Sermons upon Deuteronomy

As for the bringing up of children, the world sees what it is. Fathers are loth to have their children better than themselves, for fear least they should put them to shame. Forasmuch as they themselves have despised God all the time of their life, they be contented that their children shall despise him full as much or double: & if they happen to have any regard of the doctrine, it is but for fashions sake, & by way of constraint. But we be so taught these things in this text, that it shall cost us full dear to have bin so warned by God, if we regard not the things that he hath told us. Therefore let us be always careful to bear Gods word in mind, assuring our selves that although we have profited never so well; yet are we but in the way, & we must go on still; so as the once knowing of things is not enough for us, but we must be fain to be put in remembrance of them continually, & to be stirred up by God; or else we shall start away by and by. Now then let us think upon it, & let every of us have an eye to the charge that is committed unto him. Let such as have children bring them up in the fear of God, & let it be their chief care; for it is the best inheritance that they can leave them. For otherwise, although they leave them never so rich, and set them at never so good a stay; all must needs go to ruin. For God will curse all, if it be not grounded upon the pure religion. For whereas our Lord speaketh of going to bed, and rising up, of rest and labour: it is not for nought. For he showeth us that we have need of all the helps that can be, to put us in mind of his law. And therefore sith we see that by all manner of means we be turned away from the remembering of God, if the helps that are showed us here be not set still before us: these occasions ought to quicken us and stir us up thereunto.

As for ye bringing vp of children, ye world sees what it is. Fathers are loth to haue their childrē better than thēselues, for feare least they should put them to shame. Forasmuch as they themselues haue despised God all ye time of their lyfe, they be contented yt their children shall despise him full as much or dubble: & if they happen to haue any regard of ye doctrine, it is but for fashions sake, & by way of constreint. But wee bee so taught these thinges in this text, yt it shal cost vs full deare to haue bin so warned by God, if we regard not the thinges yt he hath tolde vs. Therefore let vs bee alwayes carefull to beare Gods word in minde, assuring our selues yt although we haue profited neuer so wel; yet are we but in the way, & we must goe on still; so as the once knowing of things is not enough for vs, but we must be faine to be put in remembrance of thē continually, & to be stirred vp by God; or else wee shall start away by and by. Now then let vs think vppon it, & let euery of vs haue an eye to ye charge yt is committed vnto him. Let such as haue children bring them vp in the feare of God, & let yt be their chiefe care; for it is the best inheritance yt they can leaue them. For otherwise, although they leaue them neuer so riche, and set them at neuer so good a stay; al must needes go to ruine. For God will curse all, if it bee not grounded vppon the pure religion. For whereas our Lorde speaketh of going to bed, and rising vp, of rest and labor: it is not for nought. For he sheweth vs that wee haue neede of all the helpes that can bee, to put vs in minde of his lawe. And therefore sith we see that by all manner of meanes we be turned away frō the remembring of God, if the helps that are shewed vs here bee not set still before vs: these occasions ought to quicken vs and stirre vs vp thereunto.