Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…

And usually by the temptations of Wealth and Worldly Interest, how full even of the sins of Sodom, Pride, Fullness of Bread, and abundance of Idleness, if not also Unmercifulness to the Poor: And how are they tempted to plead for their sins and snares, and account it rustic Ignorance which contradicteth them: And how few Pious Families are there of the greater sort that do not quickly degenerate, and Posterity by false Religion, Error or Sensuality, grow most contrary to the minds of their Pious Progenitors? There are many that educate their Children wisely in the fear of God, and have accordingly comfort in them: But how many are there that having devoted them in Baptism to God, do train them up in the service of the Flesh, the World, and the Devil, which they renounced, and never understood, or at least intended, for themselves, or Children, what they did profess: How many Parents think, that when they offer their Children to God in Baptism without a sober and due consideration of the nature and meaning of that great Covenant with God, that God must accept and certainly regenerate and save them? Yea, too many Religious Parents forget, that they themselves are Sponsors in that Covenant, and undertake to use the means on their part, to make their Children sit for the Grace of the son, and the Communion of the Spirit, as they grow up, and think God should absolutely sanctify, keep and save them at Age, because they are theirs and were Baptized, though they keep them not from great and unnecessary temptations, nor teach them plainly and seriously the meaning of the Covenant which was made for them with God as to the nature, benefits or conditions of it: How ⟨p. 242⟩many send them to others to be taught in Grammar, Logic, Philosophy, or Arts; yea, and Divinity, before their own Parents ever taught them, what they did with God in Baptism, what they received? And what they promised and vowed to do? They send them to Trades, or secular Callings, or to travel in foreign Lands, among a Multitude of Snares, among tempting Company, and tempting Baits, before ever at home they were instructed, armed, and settled against those Temptations which they must needs encounter, and which if they overcome them, they are undone:

And usually by the temptations of Wealth and Worldly Interest, how full even of the sins of Sodom, Pride, Fulness of Bread, and abundance of Idleness, if not also Unmercifulness to the Poor: And how are they tempted to plead for their sins and snares, and account it rustick Ignorance which contradicteth them: And how few Pious Families are there of the greater sort that do not quickly degenerate, and Posterity by false Religion, Errour or Sensuality, grow most contrary to the minds of their Pious Progenitors? There are many that educate their Children wisely in the fear of God, and have accordingly comfort in them: But how many are there that having devoted them in Baptism to God, do train them up in the service of the Flesh, the World, and the Devil, which they renounced, and never understood, or at least intended, for themselves, or Children, what they did profess: How many Parents think, that when they offer their Children to God in Baptism without a sober and due consideration of the nature and meaning of that great Covenant with God, that God must accept and certainly regenerate and save them? Yea, too many Religious Parents forget, that they themselves are Sponsors in that Covenant, and undertake to use the means on their part, to make their Children sit for the Grace of the son, and the Communion of the Spirit, as they grow up, and think God should absolutely sanctifie, keep and save them at Age, because they are theirs and were Baptized, though they keep them not from great and unnecessary temptations, nor teach them plainly and seriously the meaning of the Covenant which was made for them with God as to the nature, benefits or conditions of it: How