What one said of bloody Herod, who slew so many children at Bethlehem, That it were better to be his swine, than his Son, may be truly enough applied to some Parents and Masters, who take less care for the saving the souls of their children and servants, than they do for the bodies of those beasts which daily feed at their stalls and cribs. Many there be who do in reference to their souls, as Jacob did, with respect to the preservation of their bodies, when he put all the herds of cattle before, and his Wives and little ones behind, as he went to meet his brother Esau. 'Tis a weighty saying of a grave Author; It's vile ingratitude to rejoice when cattle multiply, 1and repine when children increase; its Heathenish distrustfulness, to fear, that he who provides for your ⟨p. 201⟩beasts, will not provide for your children; and it's no less than unnatural cruelty to be careful of the bodies of beasts, & careless of the souls of children. Let us but a little compare your care and diligence in both respects, and see in a few particulars, whether you do indeed value your own, or your children and servants souls, as you do the life and health of a beast.
VVHat one said of bloudy Herod, who slew so many children at Bethlehem, That it were better to be his swine, than his Son, may be truly enough applyed to some Parents and Masters, who take less care for the saving the souls of their children and servants, than they do for the bodies of those beasts which daily feed at their stalls and cribs. Many there be who do in reference to their souls, as Iacob did, with respect to the preservation of their bodies, when he put all the herds of cattel before, and his Wives and little ones behind, as he went to meet his brother Esau. 'Tis a weighty saying of a grave Author; It's vile ingratitude to rejoyce when cattel multiply, 1and repine when children increase; its Heathenish distrustfulness, to fear, that he who provides for your ⟨p. 201⟩beasts, will not provide for your children; and it's no less than unnatural cruelty to be careful of the bodies of beasts, & careless of the souls of children. Let us but a little compare your care and diligence in both respects, and see in a few particulars, whether you do indeed value your own, or your children and servants souls, as you do the life and health of a beast.
- 1Jenk. on Jude par. 2. p. 170.Ienk. on Iude par. 2. p. 170.
