And Peter went out and wept bitterly Who would that is in his wits and have not given to his reason a bill of divorce disoblige a Friend and provoke a Foe As God therefore is the best Friend and should not be disobliged so he is the worst Foe and should not be provoked Stand in awe and sin not Psal Oh 't is better to suffer then to sin better to suffer a thousand times then to sin once and better to suffer a thousand Deaths if a man could suffer so many then to sin and suffer for sin the second death Oh soul get into a Closet while fools make a mock at sin and there cry Oh Lord let me be sick rather then sinning Oh Lord let me be sighing rather then any thing Oh let me rather dye to sin then live and sin Oh let me rather dye that I might not sin then live and sin 1. Dost make a mock at sin Tremble foul for God is not mocked 2. To the foolish Thou mayest deceive thy self and deceive others but thou canst not deceive God It is impossible to impose deceit upon God Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit Gal. 6.7 8. shall of the Spirit reap life Everlasting Thou mayst make a mock at sin and make a mock at the grace of others as Ishmael did at the grace of Isaac but God cannot be mocked And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian which she did bear unto Abraham mocking 2. Dost make a mock at sin Tremble soul for as thou art mocking in a time of prosperity so God will be mocking in a time of adversity Because I have called â—v 1 2â—â— 26 27. and ye refused I have stretched ouâ— my hands and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof But what then I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind To make a mock at sin is to sport with sin To this the Apostle speaks Sporting themselves with their own deceivings And to sport with sin 1.2.13 is to take pleasure and delight in sin As 't is the Spirit of Godliness to delight in God so 't is the spirit of sinfulness to delight in sin Sin is the element of a sinner That they all might be damned which believed not the truth â—hes 2. but had pleasure in unrighteousness The Fish is not more in its element when in the water then a sinner is in his element when he is sinning sinning with a high hand sining with both hands when he is adding Drunkenness to Thirst adding sin to sin To mock at sin is to sport with sin to sport with sin is to take pleasure in sin There are many and is it not pitty there should be any that do not onely take pleasure in their own sinning but also in the sinning of others but against these the Apostle thunders Who knowing the Judgment of God Rom. â— 32 that they which commit such things are worthy of Death not onely do the same but have pleasure in them that do them Now these are the Persons that are mockers at sin and these seem to me to be under a prodigious preparation and qualification for destruction and damnation 3. Dost make a mock at sin Go then and sin no more may not I say to thee as Christ did to the Adultress Go and sin no more May not I also say to thee as Christ did to the impotent man Sin no more least a worse thing come unto thee Io. 8 1â— Io. 5.14 Now that thou mayst not make any more a mock at sin take these following Considerations 1. Ther 's but one thing in all the World Considerations that 's opposite to the well-being of man and that 's sin Sin is against the well-being of man in this life 'T is true man was born to a great estate but by Sin which was and is Treason against God he forfeited all Paradise was Mans Inheritance but God for his sin dispossessed him of it Man was Emperour of Eden but God for his Sin banished him his native Countrey We brought nothing into this world 1 Tim. 6.7 and it is certain we can carry nothing out Man in this world is but a Tenant at will and seeing he deserves nothing he should be content with and thankful for any thing Now wilt thou make a woâ—k at sin 2. There 's but one thing in all the world that 's against the Being of man and that 's sin As sin would not suffer a man to be well in the world so not suffer a man to be long in the world Sin is not only against the well-being but also against the very being of man Sin would not only that man should not be well but also that he should not at all be Oh how many doth Sin strangle in the Womb Oh how many Abortives and Miscarriages doth Sin make Oh how many doth Sin send from the Cradle to the Grave that have run their race before they begin to go Man no sooner begins to live but he begins to die Sin hath reduced mans age to a very little pittance from almost a thousand years to a few years yea to a few days He that is born to day is not sure to live a day He that is born to day is old enough to die For what is our life it is even as a vapour which for a little time appeareth Jam. 4.1 and then vanisheth away Now wilt thou make a mock at sin 3. There 's but â—â—e thing in all the world that is a Reproach to Persons and that 's Sin Sin lays a person under infamy Sin is such a spot and stain as nothing but blood will wash out 'T is not properly a reproach for a person to be poor Poverty is not properly a reproach He that mocketh the poor Pro. 14.3 reproacheth his Makes The poor and the rich the Lord is the Maker of them all But now sin is a reproach to persons a Reproach to Nations Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people or according to the Margent Nations Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to Nations Now is sin thus and wilt thou make a mock at it 4. Ther 's but one thing in all the world that 's a ruine to persons and that â— Sin Ahaz would sacrifice to the gods of the King of Syriâ— that they might help him but they were the ruine of him and of all Israel Sin is not only the reproach of a person but the ruine of a person not only the reproach of a Nation but the ruine of a Nation Repent ye and turn from all your transgressions
