IT is a sweet and pleasant Chapter before us, fill'd with a grateful variety respect­ing the birth and circumcision of our Lord Jesus, and his presentation in the Temple; how the multitudes of the heavenly Hosts praised God on the one occasion, and how Simeon and Anna spake of him on the other.

IN the verse before my text we have a short account of the infancy and childhood of our Lord, ver. 40. And the child grew, and waxed [Page 2]strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. This was indeed as be­came the Son of God: ^‖ "That whereas other children are weak in understanding and reso­lution He was strong in spirit; whereas other children have foolishness bound up in their hearts, which appears in all they say and do, He was filled with wisdom; and whereas the corruption of nature early and strongly appears in other children, nothing but the grace of God appear'd in him".

"MY text begins the only passage of story recorded concerning our blessed Lord, from his infancy to the day of his shewing to Israel, at 29 years of age". The parents of our Lord Jesus are the persons here spoken of; Joseph so reputed and called, and Mary his holy mo­ther. The thing related of them is very wor­thy and honourable; namely, their constant annual journey to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. This was required of the males by the law of Moses, but the women were excu­sed. Yet they that would attended, and the Mother of Christ was too devout not to do it. She was strong in body, as well as in spirit, by the favour of God, and was as constant at the feast as her gracious husband. (A feast which had most of Gospel in it, and to which she was more related than she knew of; her holy Son being the lamb of God, the great Antitype of all the paschal lambs.) Such (says Mr. [Page 3] Burkit) as will go no further than they are forc'd in religious exercises, are strangers to the Virgins piety and devotion.

BUT here is one particular year specified when Jesus went up with them to the feast. It was when he was twelve years old. It is not said that he had not gone up with them any year before that: it may be this was not the first time; as doubtless it was not the last, tho' it be the only time we read of.

"THE Jews tell us that at thirteen year old a child was reputed with them a Son of the commandment: that is to say, obliged to the duties of adult Church membership; having been from his infancy and circumcision a Son of the covenant." Now Jesus in his child­hood being so much in wisdom and spirit a­bove his years, we may well suppose that 'ere this time he had been at the passover. But this time is recorded and not the rest, for the sake of that wonderful conference which he now had with the Doctors in the Temple.

I might offer many profitable Notes and Observations from the text, but shall select four only to speak to.

• 1. THAT the constant devout observation of the feast of the Passover, was strictly re­quired of the Jews.
• 2. THAT the religious among them were very strict in the observation of it, and of the other religious feasts, statutes and ordinances of that dispensation.
• [Page 4] 3. THAT parents should take care to go before their children in the observation of Divine institutions.
• 4. THAT children should be early in the worship of God; and in their preparation for an approach to the table of Christ.

I. THAT the constant and devout observation of the passover was strictly required of the Jews.

THREE times in a year they were to keep a feast unto the Lord; when all their males were to appear before him. Exod. 23.14, 17. This was a statute for Israel and a law of the God of Jacob. The feast of unleavened bread, which was the passover, was the first and chief of these three great festivals. It was instituted to the children of Israel upon the day of their coming out of Egypt, to be a standing memorial to them thro'out their generations of that their deliverance & redemption. Exod. 12.14. This day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord thro'out your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordi­nance for ever. Deut. 16.3. That thou may'st remember the day wherein thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

THE omission or neglect of this institution was very severely threatned by God. Num. 9.13. But the man that is clean and not in a Journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from his people: be­cause he brought not the offering of the Lord in [Page 5]his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. Nothing could excuse a jew from this appoin­ted service, but his being under some legal uncleanness which rendred him unfit for it; or his being sick or in a journey which made it impracticable for him to be at the Lord's place: And in this case it was provided, that such a person should keep the passover a month after the appointed time. So carefully did the law provide against the omission of the duty required. Numb. 9.10, 11. If any man of you, or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the Lord; the fourteenth day of the second month, at even, shall they keep it. And the ordinance was the same for the stranger, a proselyte of the jewish re­ligion, as for him that was born in the land. Num. 9.14. Only the profanation or careless performance of this holy service was also as strictly forbidden and severely condemned: Levit. 7.20. The soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. And yet where there was a preparation of heart, and something unavoidable hinder'd the exact ceremonial purifications which the law pre­scribed, and which the worshipper would have complied with if he could; in such a case (upon extraordinary occasions) the gracious God sometimes excused the want of legal puri­fication, and accepted the worshipper and his [Page 6]service: As it was the case of many of the people in Hezekiah's great passover. 2 Chron. 30.18. A multitude of the people out of Ephraim, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed them­selves; yet did they cat the passover otherwise than it was written: but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed ac­cording to the purification of the sanctuary: And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

THUS strictly has God always required of his people obedience to his positive laws, and the careful observation of his statutes and or­dinances.

