DISC. III. the power of the Gospel. By it, in various ways, men are conformed to it's temper and spirit: for a due and proper notion of that temper and fpirit, Chrift refers us to the state of childhood; a state through which, to fanctify it for all, himself did not disdain to pass; and in that, as in every other state, glorified the Father who fent him. Why, therefore, fhould it be thought a thing incredible, that "out of the mouth of babes "and fucklings God should ordain strength, "and perfect praise ?" Laftly, God is honoured, wherever children are taught to confefs and to praise his holy name, because it appears, that his religion is there known and propagated. The circumftance is a proof that the country where it has taken place is a Christian country; and a pledge, that it will continue to be such. Under all the divine difpenfations from the beginning, no duty is fet higher, or more infifted on, than that of inftructing children in the knowlege of religion, "Abra " ham *ham fhall furely become a great and DISC. mighty nation, and all the nations of the "earth fhall be bleffed in him." What more, or greater, can be faid of any mere man? Attend to the reason, which immediately follows. "For I know him, that he "will command his children after him, and may they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” bring upon Thus again, under the law: "These "words, which I command thee this day, "shall be in thine heart:" for what purpose, or for whofe fake? Of themselves alone? By no means: "And thou shalt teach "them diligently to thy children, and shalt "talk of them when thou fitteft in thine 66 house, and when thou walkest by the way, "and when thou lieft down, and when "thou rifeft up." Children, on their part, are fuppofed to be often afking quefupon thefe fubjects, and fo to put their tions III. parents, DISC. parents, teachers, or friends, upon converfation of this kind. "And it shall come to III. 66 pafs, when your children fhall fay unto you, What mean you by this fervice? "that you fhall fay, It is the facrifice of "the Lord's paffover, who paffed over the " houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, "when he fmote the Egyptians, and de"livered our houfes "." Refpecting Chriftian parents, they are moft expressly enjoined to " bring their "children up in the nurture and admonition "of the Lord;" and to the praise of young Timothy, as well as of thofe relations who had been his inftructors, it is faid, "that “from a child he had' known the holy "Scriptures, able to make him wise unto "falvation, through faith which is in Christ “Jefus,” Confidering thefe precepts and examples, who could believe he was travelling through a Chriftian country, when he found the Exod. xii. 26. children III. children in it speaking and acting like hea- DISC. thens; or, perhaps, in a manner that would difgrace heathens ? But suppose no such precepts or examples had been recorded. Religion is not only truth; it is truth the most interesting, the moft dear, and valuable. It is that on which a man depends for his comfort and joy; for his fafe conduct through this life, and his eternal happiness in the next. Would he deprive his children of this comfort, this joy, this fafe conduct, this eternal happiness? Would he fuffer them to live and die in error and vice, if it were in his power to prevent it? Can he bear the thought of seeing them at the laft great day, ftanding, with the reprobates of all ages, at the left hand, and departing into never-ending mifery? The wretched ignorant idolater, who in old time made his children pass through the fire to Moloch, is less to be blamed than fuch a parent as this. Should there, however, be a Chriftian III. DISC. country found, in which the children are as above described, of one thing we may be abundantly certain, that fuch a country cannot long continue Chriftian. They who are now children, will in a few years become men and women; they will foon compose the great body of the Public: of what kind will that Public be? And how much more depraved ftill will be the defcendants of that Public! In fuch a nation, matters must go on from bad to worse, till the wrath of God break forth, and there be no remedy. The inhabitants will either fall by the fword of the enemy, or be led away into captivity, or confumed by civil diffenfions, biting and devouring one another. For wife and moft important reasons therefore it was, that when "God eftablished a teftimony in Jacob, "and appointed a law in Ifrael, he com"manded the fathers that they should "make them known to their children; "that the generation to come fhould know "them, even the children which should be "born; who fhould arife and declare them "to their children; that they might set |