*f» CHILDREN'

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BOOK COLLECTION

LIBRARY OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

SERMONS

THE

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

B X 'L D & E N*

AT NORTH AMP TOM,

•at PHILIP DODDRIDGE, D.

PRIM TED AND SOLD 3V SAMUEL

EXTRACTS from D. SOME'S recommenda- tory Preface to the folio;-, ing Sermons.—

< r "I "'HE ncgktt of the rifmg generation, -which

JL fo generally prevails, ougld, furely, to a-

n ikrn cur feriGv.s concern for it : and I ptrfvade.

J thc.t the prefcnt attempt will be welco?ne to

•io are duly imprejjed -with that concern ; for

-• as I am capable of judging^ it is well adapt-

1 anflier its intended pur pofts.

;* As ij:e ftljeft of thefe fcrmcns is no matter of

rvtrj}') but plain end, important duty, one

<: hcpe iluy will not foil under the fever e ctn-

vj £.;?r. At haft I am perfv.aded that hum-

ehrifttaris, whofe thief concern is to

dr dittv, will find agreeable enter-

viucii profitable wfin'.ftivn in ^f.

SERMON I.

ON THE -EDUCATION OF. CHILDREN,

PROY. XXII. 6.

Train up a Child in the. wny he Jhonll go : when he is eld he will not deb art Jrom il.

T is a mod amiable and in(tru8ive part of

the character which Ifaiah draws of great jktphtrd of the church, that he fh.ou.l<i gather th» Lambs with his ar-m, and carry them in his bofor.i : A rep re fen tat ion abundantly a:i- iwcrcd by the tender care which oivr Re- deemer exprerTed for the weafeii oi' his dif- ciples; ana beautifully iliuftratcd by the en- dearing condefcenfion, \vith \\7hich he em- braced and blcffed liitlc infaiits. Nor i,s it foreign to the prefent purpofc fo obicrve, that when he recommends to Peter the care of his flock, as the molt important and ac- ceptable evidence of his fincerc aiFeclion to his perfon, he varies the phrafc : in one place faying, feed myjhccp^ and in the other, fred my lambs. — rPerhaps it might be intended in part to intimate,, that the care of a gofpel miniftei, \vho would, in the mod agreeable manner, approve hJ3 love to his mafter, fhould extend itfelf to the rifing generation, as well as to thofe of a maturer age, and considerable (landing in the church. It is in obedience to his authority, and from a regard to his imerell, that I am now en-

4 *W TUB EDV«ATX« SER. i,

tering ©i> the work ef catechifing, which I lhall introduce with fome practical difcour- fes, on the education of children* the fubjeei vhich is now before us.

I perfuade myfclf, that you, my friends, \vill not be difpleafed to hear that I intend to handle it at large, and to make it the em- ployment of more than a fingje Sabbath, A little reflection may convince you, that I. could hardly offer any thing to your confid- eration of greater importance ; and that hu- manly fpeaking, there is nothing in which the comfort of families, the profperity of na- tions, the falvation of foul*, the interefl of a Redeemer, and the glory of Gcd, is more ap- parently and intimately concerned.

I very readily allow, that no human en, cleavors, either of ininifters or parents, can ever be efFeftual, to bring one foul to the faving knowledge of God in ChrifV, without the co-operating and transforming influences of the bleffed fpirit : yet you well Lnow>. and I hope you ferioufly confider, that this- does not in the leafr weaken our obligation to the mod diligent ufc of proper means. The great God has ilated rules of 'operation in the world of grace, as well as of nature ; and though he is not limited to them, it is arrogant, and may be deftru&ive,. to expeft that he mould deviate from them in favor of us or ours.

We live not ly bre&d alone+ but ly e?ci:y ihat proceedcth out of the mouth of Gad : and- fee determined to continue yauj 1-.

S'ER. I. OF CHILDREN* 5

or the lives of your children, he could, no doubt, feed or fupportyou by miracle : Yet you think yourfelves obliged to a prudent care for your daily bread, and juftly con-, elude that were you to neglect to admin- ifter it to your infant offspring, you would be chargeable with their murder before God and man ; nor could you think of "pleading it as any excufe that you referred them to a miraculous Divine care, whilft you left them deftiute of any human fupplies. Such a plea would only add impiety to cruelty, and greatly aggravate the crime it attempted to palliate. As a'bfurd would it be for us to flatter ourfelves with a hope that our chil- dren mould be taught of God, and regene- rated and fanctifted by the influences of .his- grace, if w?. neglect that prudent and reli- gious care in their education, which it is bufmels this day to defcrib'e and recomni, and which Solomon urges in the words of my text : Trji;i up a child in Ins way tit 7; • he Jhoufd go ; and -when he is eld he tuill iict dr- part from u]

I need* not offer .you rmny critical re- marks on fo plain and intelligible a pally g>j. You will eafily obferve, that it conlifts of an important advice?, add re fled to the parents . i'ii.ors of Children. Trcl;i vp a ( 'y uniick he, /Koidd'po; and alfp oi a i b\r which it is enforced,

7 not. depart from it.

i€ general fenfe is undoubtedly retain- :i our tranflation, as it commonly is ; A 2

Q «N THE EDUCATION SilU !,'.

but here, as in many other places, foraething of the original energy and beauty is loft.

The Hebrew word, which we render traiii up, does fbme times fignify in the general, to initiate into fome fcience or difcipline ; and. very frequently to apply any new thing to. the ufe for which it was intended. It is ef- pecially ufed of facred things which were iblemnly dedicated or fet apart to the fer- viceofGod: And perhaps it may here be. intended to intimate that a doe care is to be taken in the education of our children, from: a principle of religion, as well as of prudenca and humanity; and that our inftru£lions ihould lead them to the knowledge of God, and be adapted to form them for his fervice,. as well as to engage them to perfonal and fo- cial virtue.

It is added, that a child mould be trained up in the way inn- kick he fiwuld go ; which feems to be more exactly rendered by others, at the entrance, or from the beginning of his way, to exprefs the early care which ought to be taken to prevent the prevalency of ir- regular habits, by endeavoring- from the firft dawning of reafon to direct it aright, and to- infufc into the tender unpraclifcd mind, the important maxims of wilctam and good- ncfs.

To encourage r.s to this care, the \\'ife Man a (lures us that we may reafonably ex- pect the moft happy confcqucnce from it :. That if the young traveller be thus directed to ict out well in the journey of life? there is-

S£R. !» OF CHILDR.EJJJ. j

a fair pro fpe 61 that he will go on to its rnoftr diftant ftages with increafing honor and hap- pinefs. — Train up a child in the way he fliould; gQ ; and when he is M^ -he will net depart from it. I (hall endeavor to illuftrate and enforce this important advice in the following me- thod, which appears to me the mod natural^ and for that cealbn the mod eligible. -

I. I fhall more particularly mark out the- way in which children are to be trained tip.

II. Offer foine plain and ferious confid- erations to awaken you .to this pious and necefTary care;

III. Direct to the manner in which the at- tempt is to be made, arid the precautions which are to be ufed in order to render it

And then,

IV. I will conclude the whole with a mere particular application fuited to your di:T::rent Ghara61ers,rclations,andcircuRiitances of life.

I am very fenfible that, it is a very delicate as well as important Cub) eel, which is now before me ; I have therefore thought myiulf obliged more attentively to weigh what occurred to my own meditations more dili- gently to confult the fentiments of oth.-r.«-? and: above all more earneilly to fcek thwfe divine influen^t?^ without which I know I am unequal to the eaficft tafk ; bat in de- pendance on which, I cheerfully attempt one of the mod: difficult. The refuit of the wiiole I humbly offer to your candid exam- ination ; not pretending at any time to

ON THE EDUCATION 3ER. I.

tate in an authoritative manner, and leaft of all on fuch an occafion as this ; but rather fpeaking as to wife men, who are themfelves to judge what I fay. May the divine aflift- ance and bleffing attend us in all I

Firft, I am to defcribe the way in which children are to be trained up.

Our tranflation, as I have told VOM, though not very literal, is agreeable to the fenfe of the original, The way in which the child Jtwuld go. And undoubtedly this is no other than the good old way ; the way of ferious prac- tical religion; the way which God has in his word marked out for us; the way which all the children of God have trodden in every fucceeding arre ; the w?v, the only way in d rcil to our fouls.

Ent it is • r to leave the matter

iairica. I would therefore

:norc particularly obft-jrve : — that it is the

way of piety to God — and of frith in our

1 JefiiJ Chnft; — i.ne way of obedience

its — and of benevolence to all, the

of dilHgence — and of integrity ; — the

of humility — and of felf-clenial. I am

.aclcd that each of thefc particulars will

•r ferious attention and regard. i. Children iliouid undoubtedly be trained up in the way of pi:ty a:, d devotion io\vards

This, as you v;eli know, is the fu- foundation of evcrv iliing truly good. far cf the Lord is ,ig ofn://i i

iti therefore invites the children to r

i»£K. i. OF CHILDREN. <£

with the promife of inftrwfting them in it; Come ye Children, hearken unto me^ and I will teach yen the fear of the Lord. And it is cer- tain fome right notions of the Supreme Be- ing muft be implanted in the minds of chil- dren, before there caa be a reafonable foun- dation for- teaching . them1 thafe doctrines \vhieh peculiarly relate to Chrift under the chara£teref the mediator ; for he that comes unto God (by him) muft believe that he i«t and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently feek. hi in,

The proof of the Being of God. and fome of thofe attributes of the divine nature in •which we are mod concerned, depends on fuch eafy principles, that I. cannot but think the weakeft might enter into it. A child v;ill eafily apprehend that as every houfe is buik by . forrie ruaiv and' there can • be no work without art- author t To he'- thai Inuli ell things is GoJ, And 'from this obvious idea of God as the maker of alt, we may "naturally rjprelent him as Very great and very good, that they may be taught at once to reverence and love him.

It is of great importance, that children early imbibe an awe of G»d, and an husiiblc veneration for his perfections and glories. He ought therefore to be reprefented to them as the great - Lord of all; and when we take'occafion to mention to them other in- vi.fible agents, whether Angels or Devils, we ihould, as Dr. Watts has moft judicioufly ob- fcrvcd; akviys reprefent them as entirely, un-

£Q ON THE EDUCATION SER. I,

der the government and controul of God, that no fentiments of admiration of good fpi- nts, or terror of the bad, may diftract their tender minds, or infringe on thofe regards which are the incommunicable prerogative of the Great Supreme,

There fhould be a peculiar caution, thai when we teach thefe infant tongues to pro- nounce that great and terrible name, the Lord enr God, they may not learn to take it in vain; but may life • it with a becoming fo- lemnity, as remembering that we and they are but dujl and a/lies before him. — When I hear the little creatures fpeaking of ci the great God- the blefled God, the glorious God," as I fomctimes do, it gives me a fenfible pleafure, and I confider it as a probable proof of great wifdom and piety in thofe who have the charge of their education.

Yet great care (bould be taken not to con- fine our difcourfes to thefe awful views, left the dread of God ihould fo fall upon them, as that his excellencies ihould make them a- fraid to approach him. We mould defcribe him as not only the greateft. but the bed of beings. We mould teach them to know him by the moft encouraging name of the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fujfcr- . ing, and abundant in goodnefs and truth, keeping •mercy for thousands, and forgiving iniquity, tranf- grejjion and fin. We mould reprefent him as the uniyerlal, kind, indulgent parent, who loves his creatures, and by all proper me- thods provides for their happinefs. And we

•SER". !• O

fhould particularly reprefent his goodnefj to them, with what more than parental ten- dernefs he watched round thtir cradles; with what companion he heard their feeble cries, before their infant thoughts could form themfelves into prayer : We fhould tell them that they live every moment on God; and that all our affection for them is no more than he puts into our hearts; and all our power to help them is no more than he lodg- es in our hands.

We fhoukl alfo folemnly remind them that in a very little while their fpirits are to return to this God ; that as he is now always with them and knows every thing they do-, or fpeak, or think, fo he will bring every work into judgment, and make them forev* er happy or miferable, as they on the whole are found obedient or rebellious. And here the moil lively and pathetic defcriptions, which the fcriptures give us of Heaven and of Hell, fhould be laid before them, and ur- ged on their confideration.

When • fuch a foundation is laid in the be- lief of the providence of God, and of a fu- ture ftate both of rewards and punifhmcnts, children fhould be indruBed in the duty they owe to God, and fhouldbe particularly taught to pray to him, and to praifc him. It would be belt of all, if, From a deep fenfe of his perfeclions, and their own nccefntie*, they could be engaged to breathe out their 'ore liim in words of their own, were : io weak and broken. Yet you

It «N fHE ED^CATIOW

readily allow, that till this can be ex- pected, it may be veiy proper to teach them ibme form of prayer and thankfgiving, con- lifting of fuch plain fcriptures, or other fa- miliar expreffions, as may beft fuit their cir- cumftances ^nd underftandings. If the Lord's Prayer be taught them, as a- form, I hope you will confider how comprehenfive the expreffions are ; how faft the ideas rife and vary ; and confequerrtly how necfflary it is, that it be frequently, and largely ex- plained to them ; left tie repetition of it degenerate into a mere ceremony, as I fear it does amongft many, who are perhaps moft zealous for its ufe.

But what I have faid on this head of piety and devotion, muft be confidered in an in- feparable connection with what I am to add tinder the next.

2. Children muft be trained up in the way of faith in the Lord Jefus Chrifh

You know, my friends, and I hope many of you know it to the daily joy of your fouls, that Chrift is the way, the tret h, and the life; and that it is by kirn we have boldnefs and accefs with confidence to a God who might otherwile appear as a confumir.g fire. It is therefore of great importance to lead chil- dren betimes into the knowledge of Chrift, which is, no doubt, a confidcrab'e part of that nurture and admonition of the Lord, which the Apoftlc lecommends. and was per haps what he principally intended by ni< r*-

SJ-R. I- OS CHILDREN. 13

We fhould therefore teach them betimes 'that the fn<l parents of the human race, mod ungratefully rebelled againft God, and fub- jetted themfelves and all their offspring to his wrath and curfe. The awful confequen- ces of this fhould be opened at large, and we ihould labor to convince them that they have made themfelves liable to the divine clifplea- iiire (that dreadful thing.!) by tkeirov/n per- fonal guilt ; and thus by the knowledge of the law fhould we make way for the gofpel, the joyful news of the deliverance by Chrifi.

In unfolding this, great ca; o be

taken that we do not fill iheir minds v/ith an averiion to one Sacred r'eribn, while we en- •deavour to attract tliqj i to another,

nci to b6 n > fe-

srail.

. we

. -an-

flu-.

14 ®N THE EDUCATION SER. I.

rather than he would on the one hand def-

troy man, or on the other leave fin unpunifk-

ed, he made his own Son a fac-rifice for it,

appointing him to be humbled, that we

it be exalted, to die that we might live.

We mould aifo reprefent to them, (with

koly wonder and joy) how readily the Lord

is Chiiii contented to procure our de-

in fo expenfive a way. How

chearfuily he (aid, <Z<?, / come ; I delight to do

To enhance the value of

love, wo ikould endeavour ac-

iing to our weak capacities, to teach them

this compailionate Redeemer is; to re-

fent ibrnething of hi.> glories as the cter-

,;on of God, and the great Lord of an-

«.-:i;i and men. -V/e fliould inftrutl them ia

r,g condefceniion in laying afide

••rie-s. that he might become a little,

-*cak, helplefs child, and afterwards an af-

, J forrowful man. We flioidd lead them

i?jio t^e knowledge of thofe circumftances

btfthe ;-i(torv of Jefus, which may have the

. ncy to (hike their minds, and

with an early fenfe of grat-

e to hitn. \Ve mould tell them

iml-jlf, Ajl he might

:bcut do-

ly he prc;i goi-

of the people. And we

n how kind ha was

,\r.d how he chid his d.ifci-

theiii

:i"ht to him : It is ex p.

faid. Jefnsr^- little children to CGI not-, for of fuch is the kvi der eircumftahecr, for corded (in part at Iccift) foi that children in fuc ceding prefTed and affeclcd with it.

Through thefe fcenes of his life we fkould lead them on to his death : We Ibould fhew how eafilv he could have delivered him- felf (of which he gave fo fcn.fi ble an evidence) in {hiking down by one word, thofe ^'ho came to apprehend him ; and yet how patient- ly he fu bin it tec! to the mo ft cruel injuries $« be fcourgcd and fpit upon, to be crowned Ivith thorns, and to bear the crols. V/e .fhould fliew them hov/ this innocent, holv, divine perfon v/a.°, brought cs a l^rib fla'i.vliisr ', and while they were with nails, inftcad pfloadifl es, he p raved for them, ia\ : them, for ih>:y kiioio not zufi i when their little hearts are awed and iiielted, with fo ftrange aftory, v/e iho- it was thus he groaned a^c! us, and often remind their: concern in what was dr.

