THe holie Ghost speaking in the Scriptures of foolish sons , as that he that begetteth such a one getteth himselfe sorrow , and that the father of a foole hath no ioy , Prouerb . 17 , 21. Meaneth it not so much of naturall idiots , and such as are destitute of common reason : although it is true , that is a lamentable iudgement of God , and a heauinesse to the parents of such a child : as of wicked children such as either are ignorant in the word , nor knowing how to order one right step to the kingdome of God , or else hauing some knowledge , abuse it to maintaine their carnall lustes and appetite . For this cause , as it woulde grieue parents to haue naturall fooles to their children , or such as either in some imperfection of nature are dismembred , or deformed and misfigured in the partes of their bodie , so much more shoulde it grieue them to haue such children , as either for want of knowledge and heauenlie wisedome , can not walke in the feare of God , or abusing the knowledge giuen them , prostitute themselues to al sinne and wickednesse : it is maruellous howe greatly parents can bewaile the want of one natural gift procéeding of some imperfection , and how easilie they can passe ouer without anie griefe the want of all spiritual graces , springing from corrupt education . In like manner is it strange that men can take the matter so heauilie when their children breake into such offences as either haue open shame , or ciuill punishment folowing them , and yet can make no bones , but passe ouer such sinnes as are against the maiestie of God , accompanied with euerlasting confusion , and vnspeakeable torments : wherein what doeth the most part of men bewray , but their great hipocrisie , in that neither their ioy , nor their griefe is sound to their children , and that they loue themselues more in their children , then eyther their saluation or the glorie of GOD : the tender loue and care whereof no doubt did increase the sorrow of Dauid for the death of his sonne Absolon , who was not so much grieued for the losse of a sonne , as for that vntimelie ende of his sonne , to whom the time of repentance , for his saluation and the glorie of God , was denied : which haply , if he had liued , his father Dauid might haue reioyced in . Let vs learne therefore to correct our affections to our children , and be grieued for their ignorance , impietie & sinnes , whereof either our carnall copulation , the not lamenting of our naturall corruption , the want of prayer and holie séede , or prophane education , armed with the wrath of God , maie bée a most iust occasion . Can a man hope for a holie posteritie ? or doe we maruaile if the Lorde crosse vs in the children of our bodies , when we make as bolde and brutish an entrance into that holie ordinance of the Lorde as is the méeting of the neighing horse with his mare : when béeing ioyned in that honourable estate of matrimonie , either as mere naturall men without all knowledge of GOD we beget our children , or as too carnall men without the feare and reuerence of the Lord : neither bewailing our corruptions , which we receyued of our ancestrie , nor praing against the infirmities which may descende to our posteritie , wée abuse the marriage bedde . Lastlie , when hauing receiued the fruite of the wombe , we haue no care , by vertuous education , to offer it to the Lorde , that our childe by carnall generation may be the childe of God by spirituall regeneration . Surelie no : and yet men looking vp to God his prouidence and secrete councell , without all bethinking themselues of their corrupt generation , from which their children are descended , without all looking backe into their wicked and godlesse bringing of them vp , will freat agaynst their sinnes , fume agaynst their children : yea often they will correct them , and that to serue their owne corruptions , not so much grieued for that they haue sinned against God , as that they haue offended them . Christians therefore must knowe , that when men and women raging with boyling luste méete togither as brute beastes , hauing no other respects then to satisfie their owne carnall concupiscense , when they make no conscience to sanctifie the mariage bedde with praier , when they haue no care to increase the Church of Christ and the number of the elect , it is the iust iudgement of God to send them either monsters , or naturall fooles , or else such as hauing good gifts of the mind , and well proportioned bodies , are most wicked , gracelesse , and prophane persons . Againe on the contrarie we shal find in the word of God , that noble and notable men , commended vnto vs for rare examples of vertue and godlines , were children asked and obteined of God by praier . Our first parents Adam and Eue , being humbled after the birth of their wicked sonne Caine , obteyned a righteous Abell , of whom , when by his bloudie brother they were bereft , they receiued that holie man Seth. Abraham , begetting in the flesh had a cursed sonne Ismael , but waiting by faith for the accomplishment of God his couenant , he obtained a blessed Isaac . Iacob not content with one wife , according to the ordinance of God , was punished