A Treatise of Family Instruction, Chapter 5

A Treatise of Family Instruction · Chapter 5

p. 304CHAP. V.

Conſiderations to quiet Parents whoſe Children died in ſuch an eſtate as they can have no hope of their Salvation.

IF any ſhall demand further, Suppoſe after all our endeavours to teach, convert, and ſave our Children and Servants Souls, ſome of them ſhould prove vile and wicked perſons, and ſhould live and die in their ſins, and ſo ſhould periſh eternally; What Conſiderations may quiet our minds and ſupport us under ſuch a trial as this, to ſee our Children, or any other Member of the Family, for whoſe converſion and ſalvation we have put up many prayers, and have taken much pains in teaching and inſtructing them, periſh eternally.

SECT. 1. Anſwer.

1. THough our Children and Servants whom we have inſtructed, and for whom we have prayed, ſhould prove very vile and wicked, yet we ſhould hope as long as we and they live, that God in his due time may hear our Prayers, and bleſs our Endeavours for the converſion of their Souls, Eccleſ. p. 3059.4. For to him that is joyned to all the Living, there is hope. The Lord ſometimes gives Repentance unto Life, to the worſt of men, to ſuch as are the Devils ſlaves, and ſuch as are taken captive by him at his will, and to ſuch as do oppoſe the means of their ſalvation, 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. And as God calls ſome of the chiefeſt Sinners, ſo he calls ſome towards the latter end of their days. Some were called into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour of the day, when they had ſpent all the day in idleneſs, Matth. 13.6, 7. About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others ſtanding idle, and ſaith unto them, Why ſtand ye here all the day idle? — Go ye alſo into the Vineyard— If we ſhould die before them, and ſee them continuing in their ſins till our dying day, yet as Noah, though he foreſaw that the Gentiles who were the poſterity of Japheth, Gen. 10.1, 5. would continue a long time in their eſtrangement from God, yet he hoped that God in due time would convert them, and cauſe them to embrace the true Religion, which was continued in the Off-ſpring of Shem, Gen. 9.27. God ſhall enlarge (or as the word may be render'd, God ſhall perſwade) Japheth, and he ſhall dwell in the Tents of Shem. So ſhould we hope concerning our Children, that God will perſwade their hearts to repent of their ſins, though we ſhould ſee them go on in evil and deſtructive courſes a long time together, and that becauſe of his promiſe to circumciſe not only our hearts, but the hearts alſo of our Seed to love him with all our hearts, and all our ſouls, that both we and they may have everlaſting life, Deut. 30.6.

2. If after all our prayers, and tears, and inſtructions, and endeavours after their ſalvation, we ſhould ſee any of our Children or Servants live and p. 306die in ſuch a condition as that we could have no hope of their ſalvation, we may quiet our minds with ſuch conſiderations as theſe:

I. Conſider Gods Soveraignty: He hath a ſoveraign power over all his Creatures, to diſpoſe of their temporal and ſpiritual eſtate according to his own pleaſure; we are in Gods hand as clay in the hands of the Potter, Jer. 18.6. O Houſe of Iſrael, cannot I do with you as this Potter, ſaith the Lord? Behold as the Clay is in the Potters hand, ſo are ye in mine hand, O Houſe of Iſrael: And what is the power the Potter hath over the Clay? Rom. 9.21. Hath not the Potter power over the Clay, of the ſame lump to make one Veſſel unto Honour, and another unto Diſhonour? Jer. 18.4. The Veſſel that he made of Clay was marred in the hand of this Potter; ſo he made it again another Veſſel, as ſeemed good to the Potter to make it. If it be in the Potters power to make every Veſſel as ſeemeth good to him, if he may make of the ſame lump one Veſſel to honour, and another to diſhonour; may not the great God do what he pleaſeth with his Creatures? May not He make of Children that are born of the ſame Parents, and enjoy the ſame inſtructions, one a Veſſel unto Honour, and another a Veſſel of his Wrath and Diſpleaſure for ever? All Creatures in Heaven, and in the Earth, and in the Sea, and in all other places, are diſpoſed of by God, according to his will and good pleaſure, Pſal. 135.6. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſed, that did he in Heaven, and in Earth, and in the Seas, and in all deep places. And ſhall we think much, or repine againſt God, when he diſpoſeth of our Children, or any other Member of the Family, as ſeemeth good in his ſight. When the Lord ſaid to Eli, I will judge his Houſe for ever — And I have ſworn unto the Houſe of Eli, That p. 307iniquity of Eli's Houſe ſhall not be purged with ſacrifice nor offering for ever, 1 Sam. 3.13, 14. This was ſad tidings, yet when Eli conſidered it was the Lord who had power to diſpoſe of him and his Family, as ſeemeth good in his ſight, he quietly ſubmitted his will to the will of God, verſ. 18. It is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good. No Parents did ever thirſt more after the ſalvation of their Childrens Souls, than Jeſus Chriſt thirſted after the ſalvation of fallen man; yet when he ſaw that it was his Fathers good pleaſure to hide the Myſteries of the Goſpel from ſome perſons who were wiſe and prudent in worldly matters, with whom he had taken much pains in preaching the Goſpel, he reſted abundantly ſatisfied in the will and pleaſure of his Father, Mat. 11.25, 26. At that time Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, becauſe thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe and prudent, and haſt revealed them unto Babes: Even ſo Father, for ſo it ſeemed good in thy ſight. From verſe 19. to 24. Jeſus Chriſt upbraids the Cities wherein moſt of his mighty works were done, becauſe they repented not, and tells them what an heavy condemnation they ſhould have at the day of Judgment, more dreadful than Tyre or Sydon, or Sodom and Gomorrah: And at that time, when he had done upbraiding thoſe Cities, he addreſſeth himſelf to his Father, wherein he declares his perfect acquieſcence in his Fathers will, Even ſo Father, for ſo it ſeemed good in thy ſight; although he had hid the Myſteries of the Goſpel from the wiſe and prudent, (and we know that eternal perdition followeth the hiding of the Goſpel, 2 Cor. 4.3. If our Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt) and had revealed them only, or chiefly at leaſt, to ſuch as were in compariſon of the wiſe and prudent p. 308men in the world, but Babes. Now ſeeing our Lord Jeſus did acquieſce in his Fathers good pleaſure, when he ſaw many amongſt whom he had preached and done his mighty works, continuing in their unbelief and impenitent condition, and ſo periſhing eternally; It concerneth us to ſubmit our ſelves to the will and pleaſure of God, if after all the pains that we have taken to convert and ſave our Childrens Souls, he ſhould leave ſome of them to periſh in their ſins. We muſt know that he is God, and ſo may diſpoſe of us, and all that belongs to us, as he pleaſeth, and howſoever he is pleaſed to deal with us, we muſt be ſtill and ſilent under his hand, Pſal. 46.10. Be ſtill, and know that I am God.

