The Name of Children is a most sweet Name , savouring strongly of Love ; and used therefore so oft by t t Ioh. 13.23 . & 21.7 . that Disciple of Love , and of Christs love , in that Epistle of his that breatheth nothing but Love : u u 1. Iohn 3.17 . & 4.7 . Little Children , let us love one another , not in word and tongue , but in deed and truth : and , x x 1. Ioh. 3.7 . Little Children , let no man deceive you : And , y y 1. Ioh. 5.21 . Doctr. 2 Little Children , keep your selves from Idols , &c. And it sheweth what loving affection ought to be between Teacher and taught ; even such as is between naturall Parents and Children . That which the Apostle Paul so oft , and in so lively manner expresseth in himselfe , when he compareth himselfe , sometime to a Father ; a a 1. Thess. 2.11 . I exhorted you and besought you , as a Father his Children : sometime to a Mother ; b b Galat. 4.19 . My little Children , of whom I travaile againe till Christ bee formed in you : sometime to a Nurse ; c c 1. Thess. 2.7 . We were gentle among you , as a Nurse cherisheth her Children .

And great reason is there that so it should be :

Reason 1 For first , d d Exod. 20.12 . Deut. 5.16 . God hath given the name of Parents unto them : hee hath comprehended all Superiours under that head .

And surely , if other masters have the name of Father given them : as e e 2. King . 5.13 . Naamans servants give it him : Schoole-masters much more . They are in some kinde , under God , ( to use the Apostles tearme ) f f Hebr. 12.9 . patres spirituum , the Fathers of mens Spirits . Our Parents are instruments under God , for the producing of our Bodies the baser part : they are instruments under him , for the framing and moulding of our minds and soules , the better and more principall part of us .

Reason 2 Yea , as the Apostle Paul saith of the Corinthians , that g g 1 Cor. 4.15 . he was their Father , because by his Ministerie he had begotten them to God : so such Schoole-masters as are carefull and conscionable of their dutie in that kinde , may well say of their Scholers that they are their children in Christ , as the same Paul stileth h h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 1 Timo. 1.2 . 1 Tit. 1.4 . Timothie and Titus else-where ; since that many ( no doubt ) of them receive the first seeds and graines , and beginnings of faith and feare of God , and other saving and sanctifying grace from them .

Reason 3 Againe , this the rather is as equall , so needfull ; because that where no love is , there is little hope of learning . Little hope there is , that the Master should doe his Scholers good , if hee love not them : and as little hope is there , that the Scholers should receive good from him or profit by him , unlesse they love him .

Vse 1 That which serveth in the first place to admonish all Teachers and Instructors , either publike or private , how they ought to be affected toward those that are committed to their charge . As one saith of a good Prince , that k k Princeps pius nunquam carebit liberis : Totius est regni pater . Princeps abundat ergò foelicissimus Tot liberis , quot subditis . Th. Morus in epigram . he hath as many Sonnes as hee hath subjects , and is therefore as a kinde and loving Father to them : so should the Schoole-master make account that hee hath in some sort , l l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Homer . de Vlysse Odyss . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Xenophon Cyripaed . l. 8. as many Children as Scholers that be under his charge ; and therefore carry himselfe toward them in kinde and loving manner , even as if he were a naturall Father unto them .

Which kinde and loving carriage , or Fatherly affection , yet is not so to be interpreted , Caution . as if it were utterly to exclude and cut off all just reproofe and due correction , when occasions shall require it . That was the fault of m m 1 Sam. 2.22 . Levis objurgatio non satisfecerat disciplina . Sulpit. hist. sacr. l. 1. Eli , and n n 1 King . 1.6 . David too , though worthy men of God otherwise ; and it proved o o 1 Sam. 4.18 . a breake-necke to the one , and p p 2 Sam. 15.12 . 1 King . 1.5 . an heart-sore to the other . r r Prov. 29.15 . The rod and correction give instruction , saith Salomon , but a childe left to himselfe is the confusion of her that bare him . And , s s Prov. 13.24 . Hee that spareth the rod , hateth his Sonne , but he that loveth him , chastneth him betimes . t t Mango blanditur , ut corrumpat ; Pater minatur , ut corrigat . Aug. in 1. Ioan. tract. 7. The seducer speaketh the childe faire to marre him ; the Father handleth him roughly to amend him : u u Pius est seriendo ; crudelis esset parcend● . Idem de temp. 94. Hee is kinde in correcting him ; he were cruell in sparing him . x x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristotel . ethic. Nicom . b. 2. Correction is a kinde of cure . A faire hand , wee say commonly , maketh a foule wound . y y Quid tam pium quam medicus ferens ferramentum ? saevit in vulnus ut homo sanetur : quia si vulnus palpetur , homo perditur . Aug. de verb. Dom. 15. The Surgion searcheth the wound to the quick , that hee may save the mans life : for he should endanger the one , if he dealt but superficially with the other . z z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ( 1 Cor. 15.55 . ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Basil . in ascet . q. 4. Hee is not cruell that diggeth and gasheth the flesh , to get out a sting , or a splinter , that will not out otherwise : hee is cruell rather , that ( out of a fond pitifulnesse ) letteth it alone : Nor he cruell , that giveth correction , when it is requisite and needfull , but he rather that then with holdeth it .

