...L Chap.1o.SeCl:+ SECT. 4·• Of the Dnties ofPdrentsto their Children. THe Dmin in particular which Governours owe to the Family, according to their . . h 5 As Parents to their Children. Relauon;, ~re ett er ~ As Mafl:ers to their Servants. The duties.of Parents to their childern, 5 To their bodies. · are either 1 To their fouls. I. The Duties ofParents to the bodies of their children, are in many particulars, but may be all comprifed under this one head, .Aprovident rarefor their Temporalgood; and this extendeth it felf to all ttmes, ~ I. To their infancy. As 2. To their youth. 3. To the time of Parents departure out of this world. I. The lirll: age of a childe is his infancy, and the firft part of its infancy, is while it remaineth in the Mothers womb: Here the Duty lies erincipally upon the mother, to have a fpecial care of it, that it may be fafely bromght forth. Why was the charge of abj/aining from IVinc,ftrong drink._, und uncltrm things,given to Manoahs wtfe,but becaufe 1udg. I3· .f ofthe child which Jbe had conceived? 1he next degree of a childs infancy, is while it is in the fwadling-band, and remains a fucking child; in this alfo the care more efpecially lies on the mother, whofe dmy it is to take all paines fhe poffibly may, for the education of her child; and efpecially to give her child fuck,if fhe be able thereto :This not only Nature, but Scripure fets forth; l 1. By Confequence, Gen. 49· 25. Hof. 9· 14· I Tim. 5· IO. 2. By Example, Gen.21. 7· I Sam. I. 23. Pftd. 22.9. 3. By Grant, the Word giving it as a ruled cafe not to be denied, Gm. 21. 7· Cant. 8. r. Lu~ I 1. 27. 2. The fecond age of a child is its youth, from the time it begins tq be of any dif– cretion, till it be fit to be placed forth; Now the d~~ty of Parents at this time is, _5 •I. To nourifh. ( 2. To nurture their children. Under no11rijhment, are comprifed Food, Apparel, Recreation, means for recovery of health when they are lick ; in which if Parents provide not for their Children, they «re lvorfe then Infidels: and under nurtnre,arecomprifed good manners,a good calling, frec,uent admonition, reprehenfion, correCtion, the !aft remedy, which may do good when nothing elfe can, Prov. I9. I8. -23. I 3, I4.--29. I7. 1 3· The lafl time to which Parents provident care extendeth it felf,is the time oftheir departure out of the world, and then they are to fet their houfe in order, and to leave their efl:ates to their children. 2. The dnty ofParents to thefouls of their children extends it felf alfo to all times,as { r. To their Infancy. 2. To their Yout\t. 3· To.the time of Parents departure out of this world. I. The li_rfl: age ofa child, is hi> infancy; and the fitft part of its infancy, is while it temameth m the mothers womb. Now the duty of Parents at that time are thefc: ~ · That they pray for their children: Thus did Rebeckgh,while the children were quick (J[on; .,. 2:";1 mher womb. Thofe Parents that neglet'l: this duty to their children conftder not rightly that they are conceived in !inne. ' 2. That they make fure (fo much as in them lies) that their children be born under the Promtfe, or under the Covenant, inrefpet'l: of the Spiritual part of it: How? by ma!Qng fure that th'} be undc-t the Promife or Coven11nt them{elvcs: If God in Chrill: be Gen. 17. i thm God, they may have a comfortable hope, that God will be the God of their feed, accordmg to the promife,. I will be thy God, and the God of thy feed. . ' . The _next degree of a chtlds infancy,is when it is born: and the d~~ty of Parents then !5• to g1 v~ up their _children unto God, cafl:ing them into the hands of his providence, mto the armes of hts Mercy, begging for them a gracious acceptation with God; and to tender them to the Ordmance, The Sacrament of Baptifme, to get the Sealofthe Coven.ant (et upon them, to get them mark'd out for falvation. dr:· The. fec;ond a~c of a child, is its you.th : .Now the Duty of Parents.to their chil- . , n at thtstuTfe, ts,to tram them up m true ptety, To brmg thflllitp m the nurture and !:ph. 6. 4• lldmmtfJ&n ofthe Lor'd. To this end, · !• What·
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