to be the unquestionable Duty as well as common Practice of Mothers to give Suck to their Children When God chose a Nurse for Moses Exod. 2. 8. he led the Handmaid of Pharaoh's Daughter to the Child's Mother We find that amongst other Characters of a Woman that was fit to be taken into the number of Widows there was this If she hath brought up Children 1 Tim. 5. 10. or as the words may be Translated If she has nourished or fed her Children It was reckoned as a sign of God's Wrath Hos. 9. 14. To have dry Breasts And therefore they cannot be accounted Innocent who without apparent Necessity dry up their Breasts and so deprive their Children of that Food and Nourishment which Nature designed for them The words of the Psalmist David Psal. 22. 9. do not only imply that his Mother gave him Suck but they also shew that it was the practice of all Mothers to do the like to their Children Thou didst make me hope saith he when I was upon my Mother's Breasts Solomon likewise takes it for granted that Children of the same Womb should Suck of the same Breasts Cant. 8. 1. O that thou wert as my Brother that Sucked the Breasts of my Mother To all which might be added the words of the Woman to our Saviour Luke 11. 27. Blessed is the Womb that bare thee and the Paps which thou hast Sucked Which words suppose that she who bare him did also give him Suck We find that amongst the very Heathens they were accounted but half Mothers who neglected to give Suck to their Children One of their Ancient Authors speaking on this Subject saith How unnatural a thing is this how imperfect and only to be a Mother by halves having brought forth a Child presently to throw it away having nourished in her Womb somewhat that she could not see not now to nourish it with her Milk when she sees it alive and calling for her Assistance We see likewise that Nature hath impressed on the most Savage and wild Creatures a readiness to draw out their Breasts to their young Lam. 4. 3. Even the Sea Monsters draw out the Breast they give Suck to their young ones And shall Women degenerate into such unnatural Barbarity towards their young as is not to be met with amongst the most Savage Creatures Shall they whose Love and Tenderness has been so noted and admired prove unkind and cruel to the fruit of their own Womb 2 dly When Children are fit for stronger Food Parents are not to indulge them too much in gratifying the curiosity and daintiness of their Palate which not only is apt to make them too soft and tender but likewise disposeth them to Gluttony and Sensuality to make their Belly their God It is fit to accustom them to a plain and simple Diet which is generally more wholsome than that sort of Food which is very artificially prepared The State of all Humane Things is very uncertain they who have at present all manner of things in greatest plenty and variety may meet with changes and vicissitudes It 's therefore a part of the Wisdom of Parents to accustom their Children so far as their Health and Strength can bear it to eat any sort of Food that so if God sees fit to change their outward condition and circumstances they may be the more fit and able to endure such an alteration Thirdly As to theâ— Habit and Apparel Parents ought to cloathâ— them decently but not gorgeously Fineries and Gayeties 〈◊〉 Apparel are apt to make People especially younger Persons vain 〈◊〉 conceited to value themselves upoâ— their gay Cloathing It is fit ofteâ— to suggest to them that their Cloathâ— and Apparel are but borrowed Feathers and therefore that it is a greaâ— Folly to be proud of that which is 〈◊〉 their own but which they owe to thâ— Sheep or Goats to the Worms 〈◊〉 Bowels of the Earth It is not fit for Parents to make too great distinction among their Children as to their Apparel because this is apt to cause discontentâ— and Jealousies Hatred and Envy Contentions and Quarrellings amongâ—â— them Joseph's Coat of many colours which his old Father Jacob gave him caused his Brethren to hate and enâ—â— him and at last to conspire most wickedly against him Gen. 37. 3 4 c. The same is to be said as to their Diet and other things wherein it is no small part of the Wisdom of Parents not to shew too much
This would only multiply your losses by making you lose not only your Fruit and your Flowers but your selves too Which they all do who lose their Patience in which it is that we possess our Souls When therefore your Children are removed from you by Death in some unusual and extraordinary manner you ought to look beyond Diseases or Accidents unto the Lord of Life and Death who by his Providence ordereth not only their death but the manner of it If the Sparrows fall not to the Ground that is die not without your Father You may be sure your Children do not die by chance or without the particular disposal of their heavenly Father As to the particular grounds and reasons for which God does after such a manner see fit to put an end to your Childrens days you are not to be too curious and inquisitive The Counsels of God are a great deep His ways are in the deep waters and none by searching can find him out unto perfection Job 11. 7. Upon such occasions all ought to remember the words of our Lord when they told him of the Galileans whose Blood Pilate hath mingled with their Sacrifices Luke 13. 