they were destitute of all grace such Parents want patience Heb. 6.6 and cannot wait till their Childrens Acquirements will in time produce their desired effects Look not for an old head on young shoulders Children are not perfect Men the first year wait and instruct them with love and patience and in time you will have of them what you required as the Proverb is Rome was not built in one day Twelfth Provocation is When Parents will not suffer their Children to ask them a Question but answer them with blows or throwing something at them Jonathan did but ask Saul his Father wherefore shall David be slain what hath he done but he was so angry with him that he threw a javelin at Jonathan These are hard lines when Parents will not suffer their Children to speak one word to pacifie their Wrath or to know anothers faults The Lord saith When thy Children shall ask thee Questions thou shalt answer them rightly to what they ask Joshua 4.6 Exod. 12.26 Let Parents look to themselves that they break not these Precepts Thirteenth Provocation is When Parents shall set a higher esteem on one Child than on another this is a great Provocation this caused Josephs Brethren consult his death Gen. 37.18 But being interposed by Reuben they sold him into Egypt Gen. 37.27 28. Fourteenth Provocation is When Parents will take no care to bestow trades on their Children to their Content but will force them to be brought up in an Employment which they neither like nor love this causeth them to be careless and idle and many times to be very ill Husbands and extravagant that they ruin their Estates and beggar their Children it many times brings them to ill Courses for a Livelyhood which ends in Imprisonment and their Souls are in danger of Eternal Wo Isa 3.11 The Lord gave this Liberty in the time of the Law Deut. 23.16 Fifteenth Provocation is When Parents will force their Children against their will to be yoked to those they cannot love nor at all affect for a little filthy Lucre as though the only Happiness and chiefest good were in the Mammon of Unrighteousness Luke 16.9 13. Piety and Virtue was the only thing Solomon and his Mother took notice of Prov. 14.4 19.14 31.30 But instead of Piety Prudence Honesty and Vertue now a days if they be Sullen Self-willed Cross Obstinate Malicious Deceitful Jealous Envious Light-Carriaged Insatiably-Lustful Proud Peevish Foolish Inconstant Discontented Impure in Body and Mind if Blear Goggle or Squint-Eyed Wheezel-Faced Hare-brain'd Quarter-witted Nonsensical Ideots Sanded Tanned Souer-lookt and much deformed in all parts Yet Money and Land must make up all the matter and oyl the wheels of Matrimony but do not forget that they that marry only for money live all their Life time in bondage in a kind of a lawful adultery therefore in disposing of your Children let love be the main the primum mobile let Prudence Virtue Piety and Honesty be the Objects and the Hearts content the only Subject and the Lord will be glorified in such a choice It is but reason you should let your Children choose where and whom they like best all their Lifes content depends upon it Love and Affections ought to teach Parents this Lesson but the time is now come that some are without natural Affections 2 Tim. 3.3 Nay some Parents are so wicked and ungodly as if a Child be so weak to marry without their consent yet marry a sober person but not riches answerable to their Estate they thro' Pride and Ambition are so cruel that they reject such a dear son or daughter and will not forgive them nor be reconciled to them but take such devillish courses that tend to destroy their Child both Body and Soul Such shew they are so far without the true fear of God that they are cruel Monsters and without Natural Affections nay and they will not own nor look upon the Son-in-law or Daughter-in-law nor the lawful Issue such a Son has by such a Daughter-in-law or such a Daughter has by such a son-in-law by which they shew themselves malicious filled with wrath and Envy as well as unnatural and violate Christs Precepts will not forgive such that have trespassed against them that is from their heart and so must expect never to be forgiven but perish eternally if they do not spedily repent Sixthteenth Provocation is When Children are come to a state of Marriage and capable to trade for themselves in the World their Parents will not give them any thing to assist them but keep all in their own hands till they are dead by this their Children live almost if not all their days in bondage and slavery till they have almost if not altogether lost their natural love to their Parents and many times are under that grievous Temptation occasioned by their Parents to wish and desire their days may be shortened which sin cannot be justified but all good Parents should do their utmost endeavour to take this block out of their Childrens way Also this causes them to take up dishonest courses by private and publick Robberies and Cheating Shifts to get something whereby to supply their wants and when they have escaped well once it may be they are so far hardened that they can never stop till it be too late This is a Provocation indeed which terminates in the excution of Justice I hope Parents my whetting up of your Memories will not offend you if they do I have in this done my duty in part do you do all yours and then see where you will have Occasion of offence I leave off with these sixteen which are the material Sum of my Experience and leave it to them that are more accute to find out as many more as they please and I will be content with these Enlargements And so I pass to the proof of this first Doctrine That Parents should take all care possible to avoid all occasions of Provocation c. Col. 3.21 Provoke not your Children to anger Psal 103.13 As a Father pitieth his Children c. Prov. 17.6 10. The Glory of the Children is their Parents Prov. 31.28 They call her blessed Mat. 9.15 Can the Children of the Bride-chamber mourn so long as the Bride is with them It will be very hard for Children to glory in their Parents and call them blessed when they are under Provocation and Mourning for their Parents misusing of them in hard unjust and wicked carriges but I come to the Reasons of the Doctrine to prove that they ought not to provoke their Children And the First Reason is taken from the Title Father Parents now they ought as they hear themselves called by that Title to be touched with a feeling of the natural affections which is only proper to the fruit of their own Bowels and relation as being their Image and Spark of their Brightness successively their own representation and proper Off-spring Would not he be a Monster and not a man that
