I say, what wilt thou say to
this? Or art thou like the ostrich whom God hath deprived of wisdom,
and hath hardened her heart against her young? Will it please thee,
when thou shalt see that thou hast brought forth children to the
murderer? or when thou shalt hear them cry, I learnt to go on in the
paths of sin by the carriage of professing parents? If it was
counted of old a sad thing for a man to bring forth children to the
sword, as Ephraim did; what will it be for a man to bring up
children for hell? Hos. 9:13.
"And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat
sons and daughters." He lived therefore to see the fruit of his good
rule and government in the church, even to see his teachable and
dedicated son caught up to God and to his throne.
A good encouragement to all rulers in the house of God, and also to
all godly parents, to teach and rule in the fear of God; for that is
the way to part with church-members and children with comfort; yea,
that is the way, if we shall outlive them, to send them to heaven
and to God before us.
If parents carry it lovingly towards their children, mixing their
mercies with loving rebukes, and their loving rebukes with fatherly
and motherly compassions, they are more likely to save their
children than by being churlish and severe towards them.
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