Had we any care of our falvation, would we not rather subdue our flesh by abftinence and fafting, with St. Paul, than ftrengthen it by riot and intemperance? : Flesh and blood, my God, are my greatest enemies why should I treat them as friends, to my ruin, and thy dishonour? Oh no! I will break their force by mortification, and I am fure, it is far more eafy to refuse, than to fatisfy their defires. I have learnt by fad experience, the more I indulge them, the more they crave; the more I gratify them, the more they are difpofed to rebel. The GOSPEL of St. John, Chap. iv. Ver. 46. So Jefus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whofe fon was fick at Capernaum. 47. When he heard that Jefus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and befought bim that he would come down, and heal his fon: for he was at the point of death. 48. Then faid Jefus unto him, Except ye fee figns and wonders, ye will not believe. 49. The nobleman faith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50. Jefus faith unto him, Go thy way; thy fon liveth. And the man believed the word that Jefus bad Spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51. And as he was now going down, his fervants met him, and told him, faying, Thy fon liveth. 52. Then enquired be of them the hour, when he began to amend: and they faid unto him, Yesterday at the feventh hour the fever left him. 53. So the father knew that it was at the fame hour, in the which Jefus faid unto him, Thy fon liveth; and himself believed, and his whole houfe. The WE The MORAL REFLECTION. E find, in the gofpel, fathers, who conjure our Saviour to cure their children in danger of death, but none, who fend them to him to be instructed in virtue. Yet this is the main duty of a parent, the most incumbent obligation, but the most neglected. The Holy Ghost commands parents to inftruct their children: Haft thou children? Inftruct them. And St. Paul protests, that those that do not, are worse than infidels. How many have lived like Pagans, and died reprobates, because they were educated without any knowledge of virtue, or principles of religion? If these unfortunate creatures are obliged to their parents for a fhort life; I am fure they may in great part lay at their door the misfortune of an eternal death. How many fathers lead otherwise lives without ftain or reproach; nay, and would be faints, had they no children? How many mother's would be without blemish in the fight of God, were they not guilty of a daughter's misbehaviour, by their neglect of giving her a christian education? The fcripture gives Eli a favourable character, and his fubmiffion to the terrible sentence Gód pronounced against him, fhews he was religious. But Oh! he was too indulgent a father! He abandoned his fons education, let their diforders pafs without correction, and fo concurred to their damnation, and drew upon himself a fudden death, and an eternal curfe on his family. Good God! what account must thofe parents render at thy tribunal, who put their children into the hands of governors and governants; who are only proper to fit them out for the world, without any regard of making them virtuous fervants of Almighty God? I tremble when I reflect on this great great neglect; and yet they perfuade themselves they are difpenfed from all farther care; but this is an error. Fathers and mothers! you must fee whether your children are in fure hands: Whether they are taught the grounds of their religion: Whether means be taken to tame their paffions before they get a head, and become ungovernable: Whether they are inured to virtue, moved to the practice by hope of reward, or frightned from vice, by the fear of punishment. It is not fufficient to write and read, to dance and fence; these are the accomplishments of a gentleman, but you must teach them thofe of a chriftian. This ought to be your first care; yet this scarce enters into your thoughts. If it be a crime not to give children a virtuous education, what a fin is it to give them a vicious one? Some feem parents, merely to tranfmit their vices to their pofterity: Children think it laudable to imitate their parents, and if those fet a bad example, they will be fure to follow it. Now what does a mother commonly praise in a young daughter? Is it piety? an air of modesty and reserve? a love of retirement? Alas! too too often fhe inftills contrary principles: fhe praises her wit, her affurance, her behaviour, free and engaging, her fhape and complexion; in fine, all that is worldly, nothing that is christian. What impreffion muft this make on a tender heart, too naturally carried to vanity and pleasure ! What forrow, O Lord, what regret do these reflections raise? What remorfe do I feel within me, for neglecting my duty to children, fervants, and all thofe thou haft committed to my charge? Give time, and I will repair my past negligence by my future care and vigilance. This nobleman, without doubt, had either feen fome of our Saviour's miracles, or at least heard of them why elfe fhould he now demand one in favour of his dying fon? But we don't read he made any application to him before: but the fear of a fon's death, and perchance an heir, drew the father to implore our Saviour to cure a disease, too ftrong for the doctor's fkill, and the remedies of nature. Why does the father prefs our Saviour with fuch inftance; Sir, come down ere my fon die? Does he know, a longer life will turn to his advantage? That he will use the favour to his fanctification, and not abuse it to his damnation ? Alas! we ask temporal bleffings without deliberation, and never confider, whether a refusal be not a greater favour, than a grant of our petition. Poor Rachel begged for a child, and protefted she should die if her prayer was denied. It was granted but fhe found death at her delivery, which the feared before; and scarce lived long enough to be called its mother. Seeing we know not what we afk, let us leave all temporal things to the difpofition of Providence: at least, pray for them with indifference, and put in this condition, If they conduce, O God, to thy glory, and my falvation. But Oh! Parents too too often confine their kindness to this world, as if there were neither happiness to be hoped for, nor torments to be feared in the other. They labour, like galley-flaves, to build them a fortune; they break through all the laws of juftice and confcience, and expofe themselves to all the punishments of the rich man, for an heir, that will not fhed one tear on their coffin, nor utter one figh or groan for their departed fouls. I know, parents muft provide for their children; but the best provifion is the fear of God, and fubmiffion to his holy will but if you leave them a great eftate without piety, you put a a fword in the hands of a madman, and smooth for him the way to perdition. My God! I ask, I implore thy grace to fave my foul, and I conjure thy goodness to grant my request. But for any thing that concerns this life, I leave all to thy difpofition, and put myself under the wings of thy providence. Health or fickness; life or death; abundance or indigence; are to me indifferent; if I please thee, I defire nothing more. EPISTLE to the Ephefians, Chap. vi. Verse 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. II. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, againft Spiritual wickedness in high places. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to ftand. 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breaft-plate of righteoufness. 15. And your feet fhod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16. Above all, taking the field of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17. And take the helmet of falvation, and the fword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: The |