CHAPTER 12:

 

An Advice to some more particularly to help others to this Rest.

 

 Up then, every man that has a tongue, and is a servant of CHRIST, and do something of this your Master's work. Why has he given you a tongue but to speak in his service And how can you serve him more eminently, than in the saving of souls He that will pronounce you blessed at the last day, and sentence you to the kingdom prepared for you, because you fed him, and clothed him, and visited him, in his members, will surely pronounce you blessed for so great a work, as the bringing over of souls to his kingdom. He that says, " The poor you have always with you," has left the ungodly always with you, that you still might have matter to exercise your charity upon. O if you have the hearts of Christians, or of men, in you, let them yearn towards your poor, ignorant, ungodly neighbors. alas! there is but a step betwixt them and death and hell; many hundred diseases are waiting ready to seize them, and if they die unregenerate, they are lost for ever. Have you hearts of rock, that cannot pity men in such a case If you believe not the word of God, how are you Christians yourselves If you do but believe it, why do you not bestir you to help others Do you not care who is damned, so you be saved If so, you have as much cause to pity your own selves; for it is a frame of spirit inconsistent with grace. Should you not rather say, as the lepers of Samaria, Is it not a day of glad tidings, and we sit still, and hold our peace Has God had so much mercy upon you, and will you have no mercy on your poor neighbors You need not go far to find objects for your pity: look but into the streets, or into the next house to you, and you will probably find some. Have you never a neighbor that sets his heart below, and neglecteth eternity What blessed place do you live in, where there is none such If there be not some of them in thine own family, it is well; and yet art thou silent Dost thou live close by them, or meet them in the streets, or labor with them, or travel with them, or sit still and talk with them, and say nothing to them of their souls, or the life to come If their houses were on fire, thou wouldest run and help them; and wilt thou not help them when their souls are almost at the fire of hell If thou knewest but a remedy for their diseases, thou wouldest tell it them, or else thou wouldest judge thyself guilty of their death. CARDAN speaks of one that had a receipt that would dissolve the stone in the bladder, and he makes no doubt but that man is in hell, because he never revealed it to any before he died. What shall we say then of them that know the remedy for curing souls, and do not reveal it; nor persuade men to make use of it Is it not hypocrisy to pray that GOD’s name may be hallowed, and never endeavor to bring men to hallow it And can you pray, "Let thy kingdom come; " and yet never labor for the coming or increase of that kingdom Is it not grief to your hearts to see the kingdom of SATAN flourish, and to see him lead captive such a multitude of souls You say you are soldiers of CHRIST and will you do nothing against his. prevailing enemies You pray also daily, "That his will may be done;" and should you not daily then persuade men to do it, You pray, " That God would forgive them their sins, and that he would not lead them into temptation, but deliver them from evil." And yet will you not help them against temptations, nor help to deliver them from the greatest evil; nor help them to repent and believe, that they may be forgiven Alas, that your prayers and your practice should so much disagree! Look around you, therefore, Christians, with an eye of compassion on the sinners about you; be not like the Priest or Levite, that saw the man wounded, and passed by: God did not so pass by you, when it was your own case. Are not the souls of your neighbors fallen into the hands of SATAN Doth not their misery cry out to you, Help, help! As you have any compassion towards men in the greatest misery, help! As you have the hearts of men, and not of tigers in you, help!

 

 But as this duty lieth upon all in general, so upon some more especially, according as GOD has called or qualified them thereto. To them therefore more particularly, I will address my exhortation: whether they be such as have more opportunity and advantages for this work, or such as have better abilities to perform it.

 

 1. All you that God has given more learning and knowledge to, or endued with better utterance than your neighbors; GOD expecteth this duty especially at your hand. The strong are made to help the weak, and those that see must direct the blind. GOD looketh for, this faithful improvement of your parts and gifts, which if you neglect, it were better for you that you never had received them: for they will but further your condemnation, and be as useless to your own salvation, as they were to others.

 

 2. All those that have especially familiarity with some ungodly men, and that have interest in them, God looks for this duty at their hands. CHRIST himself did eat and drink with the publicans and sinners, but it was only to be their physician, and not their companion. GOD might give you interest in them to this end, that you might be a means of their recovery They that will not regard the words of another, will regard a brother, or sister, or husband, or wife, or near friend: besides that the bond of friendship doth engage you to more kindness and compassion.

 

 3. Physicians that are much about dying men, should in a special manner make a conscience of this duty: they have a treble advantage. First, They are at hand. Secondly, They are with men in sickness and dangers, when the ear is more open, and the heart less stubborn than in time of health. He that made a scorn of godliness before, will hear counsel then, if ever he will hear it. Thirdly, Besides, they look upon their physician as a man in whose hand is their life; or who at least may do much to save them; and therefore they will the more regard his advice. Therefore, you that are of this honorable prefession, do not think this a work besides your calling, as if it belonged to none but Ministers; except you think it besides your calling to be compassionate, or to be Christians. Help to fit your patients for heaven, and whether you see that they are for life or death, teach them both how to live and to die, and give them some physic for their soul, as you do for their bodies. Blessed be GOD that very many of the chief physicians of this age, have, by their eminent piety, vindicated their profession from the common imputation of atheism and profaneness.

