can produce. How desirable and how blessed is such a home; the rich man's richest treasure, and the poor man's full reward, for all his privations and sufferings. Blessed be the God of families!

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This

"By the common law," says Judge Reeve, page 283, “it is the duty of parents to support their minor children. duty is founded in the law of nature; and the parent can nev. er discharge, that is, free himself from his obligation to support the child." Again, page 288, "The parent has a right to govern the child; and, as incidental to this, he must have power to correct him. The exercise of this power must be in a great measure discretionary."

The law, or covenant of nature, then, obliges parents not only to nurse, clothe and educate their children, but in all respects to seek their best good, both for the present life, and for the future. They are required, then, not only to exercise care in feeding and clothing them, while they are young and helpless, but through all the stages of childhood and youth up to mature age or manhood, must continually watch over them-must form their manners, correct their habits, subdue the strength of their inordinate passions, cultivate rude nature, lead them in the paths of virtue, and by every means in their power, either by instruction or discipline, train up and prepare, for immortality and glory, those immortal minds, which they have been the instruments of bringing into existence, and which are dear unto them, and infinitely valuable in the sight of God.

In order, then, that parents may seek the best good of their children, the same law constitutes them the rightful guardians of their children, and not only gives authority, but requires parents to govern their children, as their own enlightened reason and the best good of their children shall require.

Further, from the same law of nature, it follows that children are bound to obey their parents, submit to their government, in every thing lawful, must receive their instructions; and whenever parents become needy and helpless, through sickness or infirmity of age, the children, by the same law of nature, as their ability may be, are required to reciprocate and make suitable returns for the benefits they have received from their parents.

But if we turn to revelation, the plainer guide to truth and

duty, we find that the same law and covenant of nature, and God's revealed law, are perfectly the same as to the substance and extent of their obligation. The law of nature, however, is exhibited to us on general principles, requiring mutual benefits, best good, &c.; and the law of revelation, which is indeed only an exposition of the law of nature, contains positive precepts, concerning the manner of arriving at the same results, viz: mutual benefits, the best good, &c. As for instance, the law of nature requires us, as creatures, to worship God our creator, but the revealed law contains positive precepts as to the manner of doing it. So, as we have seen, the law of nature requires, in general terms, many duties of parents toward their children: but the revealed law contains positive precepts as to the manner of performing those duties, or of seeking the best good of their children.

In the sacred scriptures, God speaks in a manner not to be misunderstood, and is pleased not only to declare himself the God of families, but often uses the family connexion, as the pattern and symbol of his affection, and paternal care toward his covenant people. "I am," says he," a father to Israel.' "As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." "If ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him?"

Again To the natural and internal, God has superadded the external, the visible, and the revealed obligation. As he hath constituted parents the natural guardians of their children, so he requires parents to command and teach, and children to obey and learn. Deut. 6, 6: "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou

risest up. 99 32, 48: "Ye shall command your children

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to observe and do all the words of this law." Eph. 6, 4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." "The end designed is, that they may set their hope in God." Psalms, 78, 7.

Children are required to obey and learn. Ex. 20, 12:

we believe, in hereditary grace descending from parents to children. This we deny. We believe in no such thing. It would be both unscriptural and absurd. But, the external exhibition of grace, does so descend. We say, the external exhibition of grace, in the merciful dealings of God with us, in placing us and our children in a condition to enjoy the best means; and such as may have the strongest moral influence, both on us and on our children, and in such a condition too, as may be, and is a true ground of the best encouragement for the children of pious parents, to repent, draw near to God for mercy, seek saving grace and every needed blessing. This exhibition of grace, we say, with these means and motives, under solemn covenant transactions, does descend from parents to children.

SECTION II.

WHAT IS THE COVENANT OF GRACE?

The covenant of grace is a merciful decree, or gracious purpose of God, for the recovery of lost sinners of mankind. The sacred Trinity are combined in it. The Father decrees, or purposes; Jesus Christ, the Son, engages to become a propitiatory sacrifice, that by his imputed righteousness, returning sinners might be justified and saved. The Holy Spirit engages to enlighten, renew and sanctify, and prepare the hearts of sinners for salvation.

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This decree, or purpose of God, is eternal. Eph. 1, 4: According, as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world.' Verse 11: "In whom also having obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him that worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.' 3, 11. "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

But in time there must be a promulgation, manifestation, or exhibition of the gracious privileges, or blessings which were granted, with instituted ordinances, modes of worship, symbols, signs, tokens, or seals of ratifications, or confirmation.