others have sled to Sea some to be Souldiers some fall into deep melancholly and dye others take to the High-way to Robbery and abundance of Evils Therefore Parents you that have any king of Love at all for your Children take Solomons advice To train them up in the way which they should go Prov. 22.6 Better unborn then untaught 't is far better to spend an hundred to give them good Education than to give them thousands without any Education at all for that will abide with them and be a portion when riches fail for they many times flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven Prou. 23.5 Eighth Provocation is When Parents shall promise their Children that which they never intend they shall have some have gone and tied themselves by Covenant to Virgins by vertue of their Parents Promises and when the Parents have relinquished it it hath been the ruin of them both Parents wickedness in this case may be and many times is an hourly and daily Provocation to their Children which makes them to live in Horror Bondage Discontent and Slavery until the very day of their death because their Parents hindered them by it of their first choice and ever after their affections can never be truly settled also it causeth them to suspect their Parents love but this know that Love ought to be honest and without dissimublation Rom. 12.9 Do to your Children in this case and esteem their Peace as your own There is no joy nor true peace where content is wanting an hearts content is a continual feast Prov. 15.15 Ninth Provocation is When Parents shall threaten their Children that they will give them no portion or cut them off as many do with a shilling The Lord in the case of giving of Parents Estates hath given forth a possitive Law which though it were given to the Jews yet it being not ceremonial or typical but moral and perpetual it extends its power to all Ages Nations Sects Kindred Tongues and People to whom this Precept shall come it being never as yet abolished which law you will find recorded in Deut. 21.15 16 17. That the Eldest if hated yet he shall have a double portion and the youngest though best beloved shall share all alike Have a care Parents in breaking this Law in threatning words Eph. 6.9 much more in wicked actions He that breaketh one commandment is guilty of all James 2.10 The Ten Commandments was given to the Jews but who dareth to deny but all the moral part thereof is perpetual and extendeth its power to every individual person in the whole world which Law to transgress would be a sin in any and then the Lord may look on them as he he did on Cain and say If thou doest not well sin lieth at thy door Gen. 4.7 Tenth Provocation is When Parents shall give all or some part of their Estates to those that be not heirs by Birth There are they that give many and great Legacies and to the impoverishing of their Children or diminish their Birthright and look on it as a small fault some have such foolish affections for their name that they will give their Lands from their female natural Issue of their Bodies to a Stranger as though their Names were their chief Happiness though the Lord be offended with them and for the continuance of their Name they will as it were go one step beyond him but he will meet with them by death and put out their name for ever as the Psalmist saith Psal 49.11 12. This their way is their folly There be some that will disinherit their Children for a word speaking when they themselves have provoked their Children to it by their wicked words and Deeds to all such Parents I must say 1st If the Lord should disinherit you for one Offence nay for ten an hundred nay a thousand I fear you will never possess Eternal Happiness 2ly He that taketh that from me which is my Birthright is a Thief and a Robber and hath broken the eighth Commandment Exod. 20.15 3ly He that provideth not for his family chiefly for his Children hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 4ly These are more unnatural than the savage Beasts of the Field who will not leave their young but provide for them till they be in a capacity to live in the world they peaceably live with them and leave them their Possessions at Death 5ly This causeth Heart-burnings and Animosities in those Children against those that give and those that possess their Estates 't is much if it do not terminate in Outrage and Murder except the Lord endow them with his special Grace 6ly You that have no Male Issue Numb 27.7 8 9 10 11. Here the Lord gives you a Law break it upon your own peril and look to it you are bound by this Moral Commandment why will you not to give your Lands to your Daughters as above to possess Numb 36.8 and not to deprive them for their Sex if they be your natural Issue 7ly Let me advise you Parents in this case to do to your Children as you would your Parents should have done to you is not that a Moral Precept which if neglected you neglect to do as you would be done unto you should not so deprive them of any part of your Estates if you would not have been pleased that your Parents should have disinherited you 8ly This causeth a suspicion in the Child that you doubt whether they are your natural Issue since so me wicked men are jealous of their innocent Wives without any just reason or cause and some foolish women are misted with that vulgar Error and fond foolish Conceit of Changelings which seems to be the working of Satan in the minds of some it being beyond the Bounds of Nature Reason and Common Sence that Women should leave their natural Issue to Strangers and take theirs to themselves 9ly What will you Parents do in the Judgment-day if your disinheriting your Children should be the only cause of their Eternal Ruin can you answer for them at the Bar of Justice 10ly Let your loving Instructions and Counsels with your blessing and estate be divided and given to your Children save what is wisely given to charitable uses that you may win their hearts to God and your selves that so long as your Estates continue with them and their Lives last you may be had in their Affections that Satan tempt them not to evil Eleventh Provocation is Where Parents shall and do require more of their Children than their natural Abilites will permit or that is possible for them to undertake or to accomplish with undertaking such Parents if they may be so called shew their Malice by Frowns Sour-Looks Evil Words nay and many times by Cursings and Bannings and sometimes with cruel and merciless blows here they let loose their reins and run at random in the road to Destruction without either pause consideration or affections as though