 

 4. Another sort that have -excellent advantage for this duty, are men that have wealth and authority, and are of great place or command in the world, especially that have many who live in dependence on them. O what a world of good might gentlemen and LORD’s do, that have a great many tenants, and that are the leaders of the country, if they had but hearts to improve their interest and advantage! Little do you, that are such, think of the duty that lies upon you in this. Have you not all honor and riches from GOD Is it not evident, then, that you must employ them for the advantage of his service Do you not know who has said, " That to whom men commit much, from them they will expect the more "

 

 You have the greatest opportunities to do good, of most men in the world. Your tenants dare not contradict you, lest you dispossess them or their children of their habitations: they fear you more than the threatenings of the Scripture; they will sooner obey you than God. If you speak to them for GOD, and their souls, you may be regarded, when even a Minister shall be despised. O therefore, as you value the honor of God, your own comfort, and the salvation of souls, improve your interest to the utmost, for GOD. Go, visit your tenants and neighbors' houses, and see whether they worship GOD in their families, and take all opportunities to press them to their duties. Do not despise them because they are poor or simple. Remember, GOD is no respecter of persons; your flesh is of no better metal than theirs; nor will the worms spare your faces or hearts, any more than theirs; nor will your bones or dust bear the badge of your gentility; you must be all equals when you stand in judgment; and therefore help the soul of a poor man, as well as if he were a gentleman: and let men see that you excel others as much in piety, heavenliness, compassion, and diligence in GOD’s work, as you do in riches and honor. I confess you are like to be singular if you take this course; but then remember, you shall he singular in glory, for " few great, and mighty, and noble, are called."

 

 5. Another sort that have special opportunity to help others to heaven, are the Ministers of the Gospel: as they have, or should have, more ability than others, so it is the very work of their calling; and every one expecteth it at their hands, and will better submit to their teachers, than to others. I intend not these instructions so much to teachers, as to others, and therefore I shall say but little to them; and if all, or most Ministers among us were as faithful and diligent as some, I would say nothing; but because it is otherwise, let me give these two or three words of advice to my brethren in this office.

 

 1. Be sure that the recovering and saving souls be the main end of your studies, and preaching. O do not propound any low and base ends to yourselves. This is the end of your calling, let it be also the end of your endeavors. GOD forbid that you should spend a week's study to please the people, or to seek the advancing your own reputations. Dare you appear in the pulpit on such a business, and speak for yourselves, when you- are sent and pretend to speak for CHRIST Set out the work of God as skillfully as you can; but still let the winning of souls be your end, and always judge that the best means that most conduceth to the end. Do not think that GOD is best served by a neat, starched, oration; but that he is the able, skilful Minister, that is best skilled in the art of instructing, convincing, persuading; and that is the best sermon that is best in these. Let the vigor also of your persuasions show, that you are sensible on how weighty a business you are sent. Preach with that seriousness and fervor as men that believe their own doctrine, and know their hearers must either be prevailed with, or be damned. What you would do to save them from everlasting burning, that do while you have the opportunity and price inn your hand, that people may discern you mean as you speak and that you are not stage-players, but Preachers of the doctrine of salvation. Remember what CICERO says,’ That if the matter be never so combustible, yet if you put not fire to it, it will not burn.' And what ERASMUS says,’ That a hot iron will pierce, when a cold one will not.' And if the wise men of the world account you mad, say, as ST. PAUL, " If we are besides ourselves it is to God: “ and remember that CHRIST was so busy in doing of good, that his friends themselves began to lay hands on him, thinking he had been besides himself. (Mark 3:)

 

 2. The second and chief word of advice that I would give you, is this: Do not think that all your work is in studies, and in the pulpit. I confess that is great; but, alas! it is but a small part of your task. You are shepherds, and must know every sheep, and what is their disease, and mark their strayings, and help to cure them, and fetch them home. O learn of PAUL, (Acts 20: 19, 2O, 31,) to preach publicly, and from house to house, night and day with tears. Let there not be a soul in your charge that shall not be particularly instructed and watched over. Go from house to house daily, and inquire how they grow in knowledge and holiness, and on what grounds they build their hopes of salvation; and whether they walk uprightly, and perform the duties of their several relations, and use the means to increase their abilities. See whether they daily worship GOD in their families, and set them in a way, and teach them how to do it: confer with them about the doctrines and practice of religion, and how they receive and profit by public teaching, and answer all their carnal objections; keep in familiarity with them, that you may maintain your interest in them, and improve all your interest for GOD. See that no seducers creep in amongst them, or if they do, be diligent to countermine them, and preserve your people from infection of heresies and schisms; or if they be infected, be diligent to procure their recovery; not with passion and Lordliness, but with patience and condescension: as MUSCULUS did by the Anabaptists; visiting them in prison, where the Magistrate had cast them, and there instructing and relieving them; and though they reviled him when he came, and called him a false Prophet, and Antichristian Seducer that thirsted for their blood; yet he would not so leave them, until at last by his meekness and love he had overcome them, and recovered many to the truth, and to unity with the Church.

 

 If any be " weak in the faith, receive him, but not to doubtful disputations." If any be too careless of their duties, and too little savor the things of the Spirit, let them be pitied,- and not neglected; if any walk scandalously and disorderly, deal with them for their recovery, with all diligence and patience, and set before them the heinousness and danger of their sin; if they prove obstinate after all, then avoid them, and cast them off; if they be ignorant, it may be your fault as well as theirs; but however, they are fitter to be instructed than rejected, except they absolutely refuse to be taught. CHRIST will give you no thanks for keeping or putting out such from his school that are unlearned, when their desire or will is to be taught. I cgnfess it is easier to shut out the ignorant, than to bestow our pains night and day in teaching them; but woe to such slothful, unfaithful servants! Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his LORD has made ruler over his household, to give them their meat in due season, according to every one's age and capacity " Blessed is that servant whom his LORD, when he cometh, shall find -so doing." O be not asleep while the wolf is waking! Let your eye be quick in observing the dangers and strayings of your people. If jealousies, heartburnings, or contentions, arise among them, quench them before they break out into raging, irresistible flames. As soon as you discern any to turn worldly, or proud, or factious, or self-conceited, or disobedient, or cold, add slothful in his duty, delay not, but presently make out for his recovery: remember how many are losers in the loss of a soul.

