Wesley Corpus

3. On the contrary, what will the consequence be, if they do not adopt this resolution -- if family religion be neglected -- if care be not taken of the rising generation Will not the present revival of religion in a short time die away Will it not be as the historian speaks of the Roman state in its infancy, -- res unius aetatis -- "an event that has its beginning and end within the space of one generation" Will it not be a confirmation of that melancholy remark of Luther's, that "a revival of religion never lasts longer than one generation" By a generation, (as he explains himself,) he means thirty years. But, blessed be God, this remark does not hold with regard to the present instance; seeing this revival, from its rise in the year 1729, has already lasted above fifty years. 4. Have we not already seen some of the unhappy consequences of good men's not adopting this resolution Is there not a generation arisen, even within this period, yea, and from pious parents, that know not the Lord that have neither his love in their hearts, nor his fear before their eyes How many of them already "despise their fathers, and mock at the counsel of their mothers!" How many are utter strangers to real religion, to the life and power of it! And not a few have shaken off all religion, and abandoned themselves to all manner of wickedness! Now, although this may sometimes be the case, even of children educated in a pious manner, yet this case is very rare: I have met with some, but not many, instances of it. The wickedness of the children is generally owing to the fault or neglect of their parents. For it is a general, though not universal rule, though is admits of some exceptions, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." 5. But what is the purport of this resolution, "I and my house will serve the Lord" In order to understand and practice this, let us, First, inquire, what it is to "serve the Lord." Secondly, Who are included in that expression, "my house." And, Thirdly, What can we do, that we and our house my serve the Lord.