should so far violate the Bounds of Nature and so wilfully and willingly destroy his natural Issue David though his Son Absolom were his mortal Enemy yet he took great care and gave a strict charge for his preservation 2 Sam. 18.5 Parents should think thus with themselves the Lord is our Father even as we would he should do unto us even so should we do to our Children and if thus I am sure no Parents will give any just cause of Provocation to them 2d Reason Why Parents should not give their Children any just Occasion of Provocation is Because their Children be of their own Substance Who is so mad as to cut his own Flesh how doth it cut the Child even to the very heart that it makes it weary of its life to be under continual provocation it is a Pain intollerable a Disease incurable but as Scorpions Blood will best cure its own stinging so no salve to heal the Childs wound but its parents true love and real affections what a sacred Bond of Unity is there in the Firmament what natural union is there among the Birds of the Air and Beasts of the Field no dissolving it but by inducements to Hatred Love and Concord continues still then why should not Men be taught by natural things to have and continue natural affections to their Children and learn of the Lord who doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of Men Lament 3.33 But bemoans their conditions and wills them to turn from iniquity Hosea 11.8 And is very pittyful and of tender mercy James 5.11 So should all Godly Parents be 3d. Reason is Because the Lord doth highly esteem of all such Parents as are godly that be careful for and tender of their Children Shall I saith the Lord hide from Abraham the thing that I do why because he will command his Children and Houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18.17 19. The Lord commends Job for a perfect and upright Man whose work it feems was daily to offer Sacrifice for his Children Job 1.5 8. For fear they had sinned against the Lord by this Parents should learn to pray with and for their Children every day the just man walketh in his integrity his Children are blessed after him Prov. 20.7 It is the Character of a Godly Bishop to have his Children in subjection 1 Tim. 3.4 with all gravity The Lord did make Israel to hear and fear that they might teach their Children after them Deut. 4.10 Ch. 6.7 Ch. 31.13 The Lord was so well pleased with King Jehu that he saith His Children shall sit on the Throne of Israel to the fourth Generation 2 Kings 10.30 The Lord hath established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children that the Generations to come might know them even the Children which would be born who should arise and declare them to their Children that they might set their Hope in God and not forget the Works of God but keep his Commandments at all times Psal 78.5 6 7. Deut. 4.9 which truly being performed takes off all just occasion of Provocation 4th Reason is because Provocation is the high road to Childrens Disobedience and an evil instrumental means to cause them to break the fifth Commandment which saith Honour thy Father and thy Mother Exod. 20.12 Provocation disputes a Child into Fude and Anger and what will you do to quench that flame what will you call him then but a furious turbulent outragious Monster no ways then to be disputed with Wrath carrieth down all before it and cares not if he dash himself in a thousand pieces he carries the Blood of Revenge in his Face and his Eyes sparkle like Fire his Hair stands an end and his Teeth gnash one against another his Countenance is fierce and his Voice thundereth without sence or reason his Brows are knit in fury and the motion of his Head declares his destruction his Hands strike one against another and falleth with violence on his own Breast he stampeth and teareth his Cloaths and if it were possible his Flesh from his Bones he hath detestation in his mind and Firebrands in one Hand with a drawn Sword in the other yelling and houling with hideous Outcries saying I will ruine all for I am undone Wrath and Anger defaceth the Image of God in Man and casteth a mist before the Eyes it stops the Ears that he will not hear Instruction and hinders his Understanding from receiving Counsel it is an Obstruction of the Judgment and Reason the Senses and Conscience are dulled and blinded by it and it causeth the heart to be continually stubborn and subject to much evil and what not O then Parents provoke not Children to Anger for in that condition you will hardly perswade them to the Duty of Honour learn patience and be kind to them and what great quiet of Conscience can you have whilst you see your Children ruined before your Eyes by your folly and madness would you have your Child hate you who begat him and be your Enemy because you shew your self an Enemy to him or to her besides if the cause of your anger to your Child cannot now be prevented as if it be in the Case of Marriage it can't what aggravation of Folly and Shame is that in you would you be feared and not loved and strive for that sweet Harmony of Love and Fear together regard your Honour but joyn with it Parental Affections between such Parents and Children that live as they ought what a sweet Harmony is there James 1.4 Rom. 12.16 Ephes 4.32 Col. 3.13 23. 5th Reason is Because when Children are provoked they are in the fittest posture for Satan to work upon them by his Temptations Satan delighteth to fish in troubled Waters the terrible smoak of Fury that doth ascend occasioned by Provocation it so far darkeneth the Eyes of the Mind that now any Temptation suits and the Party being blinded cannot discover it without the special grace of God The Astronomers tell us that the Inferior Orbs are restrained in their motion by the primum mobile or else they would set all the World on fire So if the Grace of God and true Religion do not keep Persons in due Order Satan hath too much combustible matter to work upon in the Soul to set the whole course of Nature on fire by his manifold Evil and Subtil Temptations therefore Parents take heed of giving Satan an Inch least he when he hath gotten a little footing on them instead of an Inch he take an Ell Ephes 4.27 James 4.7 6th Reason Because the very Evils that do attend Provocation is or ought to be a sufficient Argument against it A Person under Provocation may be fitly compared to a bed of Serpents when the wind blows cold they lye still but when they are stirred or chafed with heat let every body look to themselves
