The Christian in Complete Armour

First, in that they keep that talent in their own hands which was given to be paid out to their children. When God revealed himself to Abraham, he had respect to Abraham's children, and therefore we find God promising himself this at Abraham's hands, upon which he imparts his mind to him concerning his purpose of destroying Sodom; Shall I hide from Abraham (saith God) that thing Which I do? I know that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, Gen. 18.17, 19. The Church began at first in a family, and was preserved by the godly care of Parents in instructing their children and household in the truths of God, whereby the knowledge of God was transmitted from generation to generation; and though now the Church is not confined to such strait limits, yet every private family is as a little nursery to the Church; if the nursery be not carefully planted, the Orchard will soon decay. O could you be willing, Christians, that your children when you are laid in the dust, should be turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine; ⟨p. 233⟩and prove a generation that do not know God? Atheism needs not be planted, you do enough to make your children such, if you do not endeavour to plant Religion in their minds. The very neglect of the Gardner to sow and dress his garden, gives advantage enough to the weeds to come up. This is the difference between Religion and Atheism, Religion doth not grow without planting, but will die even where it is planted without watering. Atheism, irreligion, and profaneness are weeds will grow without setting, but they will not die without plucking up, all care and means little enough to stub them up. And therefore you that are Parents, and do not teach your children, deal the more unrighteously with God, because you neglect the best season in their whole life for planting in them the knowledge of God, and plucking up the contrary weeds of atheism and irreligion. Young weeds come up with most ease, simple ignorance in youth becomes wilful ignorance, yea, impudence in age, you will not instruct them when young, and they will scorn their Ministers should when they are old.

First, in that they keep that talent in their own hands which was given to be paid out to their children. When God reveal'd himself to Abraham, he had respect to Abraham's children, and therefore we finde God promising himself this at Abraham's hands, upon which he imparts his minde to him concerning his purpose of destroying Sodom; Shall I hide from Abraham (saith God) that thing Which I do? I know that he will command his children, and his houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord,