And for the benefit of the child's self, it helpeth much to his §3comfortable living in respect of outward abundance, and not being burdensome to others, and to his civill and orderly living in virtuous manner, and to his religious living when God shall call him to true piety; for if he be skilful in some way of maintaining himself, and will apply himself to his calling, he shall find the accomplishment of Gods promises, He that tilleth his ground, shall be satisfied with bread, 1and again, In all labour there is abundance; but being destitute of this ability, how shall he but want, unless a very great portion of goods or lands be given him? Yea, he that having lands and goods, hath not skill to employ them, grows far sooner wasteful and unthrifty, and consumeth his great estate, and then is put many times to base, many times to sinful shifts, which had he a good calling he might escape. Besides, labour in a calling subdues vice, and he that hath a calling, may be painful in it, he that hath none, cannot: Yea, if God call any person that hath been unprofitably brought up, to the knowledge of himself, such a one shall be much more to seek how to live religiously, than another that hath some employment; for in not knowing what course to take, he is made to stand distracted, and doubtful of his course, and so full of vexation and unquietness. Now all you Parents, that have neglected your children very much, and suffered them to trifle out all that golden season of youth, in which they should have fitted themselves for a profitable and comfortable life in elder days, be ashamed; you have been so foolish, as not alone to transgress the duty of Christians, but even that which the heathens have done: You have been causes of your children's misery, and the Common-wealth too, and if it proceed not from some other cause then from wisdom, your children must be but burdens and diseases to themselves, and the world. Rich Parents are sometimes guilty of this fault, for they think they shall leave them sufficient to maintain them though they do nothing, and therefore intend them not to any vocation, not considering how soon the Lord can empty a full Vessel, and make the River Jordan, yea, the ⟨p. 74⟩red Sea dry as dry ground, and then what will become of their children?
And for the benefit of the childes selfe, it helpeth much to his §3comfortable living in respect of outward abundance, and not being burdensome to others, and to his civill and orderly living in vertuous manner, and to his religious living when God shall call him to true piety; for if he be skilfull in some way of maintaining himselfe, and will apply himselfe to his calling, he shall finde the accomplishment of Gods promises, He that tilleth his ground, shall be satisfied with bread, 1and againe, In all labour there is abundance; but being destitute of this ability, how shall he but want, unlesse a very great portion of goods or lands be given him? Yea, he that having lands and goods, hath not skill to imploy them, growes far sooner wastfull and unthrifty, and consumeth his great estate, and then is put many times to base, many times to sinfull shifts, which had he a good calling he might escape. Besides, labour in a calling subdues vice, and he that hath a calling, may be painfull in it, he that hath none, cannot: Yea, if God call any person that hath been unprofitably brought up, to the knowledge of himselfe, such a one shall be much more to seeke how to live religiously, than another that hath some imployment; for in not knowing what course to take, he is made to stand distracted, and doubtfull of his course, and so full of vexation and unquietnesse. Now all you Parents, that have neglected your children very much, and suffered them to trifle out all that golden season of youth, in which they should have fitted themselves for a profitable and comfortable life in elder dayes, be ashamed; you have been so foolish, as not alone to transgresse the duty of Christians, but even that which the heathens have done: You have been causes of your childrens misery, and the Common-wealth too, and if it proceed not from some other cause then from wisdome, your children must be but burdens and diseases to themselves, and the world. Rich Parents are sometimes guilty of this fault, for they thinke they shall leave them sufficient to maintaine them though they doe nothing, and therefore intend them not to any vocation, not considering how soon the Lord can empty a full Vessell, and make the River Iordan, yea, the ⟨p. 74⟩red Sea dry as dry ground, and then what will become of their children?
- 1Prov. 28.19. & 22, 23.