in his children : yet afterward being humbled he receiued faithfull Ioseph . Elkanah & Hannah , praying and being cast downe , had a Samuel that did minister before the Lord. Dauid and Bethsheba , lamenting their sins , obteined Salomon , a man of excellent wisdome . Zachary and Elizabeth fearing the Lord , receiued Iohn the Baptist & forerunner of Christ . Looke what sinnes we haue receiued naturallie without GOD his great blessing , without praier & humbling of our selues , we shall conuey them to posteritie : and although the lord granteth sometimes ciuill gifts vnto the children of natural and carnal men , yet for the most part they receiue their naturall sins . But if the children of God by regeneration do sée in themselues , and lament their sinnes of generation , praying that their naturall corruptions may be preuented in their posterities , they shal sée great mercies of god , in some measure fréeing their children from the same . Nowe when thou shalt sée such sinnes to bée in thy children , enter into thy owne heart , examine thy selfe , whether they are not come from thée , consider how iustly the hand of God may be vpon thée : and when thou wouldest be angrie against thy child , haue an holie anger with thy selfe , and vse this and such like meditation with thy owne soule : Lord , shal I thus punish mine owne sinne ? and that in my owne childe : shall I thus persecute the corruptions of my ancesters ? nay I sée , O Lord , & proue that thou art displeased with me for the too carnall conception of my childe : I lay then in some sinne , I asked it not of thée by praier : be mercifull vnto me ( O Lord ) and in thy good time shewe some pittie vpon my childe . Thus thinking thou goest about to correct nature in thy childe which he could not helpe , arming thy selfe with praier , repenting with Iacob , thou shalt be so affected as desirous to draw thy child out of sinne , yet with the mildest meanes and least rigor . And one thing is most wonderfull : that some will teach their children to speake corruptlie , and doe wickedly whilst they are yong , and yet beat them for it when they are olde : againe some will imbolden their litle ones to practise iniquitie towardes others , which when by the iust iudgement of God they afterward exercise towardes the parents themselues , they are corrected for it . And yet deale with these and such like men for the euill education of their children , and they will answere : doe not wée as much as is of vs required : wée sende our children to the Church to be instructed of the pastour , and to the schoole to be taught of the maister : if they learne , it will be the better for them , if not , they haue the more to answere for : what can we do more ? But remember , O man , consider , O woman , whosoeuer thus speaketh , for that sinnes sake , and the want of praier there may be a plague vpon the pastors paines , and a cursse vpon the teachers trauell . If parents would haue their children blessed at the Church and at the schoole , let them beware they giue their children no corrupt example at home by anie carelesnesse , prophanesse , or vngodlines : otherwise parents wil do them more harm at home then both pastor and schoolmaister can doo good abroad : for the corrupt example of the one fighteth with the good doctrine of the other : which is by so much the more dangerous , because that corrupt walking is armed with nature , and therefore more forcibly inclineth the affections of children to that side . And further experience teacheth vs that children like or mislike more by countenance , gesture and behauiour , then by anie rule , doctrine , or precept what soeuer . Some there be that will not haue their children taught vntill they be ten or twelue yeares old , because as they say , at that age they haue but an apish imitation . To whom I answere , that although they cannot then déepely discerne , nor profoundlie conceiue things , yet how manie things before these yeares will they both receiue , and remember ? And I demaund if children be apish in imitating that , whiles they be yong , which they will haue the habit of when they be old , may they not much better doe apishlie good whiles they are yong , which they may do carefullie when they are olde ? besides let them goe so vntaught , and they will grow so headstrong , that they will sooner be broken , then bended : and sure it is that one stripe , or two words will doe more good to a child in time then a hundred stripes afterward . And here let parents be admonished of their vndiscréete correction , who doe their children more harme in shewing a merrie countenance after their discipline vsed , then they do good by their chastisement of them whiles they do correct them . Neither doe I purpose to take away naturall affections anda Christian kind of compassion in all our censures : for it is my great complaint of the brutish vnmercifulnesse of manie parents herein , but would wish Christians , to correct their vndiscréete affections herein by heauenly wisedome . Neither am I so Stoicall as to denie a more milde and affable kinde of speach to bée both lawfullie and conuenientlie vsed to children , and yet I wish