IT is one great argu­ment of the vanity of this world, that we may be spoil'd of all that is dear to us un­der the Sun by the sins of other men.

A common and sad instance of this is, That the Comforts of godly Parents here are very much at the will and plea­sure of their own Children: For had a [Page 2]good man all other delights that the creatures can yield, and did wash his steps in butter, and dip his foot in oyl: Nay suppose he had all the pleasures of Godliness that are ordinarily attained in this life, yet he will be a man of sorrow, if a wicked Child make him the Father of a fool.

This doleful case is presented to us in this Text, which I have chosen for the subject of this discourse, that I may du­ly affect my own and others hearts with this great calamity.

In the Text two things are clearly set before us.

1. A case taken for granted; and that is, That godly Parents have often foolish Children.

2. The misery of that case is ex­pressed; that is, That such Children are a grief to their Fathers, and bitterness to the Mothers that bare them.

The Explication of the Text.

A foolish son, that is, a wicked and ungodly son, or daughter; for it's usu­al in this book of the Proverbs, that both sexes are intended, when but one [Page 3]is expressed: Wicked Children think themselves wise, wiser than their Parents, or Masters, or Ministers; for vain man would be wise, though he be like a wild Asses colt, Job 11.12. But all the De­vils children are fools; for he that will obey and imitate the Devil, who is a murderer of all his own children, and will not obey and imitate Christ who is the Redeemer and Saviour of all his Children, I may say of him in the words of a wise Woman, A fool is his name, and folly is with him.

Is a grief to his Father. By Father and Mother in the Text, I understand a godly Father and Mother, who are most affected with this case. Is a grief: some render the word anger, or indig­nation, and both grief and anger are intended; for a foolish son maketh his good Father both angry and sad.

And bitterness to her that bare him; that is, to his good Mother, called her that bare him, to aggravate the Mothers misery, and the Childs sin: It cannot but torment the good Mother to think that she did with so much sickness, and [Page 4]pain, and sorrow bear and bring forth one that proves a child of the Devil, and is like to be a firebrand of Hell; and it's a great aggravation of the childs sins, to imbitter the life of her that was a means of life to him; and to hasten that womb to the worms, which with such pangs and throws brought him in­to the world.

The Text will be further opened in the following discourse, which I shall reduce to these three Heads.

First, That it is ordinary for godly Parents to have wicked and ungodly Children.

Secondly, That this is a very great calamity to these godly Parents.

Thirdly, Use.

1. It is ordinary for godly Parents to have wicked and ungodly Children: this is implied in the Text: And I may say of this what Solomon speaks of ano­ther case, Eccles. 6.1. It is an evil which I have seen under the Sun, and it is com­mon among men.

In the handling of this, I shall

1. Give some Characters of godly Parents.

2. Some Characters of ungodly Chil­dren.

3. I shall give you several instances for the confirmation of it.

1. I shall only give you two main Characters of godly Parents.

First, They are conscienciously care­ful for their preservation.

Secondly, For the Eternal happiness and salvation of their Children.

1. They are conscienciously careful for the preservation of the natural lives of their Children, as trees sup­port and feed the branches that grow out of themselves: And as it's natural to the brutes to defend and keep their own young, so nature it self teacheth and inclineth Parents to defend, and preserve, and provide for the fruit of their own bodies: and for this end to supply them with food, raiment, and physick, and to fit them for callings, and seasonably to provide for them meet yokefellows, and every way to take care, that they neither perish or be made miserable: but godly Parents, in whom natural affections are sanctified [Page 6]and improved by Grace, do all these out of a principle of Godliness, as per­sons who have to do with God herein: they do it in a sense of their depen­dance on God, and pray for daily bread to feed their Children, and are thankful when they feel it come warm from their Father in Heaven; they do it in obedience and faithfulness to God; and with a design, that their Children may live to be born of God, and to be a blessing to this world, and be blessed in the other world: As for those un­natural monsters, who feed their lusts with that which should maintain their Children; they are so far from being Godly Parents, that they are worse than Infidels, in not providing for their Families; and are like the Devil, who (as I said, is a Murderer of his own Children.

2. They are conscienciously careful for the Eternal happiness and salvation of their Children; for their natural affections being now sanctified, do work in them for the spiritual good and hap­piness of their Children. Prov. 4.3, 4, 5. [Page 7] I was my fathers son, tender and only be­loved in the sight of my mother. Solomon was his fathers and mothers darling, their love did run out exceedingly up­on this son; and he tells us which way their love and kindness was express'd: he taught me also, and said unto me, Get wisdom, get understanding: He tells us also how the affections of his good mo­ther did work, Prov. 31.2, 3. What my son? and what the son of my womb? and what the son of my vows? The son of her womb, was the son of her vows, whom she had devoted to God; those Parents who have known both states, the state of Wrath, and the state of Grace, and have experimentally felt what it is to pass from death to life, and from the kingdom of Satan, into the kingdom of God, cannot but de­sire that the same change be wrought upon their children. And as they who love themselves with a holy love, do take God for their eternal life and hap­piness, and Christ for their Redeemer, to redeem them from all evil, and to bring them to this happiness; and the [Page 8]Spirit for their Sanctifier, to fit them for this happiness: So they that love their children with this holy Love, will desire and endeavour that they be par­takers with them of the same happi­ness.

2. I proceed to give you three Cha­racters of ungodly Children.

1. They are such Children as will not be subject to the authority of their Parents: The reverence of Children to their Parents is so incorporated into the whole body of Religion, that all Religion is in vain without it: this fully appears, Levit. 19.3. Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths, I am the Lord your God. Observe, this duty is here joyn'd with keeping the Lords Sabbaths, wherein Religion did always very much consist: but it's often seen, that disobe­dient children are great prophaners of the Lords-day; they are always bad, but usually worst on that day; and some of them may remember, that their first breaking out into scandalous sins, was on the Lords-day. We are here [Page 9]further taught, That this duty of Reve­rence to Parents, is joyn'd with all Re­ligion to God; for, saith God in effect, it's in vain for any to pretend to call me their Lord and their God, if they do not fear their Parents; and there­sore wicked children are numbred a­mong the most flagitious and worst sin­ners. Ezek. 22.7. In thee have they set light by father and mother; they villified and despised them, and made nothing of them: such break all the bonds of Religion; and many hasten through a shameful and untimely death, into a dreadful and tormenting eternity, whose wickedness first began in scorning and despising their Parents.

2. They are such children as will not obey the Commands of their Pa­rents: The godly Commands of Parents, are the means which God hath appoint­ed, and doth often bless to make the children godly, Gen. 18.19. I know, Abraham, that he will command his chil­dren, and his houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment: and God com­mands [Page 10]all children to obey all the holy and lawful commands of their parents, Ephes. 6.1. Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right: It's the parents right that their children should obey them; and it's Gods right that they should obey them in the Lord: and this, saith the Apostle, Col. 3.21. is well-pleasing to the Lord: so that those children do neither fear provo­king God, nor care to please him, who will not obey their parents; and so are children of their parents sorrow, and of Gods wrath.

