PART II.

We have taken a view of perfonal religion, and proceeded to fhew, fecondly, the influence it will have upon the master of a family, to regulate his temper and conduct towards thofe under his care. "He will "ufe his endeavours to engage his houfe, as well as "himself, to ferve the Lord." Here, having fpoken of the origin of families, and the wifdom and goodnefs of Providence, in the forming thefe important focial connections; we have confidered the utility of religion to aflift the mafter of a family in the management of his temporal concerns, and in the exercife of that domeftic authority with which nature has entrusted him. And now, fince the happiness of a family principally depends upon their religious character, we proceed to confider the duties he will feel himself obliged to practife, in order to the promoting their best interefls.

1. It is the duty of heads of houfes to look well after the morals of their families.

Men of reputable characters, though they may not have entered into the fpirit of religion, feel the importance of this duty. Perfuaded that vice brings after it fhame, poverty, and wretchednefs, they will not harbour it under their roof. Who in his fenfes would permit a difhoneft fervant to enter his houfe, or faffer his children, if he could prevent it, to wafle his fubitance in riotous living? A regard, therefore, to their temporal intereft will induce most people to preferve fome kind of order in their families. But the reftraints held over children and fervants, which proceed merely from motives of worldly intereft,

are

That domeftic

are too often feeble and ineffectual. government which ftands alone upon this principle, reaches not the true fources of thofe evils which are fo generally dreaded. It is religion that lays the ax at the root of vice, and enables a master, feeling the force of it in his own heart, to take fuch measures as will effectually prevent, with the bleffing of God, the feeds of immorality from growing up in his house, and fpreading their noxious influence all around him.

With a jealous eye he will watch the first expreffions of pride, paffion, deceit, indolence, and other vices, in the countenances, language, and behaviour of his children and fervants. Thefe evils will not fail to meet his ftern disapprobation and cenfure. Punishments he will inflict adequate to the nature and aggravation of the offence; at the fame time, labouring to fix upon the delinquent a deep fenfe of the greatness of the crime." Chaften thy fon while there is hope," fays Solomon," and let not thy foul fpare for his cry"ing*." And if, notwithstanding all his endeavours, the vicious temper is not to be reftrained, but breaks out in open and repeated acts of iniquity, he will take fome prudent and refolute measure to feparate the infectious member from the rest of the fociety, and thereby prevent the spread of the fatal distemper. "He that "worketh deceit," fays David, "fhall not dwell "within my houfe; he that telleth lies, fhall not

66

tarry in my fight +."-- And, on the other hand, the pious mafter of a family will ufe his utmoft endeavours to cultivate the oppofite virtues in his children and fervants. He will often familiarly explain to them their nature and tendency, and pleasantly defcant upon

upon their excellence and utility. And the early expreffions of thefe amiable qualities he will not fail to mark and applaud, rewarding them with fmiles and careffes, and every token of approbation that prudence and good-nature can devife.

Such measures as these for the promoting good morals in our families, every confiderate perfon must needs approve. But alas! what through parental indulgence, and what through floth, they are miferably neglected by multitudes among us. Who then does not fee the great importance, as well as the direct tendency of a lively fenfe of religion in the mafter of a family, to ftimulate him to the right discharge of this branch of his duty? Can I, inspired with an utter detestation of vice, and an unconquerable attachment to virtue, forbear to exert all my powers to eradicate the feeds of the former from the bofoms of my dear offspring, and to cherish thofe of the latter there? Will not my religious feelings extort tears of anguish from my eyes, whilft I am adminiftering the bitter, but wholesome draught of correction to their perversenefs? And will not the fame feelings fpread a cheerful pleasure over my countenance, whilst I am applauding their flexibility and filial obedience? Having the command of the great God, and their temporal and everlasting interefts in full view before my eyes, thefe duties will not be neglected through falfe fondness, nor abused by undue feverity.

2. Another office we owe to our families is, the carefully inflructing them in the principles of religion.

There is not a plainer dictate of nature than this; and yet how shamefully this duty is neglected you

need not be told. The cause of this great evil is in general, the want of a due fenfe of religion in those of whom this fervice is required. And, as men are never at a lofs to find an excufe for omitting what they are not difpofed to do, fo in this cafe we fhall hear fome object, that the catechifing children is the way to prejudice them unduly in favour of particular opinions, and fo to difqualify them for future free inquiry. And others we shall hear-strange to think it! gravely infinuating, that the adopting this measure with children, is taking God's work out of his hand, and is therefore an affront to him, and nugatory in itself. The futility, and indeed impiety, of thefe objections may be easily made appear. But as we fhall have a more proper opportunity hereafter to difcufs thefe queftions*, it fhall fuffice at prefent, in a few words, to explain the duty, and fhew how forcibly a prevailing fenfe of religion will impel a Christian nan to it.

The leading truths of natural and revealed religion, I mean fuch as are intimately connected with experience and practice, every Christian understands, and therefore ought to inculcate them upon those under his care. His inftructions fhould be adapted to their age and abilities. He should begin with first principles, and fo proceed to thofe that follow, taking the fcriptures for his guide, and calling into his aid fuch explanations of them as he judges moft conformable to the truth. His meaning he fhould endeavour to convey by eafy and familiar language, and to illuftrate it by apt and natural fimilies. He fhould not only require them to answer questions put to them from their memory, but take pains to fix the fense of both quef

*See Difc. V

tions and answers upon their underftandings. The grounds and reafons of each truth he should lay open to their view, represent their importance with all the earneftness of parental affection, examine them frequently upon the progrefs they make, and add fervent prayer to his inftructions and counfels. There is a way of infinuating knowledge to the minds of young people, which hath often had a wonderful effect. Much depends, with the blefling of God, upon our conciliating their affections to us, convincing them that we mean their good, carefully avoiding the making religion a task, not over-burdening their memo. ries, and properly rewarding their diligence and attention.

66

These measures furely every one's fober reafon and understanding must approve. They were fuch as Abraham used with his family. "I know him," fays God, that he will command his children and his "household after him, and they fhall keep the way "of the Lord, to do juftice and judgment: that the "Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath

66

spoken of him." And they were such as his grandnother Lois, and his mother Eunice, ufed with Timothy, of whom the apoftle tells us, that " from a child "he had known the holy fcriptures +." And what man, whofe heart burns with love to God, and whose bowels yearn towards his children, but will feel himfelf obliged to copy after the example of thefe excellent people? Can I believe there is a God, and that my happiness depends upon his favour, and not wish to impress these fentiments upon my children, whom I confider as parts of myfelf? Can I be deeply fenfible

* Gen. xviii. 19.

2 Tim. i. 5. and iii. 15.

of