22. Pious Parents present their Children to God in prayer

EXHORTATION.

"Behold, I and the children which the Lord hath given me."

Isaiah viii. 18. "And none of them is lost."—John xvii. 12.

The welfare of their children lies very near the hearts of pious parents; for they are a sacred trust which God will demand at the hands of the parents.

1. Hence pious parents consecrate their children to God even before their birth by much fervent prayer. Whenever they appear at the throne of grace, they remember their children. They pray especially that God would early sanctify their hearts, and send his Spirit to sanctify, direct, and guide them, for such is the true source of happiness.

2. But they not only pray for them, but also labor to bring them up in the fear of the Lord. Hence they do not permit them to have their own will, for they know that they are by nature inclined to evil, and that if left to themselves, they cannot but become wicked—they instruct them in the knowledge of God, and teach them to pray and lead Christian lives.

3. Those parents who neglect properly to train up their children, will have a heavy account to

CHILDREN TO GOD IN PRAYER.

render to God at last—he will require their blood at the parent's hands. Besides, by such neglect, parents very often bring shame, disgrace and sorrow upon themselves; for their children do them not honor, but shame. Over indulgent parents bring themselves and their children to hell, and so their over kindness is no real service in the end.

Lord, almighty God, thou Father of mercies! Among other gifts of grace thou hast given me children, for which I thank and praise thee, but which I regard as precious pledges entrusted to me by thee, and which thou wilt ask again at my hands. I look upon them as souls purchased by the holy blood of Jesus, which the Holy Ghost has sanctified in holy baptism, and which thou hast accepted as thy children. Therefore, I am much concerned, that not one of them may, through my neglect, be lost. Thou sayest to me and to all parents, Take care of this child; if it be missed, thy soul shall answer for its soul. Therefore, Father of all mercies, I come before thee, and commend these children to thee in fervent prayer. I will do my utmost to rear them to thy honor, to admonish, chastise, and instruct them, and to pray for them. But, O Lord! do thou thy utmost also. In holy baptism

PIOUS PARENTS PRESENT THEIR

I have laid them into the arms of thy mercy; behold, I now do the same in this my prayer. O bless my children, preserve them in the holy fear of thee, and let sin never weigh upon their consciences. Give them a believing, humble, obedient and pious heart, that like the child Jesus, they may increase in years, in wisdom and in grace before God and man. Impress the image of Jesus upon their hearts, that they may keep a gracious God and an unstained conscience to the end of their days. O let my children be devout in their prayer, well grounded in their religion, stedfast in faith, zealous in worship, chaste in their lives, godly in their conversation, never giving offence by word or deed, and never amenable to judgment. Preserve them from temptation and evil company; remind them always by thy Holy Ghost of thy most holy presence. May thy angel lead them when they go out and when they come in; may he guard them when they travel, when they pursue their occupations, or are far from home; may thy holy angels be their companions, as unto young Tobit; guide them out of all danger, like Lot, and let them enjoy the protection and guardianship of the holy angels, like Jacob. But if it should please thee to try me through my children, then give me patience under such affliction, and let me consider that nothing occurs without thee

CHILDREN TO GOD IN PRAYER.

If it is thy will to draw me to thyself by the sufferings, misfortunes, or deaths of my children, in order that I may see in them the mutability of all visible gifts, and be encouraged to love thee alone as the true and chief good, then keep me on this path of thorns in firm reliance and hope in thy omnipotence, and in the constant reflection that thou canst change all things, even the sufferings of thy children. Bestow thy blessing upon them also in worldly matters, take charge of them, cherish them, give them food and raiment, and be a mighty father unto them. Be their help in danger and misfortune, their physician in disease, their counsel in difficulties. Implant in them true piety, and keep them in thy grace, that they may be my consolation and my joy. At the last day, let me stand at thy right hand with all my children, and say to thy praise, Lo, here am I, my God and Lord! and the children which thou hast given me, not one of them is lost. O God, bless my children, be a kind guardian unto them, do no less unto them than thou hast done unto myself. Bless all their steps, give them thy blessing, let it be well with them, and let them stand in thy grace. Amen

PIOUS CHILDREN PRAY FOR THEIR PARENTS.