unnatural as to send it out of Doors so soon as it was born not regarding it as though it were none of her own as some Women do who are worse to their young than the savage beasts of the field that will not take care to nurse preserve and protect their young ones it is looked on as a judgment by the Prophet Hosea 9.14 What saith he wilt thou them give a miscarrying womb and dry breasts most Women are much troubled if they cannot bare Children then why not much more if they do not let them suck of that Milk which nature has provided for the Childs nourishment it is a small sign of remorse when they are not troubled for that which is their own proper faults Fouthly All Children do naturally love those Parents most whom they sucked to take care for assist and help in their necessities when old if there be a kind of an Affection in Nurses to those they nurse and a peculiar love in the Child to the Nurse whom it sucked till death much more the Natural Affections of a Child to its Natural Parents who bore it and nourished it with their own milk what other Benefits arise thereby I leave it to your Experience to witness in length of time Nurse your Children your selves do not as t is said of the Deer that they repulse and separate those that are impotent do not turn your Children out of doors least they in time have the same Opportunity and you your selves share of the like fare from them 't is the sin of the last times to be without natural Affections therefore take away the cause that the effect may cease 3 Direction is Dedicate your Children to the most High offer them up in your Prayers Wishes and Desires to the Lords omnipotent Care and Protection Hannah dedicated Samuel unto the Lord 1 Sam. 1.28 Every First born was to be offered to the Lord Exod. 13.12 O that Ishmael might live before thee saith Abraham Gen. 17.18 How excellently did Zathariah yield up John to the Service of the Lord Luke 1.76 So Parents should do and pray continually with good Job for their Conversion and offer daily Sacrifice for them do not forget to offer your Souls in Prayer with and for them that they may be sensible how great care you have of their Souls eternal well-being Job 1.5 4 Direction Parents be sure you agree together in your Commads Let not the Father command one thing and the Mother presently contradict it before the Child this will harden them in Disobedience the first Precept to the Woman after the transgression was to be subject to her Husband and he should rule over her Gen. 3.16 But that Woman is very impudent that is so far from obeying her Husband that she will Lord it over him by contradicting his Authority in just commands and more especially when so much evil attends it as in this case Parents should both take great care not to oppose each other before their Children but chiefly when it is about their Childrens duty but to take another fit Opportunity in cool Blood in Love and in their Childrens absence to dispute the lawfulness of the matter 5 Direction Keep your Children in due subjection before they be too stubborn He that spareth the rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chastneth him betimes Prov. 13.24 Chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul spare for his crying Prov. 19.18 Rods and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself brings his Mother to shame Prov. 29.15 Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest and delight unto thy soul Prov. 29.17 A Bishop is commanded to have his Children in subjection with all gravity 1 Tim. 3.4 6 Direction Let your Children be your chiefest joy in this World Rejoyce in them as they are the gift of the Lord but do not idolize them good Job took delight enough in his Children as himself expresseth Job 19.17 Chap. 29.5 Yea when the Lord hath permitted their death by a great wind he seems to rejoyce that as the Lord gave them so he hath now taken them away and saith he blessed be the name of the Lord Job 1.19 without sorrow repining and murmuring he seems to joy in this affliction hopeing they were gone to a better Father All the Patriarchs did take delight in their Sons and Daughters except when they sinned Gen. 34.30 7 Direction You must reprove and rebuke your Children if they sin This Work must not be done to halves as Old Eli did 1 Sam. 3.13 If they sin against the Lord and no Reproof nor Rebuke will prevent them they must be restrained with due severity Folly is bound up in the heart of a Child but the rod of Correction driveth it away Prov. 22.15 Withhold not Correction from thy Child for if thou beatest him with rods he shall not die Prov. 23.13 St. Paul saith We had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence Heb. 13.9 This Duty must 1st be done with Love because it is God Ordinance to restrain them from iniquity Deut. 8.5 2dly You must shew them their sin for which you rebuke or correct them Saying with the holy God O Do not this abominable thing which I bate Jer. 44.4 3dly Tell them that thou dost correct them out of Conscience to God and Love to their precious souls Prov. 11.30 4thly Reprove and Corect them with pitty telling them if good Words would have restrained them you would not have used Blows Psal 103.13 5thly Shew them by some place of Scripture How much the Lord is offended with them for this their sin Deut. 29.20 6thly Keep them from evil Company that are the Inducements to sin 1 Cor. 15.33 7thly Correct them not in anger but with fair and loving words as it were with severity according to the Fact but all in a Cool Blood Jer. 30.11 8thly Be often in Prayer with and for them that if all other means fail that this may work upon them for their Souls eternal good thus rebuke and correction may be rightly performed and the Child not provoked to anger but love 1 Thes 5.17 9thly Be sure that the Sin that thou correct thy Child for be not an evil which he has seen thee often guilty of then 't is to be feared that thy Correction will do no good 1 John 3.20 10thly Forbear many chiding Words and Threatning Expressions Ephes 6.9 11thly Smile not on them in their sin nor use no shew of approbation towards them in it for this will harden them Solomon saith a flattering Tongue worketh ruin Prov. 26.28 12thly Do not rail on them nor miscall them when you correct them This does not become a Servant of Christ 1 Pet. 3.9 8 Direction is Be sure look well to it that at all times your Children obey your lawful Commands do not let them run at full length of Reins See that they speedily and duely perform what you order
grand Occasion 2dly Carry your selves kindly to your children in word and deed This will be one means to prevent provocation to sin lastly To prevent their provocation to evil turn to those sixteen Demonstrations at the beginning of this book read them and so learn them that you may take all Obstacles out of your childrens way 18 Direction is Teach and Instruct your children in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures Christ blames the Sadduces because they erred the cause was because they did not know the Scripture Mat. 22.29 It seems that ignorance of the Scriptures is the first step to Error surely Christ did not speak in vain when he bid the Jews search the Scriptures John 5.39 For by them we obtain the knowledge of Christ The Bereans were called noble because they searched the Scriptures Acts 17.11 Philip preached out of the Scriptures Acts 8.32 35. Apollos is said to be mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 28. Paul his usual manner was to reason out of the Scriptures Acts 17.2 Rom. 1.2 Ch. 4.3 Ch. 11.2 Paul highly commends Timothy for his knowledge in the