language of them all is much the fame, as hath often been obferved, with that of Pharaoh's daughter to the mother of Mofes, "Take this child, and nurfe it for "me *."" 'Let there be the like tenderness in your breasts towards your offspring that there is in mine towards them and you. Do your duty, and you shall not fail to have your wages.' And such, furely, was the sentiment our Saviour meant to convey, when he "took up little children in his arms, put his hands 66 on them, and blessed them +." And I must add, that the condefcenfion of the great God, in ftyling himfelf our Father, and the measures which, as fuch, he takes to prepare us for the inheritance we are to enjoy in heaven, when arrived at man's eftate; furnish at once the most powerful argument to excite us to our duty, and the plaineft directions to guide us therein.

And now, can we find it in our hearts to refift the united force of all these motives, pouring in upon us from every quarter, and addreffing themselves to every paffion of the human breaft? Can we annihilate all concern for the interefts of our children, the welfare of our country, the glory of God, and our own comfort and honour here and hereafter? Can we see ourselves furrounded with those dear ob jects of our love, to whom under God we gave exiftence, befeeching us with tears to become their guardians, patrons, and friends? Can we hear the cries of Our country, amidst the wounds she has received from infidelity and irreligion, entreating us to have compaffion, for her fake, on our offspring? Can we hear the authoritative voice of God himself, commanding us, at

* Exod. ii. g.

Mark x. 16.

the

the peril of all the infamy and anguish which brutal neglect will fooner or latter bring on us, to train up our children in the way they fhould go ;-and yet remain totally unaffected? God forbid! These motivess furely will have their effect. You do feel them, parents. Set about your duty then in earneft. Be obedient to the voice of heaven. Convince all around you, that you have not loft fight of the interests of your country. Gratify that uuconquerable paffion you feel for the happiness of your children. Realize the benefits which, through the divine favour, will refult to them from your prudent care and tender love in this world and another. And follow your unwearied endeavours for their welfare, with ardent prayers to God for the defired fuecefs. So, may ten thoufand bleffings be poured into your bofoms by the Father of mercies! So, may your dying pillows be made eafy by the. tendereft offices of filial affection! And fo, may you each have the tranfporting pleafure, on the great day of account, of thus addreffing your Judge, "Behold "here am I, O Lord, and the children thou hast gra"ciously given me !"

It might now very naturally be expected, that we fhould clofe this difcourfe with an addrefs to children, efpecially to those who owe to their parents the inef. timable advantages of a prudent, virtuous, and religi ous education: but we forbear at prefent, as this will be the fubject of the next difcourse.

DIS.

DISCOURSE VI.

DUTIES OF CHILDREN TO THEIR

PARENTS.

EPH. vi. 1, 2, 3.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promife) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayeft live long on the earth.

HE artless fimplicity and commanding authori

THE

ty with which the moral precepts of the Bible are enjoined upon us, muft, I think, ftrike the mind of every attentive reader with pleafure. Nothing could be more natural than for the apofle, after he had held up to the view of the Ephefians the exceeding riches of the grace of God in Chrift, to perfuade them to the duties of benevolence. A gospel that originates in fupreme love, cannot furely be believed, felt, and enjoyed, without impelling men to every office of kindness which the light of nature teaches and enjoins. Upon these grounds he had recommended, not only the more general and public duties of focial life, but thofe particularly of husbands and wives, which

we

1

we have confidered at large in a former difcourfe. And as families arife out of the conjugal relation, which give existence to another species of duties effentially important to the welfare of fociety, thefe duties too he explains and enforces, Parents he exhorts to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and children, in our text, to behave themselves with all becoming reverence and duty to. wards their parents. The bufinefs of education, than which there is not any duty of greater confequence to the world and the church, we have largely treated in the preceding discourse. And we now go on to lay open the various offices of filial piety, and our obligations to them.

It is to children the admonition in the text is addreffed. In which denomination are included both males and females, of every rank and condition of life; fons and danghters in law; adopted children; and even illegitimate children too, for there is a duty owing from them to their parents, however unworthy and dishonourable a part fuch parents may have acted *. And by parents are meant both father and mother, as it is particularly expreffed in the commandment which the apostle quotes. "Honour thy "father and thy mother." Which fhews that parental authority is not confined to the father only. Be the paternal rights what they may, there are maternal rights alfo and these draw after them duties and refpects from children to the mother, as well as the former to the father. And it is further to be obferv

ed,

Indeed by the law of Solon, children bafely born were not obliged to maintain their parents. In fuch high reputation did civilized pagans hold the marriage-relation.

ed, that obedience and reverence are due, not to immediate parents only, but to their parents alfo, that is, grand-fathers and grand-mothers, and indeed to all in the afcending line, that is, uncles and aunts.

Now the duties enjoined, on children in our text to their parents, are all comprehended in the two ideas of obedience and reverence.

First, Obedience. "Children obey your parents." That is, liften to their inftruction, and be obedient to their commands. In the early part of life, when children are totally incapable of governing themselves, abfolute and unlimited obedience is required. When reafon opens, and they can difcein good and evil, they are still to be obedient in all things, fo far as is confiftent with a good confcience. And ever after, on the liberal grounds of friendship, they are to accommodate themselves to the wishes and views of their parents, provided thefe do not clash with the duty they owe to fuperior authority. This limitation fome think is expreffed in the words immediately fubjoined Obey your parents in the Lord;" that is, fo far as is confiftent with the regard you owe to the authority of God. Or perhaps the apostle's intention may be, to point out the piety which fhould mingle itself with their duty. "Obey them in obedience to "the divine command: have regard to Chrift in your "obedience, and to them as his difciples and fervants." And fo all the pleafing qualifications of affection, cordiality, and cheerfulnefs, are included in the admonition.

Secondly, Reverence. "Honour thy father and mother." That is, cherish in your breafts the most affectionate esteem for their perfons and characters;