Go Children and Relations hont to be denied. felf is the point by which Chrift under the Gofpel cloth try mens faith, fo it was the refignation of an only fon, which was next to life, by which he would try Abraham the Father of the faithful, before the incarnation of Chrift. if therefore you will be children ofribraharn, you mull walk in the fieps of faithful ellbrahano, and remember that your children are not your own ; and be content that God dowith his own as he pleafes. 6. Make God their portion, as much at in you lieth, andleek morefor a#iritual then temporalfelicityfor them, and acquaint themwith their Creatour in the daies of their youth : as be- lieving that thole ofthem that are the Holieft are the Hap- pieft. 7. Devote your children to fuck calling' and imp/unseat" in which they are likeliefi to be mollferviceable to God : Confider their difpofitions and parts ; and then never ask what kind of life is the moll honourable or gainful for them, but in what way and courfe oflife they may molt ferve God, and be moll ufeful to his Church : And to that let them be devoted. 8. Favour them not in fix : and fuller themnot to difhonour God that they are devoted to : Remember Eli's example. Gentle reproofs infleadof neceffary fevere corredion, is cal- led by God, A defpifing him, and preferring h .14 finsbefore him : I Sam. 2. 29, 30. even becaufe his form made themfelves vile, and he refirainedthem not, I Sam. 3. 13 . Take heed as you love yourfelves or them, of taking their parts againft God, or againft correaion, and excufing the fins by which they do difhonour him. 9. Give themnot for their carnal advancement in the world that part of your eflate which Udue to God. You owe it all to him : and in the difpofingofit , he bath limited you to begin at home, and provide fo for your children that theymay have their daily bread, and fo much more as they are in likelyhood the fitted ftewards to improve for God. But if you fee the publike Rate of the Church or Commonweal to Hand in need ofyour affiftance, andyou shall then give almoft all to your children tomake them rich andgreat in the world, and put off the works of greater moment with Tome poor inconfide- rable
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