Scriptures For saith he they will make thee wise unto Salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus They are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way saith the Psalmist but by taking heed thereunto according to thy word Psal 119.9 If you would have your children to be perfect and furnished to all good works then teach and instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures 18 Direction is You must not set too high an Esteem upon your children so as to idolize them Parents may as it appears by Christs words love their Sons and Daughters better than they love Christ Mat. 10.37 't is possible for a man to idolize any thing the Apostle calls Covetuousness Idolatry Colos 3.5 If Men shall love Riches so much as to bow down their Souls Affections Wit Memory Judgment Understanding and all their Faculties to it what can we call it less may we not say that some make their Honour their Pleasures of Eating and Drinking Phil. 3.19 Hunting and Hawking Carding and Dicing and what not their God therefore Parents look to it that you do not put too high a Value upon your children you ought to look up unto him first that gave them unto you who can as he did good Job's take them all away in a moment of Time Job 1.19 It seems as though David had too much love for his Son Absolom whom God left to murder his Brother Amnon and to rebel against his Father 2 Sam. 13.39 Ch. 18.33 The Lord permitted both these and also suffered him to be taken away possibly that David might see the vanity of his too much Toleration and fond Affection and Indulgence 19 Direction is Be often yea constantly exhorting them to walk in the way of God according to the best of your judgment to the Law and to the Testament saith Isaiah 8.20 Stand in the way and see ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your souls Jer. 6.16 saith Samuel God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the good and right way 1 Sam. 12.23 This is a sure Maxim that all the Ordinances that our Lord Jesus Christ appointed his Church to observe are by his true Church to be uphold contended for Jude 3. Both in matter and manner and to be truly and rightly maintained by all the true Servants of Christ in all ages by all Persons in all places and at all times to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 Who it was that gave men power to alter the subject of Baptism from a Believer to an Infant and the manner of doing of it from dipping to sprinkling except Pope Innocent the first and the Milevitan Council I know not this I know that the Cate chism of the Church of England confesseth that the persons that are to be baptized are such as have repentance whereby they forsake sin and have Faith whereby they stedfastly believe the promise of God made to them in that Sacrament which no Infant of a day or two or a week old could ever perform also it confesseth that the manner is by dipping which they have since altered and thus express it Water wherein the person is baptized Also how they come to alter the Lords Supper from Night to Noon from breaking the Bread to cutting of it and from sitting at a Table to kneeling I say how this comes to be altered and kneeling one by one at Noon at the Altar and there to receive a peice of Bread cut square I leave the Criticks of our age to determine for certain Christ gave no Man power to alter his Sacraments neither in matter not form but they are to continue as they were first instituted to the end of the World or till Christs second coming 1 Cor. 11.26 It must needs be a nullity of the Sacraments if the right matter and manner be wanting may I be so bold to say with the Apostle This is not to eat the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 Plain it is that Paedorantism is not Christ's Ordinance of Baptism O 't is very dangerous to alter any thing in the worship of God Prov. 30.6 Deut. 4.2 Ch. 12.32 Revel 21.18 Nadab and Abihu did but take common fire and did not take it from the Altar according to the command Exod. 30.8 and the Lord slew them Lev. 10.2 Here they had the right matter fire but only they missed the right place where they should have taken it Also Dathan and Abiram who were not of that tribe which the Lord appointed to offer incense but rebelled against the Lord and they were swallowed up alive in the Earth Numb 16.1 3. Here was the wrong subject Moreover the Lord commanded that the Altar should be made of unhewed stone Exod. 20.25 Dent. 27.5 Joshua 8.31 But Israel sinned in making Altars of Brick Isa 65.3 And the Lord was provoked thereby their sin was in the false subject also the Lord commanded that the Offering should be offered at the door of the Tabernacle Levit. 17.9 but they offered in Groves 2 Kings 23.4 6 15. Here they missed the place and are charged with great guilt Isa 66.4 what shall I say more they that add to any of Christs commands or diminish from them in any kind the Lord will visit them in his anger Rev. 21.18 therefore teach your children to walk in the footsteps of the Church in its primitive Institutions as near as you can comprehend and understand it and as you find it recorded in the New-Testament And this is our only rule to walk by both for our children and our selves 21 Direction is Often awakening your Childrens
8.26 7ly Stinted Forms keeps Persons in a lame stupid dead and lukewarm posture so long as they do continue in the use of it they are neither hot nor cold Revel 3.15 16. What the Fruits and Benefits that forms do conduce I leave it to those that have received it if any have to declare but this is certain that the Letter kills but it is the Spirit that giveth life 2 Cor. 3.6 John 3.63 8ly By spiritual Prayer we have access unto the Throne of Grace Ephes 2.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 1st Accessus 2ly Manuductionem A drawing near by leading by the hand to God as Persons are led or conducted into Kings Courts but I do not find any promise in all the Holy Scriptures that any shall have access to God by reading or saying over of stinted forms of Prayer 9ly There are many good Presidents in Scripture that the faithful in all ages have poured out their Souls to the Lord omnipotent in Spiritual Prayer It is said Isaac went out into the field to meditate Gen. 24.63 The Margin reads it to pray agreeing with Ainsworth in loc David poured out his soul to the Lord Psal 142.1 to 7. Jehoshephat was fervent in this duty 2 Chron. 