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no families escape, but those that called upon him in morning and evening prayer: few would remain unhurt by his avenging fword. Shall I term fuch families Chriftians or Heathens: doubtless they deserve not the name of Chriftians; and Heathens will furely rife up in judgment against fuch profane families of this generation for they had always their household gods, whom they worshipped, and whofe affiftance they frequently invoked. And a pretty pals thofe families furely are arrived at, who must be fent to school to Pagans. But will not the Lord be avenged on fuch profane households as thefe? Will he not pour out his fury upon thofe that call not upon his name?

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3. But it is time for me to haften to the third and laft means I shall recommend, whereby every governor ought, with his household, to ferve the Lord, catechifing and inftructing their children and fervants, and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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That this, as well as the two former, is a duty incumbent on every governor of an houfe, appears from that famous encomium or commendation God gives of Abraham: "I know that he will command his children and his household after him, to keep the way of the Lord, to do juftice and judgment." And indeed fcarce any thing is more frequently preffed upon us in Holy Writ, than this duty of catechifing. Thus, fays God in a paffage before cited, "Thou "fhalt teach thefe words diligently to thy children." And parents are commanded in the New Teftament,

to breed up their children in the nurture and ad"monition of the Lord." The holy Pfalmift acquaints us, that one great end why God did fuch great wonders for his people, was,

to the intent "that when they grew up, they fhould thew their

children, or fervants, the fam." And in Deuteronomy vi. at the zoth and following verfes, God ftrictly commands his people to instruct their chiidren in the true nature of the ceremonial worship,

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when they should enquire about it, as he fuppofed they would do, in time to come.

And, if fervants and children were to be inftructed in the nature of Jewish rites, much more ought they now to be initiated and grounded in the doctrines and first principles of the gofpel of Chrift: not only, because it is a revelation, which has brought life and immortality to a fuller and clearer light, but also because many feducers are gone abroad into the world, who do their utmost endeavour to deftroy not only the fuperftructure, but likewife to fap the very foundation of our moft holy religion.

Would then the prefent generation have their pofterity be true lovers and honourers of God; masters and parents must take Solomon's good advice, and train up and catechife their respective households in the way wherein they should go.

I am aware but of one objection, that can, with any fhew of reafon, be urged against what has been advanced; which is, that fuch a procedure as this will take up too much time, and hinder families too long from their worldly bufinefs. But it is much to be queftioned, whether perfons that start fuch an objection, are not of the fame hypocritical spirit as the traitor Judas, who had indignation against devout Mary, for being fo profufe of her ointment, in anointing our bleffed Lord, and asked why it might not be fold for two hundred pence, and given to the poor. For has God given us fo much time to work for outfelves, and shall we not allow fome fmall pittance of it, morning and evening, to be devoted to his more immediate worship and fervice?. Have not people read, that it is God who gives men power to get wealth, and therefore that the best way to profper in the world, is to fecure his favour? And has not our bleffed Lord himself promised, that if we feek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all out. ward neceffaries thall be added unto us?

Abraham, no doubt, was a man of as great bufipas fuch objectors may be; but yet he would find

time to command his houfehold to ferve the Lord. Nay, David was a king, and confequently had a great deal of bufinefa upon his hands; yet, notwithstanding he profeffes, that he would walk in his houfe with a perfect heart. And, to inftance but one more, holy Joshua was a perfon certainly engaged very much in temporal affairs; and yet he folemnly declares before all Ifrael, that as for him and his household, they would ferve the Lord. And did perfons but redeem their time as Abraham, David, or Jofhua did, they would no longer complain, that family duties kept them too long from the business of the world.

III. But my third and laft general head, under which I was to offer fome motives, in order to excite all governors, with their refpective houfeholds, to ferve the Lord in the manner before recommended, I hope, will ferve instead of a thousand arguments, to prove the weakness and folly of any fuch objection.

