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municated its Powers to the Human, by diftinct and gradual Illuminations. Accordingly all publick Manifeftation of it to the World feems to have been induftriously declined, till ripenefs of Years and Judgment had carried him up to the Perfections of a Man, and the Execution of his Miniftry called for fuch Evidence to affift him. So little Reafon have we to fuppofe, that He, who condefcended to be like us in Body, fhould think it below him to be fo too, in that other no lefs Effential, but much more noble part of us, our Soul; without which it was impoffible for him to be Man. So little, to conceive of the Divine Effence, as fupplying the place and offices of our intellectual Faculties. For all that is Divine, is infinite, and nothing Infinite can admit of Enlargement: He therefore that increased in Wisdom, muft needs be Man, with regard to the Seat of Wisdom in Man, which is a finite reafoning Mind.

5. Once more. S. Luke thought it requifite to acquaint us, at the Fifty-firft Verfe, that Jefus accompanied his Parents back to their own home, that be dwelt with them at Nazareth, and was fubject to them. How his time was spent in this Retreat, we can have no Certainty. Whether he wrought with Jofeph at the Carpenter's Trade, (as fome of the Antients have delivered their Opinion,) is not material to enquire. Thus much we are fatisfied of, and that is enough for our purpose, that, whether his Life were a Life of Labour or not, it was a Life of Modesty and Meeknefs, and exemplary Obedience.

And what a Pattern hath this fet our Children, of Humility, and Submiffion, and Reverence to their Parents? How indifpenfable does it reprefent their Duty, how inexcufable their Stubbornnefs and Contempt; when He, who was God as well as Man, thought it became him ftill to be govern'd, and, in all his Deportment, was full of Refpect to Them, whose

Son

Son though he was in One capacity, yet was he their Father, their Lord, their King, their Creator, in Another? Sure no Child, after this, fhould dare to difregard a Father, or a Mother; though their Perfons be never so despicable, or their Circumstances never fo deplorable. Sure none can fuffer himself to defpife them, for Infirmities of Body, Decays of Age, or Meannefs of Condition. None, who confiders our Saviour as his Example, can. For, What Defects of Nature, what Difference of Fortunes, can fet any One fo far beneath any Other, as these Perfons were really below the bleffed Jefus? God, and Man! The Diftance is infinite, and leaves no place for Comparisons. How facred is the Obligation, which Blood and Nature have tied, when even the Name and Character alone is venerable, though the Relation be wanting? For fuch our Lord hath proved it, by that Obfervance paid, not to Her only, of whofe Subftance he was made Flesh; but likewife to Him, who was no otherwife his Father, than by Reputation and common acceptance Entitled to this Honour, only as the Hufband of Mary, and by a Mistake of the World, who were not let in to the mysterious Secret of a Virgin made a Mother.

Most wifely, in the mean while, did the Holy Ghost infert this Paffage, into the Hiftory of our meek Redeemer's Life, as a fingular Ornament and Grace to it: An early but remarkable Inftance of his marvellous Condefcenfion, and fuch a motive to profound Reverence, and humble Duty, as, for force and impreffion, might exceed ten thousand laboured Arguments.

Confider This, all You, whom the Pride or the Giddinefs of Youth, the Heat or the Perverseness of your Spirits, the Sprightlinefs of your Wit, or the Succefs of your Industry, hath made refractory, or haughty: And confider withal, how you will be able to stand before this Judge, at the laft Day. Your Judge

himself

fome Directions reftrained to Private Families.

The Subject now before us, is the Behaviour of a Son to a Natural Parent, The best and meekest Son, to the best and most excellent Mother. To this I fhall therefore keep clofe, by framing fuch Advice, as concerns the Demeanour, and mutual Regards, proper for Parents and Children; and, in fome proportion of Masters and Servants, toward each other. Advice, which all, I think, who diligently attend to it, must needs confefs manifeftly to refult from this Portion of Scripture, and from That which hath already been spoken upon it.