II. Others as good and better than we, have met with the ſame trial, viz. ſome of their children and ſervants have degenerated and proved vicious and lewd perſons, and have lived and died in their ſins, notwithſtanding all the pains that their Parents and Governours have taken to convert and ſave their ſouls. Adam had a Cain, (who murthered his own brother, and was a fugitive and vagabond in the earth, and hath the brand of a wicked man ſet upon him by the Holy Ghoſt, 1 John 3.12.) as well as righteous Abel: Noah had an Ham, who ſaw and divulged his fathers nakedneſs, and had his fathers curſe upon him and his poſterity, as well as a pious Shem and Japheth: righteous Lot had two daughters that enticed him to drunkenneſs and inceſt: Iſhmael in his younger time was ſo vile, that Abraham caſt him out of his family for a ſcoffer; Iſaac had a profane Eſau who ſold his Birthright for a meſs of Pottage, a man hated of God; Eſau have I hated, Rom. 9.13. as well as a godly Jacob. Jacob met with croſſes in his Children, Reuben his firſt-born p. 309defiled his Fathers Bed, Simeon and Levi by their cruelty in ſlaying the Shechemites after they had drawn them to be circumciſed, made Jacob's name to ſtink among the Inhabitants of the Land, Gen. 34.30. Judah lieth with his Daughter-in-law Tamar, ſuppoſing her to have been an Harlot, with divers other croſſes in the reſt of his Children, as the ſelling of Joſeph into Egypt, &c. Aaron loſt two ſons, Nadab and Abihu, In the very act of ſin, as they were offering up ſtrange fire, fire came from the Lord, and conſumed them. Eli's children were ſuch ſons of Belial, that their wickedneſs cauſed men to abhor the offerings of the Lord, 1 Sam. 2.12, 17, David met with much affliction in his children; Amnon raviſhed his ſiſter Tamar, Abſolom killed Amnon when his heart was merry with wine, Abſolom was cut off in the Act of his Rebellion, Adonijah ſeeks the Crown which his father had devolved upon his ſon Solomon. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf had a ſelect Family, conſiſting of twelve Apoſtles, whom he choſe out of all Iſrael, and whom he often inſtructed with great power, (for his word was with power, Luke 4.32.) and yet one of them proved little better than a devil, John 6.70. Have not I choſen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He proved ſo vile, that he betrayed his Maſter for thirty pieces of ſilver, and then went and hang'd himſelf, and went to his own place. Eliſha the Prophet had a lying ſervant, Gehazi, who went in his Maſters name, but contrary to his Maſters mind, to Naaman the Syrian, and demanded and received for his own uſe a great ſum of money, as much as two men could carry, and two changes of Garments, 2 Kings 5.20, 21, 22, 23. Theſe examples, with ſeveral others which might be produced, do ſhew that though it be a great affliction to have evil p. 310children and evil ſervants, yet it is a temptation common to men, even to good men, yea ſuch as have befallen the beſt men that ever lived upon the face of the earth, whoſe perſons have been very dear and precious in the ſight of God, and their works and labours have been graciouſly accepted of him. And therefore we ſhould not be diſquieted or caſt down without meaſure, becauſe God doth not bleſs our labours with the converting and ſaving of all the members of our families, neither ſhould we conclude from hence that either our perſons or our labours are not accepted with God.

III. Our children are Gods creatures as well as our children: God hath a greater right to them, and a greater intereſt in them, than we have. We were but Gods inſtruments to bring them into the world: It was (not we, but) God created and gave them their beings, it was Gods hands that framed and faſhioned their Bodies when they lay in their Mothers womb, Pſal. 119.97. Thy hands have made and faſhioned me: 1 Cor. 12.24. God hath tempered the body together: It is God that gave them every part of their Bodies, as Skin, and Bones, and Fleſh, and Sinews; Job 10.11. Thou haſt clothed me with skin and fleſh, and haſt fenced me with bones and ſinews: And every member of their Bodies, as Eyes, Hands, Feet, &c. Pſal. 139.16. Thine eyes did ſee my ſubſtance, yet being imperfect, and in thy Book all my members were written, which in continuance were faſhioned, whenas yet there was none of them. It was God which created their Souls, after he had formed their Bodies, Zech. 12.1.—Saith the Lord, which ſtretcheth forth the Heavens, and layeth the foundation of the Earth, and formeth the Spirit of Man within him: Ezek. 18.4. Behold all Souls are mine; as the Soul of the Father, ſo alſo the Soul of the p. 311Son is mine; the Soul that ſinneth ſhall die: It was God that drew them out of the womb, Pſal. 22.9. Thou art he that took me out of the womb: It is God that hath preſerved them alive ever ſince they were born, Pſal. 66.8, 9. O bleſs our God, ye people,—who holdeth our Soul in life. And ſeeing God hath a far greater right to our Children than we have, ſhall we be diſcontented when he diſpoſeth of them as he ſeeth good? May not he ſay to us, when we repine at any thing that he doth to our children, as the good Houſholder ſaid to thoſe that murmured at him, Matth. 20.13, 15. Friend I do thee no wrong,—Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? And as our children are the works of his hands, ſo his mercies towards his works, are beyond our mercies towards thoſe that proceed from our bowels, Pſal. 145.9. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works: He deſires their welfare both here and for ever, more than we can do, Job 14.15. —Thou wilt have a deſire to the work of thine hands: Deut. 5.29. O that there were ſuch an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their Children for ever! Now if the Lord, whoſe tender mercies are over all his works, and who deſireth our Childrens welfare more than we our ſelves do, ſaw cauſe to caſt away the works of his own hands into eternal torments, ſhall we by our diſcontent go about to controul God in what he hath done, as though we were wiſer or more merciful than He?