3. They are such children as are un­thankful to their parents; the Apostle tells us, 1 Tim. 5.4. That it is good and acceptable before God for children to requite their parents: and they have great things for which they should la­bour to requite their godly parents, viz. for all their care, and cost, and pains to keep them alive, and for all their diligence and faithfulness in en­deavouring to make them blessed; and all the requital which the poor parents desire, is, that their children would but [Page 11]love and obey God, and not damn them­selves; but these ungodly children are so far from requiting them, that like so many Dogs and Lyons, they tear in pieces the hearts and bowels of their tender parents.

3. I now come to confirm this, That it's ordinary for godly parents to have ungodly children: and for this end. I shall first give you some instances re­corded in Scripture. 2dly, I shall in­stance in several cases wherein this is verified.

1. I shall only give you four in­stances recorded in Scripture for the confirmation hereof.

1. Instance is in Adam and Eve; these were both godly parents; and there­fore in that first Evangelical promise, Gen. 3.15. we have notice of the two great parties in the world; the one was the Woman, and her seed; and the o­ther the Serpent, and his seed, and of the enmity betwixt them; and though there is only mention made of the wo­man, yet the man is also included; so that by the woman and her seed, we are [Page 12]to understand Adam and Eve, and Christ and his Church; and by the Serpent, and his seed, are meant the Devils, and all the devils children; and forasmuch as we find Adam and Eve of the same party with Christ and his Church, and in enmity with the Devil and his seed, we conclude them to be godly persons, and godly parents: Moreover we find Genes. 4. that they brought up their children in that Religion, and to wor­ship God in the use of those Ordinan­ces which he had then instituted as a means of their salvation: these two were the first-fruits of Christ; the first persons that ever entered into the Co­venant of Grace; and Christ might say to them, as Jacob said to Reuben, Gen. 49.3. Ye are my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength. At first the whole Church of God was on­ly in these two persons, and yet these are the parents of that cursed and bloody Cain. And I shall observe three things in this history that render this case very doleful.

1. That Eve was so exceeding glad for the birth of Cain: some are of opi­nion, that she thought she had brought forth the promised Messiah; and that made her break out with joy, saying, Gen. 4.1. I have gotten a man from the Lord: and yet this is he of whom the Apostle speaks, 1 John 3.12. He was of that wicked one, meaning the devil: This is a common case, that parents are exceedingly glad for the birth of a child, and call their friends and neighbours to rejoyce with them; and yet that sweet and pleasant babe proves the greatest torment to their parents, which ever they met with in their whole age.

2. Consider his crime, he barba­rously murdered his own brother, Gen. 4.8. Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him: He considered not how this would grieve the heart of his good Father and Mother, nor that he was the elder brother, and there­fore ought to have nourished the life of the younger, and to have been a pattern of holiness and love to him; neither did he consider that he hated [Page 14]and murder'd not only a brother, but also a holy child of God, and for that which he ought to have honoured and loved him; because his brothers works were righteous: and he considered not how his brothers blood would cry to God for vengeance against him; no bonds, or arguments, or reasons will prevail with ungodly children.

3. Consider the dreadful judgment of God, both upon himself and his po­sterity: Gods judgment on his soul was so dreadful, that he desperately cries out, Gen. 4.13. Mine ini quity is grea­ter than that it may be forgiven: he was cast out of the favour of God, excom­municated from the Church, and all his posterity were excluded from com­munion therewith: they are call'd the sons and daughters of men, in opposi­tion to the Sons of God, and at last all perished in the deluge of waters; and yet, I say, this bloody and cursed monster was the son, the eldest son of the two first godly parents that ever were in the world.

2d Instance is in Noah; the first in­stance was in the first godly man in the old world, as the ages before the flood are called, 2 Pet. 2.5. This instance is in the best man in the new World after the flood: this Noah hath a great cha­racter in the Scriptures, Gen. 6.8, 9. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations. When all the earth was debauch'd and corrupt, Gen. 6.11, 12. yet then was Noah just and upright, and walked with God, it's he that is called in 2 Pet. 2.5. A preacher of righ­teousness: It is he that was so much in the favour of God, that he and his fa­mily were singled out to be preserved in the Ark, when all the world besides were drown'd and perish'd in the wa­ters: yet this holy Noah was the Father of that wicked Ham, whom all the wa­ters of Noah (as the Scripture calls that deluge) were not effectual to eure of his wickedness; but he went a wicked man into the Ark, and came wicked out; insomuch that his own holy Fa­ther was inspired by a prophetical spi­rit, [Page 16]to curse both his son and posterity, and the crime mentioned, Gen. 9.22, 25. was his irreverence and disrespect to his father.

3d Instance is in Isaac, that holy Pa­triarch, who so greatly feared God, that his son Jacob gives God that ho­nourable name, Gen. 31.42. The fear of Isaac, meaning the God whom Isaac feared; yet he and that good mother Rebekkah were the parents of a wicked Esau, whom God is said to hate, Rom. 9.13. I know we read Gen. 25.28. that Isaac loved Esau: but we see that children may be greatly beloved of their parents, and yet abhorred and cursed of God.

4th Instance is in David, call'd a man after Gods own heart, whom God rais'd up to be king of Israel: he was a Pen­man, of a considerable part of the holy Scriptures; such an eminent type of Christ, that Christ himself is often call'd David in Scripture; yet he was the tender father of that wicked Absolom, who bloodily murdered his brother Amnon, and miserably and shamefully [Page 17]dyed in Treason and Rebellion against his Royal Father, whose bitter lamen­tation is yet in our ears, 2 Sam. 18.33. O my son Absolom, my son, my son Absolom! would God I had died for thee; O Absolom my son, my son!

2dly, I shall further instance in four Cases, wherein this is often verified.

1. Those Children who are most be­loved of their parents, do often prove the most wicked Children. Absolom was David's darling; insomuch, that although he set his whole kingdom in a flame, and constrained his father to fly for his life; yet when David sent out his Army to suppress that rebellion, he gives this charge to his Commanders, in the audience of the Soldiers, 2 Sam. 18.5. Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absolom.

And it often happens, that the Chil­dren who have most of their Parents love and delight, and whose looks and talk they are most taken with, and whom they are most apt to boast of, and are most unwilling to part with, [Page 18]and in whom they promise themselves most content and pleasure, do often prove the greatest scourge and torment to their parents; for it is not the love of the godly parents, but the love of God that makes children holy and happy.

