Useful instructions for a professing people in times of great security and degeneracy delivered…

5. Be more watchful over them hereafter, then you have been heretofore; have a care of letting them have their swing•, to go and come where and when they please, and especially in the night; be sure take an account of their business, and hold your Parental Authority over them, keep them within their bounds, you had better bear their hard thoughts of you now, then see them made vassals of Satan, and left up to Gods Judgements. If your Children resist or contemn your Authority, the Will of God is that you should not bear with them, nor spare them; it is a great deal better they should live in ⟨p. 39⟩Bridewell under restraint, then in your Families at their liberty.

6. See to your own lives, that they be exemplary to your Children, if you teach them never so carefully, yet if you unteach them again by your vain conversation before them, its little the better: think how much advantage you put into Satan's hands against your Children, to draw them into sin by your example, he knows well enough what a taking argument this is with Children.

6. See to your own lives, that they be exemplary to your Children, if you teach them never so carefully, yet if you unteach them again by your vain conversation before them, its little the better: think how much advantage you put into Satans hands against your Children, to draw them into sin by your example, he knows well enough what a taking argument this is with Children.

7. Rest not satisfied, but be constant and earnest with God for your Children till you see Christ formed in them, as knowing that till then they are in Satan's Kingdom, and under his Jurisdiction. Oh what bowels of affection, what earnest requests might this providence arm us withal! how strong might it make us with God for our Children! O pity them in a state of unregeneracy Christless souls are naked souls, and therefore lye open to the enemy; cease not therefore night nor day begging for them. See in this providence their danger, and let it quicken you to importunacy.