rather feed your children, that are better worth than all the birds together? John xiv. In short, since God hath had compassion on little Ishmael, and on the children of Nineveh, how much rather will he regard children who have been sanctified to him from their mother's womb?

Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was on earth, took up in his arms the little children that were brought to him, laid his hands upon them, and recommended them to God his Father. And now that he is in glory, his love and tender compassion for them is not lessened. Therefore, if we offer him our children with all our hearts, he will take them in his protection, and stretch over them the arms of his mercy, that he will never take from them. In short, since he promiseth to them the kingdom of heaven, and his eternal felicities, he will not withhold from them things needful for this present life.

We can do nothing without God, but God can do all things without us. A great many children become debauched, and are spoiled by their parents' over fond tuition; whereas many that are out of their sight, and live when they are departed, shew good examples of piety and goodness. For example in Isaac's house, in the presence of this holy man, there was a profane Esau, a glutton; whereas Jacob, that lived at a distance from his parents, when he fled for fear of his brother, had always before his eyes the "Fear of Isaac his father," Gen. xxvi and xxxi. that is to say, the God whom his father worshipped. In Jacob's house, Reuben defiled his father's bed with incest; whereas Joseph, in Potiphar's house, chose rather an apparent death, and present sufferings, than to touch his master's wife, Gen. xxxix. David had the unhappiness to see some of his children guilty of incest and murder, whereas Joash and Josias, two orphan princes, in their tenderest infancy became virtuous and religious kings, zealous for the service of God. How many children are

there,

there, who, notwithstanding all the care and labour of their fathers, fall into extremity of misery! How many are taken from their parents' embraces, and dragged from thence to the gallows! whereas there are others, who without father or parent's assistance, do not only escape grievous dangers, but rise to honours and dignities; as Joseph in Egypt; Daniel in Babylon; and Esther, a fatherless and poor captive child, became a queen; and God made use of her, and of her credit, to deliver his people from Haman's conspiracy. We see every day that God blesseth in an extraordinary manner many orphans. Cast your eyes upon the children of the blessed martyrs, and you shall find many whom God hath made notable instances of his special favours, and of the mercy that he promiseth to shew unto thousand generations of them that serve him, and obey his holy commands. Thou shalt meet with some that are much more happy in this life, than the posterity of the persecutors. Thou shalt see them with astonishment bestow their alms upon the children of such as have plundered their houses, and spoiled their goods.

Whilst you are yet in being, exhort your children to fear God, to serve him, and to addict themselves with all their heart to the study of piety, that hath the promises of this life, and the life to come. Teach them first to seek the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added to them over and above.

Finally, though your life should be much more useful to your children than it is, remember what our Lord and Saviour saith, "He that loves son or daughter more than him, is not worthy of him." Heaven is far more excellent than the earth; the salvation and the happiness of our souls, is to be preferred to all the considerations of flesh and blood. It is not just, that such as have given us, or to whom we have given, the enjoyment of a temporal life, should hinder us

from

from the fruition of a spiritual and eternal life. Besides, when we recommend them to God, we put them into the protection of a true and wise Friend, who is acquainted with their necessities, who is so good to procure them that which shall be needful for them; and is almighty, able to accomplish all things which may be for their advantage.

Let us therefore conclude, that it is the duty of a good fa ther, that fears God, not to resist Death, nor to fly from it when the Lord calls: but according to the good example of the ancient patriarchs, he ought to end his days willingly; with the praises of God in his mouth, and with exhortation to his children to love him, fear him, and serve him with all their heart; to continue in his holy covenant, and to prefer him to all the riches and honours of this miserable earth. And as when our Saviour had bestowed his blessing upon his disciples, a cloud carried him out of their sight into heaven: likewise when a good Christian shall have thus given his blessing to his children, he will shut his eyes to all inferior things, and think upon nothing but the eternal bliss of the heavenly paradise.

If God calls us to himself in a miserable and wretched time, when our beloved babes are weeping about our bed, ready to say to us, as Isaac unto Abraham, "My father, here is wood, a fire, and a knife, but where is the beast for the burnt-offering?" Gen. xxii. God causeth the visible signs of his heavy displeasure to appear every where; in every corner we see nothing but fire and sword. Death's frightful image, and the fearful appearance of massacres, do scare and terrify us. Destruction is come into the holy places, the fire hath reached as far as God's own sanctuary, and nobody is able to deliver us: the deluge of God's wrath hath overspread our land in such a manner, that, as Noah's dove, we can find no place to set our feet on. All our expectation is,

that

that God would also reach down his hand to us from above, to receive us into that ark which is above the heavens, and to which our soul is now departing, Gen. viii. If our dear children speak to us in this language, let us, with the courage, assurance, and faith, of the father of the faithful, return to them this answer, My children, the Lord will provide, Gen. xii. Rom. iv. It is he that acts beyond probability, and contrary to expectation; who causeth the dead to live; and calis things that are not as if they were. He will send to you his good angels to help you in all your necessities. When you shall be reduced to the utmost extremity, ready to receive the last stroke of death, God's hand will stop the sword of his justice, he will change your crying and fears into joy and eternal gladness. There will be some holy and devout soul, that loves the public peace and tranquillity, that will bring to you the olive-branch of peace. God can appease the tempest with his breath; at his command the winds will be still, and the roaring waves, that are ready to devour you, will return to their former tranquillity. Otherwise he will preserve you miraculously alive in the midst of the greatest troubles, and most fearful confusion. And as Abraham found a ram entangled in a bush; likewise, in the midst of the sharpest storms of affliction, and in the most intricate difficulties that you dread, you shall find unexpected sweetness and comforts. And as several colours of the beautiful rainbow appear upon the cloud whence proceed the storms and the rain; likewise thus, in the greatest afflictions, God will give you some testimonies of his fatherly care, and of his divine love. The confidence that you shall have in God shall never be confounded; for the love of God is settled in your hearts, by the holy Spirit that he hath given you. The hotter the fire of affliction shall be, the more and greater miracles it shall bring forth. The higher the waters of your flood shall rise, the nearer they will approach your souls to God, and the nearer you will draw to heaven, the place of your souls' everlasting H h

7.

rest.

rest. Comfort therefore yourselves, my dear children, and assure yourselves, that by the favourable assistance of God's grace and mercy, we shall speedily see one another again. I shall not return to you, but you shall come to me; for I am going to that spacious and magnificent dwelling, whither our Lord and Saviour Christ is gone before, to prepare a place for us, and where he will embrace us all. I am going up to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and to your God."

A PRAYER and MEDITATION for such as are in any command, to prepare for Death, by trusting upon God's Providence.

KING of kings, and sovereign Lord of the world! I

a

adore thy divine Majesty, with a real sense of thy special favour, for having placed me in this honourable station, advanced me to this command and empire, which I am now ready to resign into thy hands: Suffer me not to be puffed up with pride, or to forget my mortal condition in the midst of all this outward splendour and glory. While I continue here, grant that I may study to promote thy honour and service, and treat such as are under me as my fellow-creatures, and thy servants: Grant that I may behave myself as in thy sight, and in all my actions be ready to give up an account to thee, my great Judge, of my temporal administration. Grant that Death may never surprise me, but that I may always be prepared to entertain it with joy, to lay down this crown and sceptre, to cast off this purple robe, and all those marks of my authority, to yield them into thy hands. Wean my heart and affections from their temporal aud deceitful vanities, that I may be willing to part with them at thy command. Let me look up to thy heavenly kingdom, meditate upon those divine excellencies of eternity provided for me, from which Death shall have no power to remove me. I