forbid. What, then, to enable the parents more effectually to provide for the temporal prosperity of their children? No, nor this neither, any further than such an authority in temporal things might serve the higher purpose of promoting God's glory in the Christian education of children, and their being placed in such a state of life as might best contribute to their living to the same glory, and to the eternal welfare of their own souls. God's end is his own glory in all things; and therefore, when he adds his revealed authority to the natural authority of the parent, it is with this design, that they may bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This being kept in view, it will be no difficult matter for all parents to see if they have done their duty to their children, which will be found within the following particulars :

First.-Aiming at their religious conduct.
Secondly.-Setting them a good example.
Thirdly. Instructing them.

Fourthly. Encouraging them in all good ways.

Fifthly.-Being gentle toward them.

Sixthly.-Seasonably correcting them.

Seventhly. Placing them in a proper calling.

Eighthly. Providing for them.

Ninthly. Taking care how they marry.

Tenthly. To say all, praying for them. So far as parents have come short, or acted contrary to any of these things, they have sinned against their children, and broken the fifth commandment. A short word will be sufficient upon each.

First. It is the duty of parents to aim at the religious education of their children above all things. God saith of Abraham, I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord." This you find was Abraham's aim in the use of that authority God had given him over his children. And, parents, can you say it has been yours, your great aim, always the principle that governed you in your conduct towards your children and guidance of them? Hath it really been your great aim and endeavour that this might be effected? And in comparison of this have you been little solicitous about their accomplishments or

• Gen. xviii. 19.

prosperity in the world? Be assured if it has not, if to bring them up in the fear of God has not been the principal object of your care, that which has regulated all your conduct respecting them, you have not done the least part of your duty towards them if you have had no higher prospects than for their welldoing in the world, or have been regarding them as your property, and have been devising to get yourself a name in them, you have gone out of the way of your duty, and have forgotten for what end God gave you authority over them. Has the glory of God in your children's religious behaviour been your grand aim, regulating every step you have taken in your management of them? This is the leading inquiry. And hereupon, let it be asked,

Secondly. Have you been setting them such an example as might best tend to form their minds to religion on the one side, and to discourage vice in them on the other? Have you carefully endeavoured they should see in you everything which might dispose them to love and practise religion; should see in you an engaging pattern of humility and faith, of heavenly-mindedness and the love of God, of charity and meekness, of deadness to the world respecting its honours, interests, and pleasures; that they should see you feared God, studied above all things to please him, and would not willingly displease him, to please all the men or to get all the things of the whole world; that they should see you delighted in worshipping God by the constant, regular, devout, and solemn worship you kept up daily in your family, and by the time they must know you spent with God in private in your closet? And, on the other side, have they seen everything

you which might tend to discourage vice in them; how hateful it was to you, how careful you were to avoid it? You have not set before them a pattern of pleasure, and company-keeping, and idleness, and vanity? They have not seen you indulging over the glass, or pampering your body by gluttonous living? You have not been an example to them of lewdness or swearing, of ambition or covetousness, of sabbath-breaking or licentiousness, of pride and self-will, and anger and violence, expressed in your countenance and words, than which nothing is or can be a more hurtful example to children? Thus have you endeavoured by your example to nurture your children in the ways of God?

Pa

Thirdly. Have you carefully instructed your children in the knowledge of Christ? These words that I command thee this day shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.'* You see it is the parents' duty themselves to catechise and instruct their children as far as they are able. It is the least part of this to teach them by rote the catechism and their prayers; both should be explained to them by the parents, and the children taught to regard them both as matters of the last and best importance: in doing which, what is wanting in the parent's ability must be made up in his diligence. Nor on any pretence must this point of instruction be put over by the parents to the schoolmaster and minister, who ordinarily will be able to do little if the parents' authority and co-operating instruction be wanting to give weight to their endeavours. rents must be diligent and frequent in this work themselves, and cause their children also to attend and mind the instructions of the school and the church, particularly the latter; in which regard I have matter of complaint against many parents among you, who give themselves no care to cause their children to attend the public catechising, at least when they are grown to such years as to be capable of any considerable improvement; but leave the young persons to themselves to come or not as they see fit, and as suits their own humours. Wherefore I earnestly beseech and require all parents to look to it that their young ones give their attendance, and that not promiscuously in the congregation as part of the audience (in which case they do nothing but play and disturb all near them), but in the place assigned them; that they may not only hear, but render an account of what they have heard. The third duty then of parents was instruction. Consider if you have nothing to charge yourself with on this

head.

