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a_o affectionate_a concernment_n for_o a_o portion_n in_o he_o as_o the_o only_a saviour_n of_o die_a soul_n and_o more_o may_v be_v wrap_v up_o in_o a_o sigh_n a_o groan_n a_o word_n a_o tear_n of_o they_o to_o this_o purpose_n than_o we_o be_v aware_a of_o 6._o a_o tender_a fearfulness_n of_o know_a sin_n be_v another_o hopeful_a testimony_n of_o early_a goodness_n we_o must_v indeed_o make_v allowance_n for_o the_o unballa_v temper_n of_o childish_a year_n which_o can_v be_v expect_v to_o be_v altogether_o free_a from_o the_o vanity_n and_o folly_n of_o that_o age_n but_o when_o child_n be_v under_o powerful_a impression_n of_o fear_n of_o do_v any_o thing_n which_o they_o be_v convince_v to_o be_v downright_a sin_n and_o this_o not_o so_o much_o from_o a_o servile_a awe_n of_o the_o rod_n as_o from_o a_o ingenuous_a tenderness_n of_o heart_n it_o can_v but_o suggest_v a_o good_a hope_n notwithstanding_o some_o childish_a folly_n that_o they_o may_v be_v incident_a to_o child_n can_v be_v suppose_v to_o have_v that_o explicit_a and_o extensive_a knowledge_n of_o sin_n that_o ripe_a year_n may_v attain_v unto_o but_o what_o they_o understand_v to_o be_v sin_n they_o be_v sensible_a it_o be_v offensive_a to_o god_n and_o displease_v to_o their_o godly_a parent_n as_o well_o as_o damn_v to_o their_o own_o soul_n and_o from_o all_o these_o consideration_n be_v possess_v with_o a_o awful_a fear_n of_o do_v amiss_o who_o can_v esteem_v this_o any_o other_o than_o a_o divine_a spark_n strike_v from_o heaven_n into_o their_o heart_n while_o yet_o in_o their_o tender_a minority_n how_o fearful_a have_v some_o child_n be_v in_o lie_v though_o a_o iniquity_n too_o common_o incident_a to_o that_o age_n of_o take_v the_o name_n of_o god_n in_o vain_a of_o profane_v the_o sabbath_n or_o bear_v apart_o in_o the_o wicked_a excess_n that_o other_o
branch_n of_o ourselves_o ourselves_o be_v multiply_v into_o so_o many_o lesser_a sprig_n yea_o our_o own_o very_a bowel_n spin_v out_o into_o so_o many_o small_a thread_n and_o consequent_o when_o these_o by_o a_o irresistible_a hand_n come_v to_o be_v rend_v and_o tear_v from_o we_o it_o can_v but_o be_v very_o grievous_a to_o innocent_a and_o much_o more_o to_o corrupt_a nature_n but_o when_o there_o be_v a_o wellgrounded_n hope_v in_o their_o latter_a end_n when_o there_o be_v a_o good_a foundation_n to_o believe_v that_o they_o be_v make_v brahche_n in_o christ_n before_o they_o be_v pluck_v away_o as_o branch_n from_o ourselves_o that_o there_o be_v some_o lineament_n of_o the_o new_a creature_n form_v in_o they_o before_o they_o be_v call_v off_o the_o stage_n of_o this_o old_a creation_n this_o can_v but_o open_v a_o refresh_a spring_n of_o consolation_n to_o mournful_a parent_n to_o assuage_v their_o swell_a sorrow_n and_o to_o staunch_v their_o bleed_a wound_n in_o the_o management_n of_o this_o point_n we_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o show_v 1._o what_o be_v those_o symptom_n which_o may_v administer_v good_a ground_n of_o hope_n with_o respect_n to_o our_o die_a child_n 2._o in_o what_o respect_v this_o be_v such_o a_o sovereign_a support_n to_o survive_v parent_n and_o relation_n 1._o what_o be_v those_o character_n which_o may_v administer_v good_a ground_n of_o hope_n with_o respect_n to_o our_o die_a child_n i_o shall_v not_o here_o concern_v my_o discourse_n with_o those_o child_n that_o die_v in_o their_o morning-infancy_n and_o be_v snatch_v from_o their_o mother_n or_o nurse_n breast_n by_o that_o time_n they_o be_v well_o