Reproof of them that use all the shifts that they can devise Use. 1 to exempt themselves, from showing this laudable love, and also their children, from receiving such wholesome correction. Of all professions, they are most unwilling to become physicians, neither are so loath to minister to any, as to their own, whom God hath appointed to be their patients. Though they lye, and swear, and steal, and be stubborn, yet their faults be not so great, they say children will be children, and did not we commit as grievous offences our selves when we were young. But are not children's faults, sins against the Lord? Are not children's sins punishable by the law of the ⟨p. 75⟩Almighty? Are not children mortal and subject to death aswell as men of gr••••• age? Shall not children appear before the judgment seat of Jesus aswell as those which are elder? And sithence we had the same corruptions our selves, it should cause us to be more pitiful towards them, and watchful over them, otherwise it is to be doubted whether as yet we be healed of the sins of our youth and pardoned for them. But it is needless say they, so far to trouble our selves, years will bring wit and discretion▪ or at least their own rod will be ate them, and make them to amend. But who told them that they shall live to the years of discretion? How if the sword of justice cut them off before for their lewdness, and give no time for their own rod to work any goodness in them? And though they should remain, and smart also for the sinfulness of their childhood, yet there is greater danger lest their hearts will be more hardened, and made worse, than hope that they will repent and be made better, because Gods medicines have been detained from them, and his blessings are not promised unto them. And who shall make any prayer for them with comfort of good success? The sinful son is neither able to do it, nor willing nor accepted, if he should: and the negligent father hath small encouragement to entreat the Lord to do that wherein he himself hath utterly failed of all duties to serve his providence. But granting all this to be true, that so much evil proceedeth from the neglect of correction, and so much good by the seasonable and moderate use thereof, yet one impediment hindereth them that they cannot be brought to exercise it.
Reproofe of them that vse all the shiftes that they can deuise Vse. 1 to exempt themselues, from shewing this laud•ble loue, and also their children, from receiuing such wholesome correction. Of all professions, they are most vnwilling to become phisitions, neither are so loath to minister to anie, as to their owne, whom God hath appointed to bee theire patients. Though they lye, and sweare, and steale, and bee stubborne, yet theire faul•s bee not so greate, they saie children will bee children, and did not wee commit as grieuous offences our selues when we were yonge. But are not childrens faults, sinnes againste the Lord? Are not childrens sinnes punishable by the lawe of the ⟨p. 75⟩Almighty? Are not children mortall and subiect to death aswell as men of gr••••• age? Shall not children appear before the iudgment seate of Jesus aswell as those which are elder? And sithence we had the same corruptions our selues, it should cause vs to bee more pittifull towards them, and watchfull ouer them, otherwise it is to be doubted whether as yet we be healed of the sins of our youth and pardoned for them. But it is needelesse say they, so far to trouble our selues, yeares will bring wit and discretion▪ or at least their owne rod will be ate them, and make them to amend. But who tould them that they shall liue to the yeras of discretion? How if the sword of iustice cutte them off before for theire lewdnes, and giue no time for theire owne rodde to worke anie goodnesse in them? And though they should remaine, and smart also for the sinfulnes of their childhood, yet there is greater danger lest their hearts wil be more hardned, and made worse, than hope that they wil repent and be made better, because Gods medicines haue beene deteined from them, and his blessinges are not promised vnto them. And who shall make any praier for them with comfort of good successe? The sinfull sonne is neither able to doe it, nor willing nor accepted, if he shoulde: and the negligent fath•r hath small incouragement to intreate the Lorde to doe that wherein hee himselfe hath vtterlie fayled of all dueties to serue his prouid•nce. But graunting all this to bee true, that so much euill proceedeth from the neglect of correction, and so much good by the seasonable and moderate vse thereof, yet one impediment hindereth them that they cannot bee broughte to exercise it.