2. This is often the sad case of some holy Ministers of the Word: I know it's a Popish and peevish humour in some to say, that Ministers children ne­ver do well; indeed every thing of Ministers is most exposed to the obser­vation of people, and therefore the wickedness of their children is most observ'd and talk'd of; but the holy, learned, and every-way prosperous and blessed seed of divers godly Ministers, is sufficient to confute and shame the ignorance of people herein; and yet it is true that many godly Ministers in all ages have groan'd under this sad ca­lamity: Eli was a holy Priest of God, but his two sons were Devils incarnate, monsters of men, scandalous, sacrilegi­ous and adulterous sons of Belial, as [Page 19]appears 1 Sam. 2. And this is no rare thing, that the Prayers, Studies, Ser­mons, Examples of many good Ministers are often made successful to bring o­thers to Heaven, when they can by no means restrain their own children from running to Hell, and their own chil­dren make them do the work of their Ministry with grief, when often the children of drunkards, worldlings, and whoremongers will be their crown and glory in the day of the Lord Jesus.

3. This is often true, when both pa­rents are godly; indeed when either father or mother is wicked, no marvel if the children be hardned in their sins by their examples: but it's usually seen, that when children have both the in­struction of the father, and also the law of the mother; and when they cry to all the Ministers and Christians about them, to help them by their prayers and coun­sels to save their children; yet all pre­vail not, but the holy father and mo­ther can scarce keep one anothers hearts from being broken by their [Page 20]stubborn and disobedient children.

4. The children of godly parents often prove wicked, when God doth sanctifie, and bless, and save the chil­dren of ungodly parents; we see some­times trees of righteousness, growing in the families of the wicked, when briars and thorns grow up in the fami­lies of the righteous: We read Matth. 1. that Ahaz, a very wicked king, begat holy Hezekiah, and good Hezekiah be­gat Manasseh, who was an Idolater of the highest rate; a Witch, and such a bloody murderer, that the Chronicle of his reign tells us, 2 Kings 21.16. He shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other (though afterwards he is set forth to be the greatest pattern of the grace of God in the Old Testament, as Paul is in the New Testament): It is no new sight to see children of the best Saints in the way to Hell, and children of Atheists and Persecutors in the way to Heaven; Nay, though some parents do persecute their own children for loving [Page 21]and fearing God, yet they cannot de­bauch them; when all endeavours of godly parents will not prevail to make their children hate sin, and love God: and this is one of the saddest instances of that great mystery of Providence, mentioned Eccles. 8.14. There he just men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked: again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth ac­cording to the work of the righteous.

2. Head. It is a very great calamity to godly parents to have wicked and ungodly children; A foolish son (saith the text) is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him: To the same purpose is that, Prov. 17.21. He that begetteth a fool, doth it to his sorrow, and the father of a fool hath no joy; a foolish son damps all his joy: and Prov. 19.13. A foolish son is the calamity of his father.

I shall set forth the greatness of this trouble by these Eight particulars:

1. By the matter of these parents grief.

2. By the passions that this calamity doth move and affect.

3. By comparing this with other afflictions, and shewing how this ex­ceeds them.

4. By shewing that this makes these parents do all their work with grief and sorrow.

5. By shewing that this embitters all their other comforts.

6. By the sad concommitants of it.

7. By the several aggravations of it.

8. By instancing in some cases wherein this calamity is more grievous.

First, The matter of these parents grief is very sad, as appears in these seven things:

1. That their children are so defiled and debauched with sin, which is so loathsome to these holy parents; it vexed the righteous soul of Lot to see [Page 23]and hear the filthy conversation of the beastly Sodomites; how grievous then must it be to these godly parents, to see and hear the filthiness of their own dear children; it is a grievous thing to a man that loves God, and Godliness, and Souls, to see a drunkard staggering in the streets, or to hear any man blaspheming and reproaching his Maker and Redeemer; but none can tell but those that feel it, what a sad spectacle it is to sober and godly parents to see their own children drunk; or how it torments them to hear their own children lying, and blaspheming God and his Saints.

2. That their children are the chil­dren of the Devil, and under the power of Satan, and ridden by him, and car­ried captive by him at his will; it was a lamentable case of that good Mother, who came to Christ, saying, Matth. 15.22. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, thou son of David, my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil: yet this was not her daughters sin, but only her great affliction: but how doleful is it to these [Page 24]parents, who have renounced the devil themselves, and live in continual war­fare with him, to see the hearts, and mouths, and lives of the children, whom they have devoted to God, fill'd and possess'd with the devil, whose children they are, and whose lusts they will do; if the devil tempt the parents, their own graces will resist and overcome his temptations; but they cannot se­cure their children from being over­come, and from falling into the con­demnation of the devil; but with sad hearts do see the Lyon of Hell running away with the lambs of their flock, and cannot recover them.

3. That their children are under the wrath and curse of God; it did sadly affect the father of that lunatick son, mentioned Matth. 17.15. to see his son fall oft into the fire, and oft into the water: How would he screech at such a sight, and cry, Ah my dear child will be burnt, my child will be drown'd! but much more terrible is it to these parents, who know the terrors of the [Page 25]Lord, to know that their children have cut off the entail of the Covenant of Grace, and are every moment ready to fall into the hands of the living God! when such parents are, with faith, reading the curses of Gods Law, how doth it cut them to the heart to think, that they are then reading their chil­drens doom.

4. That their children are under those black characters, which are given in Scripture to ungodly men; for the faith of these parents makes all persons have that name in their hearts, which they have in the Word: And as God is no respecter of persons, so Faith, so far as it prevails, respecteth not the per­sons of any, no not of a mans own chil­dren; but because they are more un­der their notice and observation than others, and because they are more con­cern'd for them, therefore the deeper impressions do these characters make on their hearts; so that this is the mi­sery of these parents, that whilest they look on persons through the glass of [Page 26]the Scriptures, and see many to be the jewels, and treasure, and children, and heirs of God, and the glorious bride and spouse of Christ; they must and do judge their own wicked children to be a generation of vipers, and ser­pents, and dogs, and swine, and lyons, and bears, and wolves, as God calls them in his Word.

5. That the anger and displeasure of God appears so much against these good parents herein; indeed the sense of their own folly must make them justi­fie God in this sharp correction, and cause them to say with Solomon, Prov. 26.3. As it is meet that there be a whip for the horse, and a bridle for the asse; so is it, that there be a rod for the fools back: But this is very grievous, that God should correct them with a scourge made of their own bowels, and should chasten a blessed father with a cursed child; his holy anger must be acknow­ledged herein; for when the child de­spiseth his father, God himself doth justly spit in the fathers face.

6. The shame and disgrace which comes to them hereby, Prov. 19.26. He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame: Every one will be ready to re­flect upon their parents, and to say, Surely these children were never taught to serve God, who do so sacrifice them­selves to the service of the devil.

7. Both parents are deeply affected for the trouble and misery that comes hereby to one another; their love to, and sympathy with one another, makes the burden of both more uneasie: The good father is not only troubled with a wicked child, but also for the bitter­ness and sorrow of his wife; and the good mother is not only troubled with the wicked child, but also for the grief of her husband; the mothers heart bleeds to see the tears, and to hear the groans of the afflicted father, and cries out, Oh, what a child have I brought forth, that so much deprives me of the comfort of a loving hus­band, and is like to break his heart, [Page 28]and to make me a desolate and discon­solate widow: The father mourns to see the tears, and the sad countenance, and to hear the groans of the distressed mother; and is ready to cry out, Wo is me, that the child of my bowels is destroying the wife of my bosom; and yet these hard-hearted children are not affected herewith; but let the parents sigh, they will sing; let the parents weep and mourn, they will rant and roar; and care no more to break their parents hearts, than to break a Tobacco­pipe; and will not abate a lie, or oath, or cup, to save the lives of their ten­der parents.

