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agreeable to his will, then we glorify him by doing it, because we do that which he commands us: but if it be contrary to his will, and we do it, then we act contrary to his command; which is not to glorify him, but to set him at nought; and this is a fearful thing; for he is " a jealous God, visiting the sins, &c," which visiting, to cavillers, appears unjust; but (as the learned Matthew Poole says) "Is it not accounted just in human laws, as in cases of high treason, when children loose both their lawful rank and hereditary estates, through the crimes of their parents, a warning to all parents against grievous sin; and those are judged to hate God who do not love him for since our Saviour says, "He that is not against us is for us."-Luke, c. 10, v. 50 ;-so he that is not with God is against him.”--Besides, it is a natural quality of vice not only to generate, but to perpetuate misery; and every act of sin injures some one or more, exclusive of him who commits

it. So, individual virtue, on the contrary, produces blessed effects to others as well as to him who practises it; and the latter part of this commandment is a great inducement for parents to be virtuous; since they enable themselves, through being so, to leave to their children, by implication, the blessing of God. God also visits the sins of the children upon the parents, when the sins of the former proceed from the ill example and neglect of the latter. Parents are accountable to God for the evil actions of their children to a certain extent; when the sins of the child proceed from an evil disposition implanted by the perverting consequences of the parent's neglect of his duty; because the authority which is vested in a parent is vested in him, by all laws divine and human, upon the principle of responsibility; and it is his bounden duty to educate the child as the servant of God, and an useful member of society; if he do not, he betrays his trust, and must answer it. If

a parent will not teach a child his duty towards God, he cannot expect the child to perform his duty towards himself (the parent), and every day presents us with the lamentable experience of parents, who have neglected the morals of their offspring, suffering in numerous ways, from the consequences of the bad conduct of such offspring. It is true that some bad parents have good children; but this is an exception to a general rule; for the harvest will be the result of the seed sown, unless some power that can control nature alter her course; and in this exception the virtue of the child proceeds from the counteracting grace of God, without the assistance of the parent in paving the way for it; and, if corn spring where he sowed tares, the parent can have no right to reap the benefit of the produce. The visitations of God upon the children of wicked parents are only temporal calamities; since their own sins alone can procure them eternal punishment; and these

calamities may sometimes be removed, through the obedience of such children to God; or the repentance of the parents: but depending on this is a great risk to run; as is every risk we run by disobeying him who is "a jealous God," and who alone can save or destroy.

All kinds of intemperance and excess are forbidden by this commandment.

THIRD COMMANDMENT.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, &c."-(See Catechism.)

Using the name of God vainly, irreverently, or lightly, is here forbidden; as well as all oaths not legally required of us, on solemn occasions; and all common swearing. To pray without God in our hearts, or without sincerity, is taking the Lord's name in vain: " Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord! but he that

doeth the will of my father who is in heaven." This command, as well as all the others, extends to our thoughts and words, as well as to our actions. Hypocrisy (which is professing to serve the Lord, yet secretly doing the reverse,) is professing, or taking the Lord's name in vain.

FOURTH COMMANDMENT.

"Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. &c."-(See Catechism.)

To keep the Sabbath day holy is to keep it in such a manner as will glorify God. By going to church, private prayer, reading the Scriptures, and such good books as teach us our duty; performing no work but that which necessity requires of us; nor obliging any one over whom we have any control, nor exciting any whom our example may sway, to act otherwise; and taking care that those over whom

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