2. For his Relations. The more hot our affection is to any, the more fervent our petitions should be for them. Praying Parents are the most loving Parents; When dying, chiefly they should bless their Children in the Name of the Lord. So Isaac did, Gen. 28. 1. Thus Jacob, Gen. 48. 15, 16. Godly Parents may plead the Covenant made to them and theirs, unto God on their Dying Beds with comfort.1 They are best acquainted with their Children's conditions, conversations, wants, weaknesses, and so fittest to open their cases to God, and to beseech grace on their behalves, that they may be an holy seed, a generation arising to show forth his praise. Christ when nigh death, committed his spiritual Children to his Father, and earnestly begged his care of them, and favour for them; Holy Father, I come to thee; I am no more in the World, but these are in the world; Keep them through thy name, keep them from the evil, sanctify them through thy truth. So should a godly Father ⟨p. 635⟩or Mother when dying;2 Lord, I am leaving my poor Children in the midst of snares, and temptations, and miseries; I am coming out of the world to thy Majesty, where I shall be above all frights and fears, and beyond all malice and mischief; but my children are in the world, and will daily be environed with allurements, and affrightments, with assaults and batteries from their spiritual enemies; thou knowest the power and policy of the world and the wicked one, the treachery and deceitfulness of the flesh within them, and their weakness and inability to wrestle with, and overcome the flatteries of the World, and the suggestions of the Devil. O keep them through thy name, that they may look beyond the World, live above the World, and expect and eye their portion and happiness in a better World. Though they live in the World, let them not live as the World, but walk all their days as heirs of another World. Keep them from the evil of •in, however it please thy Majesty to deal with them about the evil of Suffering. Give them the Shield of Faith, whereby they may quench the fiery Darts of the Devil. Let thy Covenant of grace be their portion, thy love their cordial, and thy Mansion-house their eternal possession. Be thou their Father to direct, protect, govern, and provide for them, and give them a name in thy house, better then of Sons and Daughters;
2. For his Relations. The more hot our affection is to any, the more fervent our petitions should be for them. Praying Parents are the most loving Parents; When dying, chiefly they should bless their Children in the Name of the Lord. So Isaac did, Gen. 28. 1. Thus Iacob, Gen. 48. 15, 16. Godly Parents may plead the Covenant made to them and theirs, unto God on their Dying Beds with comfort.1 They are best acquainted with their Childrens conditions, conversations, wants, weaknesses, and so fittest to open their cases to God, and to beseech grace on their behalves, that they may be an holy seed, a generation arising to shew forth his praise. Christ when nigh death, committed his spiritual Children to his Father, and earnestly begged his care of them, and favour for them; Holy Father, I come to thee; I am no more in the World, but these are in the world; Keep them thr•ugh thy name, keep them from the evil, sanctifie them through thy truth. So should a godly Father ⟨p. 635⟩or Mother when dying;2 Lord, I am leaving my poor Children in the midst of snares, and temptations, and miseries; I am coming out of the world to thy Majesty, where I shall be above all frights and fears, and beyond all malice and mischief; but my children are in the world, and will dayly be environd with allurements, and affrightments, with assaults and batteries from their spiritual enemies; thou knowest the power and policy of the world and the wicked one, the treachery and deceitfulness of the flesh within them, and their weakness and inability to wrestle with, and overcome the flatteries of the World, and the suggestions of the Devil. O keep them through thy name, that they may look beyond the World, live above the World, and expect and eye their portion and happiness in a better World. Though they live in the World, let them not live as the World, but walk all their days as heirs of another World. Keep them from the evil of •in, however it please thy Majesty to deal with them about the evil of Suffering. Give them the Shield of Faith, whereby they may quench the fiery Darts of the Devil. Let thy Covenant of grace be their portion, thy love their cordial, and thy Mansion-house their eternal possession. Be thou their Father to direct, protect, govern, and provide for them, and give them a name in thy house, better then of Sons and Daughters;
- 1I have read of one that used to pray, God bless my Father and Mother, Brethren and Sisters, & none else; To whom one that heard him, answered, It were better the Devil had thy father, and mother, and brethren, and sisters, and none else.
- 2Ruth. 1. 8. and 2. 19. 2 Tim. 1.18.