I will not now go into the reasons of this severity of the Law in these injunctions. It might be said,

• 1. SUCH positive laws, statutes and ordi­nances are the high declarations of God's do­minion and sovereighty, his absolute will and authority; and He will be obey'd and ought to be so. It is indignity and rebellion for us to hesitate or delay when we know his will.
• 2. THEY are the instances of that open ho­nour and publick acknowledgement, which as a church and people of God we render to him; whereby he is confessed in solemn and stated manner, glorified before others, and all are provoked to glorify him.
• [Page 7] 3. THEY are standing memorials of his grace favour and mercy to a people, of his presence among them and of his covenant with them.

AND to the people of God they are the or­dained signs and appointed means of their sa­cred covenanting with God, and special com­munion with Him.

BUT there needs no more to be said than this, What if God will? and who shall say to him, what doest thou? He never ask'd his crea­ture what law he should give him. And whatever it be, 'tis to be sure holy and just. And the penalty in case of disobedience can be no less than excision from God; which is to say everlasting infinite misery.

NOW that which remains is to bring home this matter to our selves, and argue from the Lord's passover under the law, unto his holy supper under the gospel. For certainly these two sacramental rites or actions do bear a great affinity likeness and relation one to the other; and what the one was to the church under the law, such the other is to it under the gospel. And it is very manifest in the institu­tion of the Lord's Supper, as from the nature of the thing, so from the time and circum­stances of it, that it comes in the place and room of the possover; by the will of Him who is the Lord our passover sacrificed for us. And our Lord Jesus has positively and ab­solutely required of us both the observation and sanctification of this ordinance of the Supper, as he did enjoyn that of the passover [Page 8]under the law. It is his special law to us now, as much as that was to them by the hand of Moses. He has said to us, This do ye in remembrance of me: And his Apostle has said to us, I received of the Lord, that which I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread &c. It is therefore called the Lord's table and the Lord's supper. His authority has appointed it, and it is a standing memorial of his love, a publick and perpetual honour to his name; and to us the stated sign and means of our covenanting and communion with him.

AND if these things be so, then what can we think or say, in excuse of the easie neglect and careless observation of this ordinance a­mong Christians? Will not the Lord Christ as much enquire after and require for this thing among us, as he did of old among his people about the passover? Certainly he will. And the Apostle therefore says all those awful words on this occasion, 1 Corin. 11. ult. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of this bread and drink of this cup: for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh judg­ment to himself: for this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep: for if we would judge our selves we should not be judged.

THE sum then is, That people should not dare to live in the neglect of the Lord's table, as they commonly do; and that they should be very devout and spiritual, very careful and serious in the observation of it: as the Jews [Page 9]of old were obliged to be very constant and careful in their attendance on the passover feast.

2. MY next note is, That the Religious a­mong the Jews were very strict and exact in the observation of the passover, and other positive ordinances of the law of Moses.

MY text informs us that the parents of Christ were so: Every year they went up at the feast of the passover, and they fulfilled the days, and performed all things according to the law of the Lord.

"NO difficulties hinder'd their attendance; they came up early to it, and staid all the time of it. Neither Joseph's calling, nor the bles­sed Virgins houshold business could keep them at home, nor hasten 'em home, before the ser­vice was entirely over. All worldly business must give place to divine offices, and we must attend God's service to the end of it, if we would carry away the blessing.^‖

IT is indeed no evidence of the truth of grace to frequent the publick assemblies; yet it is an infallible sign of the want of grace customarily to neglect them. We read of the holy parents of John the Baptist, namely Ze­charias and Elizabeth, that they were both righ­teous before God, walking in all the command­ments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. This is a high and happy account of husband [Page 10]and wife, and it should be said of every mar­ried couple: If they would be righteous before God they should be walking together in all the ordinances of the Lord blameless; and if they are righteous before God they will do so. Such a happy pair were Elkanah and Hannah; they went up yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh: so they did year by year, 1 Sam. 1.3, 7. Indeed multitudes did thus attend the yearly feasts in Israel who were not pious people, and some who were irreligious did no doubt neglect them, but all that were pious went up to the solemn feasts. David sings of their doing so in some of his most pleasant psalms: Psal. 42. & 122. I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord: our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem! whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord: For I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise; with a multitude that kept holy-day.

