The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

Use 2. To reprove such as do not perform their utmost, that do not improve their skill and endeavour to the height in this excellent work. Every child is born an heir of Hell, and wilt thou use no means to deliver his soul from death, and to pull him out of the jaws of the Devil? Oh thou ungodly Father, that like Gallio, takest no care in this matter, God will require the blood of thy child, and the blood of thy servant at thy hands one day. Dost thou love thy child? a Heathen will teach thee thy duty, To love, saith he,¹ is [[Greek or Hebrew]] to desire good things for such, and according to the utmost ability to endeavour to accomplish them. There i• but one good thing that is absolutely necessary for thy child, and that is, a happy union to God. What hast thou yet done to the effecting of that? Many are eagerly bent upon those designs, how their children,² like Caligula in the Historian, may tumble in a room full of gold, but take little pains for the gold of Ophir, ³and that wisdom which is far above Rubies. Know, that all the sins of Relations under your charge that are not reproved and corrected for, will become yours. Every drunken fit of thy servant will be counted thine to answer for. Every turn of pleasure that thy children and servants take in the fields upon Gods holy day, with thy approving connivance,⁴ will turn to thy account at the great Tribunal. If thou wouldest find favour with God, labour to divert them from the ways that lead to the chambers of death. He that neglects his duty herein, does what in him lies to damn his child and himself too. As if he were in league with death, in covenant with Satan,⁵ and with Hell were at an agreement; as if it were a laughing matter for himself, and all his Relations to fall into the bottomless pit of fire and brimstone. Oh how many families are the filthy cages of unclean birds, like so many hog-sties and sinks of all manner of abominations! We can scarce walk the streets, but we shall hear swearing and cursing, and polluting Gods holy Name, and many obscene and filthy speeches, and see great wickedness committed even by young striplings; and this is because they are not instructed and taught the fear of the Lord at home by their Parents and Rulers.