Secondly, The greatness of this cala­mity appears by the passions in the pa­rents, which are moved and affected hereby. I shall only instance in three passions, Fear, Anger, and Sorrow.

1. Fear: This is a troublesome pas­sion, and godly parents are never out of fear of their wicked children; they [Page 29]are afraid that every one that knocks at the door, and that every post, and every friend that comes to visit them, brings them some sad tidings of their disobedient children. I shall amplifie this, by instancing in three great Evils, which such parents are greatly perplex­ed with the fear of.

1. They are afraid lest their children are in the practice of some great sins: this was Jobs fear, when his children were feasting together, Job 1.5. Job said, It may be my sons have sinn'd and curs'd God in their hearts: their chil­dren are seldom out of their sight, but the good parents are in fear of this; they know their children are always expos'd to the devils temptations, and to the snares of the world, and to the allurements of evil company; and that their corrupt hearts are set to comply with all; and that they have provoked God to give them up to their own lusts; and therefore they are in continual fear, lest these poor children are lying, or swearing, or cursing, or whoring, or [Page 30]drunk, and defiling, and debauching, and destroying themselves and others.

2. They are in fear lest some heavy judgment of God will befall them in this life: And thus David, when his son Absolom was in the head of a high rebellion against his father, and the battel was to be fought with the Re­bels, was fearful lest his son should then perish in his sins: these parents know that their poor children are out of Gods way, and as birds wandring from the nest, Prov. 27.8. are expos'd to all manner of danger; they know what the word threatens against them, and what fearful instances there are of the vengeance of God upon disobedient children; and therefore they are in fear, lest their sins should bring them to some untimely, and shameful death.

3. They are in fear of their eter­nal damnation; they are sensible that their children are children of wrath, and do live in those sins for which the wrath of God comes on the children of disobe­dience; [Page 31]and these parents believe what Hell is; for as faith in the promises is the substance of things hoped for; so faith, as it believes the threatnings, is the substance of things feared; and therefore they cannot but tremble to think, that their dear lambs, whom they so tenderly nourish'd and cherish'd, are in danger every moment to be cast into the fire that is prepared for de­vils.

2. Anger is another passion that is moved in godly parents, with the wick­edness of their children: and this is troublesome; for a man is never out of trouble whilst he is in anger; and the more the wills of these parents are bent to have their children godly, the more are they displeas'd, and provok'd to anger by their sins: they are angry to see them provoke that God whom they themselves are so careful to please; and to see them destroying their precious souls, which they are labouring to save; and to see them waste those estates on their filthy lusts, which they have got [Page 32]by their care, and labour, and prayers: they cannot but think of them with anger, and speak of them with anger, and look at them with anger: and thus their children which should be their delight and pleasure, are a conti­nual cross and vexation to them.

3. Sorrow: They are deeply affected with grief and sorrow for the wicked­ness of their children; the parents graces cause them to mourn for their childrens sins; their saving-knowledge makes their hearts bleed to see their children scorn and despise that glory which they see in God and Christ; and whilst they by faith are feeding on Christ, it grieves them to see their chil­dren feeding themselves with the dirty pleasures of sin; their love to God makes them groan, that their children love sin the worst evil, and hate God the chiefest good.

Thirdly, I proceed to shew the greatness of this calamity, by compa­ring it with other troubles, and shew­ing [Page 33]how this exceeds them. I shall in­stance in four other Troubles.

1. This is a greater calamity than to be without Children; so that if God had said of those Parents, as he said of him, Jer. 22.30. Write ye this man, and this woman childless, the punish­ment had not been so great, as to be afflicted with wicked children: such parents may say with our Saviour in another case, Luke 23.29. Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. As it's better to have no herbs in your gardens, than to have only stinking-weeds that cumber the ground; and better to have no beasts in your ground, than a company of foxes and wolves; so it's better to have no children, than to have only such who are the conti­nual shame, and plague, and torment of their parents.

2. It's a greater misery than to have diseased, or deformed children: This indeed is a sore affliction, to be the pa­rents [Page 34]of sick, or blind, or lame, or mon­strous children, because such children are naturally disabled to do that service to God, and their generation, and their parents, which otherwise they might do: but this is not so grievous as to have wicked children; for they that are most diseased and uncomely, are often called to be the blessed and glo­rious children and heirs of God, and the amiable and beautiful bride and spouse of Christ, when all wicked chil­dren are the filthy and loathsome chil­dren of the devil.

3. This is more grievous than the death of children. I know it's matter of deep sorrow when parents may say with the tender Patriarch, Gen. 42.36. Joseph is not, and Simeon is not: My son is dead, and is not; and my dear daughter is dead, and is not; but this sorrow is not lasting, the impression of it usually doth, and should wear off; but wicked children are constant trou­bles to their parents, and cause them to say with the Psalmist, Psal. 31.10. [Page 35] My days are spent with grief, and my years with sighing.

4. This calamity is greater than per­secution from wicked men, though that be also very grievous; insomuch that Paul, a man of a great spirit, was so affected herewith, that he solemnly be­seecheth the Roman Christians, Rom. 15.30. For the Lord Jesus sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that they would strive together with him in prayer to God for him, to deliver him from persecuting­men; it is a sad case to be smitten and wounded in our names by lying and slanderous tongues: David, and Christ in him, tells us, Psal. 69.20. That re­proach hath broken his heart: It is sad for the jewels of God to be accounted and used as the sink and jakes of the world, and to have our estates wasted and spoyl'd, and to be expos'd to beg­gery and want, and to be drag'd from our healthful and pleasant habitations and families, and to be cast among rogues and thieves into nasty and loath­some prisons, and to have our innocent [Page 36]and precious blood shed by barbarous men: but all this is not so grievous as to be tormented by wicked children; for in that case we are distressed by the sins of our enemies; and if so, as Da­vid speaks, Psal. 55.12. We could have born it: But in this case we are afflicted by the sins of our own children, and may say with David, when he was re­viled by Shimei, 2 Sam. 16.11. Behold my son which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more may this Benjamite? It is a far greater torment to have the children of our own bow­els tear and break our hearts, than to be destroy'd by merciless enemies.

Fourthly, The greatness of this ca­lamity is seen, in that it causeth these good parents to do all their work with sorrow. I shall instance in three sorts of Works which they do in the bitter­ness of their Souls: 1. Natural. 2. Ci­vil. 3. Religious Works. He that hath a wicked child on his heart, doth all these with a sad heart.