IV. Though there be a great depth in Gods Judgments, and ſuch as we can't ſearch out the reaſon of them, why ſometimes he converteth one, and leaveth another to periſh in his ſins, although both are born of the ſame Parents, and live under the ſame means p. 312of grace; Yet he is always Juſt and Righteous, and True, and Faithful, in all his ways. The Apoſtle was a man of a deeper inſight into the myſteries of the Goſpel than we are, yet he confeſſeth ſome of Gods ways to be unſearchable, Rom. 11.34. O the depth of the Riches both of the wiſdom and knowledge of God! How unſearchable are his Judgments, and his Ways paſt finding out! Whatever Judgments God inflicts upon Nations, or particular Perſons, though we may not be able to fathom the reaſon of them, yet we muſt believe that all that the Righteous God doth, is Juſt and True, and that he never acts contrary to the Truth of his Word, or againſt the Rules of Juſtice, Rev. 15.3. They ſing the Song of Moſes the Servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb, ſaying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, Juſt and True are thy Ways, thou King of Saints. This Song was ſung upon the pouring out of the ſeven laſt Plagues, in which was filled up the Wrath of God, verſe 1. From hence it is evident that the Lord doth nothing beyond the Rules of Juſtice, or contrary to his Truth, when he poureth out his wrath to the utmoſt either upon a Nation, or upon particular perſons. When the children of godly Parents ſin againſt God, and God caſteth them away for their ſins, he doth not by this act pervert Juſtice and Equity; Job 8.3, 4. Doth God pervert Judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert Juſtice; If thy Children have ſinned againſt him, and he have caſt them away for their tranſgreſſion? Now when God doth thoſe things which are Juſt and Right, we ſhould be ſo far from murmuring, that vve ſhould praiſe and honour God, although vve our ſelves ſhould ſuffer deeply by thoſe Judgments. After Nebuchadnezzar was driven from his Throne, and forced to dwell among the Beaſts of p. 313the field, where he was wet with the dew of Heaven, and did eat graſs with the Oxen, when his underſtanding returned to him again, although he was about ſeven years under this great and unuſual Judgment, becauſe he ſaw Juſtice and Truth in this ſtroke of God, he extolled and praiſed the Lord, Dan 4 37. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praiſe and extol and honour the King of Heaven, all whoſe Works are Truth, and his Ways are Judgment; and thoſe that walk in pride, he is able to abaſe.

V. God ſhall have eternal Glory from them that periſh, as well as from them that are ſaved: His Juſtice ſhall be glorified on them that periſh, and his Mercy in them that are ſaved. When ungodly ſinners are caſt into Hell in great multitudes, God is glorified in their deſtruction, Iſa. 5.14, 16. Therefore Hell hath enlarged her ſelf, and opened her mouth without meaſure, and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoyceth, ſhall deſcend into it— But the Lord of Hoſts ſhall be exalted in Judgment, and God that is holy ſhall be ſanctified in Righteouſneſs. Now ſeeing God ſhall be glorified in them that periſh, this may quiet our minds, and keep down all murmuring thoughts, if it ſhould be our portion to have any of our children cut off in their ſins. Aaron's two ſons, Nadab and Abihu, were cut off in the act of ſin, while they were offering ſtrange fire, there went out fire from the Lord and conſumed them, and they died before the Lord; yet when Aaron heard Moſes ſpeak of Gods being glorified, he was ſilent under this heavy ſtroke, Lev. 10.3. Then Moſes ſaid unto Aaron, This is that the Lord ſpake, ſaying, I will be ſanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the People I will be glorified: And Aaron held his peace. God made all things and all perſons, wicked as well as p. 314good men, for his own glory: Prov. 16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himſelf, yea even the wicked for the day of evil, Rev. 4.11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou haſt created all things, and for thy pleaſure they are and were created. And ſeeing God made all things and perſons for his own pleaſure and glory, he may glorifie himſelf according to his own will and pleaſure, upon every one of his creatures, and none may ſay unto him, What doeſt thou?

VI. The conſideration of the great and wonderful mercy of God in beſtowing his grace upon our ſouls, and taking us into his everlaſting Covenant, may quiet our minds, however it ſhall pleaſe him to deal with our Families. David met with great afflictions in his Family, ſome of his children proved perverſe and were very great croſſes to him, and died in ſuch a ſtate as he could have little or no hope of their ſalvation; Amnon was ſuch a vitious perſon that he raviſhed his own ſiſter Tamar, and was ſlain when his heart was merry with wine, 2 Sam. 13.28. by this phraſe is ſignified that Amnon was little better than drunk when he was ſlain, as may be gathered from 1 Sam. 25.36. where Nabals drunkenneſs is expreſſed by his heart being merry; Nabals heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken. Abſolom who had cauſed his Brother Amnon to be ſlain, roſe up in rebellion againſt his Father, and ſought to take his Kingdom and Life from him, and was cat off in this act of ſin? And how did David quiet himſelf under theſe great afflictions that befel his Houſe? It was with the Covenant that God had made with his own Soul, 2 Sam. 23.5. Although my Houſe be not ſo with God, yet he hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things, and ſure; for this is all my p. 315vation, and all my deſire, although he make it not to grow. The mercies and bleſſings of the Covenant are ſo great, and ſuch unvaluable mercies, that when we conſide the riches of Gods grace, and his infinite love in taking our own ſouls into Covenant vvith himſelf; this conſideration may ſo fill our hearts vvith joy, as to ſwallow up all our ſorrows, ariſing either from perſonal or family-afflictions. Wine will chear ſuch as are of a ſorrowful ſpirit, and make them forget their miſeries, Prov. 31.6, 7. Give ſtrong drink unto him that is ready to periſh, and wine to them that be of heavy hearts: Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his miſery no more. Gods love is better, and hath more efficacy to chear ſuch as are of heavy hearts, than wine; Cant. 1.2. —Thy love is better than Wine: And if Wine will refreſh ſuch as are of ſorrowful ſpirits, yea ſuch as are ready to periſh under their affliction, what efficacy is there in the love of God, which he hath manifeſted in taking our ſouls into Covenant, to comfort us under our greateſt ſorrows and miſeries, even ſuch as lie heavy upon our hearts, yea ſuch as vve think vve ſhall periſh under them?

SECT. 2. The Caſe of ſuch as are overwhelmed with grief, becauſe they fear their Children are in eternal Torments, conſidered. Gods Juſtice in puniſhing Sinners to Eternity, vindicated.