\Ve mould lead o;

views of Chrifi's r, C cenfion; and tell them with v goodnefs he full remembers hi: midll of his exaltation ; pleading liic caufe of finful creatures, and employing his inters ft in the court of Heaven^ to procure life and

l£ ON THE EDUCATION SKR. f.

glory for all that believe in him and love him:

"vVe fh'ould then go on to inftruc~t them in thofe particulars of obedience, by which the iinccriry of our faith and our love is to be approved : at the fame time reminding them of their own weaknefs. and telling then; how God helpc us, by fending his holy fpirit to dwell in our hearts, to furnini us for every good word and work. A-i important lef- ibn, without attending to which our inftruc- tion will be vain, and their hearing will like-

3. Childrci. bfl trained up in the

•;• n c e tot h c i r p ?, re n t s .

Tbi:: : I d which com*

i by ':::.

ic a particular promife of long life; a b!ef- iing v/hich young perfons greatly defire. The Apoftle therefore obfervcs, that ii ;

>fc\ i. c. a ccm-

majaid eminently remarkable (br the manner in \vhch the proaaife is adjoined. And it is ccrt,iir,!y a vafc c^r.ftitution of Providence that gives Co mach to parental authority, ef- pecialfy while children arc in their younger vears, 'their minds being tben incapable of nidging and aft ing for themfelves in matters of miportance. Children fbould therefore be early taught and convinced by fcripture, that God has committed them into the hands of their parents; and confequcnily. that rev- erence and obedience to their parents, part of the duty they owe to God. a

SER. I. OF CHILDREN. 1J

bedience to them is rebellion again ft him. And parents fhould by no means indu-ger their children in a direcl: and re To kite onpo- lition to their will in matters ®f greater or fmaller momqnt ; remembering that a child left to himfelf brings his parents to fhame, and himfelf to ruin ; and with regard to fub- jecliosi, as well as affection, it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth,

4. Children fhould be trained up in the •way of benevolence and kindnefa to all.

The great Apoftle tells us that hue. falpllhg of ike law, and that' all thole branch • es of it which relate to our neigh ho; comprehended in that one word, loir. love therefore we ii-ioidd endeavor to teach : fhcil! find, that in many i;:

.1 to L^C capacity <.•• n law rio'im:

:h theai. ai Frn

ON THE EDUCATION

That fuch inflruBions may be welcome to them, we fhould endeavor, by all prudent methods, to foften their hearts to fentiments of humanity and tciidernefr, and guard a- garnft every thing that wou'd have a con- trary tendency. We fhould remove from them as much as poilible all kind of cruel and bloody fpeclacles, and fhould carefully difcourage any thing barbarous in their treatment of brute creatures; by no means allowing them to fport themfelves in the death or pain of doraefHc animals, but rather teaching them • to treat the poor creatures Singly, and take care of them ; the contrary to which is a moft deteftable fign of a favage and malignant difpofition, the merciful man regardeiri the life of his beafL

We fhould likewife take care to teach them the odioufnefs and folly of a feliifh temper, and encourage them in a willingnefs to impart to others what is agreeable and en- tertaining to themfelves: Efpecially we ild ewdeavor to form them to fentiments <jf compaffion for the poor. We mould fhew them v. here God has faid, BlfJJsd- is the man thai :h the pcor, the Lord -a:: I .' A7?/fc

\e. He that hath pity up'

hath

pey-fM ag&ifr. And we fhould -in by our own practices, th; : \ ri!y bclie\'e the'c to be I

r.n':*(>rtiiiit. Iti:

tniies to iT7a!;e our ci'.ilclr^n the r by which \ve lend fome fmull fupply to the

OF CHILDREN. 1«

indigent and diftrelled; and if they (life ov- er a difpofition to give fomethiug out of the little flock we allow them to call their own, we mould joyfully encourage it, and fkould take care that they never lofe by their chari- ty, but that in a prudent manner we abund- antly repay it. It is hardiv to be -'imagined that children thus brought up, mould, in the advance of life, prove injurious and oppref- five ; they will rather be the ornaments of religion, and bleffings to the world, and probably will be in the number of the la& ? •whom Providence will fuffer to want.

5. Children fnould be trained up in the way of diligence.

This fhould undoubtedly be our care, if we have any regard to the welfare either of their bodies or their fouls, In whatever Itation of life thev may at length be fixed, it is certain there is little profpect of their ac- quitting themfehes with ufcfulnefs, honor and advantage without a dole and refolute application ; whereas, the wifell of princes and of men has faid, Secfl thou a man diligent in hi* b'ujirj-fs ? he /hall /Land before kings^ he I notfiand before tnean mcn^ and it is evident that. a diligent profccution of bufinefs keeps one out of the way of a thoufand tempta- tions, which idlenefs feems ro invite, leading aitvan into numberle-fs inl-bmces of vice and.

> do.

there- fore be concerned t'1 a n may not early contracl fo pernicious a habi^nor enter

2O ON THE EDUCATION SE?x. r,

upon life like perfons that have no bufmefs in it but to crowd the ftage, and (land in the way of thofe who are better employed. — In- ilead of fuffering them to faunter about .from place to place (as abundance of young people do, to no imaginable purpofe of ufe- fulnefs, or even of entertainment) he would quickly affign them feme employment for their time: An employment fb moderated, and fo diverfided; as not to overwhelm and, iaiigue their tender fpirits ; yet fufficicnt to

"them wakeful and active. Nor is this . * fo me in ay imagine; for chil-

i arc a bufy kind of creatures, naturally fond of learning nev/ things, and trying and ihesving what they can do. So that I am perfuL,d^.l, were perfect inactivity to be imr pole e but for i

hoir fiL^i;d

W(}ii . reiu^i: \\ om ir. in

'-^u would think fit '.a

e disciplined in their •ly be taught the val- r:u:l'jmcd to improve fome calling in life ;.-

OF CMILB8.EN'.

Athenians, which ordained « That thofe, who had bet?: :;p!oy by

their parents, ; to keep

them, if they erne to v;ant in their old age ; which all other (le;;,:, rcn were.'*

6.. Chi!d;x*i i'hotiid be trained up in the way of integrity.

Simplicity and godly fincerity is not only a very amiable, but an cfiTcntial part of the chriPdan character; and we ate every one of us itvdi fpen fably obliged to prove our- felves Ifraefitts indeed? in whom tlierc is no allow- ed guile. And thi-s is a circumdance that will peculiarly require our regard in the educa- tion of our children, and of all yoim^ per- ibns under our c'uc.

It is very ntelanchply to ofofcn the artifice* and deceits of corrupt nature begin to difcover theinfelve.^.- Ii^ this re- ipecl we are tranfgrcfTjrs -from the womb, and go aft ray aim r, ft 'as loon as ve arc born, ipcdking lies. Great, .care therefore fliould betaken to fornitLc minds of children to a for truth and candour, and a fenfe of , well as the guile of a lie. ,;c do not e\- 5 of thiskinch s, on ace I

•!i it

fey of a

rate lie, we fhouhl exprefi - a proicnt reprooi

2-2 " ON THE EDUCATION S-E?v. I,

or correction, but by fuch a conduct towards them for fome time afterwards, as may plain- jy mow them how greatly we are amazed, grieved and difpleafed. When fo folemn a buiQn-efs is made of the fir ft faults of this kind, it may be a mean of presenting many more.

I will further add. that we ought not on- ly thus fevercly -animadvert upon a direct lie- but likcwife, in a proper degreft, to difcour- age all kinds of equivocations and double meanings, and thofe little .tricks and artifices b y w 1: : c b th e y m a y e n d e a v o u r to i m p o fe o « each ojici, or on thole that arc older than ihei.;icives. V/e fhould often inculcate up- on them that excellent fc rip tare, He that' ik iiprirldl?, walkclh fiirdy ; but fa that truth his ft.'tfr, (that twirls and diftorts it with the perplexities of artifice and deceit) jhall at length be knc-iun. Be fliowing the;a every day, how eafy, hav/ plcafant, hov/ hon- orable, and how advantageous it is to main- tain a fair, open, honeft temper ; and on the other hand, what folly there is in cunning and difnonefty in all its forms; and how certain itis.that by (t u dying and practicing it, ihey take the readicil v:ay to make themfeives anxious and

Above ali, fhould we remind -theni, tha. righteous Lord loveth righteoufnefs. and his favourable countenance beholdeth the up- right ; but lying lips are fuch an abomina- tion to him, that be cxprefsly declares, all li- ars Jhall have their fart in the lake which burns- mth fire and brim/ font.

S-ER. I/ OF CHILDREN, 2g

7. Children fhould be trained up in the way of humility.

This is a grace, which our Lord particu- larly invites us to learn of him, and raoft fre- quently recommends to us; well knowing that without it, fo humbling a fcheme as he came to introduce, would never meet with a welcome reception. And with regard to the prefent life, it is a moft lovely ornament^ which engages fcniverfal efteem and affection; fo that before honour i.; humility: On the whole we find, He.n ho.t cxaltdh himftlf is abaf- ed, and he that humbleih himfdf is exalt-ecf, both by God and man.

A regard therefore to -the eafe, honour, and happinefs of our children, fhould engage us to an early endeavour of checking that pride, which was the firft fin, and the ruin of our natures; and diffufes itfclf fo wide, and finks fo deep, into all that draw their original from degenerate Adam. We fhould teach them to exprefs humility andmbdefty in their con- verfe with all.

They fhould be taught to treat their fupe- riors with peculiar refpect, and fhould at pro- perieafons be accuflomed to filence and re- ferve before them. Hence they will leant in (ome degree the government of the tongue a branch of wifdom, which in the advance of life will be of great importance to the quiet of others, and to thcir-own comfort aiul reputation.

Nor fhould they be allowed to a'ffnvne airs of iafolencc towards tV ils\ but.ra

be taught to yield, to oblige, and to give up their right for the Jake pf peace. To tits

piirpofc I cannot but think it deferable, that they fbould be generally accuiloracd to treat each other with thole forms of civility and coirtpiaifance which are ufual among well bred people in their rank of life. -I know thefe things are mere trifles in them- felves. yet they are the outguards of humani- ty and friend (hip, and effectually prevent many a rude attack, which, taking its rife fr orn feme little cireumHances, ^ay never- :fs be auenclcd with fatal confequcnces. 1 thought it proper to mention this here, be- eauie (as Sccugcl very juftly and cle^intly cxpreffcs it) u Thefe modes are the (hadows of humility, and feern intended to fiiew our regard for others, and the low thoughts we have of ourfc '.

I (hall only add further. th,?t it is great im- prudence and unkindnef-; to ci.- / in- -dulge them in a". be- havior towards thofe v in- feriors. They iliould be made to iiiidev- ftand, that i!;c fci '

I

&£R. I. 01' CHILDREN* 25

Laftly, children fhould be trained up in the way of felf denial.

As without fomething of this temper we can never follow Chnft, or expert to be owned by him as his difciples ; fo neither in - deed can we pafs comfortably through the world. For whatever unexperienced youth may dream, a great many diftaftcful and mortifying circumftances will occur in life, which will unhinge our minds almoft every hour, if we cannot manage, and in many 13- ftances deny our appetites, our padion?. and our humours. We fhould therefore endea- vor to teach our children this important lef- fon betimes; and if we fucceecl in our care, we (hall leave them abundantly richer and happier, in this rule and pofFcffion of their own fpirits, than the moft plentiful cftates, or the mod unlimited pover over others could make them.

When a rational creature becomes the (lave of appetite, he finks beneath the digni- ty of the human nature, as well as the fi.vic- tity of the chriflian pro&flion. It is there- fore uhfervab'e, that when the apoflle ir.cn- tions the three grand branches of practical religion, he puts fobri^etv in the front ; pcr- liaps to intimate, that \Vlic re that is ncglccl- cd, the other cannot be uiiu h! v regarded. " The Grace, of GoJ fi. e. tlic Gofpcl) twckcs iis /j live filcny, riglittoiifty and gffttty? Cliil- dicn therefore, as well as young men. fhou'd

i : Aiid they C

20 ON THE EDUCATION S£R. I.

ihould be taught it by early felf denial. It is certain that if their own appetite and tafte were to determine the kind and quantity of their food, many of them would quickly def- troy their conftitution, and perhaps their lives; fince they have often the greateft de- fire for thofe things which are the mod im- proper. And it feems juftly obferved by a very wife man (who was hirnfelf a melan* choly inftance of it) 6i That the fondnefs of mothers for their children in letting them eat and drink what they will, lays a foundation for moOi of thofe calamities in human life •which proceed from bodily indifpofition." Nay, I will odd, that it is the part of wifdcm and love, not only to deny what would be unwholefome.but to guard againft indulging them in too great a nicety either of fcod or olrefs, people of fenfe cannot but fee if they would plcafe to cer.fider it, that to know how to fare plainly, and (bin eliir.es a little hardly, carries a man with eafe and pleafurc through many cii cumfrancc s of life, which to lux- ury and delicacy would be aimed intoler- able

The government of the pafiions is another branch of felf-dcnial, to which children ihr.uld early be habituated, ard fon%ic; rather, becauie* in an age when rcafon weak, the pailions are apt to appear wuh pe- cuUar force and violence. A prudent care fliould therefore be taken to reprefs the ex- o;bitar.cics of them, For which purpofc it

OF CHILDREN.

is of great: importance, that they never be

fuffered to carry any point,, by obfiinacy

lioife and clamour, which is indeed to bellow

a reward on a fault that deferveft a f-vere

reprimand. Nay, I will venture to' add, that

though it be very inhuman to take pieakire

in making them uneafy by needlefs irsortirlca-

tions, yet they are eagerly and in temperately

de (irons of a trifle, they ought, for that very

reafon iometirnes to be denied it, to teach

them more moderation for the future.

if by fuch methods they gre

conquer their little humours

they learn no irvcpnfiderable b

fortitude and v • 1 cannot

better than in

excellent treiitiie on the fubjcci

"He that has found out the wa

child's fpirit cafy, aclivc and free,

the fame time to reft rain him

things which he has a mind to, and draw him

to things .uneafy to him3 has go: the true ie-

cret of education."

I have foretimes been furprifed to fee how a fair fenfe of honor and praifc h.ns car- ried foiric children of a generous temper in a long and refolute courfe of feif-denial. undoubtedly the noblcft principle of a fenfe of religion. Happy would it i» be if they were led to fee, that thc;\: i very little in this kind of gratiiicatior. indulgences that the world itfelf is 1 poor empty trifle; and that the

28 ©N" THE EDUCATION' 5 E R . I,

.-at ure in 011 Id be concerned a- Tod, and get well to Heav- 2 teach us this impor- tant lefibn lor ourielves, that we may tranf- unit it wi;h the cheated: advantage to our ren ! AM

SERMON II.

ON THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN,

PROV. XXII. 6.

Train up a Child in the way he flwuld go ; and -when he is old he will not depart from it.

IT is certainly a very pleating reflection to every faithful minifter of the gcfpel, that the caufe, in which he is engaged, is the moft benevolent, as well as the molt religious ; . fubferving the glory of God by promoting happinefs of mankind. It mull be a great fatisfaQion to a man of integrity and humani- ty to think that it-is "not his bufinefs to dazzle and confound his hearers with of fpeech, to give the appearances to falfehood, and importance to trifles; but to teach them to weigh things in an impar- tial balance, and by the words of truth and fobernefs, to lead them into the paths of wif- dorn and goodnefs.

This is a fatisfaftion which I peculiarly

find this day, while I am urging you to that

religious care in the education ef chiklren,

"which I have at brgc opened in the former

circumitance of addi-

!i\-icling the Ciiulc

of the v/c?ak und tti - ; of litti,

creatures; \vho are incapable of plcaciiru-

gO OK THE EDUCATION? $ER. II.

themfelves, and know not how much their i at ere ft is concerned. Nor am I without a iecret hope, that if the divine fpirit favour us with his afliftance, Tome who are yet unborn may have eternal reafon to rejoice in the fruits of what you are now to hear. Amen.

Having already endeavored to defcribe the way in which children are to be trained up; *J now proceed,

Secondly, To propofe fome arguments to engage parents to this pious care.

And here I would intreat you diftinclly to confider, — that the attempt itfeif is pleafant ; — you have great reafon to hope it may be fuccefsful; — and that fuccefs is of the bigheft importance.

I. The attempt itfeif is pleafant.

I fpeak not merely of the pleafure arifing from the confcioufnefs of discharging prefent tluty, and a probable view of future fuccefs; fuch 2. fatisfaclion may attend thofe auions, \vhich arc in themfelves moft painful and mortifying. But I refer to the entertainment immediately flowing from the employment itfeif, when rightly managed. This is un- doubtedly one of thofe ways of wif-loni, which are ways of pleafantnefs, as well as a path, \vhich in its confequences is peace apd hap- pinci's : It is a commandment, in keeping of vhich there is a great reward.

