brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise ;"* one part of the meaning of which appears to be, We have been born of God, according to the promise, which he made to the church. Abraham received Isaac by a special promise. He "was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Christian parents should have a strong faith in the promises of the everlasting covenant, concerning the spiritual birth of the seed of the faithful. They should believe, that their children, in particular, may be born of the Spirit, in consequence of their faith and obedience.

This does not imply that parents can merit salvation for their children; nor does it imply any thing inconsistent with the doctrine of free grace. To renew and save a child is a work of God's free grace; but God works by means, in accomplishing his gracious purposes; and the faith and obedience of parents are among the appointed means of his saving their children, and continuing the church. Because Christians ask, God gives them the Holy Spirit; but it is a gracious gift. Because they pray for Zion's prosperity, God converts sinners, and builds up the church, but it is by grace that sinners are converted, and believers are comforted, and wholly sanctified. Because Chris

* Gal. iv. 26-38.

tian parents exercise faith, obey the voice of God, and keep his covenant, he pours his Spirit and blessing upon their children, and saves them by his grace.

In signal temporal deliverances, typifying salvation by Christ, children were saved by means of the faith and obedience of parents. "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; "by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness, which is by faith."* This was a type of salvation by Christ; and, by Divine grace, children may be renewed, and become interested in the Saviour, in consequence of the faith and obedience of Christian parents.

The faith and obedience of parents in sprinkling the blood of the paschal lamb, were the means, appointed by God for the temporal salvation of the first born of Israel, when the first born of Egypt were slain. But the first born of Israel were saved by distinguishing mercy; and, at that awful crisis, parents did not imagine, that they had merited the favour, which God showed to their children.

The deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and their taking possession of Canaan, represented

* Heb, xi. 7.

But pa

the eternal salvation of the church. rents did not leave their children in Egypt; they did not abandon them at the red sea, nor forsake them in the wilderness. From these dangers children were saved by the mercy of God, but by means of the faith and obedience of their parents. Like Israel, fleeing, with their little ones, towards the land of promise, Christian parents, with their children, should pursue their journey towards the heavenly Canaan.

The believing application of parents to Christ, while he was on earth, was the mean of their children's being healed of divers diseases. We have no account of his refusing to heal a child, when the parent applied to him in faith. He is the great Physician of the soul, and can heal the spiritual diseases of children, as easily as other disorders, which may distress them; and who will presume to say, that the faith and obedience of Christian parents are not means of spiritual good to their children? When some "infants" were brought to him, not, as it ap pears, that he might cure them of any particular disorder, but that he might "touch them""put his hands on them, and pray," "he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them."* Was Christ partial be

* See Luke, xviii. 15. Mat. xix. 13. and Mark, x、 16. '

cause he did not heal the diseased children of such parents, as did not apply to him? What, if such parents had murmured, and said, Why does he not treat all children alike? Though we do not apply to him, must our children suffer on this account? If Jesus is the Saviour of the world, and has come to do good, let him show impartiality. Our children are as good as others.-Who would not have been shocked at the impropriety of such language? But is it not equally improper, for parents under the gospel, to use similar language, while they neglect their duty to their children?

6. Christian parents ought, in a certain sense, to imitate Abraham in that submission and faith, which he exercised, when he offered Isaac upon the altar.

They ought to exercise submission and faith respecting the temporal and eternal welfare of their dear children, and respecting the comfort they may hope to enjoy in them. When their children are sick or distressed with any calamity, they ought to exercise submission and faith respecting themselves, as afflicted, respecting the recovery and relief of their children, and respecting their children's eternal state. When their children die, at what ever age, they are to feel resigned to the will of God in respect to

themselves, from whom he has taken away the comforts, which he gave, and submission to God in respect to the condition of their children in eternity.

Christian parents are to exercise submission with regard to the salvation of their adult children, who are remaining in unbelief. It cannot be expected, that all the children of all Christian parents will be saved. We have reason to expect, O awful the thought, that against some of them the door of heavenly blessedness will be shut. When Christian parents behold their children living impenitently, they have reason to fear, that they will perish in sin. Being conscious of a neglect of parental duty, they know not, but that the impiety of their children is, in a certain sense, owing to their unfaithfulness. They should, in this view, be clothed with humility, and submit the salvation of their children to God, who will have mercy, on whom he will have mercy. If these adult children die, without manifesting repentance and faith, the parents ought to be still, and know, that the Lord is God.

But Christian parents should exercise faith in the power and grace of God. Abraham believed, that "God was able to raise up" Isaac " even from the dead;" "whence also he re