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desires of their flesh. May the Lord make you sensible what a work and<br />
charge lie upon you!<br />
Consider what sorrows you prepare for yourselves by the neglect of your<br />
children. If they prove thorns in your eyes, they are of your own planting. If<br />
you should repent and be saved, is it nothing to think of their damnation; and<br />
yourselves the occasion of it? But if you die in your sins, how will they cry<br />
out against you in hell! "All this was wrong of you; you should have taught<br />
us better, and did not; you should have restrained us from sin and corrected<br />
us, but did not." What an addition will such outcries be to your misery! On<br />
the other hand, think what a comfort you may have if you be faithful in this<br />
duty! If you should not succeed, you have freed your own souls, and may<br />
have peace in your own consciences. If you succeed, the comfort is<br />
inexpressible, in their love and obedience, their supplying your wants, and<br />
delighting you in all your remaining path to glory. Yea, all your family may<br />
fare the better for one pious child or servant. But the greatest joy will be,<br />
when you shall say, "Lord, here am I, and the children thou hast given me;"<br />
and shall joyfully live with them for ever. Consider how much the welfare of<br />
the church and the state depends on this duty. Good laws will not reform us,<br />
if reformation begin not at home. This is the cause of all our miseries in the<br />
church and the state, even the want of a holy education of children.<br />
I also entreat parents to consider what excellent advantages they have<br />
for promoting the salvation of their children. <strong>The</strong>y are with you while they<br />
are tender and flexible: you have a twig to bend, not an oak. None in the<br />
world have such an interest in their affections as you have: you have also the<br />
greatest authority over them. <strong>The</strong>ir whole dependence is upon you for a<br />
maintenance. You best know their temper and inclinations. And you are ever<br />
with them, and can never want opportunities: especially you, mothers,<br />
remember this, who are more with your children, while young, than their<br />
fathers. What pains do you take for their bodies! What do you suffer to bring<br />
them into the world! And will you not be at as much pains for the saving of<br />
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