CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

And 2. Negligence of Parents and Masters, All Governors who have Inferiors under them, they are to teach the principles of knowledge, Parents are often required to do it, and truly hence is the Original of all Ignorance, even the rudeness and wicked orders that are in Families: There is no praying, no catechizing, no instructing, and when these are Nurseries of blindness and impiety, what good can be expected, Oh that Parents and Masters would remember how much God requireth of them in this particular; It was the commendation God gave Abraham, that he would teach his Family, and make them worship him, Gen. 17. I shall no longer insist about this Point, but come to the application, for men will hear and hear, and never set about the work.

And 2. Negligence of Parents and Masters, All Governours who have Inferiours under them, they are to teach the principles of knowledge, Parents are often required to do it, and truly hence is the Original of all Ignorance, even the rudenesse and wicked orders that are in Families: There is no praying, no catechizing, no instructing, and when these are Nurseries of blindenesse and impiety, what good can be expected, Oh that Parents and Masters would remember how much God requireth of them in this particular; It was the commendation God gave Abraham, that he would teach his Family, and make them worship him, Gen. 17. I shall no longer insist about this Point, but come to the application, for men will hear and hear, and never set about the work.

¹Let it therefore be a Use of importunate Exhortation to follow you as closely as that Widow did the Judge, that if nothing else importunity might prevail with you, Let the ignorant pray that they may receive their sight, Let them not give over day and night those means that may help them, What though thou canst say, I am no thief, no adulterer, no unclean person, yet if ignorant, thou art upon the brink of hell, and so you that are Parents and Masters, bring up your Inferiors in the true knowledge and fear of God; It's said of Constantine, who was truly great in this, that he would have his whole Court gathered together, and the Scriptures read to them, with Instructions from it to them; What you see me do at the Church, that let the Master of the Family do at home, said Austin; Let your Families be Christs School; Thou wouldst not have a Servant that knoweth not how to do his proper employment, much less then shouldst thou have one that knoweth not his Christianity; Now there are many pregnant arguments to enforce this duty.