DIRECTION. I.

Let us make it Our Constant Care, and Di­ligent Endeavour, to Live in the Constant and Conscientious Practice, of all manner of Christian­Family-Duties [Page 23] Incumbent on the Heads of Fa­milies. Now those Relative Duties which con­cern the several Persons in Families, are to be reduced to Three heads. (1.) The Duties of Superiours, to Inferiours. (2.) Of Inferiours, to Su­periours. (3.) Of Equals, one towards another. Those which we are now Concerned to Enquire into, are the Duties of Superiours to Inferi­ours; for the maintaining a Constant course of Religions Service to God in Families; which belongs unto Practical Godliness, and consists in daily Excercise of these things. The People are wont oftentimes to say unto the Preachers; The Life of Doctrine lyes in Application; surely the Preachers may as truly and Properly An­swer them, The Life of Application lyes in Practice. Especially in these Important Duties, of such Universal Concernment.

The Duties are,

1. Reading the Scriptures, daily in the Family. A Duty too too much neglected (I fear) even amongst Professors. The Scriptures are the Words of the Eternal God; Containing the Words of Eternal Life; Written by men Inspired by the Holy Ghost; 2 Pet. 1. ult. Now What is written is written for our Learning; &c. Rom. 15. 4. Therefore surely for our Reading, without which we are not Capable to Learn. It is Recorded in Commendation of Timothy 2 Tim. 3.15. That from a Child, thou hast Known the Holy Scriptures &c. [Page 24] Surely the way to know them, so as to grow Wiser unto Salvation, is to Read them. Once more, It is Required of the King; Deut. 17.19. That he should Read in the Book of the Law, all the Dayes of his Life. If the King is to Read daily in the Book of the Law, then surely Professors of the Name of Christ ought to Read in the Books of the Gospel every day; As proper means, to prepare them For, and quicken them To, o­ther Duties of Family-Worship.

2. Follow this with Family prayer, This is a Duty belonging to Natural Worship, and there­fore binds all Persons, at all Times; As the A­postle Exhorteth, Eph. 6.18. Praying Alwayes, with All Prayer and Supplication, &c. Of which Family Prayer is one kind, and is necessary, both for the Example, and Encouragment, of those that are under our charge. This is brought in, as a special evidence of Cornelius's Devoutness, in the Fear and Service of the Lord, with all his House, He Prayed Alwayes, Act. 10. 2. Besides Prayer is a Necessary duty, Pertaining to a Christians Walk, when he walks like himself; Surely then David did not walk in his House or Family, with a Perfect heart, but that he Prayed for them and with them; as Psal. 101.2. There is indeed, a Praying for our Children and Servants, in Secret; which is the Duty of all sincere Christians: An earnest Plying the Throne of [Page 25] Grace, As Abraham did, Gen. 17. 18. O that Ishmael might Love before Thee. So should we, particularly Recommend our Children to the Mercy of God, in our Secret Addresses every day; But that They may be Assured, that we pray For Them, and may also be Encouraged to do the like, if they shall Live to come into the same Capa­city of Family-Government, we ought Con­scientiously, to attend Family-Prayer With Them every day. And that We and our Families may find acceptation, with the Lord in our Daily- [...]-Supplications, Let us Carefully Watch against Two things; (1.) Coldness, and Formality. This is a Frame we are in great danger to fall into; Frequency in Prayer, if we are not very careful, will abate the Fervency of our atten­dance therein; Let us not be Slothful, Cold, or Formal, in this Business; but Fervent in Spirit, &c. Rom. 12.11. Serving that GOD who is a SPI­RIT, with our Spirits; John 4.24. Finding in our Heart, to Pray our Prayer as David; 2 Sam. 7.27. And Pouring out our Soul before the Lord, as Hannah I Sam. 1 15. Otherwise we cannot Expect, to obtaine any Mercy at the Hand of God, for our Selves or Ours. The Apostle James informs us, That such a man as is Faint, Weak, Doubting, Cannot Expect to Re­ceive any thing of the Lord; Jam. 1.6. Surely we all find by woful Experience, how much we stand in need of such a Watch Word as this. [Page 26] (2.) Let us Watch against Distractions in Fa­mily Duties. Many Occasions will Intrude upon us, to Distract our minds, and abate the Intens­ness of our Souls in these Duties. Let us do our Utmost, so to Order and Compose every Business, and to Govern every Person, in their several Capacities, that there may be no distraction but what is purely Accidental; but as much as possible we may Attend upon the Lord, in Family-Prayer Without Distraction; I Cor. 7.35. Remembring we are in the Presence of GOD, who cannot Endure to behold Iniquity; About things of Everlasting Concernment, that our Hearts and Souls, may be Engaged in the Duty; and we may do it with ALL our Might; Distractions in Duties are very Evil things, and we are never more in Danger to be Pestered with them, than in Family Prayer; Let us do by them as Abraham did by the Birds, that annoyed his Sacrifice, Gen 15. 11. Use our utmost Endeavour, by the Assistance of the Spirit of God, to Drive them away. Heartily grieving, for what we cannot pre­vent.