TO theſe Conſiderations I ſhall add a Reply to ſuch Pleas as thoſe Parents whoſe Children have died in their ſins may poſſibly make uſe of to excuſe their immoderate grief and diſcontent, and perplexity of mind, under this affliction of loſing their p. 316Children in ſuch a ſtate, as that they can have no hope of their ſalvation: And ſo I ſhall conclude this Treatiſe.

1 Plea. My Children that are dead in their ſins, are gone into everlaſting burnings, where their torments will be endleſs and intolerable; and it ſo pierceth my heart and diſtracteth my mind, when I think that thoſe that came out of my Bowels, my Children, for whom I had ſuch a dear affection, ſhould be caſt into the lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone, where they muſt remain for eternity; that I am not able to bear it, but ſometimes I am ready to fret againſt God; and at other times my heart is ſo full with grief, that I think it will break in pieces, and I ſhall die with ſorrow.

Anſw. I. If your Children be caſt into eternal Torments for their ſins, it is God hath done it; He keeps the Keys of Death and Hell: No perſon is cut off by death, none after death are caſt into Hell, but at Gods appointment, Rev. 1.18. I have the Keys of Hell and Death: There is not ſo much as one Sparrow falleth to the ground, but at the will and by the appointment of God: Matth. 10.29. Are not two Sparrows ſold for a farthing? And one of them ſhall not fall to the ground without your Father. If a Sparrow doth not fall to the ground vvithout the vvill of God, then ſurely an immortal Soul doth not fall into Hell Torments, but at his appointment: for the meaneſt Soul that ever was created, is of a thouſand times more value than many Sparrows. And ſeeing it is God hath done it, how grievous and bitter ſoever it be unto your Souls, you muſt bear it with patience: Pſal. 39.9, 10. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, becauſe thou diddeſt it: And this was no ſmall ſtroke under which David was dumb, becauſe the Lord gave him the blow; but it was ſo great, as that p. 317he was even conſumed with it, as the next words ſhew, Remove thy ſtroke away from me, I am conſumed by the blow of thine hand: By his being conſumed, we may underſtand the greatneſs of his grief, as Pſal. 31.9. Mine eye is conſumed with grief, yea my ſoul and my belly; yet under this great ſtroke which conſumed his Soul and his Body with grief, he was dumb and opened not his mouth becauſe God did it. Whatſoever cometh from the hands of God, muſt be born with ſilence and ſubmiſſion to his will, although it be ſo ſharp and bitter, as that it will make us go mourning as long as vve live, Iſa. 38.15. What ſhall I ſay? He hath ſpoken unto me, and himſelf hath done it, I ſhall go ſoftly all my years in the bitterneſs of my Soul. And as vve muſt be patient under all our griefs, ſo we muſt contentedly bear vvhatever grievous things befal our children, Jer. 10.19, 20. Wo is me for my hurt, my wound is grievous; but I ſaid, Truly this is a grief, and I muſt bear it—My Children are gone forth of me, and are not.—

II. God is righteous in vvhat he hath done to your Children, although he hath caſt them into eternal torments. If you think it not conſiſtent with Righteouſneſs and Equity, to puniſh the ſins of a few years vvith endleſs and eternal torments, conſider

1. That the Scriptures aſſure us that the Lord is righteous in all his vvays, Pſal. 145.18. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works: And if the Lord be righteous in all his ways, then alſo in this vvay of his Providence, vvhen he condemneth vvicked men to eternal torments for the ſins they committed in that ſhort ſpace of time they lived in the vvorld. Yea, more particularly, vve find the Scriptures aſcribing Righteouſneſs to God in this very caſe, vvhen he puniſheth ungodly perſons vvith p. 318everlaſting torments, 2 Theſ. 1.6, 9. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you—who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

2. The Angels are more glorious Creatures than the Souls of Men, yet vvhen they ſinned againſt God, the Lord did not ſpare them, but for their firſt ſin caſt them down into hell, 2 Pet. 1.4. God ſpared not the Angels that ſinned, but caſt them down to hell, and delivered them into Chains of Darkneſs, to be reſerved unto Judgment: And that they ſhall be puniſhed in Hell vvith everlaſting torments, is evident from Matth. 25.41. Depart from me, ye curſed, into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And this he did vvithout affording them any means of their recovery from their ſin and miſery, vvhichwhich vvas granted to fallen man, Heb. 2.16. For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels, but he took on him the Seed of Abraham. Now ſeeing God caſt thoſe glorious Creatures the Angels, into eternal torments for their firſt tranſgreſſion, and did not ſpare them one day, or afford them any means of recovery after their fall, ſhall vve think that God deals hardly vvith the Sons of men, in condemning them to eternal torments, vvhenas he afforded them means of grace and ſalvation, and gave them a long time and ſpace for their Repentance, vvaiting day after day, and year after year, for their returning to him? Is not this far greater mercy, and leſs ſeverity, then vvas ſhewn to the fallen Angels?

3. Sin is committed againſt an eternal God, againſt an infinitely holy, great, and glorious GOD, and therefore deſerveth an infinite and eternal puniſhment. We do not underſtand, or at leaſt vve do not p. 319conſider, what an odious thing Sin is, and what a great God the Lord is; and vvhat an infinite diſtance there is between the great and holy God, and a poor ſinful man, vvhen vve think that the Lord deals hardly vvith ſinners in puniſhing their ſins vvith eternal torments. What an hainous crime is it for man, who is but a poor vvorm made of duſt and aſhes, to affront, deſpiſe, and rebel againſt the great GOD of Heaven and Earth, vvho gave him his Being, and loadeth him vvith his Benefits every day? To tread the Laws of God under his feet, and to caſt his vvord behind his back, to ſlight all his Promiſes and Threatnings, to contemn all his offers of Grace and Mercy, and though he wait with much patience and long-ſuffering many days and years for his Repentance, to refuſe to return and obey the Voice of his Creator? Doth not ſuch a deſpiſing of the Eternal, Immortal, Ever-Bleſſed God, deſerve to be puniſhed with eternal Torments?

4. It is accounted no injuſtice among men to inflict a puniſhment of long continuance for a crime that was committed in a very ſhort time. If Murder, Adultery, Treaſon, or ſome other capital Offence, which was committed in the ſpace of a few minutes, be puniſhed with perpetual impriſonment, or perpetual baniſhment, no man counts it injuſtice, or thinks the Offender is hardly dealt with, becauſe he is ſo long puniſh'd for an offence committed in ſo ſhort a time: Why then ſhould any man think that the Righteous God dealeth hardly or unjuſtly in puniſhing ſinners with perpetual torments, for the ſins they committed thoſe few years they lived in the world?

