The third use shall be for admonition unto them, to whom is committed the education of youth, as Parents Masters, Tutors, &c. that seeing the imaginations of mans heart are evil from his youth, therefore they must all join hand in hand betime to stop ⟨p. 165⟩up, or at least to lessen this corrupt fountain. Parents must sow the seeds of grace into the minds of their young children, that if it were possible, even at their mothers breasts they might be nourished in the faith. Thus dealt Lois and Eunice with their young Timothy: for Paul saith;e he learned the holy Scriptures *of an infant. Then as their children grow in discretion and use of reason, they must bef nurtured in religion, and have the grounds thereof by often repetition driven into their hearts: for this is the best means to free their minds, though not altogether from natural Imaginations, yet from the force and poison thereof: forg folly is bound to the heart of a child, but the ⟨p. 166⟩rod of teaching, that is, instruction with correction, will drive it away from him: yea, when as theh child set at liberty makes his mother ashamed. yet willi the son that is well instructed, give his father rest, & yield delight unto his soul. Further, where Parents leave, there Masters and Tutors must take hold, building up that good foundation which is laid to their hand, that by them also the stream of mans natural Imaginations may be stopped: yea, though parents should neglect this duty towards their own children, as too many do at this day, yet each godly master, if he desire to have Gods church in his house, must in struct his family, asf Abraham did; and labour for circumcision ⟨p. 167⟩of heart both to his children & servants, even asg Abraham did circumcise not only those that were borne in his family, but also those that were bought for money. Both Parents and Masters are careful to prevent diseases, & to break off sickness at the beginning in their children and servants, which by continuance might bring bodily death, oh then how careful ought they to be, to stop betime the course of natural Imagination in them, which without the special grace of God, will bring eternal condemnation both to soul and body? And the rather must this course be taken in youth, and that betime, because custom, whether in good or evil, is a second nature:
The third vse shall be for admonition vnto them, to whome is committed the education of youth, as Parents Masters, Tutors, &c. that seeing the imaginations of mans heart are euill from his youth, therefore they must all ioyne hand in hand betime to stop ⟨p. 165⟩vp, or at least to lessen this corrupt fountaine. Parents must sow the seedes of grace into the minds of their young children, that if it were possible, euen at their mothers breasts they might be nourished in the faith. Thus dealt Lois and Eunice with their young Timothie: for Paul saith;e he learned the holy Scriptures *of an infant. Then as their children grow in descretion and vse of reason, they must bef nurtered in religion, and haue the grounds thereof by often repetition driuen into their hearts: for this is the best meanes to free their minds, though not altogether from naturall Imaginations, yet from the force and poison thereof: forg follie is bound to the heart of a childe, but the ⟨p. 166⟩rodde of teaching, that is, instruction with correction, will driue it away from him: yea, when as theh child set at libertie makes his mother ashamed. yet willi the sonne that is well instructed, giue his father rest, & yeild delight vnto his soule. Further, where Parents leaue, there Maisters and Tutours must take hold, building vp that good foundation which is layde to their hand, that by them also the streame of mans naturall Imaginations may bee stopped: yea, though parents should neglect this dutie towards their owne children, as too many doe at this day, yet each godly master, if hee desire to haue Gods church in his house, must in struct his familie, asf Abrahā did; and labour for circumcision ⟨p. 167⟩of heart both to his children & seruants, euen asg
- e2. Tim. 3. 15.
- *[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- fEph. 6. 4.
- gPro 22. 15.
- hPro. 29. 15
- iIbid. 27.
- fGen. 18. 19.
- gGen. 17. 23.
