§ 19. All you whom God hath entrusted with the care of children or servants, I would also persuade to this great work of helping others to the heavenly rest. Consider what plain and pressing commands of God require this at your hands. _These words thou shalt 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._[293] _Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it._[294] _Bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord._[295] Joshua resolved, that _he and his house would serve the Lord_.[296] And God himself says of Abraham, _I know him, that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord_.[297] Consider it is a duty you owe your children in point of justice. From you they received the defilement and misery of their natures; and therefore you owe them all possible help for their recovery. Consider, how near your children are to you. They are parts of yourselves. If they prosper when you are dead, you take it as if you lived and prospered in them; and should you not be of the same mind for their everlasting rest?—Otherwise you will be witnesses against your own souls. Your care, and pains, and cost for their bodies, will condemn you for your neglect of their precious souls. Yea, all the brute creatures may condemn you. Which of them is not tender of their young?—Consider, God hath made your children your charge, and your servants too. Every one will confess they are the minister's charge. And have not you a greater charge of your own families, than any minister can have of them? doubtless at your hands God will require the blood of their souls. It is the greatest charge you were ever entrusted with, and woe to you, if you suffer them to be ignorant or wicked for want of your instruction or correction. Consider, what work there is for you in their dispositions and lives. There is not one sin, but thousands. They are hereditary diseases, bred in their natures. The things you must teach them are contrary to the interest and desires of their flesh. May the Lord make you sensible what a work and charge lieth upon you!—Consider what sorrows you prepare for yourselves by the neglect of your children. If they prove thorns in your eyes, they are of your own planting. If you should repent and be saved, is it nothing to think of their damnation; and yourselves the occasion of it? But if you die in your sin, how will they cry out against you in hell? "All this was long of you, you should have taught us better, and did not; you should have restrained us from sin, and corrected us, but did not." What an addition will such outcries be to your misery? On the other side, think what a comfort you may have, if you be faithful in this duty. If you should not succeed, you have freed your own souls, and have peace in your own consciences. If you do, the comfort is inexpressible, in their love and obedience, their supplying your wants, and delighting you in all your remaining path to glory. Yea, all your family may fare the better for one pious child or servant. But the greatest joy will be, when you shall say, _Lord, here am I, and the children thou hast given me_; and shall joyfully live with them for ever. Consider how much the welfare of church and state depends on this duty. Good laws will not reform us, if reformation begin not at home. This is the cause of all our miseries in church and state, even the want of a holy education of children. I also entreat parents to consider, what excellent advantages they have for saving their children. They are with you while they are tender and flexible. You have a twig to bend, not an oak. None in the world have such interest in their affections as you have. You have also the greatest authority over them. Their whole dependence is upon you for a maintenance. You best know their temper and inclinations. And you are ever with them, and can never want opportunities: Especially you, mothers, remember this, who are more with your children, while young, than their fathers. What pains are you at for their bodies? What do you suffer to bring them into the world? And will you not be at as much pains for the saving of their souls? Your affections are tender; and will it not move you to think of their perishing for ever? I beseech you, for the sake of the children of your bowels, teach them, admonish them, watch over them, and give them no rest till you have brought them to Christ.
[Footnote 293] Deuteronomy vi, 6, 7.
[Footnote 294] Proverbs xxii, 6.
[Footnote 295] Ephesians vi, 4.
[Footnote 296] Joshua xxiv, 15.
[Footnote 295] Genesis xviii, 19.