Oh! but if this be so great an evil for Parents to have their children to be brought forth to the Murderers here, how great an evil then is it for Parents to bring forth children to be fuel for Gods wrath for all eternity, to be the firebrands for Gods wrath to burn upon, millions of years to all eternity? You then that are Parents, and have children, look upon them and have such thoughts as these that may break your hearts, Oh! what a sad thing would it be that such a babe that came out of my womb should be a fire-brand for Gods wrath to burn upon to all eternity? Oh!1 how had I need pray and bring up my children in the fear of God, lest I should be such an unhappy Father that out of my loins, should not only bring forth a child to the Murderers, but for the Devils in Hell? But let not this discourage you that are godly to venture your children in lawful Wars, for when you shall labour to make up ⟨p. 261⟩your peace with God, in such a cause if you be willing to sacrifice your children to God, if thy child should be brought forth even to death, yet he is but brought forth even to Martyrdom, rather than to the Murderers: Thou shouldest rather rejoice that thou hast a child to bring forth in such a Cause, then to be overpressed with sorrow that the life of thy child hath been taken away with the Murderers; & some of your children though with the loss of their own lives, yet they have been a means to keep you, and us all from the hand of the Murderer, to keep the City and the Kingdom from being over-run with Tyranny, Idolatry, and all kind of Profaneness, and it may be worth the lives of your children that good that hath been done. Revel. 12. 11. 2And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice ye Heavens, and ye that dwell in them. They loved not their lives unto the death: therefore rejoice ye Heavens,3 and them that dwell therein. When parents shall be willing to give up their children in the Cause of God, even children shall be willing to sacrifice themselves in Gods Cause, (I say having made up their peace with God) then when they love not their lives unto the death, there shall be joy in Heaven, and they shall overcome in dying even as Jesus Christ did.
Oh! but if this be so great an evil for Parents to have their children to be brought forth to the Murderers here, how great an evil then is it for Parents to bring forth children to be fewel for Gods wrath for all eternity, to be the firebrands for Gods wrath to burn upon, milions of years to all eternity? You then that are Parents, and have children, look upon them and have such thoughts as these that may break your hearts, Oh! what a sad thing would it be that such a babe that came out of my womb should be a fire-brand for Gods wrath to burn upon to all eternity? Oh!1 how had I need pray and bring up my children in the fear of God, lest I should be such an unhappy Father that out of my loyns, should not only bring forth a child to the Murderers, but for the Devils in Hell? But let not this discourage you that are godly to venture your children in lawful Wars, for when you shall labor to make up ⟨p. 261⟩your peace with God, in such a cause if you be willing to sacrifice your children to God, if thy child should be brought forth even to death, yet he is but brought forth even to Martyrdom, rather than to the Murderers: Thou shouldest rather rejoyce that thou hast a child to bring forth in such a Cause, then to be overprest with sorrow that the life of thy child hath been taken away with the Murderers; & some of your children though with the loss of their own lives, yet they have been a means to keep you, and us all from the hand of the Murderer, to keep the City and the Kingdom from being over-run with Tyranny, Idolatry, and all kind of Prophanness, and it may be worth the lives of your children that good that hath been done. Revel. 12. 11. 2And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoyce ye Heavens, and ye that dwell in them. They loved not their lives unto the death: therefore rejoyce ye Heavens,3 and them that dwell therein. When parents shall be willing to give up their children in the Cause of God, even children shall be willing to sacrifice themselves in Gods Cause, (I say having made up their peace with God) then when they love not their lives unto the death, there shall be joy in Heaven, and they shall overcome in dying even as Jesus Christ did.
- 1A meditation for parents.
- 2Revel. 12. 11.
- 3enlightenedenlightned
