A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The third reason is taken from the consideration of their natural proneness unto evil, even from the breast, as experience teacheth, which by ¹wholesome and timely instruction is to be prevented; that being first seasoned with this precious liquor of true Religion, and saving knowledge, they may retain the taste and savour of it to the end of their days. According to Solomons counsel; Train up (or as the word signifieth) Catechize a child in the way that he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it. Unto which, if we add their readiness to relapse into their natural corruptions; if by wholesome instructions they be not daily confirmed and strengthened in good courses; and how soon sin will grow to a custom, and bring them to an habit of wickedness, from which they can hardly afterwards be reclaimed; we shall easily understand the profit and necessity of this exercise. Fourthly, the desire that children and servants should perform their duties to their parents and governors, should make them careful in the first place to teach them Religion and the true fear of God. For if this be not the foundation, all other obedience is false and counterfeit, seeing they who yield it, are only tied unto it in the carnal bonds of fear and rewards, and therefore it quite ceaseth when they cease. Neither will any with an honest heart and good conscience perform it, if it rise not out of love and obedience towards God, but with respect of persons, self-love, and such other sinister and by-respects. Fifthly, the care which every Christian should have to propagate the Church of God, should move them to this duty, seeing God is thereby glorified, when as his Kingdom is enlarged and advanced: for as the Wise man saith, In the multitude of a people is the honour of a King. Now