2 3 4 5. Suppose ye that these Galileans were Sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things I tell you Nay But except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Or those eighteen upon whom the Tower of Siâ—oe fell and slew them think ye that they were sinners above all Men that dwelt in Jerusalem I tell you Nay But except ye repeâ—t ye shall all likewise perish We see what was Aarons Carriage when God removed his two Sons Nadab and Abihu by a very extraordinary stroke Levit. 10. 2. There went Fire from the Lord and devour'd them c. And v. 3. 't is said That Aaron 〈◊〉 his peace He did not murmur against the Justice of God or complain as if he had been too severe No he was silent He submitted to the Will 〈◊〉 God and considered that the Honour of God ought to be dearer to him thaâ— the Lives of his two Sons In like manner we see how Job carried himself when God removed 〈◊〉 seven Sons and three Daughters all at one blow in an extraordinary manner Job 1. 18 19. Thy Sons and thy Daâ—ghters were eating and drinking Wine 〈◊〉 their eldest Brothers House And 〈◊〉 there came a great Wind from the Wilderness and smote the four Corners 〈◊〉 the House and it fell upon the young Men and they are dead This was sad news to the good old Man who had â—â—rd so much ill news before But yet for all this you see how patiently â—e hare his Affliction He fell down â—pon the Ground and Worshipped and said Naked came I out of my Mothers Womb and naked shall I return thither The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken 〈◊〉 blessed be the Name of the Lord Job 1. 20 21. This good Man was so far from Cursing God which Satan said â—e would do that he humbly adored and worshipped him He was so far from Blasphemeing God and from entertaining any dishonourable Thoughts of him as if he had done any thing which he ought not to have done that 〈◊〉 the contrary he approved of all he acquiesced in the Divine pleasure he considered that all that he once enjoyed was a free and undeserved gift from God which he so gave as still to reserve to himself the Supreme Power of disposing of it as he should think good and therefore when all was taken away from him he blessed the Name of the Lord he did not quarrel with the Divine Providence but was heartily thankful not only for the former Mercies but also for thâ— present Correction and Chastisement which he knew to proceed from Infinite Wisdom Goodness and Justice To the abovementioned instances from Scripture might be added several Examples of the patience and composedness of Spirit which some Heathens discovered when their Children were suddenly snatched away by a violent and untimely Death I shall only mention two related by Plutarch The 1 st is of Dio of Syracuse who as he was busie in consulting with his Friends about matters of importance heard a great noise and tumult in the House which occasioned his enquiring what the matter was and being told that his Son was dead by a fall from the Roof of the House he received this sad news without discovering any perturbation of Mind and having given Orders that the dead Body should be delivered into the hands of the Women that they might take care of it and that it should be buried in the accustomed manner He went on in his Design to consult with his Friends about the business that was before him The other instance is of Xenophon who when he was employed in offering Sacrifice received the news of his Son 's being killed in Battel at the hearing of which he pull'd off the Garland from his Head wherewith it was then covered and having askt the manner of his Son's Death and being told that he died fighting valiantly for his Country he quickly brought his Mind which was a little disturb'd into subjection to his Reason and again putting on the Garland he went on with his Sacrifice and told those who brought him the news of his Son's Death I never pray'd the Gods to make my Son Immortal or very long liv'd it being very uncertain if that be expedient but to make him an Honest Man and a Lover of his Country And now said he I have my desire Thirdly Consider from whence and whither they are gone They were here in a life of Vexation and Trouble subject to innumerable Vanities Temptations Snares and Dangers They were compassed about with great and terrible Enemies the Devil the World and the Flesh They were subject to daily necessities and wants Iâ— they had lived never so long they would only have seen the same things in a continual succession and revolution As for Example heat and cold fair weather and foul might and day Summer and Winter health and sickness plenty and poverty peace and war prosperity and adversity succeeding one to another All things going round But now they are delivered from all these they are at rest they are subject to no more necessities and wants oppressed with no more troubles and vexations exposed to no more enemies temptations or dangers but exalted to a state of perfect Peace Joy Love and Glory They are as well and better than you can desire You are not able to comprehend the Happiness that they are admitted to Will you then be in continual sorrow and grief for your Children when they are exalted to a state of Rest and Glory when they are where you would rejoyce to be when their Gracious Father hath freed them from the vain company of the World and Translated them into the blessed Society of Angels and of the Spirits of Just Men made perfect when he hath put an end to their Toil and Labour
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.
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