The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

Friend, consider the worth of thy children and servants souls, and the weight of their everlasting estates, and how in the dark of ignorance they must unavoidably stumble into Hell; and for the Lords sake be persuaded to instruct them in the knowledge of the true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, John 17.3. Naturalists tell us that bees carry small gravel in their feet to poise their bodies as they fly through stormy Winds. If thou wouldst not have thy little ones blown away with the Winds of temptations, do thou labour to poise them with the principles of the Oracles of God, Ah what pity is it that men, like silly Doves, without hearts, should sit in their Dove-coats, see their Nests destroyed, and their young ones killed before their eyes, but the old Manslayer the Devil, ⟨p. 536⟩and never stir or offer once to rescue or revenge them! Good Lord, what unnaturalness is is many Parents and Masters! Cardan speaks of one that had a receipt for the certain dissolving the stone in the bladder, and I question not (saith he) but he is damned for not discovering it before his death: Thou knowest the word under God must cure the persons in thy family of the stone in the heart, and wilt thou neglect to acquaint them with it, but suffer them to dye eternally. O Reader, be not guilty of such horrid and barbarous cruelty. Do as that holy Bishop of Armagh, who one day in every week did Catechise his family. It is reported of Lewis the ninth of France, that he was found instructing a poor Kitchen Boy, and being asked the reason, answered piously, I know the meanest in my family hath a soul as precious as my own, and bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Our Saviour taught his Disciples often in private as their Governor, and according to their capacities, Mar. 4.33. Mat. 16.17, 18. It is an honour to the highest prince to teach his Household Gods precepts. O let thy words in thy family, as the waters of Nilus, often overflow to make others fruitful. The Papists confess that all the ground which we have got of them is by Catechising and instructing our youth.

Friend, consider the worth of thy children and servants souls, and the weight of their everlasting estates, and how in the dark of ignorance they must unavoidably stumble into Hell; and for the Lords sake be perswaded to instruct them in the knowledge of the true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent,