that you have fully discharged the duty of parents; if they
will learn to hold the Plow, that you are willing to teach
them: But when did you spend an hour to teach them the
way of salvation?
Now to convince such careless Parents of the heinousness
of their sin, let these four Queries be solemnly considered.
Whether this be a sufficient discharge of that great duty
which God hath laid upon Christian Parents, in reference to
their families? That God hath charged them with the souls
of their families is undeniable, Deut. 6. 6, 7. Eph. 6. 4. If God
had not cloathed you with his authority, to command them
in the way of the Lord; he would never have charged them
so strictly to yield you obedience as he hath done, Eph. 6. 1.
Col. 3. 20. Well, a great trust is reposed in you, look to your
duty, for without dispute you shall answer for it.
Whether it be likely, if the time of youth (which is the
moulding age) be neglected, they will be wrought upon to
any good afterwards? Husbandmen, let me put a sensible
case to you; Do yo not see in your very horses, that whilst
they are young, you can bring them to any way; but if once
they have got a false stroke, and by long custom it be grown
nutural to them, then there is no breaking them of it: yea,
you see it, in your very Orchards, you may bring a tender
twig to grow in what form you please; but when its grown
to a sturdy limb, there is no bending it afterwards to any
other form than what it naturally took. Thus it is with
children, Prov. 22. 6. Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Whether, if you neglect to instruct them in the way of the
Lord, Satan, and their own natural corruptions, will not in∣struct
them in the way to hell? Consider this ye careless Pa∣rents;
if you will not teach your children, the Devill will
teach them; if you shew them not how to pray; he will shew
them how to curse and swear, and take the name of the Lord
in vain; if you grudge time a pains about their souls, the
Devil doth not. Oh, 'tis a sad consideration, that so many
children should be put to School to the devil!
What comfort are you like to have from them when they