To inform the mind, and govern the actions of their yet ignorant nonage, till reason shall take its place, and ease them of that trouble, is what the children want, and the parents are bound to: for God having given man an understanding to direct his actions, has allowed him a freedom of will, and liberty of acting, as properly belonging thereunto, within the bounds of that law he is under.

But whilst he is in an estate, wherein he has not understanding of his own to direct his will, he is not to have any will of his own to follow: he that understands for him, must will for him too; he must prescribe to his will, and regulate his actions; but when he comes to the estate that made his father a freeman, the son is a freeman too.
Sect.59.This holds in all the laws a man is under, whether natural or civil.

Is a man under the law of nature?
What made him free of that law?
what gave him a free disposing of his property, according to his own will, within the compass of that law?
I answer, a state of maturity wherein he might be supposed capable to know that law, that so he might keep his actions within the bounds of it.

When he has acquired that state, he is presumed to know how far that law is to be his guide, and how far he may make use of his freedom, and so comes to have it; till then, some body else must guide him, who is presumed to know how far the law allows a liberty.

If such a state of reason, such an age of discretion made him free, the same shall make his son free too.