3. Let us Carefully Attend Catechising of Our Families. This is a Duty of Great Concern­ment, for the bringing Young ones, to a Sound and Methodical knowledge of God, Christ, and the Way of Salvation. Indeed the Word is not Expresly set down in Scripture, yet in [Page 27] many places, we find the Thing intended there­by; Particularly, Gal.6.6. Let him that is Taught in the Word Communicate &c. The Greek word (CATECHOUMENOS) there used, for Him that is Taught gives us the derivation of the Name, and the true Notion of the thing. For it is an Orderly and Methodical Instructing, Per­sons in the Great Doctrine of Godliness, Or the Fundamental Points of Religion Necessary unto Sal­vation. Hence, It comprehends under it, both the Credenda, and Agenda, (i. e.) Truths to be believed, and Duties to be performed. By this means Persons well Catechised, will Attain unto, and Retain, the form of sound Words, or Summary of Christian Religion, according to the Apostles Exhortation, 2 Tim. 1.13. Hold­fast the Form of Sound Words, which thou hast heard of me, &c. (i. e.) in which he had In­structed or Cathechized him. We are Com­manded, to Trent frequently, and Familiarly, with out Children; about the great things, of their Salvation, Deut. 6.6,7. Thou shalt Talk of them, as thou [...] House, and when thou Walkest by the way, and when thou Lyest down and when thou [...] Now Catechizing, is an Apposite, [...] and Compendious way, to Insinuate and [...] Divine things; The want whereof, makes so many grown persons, confused in their Knowledge, even of the Im­portant Doctrines of Faith and Repentance, As [Page 28] also of the Glorious Mysteries of the Mediato­rial Office of our Lord Jesus Christ; Viz. His Incarnation, Humiliation, and Exaltation, with the Benefits redounding there from, Represented to us in Symbols and Sacraments Let this Duty then, be constantly attended by us, at certaine times every Week, so shall we find our Children, &c. To grow in Knowledge, as they grow in Years; and may have ground to hope, that by the help of the Spirit of God, they shall also grow in Grace. I humbly Recommend, For Grown Persons, The Assemblies Catechism, for young Children Dr. Owens, Primer Catechism, and for bringing them to a Familiarity, with the Words of the Sacred Text; the Scriptural Catechism, lately set forth by the Reverend Mr. Cotton Mather, is of Excellent use.

4. A Fourth Duty, is Reproof Of, and bear­ing full testimony Against, whatsoever we find in these of our Families, Contrary to God and God­liness. Now Reproof is the Orderly Applicati­on, of the Rule of God to them, to Convince then wherein they have Transgressed it, and to bear Testimony against the Delinquence. Hence our Security, ought [...] proportion to their Iniquity; Otherwise [...] [...]mes Short of Divine Acceptation: as in the are of Eli's Sons, Their Transgression was very Great, I Sam. 2. 22. Yet his Reproof was very Mild, favouring of [Page 29] too much Indulgence; Verse 23,24,25; And Chap. 3.13. We have Gods Testimony against his neglect, upon that account; Because his Sons made themselves Vile, and he Restrained them not. The word in the Hebrew (CAHAH) signi­fies to bend the Browes, and wrinkle the Fore­bead with anger; He did not severely Brow­beat them fully testifying, against the Evil of their Wayes, and Heinousness of their Sin in the Sight of God. (i. e.) By Severely Chid­ing them as he was a FATHER, Deposing them as he was High-Priest, and Punishing them Cor­porally as he was a Judge. So Diodat, Ann [...]t, Belg, Piso.

