all these and shall consider the Text in a two fold notion or relation 1. In a domestical sense 2. In a personal respect The former refers to David's House the latter to his Heart and Soul this blessed Covenant was David's chief relief in both these cases from the former observe That notwithstanding the sins and sufferings in a godly mans family which occasion much grief to his Spirit yet he is supported and satisfied with Gods gracious Gospel covenant From the latter acceptation observe this Doct. That Covenant Relation is the foundation of a dying Christians safety satisfaction and salvation It is the former Doctrine I shall say something to at present CHAP. II. The Doctrine cleared from the Text some things premised THE principal point I propose from the Text concerns David's family for 1. He mentions his house in the beginning of the Text. 2. The latter end of the verse refers to his house Although he make it i. e. my house not to grow i. e. to increase in number power honour The former part of the verse is variously rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nec tanta est domus mea apud Deum Nor is my house so great or of so much worth with God Alass what is my house at best my pedigree is mean and base David disdains not to reflect on his despicable original though advanced to the culminating point of civil and spiritual promotion as a King and Prophet he magnifieth God and villifieth yea nullifieth himself 2 Sam. 7.18 Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto others thus plus est quam haec domus mea ante Deum Chaldee Jon. i. e. there is more in the Covenant than this my house before God All the Families in the World amount not to so much as one Messias he he only is the noble flourishing branch springing out of my Family that 's worth us all who conveys life and sap to us all Isa 11.1 this is the Rod out of the Stem of Jesse and a branch growing out of its Roots and they shall hang on him all the glory of his Fathers house Isa 22.24 my whole family would fall to ruine but for him on whose behalf it must be upheld that he may be born of it yea who only upholds it Others thus quamvis not sit it a i. e. Although my Family and Kingdom be not so holy as to perform the conditions of the Covenant so exactly as God requireth we are guilty in many respects before God and he hath whipt us sore yet Gods Covenant is the ground of my hope for my Family and I doubt not but my Lord will make it good And what David saith of his Family any Child of God may say of his except in the peculiar case of the Messiah springing out of his loins Thence we may safely draw this Doct. That notwithstanding the sins and sufferings in a godly mans Family which occasion much grief to his Spirit yet he is supported and satisfied with Gods gracious Gospel covenant In handling this point I shall 1. Premise some things fit to be known 2. Give the proof of the point 3. Answer a main objection 4. Make a short Application The things to be premised are four 1. What may befal a Godly mans family 2. Why are these a grief to his Spirit 3. What is the Covenant that supports him 4. What is in the Covenant to bear him up A word of all these briefly 1. What may fall out in a godly mans family that may occasion his grief Answ I shall reduce these to two heads 1. Corruptions breaking out 2. Afflictions breaking in on his house sin and suffering and indeed suffering is the proper fruit of sinning 1. Corruption may break out in godly families I shall not need to instance in Adams Noahs Abrahams Isaacs yea even in Jacobs Aarons Samuels c. I shall keep to David's Alas corruption brake out sadly 1. In himself 2. In his Children 1. David was guilty of 1. Sins of Ommission possibly not instructing restraining or not punishing Ammon Absolom and not crossing Adonijah 2 Kin. 13.21 1 Kin. 1.6 David was too indulgent for which he smarted Yea 2. He was guilty of foul sins of commission as Adultery and Murder of his faithful Servant Vriah 2 Sam. 11.4 27. rashness towards Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 19.29 sometimes lying changing his behaviour c. 2. His Children also were deeply guilty Ammons Incest 2 Sam. 13.23 28. 2 Sam. 15.1 1 Kin. 1.7 Absolom's Rebellion and Adonijahs Ambition Alas that there should be found such gross abominations in godly David's Family yet this was not his case only it 's said of Samuel that his sons walked not in his ways but turned aside after lucre and took bribes and perverted judgment 1 Sam. 8.3 2. And what a flood gate of troubles did these sins open which gushed in upon him deep called to deep Psal 42.7 all Gods Waves and Billows went over him Remember David and all his Afflictions Psal 132.1 saith he how numerous how ponderous some of his desireable Children dying in the height of their career by the eminent hand of justice one died in infancy to punish his iniquity 2 Sam. 12.14 besides forreign Enemies he had a doomy morning noon evening what bloody Wars with Saul and his house with Philistines Ammonites what sad Tragedies Insurrections Commotions Confusions threatning a total Dissipation and extirpation so that David might call some Child Beriah as Ephraim did because it went evil with his house 1 Chron. 