the grace of Christ and in Christ is seasonable when the soul is under temptation and under Affliction Is not that a lofty and a lovely expression For peace I had great bitterness Isa 38.17 but thou in love to my soul hast delivered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back 10. Grace in Christ is surpassing grace Sin is an evil thing Sin is an evil the evil of evils Ther 's evil and nothing but evil in sin Sin is evil but grace is good sin is worse but grace is best Sin is a large Field a large Territory but grace is a larger Sin is the largest Territory in the World but grace Mans Ephah is full of sin but Gods Ephah is fuller of grace Mans cup is full but Gods cup is over full and that for an Eternity For as sin has reigned unto Death Rom 5. 〈◊〉 so hath grace reigned through righteousness unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Here is sin reigning unto death but here 's grace reigning unto Eternal life The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal life Rom. 6. 〈◊〉 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ther 's sin enough in man to damn man ther 's grace enough in Christ to save man Ther 's sin enough in man to damn man and that for an Eternity ther 's grace enough in Christ to save man and that for an Eternity 3. How this grace is in Christ that is sufficient for a Christian under temptation Grace is in Christ two wayes Formally and causally 1. Formally Grace is in Christ Formally as in the subject of it Christ is the God of grace In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God But what then The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory Jo. 1.1 14 the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth 2. Causally Grace is in Christ Causally as in the fountain of it As Christ is the God of it so he is the giver of it for he is thee head of the Church Col. 1.13 And he is thee head of the body the Church Now thus Christ is in a manifold respect 1. Because Christ is above the Church and ruleth it as the Head guideth the body Christ is soveraign as well as Saviour and Surety He is therefore called King of Saints Rev. 15.3 2. Because Christ conveyeth Life into the Church as the Head to the Members Christ giveth life to the Church Maintaineth life in the Church yea Christ in the Churches life Col. 3.4 When he who is our life shall appear 3. Because Christ provideth for the Church as the Head doth for the Members Christ gives the Church Manna yea Christ doth not onely feed the Church but is the Churches Food and he is at once Meat and Medicine I am the bread of life Jo. 9.48 4. Because Christ Participates with the Church in the same nature with it as the Head doth with the Members For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4.15 but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin 4. Why there is in Christ for a Christian a sufficiency of Grace under temptation In a three-fold respect God Christ and the Christian. 1. In respect of God God 2 Tim. 2.16 because his foundation standeth sure The foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his God knoweth those all those that he hath given unto Christ and he hath laid up in Christ a sufficiency of grace for these that they may not miscarry for an Eternity 2. In respect of Christ because he is to lose none that are given unto him Christ While Christ was in the World he kept his and upon his going out of the World he ingaged the Father to keep them As God knows all that are given unto Christ so Christ is to keep all that are given unto him Jo. 17.11 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy Name those that thou hast given me have I kept and none of them is lost but the Son of perdition that the Scripture may be fulfilled Jo. 17.12 But where did the Scripture speak this of Judas Let his dayes be few and let another take his Office Psa 109.8 3. In respect of the Christian As there is a sufficiency of grace in Christ upon Gods account and upon his own Christian so upon the Christians 1. In order to the strengthening of the Christian Ther 's a fulness of grace in Christ for Christians that Gods power may be made known yea 2 Cor. 12.9 10. made perfect in mans weakness This appears by the words after the Text for speaking of his grace as sufficient in the Text he gives this reason For my power is made perfect in weakness and when I am weak then am I strong When I am