it to be void of all vnséemely lenitie , and without all shew of foolish , vaine and vnnecessarie behauiour . To be briefe , howe néedefull houshold gouernement towards our children is , it may appeare by the slender thriuing and small profiting either of religion or vertue , either in the church or common wealth . Speake men of discipline neuer so much , complaine they of the want of church gouernement neuer so loude , preach they , teach they neuer so much abroade , vnlesse they will beginne discipline in reforming their houses , and giue religion some rowme at home , they shall trauaile much , and profite little . And surely , if men be carefull to reforme themselues first , and then their families : if their charge be greater their circuites and prouinces , wherein the Lorde hath placed them , it were the best way to moue the Lord to bestow reformation , and discipline on his church among vs : and of all meanes that nowe may be hoped for this séemeth best : for of particuler persons come families , of families townes , of townes prouinces , of prouinces realmes , so that conueighing discipline thus from one to another , in time , and that shortlie it would come into the church : well ( I say ) let there be neuer so good lawes in cities , neuer so pure orders in churches , if there be no practise at home , if fathers of families vse not doctrine , and discipline in their houses , & ioyne their handes to magistrate and ministers , they may indéede , but vniustlie , as manie haue done complaine that their children are corrupted abroad , when they were before , and are still corrupted at home . Alas if parents , to whome the comfort of their children well brought vp is a precious crown , wil not informe and reforme their children in the feare of God , howe would hope sustaine these men , that others will performe this dutie for them , to whome this charge doeth farre lesse appertaine ? Lastlie , let parents remember , that therefore they haue disordered and disobedient children to themselues , because they haue béene disobedient children vnto the Lorde , and disordered to their parents when they were young , whereof because they haue not repented , the Lorde punisheth their sinnes to others with the like sinne to themselues . Wilt thou know , thou father , howe thou maiest haue that blessing to bée the blessed father of a blessed séede ? wilt thou know , thou mother , howe to auoide that cursse to bée the curssed mother of a curssed séede ? bring thy children within the compasse of the couenant : indeuour to make thy sonne the sonne of God , and thy daughter by nature the daughter of god by grace : and remember howe that God , which on his part protested to father Abraham that he was all sufficient for the accomplishment of his promise in giuing him a blessed séede , and requested also on father Abrahams part , that he should walke before him , and be vpright . Wilt thou then haue the one part of this of the couenant : that is , that God should blesse thée in thy séede ? then remember also that thou walke before the Lord , and be vpright : wilt thou haue thy children as the blessed séede of Abraham ? teach them with Abraham the iudgements of the Lord : pray for them with Abraham , that they may liue in tho light of the Lord : be readie to offer them with Abraham , that they may be a holie sacrifice vnto the Lord , It is thou , O man , O woman , that mayest do thy childe the greatest good , and the greatest harme : if thou prayest for him , and repentest for thy selfe , the Lord will blesse thy care , the pastors paines , the teachers trauaile . But if thou dispisest these dueties , the Lorde will denie thée these blessings , and the cursse of God will be vpon thy childe , at home in thy house , abroade in the Church , and in schoole . And séeing the Lorde hath promised that he will be thy God , and blesse thy séede , if thou béest faithfull , thou mayest both hope that thou art of the faithfull , if thou hast a blessed séede , and feare , that thou hast not as yet the blessing of the couenant when thy séede is accurssed . But had not Iacob wicked children , and Dauid godlesse sonnes ? and doeth not dayly experience teach vs , that wicked men haue godly children ? yes : for besides the secret counsell of the Lorde herein , we must knowe that neither the promise of the Lord is so vniuersall that euerie particular child of a faithfull man should be within the couenant : for if of many there be but one blessed , the promise is performed : yea , which more is , though the faithfull man haue neuer a good childe , yet , if vnto the thousand generation there be but one good , the couenant is not broken : neither must we tie the Lorde his worke so much to man , that a good man may not haue an euill sonne : séeing though the Lord visit not his sinnes , yet he may visit the sinnes of some of the forefathers , to the thirde and fourth generation going before . To the second I say , that an euill father hauing a good child , though the Lord shew not mercie to that particular man therein , yet he may remember his promise to some of the forefathers in the thousand generations going before : and though that euill