Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
2. They are born, as others, the children of wrath, though they come of
Godly Parents.
3. Grace comes not unto them as an Inheritance, because they have Godly
Parents. These things premised I shall now proceed.
1. The children of Godly Parents are the children of many Prayers: they
are prayed for before, and Prayed for after they are born, and the
Prayer of a godly Father and godly Mother doth much.
2. They have the advantage of what restraint is possible, from what
evils their Parents see them inclinable to, and that is a second mercy.
3. They have the advantage of Godly instruction, and of being told
which be, and which be not the right ways of the Lord.
4. They have also those ways commended unto them, and spoken well of in
their hearing, that are good.
5. Such are also, what may be, kept out of evil company, from evil
Books, and from being taught the way of Swearing, Lying, and the like,
as Sabbath-breaking, and mocking at good men, and good things, and this
is a very great mercy.
6. They have also the benefit of a godly life set before them
doctrinally by their Parents, and that doctrine backt with a godly and
holy example: and all these are very great advantages.
Now all these advantages, the children of ungodly Parents want; {84a}
and so are more in danger of being carried away with the error of the
wicked. For ungodly Parents neither Pray for their Children, nor do,
nor can they heartily instruct them; they do not after a godly manner
restrain them from evil, nor do they keep them from evil company. They
are not grieved at, nor yet do they forewarn their children to beware
of such evil actions that are abomination to God, and to all good
men. They let their children break the Sabbath, swear, lye, be wicked
and vain. They commend not to their children an holy life, nor set a
good example before their eyes. No, they do in all things contrary:
Estranging of their children what they can, from the love of God and
all good men, so soon as they are born. Therefore it is a very great
Judgment of God upon children to be the Offspring of base and ungodly
men. {84b}
Atten. Well, but before we leave Mr. Badmans wife and children, I have
a mind, if you please, to enquire a little more after one thing, the
which I am sure you can satisfie me in.
Wise. What is that?
Atten. You said a while ago, that this Mr. Badman would not suffer his
wife to go out to hear such godly Ministers as she liked, but said if
she did, she had as good never come home any more. Did he often carry
it thus to her?
Wise. He did say so, he did often say so. This I told you then, and had
also then told you more, but that other things put me out.
Atten. Well said, pray therefore now go on.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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