The God of nature has wifely annexed a fecret unutterable delight, to ail our regular cares for the improvement of our riling ofF- fpring. We rejoice to ice our tender plants

S-ER. II- OF CHILDREN $t

flourifh, to obferve how the (lock ftrengthens, and the bloflbms and the leaves fucceffively uiifold. We trace with' a gradually advan- cing pleafure, their eafy fmiles, the firft ef- forts of ipeech on their ftarnmering tongues, and the dawnings of reafon in their feeble minds. It is a delightful office to cultivate and affift opening nature, to lead the young ftrangers into a new world, and to infufe the principles of any ufeful kind of knowledge which their age may admit, and their circum- ftances require. But when we attempt to raife their thoughts to tke great Father of Spirits, to prcfent them as in the arms of faith, to Jefus the compafiionate fhepherd, and teach them to enquire afier him ; when we endeavour to inftrncl them in the principles of divine truth, and form them to femiments of prudence, integrity and generofity ; we iind a pica fu re fupeiior to what any other labour for their improvement can give.

On this occafion, my friends, I perfuade myfclf, I may appeal to the repeated experi- ence of many amongd you. Do you not find, that the fweetcil truths of chriilianity, which are your hope and your joy in this houfc of your pilgrimage, are peculiarly fwcet when you talk them over with your children ? Do you not find, that your in- flrudions and admonitions to them return into your own bolorn with a rich increafe of cdiTicraioM and rcfreihmcnt ? thus while you are watering thefc do.ncrtic plantations, you arc watered a lib yourfclvcs ; and from the To

3'Z GNT THE EDUCATION ' SKR. i r,

holy converfes with your childien, you rife to more endearing communion with your heavenly father : God by his fpirit vifiting your fouls in the midfl of thofe pious cares, and giving you immediate comfort and ftrength, as a token ®f his gracious accept- ance, and perhaps as a pledge of future fuc- cefs. This leads me to urge the religious ed- ucation of children.

II. By the probability there is, that it will be attended with fuch fuccefs, as to be the means of making them wife and good.

This is the argument urged by Solomon in the text, Train up a child in the way in which he JJiQuld go ; find when he is eld ht will not depart from it. Being early initiated into the right way, he will purfue it with increafing plea- fare; fo that with regard -to the profpcrity ©f the foul, as well as of the body, his path \\-\\\ be like the morning light ^ which Jinndh more ihc perfect

It is true, this affertion is to be unaerftood with fome limitation, as expreHing the pro- bability, rather than the certainty of the fuc- cefs ; otherwife experience would contradict it in fome melancholy inflances. Would to God there were none untraclable under the jnoPc pious and prudent methods of educa- tion ; no n e , w h (3 lik e i I ft op I heir ca rs ng^inft the voice of the moft ikiilful charmers,. and have been accup>omea to do it from

. iiifdncy I \Vould to God there v jirsne of thofe, who appeared to Jd out and fccmed eager in enquiring ihe wuy.io Z.on-

*LR. II. 0?" CHILDREN, 33

with their faces thitherward, who.- have forgotten tr>s guides of their youth-) and the covenant of their God, and are to this day, wandering in the paths of the deflroyer, if they are not alrea- dy, fallen in them 1. But do you throw by every medicine, which fomc have ufed with- out being recovered by it; or decline every profeflion of which there are fome who do not thrive ? What remedy mud you then take ? what callir^g mud you then purfue ? The application is obvious. It would be folly to pretend to maintain, that religious education will certainly obtain its end : but iet me entreat you.- to conildcr, — that it is in, its own nature a verv ratio ni^iiyethod^ — that it. is the method which God has appointed,

. :.u a ITHMhod which [•} \ • has

been found fuccsfsful. Attend ferioufly to thefe remarks, and then judge whether pru- dence and confcience will not oblige you to purfue it.

i. The relgious education of children is* a very rational method of engaging them to walk in the way in which they mould go.

There is the moft evident advantage at- tending our early attempts of this kind, that we fhall find the mind more open and difen- gaged, not tainted with all thofe corrupt principles, nor cnflaved to thofe irregular habits, which they would probably imbibe and contraclin the advance of age. Though the paper on which we would write the knowledge of God be not entirely fair, it is clear of many a foul iaicription and deep

34 ON THE EDUCATION

blot, with which- it would foon be covered. Though the garden, in which w-> would plant the fruits of holinefs. be not free from weeds, yet many of them are but (as it were) in the invifible feed, and the reft are not grown up to that luxuriant fize, which we muft expecl, if due cultivation be omitted or delayed.

It is a farther advantage which deferves to be mentioned here, that infancy and child- hood is the in oft imprcf^ible age ; and as principles are then mod eafily admitted, fo they are rrroft firmly retained. The ancients, thole judic4oQS obfcrvers of human nature, *S v n writers, arc full, of

lufions which arc wci! known.

The new \ lie's a lading tincture

from the liquor which is firft poured in : The foft clay is eafi'y fafhioned into what form you pleafe ; The young plant may be bent vith a gentle hand ; and the characters en- graved on the tender bark, grow deeper and larger on the advancing tree. It will be our \vi-dom then to feize thefe golden opportu- nities and fo much the rather, as it is certain they will either be improved or perverted ; and that if they are not preffed into the fer- vice of religion, they will be employed as dangerous- artillery againft it.

But you will fay, " With all thefe auv-an- tageous circumflances we cannot infufe grace into the hearts of our children ; and after all our precautions^ corrupt nature will prevent

SER. II. OF CHILDREN. 35

us and fix a wrong bias on the mind, before we can attempt to direct it aright." A mourn- ful, but too evident truth ! which, far from denying or fupprefling, I would often declare and inculcate ; and the rather now, as it greatly confirms my argument. Are the in- fluence of a degenerate nature unavoidably fo ilrong, and will you fuffer them to be con- firmed by thefe additional advantages ? Do you apprehend, that, running with the foot- men, you (hall be in danger of fainting ; and do you for that very realori chufe to contend with the horfemen. ; You cannot fure, in the face of fo much reafon and fcripture, urge this as an excufe againft making any attempts at all of this kind; and how then is it an a- pology for the neglect of thofe, which are (other things being equal,) the mo ft rational and eafy ? But the trifling plea is more evi- *dently (ilcnced by obferving,

2. The religious education of children is a method which God has appointed ; and this greatly encreafes the probability of its fuccefs.

I affuredly know- (and may God more deeply engrave it on our hearts !) that with regard to your labours as well as ours, nei- ther is fu that irianieik anv ikin*, n^r lie that watcreth) Irt God thctgiwth- tiic i-icrrafe. But confider, I befeech you, how that incrcafe i.^ to be hoped for : Is it in the omiiiion, oriii the ii^e of prcfcribed means? I urge it on your conferences, iny friends, that religious education is an ordinance of God, which,

EDUCATION

therefore, you may reafonably hope, he will honour with a bleffing. And you might as juftly expect, that your fouls f'hould flouriih in an unneceflary ab fence from the table and houfe of the Lord, or an habitual neglect of reading and prayer; as that your children fhould grow up for God, while you fail in your endeavours to engage them in his fer- vice. I repeat it again, religious education is an ordinance of God. And is it a work of labour and difficulty to prove the affer- tion ? Which of you does not know; that chriftian parents, are folcmiily charged to bring tip tl'.iir children in the nurture and ad-mo- nit ton (J the. Lord ; and that even under the Mofaic ceconomy, God urged it on his peo- ple in a very affecting manner ? Surely you nmft have obferved, how ftriclly God charges it upon the jews to take all opportunities to this p-jrpofe occafional as well as flatcd. Thcfc words, fays he. which I ccr,imand ilicc tliis dayijhxll lc in thins, liccrt ; end thou j'hc-li \ tJitm cl'MgtP.tly to thy children* and Jbalt loll: cf iktm t^hcii then fitijl in thin? kcvfr. end rj/xn w elk eft ly the Li-ay, and when fkou lie/I dtton, end ZiJien than rifefi up. And el fc \vhcrc, ihou pi alt i'.ach them to thy Jons, and tly fin? ; \ inly

recommending a c.aic of rcnicte, as well as cdiate delcendants of grand-children ?s well as children. Thus when God fjlalliflitd a t'/iimony in Jacob, end appointed a Liw in Ijrccl* he commitflded the father s, that they Jhculd inch known i:::to their Children; that the gnirra-

S£R. II. OF CHILDREN. £7

that -/Jiould be 'torn, that theyfhould arife and de- clare them to their children; that fo religion might be tranfmitted to every riling age. You cannot be ignorant of fuch paffages as thefe, which needs no coment to explain them, and confequently you cannot but know, that the religious education of children is a divine inftitutioB, as well as in itfelf a mofh rational attempt : After which you will not wonder to hear.

3. That it has in facl been attended with very happy fuccefs.

We acknowledge that the Great God does not confine himfeif to work by this way ; and that he fometimes difplays his fove- reignty in vifibly turning out of it. We ac- knowledge, that he fomelimes lea.vcs thole who had been, as it were, born and brought up in his family, to foriakc it in a very fcan- dalous manner ; while he feems to go into the territories of Satan, into ignorant, carnal, porfanc families, and *ake from thence per- fons, whom he creels as trophies of free, fur- prifing, and (as Mr. How juflly exprcllcs it) 4i unacAuntable grace." But youv/c.-Il know, that thefe axe more rare and -uncommon caf- es ; yet molt of you* as I apprehend, vcre from your childhood trained up in i . Jedge of 'God, and are liting monuments of the fuccefs which has attended the care of parents, or mailers in this particular. The greater part of thofe, who have of late been admitted to your coaimunion, have to my certain knowledge, mentioned it with D

<CN THE

thankfulnefs. and I rejoice to think, how many of the riling generation amongft us (if even a child may be known by his doings] arc like to encreale the number, and give us an encouraging hope that they will at length be let as olive plants around the Lord's table, as well as yours. I perfuade myfelf it is To elfe where, and tV-ink I may pronounce it \vith fome confidence, that 'the families of God's children are generally, fpeaking the nurferies of his church. . Solomon, no doubt, had obferved, that a good education had ge- nerally been fuccefsful, or we could by no mea'-is accoun. for the remark in the text ; and a very accurate writer of our own age ana nation has carried it fo far as to fay, " that of all the men we meet with, nine parts in the ten are what they are, good or bad, ufeful or not, according to their cduca^ no n."

I hope you arc by this time convinceds that, humanly (peaking, there is great proba- Ll'ity, that religious education may be the ef- fectual mean? oF promoting ferious piety iu riling age;; v. 1-ic'h was the fec^fp argu- zh I was to recomcnd it : An ar~ . :h may be greatly ftrergihcntd, -

Tcfs, wl ich v;e mny fo re.afpnab!y exp-eci, i.> a matter of veiy high

•i 't.ii.ce.

It is of e\ ident importance — to the honour . Of Oo-'I, arc! the fu-'.port of religion, — to the pfefent and future hapuinefs of our ciiiidren,

SER. I!. Or CHILDREN7, %J

— and to your own comfort both in life and death. Weighty and coi-oreher.five tho'ts! which I (h.-ii! h..:i (ly touch, and to which I beg you v:il! rer-ew your attention.

i. The honour of God, an?' Fa

Redeemer, is greatly concern'; •' >er$a-

viour of your children ; and coitfecjueritly in your Crire of their education, whicliisKke to hav •:• fo great an iafhr-nce upon i.-.

We live in a d\ing world. Our Uihcrr, •where are th y ? Sleeping in the du:h as v:c mail (hortly be. We are lure, that i.'i a little a very little while, thefe placrs muft know us no more : And when, we are mouldering in the hotife of Glence, "'who mud till i > in

the houk of God ! Who m fl^ul for the fuvp.vfL of our religion amongst tbofe that iiicceed us? From- whom can it be expecled, Vmt from our children ? Yet how can we expect it from thefe, in the negleQ of a m.'thocl, which copies r^cominc-nded by Ib many advantngjous circi'.m^auccs ? t: Ye?,'* you will perhaps be ready to fay, " God will take cjmz of his own caufe, arid Almighty

frace^Mll do what we have not attempted, ecaufe we knew that we could nci-t accom- pli fh it." — Almighty grace can indeed do it; end Almighty power can of 'thefe flones, on a we tread raife up children to Abraham, fhew me your v/arrant froi?i tr.e word of God ibr e.xpettihg it, either in the one of;;, or in the other. — You will porfibly anfWer3 *4 He has promifed to be ever with his cluiivh and that the gates of Hell (hall not prevail

40 ON THE EDUCATION SER. II.

againftit; but that one generation fhall arifc and declare his mighty works unto another, i'.nd that the kitidora of his Son fhall continue as "long a^ the fun and moon endure." Blef- icd for thcfe encouraging pro-

Jnii''. . no doubt be accomplifhed.

-' cng-ged that '.his kingdom dial! alw; '.me amongft us? Such paf-

fagcs as thefe will no more prove, that the gof- :ievcr be removed from Great-En-

T would- once have proved, that

:ave been taken away from

Fergcinios or | -. or any oilier of the

which have fo many ages

n up to deflation*

Now let me i'^eatycu fora few moments, to dwell upon ...at thought; what if the gof- pel ihouid be loft from among your defcen- dams! what if in the age of thefe little ones,_ or the next that (hall fuccced to theirs, the houfe of the Lord fhould be forfaken, and his table abanboned ? AVhat if the rmnifhy ihouid be grown into difufc, or the fervants of Chrift in it fhould have nothing to dc. but to bear a fruitlefs teftisnony again ft '•punbe- lieving generation, till (when their hearts are broken with fo fad an office) the gofpel here die wiih them, and religion be hurried in their graves ? Is it a thought eafily to be fup- ported by a true Ifraelite, that the ark of the Lord ihouid thus be loft, and God mould write upon us Ichabodj the fad memorials of. a departed glory !

SER. II. OF CHILDREN1, 4 J<

It would furely be peculiarly melancholy, that religion fhould die in the hands of thofc who were the children of the kingdom. And were not yours fo ? In this refpect, my friends permit we to fay, that I am awitnefs among fome of you. When you have offered your children to baptifm, you have delivered them into my hands, with an exprcfs decla- ration of your fincere defire, that they might be devoted to God ; and have received them again with a folemn charge and promife to bring them up for him, if their lives fhould be continued. And as for thofe of you who do not pra6life this infiitution, I doubt not, but many of you are equally faithful in ded- icating your infant offspring to God. Is it not then reafonabie to expecl from both; that they fhould be brought up as a feed to fcrve him? And from whom may we h<*pe it, if not from you ? If you have experienced the power of divine grace upon your own fouls, and tailed that the Lord is gracious, methinks it fhould awaken a holy zeal to fpread the fweet fj^^ur of his name and word where- ever yjHploiiie : You fliouid labour to the utmoft for the advancement of his gofpel a- mongfi all your acquaintance, and even a- iTiongii fthiBgers; how much more in your own families, •anioRgft thofe whom you have from him, among!! thofe whom y«u have io folemnly given back to him.

2. The character of your children, and confequently your care in their education, is of the moit evident importance, to their D 2

42 ON THE EDU'CATIOM SESU H,

prefent and future happinefs.

I need not furely employ a great deal of time in proving the truth of the afTertion. As chriflians you mud undoubtedly own, that godlinefs is profitable to all ikings^ kwing the promifc of the life I'jhich now is, as well as of thai which is to come. If your children, through the divine bleffing on your holy care, become truly religious, they will not only be preferved from thofe follies and crimes \vhich ftain the honor, and ruin the iubfiance of families, but they ^vill fecure a fair reputa- tion ; they will take the mod probable me- thod to make life truly comfortable; they •will be entitled to the .paternal c are &ble ding of God, and to crown all will be heirs of e- ternai glory with him ; and what could your mod prudent, faithful, tender love wim for them as a greater, or indeed a comparable good ? On the other hand, if they prove vi- cious and profane (which in fo degenerate an acre it is very probable they may, if they have no religious principle to fecure them) Yv'hat can you expecl but their iu^fc:v tind mifery in thi< °nd their eWB^i dcf-

•;ion in the next ?

One would imagine, that fuch co».fi dera- tions as thefc iliould vory dcrply iippre i cart of a parent ; arid if tb-r Nuie

Jhould be fufficknt to g/-,in tl:^ caufe. V»MI, •who have io tend

poral conce "•- ^t

up !3tr. that you niii-. them \\iiii ih, ic ui»-

Bious and and uncertain pofTeftions, which may be bleflings or curfes, as they are. improved or abufed ; can you bzar to tlrink that they may be forever poor and trnfcrable ? Surely it fhould cut you to th6 heart to look on a child" and refleft, " here is an heir of eternal mifery : Alas ! what am I d nng for him ? Preparing an eftate ? Con- triving for his prefent convenience or gvan- deur ? Vain, wretched, prepoflerous care! which to ufe a very plain fimile, is but like employing yourfelves in tri:nming and a- dorningits clothesj while the child itfelf were fklleR into the fire, and would be in danger of being deflroyed, if not immediately pluck- ed out. Huften to do it with an earnednefs anfwerable to the extremity of the cafe, and fa much the rather as the danger is in pait owing to you.