 

 3. Do not daub, or deal slightly with any; some will not tell their people plainly of their sins, because they are great men, as if none but the poor should plainly be dealt with: do not you so, but reprove them sharply, (though differently, and with wisdom,) that they may be sound in faith. God doth sufficiently engage us to deal plainly; he has bid us speak and fear not; he has promised to stand by us, and he will be our security; I had rather hear from the mouth of BALAK, “God has kept thee from honor;" or from AHAB, "Feed him with the bread and water of affliction.; " than to hear conscience say, Thou hast betrayed souls to damnation by thy cowardice and silence;’ or to hear God say, " Their blood will I require at thy hands; " or to hear from CHRIST, the Judge, " Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth: “ yea, or to hear these sinners cry out against me in eternal fire, and with implacable rage to charge me with their undoing.

 

 And as you must be plain and serious, so labor to be skilful and discreet, that the manner may somewhat answer the excellency of the matter: how oft have I heard a stammering tongue, with ridiculous expressions, vain repetitions, tedious circumlocutions, and unseemly pronunciation, spoil most precious doctrine, and make the hearers either loathe it, or laugh at it How common are these extremes: while one spoils the food of life by affectation, and new fashioned mincing, and pedantic toys, either setting forth a little and mean matter with a great deal of froth, and gaudy dressing, or hiding excellent truths in a heap of vain rhetoric on the other side,-how many by their slovenly dressing, make men loathe the food of life, and cast up that which should nourish them Such novices are admitted into the sacred function, to the hardening of the wicked, and the disgrace of the work of the LORD; and those that are not able to speak sense or reason, are made the ambassadors of the Most High God.

 

 O therefore let me bespeak you, my brethren, in the name of the LORD, especially those that are more young and weak, that you tremble at the greatness of this, holy employment, and run, not up into a pulpit as boldly as into the market-place; study and pray, pray and study, until you are become "workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," that your people may not be ashamed, or weary to hear you: but that besides your clear unfolding the doctrine of the Gospel, you may also be masters of your people's affections. It is a work that requireth your most serious, searching thoughts. Running, hasty, easy studies, bring, forth blind births.

 

 When you are the most renowned Doctors in the Church of God, alas, how little is it that you know, in comparison of all that which you are ignorant of!

 

 4. Be sure that your conversation be teaching, as well as your doctrine. Do not confute your doctrine by your practice. Be as forward in a holy and heavenly life, as you are in pressing it on others. Let your discourse be as edifying and spiritual, as you teach them theirs must be for evil language give them good, and blessing for their cursing. Suffer any thing, rather than the Gospel and men's souls should suffer: " Become all things (lawful) to all men, if by any means you. may win some." Let men see that you use not the ministry only for a trade to live by; but that your hearts are set upon the welfare of their souls. Whatsoever meekness, humility, condescension, or self-denial, you teach them from the Gospel, O teach it them also by your undissembled example. This is to be guides, and pilots, and governors of the Church indeed.

 

 What an odious sight is it, to see pride and ambition preach humility! And an earthly-minded man preach for a heavenly conversation! Do I need to tell you that are teachers of others, that we have but a little while longer to preach And but a few more breaths to breathe And then we must come down, and be accountable for our work Do I need to tell you, that we must die, and be judged as well as our people Or that justice is most severe about the sanctuary And " judgment beginneth at the house of GOD

 

 5. The last whom I would persuade to this great work of helping others to the heavenly rest, are parents, and masters of families: all you that GOD has entrusted with children, or servants, consider what duty lieth on you for furthering their salvation. That this exhortation may be the more effectual with you, I will lay down several considerations for you seriously to think on.

 

 1. What plain and pressing commands of God are there that require this great duty at your hand! " And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Dent. 6: 6-S.) And how well is GOD pleased with this in ABRAHAM "Shall I hide from ABRAHAM that thing which I do For, I know him, that he will command his children, and his household after him, that they shall keep the way of the LORD." (Gen. 18: 17, 19.) " Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22: 6.) So that you see it is a work that the LORD of heaven and earth has laid upon you; and how then dare you neglect it

 

 2. You will else be witnesses against your own souls: your great care, and pains, and cost, for their bodies, will condemn you for your neglect of their precious souls you can spend yourselves in toiling and caring for their bodies, and even neglect your own souls, and venture them sometimes upon unwarrantable courses, and all to provide for your posterity; and have you not as much reason to provide for their souls Do you not believe that your children must be everlastingly happy or miserable And should not that be forethought in the first place

 

 3. Consider, God has made your children to be your charge; yea, and your servants too every one will confess they are the Minister's charge, and what a dreadful thing is it for them to neglect them, when GOD has told them, that if they tell not the wicked of their sin and danger, their blood shall be required at that Minister's bands: and is not your charge as great and as dreadful as theirs Have you not a greater charge of your own families than any Minister has Yea, doubtless, and your duty it is to teach, and admonish, and reprove them, and watch over them; at your hands else will GOD require the blood of their souls. The greatest charge it is, that ever you were entrusted with, and woe to you if you prove unfaithful, and betray your trust, and suffer them to be ignorant for want of your teaching, or wicked for want of your admonition or correction.