THE reflections which now naturally occur to us are such as these. How comes it to pass that we Christians are not as careful and exact, as constant and conscientious in attending on the ordinance of the Lord's supper; as the Jews were in the observation of the passover and other ordinances of the law? Should not a People professing the name of Christ shew their reverend and religious regard to the memorial of his death? and should not people [Page 11]of gravity and seriousness in the christian Church hold themselves bound and tied up by the command of their dying Saviour? For if the Law given by Moses was reverend and awful, is it not yet more so when the Son of God himself is come, and has spoken to us? And are not his last will and words, just be­fore he died, memorable indeed and sacred? When God told Moses of a Prophet like to him, but greater, whom he would raise up to his people, and put his word in his mouth; he ad­ded — And whosoever will not hearken to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will re­quire it of him. Now make the application in this particular instance. The great Prophet of the church has come and spoken to us in the name of God, and one of his last words was this, Do this in remembrance of me: and if we do not hearken to these words which He has spoken to us, God says he will require it: and when he requires an account of us, why we did it not, what shall we answer? we must be speechless.

HEAR what the Apostle says on this head thro' his epistle to the Hebrews: Therefore ^(a) we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip: For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape if we neglect so great salva­tion; [Page 12]which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard it. Wherefore holy brethren, ^(b) partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and high priest of our profession Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this Man was counted worthy of more glory than Mose,—who verily was faithful as a servant, — but Christ as a Son over his own house: — wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if you will hear his voice. Let us therefore fear ^(c) lest a promise being left us of entring into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Take heed, brethren, lest ^(d) there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God: But exhort one another daily while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardned thro' the deceitfulness of sin. Hav­ing therefore, ^(e) brethren, boldness to enter in-the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and liv­ing way which he has consecrated for us thro' the vail, that is to say his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith; hav­ing our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed as with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, — not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is; — for if we sin wilfully after we have received the [Page 13]knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. He that despised Moses law di­ed without mercy; of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God —? See then that ye refuse not Him that speaketh, ^(f) for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. But as we receive a kingdom which cannot be moved (the gospel-dispensation which is to remain for ever) let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire. Let us go forth unto Him, which suffered without the gate, ^(g) bearing his reproach: by Him let us offer the sa­crifice of praise unto God continually, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

THIS is the strain of that excellent Epistle to the Hebrews. It calls upon the Christian church to be as observant of the Institutions of Christ, as the Jewish ever were of the law of Moses: It shows that our obligations rise higher than theirs, and that it will be worse in us and for us to be inobservant than it ever was in them, or will be for them in the day of judgment.

I will only add two more reflections here,

• 1. THAT we be caution'd not to rest our selves in the meer outward observation of God's ordinances, as the Jews generally did: and as [Page 14]the generality of christians do thro' Christendom at this day: But let us remember that as he was not a Jew that was one outwardy in the flesh, so he only is a Christian that is one inwardly, and baptism is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God, Rom. 2.29. And again, let us re­member the same Apostle's words, Phil. 3 3. We are the circumcision that worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
• 2. REMEMBER that instead of doing less than what the law of God requires of us in outward observations, we should rather do more. I mean not by inventions of our own, or in way of addition to the commandments of God; but in the devour observation of those which God has appointed. As in the text; altho' Mary was not obliged by the law to go up yearly to the passover with her husband; yet the law permitting her to go she gladly went, as Hannah and other holy women were wont to do before her.

AND thus the first Christians having receiv­ed the [...] Christ about his Supper (the breaking of bread in remembrance of his broken body) they not only stedfastly continued in this doctrine and fellowship of the Apostles, but they did it daily, from house to house, with a single and joyful heart, Acts 2.42, 46. As of­ten as they came together it seems to have been to break bread; the Lord's day & the Lord's supper met together: Acts 20.7. Upon the [Page 15]first day of the week, when the disciples came to­gether to break bread, Paul preached.

GOD has not tied us up to so many precise times, just how often to pray, and hear and communicate: We should be sure then rather to go beyond the law, than to come short of its injunctions, in the discharging of these duties. And if so, then when the gospel says, As often as ye eat this bread, (which supposes we do it often) what will they say to them­selves, who have never once done it?