5. It was their own choice to embrace eternal death. God ſet before them Life and Death, He told them if they did evil, they ſhould die eternally; p. 320but if they would repent, and do that which is good in his ſight, they ſhould have everlaſting life; and he called upon them earneſtly, to chuſe Life, rather than Death: Deut. 30.15, 19. See, I have ſet before you this day life and good, death and evil—Therefore chuſe life—He offered them Life in his Son, and they would not go unto him for it, John 5.40. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. He proteſted ſolemnly to them, that he was loth they ſhould die, and therefore pleaded with them, Why will ye die? Ezek. 33.11. Say unto them, As I live, ſaith the Lord God, I have no pleaſure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live: Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O Houſe of Iſrael? And therefore they muſt blame themſelves, not the Lord, for their being caſt into eternal Torments.

6. Had they been permitted to have lived for ever upon the face of the Earth, they would have ſinned for ever: The heart of the Sons of men is fully ſet in them to do evil, Eccleſ. 8.11. They would always have gone on reſiſting the Spirit of God, and doing thoſe things which are grievous in the ſight of God, Pſal. 10, 4, 5. The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not ſeek after God, God is not in all his thoughts; his ways are always grievous: Acts 7.51. Ye do always reſiſt the holy Ghoſt: They would continually have ſinned againſt God in their hearts and lives, Gen. 6.5. God ſaw that the wickedneſs of man was great upon the Earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Time would have been ſo far from leading them to Repentance, that the longer they had lived, they would have been the more ſubtil and obſtinate ſinners, and would have been longer accuſtomed to do evil; and p. 321the longer a man hath been accuſtomed to do evil, the harder it is to bring him to Repentance, Jer. 13.23. Is there any inequality in puniſhing them for ever, who would have ſinned for ever? Now if God hath dealt righteouſly with your Children, why ſhould you fret or be diſquieted at the righteous dealings of the Juſt and Righteous God? Was it meet that the Lord ſhould have perverted Juſtice for your ſake, or the ſake of your Children?

III. The Lord hath fulfilled his eternal counſel, and declared his truth and faithfulneſs in fulfilling his Threatnings denounced againſt impenitent ſinners by condemning your children, who died in their ſins, unto eternal torments: God hath plainly revealed it in his holy Word, that it is his eternal and unchangable purpoſe to caſt into eternal torments all wicked and ungodly perſons, that live and die in their ſins without Repentance. The Scriptures are full of Threatnings to this effect; as, Pſal. 9.17. Luk. 13.3, 5. Mat. 13.41, 42. Mat. 25.41. Rev. 21.8. with a multitude of other places; why then ſhould you fret at Gods fulfilling his eternal counſel, and at his faithfulneſs in fulfilling his word? As Bildad ſaid to Job 18.4. He teareth himſelf in his anger, ſhall the Earth be forſaken for thee? And ſhall the Rock be removed out of his place? The like may I ſay to you, Why do you tear your ſelves in your anger? Should the Lord have forſaken his eternal counſels, which are more firm than the Earth or Rocks, and would have brought greater confuſion than the removing the Earth, or the Rocks out of their places, for your ſakes? Would you have had him altered the way and courſe of mans ſalvation for the ſake of your Children? Would you have had him proved unfaithful in not fulfilling his word, to ſpare your Children p. 322from eternal torments? This in effect is to have deſired that he would have denied his own Being, and ceaſed to be God, rather than to have condemned your Children. For if God ſhould depart from his faithfulneſs, he ſhould deny his own Being, 2 Tim. 2.12. He abideth faithful, he cannot deny himſelf.

IV. Murmuring and fretting againſt God for condemning your Children, who died in their ſins, unto eternal torments, is the way to fall into the ſame condemnation with your Children. For thoſe that reſemble Dogs by their barking and ſnarling, and being angry at what God doth, ſhall be ſhut out of heaven, Rev. 22.15. Without are Dogs. The Apoſtle cautions us againſt murmuring, leſt we ſhould thereby provoke God to deſtroy us, 1 Cor. 10.10. Neither murmur ye, as ſome of them alſo murmured, and were deſtroyed of the Deſtroyer. And therefore inſtead of murmuring againſt God for deſtroying your Children, admire his great and wonderful mercy, that you as well as they are not conſumed, and caſt into everlaſting burnings, Lam. 3.22. It is of the Lords mercies that we are not conſumed, becauſe his compaſſions fail not.

V. Your exceſſive ſorrow for your deceaſed children, who died in their ſins, doth not pleaſe God, nor any way benefit you or your children. It doth not pleaſe God, he is troubled that you do not joy more in having him for your God, and Portion, and Saviour, than you grieve at the loſs of your children, but that your grief for your children ſhould ſwallow up your joy in God; and may ſay to you as Elkanah did to Hannah, 1 Sam. 1.8. Why weepeſt thou? And why eateſt thou not? And why is thy heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten ſons? When any affection exceedeth its due bounds, it is ſinful; and that p. 323which is ſinful diſpleaſeth God. Your exceſſive ſorrow will no ways benefit your deceaſed, children. If you could ſhed Rivers of Tears for them, they would avail nothing for their Releaſe, or the mitigation of their torments: Prayers and Tears may do great things for the Living, but they are not any way profitable for the Dead. And as Prayers and Tears profit dead men nothing, ſo neither can any other work that is done by any man under the Sun, be any way beneficial to the Dead. Solomon, ſpeaking of the dead, ſaith, Eccl. 9.6. Neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the Sun. When once God hath paſſed ſentence upon them for their eternal ſtate, no Creature can prevail with him to change his mind, Job 23.13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? Not one Soul that is caſt into hell can by any means be redeemed from thence again, Pſal. 49.8. For the redemption of their ſoul is precious, and it ceaſeth for ever. And as your inordinate ſorrow doth not benefit your deceaſed children, ſo neither do you your ſelves reap any advantage by it; it is ſo far from doing you good, that it hurts you both in body, and ſoul, and eſtate: It hurts your bodies as it dries and conſumes them, and haſtens your death, Prov. 17.22. A broken ſpirit drieth the bones. 2 Cor. 7.10. The ſorrow of the world worketh death. It hurts your Souls, as it hinders your communion with God, and your performing that ſervice you owe to God, and tends to the deſtroying of the Kingdom of God in your Souls, which conſiſteth not only in righteouſneſs, but alſo in peace and joy in the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14.17. It hurts your Eſtates, as it unfits you for the works of your Calling. And therefore ſeeing that your exceſſive grief doth not pleaſe God, p. 324nor benefit your Children or your ſelves, nor any other perſon, but you diſquiet your ſelves in vain, let this put a period to your immoderate ſorrows.