weak in flesh I am strong in Spirit when I am weak in my self I am strong in my Saviour Christ can say Paul thou art weak but I am strong yea I am strength The strength of Israel that cannot lye Now there is a Sufficiency of grace in Christ that a Christian may be strengthned under all his troubles and trials under all his Temptations and Tribulations 2. In order to the smiling of the Christian We use to say a Christian life is like a Courtiers life for upon the favour or disfavour of the Prince depends the Comfort or discomfort of the Courtier Thus upon the smiles or frowns of Christ depend the comfort or discomfort of the Christian A Christian is like the Marigold concerning which they say that it opens with the shining and shuts with the setting of the Sun If the Sun of Righteousness set in a Cloud 't is as Death to the Christian but if this Sun of Righteousness break thorough a Cloud 't is as life to the Christian Christ will not alwayes frown lest the Spirit should fail before him and the soul which he have made If ever a drooping desponding despairing soul be comforted Christ must be the Text and the Preacher too I even I am he that comforteth thee Now there is a sufficiency of grace in Christ in order to a Christians comfort Jo. 6.63 The words that he speak they are Spirit and they are Life 3. In order to the feeding of a Christian Ther 's a sufficiency of grace in Christ that the Christian may feed upon the promiss that when he hath nothing in his purse he may find enough in the promiss and when he hath nothing in his private hand he may find enough in his publique head Feeding upon the promise is believing in the promiss for the promiss is a ground for Faith as the precept is a Rule for Obedience
And a so running so run that ye may obtain It is as true Mat. 24.46 1 Co. 9.24 Acts 8.30 there is a so reading Understandest thou what thou readest Now that thou mayst not only read but so read Gods Book and Mans Book if the Book of Man be according to the Book of God take these following Directions Be conscientious in reading Direct 1. 'T is not enough to own Duty but we must be one with the Duty which we own 'T is not cursory but a cordial and conscientious reading 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 3.23 that 's promising for an advantagiâ—ous issue Whatsoever ye do do it heartily from the heart from the very soul 2. Let not one Duty justle out another There 's hearing as well as reading and praying as well as hearing pray before thoâ— readest and pray over what thou readest Not only reading but also exhortation and doctrine were at the same time anâ— with the same breath imposed by Paul upon Timothy Give thy self to reading to exhortation 1 Tim. 4.13 and to doctrine 3. Engage the Spirits Influence and Impress It will be to little purpose and profiâ— to engage in this work without the Spirit 'T is the Spirit that searcheth all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Co. 2.10 yea the Depths of God so the Greek 4. Let thy heart be a Cabinet for what thou readest Jewels are not onely to bâ— looked upon but also to be locked up Bâ— in a holy imitation of that holy Matronâ— who kept the sayings of her Son Luk. 2.51 yea of heâ— Saviour in her heart 5. Make Faith of what thou readest Therâ— must be believing as well as reading Forâ— as the Precept is a Rule for Obedience 〈◊〉 the Promise is a Ground for faith ' Tâ—â— â—ike to be with Reading as it was with Preaching not profiting Heb. 42. not being mixed with faith 6. Look unto Jesus There 's no going about this work without Christ For without him we can do nothing Look unto him therefore as the Actor as well as the Author of Grace Ioh. 15.7 Now that this Christ may be with Thee and signally bless reading unto Thee cordially prays Reader Thy Friend and Servant for Jesus sake RI. MAYHEW THE CHILD'S DUTY ECCL 12.1 first part thereof Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy Youth THAT Solomon Israels Sage is the Pen-man of this Book of Ecclesiastes or the Preacher appeareth both from the Style thereof and from the Title thereof In this Book ye have the Inscription of it and then 〈◊〉 general Proposition about it 1. An Inscription The Words of the Preacher Eccl. 1.1 Son of David King in Jerusalem Now in this Inscription you have a Description of Solomon in a threefold Relation 1. In his natural Relation the Son of David 2. In his Civil Relation King in Jerusalem And that this is Solomon is evident for David had no other Son King in Jerusalem 3. In his spiritual Relation A Preacher The words of the Preacher Son of David King in Jerusalem 2. A general Proposition This sets forth the utter insufficiency of all things under thâ— Sun to make a man truly happy and blessed together with the extream vanity which is in them in order to such an end Now this is proved two ways 1. From the Mortality of man One Generation passeth away and another Generation cometh Eccl. 1.4 but the Earth abideth for ever 2. From the Instability of all other Creatures 1. In respect of their weakness to minister satisfaction to so noble a creature as man Thâ— Sun ariseth goeth down and hasteth to