I will n-jt fay how far your perfonal mif-

takes in conducl may have been a (hare and

* a temptation to your children ; nor can I

pretend to determine it. But I am confi-

dcntjgLthis,. that they have . derived from

youd((r corrupt' and degenerate nature.

Through your veins> the -original infection

which tainted the iirit authors of our race,

hi rv/n to them. And is not this

thought P^and ought it not to.

ri you to attempt their relief?

fe. Dr. Tiiiodhn fets thi, in a very moving r > ., T — i t t r - ^

iig it ; »• \v K-ii 'i man nas oy treafori f anted

his blood, and ;:miri'H his cfl;\U», wi'ii what ief and, reret d^ci he iouk on his chil-

44- °'^ TI*£ EDUCATION- SER. ifc-

dren, and -think of the injury he has done to them by his fault; and how felicitous is he before he dies to petition the king for fa- vour to his children ; how earneftly does he charge his friends to be careful of them, and kind to them !" We are thofe traitors. Our children have derived from us a tainted blood, a forfeited inheritance. Plow tender- ly fhould we pity them ! How folicitoufly ftiould we exert ourfelves to prevent their ruin! Mr. Flavel exprefles the thought ftill more pathetically. " Should I bring the plague into my family, and live to fee all my poor children lie dying by the walls of my houfe, if I had not the heart of a tyger, fuch a fight would melt my very foul." And furely, J[ may add, were there a fovereign antidote at hand, perhaps an antidote I had myfelf ufed, fhould I not direct them to it, and urge them to try it. 1 mould be (till more fu.vagc and criminaL - The application is eafy. The/Lord deeply imp.refs it on jour . fouls, that your children may not die eter- nally of the malignant plague they from you !

This is one confideration which inould certainly add a great deal of weight to the argument I am now upon. I will conclude the head with the mention of another: L mean, the peculiar advantages which you (heir parents have for addrefling yourfei to them. You, who have known them from their infancy, are beft acquainted with their temper^ and manner of thinking; you; 'wlic;

$E1U II.. OF CHILDREN. 4g

are daily with them, may watch ihe moft ten- der moments, the moil favorable opportuni- ties of pleading with them : your melting affection for them, will fugged the moft en- dearing fentimentsand words 'on fuch occa- iions : their obligations to you, and love for you will probably difpofe them to attend, and with the greater pleafure to ^fchat you may fay, or your authority over them, your powes of correction, and £ fenfe of their de- pcndance upon you in life, may prevent much of that oppofition and contempt, which from perverfe tempers others might expecl ; efpecially if they were not fupport- ed by your concurrence, in their attempts to inftruct and reform your Children.

On the whole, then, fince your obligations and your encouragements to attempt the work are fo peculiar, I may reafonably hope you will allow its due weight to tkis fccond confideration taat the character and conduct of your children, and confequently your care in their education is of the highefl im- importance to their prcfent and future hap- s.^P^add once more, * It is of great moment to your own comfort both in life and death.

Solomon often repeats the fubftance oF

that re m irk : A -imfc fon maketh a glad father r

b.it a fjolif/i f.-ii is an heavincfs to his mother.

"^id the juflice of ii in both its branches is

apparent. Let me engag^ you ferioufly

4$ 4.N THE F^Uf \TIOIT SER. IT.

jnent, to the difchargc of the important duty I am recommending.

If you have reafon to hope that your la- b >'irs are not vain, but that your chi'cir n are become truly religious ; it mufl greatly increase your fatisfaclion in them, that th.-y ere dear to you, not only in the band* of the fkfh, hut in thofe of the Lord. You ^\i'l not only be fecure of their dutiful and grate- ful behavior to yon, hut wi-i have 'he p*e"a- iure of feeing them grow up in thrir differ- ent dations to projects of ufefulnefs in the church and in the world. Should Provi- dence fpare you o the advance of age, they viil be a comfort and honor tf1 your declin- ing years. You -win, as it were, enjoy a fe- c on d youth in their vigour and ufH'uinefs; ray. a fcrife of their i iety arid goodnefs will tindoubtedly he a reviving cordial to you irs y OIK d y i n g mom e n t« . A d e 1% i gh tf u 1 t h o u g h t vili it indeed be ! " I arn going to take ni/ leave of the world, and rny fcene of fervicc is over; but I leave thofe behind me, who -will appear for God in my ftead, anc^cl per- haps v;ith greater fidelity and zesPior the fuppor-t of religion in a degenerate age. 1 leave my dear children deftitute. indeed, of my counfel and help, perhaps in no abund* ant affluence of worldly eiijoyments ! but I leave them under the guardian care of my father, and their father, of my God, andib^fr God. I mull foori be fcpa rated from them., and the dulance between us rnufi ioon be ai jreat as between earth and heaven ; But a#

GSR. IT.. OF CHII-nREW. ^f

I leave them under the befl guidance in the \vildernefs, fo I have a joyful perfuafion that they will foon follow me into the celeftial Canaan. Yet a little while, and I and my dear offspring (hall appear together before the throne ot God ; and I mail (land forth with tran fp >rt and fay, Behold, here am I, and the children which rny God has graciouf- ly given me. Then will the blefiednefs on which I npv enter, be multiplied upon me, by the fight of every child that has a (hare- in it. Now, Lord, fuffereft thou thy fervant to depart in peace, dace thou haft dhe£U:d not only mine eyes9 but theirs to thy falva- tipn.

But if you fee the dear little ones, grow, up for the deilroyer; if you fee thofe, whofe infant days have given you fo many tender plealures, and fo many fond hopes, deviating from the paths of duty ana hapxpinefs, how deeply will it pierce you! you,, -now look, upon them with a foft complacency, and fayt " Thele are they that (hall comfort us under our labours and our iorrows." But alas ! my fi ic^fc ! if this be the cafe, " Thcfe arc they, that will incre-.ife your labours, and ag- gravate your for rows : that will ha {ten upon, you the. infirmities of age, or crufh you the Lflcr uncL-r the weight of thet-n, fill iley h-jvo i brought down your hoary hairs wuh anguifl^ to the gr.ive." Litt'e do th«ay or you thh.ic how mucb agony and diilrels you may endure from what you viM fcc, and \\)^at you will f:ar concerning them. HOY-;, many flighted

4$ ON THE EDUCATION SEfc. It.

admonitions, how many deluded hopes, how many anxious days, how many reftlcis nights •will concur to make iheevening oflife gloo- my ! And at length, when God gives you a difmiffion from a world, which the folly and wickednefs of your children has, fo long im- bittered, how painful will the feparation be, •when you have the profpect of ieeing them but once more, and that at the tribunal of God, where the befl you can expect (in their prefent circumftance) is to rife up in judgment again ft them, and to bear an awful teflimony •which fkall drawdown upon them aggravat- ed damnation !

And le't me plainly tell you, that if in thefe lad moments, confcience mould alfo accufe you of the neglect of duty and teflify that your own for row, and your children's ruin, is in part chargeable upon that it will be a dreadful ingredient in this bitter cup, and may greatly darken, if not entirely fup'prefs thofe hopes with regard to yourfelvef , which alone could fupport you in this mournful fcene. I am fully perfuaded, that if you knew the weight with which thefe rWngs -will fit upon your mind, in the immediate viev/s of the eternal world, you would not fuller every trifling difficulty, or little care, to de- ter you from the difcharge of thofe duties •which are fo neceffary to prevent thefe g ing reflections.

To conclude : Let me intrrat yo1: oufly to weigh the united force of thofe ar- guments, which I have now been urging to

EER. LI, OF CHILDREN. 49

excite your diligence in this momentous care of training up your children in the way in which they fhould go. Coniider how pleaf- aat the attempt is : confider how fair a prob- ability there is that it may pro (per, as it is in itfelf a very rational method, as it is a method God has appointed, and a method which he has crowned with fingular fuccefs : — Confi- der how important that fuccefs is, to the hon- our of God, and intereft of religion, to the temporal and eternal happinefs of your chil- dren* and finally, to your own comfort, botk in life and death.

On the whole, I well know, and am per- iiiaded, firs, that you yourfelves are convin- ced, that whatfoever can be oppofed to fuch considerations as thefe. when bid in an im- partial balance, it is altogether lighter than vanity. I do therefore fcrioufly appeal to thofe convictions of your confclcuccs as in the fight of God : And if from this time at lead, the education of children among ft you be neg!e£ted, or regarded only as a I-glit care, God is witnefs, and you yourfelves are wit- ;.;?9 Ant it is not for want of beiiv^ piain- ly in drafted in your duty, or feriouily urged to the performance of it.

S E R M O N III.

*

®V THF, EDUCATION OF CHILBRES.

PROV. XXII. 6.

Train up -a Child in the -way he fnould g$ ; ant zi'ken he is old he will not depart from it.

tHOSE of you, who have made any ob- fervations on human life, mud certainly know that if we defire to be agreeable and ufeful in it, we mud regard not only the quality, but the manner of our aclions ; and that while we are in the purfuit of any im- portant end, we mud not only attend to thofe actions which do immediately refer to it, but Kiu ft watch over the whole of our conduct, ; that we m.--v preferve a ccnfiflency in the icvcral pail- of it. Otherwife we (hall fpoil the beairy and acceptance of many an hon- ed, and perhaps in the main, prudent at- tempt ; or by a train of unthought^of con- feqiicnces, (hall demolifh with the one hand, wh<u v/o aie labouring to build up with the . other.

Tr.is is a remark which we fliall have fre- quent occafion to recollcci ; and it is of pe- culiar importance in the bnfincfsof cc. lion. It' is therefore neccfiary. that h before defer! bed the way in v are to be tivined up, ar.d urged y-: igcnt application to the duty, I now pioce

OF CHILDREN, ' , £1

Thirdly, To. offer forne advices for your afliftance in this attempt of leading children into, and conducting them in this way.

Thefe will relate — partly to the manner in which «the attempt is to be nvide, — and partly to the precautions neceflary for ren- dering it effc&ual : Which are as you fee, matters of diftincl: coniideration, though com- prehended under the general head of di- rections.

I. As to the manner in which the attempt is to be made.

And here it is evident it fhoukl be done plainly, — ferioufly, — tenderly, and'patiently.

i. Children are to be inftru&ed plainly : In the piainefl things,andby theplainet't words.

They are to be taught the plaineft things in religion in the fir ft place. And it is a pleafing reflection on this occ,<(i;v-5 that ac- cording to the abundant goodnefs and con- el e fee n (ion of the great God, thofe things which are the rnoft neceflary are the plainest, jufi ai in the world of nature, thofe kinds of food, which are mod wbolefome and nourifliing, are alfo the mod common. We fhould fhew our grateful fenfe of the divine goodnefs in this particular, by ;ur care to imitate it -, and (hould fee to it. that when the necellities of our children require bread, we not give them a ftone, or chaff; as we iJiowid do, if we were to diitratt their feeble 'Is with a variety of human fchemes, and doubtful difputations. The more abftrufe and piyfterious truths of the gofpel are gradr

ON THE EDUCATION SEH'. II!,

tially to be unfolded, as they are exhibited in d, and to be taught in the ;irit ; according to the ex- thc great Dr. Owen "raak- ^gv our rule and pat- ii of ipiritual tilings." . here. We mull feed ire babes, and re- meat for a maturer age. v ; o u s a n d vital t r u th s -o f c h i i f- Tell them, that they are creatures, nn ful creatures ; that by iin they have leafed a. holy Gcd : and that they mult iie<J3 ai. .1 faft&ified* and accepted in . . r i ill i o r ever. She w t h e m -. f:n anc1 holinefs ; be- \ of grace. ^-'c\v v are haftening on to death and judgment, and fo mud enter on heaven or hell, and dwell forever in the one or the o- thcr. Such kind of leffons will probably tu'fifi t0 .:coi.nit, both to them and

. it is a very eafy thing to in- Janv rm, igiiorant minds of children

•\vith ±\ for didinguiihing forms

or diilinguiihing phrales ; and to make them violent in i.^j intcreil of a party, before they know a:>v t.hing of common chriftanity. But if we thus fov/the wind, we fhall probably reap ti:c whirlwind ; venting ourfelves, and transfufing into them, a wrath of man. which never works, but often greatly obftruBs the righteoufnefs of God. BlefTed be God, thi* is°not the fault of you Hiy friends, of

SER. ill. OF C1IILBREN. 53

congregation. I would mention it with great thankfulnefs, as both your happinefs and mine, that fo far as I can judge, it is the fin- cere milk of the word that you defire. Let it be your care to draw it out for thenouriflirwent of your diildFen's fouls,as their understandings and capacities will permit them to take it in.

And while you are teaching them the plain- eft things, endeavor to do it in the plaineft words. It is the gracious method which God ufes with us, who fpeaks to us heavenly things in language, not fully expreflive of the fublimitv and grandeur of the fabjeft, but rather failed to our feeble apprehenfions. Thus our Lord taught his difciples, as they were able to bear it ; and ufed eafy and fa- miliar fimilitudes, taken from the mod obvi- ous occurrences in life, to illuftrate matters of the higheft importance. A me ft infh-r.c- tiyc example ! Such condefcenfion fliould we life, in training up thofe committed to our care and ihouid, examine whether we take their understandings along with us, as we go on : Oilier wife we are fpeaking in an un- known tongue, and as the Apoftie expreliVrf it, are barbarians unto them, be our language ever fo grateful, elegant or pathetic.

Give me leave to add, for the conclufion of this head, that though it is to be taken (or granted that children in their earlied infancy are to be engaged to what is good, and to be retrained from evil, chietiy by a view to je- . wards and puniflinacnts, more immediate or remote, or by fome natural workings of a be- E 2

5i ON THE EDUCATION1 SE!l. HI,

nevolent affection, which are by all means' to be cherished and cultivated ; yet as they may grow up to greater ripenefs of under- {landing, fomething farther is to be attempt- ed. It inufl then be our care, to let before them in the ftrongeft light, the natural beau- ties of holinefs,. and deformities of. fin ; and likewife to propofe.in the eafieft and mod fami- liar way the evidences of the truth of chrif- tianity5that they may be fortified againft thofe temptations to infidelity, with which the pref- entage does fo unhappily abound. The exter^ nal evidences of it are by no means to be fligh- ted, fuch as the credibility of the gofpel hif- tory, the accompliih-ment of prophecies, the unity of defign carried on by fo many differ- ent perlbns in diflant ages and countries;, its amazing and even miraculous propa- gations in the world; all which;, with many other confiderations to the fame purpofe, are very judicioufly handled in a variety of ex- cellent writing;; of our own age : of which I know not any more fuited to your ufe than Mr. Bennett difcourfes on the infpiralion of fcripture, v;hich I therefore recommend to your attentive pera--f.il, and with them Dr, ^.Vatts' icrmons on the inward witnefs to the tnuh of chriflianity, from its efficacious ten- dency to promote holinefs : This appears to me the nobleil evidence of all, ar.cl will to thofe, who have aduallv experienced if, be an anchor of the foul both fare and f. fall.

SEK. Ill* OF CHILDREN, ^

2. Children fhouid be inftru&edin a very ferious manner*

There is an unhappy pronenefs in our de- generate natures to trifle with the things of God; and the giddinefs of childhood is pe- culiarly tubjeft; to it. Great care ihould therefore be taken, that we do not encour* age fuch a humour, nor teach them- by our levity or indolence in - the manner of our inftruftion, to take the awful name of God in vain, while they are fpeaklng of him, or to him. For this purpofe we muft" labour with our own hearts, to work them to a deep and ferious fen-fe of the truth and importance of what w-e fay : This will give us an unaf- fected folemnity in fpeaking, which will pro- bably command the attention, and imprefs the hearts of our children, Endeavour to preferve on your own fpirit, an habitual awe of the^reat and bleffed God, the Lord of heaven and earth : that when you fpeak of him to thofe little creatures they may evident- ly ice the indications' of the humbled; ven- eration and reverence, and fo may learn to fear him from their youth. When you fpeak of Chrift, let your fouls be bowing to him as the fon of God, through whom alone you and yours can obtain pardon and life; and let them be over do wing with love to him, for lib unutterable and inconceivable grace. And when you remind them of death judge- ment arid eternity, confide r you delves and them as dying creatures : Think in how few months, or weeks, or days, your lips may be

56 ON THE EDUCATION SER. IIT.

filent in the duft, or they may be forever removed beyond the reach of your inftrucl:- ions ; and plead with them in as earneft and importunate a manner, as if the falvation of their immortal fouls depended on the effeft of the prefent addrefs. Again,

3. Children mould be inftrucled in a ve- ry tender and affectionate manner.

We fhould take care to let them fee, that we do not defire to terrify and amaze them, to lead them into unneceffary feverities, or to deprive them of any innocent pleafures ; that what we fay is not diftated by an often- tation of our wifdom and authority; but that it all proceeds from a hearty love to them, and an earneft defire of their happi- nefs. Study therefore to addrefs them in the mod endearing language, as weil as with the fofteft and fweetcft arguments. Endea- vour, according to the practice of Solomon, to find out acceptable words. And if tears mould rife while you are ipeaking do not fupprefs them. There is, a language in them, which ma v perhaps affeS beyond words. A weeping parent is both an awful and a melting fight.

