cause they were good; viz. the good would not trust them because they were bad in their lives, and the bad would not trust them because they were good in their words: So they were forced, with Esau, to join in affinity with Ishmael; to wit, to look out a people that were hypocrites, like themselves, and with them they matched, and lived and died.

Atten. Poor woman, she could not but have much perplexity.

Wise. Yea, and poor children, that ever they were sent into the world, as the fruit of the loins, and under the government of such a father as Mr Badman.

Atten. You say right; for such children lie almost under all manner of disadvantages: but we must say nothing, because this also is the sovereign will of God.

Wise. We may not by any means object against God: yet we may talk of the advantages and disadvantages that children have, by having for their parents such as are either gedly or the contrary.

Atten. You say right, we may so: and pray now, since we are about it, speak something in brief unto it; that is, unto this, What advantage those children have above others, that have for their parents such as indeed are godly.

Wise. So I will; only I must first premise these two or three things.

The advan

tages that children have,

whose parents are both godly.

1. They have not the advantage of election for their father's sakes.

2. They are born as others, the children of wrath, though come of godly parents.

3. Grace comes not unto

them as an inheritance, because they have godly parents. These things premised, I shall now proceed.

1. The children of godly parents are the children of many prayers; they are prayed for before, and prayed for after they are born; and the prayer of a godly father and godly mother doth much.

2. They have the advantage of what restraint is possible, from what evils their pa rents see them inclinable to; and that is a second mercy.

3. They have the advantage of godly instruction, and of being told which be, and which be not, the right ways of the Lord.

4. They have also those ways commended unto them, and spoken well of in their hearing, that are good.

5. Such are also what may be kept out of evil company, from evil books, and from being taught the way of swearing, lying, and the like, as Sabbath-breaking, and mocking at good men and good things; and this is a very great mercy.

6. They have also the benefit of a godly life set before them doctrinally by their pa

rents, and that doctrine backed with a godly and holy example: And all these are very great advantages.

The disad vantages that children of ungodly pa

rents have.

Now all these advantages the chiidren of ungodly parents want; and so are more in danger of being carried away by the error of the wicked. For ungodly parents neither pray for their children, nor do, nor can they heartily instruct them. They do not after a godly manner restrain them from evil, nor do they keep them from evil company. They are not grieved at, nor yet do they forewarn their children to beware of such evil actions that are an abomination to God, and to all good men. They let their children break the Sabbath, swear, lye, be wicked and vain. They commend not to their children an holy life, nor set a good example before their eyes. No, they do in all things contrary; estranging of their children what they can from the love of God and all good men, so soon as they are born. Therefore it is a very great judgment of God upon children, to be the offspring of base and ungodly men.

Atten. Well, but before we leave Mr Badman's wife and children, I have a mind if you please, to inquire a little more after one thing, the which I am sure you can satisfy me in.

Wise. What is that?

Atten. You said a while ago, that this Mr Badman would not suffer his wife to go out to hear such godly ministers as she liked; but said if she did, she had as good never come home any more. Did he often carry

it thus to her?

twixt Mr Badman and bis wife.

Wise. He did say so; he did often say so. This I told you then, and had also then told you more, but that other things put me out. Atten. Well said ;pray therefore now go on. Wise. So I will: Upon a time, she was on a Lord's day for going to hear a sermon, and Mr Badman was unwilA contest be- ling she should: but she at that time, as it seems, did put on more courage than she was wont; and therefore after she had spent upon him a great many fair words and intreaties, if perhaps she might have prevailed by them; but all to no purpose at all: At last she said she would go, and tendered this reason for it: I have an husband, but also a God; my God has commanded me, and that upon pain of damnation to be a continual worshipper of him, and that in the way of his own appointments: I have an husband, but also a soul, and my soul ought to be more unto me than all the world besides. This soul of mine I will look after, care for, and (if I can) provide it an heaven for its habitation. You are commanded to love me, as you love your own body, and so do I love

you; but I tell you true, I prefer my soul before all the world, and its salvation I will seek.

At this, first he gave her an ugly, wish, and then fell into a fearful rage, and swore moreover, that if she did go, he would make both her and all her damnable brotherhood (for so he was pleased to call them) to repent their coming thither.

Atten. But what should he mean by that? Wise. You may easily guess what he meant: He meant he would turn informer, and SO either weary out those that she loved, from meeting together to worship God, or make them pay dearly for their so doing; the which if he did, he knew it would vex every vein of her tender heart.

Atten. But do you think Mr Badman would have been so base?

Wise. Truly he had malice and enmity enough in his heart to do it, only he was a tradesman; also he knew that he must live by his neighbours, and so he had that little wit in his anger, that he refrained himself and did it not. But, as I said, he had malice and envy enough in his heart to have made him to do it, only he thought it would worst him in his trade; yet these three things he would be doing.

1. He would be putting of others on to molest and abuse her friends.

2. He would be glad when he heard that any mischief befel them.