And we must alwayes, Remember, that over­much Mildness in Reprooving, reflects the guilt of the Transgression, upon the Reproover; When therefore any in our Families, Sin Greatly, and Heinotsly, Let us Reproove them Sharply, and Effectually.

5 ly. And Lastly. When other means failes, and we find an Obstinate Persisting in Evil Practices, We must add Correction to all the Rest. This is the Last Remedy, and though it is Rough and Unpleasant, yet it is sometimes Ne­cessary, and Profitable. Thus the Wise man gives a Rule, Prov. 19. 18. Chasten thy Sin while there is Hope, and let not thy Soul spare for his Crying. Indeed it must be acknowledged, That as strong Working Physick, must be Skilfully Corrected; [Page 30] So Chastisements must be very Prudently. Mana­ged, by the Sober and Religious Housholder, who is to dispense them, according to the Age, Temper, Inclination, and Disposition, of the Offender; whether it be Child or Servant. As also with due regard to the Quality, Circumstances, and Aggravations, of the Offence, for which it is Administred.

Now although in Performing these Fami­ly-Duties, all Persons in their Particular Stations are concerned, Superiours, to Injoyne and Practice them; Inferiours, to Attend on them, and Submit unto them; And Equals to Excite one another thereunto: Yet the main Stress of all, lyes on the Master, or Head of the Fami­ly, as will Appear if we Consider Three things;

1. The Master of the Family, is as it were the SOUL of the Family. He is the Correlate, of every Relation there, Viz. The Husband, or the Wife; The Father of the Children; The [...] of the Servants; The Governour or all the Governed; He is the Spring of Motion to all persons there; Every Child and Servant, acts, By, From, and Under him, The Wife indeed mooves By, and With, but all others From and Under him; when they move aright. As the Soul gives Wife and Motion, to the Body-Natural; So the Head of the Family, puts Vigor and Activity, into the Body-OEconomical; Hence JOSHUA in our Text, Moves First, Resolving that all the Rest of [Page 31] his Family, shall Move and Engage along with him: As for ME and my HOUSE, we will Serve the Lord.

2. The Master of the Family, hath an Especial Betrustment, with all the SOULS in the Family, and must One Day be Accountable for them. Masters of Families, do in a sort sustaine a Publick Ca­pacity, and such must give Account of the Per­sons Committed unto their Charge: For they are not Betrusted only with the Bodies in their Families (although the Neglect of them were an unaccountable Transgression) But also with their SOULS, and with them Especially, as the most Excellent Constituent Parts of Man; Hence when another Person is added, to the Family, there is one Soul more, for whose Eternal Salvation, the Godly Housholder is to be Emi­nently Concerned. The Children born in Our Families, are Born unto God, and a strict account will one day be Required of us, what we have done With, and how we have discharged Du­ty Unto; GODS Children, Ezek. 16.20,21.— Thou hast Slaine Mr Children; These Children, God Committeth unto us for Education, He doth (To speak with Reverence) Put them Out to us; as Pharaohs Daughter did Moses, to the Hebrew Woman his Mother, saying as She Did; Exod. 2. 9. Take this Child, and Nurse it for ME, &c. Being therefore thus Committed unto us, Account concerning them may Justly, and [Page 32] will Certainly, be Required Of us, in the Great Day: When if it shall Appear, that by means of our Neglect of Duty they be missing; Our Life must go for Theirs; Especially, being so Solemnly Warned before-hand; as he was in another case, (Kings 20. 43.)

3. Inferiours are Generally Ordered in their Manners, according to the Practice and Example of their Superiours. The Poet hath told us,

Regis ad Exemplum, T [...]us comp [...]nitur Orbis.

As is the Prince, So is the People.