 

 4. Look into the dispositions and lives of your children, and see what a work there is for you to do. First, It is not one sin that you must help them against, but thousands; their name is legion, for they are many: it is not one weed that must be pulled up, but the field is overspread with them. Secondly, And how hard is it to prevail against any one of them They are hereditary diseases, bred in their natures: they are as near them as the very heart, and how tenacious are all things of that which is natural How hard to teach a hare not to be afraid, or a lion or tiger not to he fierce Besides, the things you must teach them are quite above them; yea, and clean contrary to the interest and desires of their flesh: how hard is it to teach a man to be willing to be poor and despised for CHRIST; to deny themselves, and displease the flesh; to forgive an enemy; to love those that hate us; to watch against temptations; to avoid occasions and appearance of evil; to believe in a crucified Savior; to rejoice in tribulation; to make GOD their delight and love; and to have their hearts in heaven, while they live on earth! I think none of this is easy, they that think otherwise, let them try and judge; yet all this must be learned, or they are undone for ever. If you help them not to some trade, they cannot live in the world; but if they be destitute of these things, they shall not live in heaven, If the mariner be not skilful, he may be drowned; and if the soldier be not skilful, he may be slain: but they that cannot do the things above mentioned, will perish for ever: for " without holiness no man shall see GOD." O that the LORD would make all you that are parents sensible what a work and charge doth he upon you! You that neglect this important work, and talk to your families of nothing but the world, I tell you the blood of souls lies on you: make as light of it as you will, if you repent not and amend, the LORD will shortly call you to an account for your guilt of your children's everlasting undoing.

 

 5. Think with yourselves, what a world of comfort you may have if you be faithful in this duty: if you should not succeed, yet you have freed your own souls; and though it be sad, yet you may have peace in your own consciences; but if you do succeed, the comfort is inexpressible. For, 1. Good children will be truly loving to their parents; when a little matter will make ungodly children cast off their very natural affection. 2. Good children will be most obedient to You: they dare not disobey you, because, of the command of GOD, except you should command them that which is unlawfull, and then they must obey GOD rather then men. 3. And if you should fall into want, they would be most faithful in relieving you, as knowing they are tied by a double bond, of nature and of grace. 4. And they will also be helpers to your souls; they will be delighting you with holy conference and actions, when wicked children will be grieving you with cursing, and swearing, or drunkenness, or disobedience. 5. But the greatest joy will be when you shall say, u Here am I, and the children thou least given me." And are not all these comforts enough to persuade you to this' duty

 

 6. Consider further, That the very welfare of Church and State lieth mainly on this duty of well educating children; and without this, all other means are like to be far less successful. I seriously profess to you, that I verily think all the sins and miseries of the land may acknowledge this sin for their nurse. It is not good laws and orders that will reform us, if the men be not good, and reformation begin not at home; when children go wicked from the hands of their parents, in every profession they bring this fruit of their education with them. I tell you seriously, this is the cause of all our miseries in Church and State, even the want of a holy education of children! Many lay the blame on this neglect, and that; but there is none has so great a hand in it as this.

 

 7. I entreat you that are parents to consider what excellent advantages you have, above all others, for the saving of your children.

 

 1. They are under your hands while they are young, and tender, and flexible; but they come to Ministers, when they are grown older, and stiffer, and settled in their ways, and think themselves too good to be catechised. You have a twig to bend, and we an oak; you have the young plants of sin to pluck up, and we the deep-rooted vices. The consciences of children are not so seared with a custom of sinning, and long resisting grace, as others. You have the soft and tender earth to plough in, and we have the hard and stony ways, that have been trodden on by many years' practice of evil. We have a double task first to unteach them, and then to teach then better; but you have but one. We must unteach them all that the world, and the flesh, and wicked company, and the Devil, have been diligently teaching them in many years. You have them before they are possessed with prejudice against the truth; but we have them to teach, when they have many years lived among those that have taught them to think GOD’s ways to be foolish. Doth not the experience of all the world show you the power of education What else makes all the children of the Jews to be Jews And all the children of the Turks to be Maliometans And of Christians to be in profession Christians And of each sect or party in religion to follow their parents Now what advantage have you to use all this for the furtherance of their happiness!

 

 2. Consider also, that you have the affections of your children more than any others. None in the world has that interest in their hearts as you. You will receive that counsel from an undoubted friend, that you would not do from an enemy, or a stranger. Now, your children know you are their friends, and advise them in love; and they cannot but love them again. Nature has almost necessitated them to love you. O therefore improve this your interest in them for their good.

 

 3. You have also the greatest authority over them. You may command them, and they dare not disobey you, or else it is your own fault, for the most part; for you can, make them obey you in your business; yea, you may correct them to enforce obedience. Your authority also is the most unquestioned authority in the world. The authority of Kings and Parliaments has been disputed, but yours is past dispute. And therefore, if you use it not to bring them to GOD, you are without excuse.

 

 4. Besides, their dependence is on you for their maintenance. They know you can either give them, or deny them what you have, and so punish and reward them at your pleasure. But on Ministers or neighbors they have no such dependence.

 

 5. Moreover, you that are parents know the temper and inclinations of your children; what vices they are most inclined to, and what instruction or reproof they most need. But Ministers cannot so well know this.

