Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life,…

3. Because the more you read the Word of God to them, the better they will be to you, and the better perform the duties of their Relation: You complain of disobedient Children, why do not you read the Scripture to them more, to teach them that God requires them to be obedient to you? You complain of bad Servants, why do not you then read the Word of God to them more, that they may know their duty better by reading the Scripture to them? Make them but good Christians, and then they dare not, but be good Children, and good Servants.

4. Because the Word of God is able to make them wise unto Salvation; You would have your Children wise to live in the World; you would have them wise to get Riches, and a great Estate; You would have your Servants wise to do your work, and to go about your business: And would you not have them wise for their souls? Would you not have them wise for heaven and the Life to come? If you would, then acquaint them with the Word of God, 2 Tim. 3.15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. And he is wise indeed, that is wise enough to save his soul.

¹In repeating what you hear in the public Congregation, in discoursing to your Family what sin ⟨p. 187⟩was reproved, and what duty was enforced, and what were the Arguments and Motives thereunto. What Christ preached more publicly, he repeated to his Disciples (which were as his Family) more privately,