Reproofe therefore , yea correction too , may well stand with Love . a a Apoc. 3.19 . As many as I love , I rebuke , saith our Saviour . And , God , saith b b Hebr. 12.6 . the Apostle after c c Prov. 3.12 . Salomon , whom he loveth , hee correcteth ; and hee scourgeth every Sonne that hee receiveth . d d Molestus est & Medicus furenti phrenetico , & Pater indisciplinato filio , illeligando , ille cadendo , sed ambo diligendo . Si autem illos negligant , & perire permittant , ista potius mansuetudo falsa , crudelis est . Aug. epist. 50. The Physician is troublesome to the frantick Patient , and the Father to the unruly Childe ; the one in binding him , the other in beating him : and yet both doe what they doe out of Love .

Yea severitie and sharpnesse may in some cases well agree with it . e e Tit. 1.13 . Rebuke them f f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , rigidè . Beza in not . sharply , saith Paul to Titus of some , that they may bee found sound in the Faith . And , to use an Heathen mans comparison ; g g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. Dion Chrysost. orat 78. A Surgion had hee two persons to cut for the stone , the one his deare Friend , the other a meere Stranger , would hee bee so foolish , thinke wee , out of love and favour to his friend , as to cut him with a blunter toole or razor than hee would cut the other with ?

It is not meant therfore , when kind and loving carriage is required of Instructers and Teachers , that they should not therefore either correct or reprove : But that h h Sive taceas , dilectione taceas : sive clames , dilectione clames : sive partas , dilectione parcas : sive corrigas , dilectione corrigas . Ad disciplinam fiant omnia dictante charitate . Omnia de charitatis procedant radice . Dilige , & quod vis fac . Aug. in 1. Ioan. tract. 7. whether they teach , or instruct , or reprove , or correct , they i i 1 Cor. 16.14 doe , according to the Apostles rule , all in Love , and in loving manner : That they strive in the first place k k — Veluti pueris dant crustula blandi Doctores elementa velint ut discere prima . Hor. sat. 1. by all milde and gentle usage to win them , and by faire words and rewards to intice and allure , as l l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alliciet Deus Iapetum Gen. 9.27 . Et Hosh. 2.14 . Alliciam eam , & loquar ad cor ejus . God himselfe is wont to deale with us . And againe , when they shall be constrained to take rougher courses with them ; yet that then also they m m Et severitatem mansuetudo condiat , & mansuetudinem , ne dissoluta sit , districtionis severitas accendat . Greg. Rom. in Evang. hom 17. Ne aut districtio sit rigida , aut pietas remissa . Idem de pastore part. 2. cap. 6. Remissio non vitians , correptio non cruentans : & severitas etiam temperamenti , quae non sit tetra , sed tetrica . Sidon . epist. 9. lib. 4. & Radevic . de gest . Frid. l. 2. Quae sanguinem eff●ndat potius quàm effundat . Tertul. apolog. temper severity with lenity , and allay the sharpnes of the one with some milde dash of the other : n n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Galat. 6.1 . tanquam membrum luxatum in locum proprium , ad situm nativum reducite . Strigel . ad Gal. Restore the offender , saith the Apostle , with the spirit of lenitie ; as o o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Paul . Aegin . the Surgion setteth and restoreth a limbe dislocated to his proper place and due site againe , with as little paine , as needs must , to the party : Do as p p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Dion Chrysost. orat . 33. veluti pueris absinthia tetra medentes cum dare conantur , prius oras pocula circum Contingunt dulci mellis flavoque liquore , Vt puerorum aetas improvida ludificetur Labrorum tenus ; interea perpotet amarum Absintbi laticem , deceptaque non capiatur , Sed potius tali facto recereata valescat . Lucret : de rer . nat. l. 4. those that give Children worm-wood or aloës for the wormes , they sweeten the brims of the cup with hony , or mix it with wine or milk , or some other such sweet thing to make them take it the more willingly , and give them a little sugar after to sweeten their mouths with againe : or as q q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Basil . & Euthym. praefat. in Psal. Sapientes medic● , siquando usus poposcerit , ut austeriora medicamenta aegris offerant mortalibus : ne aeger utilitatem pra austeritate refugiat , ora ac summitates poculi quo remedium porrigunt , melle circumlinunt . Aug. ibid. those that give bitter pils to queesie stomached patients , they wrap them up in some conserve , or in the pap of an apple , that they may with as little offence as may be take them in , and the better keepe and retaine them when they be downe : So order and temper their reproofe and their correction , that it may appeare not to proceed from spleene , or grudge , or choler , or some other such peevish and sinister humour ; but that even by the very manner of it , and the affection shewed in it , it may bee seene to issue from a loving minde , and to aime at nothing but the well-doing of the partie either corrected or reproved .