BUT this for the second Note, That the re­ligious among the Jews were constant and de­vout in the strict observation of the passover: Every year they went up at the feast, and took care to do every thing after the custom of the feast. The next Note that I would offer is this,

III. THAT parents should go before their chil­dren in the observation of the holy Institutions of God in his worship. So did the gracious Pa­rents in the text; and if they had had a fa­mily of children and servants to have learn'd of them, their landable example would have well instituted them in the observation of the passover. And truly so ought Christian parents to lead their houshoulds to the table of Christ, and in the reverend sanctification of the Sabbath, and a religious observation of all the Ordinan­ces of God's house.

THE word of God requires parents diligently to teach their children the will and ways of [Page 16]God, as well as to have the same always in their own hearts, Deut. 6.6, 7. And when the passover was first appointed to the Children of Israel, it was accompanied with this precept to them, Exod. 13.8, 14. And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt: And it shall be for a sign un­to thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial be­tween thy eyes; that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth; for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

CHILDREN naturally enquire and learn of their parents; but more of their examples as they grow up than they do of their precepts. If then it be the duty of parents to teach by words, it is more their duty to teach by their practice and good example. If they should take pains to instruct them in the reasons of God's laws, and in the meaning of his ordi­nances, and require them to observe the same, much more should they teach and lead 'em by their own example. For with what face or with what efficacy can a parent tell his son, that Christ has required such a duty and ser­vice, and as he grows up he must be sure to observe it; and yet let his child see that he lives in the neglect of that duty himself. It is incumbent therefore on parents, that they teach and lead their children in the worship of God by their own example; that they go before them in the reverend observation of his holy institutions.

[Page 17] SO did Abraham: He first circumcised him­self, and then his son, and his houshold: And this is the honour done him by God; Gen. 18.19. I know Abraham that he will command his children and houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. He could command them with authority & efficacy when he first obeyed himself: his words had not else come with power and been receiv'd with reverence.

DAVID could with authority instruct his son in the ordinances of God, because he him­self was so great a lover of them, so devout an observer of them. His being a King did not give so much power to his words as his being a Saint. Prov. 4.3. I was my fathers son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother; he taught me also and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words, keep my commandments and live.

SO the Apostle taught the Churches effectual­ly; Phil. 4.9. Those things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

SO Christ taught his family, and all that are his ought so to teach theirs. John 13.15. I have given you an example.

WHEREFORE let parents first take heed to themselves, and then take care of their chil­dren. For if they require their children to reverence the Institutions of God and do not observe the same themselves, perhaps their children will soon lose all reverence both to God and them. Or if parents say nothing to [Page 18]their children about the matter, as it is like­ly they will not, then the honour their chil­dren do naturally bear them will tempt them to make light of the dishonour done to God in the neglect of his ordinances.

LET those parents consider this who live in the neglect of the Lord's supper in the sight of their children. Think you, that they do not observe and mind it? Yes, and will be ready to take any licence which your example gives them. It ought therefore to be a tender argument with parents to be religious for the sake of their children: for next to their own Souls are these. But if men will not be pre­vail'd on for the sake of their own souls, how should they by being pleaded with for the children of their bowels? It is to be fear'd that parents who do not come to the Lord's table, do not speak at all to their children a­bout preparing for it: or if they do it can be with little force.

BUT the injury is greater to God, who gives us our children with this charge, to bring them up for Him; and intrusts us with them as so many living souls which are more His than ours. And if we fondly love their little bodies, but are negligent of their precious souls, as it is a brutal and irreligious thing in us, so he will require it of us; as he did of his people of old: Ezek. 16.20. Thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast born unto Me, and those hast thou sacrificed to [Page 19]thine idols, to be devoured: thou hast slain my children.

THE most unnatural wrong we can do to our children is to neglect and hurt their souls: And this is one of the greatest wrongs we can do to God, who challenges a special property in our children; and therefore he has ap­pointed us that as soon as they are born we do give them up to him, and bind our selves to educate them for him. O the pitiless as well as profane hearts of those parents that neglect their own and their childrens souls! they in effect sacrifice 'em to devils after they have devoted them to God! they rob God of his children, and rob them of their title to God and his covenant blessings.