7. 21 22 23. and so it hath done with many a good mans house 2. Why are these breakings out of sin and breakings in of sufferings in their Families such a grief to godly householders An. For the first it must needs trouble them 1. Because by sin God is greatly displeased his name much dishonoured Religion discredited the hearts of the Godly sadened the wicked scandalized hardened Motes in Professors are beams Mountains in the eyes of Prophane what will they say they are no better than we what are they but a pack of hypocrites to what purpose is all their whining and praying Our Children carry as civilly as theirs where 's the Covenant they boast of Hence David Psal 42.3 My tears have been my meat day and night while they continually say unto me where is thy God 2. They are greatly afflicted with the sins of Children because the beloved of their Souls are endanger'd they are pieces of themselves as their own Souls how can I endure to see my own flesh scorched and tormented in Hell-flames Oh! that Child that came out of my Loins my Bowels to be separated from God a companion with Devils a Fire-brand in Hell the mention of it sinks my Spirits Is all my labour lost their Souls lost oh who can endure to think of it no wonder if that be the first of Solomon's Proverbs Prov. 15.28 ch
1. A wise Son maketh a glad Father but a foolish Son is the heaviness of his Mother Yea 17. 25 he frequently repeats it other afflictions lye on the back this goes to the heart see Rom. 9.1 2 3. 3. Consciousness in Parents of their own guilt makes Childrens Miscarriages more uneasie and afflictive O I read my sin in my Childs folly alas omission of due instruction admonition correction hath brought my Child to this I may thank my self I have taught the young ones by my bad Example I have not watcht over them pray'd for them been so jealous of them to offer Sacrifice for them continually as I find Job did chap. 1. 5 3 25. who can tell but if I had been faithful I might have prevented all this Oh my Childs sin brings my youthful vanities to my remembrance thus I dealt with my Father to this pitch I arrived God punisheth my sin with my Childs I am verily guilty this cuts deep Jer. 4.18 4. The affliction is heavier because it doth in some sort weaken Parents confidence in the Covenant and endanger their faith in the Promise Godly Parents are ready to say when a Child is born and baptized as Samuel of Eliab 1 Sam. 16.6 surely the Lords anointed is before him this is a lovely child I hope this may honour God in his day but the child grows up and degenerates answers not expectations but grows debaucht and hopeless old in sin though young in years and now the Godly Parents hopes are dasht and daunted he is put to a stand and knows not what to think or say but concludes sadly with the two disciples in another case we trusted that it had been he this Child Luk. 24.21 that should have been an honour to God a comfort to me and a good instrument in the Church but oh how am I disappointed he proves the greatest affliction I have oh what 's become of the Covenant have I not some reason to question either Gods faithfulness or mine own interest This was the temptation of holy David with whom the Covenant was made expresly and immediately Psal 89.20 yea God gives him all the assurances imaginable his word his oath ver 34 35. yet ver 49. he saith Lord where are thy former loving kindnesses which thou sworest unto David in thy truth A sad expostulation as if God kept not touch with David why what 's the matter the reason was because Providences run counter to Promises crosses seemed to make void Gods Covenant ver 38. to 46. but thou hast cast off and abhorred thou hast been wroth with thine anointed c. Alas David where 's thy Faith But so it is that sense prevails in the best Saints above Faith at some seasons but most of all in this case when the Children of the Covenant cross the Ends of the Covenant and no doubt this becomes a great grief of heart to a godly Soul when he is thus sadly non plust till the light of the Covenant rightly understood unriddle this mystery the poor Christian is in great perplexity David had a promise by Samuel that he should be King yet saith in his heart 1 Sam. 27.1 I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul Why so why his present danger seemed to supersede the performance of that promise