Fourthly. Have you encouraged your children in all good ways? And in the parents' power it is to encourage their children by giving them helps, and showing themselves peculiarly delighted in them when they discover any serious marks of religion on on their minds. Indeed parents must not make their children proud upon any attainments: but it is in their power with

* Deut. vi. 6, 7.

out doing this to encourage them. They may show their children that they esteem religion as not only the greatest ornament, but the richest blessing, they wish for them. They may let their children know that they pray daily for God's grace upon their hearts; and that they have little concern about their prosperity in this world, in comparison with what they feel for their being the servants of Christ and inheritors of everlasting life. The question is, have parents according to their ability heartily endeavoured to encourage their children in the ways of religion? It must be a horrid part in a parent to do the contrary, and to discourage them from the ways of godliness. O how will they answer it to their children, perhaps eternally lost through this very thing, when they shall stand before the judgment-seat of the Lord Jesus! "There are not a few (saith a sensible writer) who seem afraid, lest, by being trained up in the holy religion of Christ, their children should be brought too much out of love with this world, and learn that piece of ill husbandry (as they esteem it) to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord."

Fifthly.-Have you been gentle towards your children? Fathers,' saith the Apostle, provoke not your children to wrath.'* Harshness in the parent is a fruit of the very same stock with stubbornness in the child; both proceed from self-will indulged. There is no good to be expected from harshness; on the contrary, it is the natural parent of lying, hypocrisy, and many other sins, till the child is grown old enough no longer to endure it, and breaks out into absolute waywardness and independency. The parent must hold his authority, yet must use it with a gentle hand. Gentleness does not lie in humouring children, but by mild and prudential measures, rather than by heat and violence, bringing them to compliance. This gentleness in all cases is needful, but especially in the point of religion, lest by means of force and severity children become hypocrites instead of Christians. Yet at proper seasons,

If

Sixthly. Have you also corrected your children? If you have, let me ask for what? Their vices, I hope not their indiscretions, particularly the two great vices of children, stubborn* Ephes. vi. 4.

ness and idleness? Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.'* Here by foolishness you must understand wickedness, which, saith the Spirit, is bound in the heart of the child; this is what we are all born with; and it is this, and this alone, the rod of correction must drive out. The breakings-out of natural corruption must be restrained by the parents interposing their chastising authority. So you see parents may not correct their children for their own pleasure, to gratify their own passions; they may not correct them for their indiscretions, for being children but for their bad tempers they may and must correct them. That is their duty to them; as to neglect it shows but small love of their souls, though very great and very sinful fondness for their persons. Yet too often we shall see children punished for their indiscretions, and their vices escaping; and the rod more frequently used to indulge the bad humours of the parent than to correct those of the child. What say you now, have you not withholden the rod; or have you used it only in restraining your children's corruptions? If you have spared the rod, you have laid aside your authority; if you have used it for your own pleasure, you have abused it. The Seventh duty of parents is to place their children in a proper calling; that is, such an one as, their circumstances and talents considered, will best contribute to their doing God service in the world, and will least expose them to temptations. In determining this important matter, the parent must have directly in his eye the glory of God and the spiritual welfare of the child. It is this, and not what will in a worldly view be most advantageous, must guide his determinations. The manifold daily abuses of this kind should cause parents seriously to consider and to lay to heart by what motives they have been directed in a matter wherewith not only the present prosperity but the future happiness of their children stands so nearly connected; and in this view the making the only rule of determination what the child likes will hardly be justifiable.

Eighthly. It is the duty of parents to lay up for their children a suitable provision: and a suitable one is that which will enable them best to exercise their calling with most advantage

* Prov. xxii. 15.