And we Commonly say, [...] Exempla Movent. Precepts do Instruct, but Examples do Move, and Ex [...]. Hence such Masters of Fa­milies, as give good Counsels, to their Children and Servants; And at the same time Practice what is Clean contrary, will find by Woful Ex­perence that one Evil Example, will do more Hurt, than Ten good Precepts will Rectify and Amend. Indeed such Masters are like Rowers, who Look one way and Row another, speak Well but do Ill, so that I may allude to what He said in another case (Gen. 2 [...].22.) The Voice is Jacobs, but the Hands are the Hands of Esau. And surely that Degeneracy in the Leaders of a State, which the Lord Complaines of; hath a Proportionable influence Upon, and may pro­perly be referred Unto; the Leaders in Fa­milies, and there will certainly be like fatal [Page 33] Consequence of Misleading there; Isa. 9. 16. For the Leaders of this People, cause them to Err; Amd those that are led by them, are De­stoyed.

DIRECTION. 2.

Labour to give every Duty, its Proper Season allowing full time unto the Performance thereof. What the Wise man saith, of a Word spoken in Season; Prov. 15. 23. I may properly Apply, unto a Duty done in Season, and say in like manner; How good is it? This puts a Beauty of Holyness, upon all other occasions o the Family. And for Encouraging our Care and Conscience herein, we may Consider (1.) This will make our Dutyes, so much the more Acceptable to GOD. He is a God of Order, and doth all His works in the most Proper Season, and Therefore Expects, and Requires, that we should Endeavour to com­ply with His Precept and Example, therein. It is said, Eccl. 3. 11. He hath made every thing, Beautifull in His Time. Hence then, the more Seasonable, the more Beautifull things are, in the Sight of God and Man; But Neg­lect of the due Season, for our Family Du­tyes, introduceth many uncomfortable Disord­ers, and Distractions in the other affaires of our Families, and we find our selves, Taken in those Evil Nets, for not Knowing our Time; [Page 34] (Eccl. 9.12.) To the Dishonnour of God, and our Profession of Godlyness; Convince­ing us by our own Wofull Experience, of the truth of what the Wise Man Asserts, Eccl.8.6. Because to Every Purpose, there is Time and Judgment: therefore the Misery of man is Great upon him (i. e.) because he hath not Understanding, to comply therewith.

(2.) Our Conscientious Care in this matter, will Convince our Children and Servants, that these Dutyes are of great Importance, In that we are so much concerned, about the Ordering, and Timeing of them. It is very good, to State and Keep, a certaine Hour of Prayer, as that was at the Temple, when Peter and John Attended there Acts 3. 1. So if the Heads of Families, are carefully to attend, at the Stated Times (as near as Possible they Can) all others in the Family, will be under an Awe of such a Godly Practice; and Remember that all Affaires, in which they are concerned; either within Doores, or without; must be dispatched ac­cordingly. And for Complyance with this Di­rection take these RULES.

RULE. I. Make every Occasion (that Pos­sibly may) Give Way to the Time of Family Duties; all Suffer not them Ordinarily to give way to any thing. It must be Acknowledged; that there are several Duties incumbent on Christi­ans, [Page 35] in their Particular Callings, besides those of their General Calling, but God allows time for Both, and it belongs to every ones Care and Conscience, so to manage the Former, that they may not Entersere with, or Obstruct the Latter: Let then the Momentous Duties of our General Calling, have a Proper and Pro­potionable Time, all other business being Fore­casted and Modelled accordingly. The Want of Care herein, doth too too often Obstruct, Reli­ous Duties, Even in some of the Strictest Fa­milies.

RULE. II. Be sure to Begin with Religion, Earth in the Morning. This will have a Special Influence, upon the Orderly management of All the Duties of the Day, both in our Gene­ral and Particular calling. The Poet could say, A Jove Principium &c. Begin with God: And the Sweet Psalmist of Israel pleads his Ear­liness, and Earnestness, For acceptance in his Devotions, Psal. 5. 3. My voice shalt Thou Hear in the Morning O Lord: in the Morning will I direct my Prayer unto Thee & will Look up. It is Admirable to Observe, how Religion Thrives, in those few Persons and Families; who make Conscience, of Ea [...]ly attending Family Duties. But on the Contrary; where Sloth is Indulged in the Morning, Religious Duties are long Deferred, so that this Person comes In, or [Page 36] the other Business Calls for Attendance, and the pretended Necessary delay of them, doth too often issue, in a Sinful and therefore Shame­full, Obstruction or Omission for that Day and Time.

