2. Those that do not improve the mercy, nor endeavour to make children blessings indeed, by an holy education. Oh ! it will be a great happiness to be parents to such as shall be heirs of glory 1 As children ought to be looked upon ks a great mercy, so also as a great trust, which as it is managed may occasion much joy or much grief. If parents doat upon them, they make them idols, not servants of the Lord. If they neglect education, they will surely prove crosses and curses to them, or if they taint them by their example. Young ones are very apt to follow the example of those they see or converse with, or are related to them. Those forty-two children, 2 Kings ii. 23, 24, that were devoured of two she-bears, and cried bald-pate to the prophet of the Lord, were children of Bethel, which was a nest of idolatry. Therefore parents had need see what example they give, or suffer to be
SERMON UPON PSALM CXXVII. 3. 93
given, to their children, in contemning the servants of the Lord, or in any other kind of sin.
3. Eeproof to children born of godly parents, and, notwithstanding dedication and education, break out into unseemly and wicked courses. For children born in a godly family to be naught is the greatest de- generation that can be. Ungodly children of godly parents, these wrest themselves out of the arms of mercy, and instead of a blessing, become a burden and a curse. They cast off their father's God : Prov. xxvii. 10, ' Thine own friend and thy father's friend forsake not.' But what shall be said of them that forsake their father's God ? They break off and interrupt the course of the blessing : Jer. ii. 12, 13, ' Be aston- ished, 0 ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord ; for my people hath committed two evils, they have for- saken me, the fountain of living water, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that will hold no water.' He would have the sun to look pale, the spheres to cast out their stars. Wilt thou be a traitor to thy father's God ? Solomon continued alliance with Hiram because he had been a friend to David ; and wilt thou break off the grace of the covenant ? Cain excommunicated himself : Gen. iv, 16, 'Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.' Ishmael, for scoffing malignity against the power of godliness, was cast out of Abraham's family. Gen. xxi. 9 ; Esau for sensual profaneness, Heb. xii. 15, despising spiritual privileges for sensual satisfactions. The Jews were cast off TTJ airtcrrLa, for unbelief, Eom. xi. 20, or positive rejection of the gospel. Christ made them the first offer.
Use 3. To exhort parents to bring up their children for God ; for if they be an heritage from the Lord, they must be an heritage to the Lord. Give them up to him again, as you had them from him at first ; for whatever is from him must be improved for him. Dedicate them to God, and educate them for God, and he will take possession of them in due time. Hannah, though her son were a Levite born, and her eldest son, yet she solemnly dedicateth him to God : 2 Sam. i. 27, 28, ' I prayed for this child, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him, therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth, he shall be lent to the Lord.' Give God his por- tion. Now, if the dedication be sound, it will engage you to a serious education. God dealeth with us as Pharaoh's daughter did with Moses' mother : Exod. ii. 9, ' Take this child away, and nurse it for me.'
Motives.
1. Tiie express charge of God, who hath made it your duty : Eph. vi. 4, ' Fathers, bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ; ' Deut. vi. 7, ' These words shalt thou teach diligently unto thy children , and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up ; ' Prov. xxii. 6, * Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.' Now we nhould make conscience of these commands, as we will answer it to God another day.
2. The exam})le of the saints, who have been careful to discharge this trust. God presumeth it of Abraham : Gen. xviii. 19, ' For I know him, that lie will command his childien and his household after
94 SERMON UPON PSALM CXXVII. 3.
liim, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judg- ment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.' Observe, God reckoneth upon it ; and disappointment is the worst vexation. And it is a means to obtain the promise and the blessing : 2 Tim. iii. 15, ' And that uTrb /Spe^oix;, from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures.' How? By his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, as is expressed elsewhere. Surely they are unworthj'- to have children that do not take care that Christ may have an interest in tlieui.