calling, or eats up the time which might be far better spent, in doing those things which might tend to the good of yourself or others, either in respect of this life, or the life to come, it is a manifest intemperancy and want of moderation. And if so strict an account must be given of idle words at the day of judgment, as our Saviour tells us, how strict a reckoning must be rendered of idle actions! And all actions of sport are idle when they are immodeAll Christians are bound to redeem the time, and not thus idly and vainly to trifle and pass away the time. And heaven is appointed as a place for men to rest in from their labours; not for those to sit down in, who have here spent a great part of their days in sports and pleasures.

rate.

He that lawfully uses those things which God has given for our delight and refreshment, in a Christian, moderate way, takes them more sparingly; whereas others do even glut and cloy themselves with them. God's children take but a little of these, and but by the way, as they are running the race that is set before them, in their flight towards heaven, their souls being then upon the wing, and raised to heavenly-mindedness, when they taste of the sweetness of these things. And if they herein transgress, and sometimes glut themselves too much with these things, their failing doth more trouble them, than their pleasure doth refresh them. On the other hand, he that lives in pleasure, as the fish in the water, is then at rest when he is enjoying some sensual delights; he is then in his proper element, when his heart is even drenched and immersed in some such pleasure, as is adapted to his sensual affections. And when he is in the service and worship of God, he is like a fish on dry land, out of its

place; he is in such a course as is not pleasing to him; his heart being not at all exercised in any heavenly employment, he is not in any way borne up with any lively and heavenly affections.

SECTION XXVIII.

OF THE CONVERSATION OF PARENTS AND ELDERS.

EVERY one in the family ought to serve God according to his abilities, as his place gives him occasion or advantage. Many a one, if he were head and master of a family, (as he is but an inferior,) would do more good than there is done. Therefore they that have such advantage of place, should glorify God accordingly: and they should be like those wheels in the clock, which move first of all, and carry round all the rest with them: they should be leaders in praying, in reading, in meditation, in holy conference, in humility, in zeal, in sobriety, in admonition, and in a heavenly conversation.

Parents should pray earnestly to God to heal their children's souls. They should also be very careful to purge out the vanity of their hearts and conversations; that so they may take heed of increasing the sinfulness of their nature by an evil example. By a vain and evil conversation you do no less than confirm, and even water, those roots of sin which you have planted in them.

1. Evil examples are most dangerous which are practised by men that have most authority. The child, especially when he is in his childhood, when

his disposition receives its first shape, looks upon his father as his prince, as it were; he fears and regards him more than any prince; and so the parent's look, his word, and especially his example, 18 a law unto him, and he looks for no better warrant. It has been said, "Much reverence is due to children.' We say, and that truly, that children owe great reverence to their parents and elders: and it is as true, parents and elders should carry it reverently toward children, because their example emboldens children to imitate them in a likeness of speech, or behaviour.

2. That example is most dangerous, which is most commonly in sight. Now, the child looks upon the father and mother almost every day; when they rise up, lie down, go forth, come in, talk, eat, or drink, he is still with them. Other men's courses he sees but now and then, but these always. Now, when unmortified, unrestrained vanity shall break out in every passage of their lives, and their children be witnesses of it, is it not likely that they will be followers of it also? The child, perhaps, hears a neighbour swear once in a week, or month, but when he hears his father every day dishonour God this way, it is very dangerous.

3. Evil examples are most dangerous in those whom we specially love; for love is a cover for many blemishes in persons and things that are beloved. Now, whom doth the child love so much as father and mother, therefore their evil examples will soon influence them. That which is evil in parents, seems good to their children, because of their natural love toward them. Therefore, ye parents, how careful should ye be of your carriage in regard of your children.

Ye would have your children love

you, and so they ought; but take heed lest ye make their love to you, an occasion of destruction to them. That were a most wicked, unnatural parent, who knowing his child would love something which should poison it, would purposely lay it in his child's way, that he might swallow it. So when a parent knows his children love and embrace him, and that which he does, his courses and actions; what a woful thing is it, if he shall defile himself and his actions with sin and wickedness! and so occasion his children, by imitating him in love, to take into their hearts and affections his sin and wickedness also, whereby he and his actions are poisoned!

4. The evil examples of those on whom we depend most, are most dangerous. Now, upon whom on earth do children so much depend as on their parents? They look for meat, drink, clothes, protection, portions, from them, therefore their examples are even a law unto them. Therefore, parents should walk unblameably before their children, that their sins may not be stumbling blocks, and occasions of falling to them.

5. The evil examples of such persons as have a special nearness and likeness to us in natural dispositions, are most dangerous. Now, whose natural tempers are commonly more like, than the child's to the father's and mother's? And when they, being of like temper to the children, shall walk before them in a vain conversation, this will be a dangerous means to draw them after them. Therefore, ye that are parents, take heed, let not your children learn of you to lie, swear, to be drunk, to cheat, to profane the sabbath, to scoff at piety, to speak filthily, to be malicious, to be revengeful, to be greedy of the world, to be proud, to be wanton, to

be obstinate, to be idle, to contemn the word of God, to neglect the worship of God, or to perform it carelessly. It is little considered what mischief fathers and mothers do to their children in this respect. When the poor child, not yet knowing the right hand from the left in matters of religion, nor what belongs to salvation and damnation, shall see the print of his father's foot in the way of sin and death, will he not be apt to make his father's footsteps his direction? Fathers, by giving evil examples to their children, give evil statutes to their children. The Lord saith, "Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers." This he spake to the children. Their fathers gave them statutes, namely, they gave them their evil example as a law and rule unto them. The Lord charges them to walk in his laws, and keep his statutes, and not to make the evil ways and examples of their fathers a rule unto them, Ezek. XX. 15-18.

Therefore, ye parents, be ye very careful of your conversation, even in regard of your children; for be you sure of this, that if you perish in your sins, and by your example bring your children to the same place of torment, every one of them shall add exceedingly to your woe and misery. On the other hand, in tender pity towards them, and your own souls, labour all ye can, by exhortation, example, and by all good means, to set your children in the way of life, that they may be a crown unto you at the last day. Blessed are those parents which so walk before their children, and blessed are those children, which so follow such parents, as they follow Christ