RULE. III. Let all General Family Duties, be attended in such Seasonable manner, as that Eve­ry Person of Understanding, and Capacity to Profit, may Without Faile be Present at them. We ought not to let our Children or Servants, want a Meal for their Bodies; Oh! Let none of them Miss of a Chapter, a Prayer, An Exhor­tation or Counsel, for their Precious and Immor­tal Souls. For if they do Perceive Us, not to be concerned, about their being Present at such Duties; they may well imagine, the Attending of them is of No Great Importance, and the Neg­lect of them is of No very Dangerous Consequence. And under those Pernicious Misapprehensions, may be ready to harden themselves in Sin, and to Persist in Careless and Sinful Neglect of Du­ty; so as to hazzard the Utter Ruin and De­struction of their Souls for ever.

RULE. IV. And Lastly. Be not over­edious in Family-Duties. I Confess, this is an Error on the Right hand, yet it is an Error; which some Professors Do fall into: Now if we are Over-Tedious in Duties, it detracts from [Page 37] the Seasonableness of them, hence a Duty be­gun in good Time, may be Unseasonably Ended by the Length of it. God is in Heaven, and thou on Earth, therefore let thy Words be few, (i. e.) Humble, Sensible, Faithful, and Fervent; I would not be thought, to Diswade or Dis­courage Pious Souls, from enlarging their Pray­ers, when they want any Special Family-Mercies, and would Jointly Apply themselves to the Throne of Grace to obtain them: Or when they have received any Family-Blessings, and would Jointly return their Praises, and Thans­givings for them; But it hath been observed, that the most Pious and Zealous Ministers; have not been long in Family Duties, no nor yet in Publick Prayer on Ordinary Occasions; giving this Reason, they were willing to Pray their Hearers Hearts Into Heaven (by a warmth of Holy Zeal and Fervency) but not by Tedious­ness to Pray them Out again. Besides the Parts of Prayer are not many, and the Petitions in the Lords Prayer, that Most Excellent Platform, are but Six, besides the Preface and the Conclusion. Again the Spirit is never so willing as it ought to be; but when it is Most willing, the Flesh is Weak. Finally, God is not moved by a Multi­tude of Words, he needs not Information, but hath Commanded us onely to be his Remem­brancers, who hath graciously Commended, and Encouraged, Sincerity and Fervency; James 5. [Page 38] 16. And by Our Saviour Himself severely Reprooved, and Condemned, Prolixity and Vain Repetitions, as a Heathenish Practice Matth. 6.7.

DIRECTION. 3.

Labour we, to keep our Hearts Continually, in Gracious, Solemn, and holy frame to Serve God. Let us Carry with us, such a Frame of Heart into our Particular Callings; Let All our Motions both Natural and Civil, as well as Religious, have a Vein of Grace, and Straine of Holiness, Observable in them. Let it be our Constant Care and Endeavour, Whatsoever we Do, to Do it to the Praise and Glory of God I. Cor. 10. 31. (i. e.) So to demean our selves, that our whole Course and Carriage, may Demonstrate us, to be fully Resolved, to Serve and Glorify the Lord. Hence let all our Speeches be with Grace, Col. 4. 6. (i. e.) Accented with Sobriety and Gravity, to that degree as may Admini­ster Grace to the Hearers, Ephe. 4. 29. (i. e.) Manifesting the Exercise of Grace, in him that speaks; and Stirring up the Exercise of Grace in them that Hear. As for our Actions Let them be Commendable and Ex­emplary, so as we may turn even Civil Actions the Affaires of our Particular Call­ings, to Good account; in the Sight of [Page 39] God. The Wise Man tells us Prov. 21. 4. The Plowing of the Wicked is Sin. (i. e.) be­cause he attends it with an, Evil Frame of heart; Not from a Good Principle, nor yet for a Right end. Hence Contrariorum Contraria Consequentia. The Plowing, Sowing, Tradeing, and Merchandize, of the Godly man is Good, because he aimes at the Glory of GOD in All; Once more, Let our Gestures and the Whole Course of our Behaviour in our Fa­milies, be such as may Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour, Titus. 2. 10. (It is spoken there, of Servants but it is the Duty of Masters also) ( i. e.) so as may be an Honnour to the Religion we profess; This we see in David If he will Walk in his House with a perfect Heart, he must behave himself Wisely in a perfect Way; Psal. 101. 2. Accordingly, thus to Engage our selves Dilligently to Observe and Do, all His Commandments, will En­title us to All Manner of Blessings; Deut. 28. 1. 2. &c.