1. Natural Works: these they do with sorrow: They are fed with the bread of tears, and drink their tears in great measure, as the Psalmist speaks in another case, Psal. 80.5. And as it's said, in the prayer of the afflicted, Psal. 102.9. They eat ashes like bread, and mingle their drink with weeping.

2. They do their Civil Works with grief: this makes them labour with sor­row in their particular callings; it was Solomons trouble to think that a fool should have the rule of his labour where­in he laboured, and shewed himself wise under the Sun, Eccles. 2.18, 19, 20. And this sad case is often observ'd, that the same estates which were the fruit of the wise and good parents prayers, and diligence, are consum'd upon the chil­drens lusts; and that the good crea­tures which were a blessing to the pa­rents, and wherewith they did honour God, and feed Christ in his members, do prove a curse to their children, and weapons in their hands wherewith they sight against God and his people.

3. This also causeth them to do their Religious Works in grief and sorrow. I shall only instance in two particu­lars.

1. This makes them instruct these poor ungodly children with sorrow: It is a doleful case when men can have their dogs to come at their whistle, and their horses to yield to the bridle, and their oxen to submit to the yoke; but their unruly children will not be sub­ject to the holy government of their parents; they can readily learn filthy words, and wicked actions from their ungodly School-fellows, or Fellow-ap­prentices, or debauch'd companions; but they will not hear the instruction of their father, nor obey the law of their mother.

2. This causeth them to pray for such children with sorrow; for accord­ing as is the spiritual state of the chil­dren, so are their holy parents affected in prayer to God for them; when they can in prayer call upon God as the Father of their children, and can [Page 39]present their children to God as such, who are born of God, and adopted of him, and can beg mercy for them who are the vessels of mercy, then they do, as the Apostle for the Philippians, Chap. 1.4. In every prayer make request for them with joy: but when children are manifestly wicked, and their good pa­rents must in prayer to God call them what they are, and must say, Lord, my poor children are children of the devil, children of disobedience, chil­dren of thy wrath, lying, swearing, covetous, drunken, unclean, stubborn children; Oh pity, pardon, save, con­vert them; they pray for them, but they pray in the sorrow and anguish of their souls.

Fifthly, I come to shew how wicked children embitter all the comforts of their good parents; so that as Solomon tells us, Prov. 17.21. A father of a fool hath no joy. I shall exemplifie this in four particulars.

1. The good parents cannot be so comfortable and delightful to one ano­ther as they would be, when both are in bitterness for their wicked children; the husband cannot be such a comfort to his wife, when he is almost in con­tinual anger and sorrow for his wicked child; nor the wife such a delight to her husband, when her heart is bleed­ing for her ungodly child; for if they have no joy in themselves, as was said before, they cannot be so much the joy and delight of one another: but when they lye down, this makes them water their bed with tears, and they awake with sorrow, with a wicked child on their hearts.

2. They cannot take so much com­fort as they would in the other chil­dren that are godly; not that they love them less, but rather more; but their joy in them is much interrupted here­by. Suppose among many children there be but one ungodly child, that one is a disturbance and annoyance to the whole family; that one sinner (as [Page 41] Solomon speaks in a more general case) destroys much good; it grieves them to think, that whereas that one child was in the same Covenant, and had the same dedication to God by Baptism, and the same affection and education from the parents with all the other children; yet the rest are vessels of mercy, but this seems to be a vessel of wrath.

3. They cannot take so much com­fort in the victory over their own sins, when they see the same corrup­tions which are abhorred, and morti­fied, and forsaken by the parents, breaking out, and reigning in the chil­dren.

4. This interrupts their joy in God and Jesus Christ; when such parents must with the same faith believe Gods wrath to their children, as they believe his love to themselves; and when they look upon God as their Father, they must look upon him as an enemy to their Children; and when they say, We hope Heaven is our portion and [Page 42]place, it must grieve them that their children will not go with them thither.

Sixthly, The greatness of this affli­ction appears further by the concommi­tants of it. I shall only instance in three things that usually accompany it, which make it more grievous.

1. Such children do often impove­rish their parents; Solomon tells us, that a wicked child wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother; such children care not if they starve their poor pa­rents, so that they can feed their own lusts; and it's often seen, that a plenti­ful estate is consum'd by riotous chil­dren.

2. Such children do often debauch and corrupt the other children, and make their brethren in nature, to be their brethren in iniquity: and often their brothers and sisters are easier in­ticed to sin by a wicked brother, than drawn to God by a godly father: and if any of the other children be godly, [Page 43]these wicked ones do hate, and revile, and persecute them like wicked Cain, who slew his brother because his works were righteous.

3. They bring reproach upon that good Religion which their good pa­rents profess and practise: and thus Eli's sons made men abhor the offerings of the Lord; and with some the holy lives of the parents cannot wipe off the reproach which is cast on Religion by the wickedness of their children.

Seventhly, The greatness of this af­fliction appears by these eight Aggra­vations of it.

1. It aggravates their grief to re­member what pleasure and delight these children were to them in their child­hood; it torments them now to see their sweet and pleasant smiles, turn'd into scornful and disdainful looks at their parents, and their pretty broken words turn'd into oaths and lies, and other rotten speeches; and to think [Page 44]that these who once were so forward to clasp about their necks, and to kiss them, and to run at their commands, do now lift up the heel against them.

2. It aggravates their sorrow to see themselves so miserably disappointed in their former hopes of these children; Hope deferred (saith Solomon) makes the heart sick: but to be cross'd and disap­pointed in hopes of so great mercy, doth even break the heart. When these parents remember how pleasant it was to them to hear these children lisp out their Catechisms, and to hear their good words of God and Christ; it cannot but be very grievous to them, that the same children which they did with Hannah lend to the Lord, should sell themselves to the devil.

3. It aggravates their sorrow, that their children are so void of love to their parents, and to see that the com­pany of lyars, and drunkards, and whoremongers, and thieves, is more delightful to them than the company of their parents.

4. It aggravates their sorrow to look upon the holy children of others; when they may say, Yonder are chil­dren that make a glad father and mo­ther, when the children of our bodies, and counsels, and prayers, and vows, and tears, live as if their father was an Amorite, and their mother an Hittite.

5. Aggravation is, in case the parents have but one child, and that proves foolish and disobedient: and of this there be many instances; the Scripture, to set forth the saddest kind of mourn­ing, compares it to the mourning for an only son, Jer. 6.26. Make thee mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation. Zech. 12.10. They shall mourn as one that mourneth for an only son. I know these Scriptures speak of parents mourning for the death of an only son; but it's not so sad to follow an only son to the grave, as to see an only child live to the dishonour of God, to be a curse to his generation, and to be continually destroying his precious soul; it's a very bitter case, when as [Page 46]much love, and kindness, and care, and cost, and pains, and prayers, and fastings, are bestowed upon one child, as other parents bestow upon many children; and notwithstanding all this, one child should prove such a monster of wicked­ness, as if the sins of many ungodly chil­dren met in him.

