Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BV4526 .B35 1675

292 ItbePoo; ano fatn8tp Zook. exhortation And ifhe cart them out of the Church for their Impenitence, they lofenothing by it in the world. Andunlefs it be in a very hot perfecution, Families are not fo reftrained from holy Do rive, veorfhip and difcipline, as Churches and Minifters often are. Who flenceth you and forbiddeth you to catechife and teach your family ? Who forbiddeth you to pray or praife God with them, as well and as often as you can? It is felf-condemning Hypocrifie in many Rulers of Fa- milies, who now cry out agai-nft them as cruel perfe- cutors,.who forbid us Minifters to Preach the Gofpel, while . they neglect to teach their own Children and Servants, when no man forbiddeth them : So hard is it to fee our own fins and duty,' in comparifon of other mens S. You havegreater and nearer Obligationsto your Family than Paifors have to all the people. Your wife is as your own flefh : Your Children are as it were parts of your felf : Nature bindeth you to the deareft affection; and therefore to the greateft duty to them Who thouldmore care for your Childrens fouls, than their own Parents ? If you will not provide for them, but famifh them, who will feed them ? Therefore as ever you have the bowels of Parents as ever you care what becometh of your Childrens fouls for ever, de- vote them to God, teach them his word, educate them in holinefs, reftrain them from fin, and prepare them for falvation. S. I rift confefs that natural afeion telleth me, that there is great reafon for -what you fay : Andmy otvn experience the mare convinceth me ; For if my Parents hadbetter Inftrudled and Governed me in my Child-hood, I had not been like to have lived fo ig- norantlyand i <gadiily as I have done : But alas few, Parents

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