 

 6. Above all, you are ever with them, and so have opportunity, as to know their faults, so to apply the remedy. You may be still talking to them of the word or God, and minding them, of their state and duty, and may follow and set home every word of advice, as they are in the house with you, or in the shop, or in the field. O what an excellent advantage is this, if you have hearts to use it. Especially you mothers remember this: you are more with your children while they are little ones than their fathers, be you therefore still teaching them as soon as ever they are capable of learning. You cannot do GOD such eminent service yourselves as men; but you may train up children that may do it, and then you will have part of the comfort and honor, What a deal of pains are you at with the bodies of your children more than the fathers And what do you suffer to bring them into the world And will you not be at as much pains for the saving their souls You are naturally of more tender affections than men; and will it not move you to think that your children should perish for ever Therefore I beseech you, for the sake of the children of your bowels, teach them, admonish them, watch over them, and give them no rest until you have brought them to CHRIST.

 

 And thus I have showed you reason enough to make you diligent in teaching your children. Let us next hear what is usually objected against this by negligent men.

 

Objection 1. We do not see but those children prove as bad as others, that are taught the Scriptures, and brought up so holily; and those prove as honest men, that have none of this ado with them.

 

 Answer 1. Who art thou, O man, that disputest against GOO Has GOD charged you to " teach your children diligently his word, speaking of it as you sit at home, and as you walk abroad, as you he down, and as you rise up;" and dare you reply, that it is as good to let it alone Why, this is to set God at defiance, and as it were to spit in his face, and give him the lie. Will you take it well at your servants, if when you command them to do a thing, they should return you an answer, that they do not see but it were as good to let it alone Wretched worm! darest thou thus lift up thy head against the LORD that made thee, and must judge thee Is it not He that commandeth thee If thou believe that this is the word of God, how darest thou say, It is as good to disobey it This is devilish pride indeed, when such sottish, sinful dust shall think themselves wiser than the living GOD.

 

 2. But what if some prove bad that are well brought up - It is not the generality of them. Will you say that NOAH'S family was no better than the drowned world, because there was one hand in it Nor DAVID's, because there was one ABSALOM Nor CHRIST', because there was one JUDAS

 

 3. But what if it were so Have men need of the less teaching, or the more You h ave more wit in the matters of this world. You will not say, I see many labor hard, and yet are poor, and therefore it is as good never labor at all. You will not say, Many that go to school learn nothing, and therefore they may learn as much though they never go; or, many that are great tradesmen break, and therefore it is as good never trade at all;, or many plough and sow, and have nothing come up, and therefore it is as good never to plough more. What a fool were he that should reason thus And is not he a thousand times worse, that shall reason thus for men's souls PETER reasons the clean contrary way:’1 If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear" (1 Pet. 4: 18;) and so doth CHRIST: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate •: for many shall seek to enter, and not be able." (Luke 13: 21.) Other men's miscarriages should quicken our diligence, and not make us cast away all. What would you think of that man that should look over into his neighbor's garden, and because he sees here and there a nettle or weed among much better stuff, should say, Why, you may see these men that bestow so much pains in digging and weeding, have weeds in their garden as well as I that do nothing, and therefore who would be at so much pains Just so doth the mad world talk. You may see now that those that pray, and read, and follow sermons, have their faults as well as we, and have wicked persons among them, as well as we. Yea, but that is not the whole garden, as yours is; it is but here and there a weed, and as soon_ as they spy it, they pluck it up, and cast it away.

 

 Objection 2. Some further object: It is the work of Ministers to teach both us and our children, and therefore we may be excused.

 

 Answer. 1. It is first your duty, and then the Minister's. It will be no excuse for you, because it is their work, except you could prove it were only theirs. Magistrates must govern both you and your children: doth it therefore follow that you must not govern them It belongs to the schoolmaster to correct them, and doth it not belong also to you There must go many hands to this great work; as to the building of a house there must be many workmen, one to one part and another to another, and one must not leave their part, and say it belongs to the other; so it is here in the instructing of your children. First, you must do your work, and then the Minister must do his. You must be doing it privately, night and day; the Minister must do it publicly and privately, as oft as he can.

 

 2. But as the case now stands with Ministers, they are disabled from doing that which belongs to their office, and therefore you cannot now, cast your work on them. I will instance but in two things:

 

 First, It belongs to their office to govern the Church, and to teach with authority; and great and small are commanded to obey them. (1leb. 13: 7-17.) But this is unknown, and hearers -look, upon themselves as freemen, that they may obey or not, at their own pleasure. People think we have authority to speak to them when they please to hear, and no more. Nay, few of the godly themselves understand the authority that their teachers have over them from CHRIST; they know how to value a Minister's gifts, but not how they are bound to obey him because of his office. Not that they should obey him in evil, nor that he should be a final decider of all controversies, nor should exercise his authority in things of no moment; but as a schoolmaster may command his scholars when to come to school, and what book to read, and what form to be of, and as they ought to obey him, and learn of him, and not tJ set their wits against his, but to take his word, and believe him as their teacher, until they understand as well as he, and are ready to leave his school; just so are the people bound to obey and learn of their teachers. Now this ministerial authority is unknown, and so Ministers are the less capable of doing their work, which comes to pass, 1. From the pride of man's nature, especially novices, which makes men impatient of the reins of guidance and command. 2. From the Popish error of implicit faith; to avoid which, we are driven as far into the contrary extreme. And 3. ( From the modesty of Ministers, that are loath to show their commission, and make known their authority, lest they should be thought proud. As if a pilot should let the seamen run the ship whither they will, for fear of being thought proud in exercising his authority.