Finally, WHAT an unnatural precept and direction must be given to the children of such parents, who live in the open neglect of the ordinances of Christ? How hard is it to be forc'd to say to your children, — and yet we must say it — Do not learn of your parents in this thing! do not imitate 'em; they do wrong, very wrong, and you must not follow them. This would be harsh kind of doctrine, and must needs sound so in the ears both of parents and children. Yet if parents will live in the neglect of the Lord's ordinances, we must speak thus to their children. "Do not think to excuse your selves by your pa­rents example, how much so ever you love and honour them: It will not do in the day of Christ: the soul that sins shall die; the soul [Page 20]of the father and the soul of the son: Ezek. 18.4. You must mourn for your parents in the case supposed and pray for them; and you may reverently ask of them the cause and rea­son of their neglect, and beseech them to lead you to all the ordinances of Christ; but if you prevail not on them be not discouraged your self, and restrained from doing your duty.

BUT this for the third Note: Parents should go before their children in the obser­vation of the institutions of Divine worship.

IV. CHILDREN ought to be early in the Wor­ship of God, and preparing for the Table of Christ.

THIS is taught us by our Lord's example in the text: the Child Jesus when he was twelve years old, went up with Joseph and Mary to the feast of the passover. And we read that he tarried behind in Jerusalem, and when they found him it was in the Temple, and when they reasoned with him upon his staying there his answer was, Wast ye not that I must be about my Fathers business?

CERTAINLY the holy Child Jesus is here exhibited as an example to children and young people; to teach and require them to give God an early possession of their souls, and in their youth to keep close to his wor­ship and service. "Especially such children as are forward in other things, should be put forward in religion". It is the pleasure of Christ and much for his honour, that chil­dren should be betimes in the temple, and [Page 21]that young people should be at his table.

IN the 22. verse of the chapter we read how the parents of our Lord Jesus brought him in his early infancy to present him in the temple, and to offer as the law required: And now in the text we find him coming in his early youth to the temple, to dedicate himself to the Lord in his appointed way. So those of our children that are in their infancy dedica­ted to God in baptism, should be call'd upon as they grow up to come to the Gospel passover, the Lord's supper, and joyn themselves to the Lord and his Church by their own act and deed. But let them take care to do it with knowledge and seriousness.

SOME children may much sooner be ad­mitted to the table of Christ than others. Do thou child desire to be among the first; the most ripe, the most ready. Therefore learn diligently, and seek to God earnestly: get forward in Christ's School: be not the least and last there: enter thy self betimes, and learn now in thy learning age.

A great part of the duty of baptised chil­dren is to look forward to the Lord's table, and to keep their eye upon it; saying often to themselves, "I have been given up to Christ in baptism, and I must be preparing to give my self up to him at his table.

AND a great part of the duty of parents lies in this, to instill this consideration into the tender hearts of their children, & so bring [Page 22]them on to the recognition of their covenant engagements at the table of Christ. But not to do it lightly, cursorily & as a thing of form; but intelli ently, deliberately & awful­ly: as David taught & charg'd his son, 1 Chron. 28.9. And thou Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart & with a willing mind; for the Lord search­eth all hearts, and understandeth all the imagina­tions of the thoughts: if thou seek him he will be found of thee, but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever.

THIS is a point of great care, and calls for much concern and labour; and most parents are great strangers to this religious watch over their children: It is evident by their not com­ing themselves to the table of Christ, and by the neglect of their housholds: and yet they know this to be the least they owe unto Christ, to their own souls, and to the souls of their family.

BUT if this be the duty of parents, then children owe it as much unto Christ, unto their parents and to their own souls, to learn God's will betimes, to get knowledge & understand­ing in the holy ways of God, and to live unto Him who made them, who also has bought and bound them to be his. And you, children, that are consecrated to God in baptism, who are instructed in the word and law of God, and your obligations to him, by parents & ministers; be you exhorted and warned to be early in your choice of God and of his ways.

[Page 23] AND now to close all, Let parents and grown children be together exhorted, to be sound together at the Lord's table. What is there more sit, and what could be more pleasant than this? Parents, go your selves to the Lord's passover, as the parents of Christ did: And children come with your parents: or if they neglect themselves come you before them; don't stay for 'em. Or if they do not put you upon this duty as they should, remember that your Ministers put you in mind of it, and that you are now admonished thereof.

MAY the Lord Jesus teach and incline you by his holy Spirit. May you be such as he was in his childhood and youth; such to God, such to your parents, and such to his church. That if you die young you may like Abel and Enoch be taken up to God: or if you live in the world you may be examples to others, fruitful Christians, full of goodness, full of good works, to the honour of Christ, and the edification of others: Like good Obadiah, fear­ing the Lord from your youth; and like gra­cious Timothy, betimes knowing in the scrip­tures and wise to salvation.

