The Godly Man's Picture

1 A Father must drop holy instructions into his Children, Eph. 6 4. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: Thus did Abraham, Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham, that he will command his children, and his household, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Children are young plants, which must be watered with good education, that they may with Obadiah, fear the Lord from their youth up, 1 Kings 18. 12. Plato saith, in vain doth he expect an harvest, who hath been negligent in sowing; nor can a parent look to reap any good from a child, where he hath not sown the seed of wholesome instruction; and though notwithstanding all counsel and admonition, the child should dye in sin, yet it is a comfort to a godly Parent, ⟨p. 223⟩to think that before his child dyed, he gave it spiritual physic.

1 A Father must drop holy instructions into his Children, Eph. 6 4. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: Thus did Abraham, Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham, that hee will command his children, and his houshold, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Children are young plants, which must be watered with good education, that they may with Obadiah, fear the Lord from their youth up, 1 Kings 18. 12. Plato saith, in vain doth he expect an harvest, who hath been negligent in sowing; nor can a parent look to reap any good from a childe, where he hath not sown the seed of wholesome instruction; and though notwithstanding all counsel and admonition, the childe should dye in sin, yet it is a comfort to a godly Parent, ⟨p. 223⟩to think that before his childe dyed, he gave it spiritual physick.