thâ— place where he arose The wind goeth towarâ— the South Eccl. 1.5 6 7. and turneth about unto the North it whirleth about continually and returneth again to its Cireuits All the Rivers run into the Sea yet the Sea is not full unto the placâ— from whence the Rivers come they return 2. In respect of the restless and fruitlesâ— labour which is taken in seeking satisfaction from such things as only affect the senses All things are full of labour man cannot utter it Eccl. 1.8 the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor thâ— ear filled with hearing 3. In respect of the continued Vicissitudes and Returns of the same things The thing that hath been it is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the Sun Eccl. 1.9 10 11. c. 4. From Solomons own Experience in these â—hings Vauity of vanities saith the Preacher â—â—ll is vanity This also is vanity and vexation â—f spirit Not onely vanity Eccl. 1.2 chap. 2.26 and so unâ—ble to satisfie the soul but also Vexation â—ausing much sorrow of heart to those that â—â—re inordinately conversant about them But to the Text Remember now thy Creâ—tor in the days of thy youth Now rememâ—er now In the Greek and vulgar Latin â—now is and And remember thy Creator in the â—ays of thy youth 'T is well read either way This Text is an Exhortation unto a timely â—nd youthful remembring of God and so â—ook like an Inference drawn from the vanity â—f Childhood Eccl. 11.10 and youth with which the â—ormer Chapter ends for childhood and â—outh are vanity Remember now thy Creaâ—or in the days of thy youth Wherein you â—ave the Object the Act and the Season for that Act upon thee 1. The Object Creator or Creators Father â—on and Spirit the first purposing the second â—urchasing the third Perfecting 2. The Act Remember This word hath vaâ—ious significations but properly it signifies to â—all to mind or keep in mind yea to call to mind â—nd keep in mind Thus Peter remembred the â—ords of the Lord. He reflected what he had â—een a doing and resorded what he had done So then a remembrance is properly a call to mind and keeping in mind Art thou câ—â—â—â— to call my sin to remembrance and to slay son 3. The Season Now or in the days of tâ—â— Youth Here 's the Season for the Act 〈◊〉 on the Object Seaeson in the days of thy Youth 〈◊〉 not said in the Years of thy Youth but in 〈◊〉 days of thy Youth It is not said in the Tâ—â—â— of thy Youth but in the days of thy Youâ—â— to intimate that our life is but a few day it 's but a vapour a span a flower a shadowâ— dream Though Death be before the 〈◊〉 Mans face yet Death may be behind tâ—â— young Mans back In the days thereforâ— of thy youth while thou art yet young veâ—â— young in the beginning of thy days rememâ—â—â— thy Creator yea Creators Father Son aâ—â— Spirit Remember the VVill of the first tâ—â— Worth of the Second the Work of the Thirâ—â— To the making of Man a Council was call in Heaven Gen. 1.26 Come let us make man Remeâ—ber the Father so as to know him and 〈◊〉 inwardly yea intimately acquainted wiâ—â— him
the soul together with the body too much favours of Atheism Mat. 10.28 Fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul Is it not then a childs mercy to concern his soul with the concerns of his soul in the days of his youth 5. Because they will have fewer sins to repent of Did it not lie near Pauls heart that he was in Christ no sooner Rom. 16.7 Youthful sins may prove Ages terrour said that heavenly Preacher Mr. Burroughs Salute Androniens and Junea my Kinsmen which are of note among the Apostles which also were in Christ before me Oh had not Paul cause to repent that he was in Christ no sooner that he concerned his soul with the concerns of his soul no sooner might not this have bin his complaint Oh that I had not lived to have been a Man a blaspheming man a persecuting man before I went to Christ and concerned my soul with the concerns of my soul Oh that I had not breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord and haled men and women to prison Oh that I had not consented to Stephens death a man full of faith and of the holy Spirit but had concerned my soul with the concerns of my soul in the days of my youth Did not the sins of Davids youth lie near Davids heart Psal 25.7 Remember not against me the â—e sins of my youth nor my transgressions Is â—tâ—â—t now a childs mercy to concern his 〈◊〉 with the concerns of his soul in the days of â—â—â—th 6. Because the Time of Youth is the best Time for Service As the Morning Time is the best Studying Time Aurora Musis amica so the Morning Time is the best Serving Time Oh young ones now your Parts are Lively now your Senses are Fresh now your Memories are Strong now your Nature is Vigorous the days of your Youth are the Spring and Morning of your Time Now that God might Shadow out your Duty in the days of your Youth he required that the first fruits and the first born should be offered to him Is it not then a Childs mercy Exod. 22.29 to Concern his Soul with the Concerns of his Soul in the dayes of his Youth 7. Because the Promise is made to a Timely Seeking and serving