The Second Exception

The Second Exception.

Another person will for this cause exempt himself.

The inferiors in my family are very young. Tis too soon to begin with them; we shall only make them take the name of God in vain by teaching them to talk like parrots of religion, before they can conceive better of it.

To this I answer, No, you can't begin with them too soon. 'Twas said in Isaiah 28:9, Whom shall he teach knowledge? Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts. They are no sooner weaned but they are to be taught; and God may give them righter and riper conceptions of things, than you are well aware. What says the wise man, Train up a child in the way he should go. Let the first liquor that is put into them be sweet and good; and they will keep the tang of it all their days. Quo semel est imbuta recens—

Are they young? Yet the Devil has been with them already. Tis said in Psalms 58:3, They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. They no sooner step than they stray, they no sooner lisp than they lie. Satan gets them to be proud, profane, reviling and revengeful as young as they are. And I pray, why should not you be afore-hand with him? And this the rather, since the Lord Jesus calls for them. He says in Mark 10:13, Suffer little children to come to me. For know, tis not an affront, but an honor to the name of God, for such young ones to learn the truth as it is in Jesus. It was very pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ, when in Matthew 21:15 the children cried Hosanna to him. If your children do not cry Hosanna, they will call wicked names, they will curse and lie, and take the name of God in vain; and which is best? Judge you. Besides we have the call of God, in Psalms 148:12, You children, praise the Lord.