An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of the Duties of Parents and Children.

I. Of the Caution that is to be used in Cojugal Co∣habitation. FOrasmuch as from the Individual Society, and Cohabitation of Man and Wife Children do proceed, and by means thereof the succession of Families, Kindred, Estates and Titles ar•• perpetu∣ated; it highly concerns Parents, that they be∣have themselves prudently in the Conjugal Union, lest by their intemperance their off-spring be vitia∣ted. For it was not without Reason, that some have been reproached with this stinging Taunt, Thy Father begot thee when he was drunk. For the Vices of the Parents, are frequently transferr'd to their Children; and the very temper of their Bodies, is a cause either of the commendable, or nerverse Manners of them.

II. The Duty of Mothers. The Duty of the Mother; is to take care that the Child in her Womb do not come to any hurt, and when Born, that she sollicitously cherish it, and suckle it her self, and that she do not put it out to a Nurse, without urgent necessity. As soon as it comes to the use of reason, she must also endeavour to form its tender and pliable Manners, according to the rules of Vertue and Piety, and to instil into it the first Principles of Religion.

III. The Office of Fathers. But because it imports little to have given Life to Children, and thereby to put them into a State, that is indifferent to either Vertue or Vice, except due Instruction be superadded, and the Hatred of the one, and Love of the other be inculcated into them; it is the Fathers Duty, to take care that they be timely taught, according to his Ability and Condition, and he must omit nothing, that may conduce to their advancement in Learning and Good Manners. If he be able, let him put them out to School, to the end that being out of their Mothers sight, and rid from her fondling of them, they may mind their Learning the better: But he must so resign the care of their Instruction to others, as not wholly to neglect it himself, but must have an Eye to the Progress they make, by prescribing what they ought to learn, and judg∣ing what may be omitted: Except he be assured of the Ability, Care and Prudence of the Ma∣sters, with whom he hath intrusted them.

IV. Parents are bound to main∣tain their Ch ildre. Another Duty of Parents is, that they take care of the Bodily Sustenance of their Children; and in case they want wherewith to maintain them, that then they take care to teach them such Arts, whereby they may be able to maintain themselves, without being burthensome to them. Neither must only Legitimate Children be maintained by Pa∣rents, but Natural also, that is, such as are Born without Wedlock. For according to the Law of Nature, they ought to be provided for by their Parents; and tho' they cannot be said to be Mem∣bers of the Commonwealth, yet they are like Warts and Corns, which tho' they be no parts of the Body, yet are fed from the substance of the Body to which they adhere. And therefore l. 3. de inof. Test. Bastards are allow'd an Action at Law, whereby they may oblige their Parents to give them a Maintenance, as well as if they were Le∣gitimate.

V. Parents must love their Chil∣dren ali••e. Parents likewise are obliged to bear an equal Love to all their Children, without putting any difference between them; for seeing they all of them stand in the same relation to their Parents, they ought also to be cherished with the same Love and Affection; neither is any difference to be made between them, as to their right of Inhe∣ritance, except the particular Prerogative of Pri∣mogeniture, and where the Laws of the Society, wherein they livedo require it. Wherefore the Civil Law gives the Children power of bringing an Action of an inofficious Testament against a Fa∣ther, who by his last Will bequeaths his Estate to others, passing by his Sons and lawful Heirs; and the Falcidian Law allows them the fourth part of the Estate to be equally shar'd amongst them. But yet it is lawful, and permitted to Pa∣rents to love them more, and bestow more upon them, in whom they discern more Obedience and Vertue; because this is no more than is due to their worth, they being no otherwise preferr'd

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Book. 1. Part. 10. Chap. ••

Lens. Inv.

I. Kip Scu

To the Right Worshipfull S^r. Robert Clayton of Marden in Surrey▪ and of the Citty of London Knight and Alderman Lord Mayor thereof Anno Domini 1680, And to Martha his Lady Daughter of M^r. Perient Trott of London Merchant.

This Plate is humbly Dedicated by Richard Blome.

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Book. 1. Part. 10. Chap. ••3

Lens. Inv.

