from the causes; and as he reftrain'd the natural property of fire in the cafe of the three Children, Dan. 3. fo he only can refcue their Children from that Deftruction to which their Negligence has expos'd them. But as to the influence their examples have had, they may do fomething towards the redrefs of that, by fetting them a new Copy, making their own change fo visible, fo remarkable, that they may have the very fame means of reclaiming, which there was offeducing them. And this is a piece of juftice which feems to call aloud upon many Mothers. The irregularities of Youth could hardly have grown to the prefent height, had they not receiv'd warmth and fhelter from the practice of their elders, which do's at once give encouragement and take off restraints, the Mother loofing not only her authority but her confidence to admonifh or reprove. With what face can fhe require that ftrict and fevere Modesty of a Young Girl, which fhe who fhould be a Matron will not practice? or tie up the giddy wandring humour of Youth, within thofe bounds the thinks too ftrait for her own? and how ready a retortion will even Scripture it felf afford for fuch an impofer? Thou that teacheft another, teacheft thou not thy felf? Rom. 2. 21. Let it therefore be the care of all Mothers to live a perpetual Lecture to their Children, fo to exemplify to them all: Ver

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tue and Piety, that they may contribute fomething to their fpiritual, as well as their natural Life; that however they may at least deliver their own Souls, and not have their Children's guilt recoil upon them, as the unhappy originals of it.

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47. THE laft relation of a marry'd Wo man, is that of a Miftrefs, the inspection of the Family being ufually her Province; and tho' fhe be not fupreme there, yet fhe is to improve her delegated Authority to the advantage of all under it. And her more conftant refidence gives her more opportunities of it, than the frequent avocations of the Hufband will perhaps allow him. St. Paul fets it as the calling, and indispensable duty of the Marry'd Women, That they guide the house, 1 Tim. 5. 18. not thinking it a point of Greatness to remit the menage of all domeftick concerns to a mercenary House-keeper. And indeed, fince it has been a fashionable thing for a Mafter to refign up his concerns to the Steward, and the Lady hers to the Governant, is has gone ill with moft great Families; whilft thefe Officers ferve themfelves instead of those who employ them, raife fortunes on their Patron's ruins, and divide the fpoil of the Family; the Housekeeper pilfering within doors, and the Bailiff plundering without.

48. Now to the well-guiding of the House

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by the Mistress of it, I know no better or more comprehenfive rule, than for her to endeavour to make all that are her's, to be God's Servants alfo. This will fecure her of all those intermedial qualifications in them, in which her fecular intereft is concern'd, their own Consciences being the best spy fhe can set upon them as to their Truth and Fidelity, and the beft fpur also to Diligence and Industry. But to the making them fuch, there will need first Instruction, and fecondly Discipline. It is a neceffary part of the Ruler's care to provide that none in their Family should want means of neceffary inftruction. I do not say that the Mistress should fet up for a Catechift or Preacher; but that they take order they fhould be taught by those that are qualify'd for the employment. And that their furnishing them with knowledge, may not serve only to help them to a greater number of ftripes, Luke 12. 47. they are to give them the opportunities of confecrating it by Prayer and Devotion; to that end to have publick Divine Offices in the Family; and that not by starts or accidents (when a devouter Gueft is to be entertain'd, and laid by, when a profane) but daily and regularly, that the hours of Prayer may be fix'd and conftant as thofe of Meals, and (if it may poffibly be) as much frequented; however that towards it the give both Precept and example.

49. A Chriftian Family fhould be the Epi tomy of a Church; but alas! how many among us lie under a perpetual interdict: and yet not from the ufurpation of any forreign power, but from the Irreligion of the Domeftick? One may go into divers great Families, and after fome ftay there, not be able to fay that the name of God was mention'd to any other purpose than that of Blafphemy and Execration; not a text of Scripture, unless in Burlesque and Profane Drollery. And fure we need not wonder at the univerfal com plaint that is now made of ill Servants, when we reflect upon this ill Government of Families. They that are fuffer'd wholly to forget their Duty towards God, will not always remember it towards Man. Servants are not fuch Philofophers, that upon the bare ftrength of a few Moral inftincts they will be Virtuous and if by a cuftomary neglect of all things facred, they are once taught to look at nothing beyond this World, they will often find temptation enough here to discard their Honefty, as the moft unthriving Trade. And indeed when the aw of Religion is quite taken off from the vulgar, there will scarce any thing elfe be found to keep them within any tolerable bounds; fo that 'tis no lefs impolitick than profane to flacken that Rein.

So. BUT it is not only the interest, but the duty of all that have Families, to keep

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up the esteem and practice of Religion in them. 'Twas one of the greatest endearments of Abraham to God, That he would command his houfbold to keep the way of the Lord, Gen. 18. 19. And Jofua undertakes no lefs for the Piety of his houfhold, than himself, As for me and my house we will ferve the Lord, Fofb. 24. 15. And fure 'tis but reasonable, that where we our felves ow an Homage, we should make all our Dependants acknowledge the fame. Befides, it is a juftice in refpect of them; for where we entertain a Servant, we take the whole Perfon into our care and protection, and are falfe to that undertaking, if we fuffer his Soul, the moft pretious part of him, to perifh. And God, who keeps account even of his meaneft Creatures, will not patiently refent fuch a neglect of those who bare his own Image, and were ranfom'd with as great a price as their Mafters were, for there is no respect of perJons with God, Eph. 6.9.

SI. BUT when Piety is planted in a Family, 'twill foon wither, if it be not kept in vigour by difcipline: nay, indeed to have Servants feemingly devout in the Oratory, and yet really licentious out of it, is but to convert one's House into a Theater, have a play of Religion, and keep a fet of Actours onto Perfonate and Reprefent it. 'Tis therefore neceffary to enquire how they behave themselves when they are off the Stage; whe

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