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

For it requires an insinuation into their affections, to engage children to love and delight in their duties, by the sweetness of the lips, to increase their learning^(c), and encourage their honest endeavours with suitable rewards. And on the other hand, seasonable admonitions and remembrances in case of failures; a frowning on their laziness, and neglects of those offices wherein they should be employed, which will keep them in awe; though this must be done with great skill and wariness, lest it produce a slavish fear, which slothful, disingenuous and low spirits are apt to fall into, and then absurdly to plead^(d); yet of the two it is better to fail on this hand, than for a Christian Parent to omit warning of their children, because both Law and Gospel require (as was partly hinted before) ⟨p. 421⟩we should not let sin, either of omission or commission, rest on our neighbour^(e), but should warn a brother^(f), much more a child, and set him in joint with a spirit of meekness. I grant this duty of daily inspection is very difficult, but it is amiable and excellent: it is of great latitude; for Parents are evermore concerned to be eying of their children, to see they do that which is necessary and comely, both in religious and moral practice, according to what is really best esteemed in civil behaviour. They must continually be watching them, as to their praying, reading, hearing, eating, drinking, playing, visiting, studying, working, sleeping, &c. to see they be not vain or idle, because commonly there is but a little distance in time, betwixt doing of nothing and doing of ill. Children should be exercised with variety; taught to sing Psalms^(g), as those good children were, who made that short prayer to our Saviour, Hosanna, in Greek, out of the Psalm^(h), [Greek or Hebrew] Save O Lord I beseech thee, viz. blessed Messiah: to pray in secret sometimes by and for themselves; to be constant, timely, and revered at Family duties; to be charitable, respectful to the Ambassadors of Christ; to be attentive to the reading of Chapters, and hearing of Sermons; and thereupon to put Questions, and give some account of their understanding of things, and be not as Parrots, that chatter without knowledge; to be observant of the Lord's days, not left to themselves, to play and do what they list: for as Solomon observeth