Psal 116.11 and though he said in his haste all men are liars yet when he came to himself certainly he would fret and vex himself that he should so wrong himself and Samuel yea and cast such an unworthy reflection upon God himself as though he were unfaithful to his promise thus will the Godly Soul do at last but at present he is upon a strange rack tortured betwixt hope and fear CHAP. III. What this Covenant is and what is in it to support the Christian IT would be superfluous to say much of the nature of a Covenant yet take this short description of it A Covenant is a voluntary mutual compact between two parties containing benefits to be injoyed and duties to be performed 1. It 's a compact between two parties for though a single person may make a promise yet a covenant is betwixt two or more and of parties formerly at distance this is the case betwixt God and Man so Gen. 26.28 2. It 's a mutual reciprocal compact both parties must be ingaged therefore it 's called the Bond of the Covenant Ezek. 20.87 because though they were free before yet now they are become bond 3. It 's a voluntary compact both parties were free before they were obliged by covenant covenanting is an Elective act God is a free Agent nothing but pure love induced him to covenant with Man Deut. 77 8. and though man was not absolutely free being Gods Creature and so bound to his Creator yet his actual entring into Covenant is a voluntary act Psal 110.3 Thy People shall be willing or Volunteers in the day of thy Power 4. Betwixt Covenanters there is mutual obligation to conferring of benefits and performing of duties called the habenda and the agenda things to be conferred by God and received by man and duties on mans part if he expect any benefits from God Isa 1.19 If you be willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the Land Yet in the Covenant of Grace betwixt God and Man there are two things peculiar 1. That there is an interposing Mediator our blessed Jesus the days-man that lays his hand upon both now saith the Apostle a mediator is not of one but God is one Job 9.55 Gal. 3.20 i. e. his business is to reconcile parties not only distinct but different 2. This Mediator is also surety or sponsor to be a susceptor or undertaker for both parties i. e. to perform what is necessary both what concerns conferring of benefits on Gods part not formally and performing conditions on mans part as though Christ believes and repents for us to save us a labour of repenting or believing but meritoriously purchasing these Graces for us and efficiently working them in us thus Jesus is made a surety of a better Testament Heb. 7.22 on Gods part he brings in everlasting righteousness and makes God friends with us and all his attributes amicable to us imploy'd for us on our part working gracious dispositions and actings which are the conditions of the Covenant so the whole lyes upon Christ Col. 3.11 and he is all in all he is responsible for God and Man being only able and capable as God and Man to fulfill necessary terms on both parts thus God promiseth what he requires and gives what he promiseth Jer. 3.19 But I said how shall I put thee among the Children and give thee a pleasant land a goodly heritage of the Host of Nations And I said thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not turn away from me Thou shalt there 's Gods undertaking to give filial disposition and perseverance Oh infinite contrivance of Divine Wisdom and Free grace
Mr. Baxter's Directory An Eminent Divine observes that 1. The Gospel relating matters of fact is an history 2. Declaring terms on which God will be served is a law of Grace 3. Discovering promises of Life conditionally it is Gods Covenant 4. As accepted by Man it is a mutual Covenant betwixt God and Man this Law and Covenant of Grace which was purchased by Christs Death is that legacy he left to the World dispensed by his Ambassadours and effectually conveyed to the Legatees or Heirs of Promise by his grand Executor the Holy Ghost This then is the great security of mans Salvation That God worketh in us Phil. 2.13 1 Pet. 1.5 both to will and to do that we are kept by the mighty power of God through Faith unto Salvation This is the excellency of the Gospel dispensation of the New-Covenant the Old-Covenant laid all the stress on the shoulders of mutable man and therefore it is judged that the Covenant of God made with Adam in innocency was peculiar to him in that estate and went no farther is not at all continued in any force since the Fall for if there had been a law given which could have given life then righteousness had been by the Law Gal. 3.21 but it is by the Gospel-Covenant that we are justified and saved Quest What 's all this to the purpose All this seems to be personal not relating to posterity