along confined myself to the Prayers only, and would therefore obferve here, that to prefer the Sermon to them when we cannot attend both, or totally to neglect them when there is no Sermon, favours more of Vanity, than of a truly Christian Spirit; and more of Curiofity than of Judgment.-For at beft, when Sermons are what they ought to be, zealous Defences, clear and judicious Explanations, or ftrong and earneft Enforcements of Christian Doctrine and Practice; and when they are received in the Manner they ought to be, not as Matters of Curiosity or Custom, much lefs as Exercises of the critical Talents of the Hearer, or the supposed or real Defects of the Preacher, but with a fincere Defire and Refolution to know, remember, and do our Duty; even then, if the Offices must be compared, that of offering up the joint Prayers of the Congregation is in point of Dignity more honourable, with regard to Use more beneficial, and in point of Duty more neceffary.-One is the Address of all to the Supreme Lord of the Universe; the other is the Addrefs of one to Men like himfelf. -By Preaching the Understanding may be informed, the Memory quickened, and the Affections raised; but by Prayer the Soul is comforted, and the Heart is made better: The former is an Exhortation or Explanation of Duty, the latter is the actual Difcharge of that Duty in one of its most noble and important Branches.—And I wish therefore, that

without derogating from the Usefulness of the one, more Regard might be had to the Necef fity of the other; and that when any propofe to appear in the Affemblies of the Faithful, they would remember, that the most neceffary and most beneficial Part of their Duty there is, with them to offer up their Prayers and Praises to God, and to pay their Vows unto the moft Higheft.

SERMON

SERMON XVI.

Being the

Preparatory Sermon to the Lectures.

EPHES. vi. 4.

-Bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord.

T

THE natural Affection of Parents towards their Children is generally fo strong and active, and that Care and Protection, which this Affection leads to and points out, is so very plain and obvious, that little feems neceffary to be faid to convince them, that it is their Duty to fupport, cherish, and protect them. But though the general Duty may be well known and acknowledged, the proper Manner of discharging it may not be duly weighed and confidered; tho' the Rule in general may be well understood to oblige, great Miftakes may be committed in the Application of it.Parents may, and I fear generally do, lay the greatest Stress upon the smallest Matters; employ their chief Ĉare and Concern about Things which are comparatively of little Moment; and at the fame time overlook those which are of the greatest VOL. II. U Weight

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Weight and Importance, and upon which the true Happiness both of themselves and their Off-fpring do immediately and entirely depend.

-And in order therefore to fet them right in this Particular, that they may not fhew too great Regard to trivial Things, but apply themselves chiefly to thofe Particulars, where the Danger is greatest in case of Miscarriage, and where the Benefits are most excellent in cafe of Succefs, the Apostle's Command in the Text directs them what ought to be their main and chief Care in the Education of their Children; and that is, to ground them early, and establish them firmly, in the Principles of our holy Religion, and to bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. fpeaking to which Words, I propose,

- In

I. To confider what the Apostle may be understood to imply, by bringing up Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. And,

IIdly, To point out fome of the Advantatages which would arife both to Parents and their Children, if the former would duly obferve and obey this Precept.

I. I am to confider what the Apostle may be understood to imply, by bringing up Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord; and this, I think, may be comprehended under these three Rules:

i. To cause them to learn in their earliest Infancy the Doctrines and Precepts of our most holy Religion.

2. To bring them up in the constant Practice and Obfervance of thofe Precepts, as faft as their Age and Capacity will give leave. And,

3. To take Care, as their Minds open, and their Capacities enlarge, that they be made to understand, not only the Meaning, but the true Grounds and Reasons of thofe Doctrines and Duties, in which they have been inftructed.

1. The first thing implied in this Duty of Parents towards their Children is, to cause them to learn in their earliest Infancy the Doctrines and Precepts of our most holy Religion.-If St. Paul means by this Command, as most certainly he must, that they ought to bring up their Children fo, as may make them in their riper Years true and faithful Chriftians; he must then imply their making use of all proper and prudential Means in order to attain this great End. And if so, he must likewise be understood to imply this earliest Instruction, as being most neceffary and conducive thereunto. For the Minds of Children are not only fo tender, as to be capable of any Impreffions; but they are likewife fo formed, that they neceffarily will have fome.-Whether their

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first