2. To parents and children in particular —
[Parents, surely you may learn from the history before us to cut off all occasion for self-reproach in the event of your children's death. No doubt David was too indulgent towards Absalom, and had forborne to punish him as he deserved. And what a bitter reflection it will be to you to think, that you had not exerted yourselves to the utmost of your power for the
^ Acts viii. 2. If this be a Funeral Sermon, any observations re- specting the character of the deceased may be introduced, where it best accords with the subject as here treated.
f Gen. 1. 7—11. e Acts ix. 36—39. ^ Rev. xiv. 13.
repressing of sin in your children, and the cultivating of an heavenly principle in their minds! You well know how God marked his indignation against Eli for this very thing'. His fault was, not that he encouraged his sons to sin, but that he did not exert himself with sufficient energy to reclaim them. O think what you will say, if you neglect to warn, to reprove, and to instruct your children ! how will you answer it at the tribunal of God ? Are ministers responsible for the souls com- mitted to their charge ? so are you for the children whom God has intrusted unto you. He has said to you, as Pharaoh's daughter, " Take these and bring them up for me ; " and, if they perish through your neglect, " their blood will be required at your hands." Endeavour then to impress them with a sense of their duty to God. You often try to convince them how much ^ou have loved them ; but you are apt to forget to shew them how Christ hath loved them. David's love to Absalom was nothing in comparison of Christ's to them: Christ did not merely under a momentary conffict of mind ivish that he had died for them; but he actually did die for them, yea, and endured the curse due to their sins, and left the bosom of his Father on purpose that he might do so ; and foreseeing from eternity all that he must suffer, he formed the purpose, and never receded from it, till he had accomplished all that was necessary for their salvation : and all this he did, when they were in open rebellion against him. You may convince them of your love, and yet produce no permanent effect upon them; they may continue hostile both to God and you : but convince them of the love of Christ to them, and that will constrain them to live in all dutiful obedience both to God and man.
Children, learn ye also from this history to regard the instructions of your parents. See, in Absalom, the effect and recompence of wilful disobedience ! And be careful not to grieve the souls of you^r parents, by constraining them to " sor- row for you as without hope." If you die before them, what distress will your state occasion ! or, if you survive them, how will they be pained in a dying hour to have no prospect of meeting you in a better world ! Remember, that however much they love you now, they will be swift witnesses against you in the day of judgment ; and all the efforts which they made for your salvation, will only aggravate your eternal con- demnation. Be wise then in time, and labour, that whether you survive your parents or die before them, yovi may be their joy and crown of rejoicing to all eternity.]
i 1 Sam. ii. 27 — 34. and iii. 13, 14.