Jcfh. 4•6,2 I Gtn·49·'· (:ye, J l{;,g. 2o2,J .•chr••·•8·9 Chap.r o,Set.t.4. I . When children begin to rcade, letthcm read the holy Scripture.r: fu was Timothy trained "Pf rom a child ; and thus wlil chtldren fuck m Religionwith learning. 2 . Let child;cn bcCatechtz.ed conll:antly from day to day ; only with this caveat,that Parents deal wtth thetr chtldren, as sktlful Nurfcs and Mothers do i!\ feeding their chil– dren,(i.e.) not to give them two much at once : over-much dulls a ch ilds underil:anding. and breeds wearifomenefs to it; it is'rl:wfr fuitablc to give them precept 11pon precept: preceptltpon precept, L me up(Jn !me, Lmeupon lme, here a lzttle~ and1here tt little: Thus Jhall they learn with eafe und delight, and in time a great mcafure of knowledge will be gained thereby. 1 3. Let Parents declare to their children , the admirable works that God in former times hath done for his Church, efpecially fuch works as he hath done in their time: outward fenfible things do bell: work upon children , and therefore this dire:tion was given under the law, Joj!J. 4· 6, 21. 4· Let Parents be to their children a good pattern in piety, leading them to Chriil: by their examples: This wiU take place with children·, more then all prec(pts- or paternal inlhuctions : But a.r f or me (faid J•Jima) andmy hotife, !VC l!'t!iftrva theLvrd· he fets himfelf firft, as a guide to the refl:. ' 5. Let Parents reprove and correct their children for fin; and that the Lord may fand:ifie this CorreCtion unto them, Confide-, this 0 ye Parems, D o you ob:crve fuch and fuch fins in your children ? ~nter into your own hearts, examine your fclves , whetller they come not from you : Confider how juilly the hand of God may be upon you: :md when you are angry with your chtldren, have an holy anger with your own felves, an& ufe this orthe likeMeclit~tion with your own'fouls, L vrd, f/;a/11 thmpmuj/; my""" fi" "in , jine own t.:hildc l ]hall I thu.J perfecute the corruptions of mine own anajlors? how then m'a.yeft thou be diJPleafcd rrith me f or the too carnal com:tptton ofmy own chJide ; It mtly be, . I then lay infom efin, or I asktd it .not of rhee by prayer: Ec mercifttlt• me, U Lord, tmd in thygood time, foew thoiS pity on me and rny childe? 6. As children grow in years, and in the knowledge of Chrill: , and of jollificationby Chrill:, Jet Parents traine them up in the exercife of all Dmies, as Prayer, Meditatiov., Self-Examination , Watchf~tlnefs, and all means pttblick! and private : if this b~ done, the world to come may reap the benefit of their education; fi1ch children as you brir,g up, fuch parents will they be (when you are gone) to their childrert; andfuch children .Jhall they have, who are parents in the next generation, &c. You then are the very making or marring of the worl<l : but on the·contrary , if this be negleC1:ed, the .rich man fhall rife up againll: you in the day of Judgement, and condemn you ; for he being in heO,had a care of his fathers houfe,that they nlight be forewarn'd,he dcfrrcd Abraham: to fend Laz.ar.t-M to his.brethren , to tejlifie unto them tht~~.t th1y came not to that place vf torment ; but you will not admonilh your children, you will not teach them fo!ofouzJJJ. the Prophets; you will not /hew them the danger d Gods heavy difpleafurc hanging ()Ver their heads; you will not, whilefl: you li{'e"' lead a good example before them : 0 you may fear that your children fhall be Furies of hell to torment you. No:v tb& Lord openyonr eyu to f orefee~ and to fly thefe judgements to come. 3. The !aft time to which the Dmy of Parents extends it felf, is the time of their d f h Id d . h _ h h . h"ld ) Good dire;'tion eparture out o t e wor ,an t en t ey owe tot etr c 1 ren , 1 Faithful praye;. I . Fer direflion : when Parents obferve theirtime to draw near , tt is their dJIJ! then efpecially, to commend fome wife and wholfom precepts unto their chiHr-en , th.: better to dire{\ them in their Chrifl:ian courfe; fo did Ifaac, and Jacob , ar,n David : The words of a dying Parent are efpecially regarded, and make a deeper impreffion. z . For prayer : then is the moll: proper time for Parents to pray and to bleffe all their children. As they commend their own fouls into Gods hands , fo let then1o mmend their children unto Gods grace : Gods providenceand promifes are the beft i"herit.ncr in the world, and if Parents (in their prayers) leave thefe to tf.leir cll!!dren,they c1n never want ~ny thing that is good. 0 t~e faithful prayers of Parents for their children (erpectally when they are leaving thetr Chtldren, and gomg to God) lliUft needs, m, f~r, fl11d ~hmghChrift, prevail mightily with God. stc:r. i:·
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