the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3–7). Only then shall they be given persevering grace for the rest of their lives. Without the Spirit’s sovereign, saving work, all our efforts to train our children covenantally will do no more than produce Pharisees on the one hand or rebels on the other. Grace is not automatically conveyed from one generation to another through baptism and faithful covenantal child-rearing. Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish divine who stressed the value of the covenant
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