A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

1. The Church is in an immediate capacity to receive benefit by it. If Mistresses of Families did their parts, and sent such polished materials to the Churches as they ought to do, the work and life of the Pastors of the Church would unspeakably be more easy and delightful: What a reviving of heart would it be to us to Preach to such an Auditory; to Catechize, instruct, examine, and watch over them who are so prepared by a wise and holy education, and understand and love the Doctrine which they ⟨p. 218⟩hear. How teachable and tractable will such be! How successfully the labours of their Pastors laid out upon them! How comely and beautiful the Churches be, which are composed of such persons! and how pure and comfortable will their Communion be! The Orchard is according to what the Nursery is: So Churches are according to what Families are; Good Families make good Churches, and good Education makes good Families.

1. The Church is in an immediate capacity to receive benefit by it. If Mistresses of Families did their parts, and sent such polished materials to the Churches as they ought to do, the work and life of the Pastors of the Church would unspeakably be more easie and delightful: What a reviving of heart would it be to us to Preach to such an Auditory; to Catechize, instruct, examine, and watch over them who are so prepared by a wise and holy education, and understand and love the Doctrine which they ⟨p. 218⟩hear. How teachable and tractable will such be! How successfully the labours of their Pastors laid out upon them! How comely and beautiful the Churches be, which are composed of such persons! and how pure and comfortable will their Communion be! The Orchard is according to what the Nursery is: So Churches are according to what Families are; Good Families make good Churches, and good Education makes good Families.

2. Not only the Church but State would receive much good by this: Towns, Cities, Counties, Kingdoms would gain by it: and it must needs be so; for what are they, but the whole made up of these parts? And the whole must needs be such as the parts are of which it consists. Families are but like the Book in loose sheets, and Kingdoms like the Book bound up: The one but like letters that are single and apart; the other like letters joined together. Now if the sheets be not good, or the letters not good, the book or writing cannot possibly be good. Give us the best Magistrates, let them Enact the best Laws, and back them with the strictest Execution, yet Societies will be naught, whilst Governors of Families neglect their duty in Religious Education.