1. Love your Children, as a Father. A Man would think this advice were* needless. It seems all one, as if I should persuade the Sun to shine, the Fire to burn, nay a man to be a man. This Law of Love to Children is written by the Finger, drawn by the Pencil, stamped and engraven by the deepest impress of Nature on the Hearts, and bowels of all Parents. Indeed I have spent more than a few minutes in searching the Scriptures on this account; and, though I find many express Texts that oblige us to Love God, Christ, our Neighbour, the Brother-hood, our Wives, yea our Enemies, yet I can light but on one that doth in express Terms command Parents to Love their Children, viz. Tit. 2.4. where we find the young Women are to be taught to Love their Children. For which the Best reason that I can give for the present, is the same that he gave, why the Romans, among all their Laws, had enacted none against the horrid Sin of Parricide, viz. Because the Romans either could or would not suppose men to be such Monsters, as to be guilty of so black a Crime. The Scripture supposes, that, while we retain the Nature of men, or own the Name of Fathers, we cannot but love our Children. Well then, Love your Children, but, Love them as Fathers. Fathers! This very single Word contains an Iliad of Arguments. Were I at leisure, 'twere easy to draw out all the Rhetoricans Topics of Persuasion out of its Bowels. Father! 2the very Name is as an ointment poured forth, it sends forth nothing but the perfume of L•ve, meekness, tenderness. Do but sincerely Love your Children, as Fathers, and then be sinfully severe, if you can? Love your Children, not so much for their lovely countenance, their pleasing Grace, and sweetness, which, how charming soever, is but a fading flower, a skin-deep vanity; but principally, as those that are bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh, to whom you have communicated your blood, and very nature. And let not this Love be like a dead picture, or Idol in your breast, without Life, or Action; but a living active principle, a spring that may vigorously, and effectually influence all the powers of your Soul for the procuring of all that which is truly good to your poor Children.
1. Love your Children, as a Father. A Man would think this advice were* needless. It seems all one, as if I should perswade the Sun to shine, the Fire to burn, nay a man to be a man. This Law of Love to Children is written by the Finger, drawn by the Pencil, stampt and ingraven by the deepest impress of Nature on the Hearts, and bowels of all Parents. Indeed I have spent more than a few minutes in searching the Scriptures on this account; and, thô I find many express Texts that oblige us to Love God, Christ, our Neighbour, the Brother-hood, our Wives, yea our Enemies, yet I can light but on one that doth in express Terms command Parents to Love their Children, viz. Tit. 2.4. where we find the young Women are to be taught to Love their Children. For which the Best reason that I can give for the present, is the same that he gave, why the Romans, among all their Laws, had enacted none against the horrid Sin of Parricide, viz. Because the Romans either could or would not suppose men to be such Monsters, as to be guilty of so black a Crime. The Scripture supposes, that, while we retain the Nature of men, or own the Name of Fathers, we cannot but love our Children. Well then, Love your Children, but, Love them as Fathers. Fathers! This very single Word contains an Iliad of Arguments. Were I at leisure, 'twere easie to draw out all the Rhetoricans Topicks of Perswasion out of its Bowels. Father! 2the very Name is as an ointment poured forth, it sends forth nothing but the perfume of L•ve, meekness, tenderness. Do but sincerely Love your Children, as Fathers, and then be sinfully severe, if you can? Love your Children, not so much for their lovely countenance, their pleasing Grace, and sweetness, which, how charming soever, is but a fading flower, a skin-deep vanity; but principally, as those that are bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh, to whom you have communicated your blood, and very nature. And let not this Love be like a dead picture, or Idol in your breast, without Life, or Action; but a living active principle, a spring that may vigorously, and effectually influence all the powers of your Soul for the procuring of all that which is truly good to your poor Children.
- *1 Thes. 4.9. As touching Love, ye need not that I write unto you, for ye your selves are taught of God to Love. Isa. 49.15.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
