A Golden Chain

Fifthly, seeing Christ went to heaven to prepare a place for all that believe in him, here is a good duty for parents. Many of them are very careful to prefer their children to great places and noble mens houses, and they are not to be blamed therefore: but if they would indeed be good parents to their children, they should first endeavour themselves to get rooms for them in heaven: they that do this, are good parents indeed. Some will say, how shall we get this preferment for them? Ans. God hath two houses, his Church, and the kingdom of heaven. The church is his house of grace, heaven is his house of glory. Now if thou wouldst bring thy child to a place in the house of glory, then thou art first of all to get him a place in the house of grace: bringing him up so in the fear of God, that both in life and conversation he may show himself to be a member of the Church: and then assure thy self, that after this life, he shall be removed to the second house of God, which is the house of glory, and there be freeman for ever in the kingdom of heaven. And if thou shalt thus provide for thy child, thou shalt not leave him as an orphan when thou diest, but he shall have God for his father and Christ for his brother, and the holy Ghost his comforter. And therefore first of all and above all, remember to make thy child a member of Gods Church. Let the example of David excite all parents hereunto:¹ I had rather (saith he) be a door keeper in the hou•e of God, then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickedness. For a day in thy courts is better then a thousand else where.

Fifthly, seeing Christ went to heauen to prepare a place for all that beleeue in him, here is a good dutie for parents. Many of them are very carefull to preferre their children to great places and noble mens houses, and they are not to be blamed therefore: but if they would indeede be good parents to their children, they should first endeauour themselues to get roomes for them in heauen: they that doe this, are good parents indeede. Some will say, howe shall we get this preferment for them? Ans. God hath two houses, his Church, and the kingdome of heauen. The church is his house of grace, heauen is his house of glorie. Nowe if thou wouldst bring thy child to a place in the house of glorie, then thou art first of all to get him a place in the house of grace: bringing him vp so in the feare of God, that both in life and conuersation he may shew himselfe to be a member of the Church: and then assure thy selfe, that after this life, he shall be remooued to the second house of God, which is the house of glorie, and there be freeman for euer in the kingdome of heauen. And if thou shalt thus prouide for thy childe, thou shalt not leaue him as an orphan when thou diest, but he shall haue God for his father and Christ for his brother, and the holy Ghost his comforter. And therefore first of all and aboue all, remember to make thy child a member of Gods Church. Let the example of Dauid excite all parents hereunto: