all this come to, if tlie creature be not acquainted with Christ the true way to God, faith and repentance the only way to Christ? Such a one, after all this bustle, instead of making an escape from Satan, will run full into his mouth another way. There are some ways which at first seem right to the traveller ; yet wind about so insensibl}^ that when a man hath gone far, and thinks him- self near home, he is carried back to the place from whence he set forth. This will befall every soid ignorant of Christ, and the way of life through him ; after many years' travel, as they think, towards heaven by their good meanings, blind devotions, and reformation, when they shall expect to be within sight of heaven, they shall find themselves even where they were at first, as much the slaves of Satan as ever.
Use 1. This speaks to you that are parents. See what need you have of instructing yoiu- children, and training them up betimes in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Till these chains of darkness be knocked off their minds, there is no possibility of getting them out of the devil's prison ; he hath no such tame slave as the ignorant soul : such a one goes before Satan, as the silly sheep before the butcher, and knows not who he is, nor whither he carries him ; and can you see the devil driving your children to the shambles, and not labour to rescue them out of his hands ? Bloody parents you are, that can thus harden your bowels against your own flesh. Now the more to provoke you to your duty, take these considerations.
1. Your relation obligeth you to take care of their precious souls. It is the soul is the child rather than the body ; and therefore in Scripture put for the whole man. Abraham and Lot went forth ' with all the souls they had gotten in Haran,' Gen. xii. So, ' all the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt;' that is, all the persons. The body is but the sheath ; and if one should leave his sword with you to be kept safely for him, would you throw away the blade, and only preserve the scabbard? And yet parents do commonly judge of their care and love to their children by providing for the outward man, by their breeding, and teaching them how to live like men, as they say, when they are dead and gone, and comport themselves to their civil place and rank in the world. These things indeed ai'e commendable ; but is not the most weighty business of all forgotten in the mean time, while no endeavour is used that they may live as Christians, and know how to carry themselves in duty to God or man as such? And can they do this without the knowledge of the holy rule they are to walk b}' ? I am sure David knew no means effectual without this, and therefore propounds the question, ' Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way V and he resolves it in the next words, ' By taking heed thereto according to thy word,' Psa. cxix. 9. And how shall they compare their way and the word together, if not instructed ? Our children are not born with Bibles in their heads or hearts. And who ought to be the instructor, if not the parent? yea, who will do it with such natural afiection? As I have lieard sometimes a mother say in other respects. Who can take such pains with my child, and be so careful as myself that am its mother? Bloody parents then they are, who acquaint not their children with God or his word ; what do they but put them under a necessity of perishing, if God stir not up some to shew more mercy than themselves to them. Is it any wonder to hear that ship to be sunk, or dashed upon the rock, which Avas put to sea without card or compass? no more is it, they should engulf themselves in sin and perdition, that are thrust forth into the world, which is a sea of temptation, without the know- ledge of God, or their duty to him. In the fear of God think of it, parents your children have souls, and these God set you to watch over ; it will be a poor account at the last day, if you can only say, Lord, here are my children, I bred them complete gentlemen, left them rich and wealthy. The rust of that silver you left them will witness yoiu- folly and sin, that you woidd do so much for that which rusts, and nothing for the enriching their minds with the knowledge of God, which woidd have endured for ever ; happy if you had left them less money and more knowledge.
2. Consider, it hath ever been the saints' practice to instruct and teach their children the way of God. David we find dropping instruction into his son Solomon, 1 Chron. xxviii. 9: ' Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him
UARKXESS OF THIS WORLD. 1]5