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But there are befides thefe, two Objections which indeed are real, but yet seem to have too great a weight with those who would fain decline this duty, and are by no means fufficient to excufe mothers, no not those of the highest rank and quality, from the natural obligation of it. And they are thefe: the manifest trouble, and the manifold reftraints which the careful discharge of this duty does unavoidably bring upon those who fubmit themfelves to it.

ift, For the trouble of it, I have only this to fay, and I think that no more need to be faid about it ; that no body is discharged from any duty by reafon of the trouble which neceffarily attends it, and is infeparable from it; fince GOD who made it a duty. forefaw the trouble of it when he made it fo.

2dly, As to the manifold reftraints which it lays upon mothers; this will best be answered by confidering of what nature these restraints are. And they are chiefly in these and the like inftances. This duty restrains mothers from fpending their morning and their money in curious and coftly dreffing; from mifpending the reft of the day in formal and for the most part impertinent vifits, and in seeing and hearing plays, many of which are neither fit to be seen or heard by modest persons and those who pretend to religion and virtue; as I hope all chriftians do, efpecially perfons of higher rank and quality and it reftrains them likewife from trifling away a great part of the night in gaming, and in revelling till past midnight, I am loth to fay how much.

Thefe are those terrible restraints which this natural duty, of mothers nurfing their children, lays upon

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them. Now I cannot but think all these to be very SER M. happy restraints: happy furely for the child; and in many respects happy for the father, and for the whole family, which by this means, will be kept in much better order: but happiest of all for the mother, who does herein not only discharge a great and neceffary duty, but is hereby also hinder'd from running into many great faults, which before they will be forgiven muft coft her a deep contrition, and a very bitter repentance.

Perhaps I may have gone further in this unusual argument, than will please the present age: but I hope pofterity will be fo wife as to confider it and lay it to heart. For I am greatly afraid that the world will never be much better till this great fault be mended. I procced to the next particular wherein the good education of children doth consist, namely,

II. In bringing them to be baptized and admitted members of CHRIST's church, at the times appointed or accustomed in the national church of which the parents are members. I mean, to bring them to the church to be there publickly initiated, and folemnly admitted by baptifm. And this the rules of the church of England do ftrictly enjoin, unless the child be in danger of death; and in that case only it is allowed to administer baptifm privately, and in a fummary way without performing the whole office: but then if the child live, it is ordered that it shall be brought to the church, where the remainder of the office is to be folemnly performed.

I know that of late years, fince our unhappy confufions, this facrament hath very frequently been adminiftred

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SER M. miniftred in private: and minifters have been in a manner, and to avoid the greater mifchief of feparation, neceffitated to comply with the obftinacy of the greater and more powerful of their parishioners; who for their ease, or humour, or for the convenience of a pompous chriftening, will either have their children baptized at home by their minifter; or if he refuse, will get some other minifter to do it; which is very irregular.

Now I would intreat fuch perfons calmly to confider how contrary to reason, and to the plain defign of the inftitution of this facrament, this perverfe cuftom, and their obftinate refolution in it, is. For is there any civil fociety or corporation into which perfons are admitted without fome kind of folemnity? and is the privilege of being admitted members of the christian church, and heirs of the great and glorious promises and bleffings of the new covenant of the gospel lefs confiderable, and fit to be conferred with lefs folemnity? I speak to christians, and they who are fo in good earneft will, without my ufing more words about it, confider what I fay in this parti

cular.

III. Another and very neceffary part of the good education of children is, by degrees to inform and carefully to inftruct them in the whole compafs of their duty to GOD, their neighbour, and themselves: that so they may be taught how to behave themselves in all the steps of their life, from their firft capacity of reafon till they arrive at the more perfect use and exercife of that faculty; when, if at firft they be well inftructed, they will be better able to direct and govern themselves afterwards.

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This duty God does exprefly and very particularly SERM. charge upon his own peculiar people, the people of Ifrael, fpeaking of the law which he had given them: "Thou fhalt, fays he, teach them diligently unto "thy children, and fhalt talk of them when thou "fitteft in thine house, and when thou walkeft by the c6 way; when thou lieft down, and when thou rifeft "up." And this GoD long before promised, that Abraham, the father of the faithful, would do; "I know Abraham, says he, that he will command Gen.xviii. “his children and his houshold after him to keep the 19. "way of the LORD."

This work ought to be begun very early, upon the first budding and appearance of reason and understanding in children. So the prophet directs; "Whom shall he teach knowledge? whom fhall he Ifa.xxviii. "make to understand doctrine? them that are "weaned from the milk, and drawn from the "breasts: for precept must be upon precept, &c.

To this end we muft, by fuch degrees as they are capable, bring them acquainted with God and themfelves. And in the first place we must inform them, that there is fuch a being as GOD, whom we ought to honour and reverence above all things. And then, that we are all his creatures, and the work of his hands, "that it is he that hath made us, and not we our"felves:" that he continually preferves us, and gives us all the good things that we enjoy and therefore we ought to ask every thing of him by prayer, because this is an acknowledgment of our dependence upon him; and to return thanks to him for all that we have and hope for, because this is a just and easy tribute,

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SERM. tribute, and all that we can render to him for his numberless favours and benefits.

And after this, they are to be inftructed more particularly in their duty to GoD and men, as I fhall fhew more fully afterwards. And because fear and hope are the two paffions which do chiefly fway and govern humane nature, and the main springs and principles of action; therefore children are to be carefully informed that there is a life after death, wherein men fhall receive from GOD a mighty and eternal reward, or a terrible and endlefs punishment, according as they have done or neglected their duty in this life that GOD will love and reward those who do his will and keep his commandments, but will execute a dreadful punishment upon the workers of iniquity and the wilful tranfgreffors of his laws.

And, according as they are capable, they are to be made fenfible of the great degeneracy and corruption of humane nature, derived to us from the fall and wilful tranfgreffion of our firft parents; and of the way of our recovery out of this miserable estate by JESUS CHRIST; whom God hath fent in our nature to purchase and accomplish the Redemption and Salvation of mankind, from the captivity of fin and fatan, and from the damnation of hell.

IV. The good education of children confifts not only in informing their minds in the knowledge of GOD and their duty, but more efpecially in endeavouring with the greateft care and prudence to form their lives and manners to religion and virtue. And this must be done by training them up to the exercise of the following graces and virtues.