VI. Turn your exceſſive ſorrowing for the loſs of your deceaſed Childrens ſouls into zealous endeavours after the ſalvation of your own ſoul, and the ſouls of your ſurviving Children. Inſtead of unprofitable mourning for the dead, riſe up and work out your own ſalvation, with fear and trembling, and ſave, if it be poſſible, all that are committed to your charge. As the Lord called off Samuel from mourning for Saul, to anoint an other King, 1 Sam. 16.1. And the Lord ſaid unto Samuel, how long wilt thou mourn for Saul, ſeeing I have rejected him from reigning over Iſrael? Fill thine horn with oyl, and go, &c. So he calls you off from mourning for your children, whom he hath rejected, to make ſure of your own and your ſurviving Relations Salvations.

VII. Turn your indignation which is apt to ariſe in your hearts againſt God becauſe he hath caſt away your Childrens Souls, into indignation againſt ſin, which was the cauſe why God caſt away their Souls. Hate all ſin in your ſelves, and hate all ſin in others, with a perfect hatred, and never be reconciled to it as long as you live, for the miſchief that it hath done to you and your Children. Seek by way of holy revenge the utter deſtruction of all ſin. Root it out of your hearts, and of your Families, and do what you can to hinder it from growing any more.

p. 325SECT. 3. The Plea of ſuch as are troubled, becauſe they conveyed Original ſin to their Children, anſwered.

Plea 2 MY Children that died in their ſins, and are now gone down into everlaſting burning, received their corrupt natures from me; I was inſtrumental to convey unto them their Original Sin, and their Original Sin cauſed their Actual Sins, which cauſed their Damnation, and this troubles me ſo exceedingly, that I know not what to do, I am ready to curſe the day in which I entred into a married condition; I might have kept my ſelf ſingle, and then my wicked Children had never been born; and ſometimes I am ready to curſe my Parents who conveyed a ſinful nature unto me.

Anſw. 1. It is true that Parents do convey ſinful natures to their Children, Pſal. 51.5. Behold I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in ſin did my mother conceive me.

2. Though it be thus, Children muſt not blame their Parents for the blemiſhes they receive from their birth, Iſa. 45.10. VVoe unto him that ſaith unto his Father, what begetteſt thou, or to the woman, what haſt thou brought forth? Deut. 27.16. Curſed be he that ſetteth light by his Father or Mother, and all the People ſhall ſay Amen. Neither ſhould we blame our ſelves for entring into a married ſtate of life, For Marriage is honourable in all, Heb. 13.4. The Lord Jeſus honoured it with his Preſence, and working one of his firſt Miracles at a Marriage Feaſt, Joh. 2.1, 2, 11. Though Parents convey ſinful natures to their Children, yet Marriage is no ſin, 1 Cor. 7.28. But and if thou marry thou haſt not ſinned, and if a Virgin marry ſhe hath not ſinned.

p. 3263. Your being inſtrumental to convey corrupt natures to your Children ſhould make you look more throughly into the odious nature of Original Sin, and to loath your ſelves, and to be deeply humbled for it, but it ſhould not make you to repine that you were inſtruments of bringing Children into the World, for Children are counted bleſſings of God, and the man is called happy that is full of them, Pſal. 127.3.6. So Children are an Heritage of the Lord. And the fruit of the womb is his reward — Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them—

4. The Lord did provide a remedy againſt your Childrens ſinful natures which they derived from you. He hath ſent forth his Son to ſave us from our ſins, and to make us partakerr of the Divine Nature; His bloud is compared to a fountain, which cleanſeth from all ſorts of ſins; it procureth the pardon of Original as well as Actual Sin. Zech. 13.1. In that day there ſhall be a fountain opened for the houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem for ſin, and for uncleanneſs. 1 Joh. 1.7. The bloud of Jeſus Chriſt his Son cleanſeth us from all ſin. He was ſent by God, not only to pardon our ſins, but to give us grace to turn from our ſins, Acts 3.26. Ʋnto you firſt God having raiſed up his Son Jeſus, ſent him to bleſs you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. And God made a free offer of his Son Jeſus Chriſt with all his ſaving benefits to your Children, Rev. 22.17. It was their refuſal of the remedy provided in and by Chriſt, which was the cauſe of their condemnation, John 3.19. Their neglect of the great Salvation of the Goſpel brought upon them eternal deſtruction, Heb. 2.3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great ſalvation?

5. As God provided a Seviour for them ſo you p. 327(if you did not neglect your duty) were careful to train them up in the knowledge of this Saviour, and to acquaint them with all the counſel of God, what he would have them believe, and what he would have them do, in order to their ſalvation, and did exhort them to wait upon God in all his Ordinances, & when you ſaw them do any evil, you reproved them, and warned them of the danger of their evil ways. If thus you have diſcharged your duty towards them, in warning them to turn from their evil ways, and declaring to them the will and counſel of God concerning their ſalvation, which may be reduced to theſe two heads: That they ſhould repent and turn from their ſins unto God, and believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt, you are clear from their bloud although they died in their ſins. Ezek. 3.19. If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedneſs, nor from his wicked way, he ſhall die in his iniquity, but thou haſt delivered thy ſoul. Acts 20.20, 21, 26, 27. I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you— Teſtifying both to the Jews, and alſo to the Greeks repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jeſus Chriſt — Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the bloud of all men, for I have not ſhunned to declare unto you all the counſel of God.

SECT. 4. The caſe of thoſe who are troubled becauſe their Childrens bloud will be required at their hands, conſidered.

Plea 3 MY Childrens Souls are loſt through my negligence and careleſneſs; if I had diſcharged my duty towards them, it would have been ſome relief to me, but I have been wanting in my duty towards them; And now what can I expect but that God ſhould p. 328require their bloud at my hands, and this is ſuch a trouble to me, that my Children through my negligence ſhould be caſt into everlaſting burnings, and that their bloud ſhould be required at my hands, that I know not what to do; I cannot reſt either night or day, by reaſon of my ſin in deſtroying my Childrens ſouls, and the miſery which hereby I have brought upon mine own ſoul?