Endeavour therefore to look upon your children in fuch a view, as may be mofl like- ly to awaken thcfe tender fentiments. Con- fider them as creatures, whom you (as-inftru- rnents) have brought into being, tainted with innate corruption, furrounckd wit:: and on the whole, in fuch apparent danger, that if not fnatched as brands out oi

SER. III. OF CHILDREN. 57

burning, they muft perifh forever. And that your hearts may be further molified, and you may be formed to the mo ft gentle and moving manner of addrefs, let me intreat you to lludy the fcripiure in this view, and to obferve the condefcending and endear- ing forms in which the blefied God fpeaks to us there. Obferve then for yourfelves, and point them out to your children. Tell them, how kindly he has demanded, how graciotifly he has encouraged their fervices ; while he- fays, rcin^ilier now thy creator in the days cf thy jMth : and e 1 fe w here, / love tk cr;b that love me, andthofe thatjeek ms early J!i all find me. Tell them that the Lord Jefus Chrift hath invited them to co;r,e to him ; for he has.faid, Come unto me all ye. thai labour, and art heavy laden, and I will give you rtjl : Him that comcth unto me, I will in no wife cajl cut ; And whofoevsr will, let him take of the wafer cf life freely. Such fcriptures as thefe ihould often be repeated to them, and mould be early inculcated on their memory, \vith an. at- tempt, as far as poflible, to Jet them into the fpirit and force of them.

Nor will it be improper fome times to fet before them, how much you have done, how much you are ready to do for them ; how many anxious thoughts you entertain, how many fervent prayers you oiler on their account. Thus Lemuel's mother addreffed him, What) my fen P and 1'kct, the fin f>f tity womb? and what, the fen cf my vcws ? As \£ file had laid, " My dear child, for whom L

5 ON" THE EDUCATION SZK-

have borne fo much, for "whom 1 have ed fa es v^iUy ; in what words fhcill I ad- thee, to exprefs what my heart feels on thy account ? How (hall I fpeak my affectionate, overflowing concern for thy happipefs both for time and eternity ?" So Solomon pleads. My fon. if thine hr&rt be wife, my heart [hall re- jticc, even mint : As if he fhouid fay, " Think how much is comprehended in the argu- ment* that a parent's happineft is in great nieafure to be determined by thy character and conducV' And the apbflle Paul lays open his heart to the Galiatians in thefe pro- phetic words. My little children of whom I tra-. vsil in birth again, 'till Chriji be. formed, in you.

Yet thefc were, comparatively, (lingers to him. And mould not you, my friends, feel,' mould not you exprefs, an equal ten- dernefs for thofe who are fo nearly allied to you in the bonds of nature, for thefe who are indeed parts ef yourlelves ? But fur- ther,

4. Children fhould alfo be inflru6ted pa- tiently.

You know, when the hufbandman has committed the feed to the gtound, he pa- tiestly experts the fruit of his labours. So m-uft minifters do when inftru c'ting their peo- ple : So mud parents do, when initructing their children. You muft not imagine, my friends, that a plentiful harveft will fj. up in a day. The growth of nature is ilow, and by infenfible degrees : Nor are you to wonder? if advances in knowledge and g

SIR. III. OF CHILDREN. 5g i

be ftill flower. Be upon your guard there- fore againft fretfulnefs and impatience. Your children will forget what you have once taught them ; repeat it a fecond time ; and if they forget it the fecond time, repeat it the third. It is thus the great God deals with you, and you have daily reafon to rejoice that he does. He knows the frailty and weaknefs of your minds, and therefore a6ls by a rule, which fcems to, be laid down with a peculiar regard to the very poiiH I am urging : whom Jliall he teach knowl* edge , and whom fli all he. make to u;iderftan£ doc* trine ? them that are weaned from the, milk, and drawn from the breajls ? For precept muft be upon precept, precept upon precept ', and line upon line* line upon line ; here a little ani there & little, : As if he mould have faid, u God has treated you jike little children, who mud have the fame (horr, eafy leflon repeated again and a- gain." And is it not indeed thus with re- gard to you ? Does not the patience and condefcenfion of your heavenly father fend to you his mmifters fabbath after fabbath, frequently inculcating the fame things, .that what you have forgot may. be brought to mind again ? Thus Ih.vald you do by thole committed to your care.

Be teaching them every fib bath : That is remarkably a good day for th~ purpofe. Then you have leifure for it ; then you have pai'iic.uUr advantage to purfuc the w>rk ; then you are furniflied with fame new mat- ter by what you have heard in public ; and

€O ON THE EDUCATION SER. llit

I would hope your fpirits are then quicken- ed by it, fo that you can fpeak out of the a- bundance of your heart ; and you may, by difcourfing with them on what has been ad- d re fifed to you, receive the imprefBon on your own fouls.

I add, Be teaching them every day, by occafional difcourfes, when you have not aii opportunity of doing it by Hated addreiles. Drop a word for God every day and oft en in "a day. You will probably find your ac- count in it, and ) our children theirs. A iudden glaacs of ihought towards God in the mid ft of the world, is often a great re- frefhriient to the chriftian ; and a fudden turn to fomething ferious and fpiritual in converfrtiori, is frequently very edifying to others. L urlkes the memory and the heart, ana fs perhaps, as a nail fixed in a fare place. when many a folernn admopitioty and masy an elaborate lernion is loll. It is with plea- fure that I frequently hear good chriili- ans fpeaking of fuch occafional hint?, which have been chopped by faints of the fonr~r gene-rat ion : Thole tranfient paffag- cs, \vhich the en is might forget in a

lildren have diflinclly future years, and re- ation, and I might

add ( ->j re fore be an^en-

courageirient lo y :, in

..ornin f.

ia o.i e ae

SXR. in." OF CHILDREN^ £x

Once more, let me intreat you to repeat your pious inftru&ions and admonitions, e- ven though your children mould grow up to years of maturity, without appearing to profit by them. Say not, that you can teach them no more than they readily know ; or that you can try no new method which you have not already attempted. You fee, that in our afiemblies God often brings back fouls to himfelf by fetting home on the con- fcience truths, which with regard to the fpe- culative part of them, they know as well as their teachers ; and adds a divine efficacy to thof* institutions, which, for a long fuccef- fion of years, they had attended in vain. Be not therefore weary in well doing; but let patience in this inftance, have its perfect work.

Tims let your children be inftruftecl plain- ly, ferioufly, tenderly and patiently! I wave fome other particulars, winch might have added to thefe concerning the manner of in- ftruciing thevrt, becaufe I apprehend they will fall under the fecond branch of thefe di- rections : Where I am further to advife you,

II. As to the precautions yon mud ufe, if you deft re that thefe attempts in the reli- gious education of your children may be at- tended with fucccfs.^

Pie re I would particularly advife,— that a prudent tare be taken to keep- up your auihorKy*Vwer them, and at the fame time,

-3ao° ^lc*r afieftions to you — that you F

62 ON THE EDUCATION SIR. m,

be folicitous to keep them out of the way of temptation — that you confirm your admoni- tions by a fuitable example — that you cheer- fully accept of proper amftances in this im- portant attempt — and that you humbly and conftantly look up to God for his bkiTinp- on all.

i. If we defire to fucceed in our attempts for the religious education of our children., we mini take care to keep up our authority ever them.

To this purpofe, we mud avoid, not only

•what is grofsly vicious and criminal, (which

will more properly be menuoned underafol-

lowing head) but alfo thofe little levities and

follies which might make us appear con-

tcznptible to them. Whatever liberties we

may take wiih thofe who are our equals in

and ftatioE, a more exac"l decorum is to

be preserved before our children. Thus

v:e arc 10 reverence them if we defire they

fhould reverence us ; for, as Dr. Tillotfon

very juflly obfcrves — " There is a certain

jrfaiion, which is only pro-

: equals, in age and : quality,

before our fuperiors, we

ife thertva«^i ^ ^ve do it before

Gi- h ihein to delpife us."

\ not infift on this hint, which your

own prudence raufc accommodate to partic-

.c^nces; but fbail here introduce

' in fomc

caf< v to the

\-j efpcchlly

*£&.!!£. O'F CHILDRfett. ' 63

where admonitions and counfels are flighted. You know that the fcriptures exprefsly re- quire it on proper occafions ; and Solomon in particular enlarges on the head, and fug- gefU fome important thoughts with regard to it. — Foolifhnefs (fays he) is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction (hall drive it far from him. Nay, he (peaks of it as A matter in which life is concerned, nay, even the life of the foul; Withhold not corie&icn from a child ; for if thou beat him with a rod, he (l-iill not die : Thou flialr. beat him with a rod, and (halt deliver his foul from hell. And is it kindnefs or cm city in a parent to fpare the flcfh to the haz- ard of the foal? Parents are iho": f::-v e*. ho r led to an early care in this re 'beet, vicious habits growing inveterate, fhould render the attempt vain or hurtful ; and they are cautioned againft that fooHlh tsndernefs which leads them to regard the tears of a child rather than its trued and highcil iater- cit. — Correct iky fon while there is kepC$ end hi not thy foul fpare for his crying : he that f'pareth the rodj hateth his fun ; but he thai lovi/'i him^ chaftenzth him betimes, Nor can we imagine a more lively commentary on the words than the melarrcholy ftory ofE,li, who, though he was a very eminent iaint in a degenerate age, yet erred here, and by a fata!

brought' ruin, as well as infamy on hr.uicii: and family. He reproved the abominable w-ickednefs of his fons ; but did not mr-kc ufe of thofo fevere methods which in fUcIi

/>4 *N THE EDUCATION SER. Ill,

a cafe, the authority of a parent might have warranted, and the office of a judge did un- doubtedly require. Obferve the fem^nco which God pronounced againft him for it, and which kc executed upon him in a very awful manner. The Lord laid unto Samuel, JJehoid, I \vili do a thing in Ifrae), at which both the ears of every one that heareth it ihall tingle : In that day I will perform again ft Eli all things which I have fpoken concern- ing his houfe ; when I begin I will alfo make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his houfe forever, for the iniquity which he knoweth ; becaufe his ions made themfelves vile, and he retrained them not ; And therefore. I rave fworn unto the houfe of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's houfe fhail not be purged with facrifice nor offering forever. Take heed, I entreat you, as you love your children, as you love yourfelvesr thai it may not be faid of you, that yours have made themfelves vile, and you have neglefted to reflrain them. Let mothers, m particular, take heed that thcv do not, as it •were, {'mother their children in their embra- ces, as a French author expreffos it. And let me remind you all particularly to be cau-» tious that the arms of one parent be not a re- fuge from the refentm^nt of the other. Both- ihould appear to act in concert, or the au^ thority cf the one will be defpifed, and pro- bably the indulgence of the other abufed5 and the mutual afFeclion of both endanger- ed.

.»£R. III. OF CHILDREN. G»j

I cannot fay, that I enlarge on this fub- je6l with pleafure ; but how could I have anfwered for the omiffion of what is fo co- pioufly, and fo pathetically inculcated in the facred writings ? It is indeed probable that the rugged and fervile temper of the gener- ality of the Jewifh nation, might render a fevere difcipline peculiarly necefFary for their children ; yet I fear, there are few of our families, ivhere every thing of this kind can fafely be negle&ed. But after all, I would by no means drive matters to extrem- ities ; and therefore cannot pcrfuade myfelf 10 difmifs the head without a caution or two. Take heed, that your corrections be not too frequent, or too fevere, and that they be not given in an unbecoming manner.

If your corre8.ions be too frequent, it will probably fpoil much of the fuccefs. Your children, like iron, will harden under repeated ilrokes ; and that ingenious fliame wilt be gradually worn off, which ^idds the greateft Ring to what they fufFerfrom a par- ent's hand. And there will be this farther inconvenience attending it, that there will not be a due difference mad';, between great a;id fmall faults. The laws of Draco the Athenian, -were j.u illy rejecled, becaufc they puniihed all crimes alike, and made the deal- ing of an apple capital, as well as the rnur- ther of a citizen. You. on the contrary, fhouid let your children fee. that you know how to diflinguifh, between indifcretion and wickedacfs ; and fliould yourlelves appear F 2

66 ON THE EDUCATION SER. Ill,

moil difpleafed, where you have reafon to believe God is fo.

Nor fhould your corrections at any time be too fevere. It is prettily faid by Dr. Til- lotfon on this occafion, " that whips are not the cords of a man : They mould be ufed in family, only (as the fword in the republic) as the laft remedy when all others have been tried in vain ; and then fhonld be fo ufed, as that we may appear to imitate the compaf- ifion of our heavenly father, who doth not aftlicl: jvillingly, nor grieve the children of jaen."

Which leads me to add, that we fhould /i>e greatly cautious, that correction be not inflicied in an unbecoming manner ; and it always is fo, when it is given in a paflion. A parent's correcting his child mould be regard- ed as an a£t of domeftic juuice, which there- fore fhould be adminiftered with a clue fo- lemnity and decorum ; and to behave other- •wife on the occcafion. is almoft as great an indecency, as for a judge to pafs fen te nee in a rage. It is injurious to ourfelves, as it tends to fpoil cur own temper; for peevifh- nefs and pamon will grow upon us, by being indulged towards thofe who dare not oppofe them : And it is on many accounts injurious to our children. Solomow intimates, that corrcciion and indruction fhould be joined,

wproof gin

' what i.->om is ih-:re for th^ .'c of

v/iluom to be heard in a ftorm of fury ? If your children fee, that you act cahijly and

*£<R..III." OF CHILDREN," 6/

raildly ; if they read parental tendernefs in your heart, through an awful frown on your brow ; if they perceive that correction is your Orange work, a violence which you of- fer to yqurfelves from a principle of duty to God and affeftion to them ; they mud be obdurate indeed, if they do not receive it with reverence and love ; for this is both a venerable and an amiable character. But if once they imagine, that you chaftife them merely to vent your paffion, and gratify your refentment, they \vill fecretly defpife, and perhaps hate you for it : In that inftance at leaft, they will look upon you as their ene- mies, and may, by a continued courfe of fuch feverities, contract fuch an averfion, not on- ly to you, but to ail that you recommend to them. Thus you may lofe your authority and your influence, by the very method you take to fupport it. and may turn a whole iome, though bitter medicine into poifon. But I hope and truft, that your humanity and y*ur prudence will concur to prevent fo fatal an abufe.

.2. If you defire fucccfs in your attempts for the education of your children^ you mail be careful to fecure their affection to you.

Our Lord obferves, th?t if any man love him he \viii keep his \vorcl ; and the afFer- cio. i is applicable to the preferU cafe : The iVio.-e you children love you, the more vill they reg-ird your inllrac.ions ar:a gdrnoni- tions. God has indeed made it iheir duty to love yoiij and the moft iiidiipeaikbic laws

ON THE EDUCATION S-ER. ?::>

of gratitude require it ; yet fince fo children are evidently wanting in filial affec- tion, it is certain that all this may not fecurcr it in yours, unlefs you add a tender, obliging behaviour to ail the other benefits you have conferred upon them. I obferved under a former head, that you fhould addrefs them in an affectionate manner when difcourfing on religious fubjefts ; but now I add, that you mould carry the temper through life, and be daily endeavoring to render yourfelve* amiable to them. The Apoftle cautions pa- rents that they fhould not provoke their chil- dren to wrath, if they would bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord : On the contrary, you mould put on the kind- eft looks, you -fhould ufe the mod endearing and condefcending language ; you mould overlook many liitle failings, and exprcfs a high complacency in what is really regular and laudable in their behaviour. Arid though you mud fometimes over-rule their defires, when impatiently eager, yet far from delight- ing generally to crofs them, you mould rath- er fludy their inclinations, that you may fur- prize them with unexpected favours. Thus will they learn quietly to refer them felves to your care, and will more eafily iubinit to mortification and denial, when it is not niacle neceflary by clamourous and impetuous de- mands. On the whole, you fhould endeav- our to behave fo, as that your child re ii may love your company, and of choice be much in it; which will prcfervc them from iniva-

SEU. lit. OF CHIL.DR-EK. - 6§

merable fnares, and may furnifh you \vith many opportunities of forming their temper and behaviour, by imperceptible degrees, to wfoat may be decent, amiable and excellent.

If you manage the fe things with prudence^ you need not fear that fuch condefccntions, as I have now recommended will impair your authority; far from that, they will ra- ther eftablifh it^- The fuperiority of your parental character may be maintained in the wiidft of thefe indulgencies ; and when it is thus attempered, it is moft like to produce that mixture of reverence and love, by which the obedience of a child is to be dif- tinguifhed from that of a flave.

