both their hearts, he will not only keep out disgust and variance, but subdue, or re move, the causes of them.

As this state requires much and strong grace to go through it properly towards God; so it demands a larger exercise of charity, forbearance, and kindness, than any other, that no duty fail between the first and dearest of neighbours, the husband and wife.-These are more exposed to solicitude, trouble, and a thousand affecting circumstances,. than persons in the single state: They are yoked inseparably to meet them, and inseparably must bear them. Now, if grace be not the living and conquering principle in two persons thus circumstanced; there are so many imperfections in themselves, so many unavoidable mortifications from others, and so many evils on every side, that it will be impossible for them to live, in a due degree, as they ought, above the common disquietudes which overwhelm the world. But grace in the heart will double every temporal mercy, soften every temporal misery, and lead them on, with the truest union, towards the kingdom of heaven.

What a comfort is it to true christians, truly married in grace as well as nature, to reflect, that as they are helpers of each other's faith and joy in this world, so they shall be everlasting friends, in a more exalted way of life, in the kingdom of God? They can remain together in this state for

only a very few years at the most; but there, no further separation shall ensue. Being as the angels of God, they shall live with him and the whole church of the redeemed in unspeakable joy for ever. Their present union of heart and grace faintly typifies the union of themselves and of all the faithful with Christ; and, when they part here, they do not separate in the best sense, but only pass off, one perhaps after the other, to enjoy this spiritual union in everlasting perfection.

CHAP. VIII.

ON THE DUTY OF PARENTS.

THE general rule of parental duty is, to bring up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is true, we cannot give them grace, but we can lead them to the means of grace: We cannot give them a new life, but we can correct the old one; We cannot make them to know Christ savingly; but we can, and we ought, to nurture them diligently in the ways of Christ, and admonish them in the fear of God. Whatever we can do for them, either temporally or spiritually, we are bound to do; and when we have done all, we must leave them to the Lord. We must not repine, if we cannot mend their outward circum

stances; for these are in God's disposal: Nor should we faithlessly murmur, if all our prayers and diligence be lost for their spiritual good; for as this is a gracious gift, we only seem to attribute too much to our own powers and affections, when we unduly lament, that our children have not obtained it by us. When we have prayed to God for them; we must trust God with them, and wait the issue in faith and patience. Nature will keep up our common endeavours, and grace will promote a thousand and a thousand prayers. These, when put together, will make up a good stock and foundation, and consequently no bad inheritance for them.

There is a promise of blessing to more than the third and fourth generation of a christian's offspring; which love for them, and faith in the promiser, will ever be prompting him to sue out, that they may obtain. I had rather be a good man's child, covered by his prayers, than the son of the first emperor in the worid, undevoted and unblest.

Some that never had children, and others that would be wiser than Solomon, or rather than God's word itself, have written books to show, that chastisements should be utterly excluded from education. Doubtless, it requires prudence and temper to chastise: properly, and it ought to be done with a se-cret looking to God for a blessing, as well as

on any other duty; but those have either taken up false principles of human nature, or have had but very little experience of it, who presume that it will do very well without the fear of punishment, or that it can be reasoned into all the irksome duties and toils of life. Such methods, we know, will not restrain even grown persons, who certainly can reason, and receive reason, better than children. Corruption is to be checked by all means; and if the gentler kinds fail of effect, as they will in the far greater part of instances, the more severe must be used, but always without passion and in moderation. It should be understood to be a parent's sad duty, which therefore can give him no pleasure, but on the contrary pain and mortification. When it is thus perform ed, it will not easily be abused: When other wise, it is not really performed at all. The pa rent's ill conduct, in such a case, deserves a severer chastisement from God, than any that can be due to the misdemeanour of a child.

CHAP. IX.

ON THE DUTY OF CHILDREN.

THESE are to obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right. Till children have learned obedience, they have properly learn ed nothing, and will probably be fit for nothing.

As they owe to their parents, under God, their maintenance, protection, introduction to the duties of life, and their very life itself; God hath laid it upon them, as what is necessary in the order of his providence, to honour and respect their parents. Children, who transgress this order, rebel against God. And it hath been matter of great concern to many gracious persons, after they have been brought to a true sense of things, that they have failed particularly in this just and important duty.

Their obedience is to be in the Lord, and for the Lord's sake. This is well-pleasing to God, and profitable for themselves. The only exemption is, if parents are so ungracious and unjust, as to insist upon any thing which God forbids, or to oppose any thing which God commands. Here the most dutiful children must disobey, and can plead God's own absolution for their conduct.

There is one great circumstance in life, which often strains the bond of filial duty. This is marriage. Children ought, if possi ble, to engage in this state with the full blessing and consent of their parents. On the other hand, parents should never constrain, and not always restrain, the affections of their children.

The two trying cases are fortune and religion.

As to the former; the discretion of pa