And therefore, O that Parents ⟨p. 284⟩would imitate the Father of spirits in this blessed art of Paternal Discipline: join the Word of Instruction to the Rod of Correction; teach as well as chastise: Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine: It is true, it is enjoined Timothy as a Pastoral duty; but it is as true, that every Parent is a King, a Prophet, and a Priest: A King, to govern and chastise; a Prophet, to teach and instruct; and a Priest, to offer up spiritual sacrifice to God, Prayer and Praise with and for the Family. O that every child might have cause to give their Parents that commendation, 1which once Augustin gave his Mother, in reference to his Baptism: My mother, saith he, made it her business to make God my Father,—because she travelled with my everlasting salvation, with more tenderness and sorrow, then ever she did with my first birth. O that natural Parents could bespeak the fruit of their loins, as S. Paul bespeaks his Galatians, My little children, 2of whom I travel in birth ⟨p. 285⟩again, until Christ be formed in you: that so they might rejoice in the second, more then ever they did in the first birth: Why, this is done by the Word and the Rod. 3Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest, yea he shall give delight unto thy Soul: Correct! how? the 15 verse answers; The Rod and Reproof give wisdom: Thus give your Children correction, and they shall give you rest and delight. Though correction for the present do not give them rest, for no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; yet it will make them give you rest: and though correction doth not delight them, yet it shall make them give delight to you: 4What greater delight then to see your children walking in the Truth! and to think thus with your selves, 5(not as Cassiodor expresseth it, that, so many sons, so many Counsellors to to the State, but) that, so many children God hath given you, so many children you have brought up for God, and so many heirs for the ⟨p. 286⟩Kingdom of Heaven. Well; Chastise and teach them out of the Law of God, and thy Children shall be Blessed.
And therefore, O that Parents ⟨p. 284⟩would imitate the Father of spirits in this blessed art of Paternal Discipline: joyn the Word of Instruction to the Rod of Correction; teach as well as chastise: Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine: It is true, it is enjoyned Timothy as a Pastoral duty; but it is as true, that every Parent is a King, a Prophet, and a Priest: A King, to govern and chastise; a Prophet, to teach and instruct; and a Priest, to offer up spiritual sacrifice to God, Prayer and Praise with and for the Family. O that every childe might have cause to give their Parents that commendation, 1which once Augustin gave his Mother, in reference to his Baptism: My mother, saith he, made it her business to make God my Father,—because she travelled with my everlasting salvation, with more tenderness and sorrow, then ever she did with my first birth. O that natural Parents could bespeak the fruit of their loyns, as S. Paul bespeaks his Galatians, My little children, 2of whom I travel in birth ⟨p. 285⟩again, until Christ be formed in you: that so they might rejoyce in the second, more then ever they did in the first birth: Why, this is done by the Word and the Rod. 3Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest, yea he shall give delight unto thy Soul: Correct! how? the 15 verse answers; The Rod and Reproof give wisdom: Thus give your Children correction, and they shall give you rest and delight. Though correction for the present do not give them rest, for no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; yet it will make them give you rest: and though correction doth not delight them, yet it shall make them give delight to you: 4What greater delight then to see your children walking in the Truth! and to think thus with your selves, 5(not as Cassiodor expresseth it, that, so many sons, so many Counsellors to to the State, but) that, so many children God hath given you, so many children you have brought up for God, and so many heirs for the ⟨p. 286⟩Kingdom of Heaven. Well; Chastise and teach them out of the Law of God, and thy Children shall be Blessed.
- 1Illa magis satagebat ut tu mihi pater esses,—quoniam sempiternam salutem charius parturiebat Confess. l. 1. c. 11
- 2Gal. 4.19
- 3Pro. 29.17
- 43 John 4
- 5Quot dedit familia• juvenes, totred•idit curiae consulares.