1. And First of all. If God ought to be pleased and ferved in the first place, and the Discharge of our Duty to Him be the thing we are principally accountable for: Then are all Parents and Masters hereby plainly condemned, who refufe to allow the Perfons under their care, all neceffary Means, and reafonable Leisure, for the exercife of, and improvement in, the Business of Religion. How much Leifure is reasonable, and what Means are neceffary, it is not poffible for Me, or any other Teacher, to determine in the general. Becaufe, after all that is or can be faid, the different Circumftances of each Party concern'd, will continue to be the true Measure of them. But thus much I may fay, with Confidence and great Safety, that, as God hath been wonderfully indulgent to Us, with refpect to the Neceffities of this Life in particular; As he hath made even the Works of our Lawful Calling, when pursued with Honest Industry and a regular Concern, a Branch of the Chriftian's Duty, and highly acceptable to Him: So We, in Gratitude, fhould imitate this Goodness, fpare him as much Time as fairly we can, and be as liberal in the Returns of our Service, as ever the Cafe will bear. Thus much, to be fure, we are abfolutely bound to, not to let even the moft bufie Em

ployment

ployment swallow up all our Thoughts and Pains: Not to involve our felves to fuch a degree, in the Affairs of the Prefent, as to forget that we have any, that we have our main, Intereft to be fecured in the Next, World.

And, as this is an Obligation incumbent upon every Man, for his own Particular, fo is it no lefs for Theirs, of whose Behaviour and Education he hath the charge. The rather in truth, becaufe the Giddinefs and Inconfideration of Youth have need of a powerful Reftraint from without; and, to make the Fear and Service of God their Choice, it is neceffary, (ordinarily fpeaking) that they be first fixed in them, by the Authority of their Governors. It is therefore by no means enough, that Such be permitted to employ fome Hours in holy Duties, when they are found inclining to it themselves; but, for the moft part, it is highly requifite, that they be often called upon, fpurr'd forward, and obliged, to draw near to God, even when their own Difpofitions would not, if let alone, bring them to him. By thefe means they will be taken of from Idlenefs, weaned to the Pleasures and Vanities of the World, acquire by degrees a Habit of Thinking and Seriousness, be taught not only to remember, but to love, their Creator in the Days of their Youth, delight in his Goodness, and efteem his Service, as in reality it is, perfect Freedom. Thefe Methods I may venture to prescribe, as ufually neceffary. And most Parents and Masters of Families feel occafion, I doubt, more than enough for them. But, where we have the happiness to meet with early and forward Defires to be holy and good, where our Children and Servants even go before our care in the Way of Godliness; to check thefe, is not only wicked, but perfectly barbarous. Here then it will be prudent to temper fuch Zeal with Knowledge, to direct their Judgments, by fhewing, how all the Parts of Religion agree together, how

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far

far God allows the Concerns of this mortal Life, to intermingle with thofe of Eternity, and, that he expects, a Provifion for our Bodies and Families should come in for fome fhare of our Time and Pains. When they are brought to a right Sense of these Matters; then, to deny them competent Opportunities for praying, and reading, and coming to Church, and preparing for the Bleffed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and the like, is a most ungodly betraying of our Trust. And as oft as our own very urgent Bufinefs is not neglected upon thefe Accounts, the Words of our Lord here ought to be accepted for a fufficient Juftification, How is it that ye fought me? Wift ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

2. Secondly. I cannot but think it proper, upon this occafion, to counfel Parents in the Next place, that they would be exceeding cautious in difpofing of their Children, as to the Profeffions and Trades, that must fettle them in the World. The Confideration, which commonly determines the Choice in this particular, is, what Calling will be likely to prove most thriving and gainful. But, though fuch Views may be allowed their due weight, when feconded by others, and not liable to any juft Objection; yet ought they by no means to be infifted on, as the Only, no not as the Principal, Confiderations. For, have we forgotten fo utterly what the Wifeft of Men obferves, and what Experience never fails to confirm, that Better is a little the Righteous bath, than great riches Prov. xvii. I. of the ungodly? Better, as it is enjoyed

with more Comfort and Content, without Clamour from abroad, without Reproaches from within; as it is likelier to engage the Bleffing and Providence of God, to grow greater, to wear longer. But, all these Advantages apart, do we not call our felves Chriftians? Wou'd we not, by that Name, be understood to believe a Future State, and an Immortal Soul? Should

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