3. You mud be felicitous .to keep your children out of the way of temptation, if you would fee the fucceis of your care in their education, .

If you are not on your guard here, you will probably throw down what you have built, and build up that which you have been endeavoring to deftroy. An early care mufl be taken to keep them from the oecalions, and the very appearances cf evil. We would not venture their infant fteps on the brink of a prefcipice on which grown per- fons, who know how to aujuft the poife of their bodies, may- - walk without extreme clanger. More hazardous might it be to al- low them to trifle with temptations, and bold- ly to venture to the utmoft limits -of that which is lawful. An early tendernefs of eonfcience may be a great prefervauve;

7O ON THE EDUCATION SIS.. Ill,

and the excefs of ftri&nefs (though no ex- cels be deferable) may prove much iafer than an exeefs of liberty.

Bad company is 'undoubtedly one of the mod formidable and pernicious entangle- ments. By forming friendfhips with perfons of a vicious character, many a hopeful youth Iras learnt their ways, and found a fatal fnare to his foul. You fhould be very watchful to prevent their contracting fuch dangerous friendfhips ; and where you difc-over anv thing of that kind, mould endeavour, by all fjcnlle and endearing methods, to draw them oil from them ; but if they flill perfjil, you mud refclve to cut the knot you cannot untie, and let your children know they muft eilher renounce their aiibciates, or their pa- rents. One refoiute flep of this kind might have prevented the ruin ©f multitudes, who have fallen a facrir-ce to the importunities of wicked companions, and the weak indulgence of imprudent parents; who have contented themfeives with blaming, what they ought flrenuoudy to have redreiTcd.

All bad company is. in this refpeft, formi- dable ; but that is moil evidently fo which is to be found at home. Great care ought therefore to be taken that you admit none into your toy tk-bauch the ten-

der minds cf your children, by pernicious opinions, or by vicious practices. This is a caution which mould be particularly remem- bered in the cafe of feryants. Take heed you do not bring into your families; fuch as

SER. III. OF CHILDREN- 7*

may diffufe infe&ion through the fouls of your dear offspring. It is a thoufand times better to put up with fome inconveniences and difadvantages, when you have rcafon to believe a fervant fears God, and will, from a principle of confcicnce be faithful in watching over your children, and in fecond- ing your religious care in their education, than to prefer fuch, as while they are, per- haps, managing your temporal affairs fome- thing better, may pervert your children to the fervice of the devil. I fear fome parents little think, how much fee ret mifchief fchefe bafe creatures arc doing. And it is very pofiiblc, that if foaae of you recollect what you may have obferved among the compan- ions of your childhood, you may find in- itanccs of this nature, v/nich riper years have not fince given you opportunity to dif- cover. Sec to it therefore, that you be dil- igently on your guard here.

Again : If you fend your children to pla- ces of education, be greatly cautious in your choice of them. Dearly will you purchafc the greatefl advantages for learning, at the . expence oftbffc of a religion;? nature. And I will turn out of my way to add, that fchool- maflcrs and tutors will have a idful ac- count to give, if they are not and tenderly felicitous for the fouls of thofe com- mitted to their care. The Lord pardon our many defects here, and quicken us to great- er diligence and zeal !— -Cal to return :

fm ON THE EDUCATION 5ER. III.

Give me leave only to add, that it is of the higheft importance if you wou;d not have all your labour in the education of your chil- dren loft, that you fhould he greatly cau- tious with regard to their fettle merit in the world. Apprenticefhips and marriages, in- to irreligious families, have been the known fources of innumerable evils. They who have expofedthe fouls of their children to apparent danger, for the fake of fome fecu- lar advantages, have often lived to fee them drawn afide to practices ruinous to their temporal as well as their eternal intereft. Thus their own iniquity has remarkably cor- rected them : and I heartily pray, that the God of this world may never be permitted thus to blind your eyes : but that you, my friends, may learn from the x: a! amities of o- ther families, that wholefome lefTon, which, if you neglect it, others may perhaps here- after learn from the ruin of yours.

4. See to it, that you confirm your admo- nitions by a fiiitahle example, if you fJenre on the whole that they fhould prove ufeful to your children.

A confcioufnefs or the irregularity of our own behaviour, in any remarkable inftarrcs which may fall under their obfervation. probably abate much of that force and Au- thority with which we might othev drefs them. When we know they may jiiit- ly retort upon us, at lead in their n ; thole words of the apoillc, Thn. eft another, teacheft thou not th> self? Sure-

SIR. III. &F CHILDRIN. 73

]y, a fenfc of guilt and of fhame muft ei- ther entirely filence us, orat lead impair that freedom and confidence, with which we might otherwife have exhorted or rebuked. Or had we fo much compofupe and afTur- ance, as to put on all the forms of innocence and virtue, could we ex peel regard, when our aclions contradicted our difconrfes, or hope they mould reverence inftruclions which their teachers thcmfelves appear to defpife ? It is in the general true,- that there is a filent but, powerful oratory in example, beyond the force of the mo*^ elegant and expreffive words ; and the example of parents has of- ten a particular weight with their children; which fecms to be alluded to in that exhorta- tion of St. Paul. Be ye followers (or imitators) of God) as dear children. So that on :he whole, as a very celebrated writer well exprefles if, "To give children good inftruftion, and a bad example, is but beckoning to them with the hand to (hew them the v/ay to Heaven, while we take them by the harid, and lead them in the way to Hell." We fhould there- fore moft heartily concur in David's refolu- tion, as ever \ve hope our families fhould be religious and happy : Iwl]l bch-.-ue, niyfrlfwife* ly in a ptrftH way : I will* ivu'k -'jiuiin my houfe with a pfrfcft heart.

5. Cheerfully accept of all proper aflifl- ances in the education of your children; if you (!;:(irc it may fucceed well.

It will be your wiidem lo accept of the G

74 ei* TIIE EDUCATION fiER. III.

aftiflancc, \vl.ich may be offered, either from books or frkrrr-s.

Books may in this refpeft be very ufefu! to you; the book of God, above ail; both to funiifh you with materials for this great work, and to inftrucl you in the manner of

forming it. Other writings m-ay be fub- iciit to this puvpofr. Wife aiid pious trcatifes on the fubjeft of education may be read with great plea fu re and advantage ; ar-d you r/^.y receive finguiar a&ftance from thofe ca;echifms and prayers, and fongs for children, with which moil of your fami- lies are i:o\v furnifhed, through the conde- fccufion of one valuable Friend To writing them cz the gcnerofity of another in bellowing them upon us. I hope you v, ill exprcis your thankfuinefs to both, by a diligent cr.re to ufe iheni ;. and I perfuade myTclf, that you and yours may abundantly find your ac- count in them : for while the language is fo plain aru-1-eafy, .that even an infant may un- deritai.d it, you \vili often find not only a pro- priety, !;•'.: a llrength and fublimity in the fenii • may be improving to per-

fona of ad-, anced cap'dci:ics. There is much of that milk, hv which i'-o:-^ ir.ei? ir,r.y be erii. •

I adti, th-r.t i'i this important work you fhould gla ?race the affj-iance of pious

and pru in7 no means

approve that Lac-

evfrv cir:;:cn a • -.n qorrecung his

;, ' made it iufaruous

for the parent to complain.of it: yetwemufl

StfR. I If. OF CHILDREN. f§

allow, that confidcrl-g the, great importance of education, a cosiC r:i for the ii of fimiHes and the public, will require a rnauul wuchfulnefs over each oilier in this rcfpea: Nor is there any imaginabk reaT^n to "exclude this from the number of thofe heads on which we are to admonirh cn^ ano- ther, and to confider each other to pros unto good works.

Nothing feems more evident than this) and one would fuppofe, that perfpns,who ar quainled \viih human nature, fhould fu' that felflove might work under this form, and that they might be a little blinded by a panjal affoa-ion tc ing, Such a

reOeaion iwi; ^-^ pathni

l\r, or ralhcr ihankfuliv, t'f> n_ar rne i ments, and receive the admonitions of their friends on this head. But in Pie ad of this, there is in many people, a kind of parental pride, (if I may be allowed the expreflion) which feldom fails to exert irfelf on fuch an occafion. They are ib conHdent in their own way, and do fo majeflemilly dcfpife the opinion of others, that one would alinoft imagiue, they took it for granted (.hat with every child, nature had given to the parent a certain (lock of infallible v/ifdom for ii:e management of it; or that, if they the othervMfc. they rather cholc that their chi1- clren mould be ruined by their own condiuit than faved by any forcagn advice. If this arrogance only rendered the parents ridicu- lous, one mould not need to be greatly con-

7^ OS THE EDUCATION SER. III.

cerncd about it, cfpecially as their high com- placency in themfelvcs would make them , -whatever others might think or fay of them: But v;hen \ve confidcr the unhappy sit may produce, with regard to :ukicl of the rifing gcnera- :-r'r :: dr.T a very ferious evil, well

•;':ntioi!5 and a particular

.::ce of rniriflcrs in thrs

n. I pcrfuade rnyfcif yon

Vv-ji • v to embrace if,

in public and private 5 and let rnc urge

you to improve it to the utmofl. Accuftom

: to an early confhncy and fe-

'•ic.'s in attending divide ordiiances, and

be often yourfelves enquiring, and give us

leave fometimes toenquire3ho\v they advance

}:i acquaintance with religion, aod in love to

it. A iid more particularly let them attend

o:: our catechetical leclures which are pecu-

liaiTy intended rbr their fervice.

I blefs God, I have feen the happy effects of this cxercife, both in the places where I v;as educated whilft a child, and in thofe where I v;as formerly fixed ; and as I am now introducing it amongft you, with an intent to continue it as long as I am capable of public fervice, I promife myfeif your mod hearty concurrence in it. I will not at large infift on the advantages which may attend it. You eafily fee, that it will be an engagement to the children to learn thofe excellent fumma- ries of divine truthj when their progrefsin

SEH. III. &* f!TILt>REN. 77

them is (b often examined : By repeating it themlelves, and hearing- it rehearfed by oth- ers, it will be more deeply fixed upon their memories : The expofuion of k in a plain and familiar manner may much improve their underitandings in the doctrines and duties of religion ; And I will add, you that are par- ents may, by attending on thefe oc cations, poflibly learn fomeibiug as to the way of opening and explaining things, which you rnay fuccefsfuily practife at home. In con- fequencc of all we may hope, that by the di- vine bleffing, feme good impreilions may be made on the minds of children. And when they find aminifier willing to take pains to inflruct them, when they hear him ierioufly and tenderly j wun them, snd plead-

ing wii.'". tfaefti, it tnay rnurli engage

their affeclions to iiisn, and fo prornoie his u TJ!".: . ^r..7,ft tht-m, in otbc.

and i fay u

mini fire

the. :c .

tion : fc'H'fli

in iheir offspring fer-.i' eel and

love to aVi the fai .;ift,

nnd elpecia'K -.ledly la-

bour vou

may ver

yoti

ai tl v m fr m the ro-

ti:, i!d grow

. a contempt of thoic, \vhofe fervice^

G 2

f8 ON THE EDUCATION S-ER. III.

might otherwife be highly advantageous to them.

6. Ladly, Be earned in prayer to God for his bleffing on your attempts in the education of your children, if you defire to fee them fucccfsful.

This I would leave with you as my laft ad- vice ; and though I have had frequent occa- fion to hint at it before, I would now more particularly urge it on your attentive regard. God is the author of every good and every perfect gift ; it is he that has formed the mind and tongue, and that teaches man knowledge and adarefs. On him therefore mud you fix your dependence, to teach you fo to con- ceive of divine things, and fo to exprefs your conceptions of them, as may be moft fuked to the capacities, the difpofitionsj and the circumdances of your children ; and to him you muft look to teach them to profit by all, by his almighty grace to open their ear unto discipline, and to bow their heart unto underilanding.

A heathen poet could teach the Romans in a fr.rm of public arid foitinn devotion, to look up to Heaven for influences from thence,- to form their youth to the love and practice of virtue. Surely you. my friend?, are under much greater obligations to do it, and that in a chrilHan manner; earned!/ ill- treating the Go'l of grace, to fend down on your rifing offspring the effufions of that b'etfed fpirir, which was purchaied by the blood of Chnft; and is depofited in his com-

SER. III. OF CHILDREN, yj

pafTionate hand. If you have tafted that the Lord is gracious, you are daily living on thofe fupplies ; let it be yeur conftant errand at the throne of grace to plead for youp children there. Wreftle with God in fecret for the life of their fouls, and for thofe re- generating influences on which it depends ; ajid in thofe family devotions, which I hope you dare not negieft, let the little ones, from their earlieft infancy, have a {hare in your remembrance. You may humbly hope that He, by whofe encouragement and command you pray, will not luffer thefe fupplications to be like water fpilt upon the ground : And in the nature of things, it may tend to make ferious irapreffions on the minds of your children to hear their own cafe mentioned in prayer, and may difpofe them with great- er regard to attend on what you fay to thcm0 when they find you fo frequently, fo lolcmn- ly, and fo tenderly pleading with God for them.

Doubt not that every faithful miniftcr of Chrift will mofl heartily concur with you in fo great and neceffary a rcqucft. May God return to our united adelreffes an anfwer of pe:icc ! May 'he pour out his fpirit on our fad, and his ble/ing on our offspring* that tkty may grow up before him as willows by the wattr cour- fes ; tL-t thy may be to their parents for a com- fnrt, to the church far a fupport* and'to our G;S

for a name and a praifc / AMEN. * J

S E R M O N

ON THE EDUCATION OF CHILDRE

PROV. XXII. 6.

Tr&in up A Child in the way he Jhmild ge ; and when he is old he -will not depart from ti>

IN treating on this fubje6l of education. I have all along endeavored, according to my ufual manner, to make my difcourfes as practical as I could. While I was defc rib- ing ahd recommending the way, and offering my ail vices. with regard to the manner of •r.g children into it, mod of what I faid urdcr thofe generals was an application to you. I have therefore left rnyfeif the lefs to do here ; y>t I was not willing to con- cI'.Hie my difco irfrson a fubjc£t, which it is probable I fhall r.ever fo largely refuse, without

PVwrthly. A particular addrefs fo my hearers. accor.'Hr.g to your different relations and cha- afters in life.

This I ; iy fourth and laft gen-

oral, and I enibcir on it without farther pre-

face : .hiiii-biy he it God, ivho lias

r.e an acceis to r/,1 our Lear - wpul^

le me to fpeak iii {he ;-!ng

^'^*'!i?ving manner, and that he would, by

blaou-\j fp;rjt apply it to your confciences

SER. IV. 97 CH'ILDRIW'* Si

that it may be as a nail faftened in a fure place ; that hearing and knowing thefe things for yourfelves, you may hear and know them for your good.

I would here particularly addrefs aiyfelf, — firft to parents, then to children, and — in the lafh place to thefe ywimg perfons v;ho are grown up to years of maturity, but not yet fixed in families of their own.

I. Let me addrefs my difcourfe to thofe of you that are parents ; whether you have been negligent of the duties I have now been urging, or through grace have been careful in the difcharge of them,

i. To thofe who have been grouly negli- gent in this important care.

I have here one advantage not common to every fubjecl ; I mean that the guilty will immediately know tbemfelvcs-. When we apply ourfelves in general to unconvert- ed Goners, ignorance of the nature of true religion, a neglect of converging with your own fouls, or the infinuating prejudices of felf love, may difguife the true ftates of the cafe, and. teach people to fpeak peace to them'elves, under the mofl awful denun- ciations of wrath and vengeance. But here one would imagine, that the recollection of a few moments might be fufficient to deter- mine the cafe ; becaufe the queflion relates to pad fads, and not merely to one particu-. lar action, but to a long train, and lucceffion of Uibo-urs and attempts.

§4 ON THE EDUCATION $K^. TV.

Now let your confidences witnefs ^beth^r I am guilty of a breach of charity, when 1 take it for granted that there arc forme amongft you, \vho hove been, and are very negligent of the duty I have now been en- forcing ? You have probably contented your- ^.s with teaching your children to read, and fetting them to learn, like parrots, a prayer, and perhaps too a catechifm and a cre^d. But 1 appeal to your conferences — have you from foe very day of their birth to this time ever fpent one hour in fcrioufiyin- flrutting them in the knowledge of God> and endeavoring to form them to his fear and fcrvice : in letting before them the mifery of their natural condition, raid urging them to apply to (Thrift for falvation : in reprc- ienting ihe foicmnhies of death and judg- ment, and the eternal world, and urging an immediate and diligentpreparation for them ? Where is the time, where the place that can witnefs, that you have been pouring out fouls before God on their account, and Wrefliing with him for their lives, as know- ing they mud perifh forever without the righteoufoefis of his Son, and the grace of his Spirit ? Where or when have you thus prayed with them or for them? What fcr- inon have you heard, what fcripture have you read, with this though?, 4i This will I carry to my children, and communicate to them as the food of thzir fouls ?" I fear.there are fevcral of you that have been fo far from doing it, that you have hardly ever fe-

SKR. IV. OF CHILDREN. 83

rioufly thought of it as a thing to be done.