 

 Secondly, A far greater clog than this doth he upon Ministers, which few take notice of; and that is, the fewness of Ministers, and the greatness of congregations. In the Apostles' time every Church had a multitude of Ministers, and so it must be again, or we shall never come near that primitive pattern; and then they could preach publicly, and from house to house: but now, when there is but one or two Ministers to many thousand souls, we cannot teach them one by one. So that you see you have little reason to cast your work on the Ministers, but should the more help them by your diligence in your several families, because they are already so overburdened.

 

 Objection 3. But some will say, We are poor men, and must labor for our living, and so must our children; we cannot have time to teach them the Scriptures; we have. somewhat else for them to do.

 

 Answer. And are not poor men subject to GOD, as well as rich And are they not Christians And must they not give account of their ways And have not your children souls to save or lose, as well as the rich Cannot you find time to speak to them as they are at their work Have you not time to instruct theta on the LORD's Day You can find time to talk idly, as poor as you are; and can you find no time to talk of the way to life You can find time on the LORD'S Day for your children to play, or walk or talk in the streets, but no time to mind the life to come. Methinks you should rather say to your children, I have no lands to leave you; you have no hope of great matters here; be sure, therefore, to make the LORD your portion, that you may be happy hereafter. If you could get riches, they would shortly leave you, but the riches of grace and glory will be everlasting. Methinks you should say, as PETER, "Silver and gold I have none, but such’'as I have I give you." The kingdoms of the world cannot be had by beggars, but the kingdom of heaven may.

 

 O what a terrible reckoning will many poor men have, when CHRIST shall plead his cause, and judge them! May not he say, I made the way to worldly honor inaccessible to you, that you might not look after it for yourselves, or your children; but heaven I set open, that you might have nothing to discourage you. I confined riches and honors to a few; but my blood and salvation I offered to all, that none might say, I was not invited. I tendered heaven to the poor, as well as the rich; I made no exception against the meanest beggar; why then did you not come yourselves, and bring your children, and teach them the way to the eternal inheritance Do you say you were poor Why, I did not set heaven to sale for money; I called those that had nothing to take it freely, only on condition they would take me for their Savior and LORD, and give up themselves to me in obedience and love.

 

 What can you answer CHRIST, when he shall thus convince you Is it not enough that your children are poor and miserable here, but you would have them be worse for everlasting If your children were beggars, yet if they were such beggars as LAZARUS, they may be conveyed by angels into the presence of GOD. But believe it, as GOD will save no man because he is a gentleman, so will he save no man because he is a beggar. GOD has so ordered it in his providence, that riches are common occasions of men's damnation; and will you think poverty a sufficient excuse The hardest point in all our work is to be weaned from the world, and in love with heaven; and if you will not be weaned from it, that have nothing in it but labor and sorrow, you have no excuse. The poor cannot have time, and the rich will not have time, or they are ashamed to be so forward. The young think it too soon, and the old too late; and thus most men, instead of being saved, have somewhat to say against their salvation; and when CHRIST sendeth to invite them, they say, "II pray thee have me excused." O unworthy guests of such a blessed feast, and worthy to be turned into everlasting burnings!

 

 Objection 4. But some will object, We have been brought up in ignorance ourselves, and therefore we are unable to teach our children.

 

 Answer. Indeed this is the very sore of the land; but is it not pity that men should so receive their destruction by tradition Would you have this course to go on thus still Your parents did not teach you, and therefore you cannot teach your children, and therefore they cannot teach theirs. By this course the knowledge of God would be banished out of the world, and never be recovered. But if your parents did not teach you, why did not you learn when you came to age The truth is, you had no hearts for it; for he that has not knowledge, cannot value it, or love it. But yet, though you have greatly sinned, it is not too late, if you will but follow my faithful advice in these four points:

 

1. Get your hearts deeply sensible of your own sin and misery, because of this long time which you have spent in, ignorance and neglect. Bethink yourselves when you are alone:-Did not God make you and sustain you for his service Should not he have had the youth and strength of your spirits Did you live all this time at the door of eternity What if you had died in ignorance, where had you been What a deal of time have you spent to little purpose Your life is near done, and yourwork all undone. You are ready to die, before you have learned to live. Should not GOD have had a better share of your lives, and your souls been more regarded and provided for In the midst of these thoughts, cast down yourselves in sorrow, as at the feet Of CHRIST; bewail your folly, and beg pardon and recovering grace.

 

 2. Then think as sadly how you have wronged your children. If an unthrift, that has sold all his lands, will lament it for his children's sake, as well as his own, much more should you.

 

 Next, set presently to work, and learn yourselves. If you can read, do:, if you cannot, get some that can; and be much among those that will instruct you. Be not ashamed to be seen among learners, but be ashamed that you had not learned sooner. God forbid you should be so mad as to say, I am now too old to learn; except you be too old to serve GOD, and be saved. How can you be too old to learn to be saved Why not rather, I am too old to serve the Devil and the world; I have tried them too long to trust them any more. What if your parents had not taught you any trade to live by Would not you have set yourselves to learn, when you had come to age Remember that you have souls to care for, as well as your. children, and therefore first begin with yourselves.