come_v into_o the_o world_n and_o consequent_o be_v no_o more_o capable_a of_o exert_v any_o act_n of_o grace_n than_o they_o be_v of_o reason_n the_o occasion_n require_v not_o and_o the_o time_n will_v not_o allow_v i_o to_o engage_v in_o that_o subject_a but_o i_o shall_v confine_v myself_o to_o such_o child_n as_o have_v arrive_v to_o some_o competent_a year_n of_o understanding_n and_o so_o be_v in_o a_o capacity_n of_o leave_v some_o intimation_n of_o the_o early_a impression_n of_o divine_a grace_n upon_o their_o heart_n although_o cut_v off_o in_o their_o early_a bloom_a day_n yet_o in_o our_o management_n hereof_o it_o become_v we_o to_o exercise_v all_o humble_a sobriety_n it_o be_v attend_v with_o some_o difficulty_n to_o state_n aright_o the_o first_o sprouting_n of_o divine_a grace_n in_o adult_n person_n and_o much_o more_o in_o young_a child_n we_o shall_v therefore_o make_v a_o adventure_n only_o so_o far_o as_o the_o line_n of_o scripture_n without_o offer_v any_o violence_n to_o it_o will_v conduct_v we_o and_o leave_v the_o more_o intricate_a secret_n of_o divine_a operation_n to_o he_o that_o best_o understand_v they_o even_o to_o god_n himself_o who_o can_v discern_v grace_n in_o those_o minute_a working_n which_o lie_v beyond_o the_o reach_n of_o our_o observation_n to_o come_v to_o particular_n there_o be_v these_o timely_a intimation_n of_o goodness_n in_o child_n which_o may_v minister_v good_a ground_n of_o hope_n with_o respect_n to_o their_o latter_a end_n 1._o a_o teachable_a disposition_n in_o the_o thing_n of_o god_n as_o it_o be_v the_o unquestionable_a duty_n of_o parent_n to_o teach_v their_o child_n betimes_o and_o prudent_o to_o instil_v divine_a truth_n into_o their_o mind_n as_o soon_o as_o they_o be_v capable_a of_o learning_n so_o it_o be_v a_o very_a hopeful_a indication_n in_o child_n when_o they_o be_v teachable_a in_o divine_a thing_n and_o cheerful_o receptive_a of_o spiritual_a instruction_n in_o their_o tender_a year_n who_o shall_v i_o teach_v knowledge_n say_v god_n 28.9_o isa_n 28.9_o who_o shall_v i_o make_v to_o understand_v doctrine_n they_o that_o be_v wean_v from_o the_o milk_n and_o draw_v from_o the_o breast_n i_o know_v the_o word_n be_v design_o a_o very_a cut_a rebuke_n to_o the_o unteachable_a jew_n intimate_v that_o a_o wean_a child_n be_v as_o teachable_a as_o they_o but_o withal_o we_o may_v make_v this_o observation_n from_o they_o that_o when_o child_n be_v so_o early_o receptive_a of_o gracious_a instruction_n it_o be_v a_o argument_n that_o god_n be_v at_o work_n with_o they_o as_o their_o sovereign_a teacher_n to_o hear_v child_n studious_o inquisitive_a into_o spiritual_a thing_n and_o ask_v good_a question_n about_o serious_a and_o heavenly_a matter_n to_o see_v they_o lean_v their_o head_n and_o lend_v their_o ear_n earnest_o to_o listen_v to_o discourse_n about_o soul-affair_n and_o thing_n of_o everlasting_a moment_n what_o a_o comfortable_a prospect_n must_v it_o afford_v and_o as_o it_o can_v but_o be_v very_o affect_v to_o the_o heart_n of_o concern_v parent_n so_o it_o can_v be_v esteem_v no_o less_o than_o a_o hopeful_a intimation_n in_o those_o tender_a plant_n that_o god_n be_v deal_n with_o their_o heart_n in_o their_o morning-year_n though_o in_o a_o way_n and_o manner_n undiscernible_a to_o we_o who_o be_v it_o that_o form_v the_o heart_n which_o by_o nature_n be_v crooked_a and_o perverse_a into_o this_o spiritual_a docibleness_n 21.1_o prov._n 21.1_o but_o he_o who_o have_v all_o heart_n in_o his_o hand_n and_o can_v mould_v they_o when_o and_o how_o his_o sovereign_a