And I would '{(k,why have you not thoug.it or it, and why have you not done it ? Are the'fe creatures that you have produced like the other animals of your houfes or your field, mere animated fyuems of flefli and blood, made to take a turn in life fora few days and months, and then to fink into ever- lafting forge tfalnefs ? Or are they rational and immortal creatures, that muft exift for- ever in Heaven or in Hell ? This is not a. matter of doubt with you ; and yet you be- have as if the very contrary to what you be- lieve were evident certain truth. In fhort, it is the moil barbarous part you act, and more like that of aa enemy than a parent.

It is not that you are infenfible of the workings, of parental tcndcrnefs. No, far from that, it may perhaps fometimcs rife to a weak and criminal dotage ; yet I repeat it agai.i, you are acHng a holliSe an.d barbarous part. You are greatly folicitous for their temporal happinefs. For this you labour and watch; for this you denyyourfelves ma- ny an enjoyment, and fubjecl; yourfeives to many an uneafy circumftance : But, alas ! Sirs, W!ICK: is the real fnendihip of a)l ihi.-;, \vhile t'n.e precious f«nil is neglcclcd ? Your children are born with a corrupted nature, perverted by finful examples, ignorant of God in a date of growing enmity to him, and in confequence of all, expofed to his wrath C;VK! curfc, and in the way to everlafting ru« in : la the mean time it is your great care,

$4 O-N THS 1DUCATIOU SIX. XV*

that they may pafs through this precarious*, momentary life, in eafe and pleafure, perhaps in abundance and grandeur; that is, in fuch circumftanc.es, as will probably lull them in- to a forgetfulnefs of their danger, till their be no more hope. How cruel a kindnefs !

It brings to my mind the account which an ancient writer gives of the old Carthagenians, which I can never recollect without great emotion. Ke is fpcaking of that diabolical cu flora which fo long prevailed ainogftthera, of offering their children to a deteftable idol, "which was formed in fuch a noanner, that ai> infant put into his hands, which were ftretch- ed out to receive it, would immediately fall into a galf of fire. Ke adds a circumftance, •v/hich one cannot mention without horror ; that the mothers, who with their own hands prefested the little innocents, thought it an unfortunate omen that the victim fhculd be offered weeping ; and therefore ufed a great many fond artifices to divert it, that foothed by the kiffes and car^lfes of a parent, it might fmile in the dieadful moment in which it was to be given to the idol. Pardon me, my friends ; fuch is your parental care and love ; fuch your concern f-»*: the prefent cafe and profperity of your children, \\lvile their fouls are neglected : A fond folicitude. that they may pals fmiling into the hands of the dc- ftra

know, virh v.hat jufl fevcrity God rcc / For their aborsina-

bl- wickcdBefs, in i-^ki;-^ hir. ions and l:is dua:>'^ci,:, -or ib he calls the children of his

SZX. IV* OF CHILDREN." g

profefling people, and facrificing them to be devoured : And can you fuppofe, he will take no notice of the unnatural neglect of yours. Not to endeavor to fave, is to de- flroy ; and is it a little guilt, when an immor- tal foul is in queftion ? You probably re- member thofe terrible words in Ezekiel; (may they b^ deeply infcribed on the hearts of all whom they concern !) Son of man, I have made thee a walchman to the hoitfe of Ifrael* therefore hear thou the word from my mouth, and give them •warning from me ; — and if then fpzakejt not to warn the wicked from his wicked way* t& fave his life, the fame wicked man/Jiall die in his iniquity^ but his Hood will I require at thine hand. If ev- er you read this paflage witk attention, you rnuft own it is exceedingly awful, and nuift be ready to fay, " The Lord be merciful to rninifters ! they have a folemn account to give." Indeed they have ; and v;e thank you, if you ever bellow a compafiionate thought and prayer upon us. But permit me to- re- mind you, and though it be our cafe, it iV, not ours alene ; you have likewifc your iliare in it. Your children ore much more imme- diately committed to your care* than you and they are committed to o-.ir- ; ai;d, by al! psr- ity of reafon, if they p^riili in their iniqui- ties, while you r,-.:^!ect to ^ive tl: '^il5» their blood \vill be required at your hand. , And whe;; God comes to make inquitition for i ', how v::. a!;!e to cn- dareit? Th&t ' open upo:i you, and the tribunal of God, in ail its terrors* H

86 ON THE EDUCATION I4R. IT.

\vill ftand : unveiled before you. Give me leave U* direftyour eyes to it in this diftant prof- pc6t, while there is yet room to mitigate thofe terrors. If you go on in- this cruel negligence of the fouls of your children, how will you dare to meet them at that judgment feat ? How will you be able to aniwtr the great Father of Spirits, when expollulatijig with you on account of his offspring, as well as your?, who have been betrayed and ruined by your neglect ? ^ Inhuman creatures," (r«v».y :-.'•? juftiy i',.y) to whom fhould I have committed the care of them raiher than to you ': iy not, by my appointment,

from you ? Did I n@t ira-

• in your h^rts the natural affections of

• ';iS towards the si ? And to increafe the obligation, did they iiot pals through the tender fcenes of infancy and childhood in your arms and under your eye ? If you had no cornpi'-kipn for their perilhing fouls, if V;;ii v.ouid exert r.o efforts for their delivcr- junce and falvation, from wkom could thofe compyitioTis, thofe efforts have been expeft- ed? i they appear? Behold the !•- ;;:y remembrance, the records of thy li wm open h^fore thee : Where is 1 1 ; c f o n e hour f p e n t i n i n R Y u c \ i c •. n ,

iih them, or for them ? it you on fucli a ••h;!r vilu for i bul be avenged fur f u c 1 1 1 s r

be filent on Oic CK;c«uioij ? 13 iii thcdifirel^

SEJL. IV. Of CHILDREN. §7

amazement of his foul, when in the prefence of his judge, accufe Eve his wife, fo lately taken from his fide, and committed to his pro- tection, and Itill, no doubt, appearing lovely in the midli of forrow ? and will your chil- dren in that terrible day fpare you ? You raay rather expecl they will labor to the ut- mod to aggravate a crime which cods them fo dear, that fo they may, if poffible, allevi- ate their own guilt, or if not indulge their re- venge. <; O God," (may they perhaps cry out in the mod. piercing accents of indigna- tion and defpair) " thou art righteous in the fcntencc thou pa fife ft upon us, and we juftly die for our iniquity. We have deflroyed ourfelves. But wilt thou not remember that our ruin is in part chargeable here ? Had thefe our parents b«en faithful to thee and to us, it had perhaps been prevented. Had our infancy been formed by religious infh'uc- tion, we might not have grown up to wicked- nefs; we might not, in the advance oF life, have defpifed thy word, and trampled oa thy fon; but might this day have been owned by th-ve as thy children, and have rifen to that inheritance of light and glory, which w* n>v behold at this unapproachable diftance. Oh ! curfcd be the fathers that begat us; curfcd the wombs that b :re us; curfcd the paps that gave us fuck ! remem- ber us, O Lord, whilil thou art judging them, and let us have this one wretched comfort, in the niitift of sll our agonies', that

83 ON THE EDUCATION SIR. IV*

it is not with impunity that they have be- trayed our fouls !"

This indeed is {hocking and diabolical language; and fo for that very reafon, it is fo much the more probable on fo dreadful an occaiion. And give me leave to aik you one - my friends, and I will conclude

the h'-acl. If your children were crying out agaiafl you in the bitter he fj of their foulgj couid you attempt to filence them by re- minding them of the care which you took of their temporal affairs, or of the riches and grandeur in which you left them on earth ? Nay, could you have a heart fo much as to mention fuch a trifie ? And if you could not, then, in the nanve of God, firs, how do you fatisfy yourfelves to confine all your thoughts and labours to that which, by your own confeflion, will neither fecure your children from everlafling deflruQion, nor give them one moment's relief in the review iv hen they are falling into it ?

I will make no apology for the plainnefs, and earneftnefs, which I have ufed. Eternal interefts are at (lake, r.nd the whole tenour of ; Icripture fuppoi ts me in what I fay. I had ra- ther you iliould be alarmed with hearing thefe ;s from me now. than tormented with hear- i ;g them in another manner from your chil- dren, and from God at laft. If you pleafe to take proper meafures for preventing the danger, I have told you the way at large : If you do not, I hope I may fay. " I am in this refpecl; clear from your blood5 and the blood

. IV. «F

ef yours, who may perifh by your means : Look you to it."

But it is high time that I proceed in my addrefs, and apply myfelf,

i. To thofe parents, who have been care- ful to difcharge the duty, we have fo copiouf. ly defcribed and enforced.

I cannot fuppofe, that any of us would pretend to maintain, that in this, or any oth- er branch of duty, we have acted up to the utmoft extent and perfection of our rule. I hope an humble fenfe of the deficicnccs of all the belt of our fervices, is frequently lead- ing us to the believing views of a better righteoufnefs than our own, in which alone we can dare to appear before a holy God. and anfwer the demands of his perfect law. Ne- verthelefs, it is furely allowable to rejoice in the teftimony of our confcience, with regard to the regularity of our own behaviour, fo far as it is conformable to re a foil and fcrip- ture ; and it is an important duty, thankfully to own thofe influences of fanctifying and Strengthening grace, by which we are \vhot we are.

It is with great pleafure I recollect the rea- fon I have to believe, that many of you, chriflians, who hear itie this day, are in the main conici? ncioufly practifing thefe duties; and that fome of you were doing it long be- fore I was capable of exhorting and direct- ing you. Acknowledge the fingulargoodnefs of God, by which you have been excited to them, and fursrilled for them.

gO ON THS EDUCATION SER. iV,

More efpecially have you reafon to adore it, if through grace you can fay, with regard to the prefent fuccefs, what you may certain- ly fay, as to the future recompcnfc, that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. Let God have the glory of his own work. I perfuadc niyfelf, you underfiand the gofpel too well, to afcribe it to the prudence of your own con- duct, to the ftrength of your reafoning, or to the warmth and tendernefs of your ad- drefs. Whatever of thefe advantages you have pofieffed, were derived from God ; and your very care for your offspring, is, as the apoftle expreffes it in a like cafe, the earneft care which God has putifito your hearts. But it was net this care, or thefe advantages alone, that produced fo happy an effect. In vain had your doctrine from day to day dropped as the rain, and diftiiled as tfee dew, in the mod gentle, and infinuating mannner ; in vain had the precious feed of the word ; fown with unwearied diligence, and watered tears too ; h?,d not God commanded the Mcflcd fj,irit to corne d

j not inieniibie of the faT i

;ht to this der-

ncfs, a land c "de-

vils ; and behol-/ families loo- are iik v/l:ich the L< cut you ofF rr of his covenantj or your I;

SER. IV. OF CHILDREN.- 9!

behold he is cftablifliing it, not only with yeu, bat your feed after you, for an eVerlafting covenant. Methinks your hearts fiiould o- verflow ^with gratitude and holy joy, while you dwell on fuch refie&ioiis as thcfe. This fhould add a rclifh to all the pie af lire you find in converfing with yonr children : This ihouid quicken you to a farther diligence in culti- vating thofe graces, which you have the fat- isfaclion to fee already implanted: This fhould reconcile you to all the af$i8ions, with which Providence may cxerc-ifc, eifher you or them : Tnis (hould fupporiy-ui 1.1 \ he views of a feparaiion, either by our own death, or by theirs ; fmce you have fo comfortable a hope, that if they are removed they will go to a heavenly father, and that if they are left behind you, they will be fafe anil happy un- der his care, till you meet in a better world, where you win he forever to each other a #tmm] glpry-afidjojri

t 1 c.-ir,uc: congratulate you on this oc-

cafi'H1,, without the dan-^r of addirg GtTiicticn

to the affixed parents, wl^fe circuTnftar>cfe^

ala> ! ^ro far dill . ..n yours. I fear,

are fonie -among il you,

4>id TOLU and look forward, with

rc«t profpecls; T- ML: who are with

blc o-.nplaint,

iwhi :-sfo.

iV'/' cd in

' i vain ! thoic v1

IfiUCATlCN S*R. IV.

devoted to God in baptifm, which we endea- voured to educate in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, the children oF -our hopes, the children of our prayers, are unfruitful unto all our cultivauon, or, it may fee, rifibly turned afide from the good ways in which they were trained up ; as if they had known them only to reject and affront them : So that we have reafon to fear, that all we have done, as it is an aggravation of their guilt, will be 3L proportionable aggravation of their ruin." It is indeed a very pitiable cafe. We owe you our cornpaflions, and we owe you our prayers ; but permit us to intermix Gur con- folations and our admonitions. You have at leaft delivered your own fouls ; and as you participate in the fcrrows of faithful mirdf- ters, you may fhare in their comfort too ; and fay with them, though the obje&s of our com- pnilionate care be not gathered, yet fhail we be glorified, for our work is with the Lord, and our reward with our G«d. Go on there- fore in themidft of all your difcouragemcnts^ and, in this refpecl, be not weary in well do- ing. Ti\ke heed of fuch a defpair. as would cut the finews of future endeavours. If your child were labouring under any bodily diilemper. you would be very unwilling that the pbylicians mould quite give him over, and try no farther medicines : You would follow them, and fay, « can nothing more be done ? Is there not tbt: leaft glimmering of hope?" Alas ! my friends, a child given up by a pious parent, is; to a believing eve. a

•f EX. IV. Of «HILDRXtf. 9$

much more melancholy fight, than a parent given over by the phyficians. Excufe tme, then, if I follow you with the qucftion, 16 Can nothing mere be done ? Is there not the lead glimmering, of hope ?" Who told you that the fentence of condemnation is fealed while you are fure it is not execwted. Is the danger extreme ? Let your efferts be fo much the more zealous, your admonitions fo much the more frequent and fcriou:, your prayers fo much the more earned and im- portunate. And on the ^;hole (to allude to the words of David on a much lower occa- fion) Who can tell whether God will be gra- cious, to you, that the child may live ? and the (ad apprchenfions which you now enter- tain, may only ferve to increafe the joy -with which you fhall then fay. this my ion was dead, and is alive again : he was loft, and is found.

II. I would addrefs myfelf to children r To you, the dear lambs of the flock, \vliom I look upon as no contemptible part of my charge. I have been fpeaking for you a great while, and now give me leave to fpeak to you ; and pray, do you endeavor for a few minutes, to mind every word that I fay.

You fee that it is your parents' duty to bring you up for God. The great God of heaven and earth has been pleafcd to give his ex- prefs command, that you fhould be trained ftp in the way in which you fhouid go, even in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, It is the wonderful goodnefs of God to give

04 ON THE EDUCATION SKR. IV,

fuch a charge : and methinks you fhould be affected with it, and fhould be enquiring what you &ould do in return.

N«w there are three things which I would aik of every on«e of you, in return for this gracious notice which the great God has tak- en of you children : r.nd I sni fere, if you love your o-wn fouls, you will not deny me any of them : — Be willing to icarn the things of God ; — pray for them that teach you ; — • and fee to it, you do not letrn them in vain, Li fte ft diligently, thr.t you may underftaiid^ and remember e^ch of ihefe.

i. Be willing to learn the things of God.

The things of God are very delightful, and they are very ufeful ; and, whatever you may think ef it, your life dcrxcnds on yorar acquaintance with them. So Chrift himfelf fays, this is life eternaL that they may know thee, the only true Gocu and jefus Chriil, vhorn thou had fent. (John xvii. 3.) There- fere you children, ihould not think- mtfch of the labour of learning thefe things. Oh ! far from thauyou fhould be every day upon your knees, begging God that you may be taught to know him, and to know Chrili. God has done a great deal more for you than he has for many others. You might have been born in a place where you never would have fecn a bible in all yourlives; vhere you would never have heard the namsof Chri-ft, where you rniyht never have been inltrucled in the nature of duty and fin. nor have been told of the world beyond the grave; and fo would probablj

is*. 'IT. or CHILDREN; 95

have fallen into Hell before you had known there was fuch a place. And the great God has ordered matters fo. that you are born tinder the light of the ggfpel, ?«, ch

plain and excellent inftru&io&s, <iay

know more of divine things in your infancy, than the wife men amongft the heathens when they were old, a. id *• had fpent all their livs in • v:ili

you be fo ungrateful ;».s not to learrs, when fuch provill );s is r/ iriftruaion? GodUh ;;ivc/o*

his word, and your parents and minillers em- ploy their time and their pains to teach y*ni the meaning of u, and will you refufe to at- tend to it ? That were f'oolHh and wicked, indeed; I hope much better things of you, That is my firft advice : Be willing to learn, I add,

2. Pray for thofe that are to teach you. I would hope, that you little creatures dare not live without, prayer. I hope God, who fees ia fecret, fees many of you oa your knees every morning, and every evening, afking a hleffing fro,n him as your heavenly father. Now let me intreat y©u that at fuch times you would pray for rhofe that inftru£t v ••; in dl -;;! .1 would

bfej help

ri in it, iii-; cipi

thtv vl 45.)