 

 4. While you are learning yourselves, teach your children what you do' know; and what you cannot teach them yourselves, put them to learn of others that can; persuade them into the company of those who will be glad to instruct them. Have you no neighbors that will be helpful to you herein O do not keep yourselves strange to them, but go among them, and desire their help, and be thankful to them that they will entertain you in their company. GOD forbid that you should be like those that CHRIST speaks of, that would neither enter into the kingdom of GOD themselves, nor suffer those that would to enter. (Luke 11: 52.) God forbid you should be such barbarous wretches, as to hinder your children from being godly, and to teach them to be wicked! If any thing that walks in flesh may be called a devil, I think it is a parent that hindereth his children from salvation. Nay, I will say more: I verily think that in this they are far worse than the Devil. GOD is a righteous Judge, and will not make the Devil himself worse than he is. I pray you be patient while you consider it, and then judge yourselves: They are the parents of their children, and so is not the Devil. Do you think then that it" is as great a fault in him to seek their destruction, as in them Is it as great a fault for the wolf to kill the lambs, as for their own dams to do it Is it so horrid a fault for an enemy in war to kill a child, or for a bear or a mad dog to kill it, as for the mother to dash its brains against the wall You know it is not. Do not you think, then, that it is so hateful a thing in SATAN to entice your children to sin and hell, and to discourage and, dissuade them from holiness, as it is in you. You are bound to love them by nature more than SATAN is. O then, what people are those that will teach their children, instead of holiness, to curse, and swear, and rail, and backbite;; to be proud and revengeful, to break the LORD's day, and to despise his ways, to speak wantonly and filthily, to scorn at holiness, and glory in sin! O, when God shall ask these children, Where learned you this language and practice and they shall say, I learned it of my father, or mother; I would not be in the case of those parents for all the world. Alas! is it a work that is worth the teaching, to undo themselves for ever Or can they not, without teaching, learn it too easily of themselves Do you need to teach a serpent to sting, or a lion to be fierce Do you need to sow weeds in your garden Will they not grow of themselves To build a house requires skill and teaching; but a little may serve to set a town on fire. To heal the wounded or the sick, requireth skill; but to make a man sick, or to kill him, requireth but little. You may sooner

 

teach your children to swear than to pray; and to mock at godliness, than to be truly godly. 

 

 If these parents were sworn enemies to their children, and should study seven years how to do them the greatest mischief, they could not possibly find out a surer way, than by drawing them to sin, and withdrawing them from GOD. I shall therefore conclude with this earnest request to all Christian parents that read these lines, that they would have compassion on the souls of their poor children, and be faithful to the great trust God has put on them. O Sirs, if you cannot do what you would do for them, do what you can. Both Church and State, city and country, groan under the neglect of this weighty duty. Your children know not GOD, nor his laws, but take his name in vain, and slight his worship; and you do neither instruct them nor correct them, and therefore God Both correct both them and you. You are so tender of them, that God is the less tender both of them and you. Wonder not if God make you smart for your children's sins: for you are guilty of all they commit, by your neglect of doing your duty to reform them: even as he that maketh a man drunk, is guilty of all the sin that he committeth in his drunkenness. Will you resolve, therefore, to set upon this duty, and neglect it no longer Remember ELI, your children are like Moses in the basket in the water, ready to perish, if they have not help. As ever you would not be charged before God for murderers of their souls, and as ever you would not have them cry out against you in everlasting fire, see that you teach them how to escape it, and bring them up in holiness and the fear of GOD.

 

You have heard that the GOD of heaven doth flatly command it. You, I charge every one of you, therefore, upon your allegiance to him, as you will very shortly answer the contrary at your peril, that you will neither refuse nor neglect this most necessary work. If you are not willing to do it, now you know it to be so plain and so great a duty, you are flat rebels, and no true subjects of CHRIST. If you are willing to do it, but know not how, I will add a few words of direction to help you.

 

 1. Teach them by your own example, as well as by your words. Be yourselves such as you would have them be. Practice is the most effectual teaching of children, who are addicted to imitation, especially of their parents. Lead them the way to prayer, and reading, and other duties. Be not like base commanders, that will put on their soldiers, but not go on themselves. Can you expect your children should be wiser or better than you Let them not hear those words out of your mouths, nor see those practices in your lives, which you reprove in them. Who should lead the way in holiness, but the father and master of the family: It is a sad time when a master or father will not hinder his family from serving God, but will give them leave to go to heaven without him.

 

I will but name the rest of your direct duty for your family. 1. You must help to inform their understandings. 2. To store their memories. 3. To rectify their wills. 4. To quicken their affections. 5. To keep tender their consciences. 6. To restrain their tongues, and help them to skill in gracious speech; and to reform and watch over their outward conversation.

 

 To these ends, 1. Be sure to keep them at least so long at school until they can read English. It is a thousand pities a reasonable creature should look upon a Bible as upon a stone, or a piece of wood. 2. Get them Bibles and good books, and see that they read them. 3. Examine them often what they learn. 4. Especially spend the LORD's Day in this work, and see that they spend it not in sports and idleness. 5. Show them the meaning of what they read and learn. 6. Acquaint them with, and keep them in company, where they may learn good, and keep them out of that company that would teach them evil. 7. Be sure to cause them to learn some Catechism, containing the chief heads of divinity.

 

The heads of divinity which you must teach them first, are these:

 