I will urge what has been said both to elder and younger persons, only with one motive.

WE are all dying and going to judgment, we know not which first, whether the parent or the child. The graves are ready for us, and are not we ready, should we not be ready for the table of Christ? We are dropping into the [Page 24]grave every week, some elder people and many younger; and should we not be quickned to be getting into Christ, that we may be found in him, let death come as soon and as sudden­ly to us, as it has done to others.

PARENTS and children are both dying, and are alike concerned to be getting ready for a dying hour; let them take the table of Christ in their way, there to set their souls in order for their going to him, and for their being found of their Judge in peace.

LOOK into the Congregation of the dead and see how they ly mixt, here a parent and there his children; here an aged person, and there divers in their youth, and more in their child­hood: read the inscriptions on the grave-stones and see how many under twenty and thirty to one above fifty or sixty ly interr'd there; their spirits gone to God that gave them, and into a most blessed or miserable Eternity. And shall it not be thus in the Con­gregation of the living and at the Lord's table? which has so particular an aspect on the se­cond appearance of Christ, and on our prepa­ration for a solemn appearance before Him, to give an account to him, and to hear our sen­tence from the mouth of the Lamb? Are not the funerals of every week, month and year so mixt? parents following their children to the grave, the house appointed for all the living, and children following their parents? and while they live together in this dying world, shall they not come together into one place to eat the [Page 25]Lord's Supper? How strangely then must we suppose that they both forget that they are dy­ing away, they know not which first, and that after death is the judgment?

LET parents and children both consider, that their souls are alike precious, & eternity is before them: that all souls are Christ's, the soul of the Father and the soul of the son: that Christ has given his life a ransom for both, has shed his blood for both, and has extended his covenant unto both; commanding his ministers to feed both, his sheep and his lambs; that in the spirit of Elias they should labour to turn the hearts of fathers and children together to him­self, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord; lest he come and smite the earth with a curse. See Mal. 4.6. and Luk. 1.17.

I scruple not to say, that in the last & most dreadful sense Death is that curse, which de­vours the earth; the bodies of all, old & young; and the souls of all that will not be a people made ready for the Lord: for his glory service and worship here, and for his table kingdom and glory for ever.

O Parent! look on thy self and thine as mortal, and going to an eternal judgment, and so govern thy self toward them. You are your self hastning to the Tribunal of Christ; but have you taken care of a never dying soul for which Christ has died? And what care of the precious souls of an immortal offspring? You expect to die before your children, and natu­rally desire to leave them behind you; or to [Page 26]be sure you must soon follow 'em to the bar of God: But what account do you think of ren­dring to God of them?

WILL not the two first enquiries put to thee by God the Father of Spirits be these, What care thou hast taken of thy own soul, and what of the souls of the children which he has given thee? how then can you think of dying your selves, or of your childrens dying, without being able to give an account with joy and not with grief?

AND you know not whether God will con­tinue you another week or day to yours, or them to you; what therefore your hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might, for there is no wisdom or working in the grave whither thou art going. It may be you are cumbring your selves about many things for yours that are to live after you, but one thing is needful, your own soul and theirs: chuse the good part that can never be taken from you, nor you from that. Remember the care of the good mother for her two sons: Mat. 20.21. and dropping the in­firmity, let us improve her piety and imitate her wisdom: Lord, that my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand and the other on thy left in thy kingdom. Had she liv'd in our days her desire and care would have been to have seen them both, with her, at the Table of Christ, in the way to his Kingdom.

AND what should our Children now say un­to themselves, or unto us, upon the present discourse? Should they not take up the answer [Page 27]of our Lord Iesus (in our context) to his pa­rents, when they had sought him sorrowing, and at last found him in the Temple, among the Doctors, Wist you not that I should be about my Fathers business? Yes, you should be early about the great business of your souls, the work­ing out your salvation, the making your calling and election sure. And therefore you must be early in the temple of God, waiting daily at wisdoms' gates, and coming to the special ordi­nances of the gospel. And the younger you come, if it be intelligently and affectionately, with understanding and grace, in the fear of God and from love to him; you will be the more welcome and the more beloved of Christ: like Iohn the youngest disciple, and him whom Iesus loved, who leaned on his bosome at his last passover supper.

AND now, Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. That both parents and children may happily meet at the Table of Christ here, and in his Kingdom hereafter: That in the day of Christ, we may be able to say to Him, and He may say of us and ours unto his Father, Behold I and the children which thou hast given me.