goodness_n please_v child_n heart_n in_o their_o natural_a state_n be_v lock_v up_o against_o divine_a thing_n as_o well_o as_o other_o man_n and_o who_o be_v it_o that_o open_v the_o lock_n so_o early_o 3.7_o rev._n 3.7_o but_o be_v that_o have_v the_o key_n of_o david_n and_o open_v where_o none_o can_v shut_v and_o shut_v where_o none_o can_v open_v in_o a_o word_n a_o teachable_a mind_n in_o a_o age_n of_o life_n that_o be_v oftentimes_o the_o most_o untoward_a and_o indocible_a imply_v a_o heart_n touch_v with_o the_o finger_n of_o heaven_n and_o where_o god_n have_v his_o hand_n upon_o the_o spring_n so_o soon_o it_o can_v but_o suggest_v a_o good_a hope_n through_o grace_n unto_o thoughtful_a parent_n 2._o a_o affectionate_a respect_n to_o the_o holy_a scripture_n be_v another_o early_a intimation_n of_o a_o hopeful_a import_n it_o be_v record_v as_o one_o of_o the_o morning-bloomings_a of_o divine_a grace_n in_o a_o young_a timothy_n 3.15_o 2_o tim._n 3.15_o that_o from_o a_o child_n he_o be_v acquaint_v with_o the_o scripture_n his_o early_a acquaintance_n with_o they_o imply_v his_o early_a affection_n to_o they_o he_o be_v such_o a_o early_a proficient_a in_o they_o because_o he_o have_v a_o early_a desire_n unto_o they_o and_o delight_n in_o they_o which_o can_v be_v attribute_v to_o no_o other_o than_o a_o divine_a original_a when_o child_n therefore_o express_v a_o early_a respect_n to_o the_o holy_a bible_n and_o love_v frequent_o to_o converse_v with_o those_o bless_a oracle_n when_o they_o take_v pleasure_n in_o read_v they_o themselves_o and_o in_o hear_v other_o read_v they_o when_o they_o make_v a_o particular_a remark_n upon_o signal_n passage_n and_o inquire_v into_o the_o mean_v of_o they_o and_o lay_v they_o up_o as_o a_o choice_a treasure_n in_o their_o heart_n when_o they_o love_v to_o read_v such_o passage_n over_o and_o over_o again_o and_o to_o be_v tell_v of_o they_o as_o if_o their_o heart_n be_v great_o affect_v with_o they_o and_o suck_v some_o virtue_n and_o sweetness_n from_o they_o what_o construction_n can_v all_o this_o admit_v of_o but_o as_o a_o hopeful_a hint_n from_o heaven_n of_o some_o gracious_a beginning_n in_o those_o tender_a year_n be_v it_o not_o a_o intimation_n that_o the_o same_o spirit_n of_o grace_n and_o truth_n that_o indite_v the_o scripture_n have_v begin_v to_o draw_v some_o lineament_n of_o those_o bless_a truth_n upon_o such_o child_n heart_n when_o the_o heart_n be_v much_o in_o the_o bible_n it_o be_v a_o argument_n there_o be_v something_o of_o the_o bible_n in_o the_o heart_n there_o be_v something_o within_o answer_v to_o the_o truth_n without_o which_o give_v they_o such_o a_o pleasant_a taste_n and_o relish_v to_o the_o soul_n there_o be_v some_o minim_n of_o the_o law_n write_v in_o the_o heart_n though_o the_o character_n as_o yet_o be_v but_o very_o small_a and_o scarce_o discernible_a 8.10,11_o heb._n 8.10,11_o this_o also_o may_v afford_v a_o very_a support_v foundation_n of_o hope_n to_o pious_a parent_n 3._o a_o towardly_a inclination_n to_o religious_a duty_n be_v another_o token_n of_o a_o encourage_v nature_n what_o a_o doleful_a sight_n be_v it_o and_o worthy_a of_o the_o most_o compassionate_a resentment_n to_o observe_v the_o wretched_a auk_fw-mi wardness_n of_o some_o child_n to_o religious_a exercise_n do_v but_o compare_v they_o then_o with_o what_o they_o be_v at_o other_o time_n and_o they_o be_v never_o more_o froward_a or_o more_o prone_a to_o sleepiness_n than_o at_o such_o season_n how_o apparent_o do_v their_o spirit_n enther_n sink_v or_o fall_v or_o grow_v