 1. That there is one only God, who is a Spirit invisible, infinite, eternal, almighty, good, merciful, true, just, holy. 2. That this GOD is one in three, FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST. 3. That he is the Maker, Maintainer, and LORD of all. 4. That man's happiness consisteth in the enjoying of this God, and not in fleshly pleasure,_ profits, or honors. 5. That GOD made the first man upright and happy, and gave him a law to keep, with condition, that, if he kept it perfectly, he should live happy for ever; but if he broke it, he should die. 6. That man broke this law, and so forfeited his welfare, and became guilty of death as to himself, and all his posterity. 7. That CHRIST the SON of God did here interpose, and prevent the full execution, undertaking to die instead of man, and so redeem him. S. That CHRIST hereupon did make with man a better covenant, which proclaimed pardon of sin to all that did but repent, and believe, and obey sincerely. 9. That he revealed this covenant and mercy to the world by degrees: first, in darker promises, prophecies, and sacrifices; then in many ceremonious types; and then by more plain foretelling by the Prophets. 1O. That in the fullness of time, CHRIST came and took our nature into union with his Godhead, being conceived by the HOLY GHOST, and born of the Virgin MARY. 11. That while he was on earth, he lived a life of sorrows, was crowned with thorns, and bore the pains that our sins deserved; at last being crucified to death, and buried, so satisfied the justice of GOD. 12. That he also preached to the Jews, and by constant miracles, proved the truth of his doctrine, before thousands of witnesses: that he revealed more fully his new covenant, that whosoever will believe in him and accept him for SAVIOR and LORD, shall be pardoned and saved, and have a far greater glory than they lost; and they that will not, shall he under the curse and guilt, and be condemned to the everlasting fire of hell. 13. That he rose again from the dead, having conquered death, and took possession of his dominion over all, and so ascended up into heaven, and there reigneth in glory. 14. That before his ascension, he gave charge to his Apostles to preach the Gospel to all nations and persons, and to offer CHRIST, and mercy, and life, to every one, without exception, and to entreat and persuade them to receive him; and that he gave them authority to send forth others on the same message, and to baptize, and to gather churches, and confirm and order them, and settle a course for the succession of Ministers and ordinances to the end of the world. 15. That he also gave them power to work frequent and evident miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine; and to annex their writings to the rest of the Scriptures, and so to finish and seal them up, and deliver them to the world as his infallible word, which none must dare to alter, and which all must observe. 16. That for all his free grace is offered to the world, yet the heart is by nature so desperately wicked, that no man will believe and entertain CHRIST sincerely, except by an Almighty power he be changed and born again; and therefore doth CHRIST send forth his SPIRIT with his word, which worketh holiness in our hearts, drawing us to GOD and the Redeemer. 17. That the means by which CHRIST worketh and preserveth this grace, is the word read and preached, together with frequent fervent prayer, meditation, sacraments, and gracious conference; and it is much furthered also by special providences keeping us from temptation; fitting occurrences to our advantage, drawing us by mercies, and driving us by afflictions; and therefore it must be the great and daily care of every Christian, to use faithfully all the ordinances, and improve all providences. 15. That though the new Law or Covenant be an easy yoke, and there is nothing grievous in CHRIST'S Commands; yet so bad are our hearts, and so strong our temptations, and so diligent our enemies, that whosoever will be saved, must strive, and watch, and bestow his utmost care and pains, and deny his flesh, and forsake all that would draw him from CHRIST, and herein continue to the end, and overcome: and because this cannot be done without continual supplies of grace, whereof CHRIST is the only fountain, therefore we must live in continual dependence on him by faith, and know, " That our life is hid with God in him." 19. That CHRIST will thus, by his Word and SPIRIT, gather him a Church out of all the world, which is his body and spouse, and he their head and husband, and will be tender of them as the apple of his eye, and preserve them from danger, and continue among them his presence and ordinances; and that the members of this Church must live together in entire love and peace, delighting themselves in God and his worship, and the forethoughts of their everlasting happiness; forbearing and forgiving one another, and relieving each other in need: and all men ought to strive to be of this society: yet will the visible churches be still mixed of good and bad. 2O. That when the full number of these are called home, CHRIST will come down from heaven again, and raise all the dead, and set them before him to be judged; and all that have loved God, and believed in CHRIST, and been willing that he should reign over them, and have improved their mercies in the day of grace, them he will justify, and sentence them to inherit everlasting glory; and those that were not such, he will condemn to everlasting fire: both which sentences shall be then executed accordingly.

 

 This is the brief sum of the doctrine which you must teach your children. Though our ordinary creed, called the Apostles' creed, contain all the. absolute fundamentals, yet in some it is so generally and darkly expressed, that an explication is necessary.

 

Then, for matter of practice, teach them the meaning of the commandments, especially of the great commands of the Gospel; show them what is commanded and forbidden in the first table, and in the second, toward God and men, in regard of the inward and outward man. And here show them, 1. The authority commanding, that is, the ALMIGHTY God, by CHRIST, the Redeemer. They are not now to look at the command as coming from God immediately, merely as God, or the Creator; but as corning from GOD, by CHRIST the Mediator, who is now " the LORD of all;" seeing " the FATHER now judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the SON." 2. Show them the terms on which duty is required, and the ends of it. 3. And the nature of duties, and the way to perform them aright. 4. And the right order, that they first love GOD, and then their neighbor; " first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness." 5. Show them the excellencies and delights of GOD’s service. 6. And the flat necessity._ 7. Especially labor to get all to their hearts, and teach them not only to speak the words.

 

 And for sin, show them its evil and danger, and watch over them against it. Especially, 1. The sins that youth is commonly addicted to. 2. And which their nature and constitution most lead them to. 3. And which the time and place most strongly tempt to. 4. But especially, be sure to kill their killing sins; those that all are prone to, and are of all most deadly; as pride, worldliness, ignorance, profaneness, and flesh-pleasing.

 

And for the manner, you must do all this, 1. Betimes, before sin get rooting. 2. Frequently. 3. Seasonably. 4. Seriously and diligently. 5. Affectionately and tenderly. 6. And with authority: compelling, where commanding will not serve; and adding correction, where instruction is frustrate.

 

 And thus I have done with the use of exhortation, to do our utmost for the salvation of others. The LORD give men compassionate hearts, that it may be practiced, and then I doubt not but he will succeed it to the increase of his Church.