20.12 Hezekiah prayed against Senacherib's Blasphemy 2 Kings 19.15 It will be too tedious to set forth one quarter of the instances of this kind Take St. Paul for your Example who saith He will pray with his Spirit and with his understanding also 1 Cor. 14.15 Epaphras is said to be fervent in this duty Col. 4.12 10ly Spiritual Prayer is commanded Praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit Ephes 6.18 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and suplication let your request be made known to God Phil. 4.6 I will that men pray every where 1 Tim. 2.8 Pray for them that despitefully use you Mat. 5.44 Luke 6.28 Pray ye the Lord of the Harvest Mat. 9.38 Pray one for another James 5.16 If ye sow to the spirit ye shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.8 34 Direction is Be often minding of them that they let the love of God in Christ be the principal Motive upon their Hearts to perswade them to love God above all to uphold them from being dashed in pieces upon that rock of Despair about Personal Election and Reprobation Know for certain that as all were brought into a state of Condemnation by the first Adam's Sin so all that believe are in a state of justification by the death of Christ Rom. 5.18 For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved John 3.16 17. There is Salvation open to every Soul that believeth the Lord hath taken such care for every mans Salvation 1st That he hath commanded the Gospel to be Preached to every Creature Mark 16.15 16 2dly That Prayers and Supplications be made for all men 1 Tim. 2.1 to 6. 3dly The Lord would have all men come to the Knowledge of the Truth that they might be Saved 1 Tim. 2.4 as touching those that are Elected they are Elected thro' the Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 2 Thes 2.13 to believe on Christ is the first step to enjoy the promise of Eternal Salvation Heb. 3.9 Revel 22.14 Heb. 10.36 Jam. 1.25 2dly True Faith is the spring of true love to God in Christ which is also the true and only ground of our Obedience Rom. 6.17 18. 3dly A right Knowledge of Gods love in justification by his Son is the chief ground of our love to God 1 John 4.19 4thly True Faith is that hand whereby we receive Christ and Christ's Righteousness is the matter or material Cause of our Justification as Gods Imputation of it to us is the formal Cause and Faith I think I may say without any blame may be said to be the Instrumental Cause thereof but no procuring Cause or meriting Condition of our Justification for Faith is in the Covenant of Grace as it is the Gift of God and therefore not a procuring Condition of it Rom. 3.28 Gal. 2.16 Rom. 5.1 Gal. 3.24 5thly Preaching the Gospel thro' the working of Gods Spirit is the cause of Faith Rom. 10.17 6thly The love of God in Christs Death and Resurrection is the ground and cause of the Gospels being Preached 1 Cor. 15.1 to 23. 7thly The love of God to those he gave to Christ is the only ground and cause why he sent his Son to dye John 3.16 17. Heb. 2.9 So on the other hand Sin is the cause that any are reprobated it is for the Sin of their Nature which they love and for Unbelief Rom. 11.23 all which remains they do not will not hear the Word so as to set their hearts to ponder on the same their understandings are blinded their wills rebellious their affections are carnal their hearts are immoderately set upon Earthly things If any man loveth the World the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2.15 Because they believe not the Word of Life they remain in a state of Condemnation the Scripture holds forth that mans Destruction is of himself Mat. 23.37 Hosea 13.9 35 Direction is Teach your Children to avoid the Seeing Hearing Receiving doing or Allowing of those things that are directly prohibited or forbid in Scripture First You must Teach them the Ten Commandments recorded in Exod. 20. Deut. 5. the Lord by these Precepts hath prohibited all from gross and capital Sins to teach men Morrality and Divine Adoration and Invocation having called him from all Corruption unto the integrity he first Created him in And therefore 1st Man is denied to have any other object of Divine Adoration beside his Creator 2dly Man must not have the least shew of any kind of Worship in Expression Gesture or Habit not so much as in affections too nor towards any Image or the likeness of any Creature Made Ingraven or Portraied of any Mass or resemblance whatsoever no not so much as to go into the place where an Idol is nor to eat of the Meat that has been offered to an Idol Acts 15.20.29 Chap. 21.25 keep your selves from Idols 1 John 5.21 Flee from Idolatry 1 Cor. 10.14 Levit. 19.4 Any thing that is set up in our Hearts and extolled above our Maker which we take all care possible to please our selves in to admire and set our Chief Love upon that we give more Service Love and Adoration too then is properly due to a meer Creature is by us made an Idol and though it be no God yet we make it a God unto our selves Fourteen several ways Men may make to themselves Gods and Serve Love and Adore them more then they do their Creator And 1st some make their Bellys their God they lay up all
into the presence of the King whether they were covered or not but in that time they did Obeisance one to another is evident Dan. 2.46 6.21 8.17 2ly It does not appear that they came into the Kings presence covered for that which is expressed is a forced thing they were bound in their Coats their Hosen and their Hats Their Coats were Mantles or short kind of Cloaks to keep off the Sun and let in the Air to their Bodies their Hosen were Slops or long loose breeches their Hats were Turbants not one jot like our Hats they were made of Linnen like a Sash its use was to tie about their head in bad weather in wind and cold to spread and cover all parts of the body it being as large as a winding sheet it being tied about their waste it served for a Girdle Neither will Christ's words excuse these Men which saith How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another John 5.44 There is a vast distance between Humility and Arrogancy we ought not to be so arrogant as to love and delight in the honour and praise of men John 12.43 But we ought to be so humble as to render to all persons due honour and respect 1 Pet. 2.17 Let each esteeem others better than themselves Phil. 2.3 Also you must be careful to pay to every one their just due they are wicked which borrow and pay not again Psal 37.21 Christ allows the paying of Tribute Mat. 22.21 pays tribute himself and works a Miracle to do it Mat. 17 to 27. 