same time they have reason to believe that they are in the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. Remaining thus, they know that they must be miserable forever. A thought like this pierces the believing parent to the heart, and animates him in the discharge of his duty to his children, whom he labours to instruct in the great things which belong to their peace. He is always careful to accompany his instructions with solemn prayer to God, that they may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

From all that has been said, we see that in consequence of these strong affections, parents in a peculiar sense become interested in all the conduct and circumstances of their children. We shall therefore readily admit, that "a foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bare him."

III. The character of a foolish son is now to be considered.

By whom we are not to understand an idiot, or one who is destitute of common sense. Many a parent would have been much more contented if the child who has occasioned the greatest bitterness, had been born a fool, rather than to possess a sagacious mind, and abuse it to the purposes of sin, by drinking down iniquity like water, and glorying in his shame. Such persons justly merit the character of foolish sons, and are evidently designed by the wise man.

Any one who will take time to examine his writings, will find that he frequently uses the words 'fools' and 'foolish' in the above sense; that is, as descriptive of a wicked man, who despises God and religion, and gives a loose to his vicious

passions. "Fools," says he, "make a mock at sin:" nor can the wicked discover more flagrant folly, than by making a mock at that which will one day find them out to their eternal confusion. In another place he assures us that "the wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools." By the wise, such are intended who are wise unto salvation; they shall inherit that glory which God will ultimately reveal: and by fools he means those persons who are profane, despisers of them who are strictly religious, and who are determined to gratify their vicious inclinations at all events. Shame shall be their promotion, i. e. their iniquities in this life shall bring them to reproach, and reproach shall lift them up to the public view; and in the world to come they shall be forever separated from that glory which the wise are to inherit.

In order, if possible, to bring the matter home to conscience, I shall mention particular instances of the conduct of a foolish son, and point out his egregious folly therein.

1. The character most surely belongs to him who rejects parental instruction and admonition. Children while young are more easily brought to submit to family government, and to listen to the instruction of parents, than after they are farther advanced in years: consequently, in common, they occasion much less grief and anxiety to their parents at that period of life, than when they begin to extend their acquaintance by forming new connexions, and to put on the character of men and women; which many do too soon, or before they have wisdom and prudence to sup port it.

At this time of life they are in the utmost danger of being captivated by their giddy, thoughtless companions, who flutter full of life from thing to thing, in pursuit of various scenes of dissipation. A youth who finds his associates left to their own discretion, will feel uneasy under restraint, and with reluctance listen to the advice of parents. For such an opinion has he of his own understanding, that he believes himself the best judge of his own conduct, and that he is sufficiently qualified to govern himself. His parents he firmly believes are too rigid in their discipline, and too scrupulously nice about the mode of conduct; that a greater latitude of behaviour can do him no harm, and that he may indulge himself as his companions do, without hazard.

No sooner does he adopt the above sentiments, than he will treat his parents with a degree of neglect. The delicacy of his natural disposition, the fear of incurring their displeasure, and thereby sustaining a loss by his father's last will, or a sense of his obligation to his parents, arising from their indulgence, may prevent his behaving rude to their face. But at the same time he determines to allow himself greater liberties than they incline to give him. And the parents must be either very inconsiderate or void of discernment, not to foresee the fatal tendency of such behaviour, unless the Lord prevent it. For though his connexions may be of the politer sort, and his gratifications fashionable, his folly is no less evident, and his destruction no less certain.

There are others who are ruder in their behaviour, and more open and affrontive in their dis

obedience to their parents; who treat them with unkindness to their faces, and resolutely deter mine to gratify their passions.

In such cases, the parents are made to endure many hours of dejection. They sit together and mutually bewail their foolish son; and, in the bitterness of their souls, are almost ready to wish that he had never been born.

Could the disobedient to parents know the heart-rending expressions which his conduct occasions, or the many solitary hours which the afflicted parents pass together on his account, his heart must be like adamant not to relent.

The folly of such a conduct must become obvious to all who duly consider,

(1.) That the parents have trodden the path of life, and by experience have learned the dangers to which their children are exposed: consequently, like the skilful pilot, are qualified to direct them. That mariner must be deemed a mad man, or at least very rash and imprudent, who, arriving on a dangerous coast, with which he is unacquainted, should refuse the directions of one who knows every place of danger. Greater is the folly of those, who, though young and inexperienced, rush on in their own way, regardless of the advice of parents.

(2.) Nor is their folly less apparent in thus rejecting parental instruction, when we consider, that the parents are not only qualified by experi ence to guard them against the hazards of the present life; but that all their instructions arise from the warmest and most sincere affection, which has been largely treated of in a former part of this discourse. Hence their advice is the

effect both of knowledge and of love. What consummate folly and base ingratitude, then, are those children chargeable with, who turn a deaf ear to all that parents can say unto them!

(3.) They also pour contempt on the solemn directions of God himself, who, in both the Old and New Testament, has taught the duty of filial obedience. Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right." The same exhortation is repeated elsewhere in the inspired writings. He then who despises the word of the Lord, in this respect, not only discovers the badness of his heart, but exposes himself to that curse which shall fall on the heads of the dis. obedient.

(4.) The folly of such must be farther evident, while we consider the ruinous tendency of this vice. It must be taken for granted, from that near and agreeable connexion which subsists between the parent and the child, that he will wholly consult his benefit; advise him to nothing that shall disserve his reputation or interest, nor lay him under any unnecessary restraints. If, therefore, the child rejects the parent's instructions, it must be that he may indulge himself in things forbidden and injurious, In consequence of which, he lays himself open to numberless temptations, and there is every reason to fear his ruin. For when necessary restraint is removed, he will be likely to be hurried by the impetuosity of his passions into every treme. Several times did I hear the late unhappy youth declare, that had he regarded the advice of a tender mother, he should not have come to such an awful end. Nor was he the

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