A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

4. Is it constant, diligent teaching, instructing, and catechizing your families, and labouring that your selves and they may understand and practise the Law of God? Hear also what the Spirit saith of this: and then judge whether it be too much preciseness.

Prov. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. [My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my Commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding: yea if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding: if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hidden treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.] Deut. 6. 5, 6, 7. & 11. 18, 19, 20. [And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might: And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou lyest down, and when thou risest up: And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes; and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.] Gen. 18, 19. [For I know Abraham that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.] Josh. 24. 15. [But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.] Prov. 22. 6. [Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.] Eph. 6. 4. [Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.] These and many such passages show you that the most diligent instructing of your families, is not more ado then God requireth, but a most weighty needful part of godliness.