I have infifted fomewhat largely upon this Duty, as being not only the ftrongest Cement of Society, but the Foundation of all moral Honefty, and therefore abfolutely neceffary to be very early and frequently inculcated upon the Minds of Children, who are more obnoxious to this Sin of Lying, than to any other. And fad Experience does but too often convince us, that as fome are much fooner addicted to it than others (As foon as they are born, they go aftray and Speak Lies, fays the Royal Pfalmift, Pfal. Iviii. 3.) So when this wretched Habit is once contracted, it is very hard to be broken, even in thofe tender Years; and much more, after it has been confirmed by long Cuftom and Practice, and by that fleight and cunning Craftiness, Eph. iv. 14: which usually attends it in a more advanced Age, and whereby Men lie in wait to deceive, after they have taught their Tongue to speak Lies, Jer. ix. 5.

They must likewife be cautioned of Evilagainst Evil-speaking, or ufing op- Speaking. probrious and reproachful Language towards each other upon any Occafion whatfoever This is generally the Effect of tho c 6 headstro

headstrong and unruly Paffions to which Children are naturally obnoxious; and which, unless they are reftrained by the fober Dictates of Reason and Religion, are very apt to break out in contumelious and reviling. Words, the impotent Revenge of weak Minds; directly contrary both to the Command and Example of that Divine Pattern of Candour and Patience, in whofe Mouth there was no Guile; who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he juffered, he threatened not, 1 Pet. ii. 22, 23. And who hath declared in his Gospel, that Whosoever shall fay to his Brother, Thou Fool, fhall be in Danger of HellFire, Matt. v. 22. And as they must be Of Scoffing warned against fpeaking any fcanat Infirmi dalous or injurious Words in Anger; fo muft they be forbidden to use them even in Sport or Jeft, and muck more by Way of Contempt and upbraiding others with any natural Infirmity either of Mind or Body. From this they may be deterred by the Example of that dreadful Judg ment which overtook thofe Children that mocked Elijah, saying, Go up thou bald Head,

ties.

2 Kings

6

2 Kings ii. 23, 24.

Whereupon two and

forty of them were torn by two She-Bears.

Of Slander.

And forafmuch as Slander, which is the speaking Evil of our Neighbour falfely, is the worst Sort of Lying, and the moft pernicious to human Society; therefore Children must be earnestly dehorted from all Degrees of, and Approaches to, this odious Vice, which makes them twofold more the Children of Hell than the former. It is one notorious Character of the Devil, that he is the Accufer of the Brethren, Rev. xii. 10, And as that venomous old Serpent was caft out of Heaven upon that Account, so all that will follow his Example, must expect to share in his Punishment. Now because Children (especially where they of Talebearing. have contracted any Prejudice) are apt to tell falfe Stories of one another; or to aggravate fuch as are partly true, by the Addition of fome falfe Circumstance, in or der to bring their Master's Displeasure upon those they accufe: He muft by all Means diffuade and difcourage them from troubling him or their Fellows with groundless or

needlefs

The 9th Commandment ex

plained.

needlefs Complaints. For He that faid, thou shalt not bear falfe Witness, faid alfo, thou shalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer, Lev. xix. 16.

And again, The Words of a Tale-bearer are as Wounds, Prov. xxvi. 22. A Tale-bearer revealeth Secrets: but he that is of a faithful Spirit, concealeth the Matter, Prov. xi. 13. Upon which Account they fhould be ad'vised to pass by one another's little Errors and Infirmities, and instead of aggravating, to conceal and excufe them; unless they are commanded by their Superiors to speak what they know, for the Discovery of fomething that may be more amifs than they are aware of.

3. In their Actions. Obedience and Sub

miffion to whom due.

The Fifth

3. As to their Actions; they must be taught during this tender and unexperienced Age, to govern them by the Advice and Directions of thofe who have the Rule of them, Heb. xiii. 17. and not only to honour plained. their natural Father and Mother, according to the exprefs Word of the Fifth Commandment; but (as they are taught by the Expofition of in their Catechism) to bo

Command

ment ex

mour

nour and obey the King (or Queen) and all that are put in Authority under them; to fubmit themselves to all their Governors, Teachers, Spiritual Paftors and Mafters; to respect the Perfons, and reverence the Character of thofe that inftruct them, whether in the School or Church; the one, as the Guides and Directors of their Youth; the other of their whole Life; upon which Account, they who labour in the Word and Doctrine, must be accounted worthy of double Honour, 1 Tim. v. 17. For they watch for their Souls, as those that must give Account, Heb. xiii. 17. Their Submiffion, both to their Mafter and Minifter, muft be more particularly expreffed by receiving all their Inftructions and Admonitions with Attention and Reverence, and their Reproofs and Corrections with Meeknefs and Patience; conforming themselves to the one, and amending themselves by the other; that fo they may profit by both.. And though both one and the other are contrary to their present Inclinations; though all Reftraint, Reproof and Punishment are really uneafy and grievous; yet fince they proceed

Inftruction, Reproof, and Correction, bow to be received.

from