man haue no curssed child , yet the cursse may be accomplished in the third and fourth generation following . Wherefore not speaking of election or reprobation , which wee leaue only to the Lord to make good or bad , I exhort parentes to vse the ordinarie meanes , to bring vp their children so as they either by some good tokens may sée them the children of God , and heires of the couenant , or at least be comforted in their owne conscience if their children for some cause vnknowne refuse it , in that to their habilitie they haue vsed all good meanes to bring them vp well , and offered them to God . And if parents haue cause to be grieued , when thus trauelling in good education , they cannot sée good in their children , how much more cause of griefe may they haue when they haue vsed no labour at all to bring them vp in the feare of the Lord ? And yet many will be grieued for the one , that will not for the other : wherfore let vs learne , if we will conuey God his blessing to our posterities , let vs vse the duties there vnto , let vs , if we be loth to conuey God his iudgements to our children , carefullie auoid the meanes vnto it : and surely as it is a blessed thing in the houre of death , with Simeon to depart in peace , leauing our wife , children and seruants members of Christ , spouses to Christ , children to God , and seruants to the Lorde : so in death no one thing will be more grieuous vnto a man , then the Lord hauing giuen him the charge of so many soules to be furthered to saluation , that his owne tormented conscience shall presse him , howe , in as much as he could , he hath helped them forwarde to their damnation : and so , which is more fearefull , he shall haue them spewing and foming out on his face continuall curses in hell , accusing him for euer to bee a murtherer of their soules , and a cutthrote of their saluation . Howe be it , in all this I doe not exempt Children from all blame , so charging the parents as though the Children were frée from all guiltinesse herein : for I am not ignorant , that as in the time of Ezechiel , so in our dayes youth is readie enough to take vp this prouerb : the fathers haue eaten sower grapes , and the Childrens téeth are set on edge : but I affirme , that though the occasion be offred of such wicked parents , yet the cause of destruction is still in the children themselues , And besides that , it is sure that the soule which hath sinned shall die the death . Séeing there bée some young men , who , notwithstanding the great prophanesse of the moste , the manifolde corruptions offered abroade , the vngodlie examples abounding at home , are so mightilie preserued by the séede of grace , that they escape safelie in an holie course of life , lamenting when they sée the least occasion of euill , reioycing in the least occasion of good things . The rest who please themselues , and hope to shelter their sinnes vnder their parents defaults , are plainlie left without excuse , and are iustlie guiltie of thebloud of their owne sinnes . Labour therefore , ye yong men , to wipe away the teares of griefe from your fathers eies , and stay the sorrowfull spirites of your tender mothers , and consider in your selues , if ye haue anie nature in you , and haue not buried the vse of common reason , what a shame is it to be a shame vnto your fathers , to whome ye ought to be a glorie : thinke ye , wanton wittes , that haue not cast of all naturall affections , what a contempt it is to be a contempt vnto your mothers , to whome you haue offered as it were a despightfull violence , in that ye are a corrosiue to hir griefe , when as ye should haue bene a crowne vnto hir comforts . The end of all this bréeflie is thus much : that parents hauing fooles , Children not walking either in knowledge or in a good conscience must make some vse of so iust a cause of griefe , examining themselues , and accusing their owne soules before the Lord , either for that their méeting was prophane to so holie an estate , or brutishlie , because they desired rather a séede like vnto them in flesh and bloud , then such as might bée like to Christ by grace and new birth , or that they begate their ofspring as mere naturall or verie carnall men : or because they either prophanelie neglected all education , or monstrouslie misliked that in their young children which they liked in themselues , and punished in them their owne corrupt precepts , or for that they suffered their Children iniuriouslie to doe euill to others , which they could not suffer to doe to them selues : or vntaught that at home which was taught abroad : or in that they doe lie in some sinne vnrepented of : or else because they neuer made conscience to bring their posteritie within the couenant of saluation , but still loued the flesh of their children , and not their soules . And children here also must learne that it is one speciall propertie of a liberal and ingenious nature to be carefull so to liue , that in time they may be a glorie to their fathers , and a ioy to their mothers : which the Lord grant to vs all , for his owne glorie and our euerlasting comfort , through Iesus Christ our Lord and onlie Sauiour . Amen .