In a word , let Teachers and Instructers remember what the Heathen man truly saith , that r r Nullum est animal morosius homine , quodque arte majore tractari debeat . Sen. de clement . l. 1. c. 17. there is no living creature more wayward naturally than Man , nor that need to be managed with more discretion and skill .

Vse 2 Secondly , let Scholers learne hence how they are to esteeme of their Teachers , and how to carry themselves towards them ; even to reverence them , and to affect them as Parents . s s 1 Thess. 5.12 , 13. I beseech you , saith the Apostle , that you would take notice of them , that take paines with you , and that admonish you ; and that you would have them in singular love for their worke sake .

The Heathen themselves could say , that t t Diis , Parentibus , & Praeceptoribus nihil pro merito posse rependi . to God , a mans Parents , and his Teachers , sufficient requitall could never be made . And no marvaile . For if the Teachers doe as they ought , and the Scholers likewise make that use of them that they should , they may well say of them as Paul doth to Philemon , u u Philem. 19. Etiam animam mihi debes , that they owe them their very soules ; as having been a meanes even * * Prov. 23.14 . Iam. 5.20 . to save their soules . And how ought they to love them from the heart , whom they owe their very soules unto ?

Far be it from any here then , to be like those wicked wretches , whom the Prophet inveigheth against , x x Amos 5.16 . that hate those that reprove them : to hate their Instructors , because they are sometime also necessarily Reprovers or Correctors , to hate them for that , for which they ought rather to love them . You must not , as y y Psal. 32.9 . this our Psalmist speaketh , be as Horse or Mule that are without understanding . Horses and Mules can well endure and are wont z z Esai . 1.3 . to take notice of those that feed them , and stroake them , and make much of them ; but a a Iumenta eos calce morsuque appetunt , à quibus eorum curanda vulnera contrectantur . Aug. epist. 10. & homil. 24. they cannot endure those that come about them to drench them , or bleed them , or to meddle with their sores , though they intend nothing therein but their good : because they have sense , whereby they perceive some present good in the one ; but they have no reason to apprehend any future good in the other . Creatures endued with reason , must be wiser than they : and love their Teacher , as well reproving and correcting , when just occasion is , as speaking faire and commending : as b b Medicum & urentem & secantem diligimus : quem & ad urendum ac secandum conducimus Ambr. in Psal. men were wont to esteeme themselves beholden to the Surgion , as well for opening the ulcer , and letting out the corrupt matter , as for healing up the wound againe .

They must remember what the wise man saith , that c c Prov. 12.1 . hee that hateth Instruction and Correction , and so he that hateth his Instructers and Correctors , is a Foole : yea , d d Prov. 15.10 . he that hateth either , shall dye .

Part 3 In the third place followeth , Seria exhortatio , a serious Exhortation : Doctr. 3 Hearken unto mee . Wherein is expressed , the principall duty of Children , Scholers and Learners , to hearken unto their Parents , Instructers and Teachers . That for which Salomon so oft calleth upon those that he dealeth with : e e Prov. 4.1 . Heare , O yee Children , the Instruction of a Father , and give eare to learne understanding : and , f f Prov. 4.20 . My Sonne , hearken unto my words , and incline thine eares to my sayings . And , g g Prov. 5.7 . Heare mee now therefore , O Children , and hearken unto the words of my mouth , &c.

And great reason they so should .

Reason 1 For first , it is their wisdome so to doe , h h Prov. 13.1 . A wise Sonne , saith Salomon , will hearken to his Fathers instruction . And , i i Prov. 12.15 . Hee that hearkneth to good advice is wise . k k Prov. 3.7 . & 26.12 . Bis de sipit qui sibi saepit . No greater folly in young people , than to think themselves wise enough , l l Confilii satis est in me mihi . Arachne apud Ovid. met . l. 6. able enough to advise and to guide themselves well enough , and to stand in no need of direction or advice . You know well what the famous sentence so oft cited saith : m m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Hesiod . oper. l. 1. & Arist. ethic. l. 1. c. 4. Paucis animus sui rector optimus . Moneri velle ac posse secundae virtus est . Senec. de benefic . l. 5. c. 25. He is the best man that can of himselfe discerne , what is fit and meet to bee done . Hee is the next him , that can hearken to good advice given him by others : But hee that neither can see what is fit of himselfe , nor will follow the good counsell that others shall give , such a one is as an unprofitable limbe in the bodie , n n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . telluris inutile pondus . Homer . Iliad . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . & Odyss . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . and a very burden to the earth that beareth him . Children and young people , since they cannot bee in the first rank , ( because o o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Sophocl — seris venit usus ab annis . Ovid. metam . l. 6. Quisquis senex ad sapientiam pervenit , annis pervenit . Senec. epist. 68. age bringeth experience , and skill requireth yeeres : ) they must be content to bee in the second , lest they come within compasse of the third .