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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.