DISCOURSE X. ¢gg III, How unkind and unnatural is it for parents to let the souls of their children perish for want of knowledge ! How necesr nary to acquaint them betimes with thegospel of Christ that they may trust in him betimes, and that their souls may be safe in the great day ! If I should ask every mother in the assem, bly this question, do you not desire all your children should be young believers ? But how can theybelieve in him whomthey have not known ? How can you expect they should trust in any person, if you have never brought them into his acquaint- ance ? Or will you content yourselves that you give them the name of christians in baptism, and let them know nothing of Christ. Think it not enough therefore.to make them repeat thewords of a catechism, but enquire what they mean by such and such words and sentences, which they pronounce ; and thus you will discover where their ignorance lies : Then inform them, and assist their young understandings. Acquaint them with the sin of their natures, with the sins of their life, with the anger of God, and danger of hell ; till they are afraid of it in earnest, and ask, what they shall do to be saved. Then teach them the knowledge of Christ, in his glorious person ; in his excellent qualifications of love, power, and faithfulness ; teach them thedoc- trine of his death as a satisfaction for sin, and of that all -suf&r cient righteousness, upon which only they can find acceptance with a just and a holy God: Acquaint them with his pleading in heaven as a priest; for sinners here on earth, and his reign- ing there as King, to give grace and holiness, pardon and repentance, and salvation, to all that are willing to accept it in his own way. And let this practice be continually repeat- ed, till, by frequent enquiries, you find they understand what you teach them, Shew them how to commit their souls into the hands of Christ by prayer rind faith, and how to walk watchfullyin obe- dience to all the commands of Christ, to practise the duties of religion toward God, and the duties of morality towardmen ; in order to evidence their faith, and to bring them onward to com- plete salvation. Tell them of the last great judgment-day, when all their secret actions'shall be brought to light before God, angels and men; and when they must give an account to Jesus the Judge, of all their behaviour here. Make it evident, that there is no way to appear with safety before him as a judge, but by committing their souls to him, as their kind and all-sufficient friend : And then holy parents may hopeto meet their sons and their daughters with comfort, at the right-hand of the Lord iu that day. It is an acquaintance with such a Saviour; and such a trust . in him, that will prepare themnot only for the last judgment,
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