2 And whereas many hold that it is not material, nor to be regarded, what children do, and that they are not to be examined nor censured by their doings, though they be wanton and childish, they be confuted, Pro. 20. 11. They shall be judged by their steps▪ As the blessing of Gods is upon them, that give themselves to wisdom, Psalm. 127 & 128. whom David compareth to a quiver full of arrows, & to olive branches: so doth he not spare those that do evil, although they be children. 2. Reg. 2. 24. The boys that scoffed Elisha were torn in pieces with two bears. To this the Hebrew proverb may be added, in Golgotha are1 to be seen souls of all sizes, that is, death the reward of sin cometh on the young as well as upon the old. I saw little and great saith John, Apoc 20. 12. waiting for their judgement. Christ who hath said of himself, I have given you an example. John, 13. 13. and of whom the Divines rule is, Every action of Christ serves for our instruction, hath given2 our children an example of his youth, that is, that at twelve years he was grown as much in wisdom, namely in the fear of God and in the favour of God as in years. He alloweth of the children's singing Hosanna. Mat. 21. 16. when the Pharisees thought it a foolish thing to regard the children's cry. He shows, that his father maketh an account of children, and hath no desire that they should be lost for teaching, & lost must they be, except they come3 to the Church. Therefore he giveth commandment, that they be suffered, and not forbidden, if they have any desire unto him, and therefore he pronounceth a woe upon any, that when such would come to Christ, do scandalize them either by word, counsel or example, or any other undue means keep them from coming to him. Joh. 21. 15. Christ his charge to Peter is not to feed his sheep only, but his lambs also, and first his lambs, for the increase of the whole flock dependeth on the towardness of the lambs, and the lambs being well fed, less pains need to be taken with the sheep. All solemn promises we must perform as sure as we can. But in our Baptism we made a solemn promise of ⟨p. 664⟩learning the fear of God.
2 And whereas many hold that it is not materiall, nor to be regarded, what children do, and that they are not to be examined nor censured by their doings, though they be wantō and childish, they be confuted, Pro. 20. 11. They shall be iudged by their steps▪ As the blessing of Gods is vpon them, that giue themselues to wisedome, Psalm. 127 & 128. whom Dauid compareth to a quiuer full of arrowes, & to oliue branches: so doth he not spare those that doe euill, although they be children. 2. Reg. 2. 24. The boyes that scoffed Elisha were torne in peeces with two beares. To this the Hebrew prouerbe may bee added, in Golgotha are1 to be seene souls of all sizes, that is, death the reward of sinne commeth on the young as well as vpon the olde. I saw little and great saith Iohn, Apoc 20. 12. waiting for their iudgement. Christ who hath said of himselfe, I haue giuen you an example. Iohn, 13. 13. and of whom the Diuines rule is, Euery action of Christ serues for our instruction, hath giuen2 our children an example of his youth, that is, that at twelue yeeres he was growen as much in wisdome, namely in the feare of God and in the fauour of God as in yeares. He alloweth of the childrens singing Hosanna. Mat. 21. 16. when the Pharisies thought it a foolish thing to regard the childrens crie. He shewes, that his father maketh an account of children, and hath no desire that they should be lost for teaching, & lost must they be, except they come3 to the Church. Therefore he giueth commaundement, that they bee suffered, and not forbidden, if they haue any desire vnto him, and therefore he pronounceth a woe vpon any, that when such would come to Christ, doe scandalize them either by word, counsell or example, or any other vndue meanes keepe them from comming to him. Ioh. 21. 15. Christ his charge to Peter is not to feed his sheepe onely, but his lambes also, and first his lambes, for the increase of the whole flocke dependeth on the towardnesse of the lambes, and the lambes being well fed, lesse paines need to be taken with the sheepe. All solemne promises we must performe as sure as we can. But in our Baptisme wee made a solemne promise of
- 1Children punished for sin. Note.
- 2Christsyouth
- 3Children must not be lost for teaching.Childrē must not be lost for teaching.