I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me He that seeks me early or in the Morning shall find me They that seek me in the Spring Prov. 8.17 and Morning of their days shall find me As the Israelites went early in the Morning to seek Manna and as Students rise early in the Morning and go to their Studies so saith VVisdome they that seek me in the morning and Flower of their Youth shall find me Is it not then the Childs mercy to concern his soul with the concerns of hiâ— soul in the days of his youth 8. Because an Eternity of Felicity aâ—â— Glory hang upon a few moments of time Hence that counsel Heb. 3.7 To day if you will hear his voice Was it not a good question the Lawyer put to Christ Luk. 10.25 What shall I do to inherit eternal life As if he had said Sir I know that I shall be eternally happy or eternally miserable eternally blessed or eternally cursed eternally saved or eternally damned Good Sir what shall I do to inherit life Oh my cares and feares my thoughts and troubles they are all conversant about an eternity No time can reach eternity No age can extend to eternity no tongue can express eternity U num perpetuum hodie Eternity is that one perpetual day which shall never have an end What shall I do what shall I not do that I may be happy for an eternity Oh get the impressions of an eternity upon thee in the days of thy youth As the Painter painted for an eternity so do thou hear for an eternity read for an eternity believe for an eternity pray for an eternity do from life for an eternity Is it not now the Childs mercy to concern his soul with the concerns of his soul in the days of his youth 2 2. The Improving of it I have onely one Vse to make of this and that 's by way of counsel Are those that are young to concern their souls with the concerns of their souls in the days of their youth Suffer then the words of Exhortation But this Vse hath a double Aspect looking unto those that are old 1. To the old and then to those that are young Now these are either in a state of Nature or a state of Grace To those in a state of Nature 1. To those in a state of Nature 1. Art gray and yet graceless repent then and believe the Gospel Haft gray hairs upon thy head Mar. 1.15 Heb. 1.6 and not grace in thy heart 't is high time then for thee to have repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Oh soul there are but a few sands in thy Glass look about thee yea look above thee look within thee â—sa 45.22 yea look without thee Look unto me all ye ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else But will looking amount unto any advantage yea Look unto me and be ye saved When any are old in sin wo to such an old Age. It s better to die young then live to be old and die in sin Oh how sad is it to live to be old and yet die before the old man dies Then only is old age good when we are good in old age Pro. 16.31 not only die in a good old age but are good dying old The glory of young men is their strength but the beauty of old men is their gray head The gray head is a crown of glory if it be found in a way of righteousness Oh soul are grny hairs here and there upon thee hast scarcely an eye to see with hast scarcely a Foot to walk with hast scarcely a Hand to work with and hast not yet Concerned thy Soul with the Concerns of thy Soul Certainly then thou art in danger of hell fire 2. Art Gray and yet Grace-less despair not ther 's hope for thee at the eleventh hour Art going upon the last hour despair not Matt. 20.9 for he that came the eleventh hour received a penny Did not the Thief go from a Cross to a Crown Luke 23.43 This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise But their things are not written for your Imitation but to prevent your Desperation Wee say so long as there is Life there is Hope Are going off the Stage and yet hast not gone to Christ ther 's great ground for thy Faith and Repentance but not for thy Desperation the reason is Obvious for as God is the Author of Mercy so he is the Timer of Mercy And as he calls whom he will so he
should goe that when he is old he may not depart from it God who wills all men to be saved is pleased to bless the Fathers Duty and make it the Childs Mercy Soul Education in Childhood is often and Ordinarily though not alway blessed to Children 'T is true Joash King of Jerusalem was Seemingly Religious 2 Chro. 24. 2.17 18. so long as Jehoiada lived but Jehoiada dying the Religion of Joash seemed to be laid in the same Grave with him no sooner did Jehoiada dye but the Religion of Joash dyed also Thus possibly it may be that old age may out-live Education in Childhood but 't is not Vsually so at least 't is not alway so let Parents therefore Concern their Souls with the Education of Children 2. Because all Children are Children of Wrath by Nature Paul writing to the Saints at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus tells them in words at length That they had in times past their Conversation in the lusts of the flesh fulfilling of the desires or according to the Greek the wills of the flesh Eph. 1.