6. Aggravation. When Gods holy Ministers are the Fathers of fools, which (I have told you) often happens: and this is a most dreadful case for such who have the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and yet must bind over their own children to the wrath of God: such know the terrors of the Lord, and the torments of Hell more than others; and therefore must be more affected to believe, that this at present is the por­tion of their own children.

7. Aggravation. When such chil­dren whom their parents design'd to serve God in the Ministry of the Gospel, do prove ungodly: this is matter of great lamentation, for the parents to intend them for the highest office in [Page 47]the Church, and give them education for that end, that these children should make themselves as salt without savour, which is good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men.

8. Aggravation. When children are a grief to their parents in their old age, and do as it were throw dirt up­on their hoary heads, which is their crown of glory; it's the command of God, Prov. 23.22. Despise not thy mother when she is old: Solomon tells us, Eccles. 12. That the days of old age are evil days; their very age is a trou­blesome and incurable disease; now the grashopper, every light thing is a burden to them, and therefore it must be more troublesome to them to be then tormented with wicked children, when the strong men (as Divines think) Solomon calls the legs, do bow them­selves, and their children who should be a staff and support to them, do break their hearts, and cause their grey-hairs to go with sorrow to the grave.

I now come to make application of this discourse.

Ʋse 1. Let such parents praise and ho­nour God, whom God hath bless'd with wise, and holy, and obedient children; whether by those words in Psal. 144.12. David means children accomplish'd with natural or spiritual endowments, or both, I shall not determine; but to apply them to the case in hand, I say it's the great mercy of God to you, that when so many children are as noisome weeds, your sons should be as hopeful plants grown up in their youth; and when so many make themselves ugly, and deform'd with sin, your daughters should be as corner-stones (in which is seen the beauty of the building, and the art and skill of the workman) po­lished after the similitude of a palace. Do not hence conclude, that you are better parents than others, or have had more care in the education of your children than others, but ascribe all to the free grace of God, who will [Page 49]have mercy upon whom he will have mercy.

2. Let none presume to censure godly parents for their wicked chil­dren; To him that is afflicted, saith Job, pity should be shew'd him from his friend. Have they not trouble enough already, but will you add to their affliction? They have not hereby forfeited the good thoughts and esteem which you should have of them; and if you judge them for this, ye must judge as wise and holy Saints of God as ever were in the world; though God herein doth sharply correct them, yet he will not allow you to sit in judgment, and to pass sentence upon them: I say to you, as Job to his friends, Hold your peace, let them alone; and leave them to stand or fall to their own Master.

3. This should fill the hearts of these holy parents with revenge up­on Sin and Satan, which have so [Page 50]debauch'd, and defiled, and destroy'd their dear children: If a man should murder your child, a spirit of re­venge would rise in you, and you would say to such a one, I will have thy life and blood for the life and blood of my child; but Sin and Sa­tan have destroy'd both the preci­ous soul and body of the child; therefore labour, as for other rea­sons, so for this also, to be reveng'd of them: Labour to do as David did by the Lyon and the Bear, which took a Lamb out of his flock, he slew both the Lyon and the Bear, and delivered the Lamb; so do all ye can to reseue your poor lambs out of the jaws of Satan; however labour to hate Sin and Satan more, to promote Gods honour and king­dom, and the salvation of souls more: and this is the way to be re­veng'd on Sin and Satan for the ruine of your children.

4. I do hence exhort all holy and obedient children to acknowledge the grace of God to them, that they are or have been the joy and crown of their parents: It is his distin­guishing grace that made you to differ from all wicked children, and perhaps from some that came out of the same womb, and sucked the same mothers breasts as you did. Consider four things which are great matter of praise.

1. That ye are the children of holy parents; that ye may comfor­tably come to God in prayer, and say, we are the children of thy ser­vant our father; we are thy ser­vants, and the children of thy hand­maid our mother: bless God for your parents good counsels and ex­amples, and for a great part of an age of prayers, which ye are daily receiving the benefit of; if your parents are dead, and in heaven, it [Page 52]may put you into a holy and spiri­tual frame to think of the graces of God that did shine in them.

2. That the same graces which dwelt in your good parents, are in you: Paul speaks of it as matter of praise to God, that the same faith was in Timothy, which dwelt first in his Grandmother Lois, and his Mo­ther Eunice; and the Apostle John rejoyced greatly, that he found the children of the elect Lady walking in truth.

3. That thou art freed from those stings of conscience, which grace­less children shall one day feel for their disobedience to their parents; thou mayest joyfully reflect, that thou wast the joy of thy holy pa­rents, and that their lives have been made sweeter, and their crosses ea­sier by thee; that thou art the ho­nour and seal of their holy education, when wicked children are the shame and reproach of their parents.

4. That thou hast a right to that rich and precious promise annext to the fifth Commandment, and men­tion'd Ephes. 6.2, 3. So that thou may'st be assur'd that it shall go well with thee both in this world, and in the world to come; I do seriously profess, I had rather have a right to that one promise made to obedient children, than to the best estate and inheritance under the Sun.

I shall finish this discourse,

1. In prescribing some means to be us'd by those that may be, or are parents, to prevent this cala­mity.

2. I shall direct those parents that groan under this calamity, how to bear it.

3. I shall give a serious exhor­tation to such children who are the grief and bitterness of their pa­rents.

First, I shall prescribe means to be us'd to prevent this calamity.

1. Use all holy prudence and care in your choice of a yoke-fellow; for if ye make your selves the hus­bands or wives of fools, ye are like in time to become the fathers or mothers of fools; when before the flood, the members of Gods Church married with a wicked generation, Genes. 6.2. they brought forth a wicked posterity; but to have a holy yoke-fellow, is the way to have a holy seed; and therefore what ye would most desire to have for your selves, that labour to find in the person who is to be one flesh with you: thou wouldst have thy self born of God; thou wouldst have the Image of God, and the life of Christ in thy self. Labour that these things be in the person whom thou chusest for thy yoke-fellow; but never make choice of one for [Page 55]thy husband or wife, whom thou shouldst not chuse for thy compa­nion.

2. Be faithful and upright with God, Prov. 20.7. The just man walketh in his integrity, and his chil­dren are blessed after him: If you would have grace and mercy for your children, love and please the God of all grace and mercy; what­ever secret sins are in thee, kill those sins for thy poor childrens sake, lest the sins you too much harbour in your own hearts, do break out in your childrens lives: Parents may often see their own sins against their heavenly father in their childrens disobedience to them; when your children despise you, remember your want of honour, and fear, and re­verence of God; when they vex and trouble you, remember how ye have griev'd and provoked him; when they decline your company, remember how your hearts have [Page 56]wandered from God in his Ordi­nances.