Anſw. 1. This is a great ſin, and ought to be much lamented, that you ſhould be guilty of the loſs of your Childrens ſouls. And it is a wonderful thing that many Parents make ſo light of it, it is an argument that they are under a ſpirit of ſlumber and judicial hardneſs of heart. How great an evil it is for Parents to be guilty of the bloud of their childrens ſouls, and how they ought to be affected with it I have ſhewn before, Chap. 2. Sect. 2. But though this be a great ſin, a ſin to be lamented as long as you live, yet you muſt take heed of being ſwallowed up with over-much ſorrow. Satan labours what he can to keep us under blindneſs and hardneſs of heart, and to hinder us for mourning for our ſins, but when he cannot do that, becauſe God hath opened our eyes, and affected our hearts with the ſight of our ſin and miſery, he will endeavour to make us mourn without meaſure, eſpecially if we have been great ſinners. The inceſtuous Corinthian committed a great ſin, ſuch as was not ſo much as named among the Gentiles, 1 Cor. 5.1. And till he was brought to repentance the Apoſtle adviſeth the Church of Corinth to deal ſharply with him, ver. 4, 5. but when he was humbled, the Apoſtle adviſeth the Church to comfort him, and why? Leaſt perhaps ſuch a one ſhould be ſwallowed up with over-much ſorrow, 2 Cor. 12.7.

2. Though this be a mighty great and crying ſin for Parents by their evil example, or their neglect p. 329to teach them, or by any other means to be guilty of the bloud of their Childrens ſouls, yet it is not an unpardonable ſin, but I may ſay of it as Shecaniah did to Ezra in another caſe, Ezra 10.2. We have treſpaſſed againſt our God— Yet now there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing. By Faith and Repentance you may obtain forgiveneſs of this as well as of other ſins. The bloud of Chriſt being applied by Faith, cleanſeth us from all manner of ſin, 1 John 1.7. The bloud of Jeſus Chriſt his Son cleanſeth us from all ſin; If Chriſts bloud cleanſeth from all ſin, then from being guilty of the bloud of ſouls, as well as from other ſins. The merits of Chriſts bloud are ſufficient to waſh away the ſins of the greateſt ſinners in the whole world, John 1.29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the ſin of the world. And all that believe in him ſhall for his ſake receive the remiſſion of their ſins, of what nature ſoever they have been, Acts 13.38, 39. Be it known unto you men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveneſs of ſins; And by him all that believe are juſtified from all things, from which we could not be juſtified by the Law of Moſes. Acts 10.43. To him give all the Prophets witneſs, that through his name whoſoever believeth in him ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins. Such whoſe ſins are of the deepeſt die, who have committed ſcarlet and crimſon ſins, whoſe hands have been full of bloud, have the full and free remiſſion of all their ſins promiſed upon their repentance, Iſa. 1.15, 16, 17, 18. Your hands are full of bloud, waſh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well—Come now and let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord, though your ſins be as ſcarlet they ſhall be as white as ſnow, though they be red like crimſon they ſhall be as wool. p. 330The Lord taxeth the Jews with the bloud of the Souls of poor Innocents, and telleth them their guilt herein was as evident as what appeareth upon a mans skirts, Jer. 2.34. Alſo upon thy skirts is found the bloud of the ſouls of poor innocents— Yet to theſe Jews that were guilty of the bloud of ſouls of poor Innocents the Lord promiſeth mercy upon their repentance, Jer. 3.12, 13. Return thou back-ſliding Iſrael, ſaith the Lord, and I will not cauſe mine anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful, ſaith the Lord, and I will not keep mine anger for ever, only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou haſt tranſgreſſed againſt the Lord thy God. Who were greater ſinners than they that ſhed the bloud of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? Yet even to them that were guilty of the bloud of Chriſt, the Lord promiſeth remiſſion of that, and all their other ſins upon their repentance. Acts 3.14, 15, 19. Ye denied the Holy One, and the Juſt, and deſired a Murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life — Repent ye therefore, and be ye converted, that your ſins may be blotted out, when the times of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord. The like we have alſo promiſed, Acts 2.23, 38, 39. where the Apoſtle tells them who had taken and with wicked hands had crucified and ſlain the Lord Jeſus, that they were not excluded from the promiſes of mercy, but that upon their repentance they ſhould receive remiſſion of their ſins.

3. Teſtifie the truth of your repentance for ſuffering your deceaſed Children to periſh through your negligence, by doubling your diligence in doing what in you lieth to ſave the ſouls of your ſurviving Children, and Servants, and all others under your charge, by praying to God for them night and day, and inſtructing them in the knowledge of thoſe p. 331things that make for their peace, and ſhewing of them a good example, and the uſe of all other means. This will be a means to moderate your exceſſive ſorrow, and to reſtore peace and comfort to your ſouls. For all Gods ways are ways of pleaſantneſs, and his paths are paths of peace, Prov. 3.17. whilſt we are in the way of our duty God is wont to come in with comfort.

SECT. 5. The Plea of ſuch as are caſt down, becauſe God hath not anſwered their Prayers, or proſpered their labours, anſwered.

Plea 4 IT may be ſome will ſay, The ground of my trouble for my deceaſed Children ariſeth from hence, becauſe I prayed often and earneſtly for their converſion, and took much pains in teaching them, and yet the Lord hath caſt them away; and becauſe he hath not anſwered my prayers, nor bleſſed my labours, I am afraid I am none of his Elect, becauſe it is ſaid, Iſa. 65.22, 23. Mine Elect ſhall long enjoy the work of their hands; They ſhall not labour in vain.

Anſw. I. This is not ſo to be underſtood as though Gods Elect did convert every ſoul whom they laboured by their inſtructions to bring home to the Lord. Jeſus Chriſt is ſtiled Gods Elect, Iſa. 42.1. Behold my Servant whom I uphold, mine Elect in whom my ſoul delighteth. Yet we find the ſame Prophet bringing in the Lord Jeſus ſpeaking thus, Iſa. 49.4. I have laboured in vain, I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought. And when he was here upon earth, many that ſaw his Miracles, and heard his Sermons remained in their unbelief and unconverted condition, Luke 16.14. John 12.37.

p. 332II. You have not laboured in vain, although your Children were not converted, for,

1. Though you did not convert your Children, yet you have delivered your own ſoul, Ezek. 3.19. If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedneſs, nor from his wicked way, he ſhall die in his iniquity, but thou haſt delivered thy ſoul. And the delivering of your own ſoul is worth all your pains, although you had taken a thouſand times more than you have done.