Fray, th,,t i; God A'ouid teutta us to Uiicii you ; eiic we

g& ON THE IDUCATIO'tf «*R. IV.

fhall attempt it to very little purpofe. Pray for your parents, and pray for your mimfters. Pray for your parents: That God would fcrlp them to inftruQ you in fuch a manner as the/ have now been directed : That they may do it plainly, fo that you may be able to un- derftand what they fay ; and ferioufly, that you may be brought to an holy awe of God ; and tenderly that you may be engaged to love God and his word, and Chrilt and his ways ; and pray that your parents may be ftirred up to do it frequently, to give you line upon line* and prcstfi upon precept^ that you may be put in mind of what you are fo rea- dy to forget.

And let rnc defire you my dear charge, when you pray for your parents, to pray for your mi rafter* too. I declare it again in the mod public manner, it is my carneft de- firc that children would pray for me. And I verily believe ever/ faithful minifter of Chrill would join with me in fuch a reqaefr. We do nc-tjwe dare not,defpifc the prayers of one of thefe little ones. Far from that, I am perfuaded it would greatly revive, and encourage us, and we fnould hope Gcd had forae fiiiCTular mercy in ftore for us, and ins people, if we were fure the children of the congregation were every day praying for a hkffing on our labours.

3. Tahehced that you do not learn in vain. The great truths which you are taught from the word of God, are not intended mere- ly to {ill your heads with notions, but to

SERi IV. 0F CHILDREN* $7

make your hearts and lives more holy. You know the way to your father's houfe, every flep of it; but that would never carry you home, if you would not go in it. No more will it fignify to know the way to heaven, un- lefs we walk in it. If yon know thefe things, fays the Lord Jefus Chrift hirnfelf, happy are ye if ye do them. And I may add, if, ye do them not, it had been happier for you if you had never known them. Dear children, confi- der it ; it is but a little while and you muft die : And when thofe aclive bodies of yours are become cold, mouldering clay, the great God of heaven and earth will call your fouls to his judgment feat. As fure as you arc now in this houfe, you will fhortly, very fhort - ly, be ftanding before his awful throne. Then he will examine to what purpofe you have heard fo many religious inftruclions, fo ma- ny good leilons. Then he will examine whether you have feared, loved, and fervid him, and received the Lord Jcfus into your hearts, as your Saviour and your King : whe- ther you have chofen fin orholinefs for your way, earth or heaven for your portion. And if it be found that you have lived without thought, and without prayer, without any re- gard to the eye of God always upon 'you, and the word of God always before you. it will be a' mo ft lamentable cafe. You will fkve reafon to wifh, you had never beard of ihdc things at all; for he has faid, the fcr- vuni tliai knew his Lord's will, and did it nct.Jhttl be beaten with many Jlrifti* Even \vlnle I am

£$ ON THE EDIfCATICK *XK, IT.

fpeaking to you, death is coming on : per- haps his fcythe may cut you down while you arc but coming up as flowers. I fpeak to you thus plainly and earneflly becaufe I do not know but you may be in eternity before another Lord's day. Oh f pray earneftly, that God would give you his grace to fit you for glory, and that all you may be fo blcffed that you may be made wife unto falvation by it. The Lord grant that it may !

And I have one thing to 'tell you for your encouragement, and then I have done with you for this time. How young foever you are, and how broken foever your prayer* may be, the glorious Lordof angels and men will be willing to hear what y«u fay. You may be fure to be welcome to the throne of grace. The Lord Jefus Chrift, when he was upon earth, was very angry with thofe who would have hindered little children from coming to him : He faid, Suffer little children me unto wtf, and forbid them not, for of fuck is the kingdom of God. And Chrift is .as com- paffionate now. as ever he was. Go to him, as you may humbly hope, he will, as it were, take vou up in his arms and blcfs you. He lias foid it, and I hope you will never forget it ; / live them that lovs me, and they that feck we early Jliall find me. Oh! w ere I but as Cure, that every child in this aflenibly would go and a(k a blefiing from Chiift, as I nn that -our dear Lord is willing to bcltow it! But to draw to a conciufion.

S?.R. !Y» OF CHILBRKfc* $g

'III. I fiiall addrefs myfelf to tWe young perfons who are grown up to years of maturi- ty, under the advantages of a religious eclu- catien, and are not yet fixed in families of their own.

I hope: that many of yon have been fenfi- ble of the value of thofc opportunities you have enjoyed, and by divine grace have been enabled to improve them well ; yet I mud add, that I fear there are others amongft you who have unhappily neglecled and abufed them. I mud apply 'my felUdiflin&ly to each on.

i. To thofe young perfons who have nog- Ie£ted and abufed the ^-vantages of a reli- gious education.

Iconfcfs, there arc hardly any to whom I fpeak with fo little pleafure, becauib I have feldom lefs reafon to hope I (ha'l fucceed. — Wnat (hall I fay to you ? What can I by th a t y o 1 1 h a v e n o t o ft e n h c a r d , a n d o ft c n d c f p. : : - cd ? One is almolt tempted, in fuch a c'rcum- (lance, to turn reafonings and expoftutatiorif,' into upbraidings; and even to adopt thofe too paiiionate words of Mofcs, " Hear nozuyt rtbck, you that hav&grawn rup in the tnowledgfi and yd the contempt of divine things ; you that JiGi'e difap- pointcd the hopes, and flighted the C'it/iCKiiiws of your pious fircr,!-^ and, fo have brt {pi r 'its* and. it may be, their hearts too, <

-jtii dciuTi their hoary hairs zvith fcrrow to the One 10 ay cr another yvti LKVC pe\ (•rii. Rut it is afmalitravgt.o you that you do. t'c {>iM wearied men) and will you attempt to

1OO •>>•; 1HE EDUCATION SER. IV.

•";• ? fanrcu dare to hope, that

at Lifi carry tkye proud, ikwghtlefs heads

•ors c-f fas ivor&2*

e h a very happy circumfliincfr

: loofc from thofe mortify -

v rellraints, you v;ere

• under. Bat really, when one feriotifty

ivliithcr ihefe Jiberiios iccui you.

and \\hcrc they will probably ciul, a. jult re-

icr.tment of your ingr^iituds i^ almuft dif-

armcd. and indignaiion i^ conveUcdii;i:> pfty;

as ! Sir.ner?, the ^.vay ofaii tran(grci]:

- is peculiarly ib. Yon.

: .Ting, arc in tl "•: it i.> :.

ihe impreffions of a good education arc yet entirely effaced. What future years may do, I know not: but hitherto I per- iiiade fnyfetF, you have frequently your re- i'ec^ions, and your conviclions ; conviQions, Vvhich liave ibrcc enough to to risen t yoi?5 tnongh not enough to reform you ; to plant thorns in the paths of fin, though not to re- duce you to thofe of duty. Bui if you feel nothing of ihis remorfe and anxiety, fuch a dead calm is then more dreadful than the fierceft Piorm of tumult and thought: A fad indication that your courfe in wickednefs has been exceeding fwift ; indeed fo fv;ift, that it is probable it may not be long. Oh, that it might immediately be flopped by divine grace, rather than by the vengeance you havs do much reafon to fear !

SER. IV, OF -CHILDREN. 1O1

At lead be engaged to paufe in it for a few ' moments, and let reafon and confcience be permitted to fpeak. How is it that you make yosrfelves, I will not fay entirely, but tolera- bly eafy ? Is it by the difbelief of chriflian- ity ? Do you fccrctly fufpect., that the gofpel is but a cunningly devifed fable ? Yet even that fufpicion is n«t enough. Let me rath- er afk, " Are you fo confident it is fo, that you will venture to flake even the life of your fouls upon its falmood ?" If you were come to fuch a confidence, yet it is amazing tome, how, even on the principles of natural reli- gion alone, perfons in your circumftances can make themfclves cafy. Can any of the libertines of the prefent age, that believe a God. imagine that he is altogether fuch a one as themfelves ? Can they flatter thejjifelves fo u>ras>o hope, that they, in the ways of negligence, profanencfs, and debauchery,. are like to meet a more favorable treat: from him, than thofe pious parents v, •principles they deride; or that this loo fe irregular co*irfe will end better, than life of prayer and felf denial, of faith iove, of fpiritiiality and bcavenly-rnind^d- nefs, which they ai kerned in them ? Few arc fo abandoned, even of common icnfe, as to think this.

But thefe are more diPtant conceri>s; I 'bjefs God, this kind of i» •^•.•eiiiv is no ,fafhion here. You a Til: it to true, and therefore inn ft know tl , who

obfcrres and records your conduct now, will

I 2

102 ON THE EDUCATION SIS.. IV/

bring you into judgment for it another day. And if you go on thus, how will you ftand in that judgment? What will you plead ? On what will you repofe the confidence of your fouls, that will not prove a broken reed, which will go up into your hand, and pierce you deep, in proportion to the ftrefs you lay upon it ? While you behave like a generation of vipers think not to fay within yourfelves, We have Abraham for our father. Think not to plead a relation to the religious parents, whofe God, and whofe ways you have for- faken. Think not to plead an early dedica- tion to him in the baptifmal covenant, which you have broken, defpifed, and in facl re- nounced. Think not to plead that external profeflion, which you have fo fhamefully contradicted, and even by wearing it, cii [hon- ored. You will fee the weaknefs of fiich

&s as thefe, and will not dare to trifle •with that awful tribunal, fo far as to mention

m there. And when you are yourfelves

iVient and confounded, who will appear

as an advocate in your favour ? Your parents

vere often prcfenting their fupptications and

iniercefiions for you before the throne of

:e, but there will be no rootn to prefent

03 before the throne of juftice: Xor will have any inclination to do it. All the

-.gs of natural fondaefs will be dried up; hey will no longer regard you as their chil- dren. when they fee you in the accurfed number of the enemies of their God.

t

5ER.IV; OF CHILDREN.' 1(5J

And when you are thus difowned by your parents, and difowned by God, whither will you caufe your fliame and your terror to go ? You, who have had fo many privileges, and fo many opportunities, perhaps I may add, fo many fend, prefumptuous hopes too, how will you bear to fee multitudes coming from carnal and profane families, to fhare with your parents in the inheritance of glory, from which you are excluded ? You, who were the children of the kingdom ; whofc remorfe therefore muft be the more cutting ; whofe condemnation therefore muft be the more weighty ! Obferve in how ftrong and lively a view our Lord has reprefented this aw- ful thought in words which though immedi- ately addreffed to the unbelieving Jews, are remarkably applicable to you : There jl: all lie. -weeping and gnafJiing cf teeth, zahsn ye JJiall fee Abraham. Ifaac, end Jacob (your pious ancel- tors) in the kingdom of Gpd9 and ycurfdves thru/I out: And many /Ji&ll come from the Norih9 end the South, and the Eaft^ end the V/cft* and /hall fct down with them in the kingdom of God ; but the children of the kingdom f hall be cajl out in- to utter clarkne.fs.

But through the divine forbearance you arc not yet Ihut out. There is dill hope, even for you, if you' will now return to the God of your fathers, from whom, by thefc aggravated t ran fg re (lions, you have fo deep- ly revolted. Let me then once more ten- • derly intrcat you, and folemnly charge you by the confolation of the Jiving, aud by the

1O4 bW *KE EDVCATTOV SIR. IV,

memory of the pious dead* by ye*r prevent comforts, by your future hopes, by the near- ly approaching folemnities of death and judgment, by the mercies of God, and by the blood of a Redeemer, that you confiderand lhew yourfelves men ; that you fetyourfelves as it were, attentively to read over the cha- racters infcribed on your memories and un- derftandings in the couife of a religious edu- cation; that you hearken to the voice ®f confcience, repeating thofc admonitions, and to the voice of the bleifed God, as fpeaking in his word to confirm them ; and finally, that you apply to hi.n in a mod importunate man- ner, for thofe victorious influences of his fpirit, which are able to mollify, and tranf- form thefc hearts of none, and to raife even you5 from fo low a depth of degeneracy and danger, to the character and happinefs of the genuine children of Abraham. God forbid that I fhould fin again ft your fouls, and my own, in ceafing to pray that it may be fo ! And nov/,

2. I fnal! conclude all -with an addrefs to thofe youn^ penons, who have been; through grace, engaged to a becoming improvement of the religious education they have enjoyed.

I have the pleafure of being well affurcd, that Ui ere are many fuch amo^gft you : Ma- ny who are now the joy of miwfters and pa- vent-;, rtnd the: hope ''-^ the church for fac- ing year.* j intreat you, my dear brethren and frionds, that, you daily acknowl- edge the divine goodnefs, in favouring you

SER. IV. Q't CHILDREN;- IQg

with fuch advantages j and what is dill more valuable, in giving you a heart to prize and improve them.

Think how different your circumftances might have been. Providence might have caft your lot in iome diftant age or country, v/h±re the true God had been unknev/n, where your early (iep$ had been guided to the groves and temples of detefUblc idols* and you might pofSbly have been taught to confecrate luft or number by the name of devotion. Or you might have been educa- ted in popifk darknefs, where the fcripture would have been to you as a fealcd book, arid you would have feen chriftianiiy pollu- ted with idolatrous rites, on fome accounts more inexcufeable than thofe of the heathen,, and adulterated with the moil abfurd find pernicious errors. There the miftaken pie- ty of your parents might have proved a dangerous fnare, whilftit had infufcd a blind^ and perhaps a cruel zeal, and a proud, furi- ous^ppofition to all the methods of better information.

Nay, even here in a proteMant country, is it not too evident, there are many families in which had you been born and educated, you had fat as in darknefs and the fkadow' of death, though in the land of light and the valley of vifion ? Your infant-tongue had been formed to the language of hell, and ex- ercifed in curfes and oaths, rather than in prayer. You1 had early been taught to de- ride every appearance of ferious godiinefs ;

ON THE EBUCATIttf SEX. ir

and all the irregular propensities of nature had been ftrengthened by examples of wick- ednefs, which might have been fufficient to corrupt innocence itfelf. When you confi- der the wide difference between thefe cir- cumftaaces and your own, furely whatever your portion of worldly poffefiions may be, you have reafon to lift up your heads to Heaven with wonder and graticud-, and to fay, Tht lines have fallen to us in fleajant places, yea, we have a goodly heritage.

Nor is this all : There are many around you. who have fhared in fuch advantages as thefe, and have finfuiiy abufed them, to tie difhonor of God, to the grief of their pa- rents, and to their own danger, and perkaps their ruin. And why are not you in that wretched number, or who maketh thee to differ from them ? Why are not your hearts barred agninfl the entrance of a Redeemer, but becsufe the Lord has opened them ? Why are not all the good inflruciions which have been given to you, like feed fown upon a rock ; butbecaufe God gave the increafe. Adore the riches of this dillinguifiiing grace.

And let me earnefily exhort you, tfcat you be careful Hill farther to improve it. Give me leave to fay, that thefe fair openings of early feiiouh-e'^ do naturally raife a very high expectation of eminent advances in re- ligion. Let it be your humble and diligent care, that thefe expectations be anfwercd : That your goodnefs may not be like the morning cloud, or the early dew, which foon

«1H. IT* *? CHILDREN 107

goeth away ; but rather like the dawning light, which' fhi ties brighter and brighter till the perfe6l day."

Whilft Providence continues thefe holy parents, to whom you have been fo highly indebted, let it be your conftant care, by all the mod cheerful returns of duty and grati- tude, to exprefs your regards to them, and your fenfe of to great an obligation. And I will add, let it be yoar care, to hand down to future ages thofe important advantages you have received from them.

Oue generation paffeth away, and another generation cometh. It is highly probable, that in a few years, numbers of you will be conducted into new relations; and we pleafe ourfelves with the hope, that you will carry religion and happinefs into riling families, Let not thofe hopes be difappointed. When G«d fixes you in houfes of your own, let it be your firft concern to creel: there fuch da- meftic altars, as thofe at which you hare worfiiipped with fuch holy pleafure, and fen- fible tokens of divine acceptance. Let the facred treafure of divine knowledge which has been depoiited with you, be faithfully de- livered down to your defendants; that they in their turn, may arife with the lame pious zeal, to tran unit it to another generation, that (hall be born of them.

And may divine grace, that inexhauftible fpriMg of the mod valuable bleflings, fweet- ly flow an to add efficacy to all, that real vital religion maybe the glory and joy of

108 ON THE EDUCATION 31R. IV.

ever/ fuccceding age : till this earth (which is but a place ol education for the children of God, duting their minority) fhall pafs a- way to make room for a far nobler fccne and Hate of exiilence ; \vhere pious parents and their religious offspring (hall forever enjoy the mod delightful fociety inhabiting the pa- lace of our heavenly father, and furround- ifig the throne of our glorified Redeemer 4

A M E N.

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