Sermons of John Calvin, upon the song that Hezekiah made after he had been…Sermons of Iohn Caluin, vpon the songe that Ezechias made after he had bene…

Moreover, when he speaketh how fathers ought to behave them selves toward their children we have to gather in general (as hath been said here before) that it is not enough that we procure that god be glorified during our life, but we ought to desire as his name is immortal so that from age to age it may be honoured, & that those which shall come after us, may keep the pure religion, & that the service of God may never fall in decay. That it may be followed and advanced alway and that the goodness of God may be every where magnified. They that have children, let them know that God hath committed them in charge to them, & that they must render an account if they bestow not all travail to teach them to serve God. For when it is said that the father shall show to his children the truth of god, we must alway come to this end. Why? to this end that the children may trust in him, that they may call upon him, that they may give to him the praise of all good things, that they may dedicate & consecrate them selves wholly to him, & to his obedience. Then if fathers will discharge, them selves of their duties, let them know that this is the principal heritage that they ought to leave to their children. But if they heap up goods & yet give them the bridle when they shall see them dissolute, mischievous, wicked despisers of God. Woe be to them in that they shall take pain to advance them in this world: for they lift them up very high to make them break their necks, & their fall shall be more deadly when they shall have store of goods: and yet in the mean time they shall despise God in his doctrine, there confusion shall be more ⟨p. 71⟩horrible, because their unthankfulness shall be less excusable. Let the fathers then think better of this than they have been accustomed, that is to say, when God giveth them children, he bindeth them to this charge, that they endeavour so much the more, that they may be instructed in his truth, so long as as they live, as also we see the example given us in Abraham, which is the father of the faithful. For when God meant to show that Abraham would govern his house, as appertained: Shall I hide from my servant Abraham (saith he) that which I have to do? No. Lo how God maketh him self familiar with him. For (sayeth he) he shall instruct his children in my statutes, in my laws, & in my ordinances:

Moreouer, when he speaketh howe fathers ought to behaue them selues towarde theyr chyldren we haue to gather in generall (as hath bene said here before) yt it is not ynough yt we procure that god be glorified during our life, but we ought to desire as his name is immortall so that frō age to age it may be honored, & that those which shall come after vs, may kepe ye pure religiō, & that the seruice of God may neuer fall in decaye. That it maye be folowed and aduaunced alwaye and that the goodnes of God maye be euery where magnified. They that haue childrē, let them knowe that God hath committed them incharge to thē, & that they must rendre an accompt if they bestow not al trauaill to teache them to serue God. For when it is sayd that the father shall shewe to his childrē the truth of god, we must alwai come to this end. Why? to this ende that the children may trust in him, that they may call vpon him, that they maye geue to him the prayse of all good thynges, yt they may dedicate & cōsecrate thē selues wholy to him, & to his obediēce. Thē if fathers wil discharg, thē selues of theyr duties, let them knowe that this is the principall heritage that they ought to leaue to theyr children. But if they heape vp goods & yet geue them the bridle when they shall see them dissolute, mischieuous, wicked despisers of God. Wo be to them in that they shall take peine to aduance them in this world: for they lift them vp very hye to make them break theyr neckes, & theyr fal shall be more deadly when they shal haue store of gooddes: and yet in the meane tyme they shall despyse God in his doctrine, there confusion shalbe more