2. Your labour is not in vain in reſpect of God, 1 Cor. 15.58. You know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord Although you did not convert your Children, yet your work ſhall have a glorious reward from God, Iſa. 49.4, 5. He ſmelleth a ſweet ſavour in your labours, and accepteth graciouſly both your perſon and your work, although your Children periſhed under thoſe inſtructions which you gave them out of the Word of God, 2 Cor. 2.15.

III. Your Prayers are not loſt although they did not prevail for the converſion and ſalvation of your Childrens ſouls, for they ſhall be returned into your own boſom. When God doth not anſwer thoſe Prayers we make for others by giving them the bleſſings we beg on their account, he anſwers them by returning ſome bleſſing upon our own ſouls, Pſal. 35.13. But as for me when they were ſick, my cloathing was Sack-cloath, I humbled my ſoul with faſting, and my Prayer returned into my own boſom?

p. 333SECT. 6. How God is faithful to his Promiſe, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed, and yet condemneth the wicked Children of godly Parents?

Plea 5 I Am much troubled to reconcile Gods providence in caſting away my ſeed, with his promiſe, where he hath ſaid, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed. Sometimes I am ready to queſtion Gods faithfulneſs, ſometimes I am ready to think that I my ſelf am not in Covenant with God.

Anſw. I. In all ſuch caſes where you are not able to reconcile Gods Providences with his Promiſes, you muſt ſtedfaſtly believe that God is faithful and righteous, although you cannot apprehend how ſuch or ſuch a Providence ſhould be conſiſtent with his faithfulneſs, or with his righteouſneſs. Thus Jeremiah did firmly believe that God was righteous, although he ſtumbled much at the proſperity of wicked men, Jer. 12.1. Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee, yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments, Wherefore doth the way of the wicked proſper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherouſly? The Pſalmiſt met with ſome Providences that ſeemed croſs to Gods faithfulneſs, Pſal 77.8. Doth his Promiſe fail for overmore? Pſal. 89.39, 49. Thou haſt made void the Covenant of thy Servant — Lord, where are thy former loving kindneſſes which thou ſweareſt unto David in thy truth? Yet he did believe every word of God to be true, Pſal. 119.138, 160. Thy Teſtimones that thou haſt commanded are righteous and very faithful — Thy Word is true from the beginning, and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. And there is good reaſon we ſhould p. 334do thus, becauſe we poor finite Creatures are not able to comprehend the works of the infinite and incomprehenſible God. Divers of his Works, as well as his Eſſence, are incomprehenſible, Job 37.5. God thundreth marvelouſly with his voice, great things doth he which we cannot comprehend.

II. It is good for you to view once and again the grounds upon which you conclude God hath taken your ſouls into his Covenant, becauſe it is a buſineſs of great moment, wherein you cannot make too ſure work, and the heart of man is full of deceit; yet withal know this, that it is not a ſufficient cauſe for you to conclude, That God is not your God, and hath not taken you into this Covenant, becauſe you have had Children that died in their ſins, for Iſaac was in Covenant with God, Lev. 26.42. Then will I remember my Covenant with Jacob, and alſo my Covenant with Iſaac: And yet Eſau, Iſaacs Son, lived and died a prophane man, Heb. 12.16, 17. Leſt there be any Fornicator, or prophane perſon, as Eſau, who for one morſel of meat ſold his birth-right, for ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the bleſſing, he was rejected, and found no place for repentance, though he ſought it carefully with tears.

III. God fulfils his Promiſe in being the God of your Seed, if he take any of your Seed into Covenant with himſelf, although he ſhould not beſtow his grace upon all of them.

IV. If we ſhould interpret that Promiſe made to Abraham, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed, by Gal. 3.16, 29. And underſtand by the Seed of Abraham, to which God promiſeth to be a God,

1. Jeſus Chriſt. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the Promiſes made, he ſaith not unto ſeeds as of many, but as of one, and to thy Seed, which is Chriſt.

p. 3352. Such as are Chriſts being given to him by the Father, and are in due time all drawn to him, If ye be Chriſts, then are ye Abrahams Seed, and heirs according to Promiſe. This will take off the difficulty mentioned in the Plea about reconciling Gods Providence in caſting off your Seed, with his Promiſe, where he ſaith, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed; For God never caſts off any of that Seed which he hath given to his Son, John 6.37. All that the Father giveth me ſhall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wiſe caſt out. Ver. 39. And this is the Fathers will which ſent me, that of all which he hath given me I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt day. John 17.2. As thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal life to as many as thou haſt given him.

V. If we underſtand that Promiſe, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed, of Abrahams, and every godly mans natural Seed, and interpret the Promiſe conditionally, provided that thy Seed walk in the ſteps of thy Faith, Rom. 4.12. and walk before me with perfect and upright hearts, as I required thee to do when I promiſed to make my Covenant between me and thee, Gen. 17.1, 2. This alſo will reconcile Gods Providence with his Promiſe, and vindicate his faithfulneſs in condemning the Children of godly Parents who live and die in their ſins. For it is their unfaithfulneſs in not fulfilling the Conditions of the Promiſe, that was the cauſe of their condemnation. Had they followed their Parents Faith, and godly Coverſations, God would have been their God as well as the God of their Parents, and have given them the ſame bleſſings he gave their Parents. David was a man in Covenant with God, 2 Sam. 23.15. Now theſe be the laſt words p. 336of David—he hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, yet he did not expect his ſeed ſhould be ſaved if they lived and died in their ſins. No, he told his Son Solomon plainly before his death, that if he expected the bleſſings of the Covenant, he muſt ſeek and ſerve God with a perfect heart, but if he forſook God, though he were Davids Son, God would caſt him off for ever, 1 Chron. 28.29. And thou Solomon, my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and ſerve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind, for the Lord ſearcheth all hearts and underſtandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts; if thou ſeek him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forſake him he will caſt thee off for ever.

FINIS.

End of the text · Owen Stockton, A Treatise of Family Instruction (1672)