38 Direction is Teach your Children to avoid shun and oppose that general received and overspreading sinful Doctrine or Dogmatical Sentiment viz. That Justification is by Works as tho' the sprinkling of a little Water in a Childs Face in the Name of the Deity did make an unregenerate Sinner a true Convert and bring it into a state of justification which work so acted and done I could never find nor yet be informed by any that Christ or his Apostles did ever leave any Precept or President for the so doing and therefore it is an Innovation of Men and largely forbidden in the Scriptures Mat. 15.9 Col. 2.21 22. Josh 1.7 Deut. 12.32 Jer. 7.31 Deut. 4.2 Jer. 19.5 Prov. 30.6 Revel 22.18 19. Secondly Is not the blessing in those that were Excommunicated for Trifles I do not find in Scripture that any ought to be Excommunicated but for Impenitency in notorious and criminal Facts Mat. 18.17 2 Thes 3.14 1 Cor. 5.5 9.13 1 Tim. 1.19 20. Let me add here a word or two concerning Justification The real causes of Justification are these 1st The efficient cause is God's free grace Rom. 3.24 2ly The meritorious cause is the Blood of Christ Rom. 5.9 3ly The material cause is Christ's active and passive obedience Rom. 5.19 4ly The formal cause is the imputation of Christ's righteousness Rom. 4.6 5ly The instrumental cause by which it is applied is Faith Rom. 5.1 6ly The final cause is 1st The glory of God Rom. 5.2 And 2ly Mans Salvation Ephes 1.11 but where good works have any place as a cause of justification I find not for they do certainly flow from Faith and are the fruits and effects of true Faith 1st What is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14.23 2ly Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 3ly Man is united to Christ by Faith and by it its fruits appears Col. 1.4 6. 4ly As Men cannot gather grapes of thorns or figgs of thistles Mat. 7.16 So those works cannot be good that do not spring from a good root viz. True Faith and Union with Christ 39 Direction is When your Children are come to years you ought to take care of their being disposed in Marriage and that in that seasonable and due time as you find their natural inclinations prompt them to and require it 1st See and know that they have Natural Love to them that you would marry them to If Love be wanting on either side they are betrayed into a multitude of evils which all the Gold of Ophir cannot repair also see that they choose such as are equal to their degree and quality if they are too high above them they will be apt to slight them if below them to discredit them if too old the love of youth from such is apt to vanish also choose such if possible that truly fear the Lord Vertue Piety and Honesty are far better than all the Carriage Breeding Beauty and Riches in this World Favour is deceitful and Beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31.30 40 Direction is You that have Estates as there is few but have little or much let me advise and direct you to settle your Estates in good time as it is too late to repent when the door of mercy is shut so many times it is too late to settle your Estates when you come to a dying bed you will have enough to do then to go through that painful Task more especially if you have not made your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Good Hezekiah was ordered to set his house in order Isa 38.1 Abraham settled his Estate Gen. 25.5 6. The exactest rule that I do find in all the Scripture to this put pose is that in Deut. 21.17 Where the Lord saith The eldest shall have a double portion that is If a Man have five Children he shall divide his Estate into six equal parts and the eldest Son shall have two parts and the other four shall have each one his equal part how or when this Law was abrogated Ido not find I leave it in all these forty Rules to you to make the best use of the whole in your daily practice as you will answer it in the great day of account And now I come to the 2d Doct. Which I intend to be very brief in which is That if Parents have real affections for their Children they will use the best means possible to keep them from sin they will not provoke them to it This Subject is enough to fill a whole Volume 1st To shew you how many ways people may sin And 2ly To set forth who they are that the Scripture calls Sinners 3ly To discover the nature of sin 4ly To let you understand the danger of sin 5ly To discover the Remedies as Helps against sin 6ly To let you know the fruits and effects of sin 7ly To pen down the Scripture-Marks to know a sinner by 8ly To shew the degrees of sin 9ly To shew how the Lord does many times punish for sin in this life as well as in the life to come 10ly To mind you of the benefit that does ensue by avoiding of sin But I must leave these things to be amplified in your daily Meditation as you read the Scriptures of Truth and in short give you a reason or two to prove that Parents love is manifest by keeping their Children from sin Reason 1.
abused the Lord his Word and Ministers Job 21.14 Chap. 22.17 Acts 7.59 Oh what jofulness would it be to the damned in Hell if they might have but one Sermon of Mercy and general Redemption from their torments preached unto them they would all without all doubt embrace it upon any terms without any put offs or delays 3ly Thy Companions will add to thy torments if thou wast the cause of their sin or they of thine the Rich Man in the Gospel did not desire the company of any of his Brethren in Hell Luke 16.28 4ly If by thy evil Examples others have followed thee to Hell it will be very grievous for thee to bear If the weight of their damnation must hang on thy back and be a continual Reflection on the dropping on thy Conscience hotter than scalding Lead Mal. 4.1 5ly To be truly sensible when it is too late which is never till the door of Mercy is shut and thou art under condemnation that Christ died to save thee Sinner John 3.16 17. 2 Pet. 2.1 Heb. 2.9 1 John 2.2 as well as the best Saint if thou hadst not slighted and abused his eternal fayour This to know will be a continual torment that the door of Mercy was set open to thee and thou refusedst to enter therein nor suffered others if possible Acts 13.46 6ly If thou play the Hypocrite with the Lord and thy Soul this will be an augmentation of thy Horror Isa 33.14 Job 36.13 If thou art so void of integrity as to dissemble with thy Creator thou mightest have had so much consideration as not to have flattered with thy own Soul to pay for it so dear at last 7ly Breaking thy Covenants and not putting in practice thy good Resolutions will be a great aggravation of thy dolor Rom. 1.31 32. it is a breach of a Command to break a godly covenant made Numb 30.2 Good David resolves to pay his Vows Psal 22.25 66.13 116.14 18. 