F. And the first motive I fhail mention is the duty of gratitude, which you that are governors of families owe to God-Your lot, every one must confefs, is caft in a fair ground: Providence hath given you a goodly heritage, above many of your fellow creatures; and therefore, out of a principle of grati tude, you ought to endeavour, as much as in you lies, to make every perfon of your refpective households to call upon him as long as they live: not to mention, that the authority, with which God has invefted you as parents and governors of families, is a ta lent committed to your truft, and, which you are bound to improve to your Master's honour. In other things, we find governors and parents can exercise lordship over their children and fervants readily, and frequently enough can fay to one, Go, and he goeth and to another, Come, and he cometh; to a third, Do this, and he doeth it. And fhall this power be fo often employed in your own affairs, and never exerted in the things of God? Be astonished, O hea vens, at this!

Thus did not faithful Abraham; no, God fays, that he knew Abraham would "command his fer❝vants and children after him." Thus did not Jofhua: no, he was refolved not only to walk with God himself, but to improve his authority in making all about him do fo too: "As for me and my household 56 we will ferve the Lord." Let us go and do likewife.

2. But Secondly, If gratitude to God will not, methinks love and pity to your children thould move you, with your refpective families, to ferve the Lord

Most people exprefs a great fondnefs for their children: nay fo great, that very often their own lives are wrapped up in those of their offspring Can a "woman forget her fucking child, that the fhould "not have compaffion on the fon of her womb?" fays God by his Prophet Ifaiah. He fpeaks of it as a monstrous thing, and fearce credible; but the words immediately following, affirm it to be poffible, yea, they may forget: and experience alfo affures b they may. Father and mother may both forfake their children: for what greater degree of forgetfulhefs can they exprefs towards them, than to neglect the improvement of their better part, and not bring them up in the knowledge and fear of God?..

It is true indeed, parents feldom forget to provide for their children's bodies (though, it is to be feared; fome men are fo far funk beneath the beasts that perith, as to neglect even that) but then how often do they forget, or rather, when do they remember, to fecure the falvation of their immortal fouls? But is this their way of exprefling their fondness for the fruit of their bodies? Is this the best teftimony they can give of their affection to the darling of their hearts? Then was Dalilah fond of Samfon, when she delivered him up into the hands of the Philiflines: then were thofe ruffians well affected to Daniel when they threw him into a den of lions. >

3. But Thirdly, If neither gratitude to God, nor

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love and pity to your Children, will prevail on you; yet let a principle of common honesty and justice move you to fet up the holy resolution in the text.

This is a principle which all men would be thought to act upon. But certainly, if any may be truly cenfured for their injustice, none can be more liable to fuch cenfure, than those who think themselves injured if their fervants withdraw themfelves from their bodily work, and yet they in return take no care of their ineftimable fouls. For is it juft that fervants fhould spend their time and ftrength in their mafter's fervice, and mafters not at the fame time give them what is juft and equal for their service!"

It is true, fome men may think they have done enough when they give unto their fervants food and raiment, and fay, did not I bargain with thee for fo much a-year? But if they give them no other reward than this, what do they lefs for their very beafts? But are not fervants better than they? Doubtless they are: and however mafters may put off their convic tions for the prefent, they will find a time will come, when they fhall know they ought to have given them fome spiritual as well as temporal wages; and the cry of those that have mowed down their fields, will enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

4. But Fourthly, If neither gratitude to God, pity to children, nor a principle of common juftice to fervants, are fufficient to balance all objections; yet let that darling, that prevailing motive of felf-intereft turn the fcale, and engage you with your respective houfeholds to ferve the Lord.

This weighs greatly with you in other matters: be then perfuaded to let it have a due and full inAuence on you in this: and if it has, if you have but faith as a grain of muftard-feed, how can you avoid believing, that promoting family-religion would be the best means to promote your own temporal, as well as eternal welfare? For "godlinefs has the promife

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