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SERMON X. (Book 10)
MY daughter is grievously vexed with a Devill] Children,* 1.1 especially to mo∣thers, whose affections are more weak and soft, are taking lovers, especially being parts and substantiall shadows of our self; yet four things are considerable in us to them: 1. So to hold, as we are willingly to let go, love them as creatures only; often the childe is the mo∣thers daughter, and the mothers God: 2. We are to strive to have them freed from under the power of the Devill, as this woman doth; for they come into the world fuell for Hell: Pa∣rents make more accompt all their life to make gold, rather then grace, their childrens Patri∣mony and Legacy: 3. Look at them as May-flowres, as born to come and appear for a space in the element of death; so they sport, laugh, run, eat, drink, and glister like Comets in the Air,* 1.2 or flying Meteors in the Spheare of the Clouds, and often go down to the grave before their Parents: 4. Beware of selfinesse, for children are our self, and their sins white and innocent sins to us: Eli honoured his sons more then God, and God put a mark of wrath on his house.
My daughter] Observe the rise of this pas∣sage of providence: Christ wearied of Judea came to the borders of Tyre and Sidon: 2. He went to a house to hide himself from her: 3.