Awl 296 RUIN AND RECOVERY, &C. verygreat privileges, afflicted' with sore diseases and calamities, and even punished with death itself; on the account of some criminal head of their family. So much has it been the way of God's dealing with'men in many cases; that there seems to be something of a law of nature in it, that a parent should b- a surety for his offspring, especially while children are not capable òf acting for themselves. And doubtless there i$ a justice in this manner ofproceed- ing, which is well known to God, though not alwaysso visible to us, for the Judge of all the earth most do what is right, he cannot, he will not do any wrong. The seed of Abraham were rewarded for the obedience of their father; Gen. xxii. 16-18. The Rechabites in their successive generations, have a promise of a long entail of blessings, because of the honour and obedience which they paid to their father Jonadab; Jer. xxxv. 17-20. The Throne of Judah was continued in David's house for many generations, becauseof David's piety and zeal 2 Sam. vii. 10. Phineas had the promise of a long priesthood in hisfamily, because of his zealfor God; Num. xxv. 12. And as blessings were thus conveyed, so were punishments. Thi seed of Hamwere cursed with slavery, for their father's crime ; Gen. ix. 25. All the children were swallowed up byan earth= quake, for the rebellion of Corab, Dathan and Abiram their fathers; Num: xvi. 31.* "khan's family were stoned and perished with him for his theft and sacrilege ; Jos. vii. 24. The children of the Canaanites were. destroyed together with their parents for their abounding iniquities ; Eeut. xx. 16-18. The leprosy was transmitted to the seed of Gehazi for his sin of covetousness and lying; 2 Kings v. 26, 27. Fathers in this case are made as it were the sureties and -representatives or trustees for -their children though the children do not ac- tually and formally agree to it yet surely' God is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his- works ; Ps. exly. 17. And we see these events frequently in providence nowa- days. Some families have as it were -a manifest entail of bles- sings upon them, and snipe an entail of diseases and miseries, poverty and disgrace, on the account of their parents' conduct. And I think this is not to be attributed merely to their natural descent from such parents; but in the government of God, pa- rents are made and esteemed a sort of trustees for theirchildren in the good or evil things of this life, which renders a suc- cession of blessings or curses in their families, more just and equitable.- 3. Though all mankind were not actually present to consent s The scripture leads us to believe that most of their children perished with them ; Num. xvi. 27. though some or all of Corah', sans might be absent and escape, ebaptep Nom. xxvi. 21. Eleb. Renal sons. .. ..;1
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