sand;
And yet so he builds and contrives for himself and his
[Chap. 2] [sect. 3] childe, even where he knows, there is no
continuing or
abi∣ding City. And this is a folly exceeding that of the sim∣plest idiot in the world; for it is as if the Parent should lay out all his whole stock of wealth and wit to purchase and furnish a chamber for his childe in a
thorough faire, and pro∣vide it no house in the City, where it is for ever to dwell. Again, the Parent is so wise, that he will till and manure the field, he looks to reap a good crop from; but here he thinks to reap though he sow not: and that the childe will be good, how bad soever the fathers example be, or how little soever his care which he takes, in the well nurturing of his childe. It is a
soloecisme in
Power, saith the
Lo Ver. but we are sure it is an inordinate, rude, and perverse con∣ceit, that prevails with the most parents against all sense and reason,
To thinke to command the end, yet not to endure the meanes. They will expect comfort, ye cannot beat them off from it; but for the way they take, they may as well expect a
grape from a
thorne, or a
figge from a
thistle; for look upon the childe they expect it from: observe its looks, speeches, gesture; mark it from the head to the heel, and you shall see it like the sluggards field, and in no better plight, to yeeld comfort, in true judgement, then is that field to give fruit; or then the parched places of the wildernesse, or a salt land not inhabited. Note we this, for the close hereof, and to instruct
father and
mother very much. The childe had, anci∣ently amongst the Romanes, three set over him, the
master to instruct; the
governour to correct; the
parent to do both, or to see carefully that both were done. So the
parent was principall, and his work the chiefe: Now it is otherwise; the
parent commonly doth just nothing, the
Master must do all, look to the childs book, and manners both; he must instruct and correct also, faults done without the verge of his jurisdiction; which hindreth instruction very much: for he that must instruct, should have as little occasion to cor∣rect, as may be. I would it were in the
Philosophy of pa∣rents to note this; for it is certain,
parents must do their