DIRECTION. 4.

Let us be Often Crying, Proving, and Examining; how Religion Growes, and Flou­rishes in our Families; By This Practice, we shall come to know what Fruit there is, of our Care, Pains; and Prayers; If upon Tryal we [Page 40] find they do grow in the Knowledg of God, Christ, and the things of Eternal Salvation; this will be Exceeding Pleasing unto Us: If we find Other-wise, we must be deeply Hum­bled Under it, Heartily Lament Over it, and Earnestly Pray, to Him that is the Author of all success, in the most Pious Endeavours, That It may be otherwise for the Time to Come. The Wise Man directs Prov. 27.23. Be deligent to Know the State of thy Flock &c. Every mans Family, is his Peculiar Flock; over which he hath a Special Charge, and of which he must render an Awful Account in the Day of the Lord: Surely then he ought to be greatly Concerned, to Understand how Religion Thrives among them, that it may Be well with them Now; and Go well with them in That Day.

DIRECTION. 5.

Would we Serve the Lord Daily, and Sin­cerely, in our Families; Let us make one Reso­lution about the Sanctifying GODS Holy Day. We shall never Serve the Lord as we ought, on the Week Dayes, if we do not Resolve Strickly to keep, and Hallow the LORDS Day. The Great Law-giver, hath put a Re­member upon it, let us be sure not to For­get it. Know that Religion will Flourish or Languish, as we Do, or do not, Keep Holy the [Page 41] Lords Day. Now because it is a Rest from Labour, our Children and Servants, are very apt to Indulge themselves in Evil Courses, when out of our Sight and Hearing; Let US and All in our Families Read with Observation; and Re­verence, Isai. 58. 13,14. If thou keep thy foot from my Sabbath, from doing thy Work on Mine Holy Day &c. And let us Endeavour, Con­scientiously to Practice, what is there Solemnly Enjoyned; That we may Sanctify Gods Holy Day, by a Due and Seasonable Preparation For it, By a faithful Attending all Kind of Duties In it; Publick, Private, Secret. And by Meditateing upon what we have heard, and Taking Account of Particular Persons in our Families, what they Remember, that We and They, may Live in the Practice thereof continually. Here then, I would Humbly Offer one Word of Advice, Let none of Gods Holy Time be lost, in our Fa­milies, by our Controverting between the Dif­fering Opinions, about the Time when the Sabbath Begins; But whether we apprehend the Day to begin at the Evening before; as some Learned and Pious do Believe; Or At or Towards Morning, as others Equally Pious and Learned do Judge and Practice; Let us Make sure, that there be as much time Expended in Religious Exercises, Publick, Private, Secret, as we allow to our Daily-Secular-Affaires: even a full Proportion of a Seventh part of time; [Page 42] as ALL in general do Conclude. I am very Sensible Religion hath Suffered much amongst us, by Our different Sentiments in this matter; Oh! Let it not be so in our Families; But In a word, for our Encouragment, Let us be Faith­full to Keep Gods Holy Day, Honnouring It, and Him In it, as He Requires of us: And we may be Assured, He will make us Prosperous in the Week Dayes; So that We and Ours, shall Ride on the High Places of the Earth, and be Fed with the Heritage of Jacob; For the Mouth of the LORD hath Spoken it.

DIRECTION. 6.

