Atten. I doubt they were but badly brought up.

Wise. One of them loved its Mother dearly, and would constantly
harken to her voice. Now that Child {81c} she had the opportunity
to instruct in the Principles of Christian Religion, and it became
a very gracious child. But that child Mr. Badman could not abide,
he would seldom afford it a pleasant word, but would scowl and
frown upon it, speak churlishly and doggedly to it, and though as
to Nature it was the most feeble of the seven, yet it oftenest felt
the weight of its Fathers fingers. Three of his Children did
directly follow his steps, and began to be as vile as (in his
youth) he was himself. The other that remained became a kind of
mungrel Professors, not so bad as their Father, nor so good as
their Mother, but were betwixt them both. They had their Mothers
Notions, and their Fathers Actions, and were much like those that
you read of in the Book of Nehemiah; These children spake half in
the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews Language, but
according to the language of each people. {81d}

Atten. What you say in this matter, is observable, and if I take
not my mark amiss, it often happeneth after this manner where such
unlawful Marriages are contracted.

Wise. It sometimes doth so, and the reason, with respect to their
Parents, is this: Where the one of the Parents is godly, and the
other ungodly and vile, (though they can agree in begetting of
Children, yet) they strive for their Children when they are born.
{82a} The godly Parent strives for the child, and by Prayers,
Counsel and good Examples, labours to make it holy in body and