I am loth to pass over this famous History, without taking some notice of this great duty of our Generation work, in training up of youth in Religion and learning, to fit them for the service of God, and the public benefit of mankind, both in Families, Church, and common-wealth, all sorts and orders of men are bound to attend unto this great and necessary Generation work. And we of New-England a•e more obliged to it then any other, in some respects, especially, because it was one of the chief motives and ends of our design in leaving of our native soil, Relations, callings, friends, and hopes for worldly Estates, adventuring our all into the hands of Gods providence, to pass over the vast Clean into a wilderness, a land not sown, to enjoy the liberties of Gods house and Ordinances, and instituted worship for our selves, and our posterity. And to train up our Generations under these enjoyments and improvements, to be holy Churches of Jesus Christ, trained up in his School for his service, honour, and praise, which cannot be performed by any ordinary means save by Schools. Though we have great cause to praise God for our Schools, and the great blessing that all the Land doth enjoy thereby. Yea, and some returns we have made to our mother England, of our Children trained up here, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Yet we have great cause, especially of late years to abase our selves before the Lord for our great neglects and remissness, in the performance of our purposes and vows to God in this particular; we dote upon our children, and do not endure that due christian severity to be exercised in their Education; as the fallen Estate of mankind, doth necessarily require and call for. Pagan Rome and Greece will, in some respects, concerning grave and severe Education of youth, rise up in judgement against our reforming Churches, who are far more advantaged than they were to the performance of this great generation work. Yet are we much more failing therein, than they were, we do know that the long duration of their flourishing state, did spring and grow in this garden of severe Education of posterity of all sorts of youth, which blessing is founded and promised in the fifth Commandment.
I am loth to pass over this famous History, without taking some notice of this great duty of our Generation work, in training up of youth in Religion and learning, to fit them for the service of God, and the publick benefit of mankind, both in Families, Church, and common-wealth, all sorts and orders of men are bound to attend unto this great and necessary Generation work. And we of New-England a•e more obliged to it then any other, in some respects, especially, because it was one of the chief motives and ends of our designe in leaving of our native soile, Relations, callings, friends, and hopes for worldly Estates, adventuring our all into the hands of Gods providence, to pass over the vast C•ean into a wilderness, a land not sowen, to enjoy the liberties of Gods house and Ordinances, and instituted worship for our selves, and our posterity. And to train up our Generarions under these enjoyments and improvements, to be holy Churches of Jesus Christ, trained up in his School for his service, honour, and praise, which cannot be performed by any ordinary means save by Schools. Though we have great cause to praise God for our Schools, and the great blessing that all the Land doth enjoy thereby. Yea, and some returns we have made to our mother England, of our Children trained up here, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Yet we have great cause, especially of late years to abase our selves before the Lord for our great neglects and remissness, in the p•rformance of our purposes and vows to God in this particular; we doat upon our children, and do not indure that due christian severit• to be exercised in their Education; as the fallen Estate of mankind, doth necessarily require and call for. Pagan Rome and Greece will, in some respects, concerning grave and severe Education of youth, rise up in judgement against our reforming Churches, who are far more advantaged than they were to the performance of this great generation work. Yet are we much more failing therein, than they were, we do know that the long duration of their flourishing state, did spring and grow in this garden of severe Education of posterity of all sorts of youth, which blessing is founded and promised in the fifth Commandment.
