for themselves. This fhould conftantly be fubjected to those that are to judge for them. They fhould never be suffered to prevail by an untoward fretful temper, not even when what they crave is fuitable for them to receive, were they in a fubmiffive difpofition; that they may clearly fee (which they foon will) it is more to their benefit and comfort to yield an entire fubjection to their providers, and that nothing is to be got by a fretful felf-willed temper. This fhould be done by a constant steady hand, and it will make the work of parents abundantly easier in the government of their children, and may prove a great ease to those concerned with them, perhaps through the whole course of their lives; fince by crushing their perverfenefs in the first buddings, it may fo die away, as never more to gain the pre-eminence. This would be a wonderful bleffing, and they would owe their watchful parents more for fuppreffing that, and other pernicious buds in them, than for a large patrimony or outward inheritance. Indeed every thing of an evil nature should be kept down in them by fuch careful steady means. Oh! what a fine hopeful. generation of youths fhould we have, were parents in general to exercise this prudent care in all things! I verily believe, instead of sober virtuous youth be ing as fpeckled birds amongst others, the rebellious, difobedient, and froward would be fo; and this would bring judgment over them.

A confcientious difcharge of this great duty. would bring an ample reward to fuch parents, as have no greater joy than to see their children walk

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ing in the truth and if they fhould prove unfuccessful, as it fometimes hath happened, they will be clear of their childrens blood in God's fight, which is a very great thing; fo that though the rebellion and evil conduct of their offspring may be their forrow, it will not be their fin.

I have fometimes been much grieved, when I have seen youth in the way of being ruined by the very imprudent indulgence of their parents, especially mothers; making themfelves and others mere flaves to the perverse humours of their children; taking abundance of pains to extinguish the flame of their untoward tempers, by fuch means as add fewel to the fire; inverting the order of nature, by becoming fubject to those who should fubmit to them, by anfwering their unreasonable cravings; making themselves more work (and that too of a very difagreeable nature) to educate one, than, were they to follow the method before hinted, it would require to educate a number, and in the end not fo well done neither. Parents, who are fo very imprudent, have lefs reason to reflect upon their children for being felf-willed, and not fubject to them when they grow up: feeing they themfelves have cherished, fed, and fupported that temper in them from their cradles; whereby, unless religion lays deep hold of them, and changes the ftate of their minds, they are unfitted to be a comfort either to themselves or others; not being formed for good fervants, hufbands, wives, or members of society.

Alas!

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Alas! when I take a view of the world, and reflect how it wallows in abundance of wickedness and corruption, which mankind poffefs in a kind of fucceffion from parents to children, like outward inheritances; I have no words fufficient to fet forth to the full fo deplorable a cafe. How forrowful it is to obferve even children, by the power of example, become as grown men in wickedness and hardness of heart! Custom and general practice hath, as it were, changed the nature of fome grofs evils, fo that there appears very little remorse in the almost constant practice of them. Many children are brought up, like their parents, much strangers to their duty both to God and man. This almost univerfal infection of evil, forgetfulness of God, and of many or most relative duties, by a constantly wallowing in the pollutions of this world, are very alarming, and call loudly for a reformation, left the Lord break forth in judgment upon the nations, as the breach of watess. It is indeed a painful task for godly parents, amidft fo general a depravity, to educate their children without receiving fome tincture from this pollution, which runs down like a strong torrent. The safest way is, with great strictness to keep them out of fuch company; though an inconveniency may attend that in fome outward refpects. But oh the fouls are the most precious part of them, which parents, above all other confiderations, ought to be concerned to preserve untainted with the defilements of this world.

There

There is no better rule to proceed and act by in this important task, than the Spirit of truth, promised to lead us into all truth. If we mind this, we fhall not indulge our children in any individual thing which that teftifies against in ourselves. We fhall be far from pleading, that because they are young, fome greater liberties may be allowed them in drefs or otherwife; but as they are a part of ourfelves, the fame divine law fhould be a standing rule for the whole.

I have taken notice, that divers parents, who, as to their outward appearance, seem to have learned, in degree, the lesson of humility and selfdenial, however as far as could be discovered by their drefs and addrefs, yet seem to have no averfion to their children's making a different appearance; nay, fome will even introduce them into it themselves whilft very young; by which it is plain they have a pride in feeing them fo, and cannot help (notwithstanding their outward fhew) difcovering great unfoundness, and that they themselves are not what they would pafs for. I fincerely wish that parents, who are apt to indulge wrong liberties in their children, by fuffering them to deviate from that pure fimplicity and felf-denial Truth led our ancestors, and ftill leads thofe who follow it into, would confider, in the first place, the injury their children fuftain thereby, by being placed in a difficult and dangerous fituation with respect to temptations, which may be presented to them by the children of the land, or of the world : for doubtless the more like them they appear, the

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more free and intimate will fuch make themselves with them, that they may be drawn out into undue liberties; whereas, did they make an appearance quite confiftent with their plain felf-denying profeffion, that fort would be more backward to attempt an access to them.

There is no doubt with me, but this has opened a way for many under our profeffion to ruin themfelves, by going out in marriage; and their parents have been, by their imprudent indulgence, the original caufe thereof. For fuffering them to be fo much like the world, and fo little like what Truth leads into, they are put out of the way of the beft connexions in marriage amongst us, viz. the most religious; as fuch dare not feek to, nor join with, thofe who give way to undue liberties: I mean fuch as Truth doth not allow us, as people who ought in all things to hold up a true standard to the nations, to continue in. Here inconfiderate tender youth, through their aptness to crave the glittering gaiety of the world, and their much more imprudent parents indulging them therein, are, as it were, prepared for ruin, unless divine mercy interpofe; and are also removed out of the way of the greatest bleffing that can be enjoyed in the things of this life; viz. a truly religious hufband or wife.

Some parents have been pierced through with much forrow by fuch means, and have had great cause to repent when it was too late, and there hath been reason to fear that the blood of their children would be required at their hands. Oh! how dif honourably