3. Bewail and beg pardon of God for your failings heretofore to your parents; for many do often reap from their own children, what they formerly sow'd by their sins against their parents; and their miscarriages to their parents do fall upon them in the wickedness of their children: the best may sadly reflect upon their want of due honour, and obedience, and thankfulness to their parents; ye may remember your peevish looks, undecent behaviour to them; your grieving them in quarrelling with your brethren and sisters; your un­just censuring them for partiality in their love to their children, and judging them to want love to you, when you were wanting in your duty to them; and many, who are now godly parents themselves, may remember, that by greater sins in their youth they were the grief and [Page 57]bitterness of their fathers and mo­thers; and therefore pray mightily to God to pardon you, and not to visit these sins upon you in the diso­bedience of your children.

4. Pray to God not to visit your sins upon your children: When Manasseh was in Heaven, Amon his son followed the steps of his uncon­verted estate; and Jehoiakim was car­ried captive into Babylon for the sins of Manasseh: Pray that your chil­dren may not be like you in any thing, wherein ye are unlike God; and that their teeth may not be set on edg for the sowre grapes that ye have eaten.

5. Be deeply affected with the corruption of nature in your chil­dren: For as no man will value a Saviour for himself, who is not con­vinc'd of the sin and misery which he must be saved from; so ye must be sensible of your childrens sins, or else ye cannot labour for their salva­tion. [Page 58]When your sweet babes are born, ye rejoyce to find that in Gods book all their members were writ­ten; but ye should also be sensible of that body of sin they are born with, and that by nature they are young Atheists, and Infidels, and haters of God, and basphemers, and whoremongers, and lyars, and thieves, and murderers; for they are natu­rally inclin'd to these and all other fins, and are by nature children of the wrath of the infinite God; and being convinc'd of this, ye will find that your chief care of them should be to save them from this dreadful state of sin and misery.

6. Be convinc'd what a great deal of work lies upon you to endea­vour the salvation of your chil­dren: young children always make a great deal of work; they make work for parents, and work for ser­vants, and work for all that are a­bout them; but to save them from [Page 59]sin and hell, is the greatest work that belongs to their parents: for this purpose they have a great deal a work to do in their own hearts; they must know, and believe, and love, and obey the doctrine of sal­vation themselves, that they may be able, and sit to instruct their chil­dren therein; for a man cannot train up his child in the way he should go, if he do not know the way himself: We read Deut. 6.6, 7. These words shall be in thy heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy chil­dren; it's fitly render'd in the mar­gin, thou shalt whet or sharpen them; the word of God is more keen and sharp when it hath first done its work on the parents hearts, and so comes from their hearts to their chil­dren: Parents must keep their own graces in exercise, to put authority and savour in all that they say and do for the salvation of their chil­dren: Grace must work in their [Page 60]prayers; grace must rule their tongues; grace must guide the rod, and grace must shine in their lives: and then it's a great work which is to be wrought in the children; it is a great work for them who are born of the flesh, to be born of the spirit; a great work to make Reli­gion and Godliness natural to them; to make the children of the devil to become the children of God Almigh­ty: and parents must constantly la­bour in the use of means to accom­plish this work.

7. Be mighty in prayer for your children; for all the good ye desire for them must come from God, and therefore must be beg'd by prayer; it is in vain for them to be taught of us, except they be taught of God; Whose words, Lord, (saith holy Augustine) were they but thine, which by my faithful mother thou hast sung in my heart. Pray, and pray in faith and hope; thy ears (saith Augustine [Page 61]again) were at my mothers heart, when she pray'd for me; ye must pray with tender and melting hearts: the same Father tells us, that his mothers tears watered the earth when she pray'd for him: and ye must pray for their salvation: this also Augustine calls the hinge of his holy mothers prayers for him.

8. Solemnly dedicate them to God by baptism; and then ye must heartily consent that God alone be the eternal life and happiness of you and your children, and that Jesus Christ be their and your Redeemer, to redeem you and them from all sin and misery, and to bring both to God; and that the Holy Ghost be their and your Sanctifier, that by him you and they may have a Scripture-right unto, and be made meet and fit for this happiness.

9. When they are capable of it, instruct them in the Covenant, which by baptism they were solemnly en­tered [Page 62]into. For this end ye must diligently teach them these six things:

1. To know the evil and dan­ger of sin; for till they come to know what sin is, and what it is to be saved, or damn'd, and what it is to lose, or enjoy God; they will not value or accept of Christ, but will despise the Redeemer of the World as good for nothing: ye must there­fore labour to make sin odious, and Christ precious to your children, and then they will value Christ, and obey you: It was prophesied of John the Baptist, that he was to prepare the way of the Lord, and to turn the chil­dren to the parents: so let it be your care to make way for Christ in your childrens hearts; and if ye prevail in that, they will be obedient to you.

2. Inform your selves and them in the doctrine of God the Father, [Page 63]Son, and Holy Ghost: for this is the doctrine whereinto they are bap­tized; and by baptism they are so­lemnly entered into Covenant with these sacred persons, against the flesh, Satan, and the world: shew them the glory and love of God the Fa­ther in chusing, ordaining, fitting, and sending Jesus Christ, and in commanding him to be a sacrifice for us; inform them that God the Father is the fountain of life; for Christ lives by the Father: the foun­tain of Authority; for Christ re­ceived all power in heaven and earth from him: the fountain of all the Christian Religion; for Christ first heard these truths from the Father, and then made them known to us; and the fountain of glory, for the Father hath exalted Christ, and all glorified Saints are the blessed of the Father. Labour by these and all other means, that God the Father have the greatest place in your chil­drens [Page 64]hearts. Teach them to know and prize Jesus Christ; without this they cannot be true Christians: shew them all the fulness and glory of the Godhead in Jesus Christ: Labour to make them see his glory as the only begotten Son of God; and all that he as Mediator and Redeemer hath done in the state of his humiliation, and is doing, and will do in the state of his exaltation, for the salvati­on of lost sinners. Labour to im­print these great Truths upon their hearts.

1. That it was the Will and Law of God the Father, that God the Son in our nature should be a sacri­fice for our sins: this fully appears Heb. 10.5, &c. A body hast thou prepared, or fitted me, meaning to be a sacrifice: and, saith he, Lo I come to do thy will, O God: and Psal. 40. Thy law is in my heart; meaning that will and law of the Father, which [Page 65]bound him to offer and sacrifice him­self for our sins.

2. That Jesus Christ by his obe­dience to the death of the cross, did perfectly obey and fulfil this law and will of God the Father.

3. That all salvation and happi­ness is by the Covenant of Grace setled upon all, and only those who believe and obey the Gospel, only for the sake of this sacrifice and obedience of Jesus Christ: and therefore, saith the Apostle, Heb. 10.10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all: that is, by Christs fulfilling the will of his Father, in once sacrificing himself for sinners, we and all true belie­vers are sanctified, that is, perfectly saved.

Ye must also acquaint them with the office and work of the Holy Ghost, which our Saviour tells us, John 16.13. is to guide or lead [Page 66]them into all truth; that is, to in­able them to believe, and love, and obey the saving-truths of God re­veal'd in the Gospel: for to the end, that they may know and keep their baptismal-covenant, they must know how all the Three sacred persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are interested in the great work of Salvation.

