This work would have been incumbent on man had he retained his first estate.  It would then have belonged to parents to cultivate the tender mind and direct it in right ways.  Marriage was instituted before the apostasy, of which a principal design is that mentioned in the text:  For the prophet speaks of man in his original state.  In innocence man had his work assigned him—­was made for action.  Idleness would have constituted no part of his felicity, had he remained upright.  When he came out of the Creator’s hand, he was “put into the garden to dress it and to keep it.”  His disposition to idleness may have been occasioned by the fall.  Had man retained his maker’s image, it is not probable that young minds would have received habits of virtue, and been imbued with knowledge, without parental aid—­that instinct would have supplied the place of instruction, and superseded the use of it.

Had man remained upright his whole work have been diverse from that which now employs him.  The earth would have required little culture —­none which would have wearied its inhabitants.  The mind, free from every corrupt bias, would have been open to instruction, which would have flowed from the parent and been received by the child, with delightful ease and joy.  Man devoted to the service of God, would have devoted his all to God, especially his offspring.  Then to have poured knowledge, and especially the knowledge of God, into the placid docile mind of the pious youth, what delight would it have given to the soul glowing with divine love!

Since the apostasy, children are the joy of parents.  With all their depravity and perverseness, which greatly lower down the comfort parents would otherwise occasion, they love them next to life, and see their improvements with peculiar joy.  Especially doth the godly parent rejoice to witness in them good things toward the Lord—­ religious dispositions—­concern to know and serve God, and become a godly seed.  “He hath no greater joy than to observe his children walking in the truth.”  Had man retained his first estate, his joy of this kind would have been full.  He would have trained up a holy, happy progeny—­“a seed to serve the Lord.”

In the present state of human nature, the raising of a godly seed, is more difficult, but no less necessary.  Endeavors to this end may be even more so.  Man left from his childhood, uninstructed and unrestrained, to follow his natural bias, would become a monster among God’s creatures!  Therefore the importance of parental faithfulness, as divine honor, and human happiness are regarded.

* * * * * *

SERMON XXII.

Parental Duties considered and urged.

Malachi ii. 15.

“And did not he make one?  Yet had he the residue of the Spirit.  And wherefore one?  That he might seek a godly seed.”

Some general observations on the importance of education, especially parental education, were made in the preceding discourse.  We are now to consider the ways and means by which parents, are to seek a godly seed.