Let us be Careful, to Discharge Duty unto our Children, in Every Respect, so soon as they are Capable, and have Understanding to At­tend us therein. The Reason why many Chil­dren in our Families, Serve the Lord no more, when they are grown up; but rather Addict themselves, to the Service of Satan, Sin, and Sensuallity, is in great measure, to be Attributed unto their Parents Neglect of Duty towards them, in their Minority. For although there is a Corrupt Nature in Every Child, in its Infancy: Yea From the very Birth, they Go Astray Speak­ing Lyes (Psal. 58. 3.) Yet Care and Educati­on will much Prevail, to keep under that Cor­rupt Principle, and Promote better Inclinations in them. Care and Government, will Tame the Wildest Creatures, such as have the most [Page 43] Savage natures, may be rendred Familiar to if handled whil'st they are Young; Even such as after-ward become Utterly Unreduceable to our Subjection. Particularly then,

First. Begin to Instruct them betimes. En­deavour to Season them in their very Infancy, with Savoury Principles, both of Morallity and Religion, that they may as it were Suck them in with their Mothers Milk; You know not what Influence your Godly Dictates and Di­rections, may have upon them for many Years after, when they are grown up Into the World, and we are gone Out of it; Teach them to READ, and as soon as you can Possible, ac­custome them to Read the Holy Scriptures, Which are Able to make them Wise unto Salvation 2 Tim 3.15. Thus may they come to Remember their Creator, in the Dayes of their Youth (Eccl.12.1.) And to Know Him, Whom to Know is Life E­ternal. And the more Early, the more Honou­rable: both in the Sight of God and Good men. Early Instruction is of Lasting Impression; The Poet could say, Quo semel est imbuta recens Ser­vabit Odorem; Testa diu—Horat. A Cask will long retain the Scent, of that wherewith it is first Seasoned; And a Better man than he, by Inspiration of the Holy Ghost, declares unto us, Prov. 22. 6. Train up a Child, in the Way that he should GO: and we find it True by Wofull Experience, if he be Trained in a Way [Page 44] [...] which he should Not go, when he is Old be will not Depart from it.

Secondly Begin to Correct [...]; Bear Early Testimony [...] the Beginnings of Sin. We should not Permit, much less Coun­tenance, the least Appearance of Evil, in our Children; Sin in their Natures, is like a Deadly Plague; We should Venienti Morbo occurrere, Take the Disease in Time, and Nip the very buddings of Original Corruption; [...] no Wise pleasing our Selves With, but several, Testifying Against, the Vain and Sinful Speeches, and Actions of Our Children, not Indulging Of Them or Dallying With Them, in the least Violations of Gods Ho­ly Commands in their very Childhood; for if we do, we shall find By woful Experience, they will not only Dally with, but Despise our Commands, when they are grown up. David's Indulgence, to his Son Adonijah from his Youth upward; brought himself to Sorrow, and the Young man to Ruin; I King. 1. 6. And his Father had not Displeased him at any Time, in saying Why hast thou done so, &c. The fatal Conse­quences whereof, are Represented to us in the following part of That Chapter, Viz. The Rebellion, and Destruction of Adonijah.

Lastly. DIRECTION. 7.

Let us Conscientiously Endeavour, to keep our Families Clear, of such as we find to be Ob­stinately Resolved, not to J [...]ine with Us in Serving of the Lord. We should be very Care­full, [Page 45] not to Admit any into our Service, as near as we Can, who are not willing to Serve the Lord with us: when we would S [...]ye out one to Serve us; We should as David did, Look a­mongst the Faithful in the Land (i. e.) Such as will walk with us in a Perfect Way; That they may Serve us, Psal. 101. 6. But if when ALL is done, we are mistaken, and have Unawares Admitted such into our Service, as are Unre­duceable to Religious Order and Government; We ought to take the First Opportunity, to rid our Hands and Families of them, as David also did: Verse 7. He that Worketh Deceit, shall not dwell within my House: be that telleth Lyes, shall not Tarry in my Sight. Let not Lucre and Covetousness, Betray us to take such Into, or keep them In our Families, as will either divert us From, or Interrupt us In, our Conscientious Serving of the Lord. But let us Mourn over, what cannot be Prevented in that Respect.

So much for the DIRECTIONS.