3dly, Labour to convince your children of the Excellency of the Life of Religion, and obedience to God: commend this to them as the most honourable life; for our Savi­our tells us, John 12.26. If any man serve me, him will my father honour. What shall be done to the man (saith Ahasuerus) whom the king will ho­nour? But who is able to tell what shall be done to the man whom the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will honour? Let them also know, that this is the wisest life; it's Jobs in­quiry, Where shall wisdom be found? [Page 67]and, saith he, Job 28.28. Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil, is under­standing: And further, that it is the safest life, for God is a shield, and rock, and wall to all that obey him; and although such things which they have in common with other men are expos'd to danger and loss, yet their persons, and their whole por­tion is always safe; and also, that this is the most gainful life, for here­by Saints gain God, and Christ, and Heaven, and lose nothing; for we cannot lose by a Saviour, who saves us from all evil, and brings us into the possession of all good; and though death it self strips us naked of all things under the Sun, yet death is unspeakable gain to all who live this life: and ye must further assure them, that this is the most pleasant life, for it is a life of faith, and love, and praise, and joy, and a life of victory over sin; and they [Page 68]who live this life, have all things to please them; they have God to please them; Christ and his Merits to please them; and a prospect of a holy and a blessed Eternity to please them: ye would never be the fa­thers and mothers of fools, if ye could perswade your children to be so wise, as to prize and love a life of obedience to God.

4. Commend to your children the glory and amiableness of the House and Church of God: this is the body whereinto they are bap­tized; take your child with you, and go walk about Sion, and go round about her, and tell the towers thereof, and mark well her bulwarks, and con­sider her palaces, as ye are taught, Psal. 45.9. Present to their view King Jesus, and at his right hand standing the Queen (his Church) in gold of Ophir, Psal. 45.9. say to them, as the Angel said to John, Rev. 21.9. Come hither, and I will [Page 69]shew you the bride, the Lambs wife: shew them that glorious sight, Rev. 12.1. The woman cloathed with the Sun, and upon her head (that bright and glorious constellation) a crown of twelve Stars, that so the company of those who live in communion with God and Jesus Christ, may be desirable, and delightful to them; and that they may forsake evil company, which is often the bane of youth.

5. Teach them to esteem aright of Gods Ordinances: for by baptism they are solemnly admitted into that house and family which is blessed with these, as the means of salva­tion: Labour to beget in them good thoughts of Gods Ministers; for ye shall ever find, that those children will despise you who make light of them: teach them to pray; ye can never have comfort in your chil­dren till they cry to God, Abba Fa­ther: teach them to know, and prize, [Page 70]and long for the Lords-Supper, and therein to take Christ and all Sal­vation in a little bread and wine: teach them to honour and delight in the Lords-day, as the Diamond in the ring of time; those children are always the honour and joy of their godly parents, who make conscience to keep holy the Lords­day.

6. Make them sensible that time is short and precious, that an eter­nity of glory and misery is at hand; and that death, and judgment, and heaven or hell are at the door of young children.

I shall further add five Directi­ons to godly parents, to prevent this sad calamity.

1. Labour to save your children from those sins which provoke God, and will destroy them, as well as from those sins which will also bring [Page 71]loss and reproach upon you: some are sadly affected to see their chil­dren given to drunkenness, or whore­dom, or the like sins; but are not so much concern'd for their unbe­lief, and impenitency, and want of love to God, and for their cove­tousness; which shews such parents to have too much of the love of the world, and too little love to God and their childrens souls; but we must take our measures of the evil and danger of sin from the word of God, which tells us, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. that the covetous, as well as drunk­ards and whoremongers, shall not in­herit the kingdom of God: and this will teach parents not only to mourn over a debauch'd child, but also over a covetous, though he be a wealthy child.

2. Observe what sins your chil­dren are most prone unto, and la­bour to fill them with revenge and hatred against those sins: If your [Page 72]child have a foot, or hand gan­gren'd, ye will cut off the incurable member, rather than bury your child; so ye should do what ye can to pull out the right eye, and to cut off the right hand; and the right foot of sin in your children, rather than suffer their bodies and souls to be cast into Hell: As ye should especially kill those sins in your selves, which your natures are most inclin'd unto; so ye should do by your children, who are so great a part of your selves: we are taught, Prov. 20.11. That even a child is known by his doing, whether his work be pure, or whether it be right: Pa­rents may much discern by the man­ners and ways of their children in their childhood, what they are like to prove in their riper years; and therefore they must observe them, that they may encourage them in the good, and discourage them in the evil, which they then appear to be most bent unto.

3. Chuse to place your children in families of holiness and prayer; ye will not plant your trees among briars and thorns; much less should ye chuse to place your children to serve those who will not serve God.

4. Give them due correction: this hath God commanded to kill their sins, and to save their souls, Prov. 23.13, 14. Withhold not cor­rection from the child; for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not dye: thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell: It is better thy child be whipt, than damn'd; and let not thy childs weeping and crying under the rod move thee to withhold due corre­ction, Prov. 19.18. Chasten thy son, and let not thy soul spare for his cry­ing: If your childs bone be out of joint, ye will have it set, though he cry and bawl under the hand of the Surgeon; and will say, It's better [Page 74]he cry now, than be lame so long as he lives; so it is better your chil­dren cry now under the rod of their father, than that they should weep and wail for ever under the wrath of the infinite God: and therefore that ye may perform this duty, take these five Directions.

1. Do not allow your servants to correct your children; for cor­rection is an act of authority, and therefore cannot belong to those who are meerly your servants; I would not have parents to permit their children to despise and abuse their servants; but for parents to suffer their servants to correct their children, is the way to make their children stubborn, their servants proud, and themselves contemptible in the eyes of both.

2. Convince them that it is your duty to correct them for their sins; and therefore it is adviseable, that [Page 75]you make them get those Scriptures without book, which bind you to correct them; also some of those Scriptures which condemn the sins which you correct them for, that their consciences may justifie you in doing your duty; and that they may be more afraid of sin, than the rod; and of provoking God, than offend­ing you.

3. Correct them betimes, Prov. 13.24. and Prov. 19.18. Chasten thy son while there is hope: Use the rod wisely to them, before they become scourges and scorpions to you.

4. Labour to be in a good frame when you correct them, that love, and prudence, and meekness, and not rage and fury may govern the rod; and do not exercise too much severity towards them, that ye may not provoke them to wrath, lest the wrath of the children prove the grief of the parents.

5. Pray to God for a blessing up­on your correcting them, that it may be effectual to drive out that foolishness which is bound up in their hearts.

Lastly, Be good examples to your children; let them not see you in any sin, for that may infect them, and make them despise you; but let them always see you shining in the Image of God, and that is the way to make them honour, and obey you in the Lord: live so, that ye may say to them, as Paul to the Phi­lippians, Chap. 4.9. Those things which ye have both learned, and re­ceived, and heard, and seen in us, do, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

2dly, I proceed to direct those parents who are under this calamity, how to bear it.