8ly Putting off of time till it is too late will be an everlasting grief to thy Soul Great is the folly and madness of many who are warned and made sensible that they ought to believe repent and obey the Lord in the Gospel dispensation but for some by-ends or other they will delay till old age or the hour of death and then thy soul-work is at an end for there is no work to be done in the grave Eccles 9.10 and if thou repent in eternal fire it will be too late 9ly Mocking at the Ministers of Christ and slighting of Religion and the professors thereof will multiply thy torment to think that when thou shouldest have practised the true religion thou madest a derision at that salve which should have healed thy wounded Soul Luke 10.16 10ly The consideration of Eternity will greatly increase thy torment To think that when ten thousand years are expired and twenty thousand are added to that still thy torment will have no end thy Soul remains still under the curse in eternal fire Mat. 25.41 3d. Motive to perswade you to your duty is the excellency of a christian state or the enjoyment of a Saint living up as far as he is able in all holy duty And First They have great peace in their Souls Psal 119.165 1st They have peace of Conscience while they live 2 Cor. 1.12 2ly They have peace in their Death Psal 37.37 Revel 14.13 3ly They have peace in the Resurrection-day Mat. 25.34 John 16.22 4ly Their peace will be for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 A Second Enjoyment is They are out of the power of Satan He can only tempt them to evil he cannot carry them on by force nor hath he power over them as he hath over the wicked who have given themselves up to sin 2 Tim. 2.26 for the Saints are beyond his power Acts 26.18 3ly They that are faithful have a gracious Majesty to extol and to implore who is of great patience 2 Chron. 36.16 and of tender mercy Psalm 145.9 great compassion Lam. 3.33 full of pitty James 5.11 He is a guide to the blind a help to the lame Rom. 8.26 safety in Persecution Psalm 27.5 a deliverer in adversity 2 Sam. 4.9 strength in weakness Heb. 11.34 comfort in trouble Isa 49.13 Yea He is all in all Col. 3.11 4ly They have all their sins pardoned Col. 1.14.2.13 Ephes 1.7 5ly And all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes Rev. 7.17 6ly They are joynt-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 7ly They shall be freed from pain sickness and death Rev. 21.4 8ly They shall be invested with a beautiful comfortable delightful and coelestial possession John 14.2 There is light without darkness joy without sorrow health without sickness wealth without trouble ease without pain beauty without deformity riches without corruption comfort without end and life without end it is an incorruptible inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 an Heavenly Kingdom Heb. 12.22 the Residence of Eternal Glory Rev. 21.23 9ly The Saints shall have glorious Companions the Glory of the Father Son and Holy Spirit to behold also all the Saints that ever lived in the World Luke 13.28 Yea glorious Seraphims Isa 6.2 and all the Holy Angels Mat. 25.31 10ly They shall be changed into an heavenly state of Splendor Beauty and Immortality and made like unto the glorious Body of Christ Phil. 3.21 1 John 3.2 1 Cor. 15.51 52. 11ly The greater thy Works are here the greater will thy glory be in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.41 42. yet he that hath the least glory will have enough Psal 16.11 12ly That which makes all perfect and compleat and causes thy great felicity to be superexcellent is that all this felicity and glory is to continue for ever and ever Dan. 7.18 Rev. 22.5 A Fourth Motive is Let the shortness of your life and the uncertainty of the time of your death or dissolution let this be a great obligation on your Hearts to perswade you to do your generation-work so far as it concerns your eternal happiness in the life to come do but consider the many similitudes that the days of mans life is set out by 1st It is likened to a shadow Job 14.2 that with the swift course of the Sun or Wind vanisheth 2ly To grass that to day flourisheth in great beauty Psal 103.15 Isa 40.6 7. but to morrow it is cut down and destroyed Luke 12.28 Mat. 6.30 3ly To a cloud Job 30.15 that fleeth swift away with a strong wind 4ly To an Eagle flying a Ship sailing and a Post riding Job 9.25 26. all which pass out of sight immediately 5ly To a Weavers shuttle Job 7.6 that fleeth out of hand in a moment 6ly To an Hireling Job 7.1 2. that is here to day and gone to morrow 7ly To a fading leaf Isa 64.4 which the wind carrieth presently out of sight 8ly To a Sleep Psal 90.5 that passeth the time away insensibly 9ly To smoke Psal 92.3 that fleeth up into the air and is not seen 10ly To a tale that is told Psalm 90.9 that is soon forgotten 11ly To a Pilgrim Gen. 47.9 Heb. 11.13 that lodgeth here to night and to morrow he is gone 12ly To an hand-breadth Psal 39.5 so that with Job we may conclude that Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble be cometh forth like a flower and is cut down he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not Job 14.1 2. so that every man in his best estate is altogether vanity Psal 39.5 For as the fishes that are taken in an evil net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them Eccles 9.12 For when they shall say Peace and Safety then suddenly Destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5.3 I come now in the lat place to signifie to you the danger of disobedience to Parents 1st They that despise their Parents shall be destroyed Prov. 20.20 Exod. 21.17 Lev. 20.9 2ly Poverty and Shame is their portion Prov. 13.8 3ly They were of old to be stoned to death Deut. 21.21 4ly The Lord will suffer the fowls of Heaven to execute justice upon them Prov. 30.11 5ly The Lord will bring such as disobey their Parents into captivity Ezek. 22.7 15. 6ly Ishmael was cast out of his Fathers family for mocking at Sarah Gen. 21.8 12. Gal. 4.30 7ly Hophin and Phinehas were slain 1 Sam. 2.25 8ly Absolom was hanged on an Oak in his rebellion against his father David as being neither fit for Heaven nor yet to dwell upon the earth 2 Sam. 18.9 I might enlarge these Doctrines with many Uses but I leave them all to the industry and practice both of the Godly Parents and Dutiful Children to make the most excellent use of all these Precepts and Directions in all their loving Exercises and Carriages each to other and shall return to the plough but by the way I have met with a sort of People which positively deny Christ come in the flesh impudently and confidently affirming that Christ was never seen with mortal Eyes and never died and therefore if any of these people will believe the Scriptures to be the word of God and a rule for their Faith so far as it relateth to the real and true History of Christ our Saviour let them read those Scriptures which concern Christ and they may know that Jesus is the true Christ and Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe and that he was seen of many and did dye was buried and rose again and ascended into Heaven But to conclude To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 Let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing Phil. 3.16 And as many as walk according to this rule peace be unto them and mercy upon the Israel of God Gal. 6.16 Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep thorough the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good Work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his fight thorough Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Heb. 13.20 21. FINIS