I. Kip. Sc••

To the Worshipfull Peter Rycaut of King Stephens Castle in Ospring in Kent Esq^r., only Son and heyre of Collonell Phillip Rycaut, And Nephew to the Right Worshipfull S^r. ••aul Rycaut Knight, Envoy Extraordinary to their Majesties of great Brittaine in Hamburgh; And to Chorlotte his Wife, Daughter of S^r. Gilbert Gerard Baronet deceased.

This Plate is humbly Dedicated by Richard Blome.

before the rest of their Bretheren or Sisters, but as they are more worthy.

VI. Children are under the Power of their Parents. Parents by a natural right have power over their Children, for seeing that the care of them is by nature committed to the Parents, they would never be able to exercise the same, except they had Authority over them, to direct their Actions for their Good. And accordingly the best of Pa∣rents, do without any injury to them, force their Children to follow their Studies, to behave them∣selves as they ought, to leave the vicious inclina∣tions of their Nature, and to do those things which for the future, may make them good, and profitable Members of the Commonwealth. Now whilst the Father is in this exercise of his power over his Children, there is besides a great Obli∣gation incumbent upon him, that as he is the head of the Family, he take care also to impart Health and Strength to the rest of the Members of it; that is, that he recommend Vertue to them by his Example; and that he excel all the rest by his Life, more than by his Tongue or Instructions. That he deny and force himself, and that like an Eagle he provoke his young ones to fly; that he curb his Passions, that he may the more effectually excite them to follow the Footsteps of Vertue; and in a word, that he omit nothing whereby their tender springing Vertue, may thrive and flour∣ish.

VII. The Power of Parents over their Children is limited. The power of Parents over their Children is bounded: For it is not lawful for them to kill the Birth of their own begetting in its Mothers Womb; nor when it is Born, may they neglect, much less destroy it. For tho' their Children pro∣ceed from them, and be form'd out of their very Substance, yet are they born in the same condition as themselves, and are capable of being injur'd by their Parents. True it is, that of antient time, Parents had the Power of Life and Death allow'd them over their Children, that they might be the more encouraged to take care of them. But this absolute Power to chastise the Vices of their Man∣ners, that it might not lash out too far, was re∣strained by Law; It being taken for granted, that Children are not only born to the Parents, but to the Commonwealth; wherefore l. 4. ff. de re milit. it is enacted, that whosoever in time of War, shall refuse to send his Son to serve the Common∣wealth, or that shall any way maim him, that he may be uncapable to bear Arms, shall be ba∣nished.

VIII. What are the Duties of Chil∣dren. The Duties, or rather the Debts which Chil∣dren owe to their Parents are: First, that they Honour them, with all possible Observance and Obedience, and with an awful Veneration sub∣mit themselves to them. For it is their Duty to acknowledge their Preeminence, and their Domi∣nion over them; from whence the Royal and Ci∣vil Power are originally derived. And this Ho∣nour is in a twofold manner exhibited unto them; Inwardly, by the Affection and Esteem they have for them; and Outwardly, by their Words in Speaking to, and of them with all Reverence and respect; by Signs and Effects, as by rising up to them, serving them, staving off Harms, and pro∣curing their Good and welfare; by obeying their Commands, by submitting to their Will in all things, and by undertaking nothing without their Authority and Counsel.

IX. Children are bound to maintain their indi∣gent Pa∣rents. In the Second place, Children are bound to succour and relieve their Parents, if they be Poor and necessitous, as being Debtors to them. This is that which Nature teacheth, and which obtains amongst all Men, by the Law of Nations. It is an ancient Law, quoted by SENECA, Contro∣vers. 1. Let Children maintain their Parents, or else be cast into Prison. Because Parents here on Earth, are instead of GOD to their Children, tho' they may labour under Adversity and Poverty. They are as Creditors, to whom tho' they be im∣pious and contemners of the Laws, the Debt that is due to them must be paid notwithstanding. They are like so many Sovereign Princes, whose Actions and Counsels the Subjects may not pry into. And therefore Divines determin, that if a Man should meet with his Father and his Son in the same danger, and that he can only save one of them, he is bound to rescue his Father, rather than his Son. For to this he is bound by the tye of Blood, Reverence and Gratitude he owes to his Father; since he may have another Son, but can∣not have another Father.