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

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.

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 Exccution, yet Societies will be naught, whilest Governours of Families neglect their duty in Religious Education.

3. With what a Cloud of Witnesses do the Holy Scriptures present us of Governors of Families, that have been greatly conscientious in their faithful discharge of this duty.¹ We told you before of Abraham's Trained, Instructed, Catechized servants, Gen. 18.19. After him Joshua, who resolves that whatever others might do, he and his household would serve the Lord: though others should forsake the Lord, yet he like Noah and Lot, just in his Generation. Joshua doth not only choose to be saved by Jehovah, but to serve Jehovah: But more especially observe the latitude and circumference of his choice; I and my House: Not himself without his Family, much less his Family without himself; but himself and his Family; and first himself, and then his Family: We vvill serve the Lord. Lo here the firmness and stability of Joshua's choice: We will serve the Lord; not only we desire to do it, but we are fully resolved to do it.