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.30 and of the mind and were by nature Children of wrath even as others Now are Children Naturally Children of wrath Are they Obnoxious to the pouring out of the Vials of infinite and unmixed wrath Are they in a desperate state in a dangerous state in a damnable state Oh how Incumbent then is it upon Parents to look after their Education 3. Because a mans Children are himself Children are Parents Multiplyed Children are neer unto Parents The Apostle hath a lofty Expression Concerning the Relation between a Husband and a Wife Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church Eph. 5.25 26 27 28. and gave himself for it That he might Sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a Glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish So ought men to love their Wives as their own bodyes he that loveth his Wife loveth himself Thus ther 's a neer Relation between a Father and a Child a Mother and a Child and do not one come out of the Bowels of the other Let Parents therefore look to the Education of their Children Cameliâ— the Mother of the Gracchi Haec sunt Ornamenmea 4. Because Children are a mans Cheifest and Choicest Chattels I have read of a Matron of Campania who laying before Camelia her pearls with her costly Attires and Furnitures Camelia held her in discourse till her Sons came home and then Pointing to her Sons said These are my Ornaments these are my Jewels Children are the greatest Jewels and the richest goods in a mans worldly Inventory The Spirit therefore staging the Suffering of Job begins with his Children There were born unto him seven Sons and three Daughters Job 1 2. The man had no less then ten Children And more Sons then Daughters he had seven Sons and three Daughters Children if Beautifyed and Blessea with Grace are a great blessing the Greatest blessing for a Mutable and a Mortal blessing let Parents therefore look to the Education of their Children 5. Because the real Change of a Child and that in Childhood makes Musick upon Earth Oh what Musick was there upon the return of the Prodigall Bring hither said the Father the best Robe what shall he who probably had scarcely a Rag to his back have a Robe now yea the best Robe now put upon him Put a Ring on his Finger What shall he who possibly had not a Glove for his hand have now a Ring for his Finger Put shooes on his Feet Luke 19.22 23. Is the man Shooe-less and shall he have Shooes Put upon his feet now Bring hither also the Fatted Calf and kâ—ll it What shall he who fed upon Husks at best before eat of the Fatted Calf now Bring hither the Fatted Calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry My Son was dead and is alive again and was lost and is found and they began to be merry Ther 's Musick upon Earth for the change of a Child let Parents therefore look to the Education of Children 6. Because the real Change of a Soul makes Musick in Heaven As Men so Angels Rejoyce at a Change of Sinners There shall be joy in heaven over one Sinner that repenteth Luk. 15.7 more then over ninety and nine just Persons which need no Repentance That is which see no need of Repentance There is joy in heaven in the presence of the Angels of God over one Sinner that Repenteth Lu. 15.10 Now if there be such Musick upon Earth and in Heaven too upon the real Change of a Sinner let Parents then look to the Education of their Children 7 Because of the Promise The promise it unto you and to your children and to all that are afar of Acts 2.39 But who are these to as many as the Lord our God shall call that is effectually call But what is the Promise The Promise is the gift of the holy Spirit Repent and be baptised Acts 2.38 every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit That is if I mistake not a greater efflux of the Spirit I will peure water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry Ground Isa 44.3 I will poure my Spirit upon thy Seed and my blessing upon thy Off-Spring Take one place more As for me this is my covenant with them saith Jehovah my Spirit that is upon thee Isa 59.21 and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds Seed saith Jehovah from henceforth and for ever Is not this a good Encouragement now and is there not strength of reason that Parents should look after the Education of their children 8. Because of the Times What reason the Apostle gives for Redeeming of time may I give for Educating children Redeeming the time why because the dayes are evil So Educate Children Religiously why Eph. 5.16 because the dayes are evil Is not the time evil evilly evil and shall not children be religiously educated Did ever any Age sin as this doth and ever any place sin as England doth where there was such a plentiful and powerful Preaching of the Gospel Oh the Madness and Murder now Oh the Prefaneness and Polygamy now Oh the Fornication and Adultery now Oh the Cursing and Swearing Cheating and circumventing now Oh the Carnality and Covetousness now Oh that Pestilential and Prodigious Atheism now Doth not Atheism begin to break her Banks What Foundation-truth almost is there that is not unbelieved now or Disputed now or opposed now Doth not all manner of Sin come in like an