But if Parents be insincere, and have not their hearts right with God, and carry not themselves blamelessly, having blots in their own conversation, they will find the duties I have been speaking of to be very difficult and insuccessful: as we may learn from the Apologue of the Mother Crab†, who had her Son go straight forward, sith it was indecent to crawl sideling, awry, and backwards: who answered, I will do it Mother, if I shall first see you your self doing so before me. Unholy Parents do indeed by their unholiness contradict that hearty reverence they require from their Children, and render the means of their education unprofitable. Those Parents, who would prosper in their conduct, should, like that worthy Bishop of Antioch*, by a good conversation commend their instructions, [Greek or Hebrew] , teaching with words, and confirming the words with an holy life. They themselves should, as the Elders said to Boaz(s), do worthily in Ephrata, and be famous in Bethlehem: put iniquity far from their hands, and let it not dwell in their tabernacle(t); lest, notwithstanding they otherwise be at pains for the education and maintenance of their Children, the Lord shall have no joy in them(u), and never suffer them to be removed(w). And as you are to put away all iniquity; so particularly that of flattery to friends, lest the eyes of your Children should fail(x). Be persuaded then, Christian Parents, to take his advice, who said, Where, wheresoever thou shalt be, live to God, who is the donor of thy life: Live to thy Conscience, which is the life of thy life: Live to thy good Name, which is a life after this life; and (then I may add) will flourish most in thy Posterity. (2.) Maintain your parental authority, and assert the dignity of your Relation; yet not with lordly rigour, but still with love and mildness. 'Tis good not to lose the power God hath given you in superiority over your Children, through any neglect of using it, or by making your self cheap in any unbecoming familiarity: but then take care that you exercise it in equity, with all gentleness and gravity: Let none despise you(y). Thus Abraham being in God's stead, he would command for God, and he is commended for it (z)(as we have heard). If a Father's honour belong to you, you should not suffer it to be trampled upon, or lightly esteemed(a). If you let go the reins of your Government, you cannot rule well;
But if Parents be insincere, and have not their hearts right with God, and carry not themselves blamelesly, having blots in their own conversation, they will find the duties I have been speaking of to be very difficult and insuccessful: as we may learn from the Apologue of the Mother Crab†, who had her Son go streight forward, sith it was indecent to crawl sideling, awry, and backwards: who answer'd, I will do it Mother, if I shall first see you your self doing so before me. Unholy Parents do indeed by their unholiness contradict that hearty reverence they require from their Children, and render the means of their education unprofitable. Those Parents, who would prosper in their conduct, should, like that worthy Bishop of Antioch*, by a good conversation commend their instructions, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 , teaching with words, and confirming the words with an holy life. They themselves should, as the Elders said to Boaz(s), do worthily in Ephrata, and be famous in Bethlehem: put iniquity far from their hands, and let it not dwell in their tabernacle(t); lest, notwithstanding they otherwise be at pains for the education and maintenance of their Children, the Lord shall have no joy in them(u), and never suffer them to be removed(w). And as you are to put away all iniquity; so particularly that of flattery to friends, lest the eyes of your Children should fail(x). Be perswaded then, Cristian Parents, to take his advice, who said, Where, wheresoever thou shalt be, live to God, who is the donor of thy life: Live to thy Conscience, which is the life of thy life: Live to thy good Name, which is a life after this life; and (then I may add) will flourish most in thy Posterity. (2.) Maintain your parental authority, and assert the dignity of your Relation; yet not with lordly rigour, but still with love and mildness. 'Tis good not to lose the power God hath given you in superiority over your Children, through any neglect of using it, or by making your self cheap in any unbecoming familiarity: but then take care that you exercise it in equity, with all gentleness and gravity: Let none despise you
- †Cum dixisset Mater indecens esse non recta via incedere, sed obliquos intorquere gressus: faciam (inquit ille) mea Mater, site idem f•cientem prius videro.Cum dixisset Mater indecens esse non recta via incedere, sed obliquos intorquere gressus: faciam (inquit ille) mea Mater, si te idem f•cientem prius videro.
- *Theod. III. 6.
- (s)Ruth 4.11.
- (t)Job. 11.14.
- (u)Isa 9.13, 17.
- (w)— 14.20.
- (x)Job 17.5. Ubi, ubi fueri, vive Deo, qui esi Dator vitae tuae; vive conscientiae, quae est vita vitae tuae; vive famae, quae est vita post vitam tuam.Job 17.5. Ʋbi, ubi fueri, vive Deo, qui esi Dator vitae tuae; vive conscientiae, quae est vita vitae tuae; vive famae, quae est vita post vitam tuam.
- (y)Tit. 2.15.
- (z)Gen. 18.19. with 14.23, 24.
- (a)Deut. 32.46. 1 Sam. 2.30.