but you told us of grounds of hope for Children from the Covenant how come Children concerned in this Covenant This leads me to the 4th Thing premised viz. What is there in the Gospel-covenant that is ground of support to Parents on the behalf of their Children I answer in general Parents and Children are legally one party and in civil contracts are usually involved in the same bottom so in the first Covenant Adam being a publick person represented all his Posterity for judgment was by one to condemnation Rom. 5.16 18. yea upon all men we smart for Adam's sin And in the Old Testament-dispensation of the Covenant Gen. 17.7 I will establish my Covenant between Me and Thee and thy Seed after thee in their Generations And afterwards in Moses days when God renewed the Covenant he saith Deut. 29.14 15. Neither with you only do I make this Covenant and this Oath with him that standeth here with us this before the Lord our God and also with him that is not here with us this day i. e. With their Posterity and so the People did understand it Deut. 5.3 The Lord made not i. e. only this Covenant with our Fathers but with us even us who are all of us here alive this day And in the New Testament the Apostle saith Act. 2.39 For the promise is unto you and to your Children this is a faedus ad successores transiens a Covenant that passeth to successors Bargains Leases Legacies may pass to Children yea Children may suffer for their Parents faults Traitors Sons lose their Fathers inheritance Now we must look upon Children under a double capacity 1. Children of Heathens or Jews Turks or Infidels 2. Children of Christian Parents concerning the former we have little to say 'T is the latter we treat of and of these also 1. Some are only by an external profession in Covenant 2. Others are sincerely savingly in Covenant with God we can say little concerning the former we insist chiefly on the latter and of both or all these 1. Some Children dye in Infancy 2. Others live to years of maturity I shall hint a word or two of the former though it be the latter that I principally design 1. For Children dying in Infancy if we had any Scripture discovery concerning the Election of all Infants or that Christ had expiated the guilt of such Infants or that effectual saving Grace doth always attend the Ordinance of Baptism though they be brought under it which yet many are not the question were quickly determined but what God doth with the Souls of such Infants we have not sufficient means to understand and therefore leave them to Gods good pleasure But concerning the Seed of those that truly fear God of one or both the Parents we have ground of hope for their Salvation for 1. They are Holy 1 Cor. 7.14 and though it be faederally or relatively holy yet may be really and so be saved 2. Our Saviour saith Mark 10.14 of such is the Kingdom of God or of Heaven Mat. 19.14 not only such as have the disposition of Children but Infants themselves may be Church-members here and glorify'd hereafter 3. Children of Godly Parents are in Covenant with God Now to Abraham and to his Seed were the promises made Gal. 3.16 natural as well as spiritual it 's true there was a Covenant of peculiarity to give his Seed the land of Canaan and it 's as true the text speaks not of Seeds but one Seed that is Christ but the Scripture affirms that in his Seed Christ yea in thee saith God shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed Gen. 12.3 for so doth the Apostle interpret and apply it Act. 3.25 Ye are the Children of the Prophets and of the Covenant which God hath made with our Fathers 4. David had good hopes that his Child was gone to Heaven 2 Sam. 12.25 I shall go to him but he shall not return to me Obs 1. He doth not only mean into the state of the dead where the child is but into Heaven where I shall find him for his Carcass was but part of him and the least part 2. This hope he had of him though the Child was begot in Adultery 3. Though the Child was struck with death as a punishment of David's sin 4. Though the Child had not yet circumcision the Seal of the Covenant for he died on the seventh day ver 18. and we know that Circumcision was not to be till the eighth day Gen. 17.12 So that it seems the stress is not laid on the Seal but on the Covenant so that we see grounds of hope for the Eternal Salvation of the Infants of believing Parents But how and whence this comes to pass that such Infants become capable of Eternal Salvation that 's a great Question Luther thinks that Infants have actual Faith from Mat. 18.6 Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me So reason is in Infants tanquam in principio Radice in its principle root habit virtually though not yet actually produced 2. Others say they are saved by some peculiar unknown unspeakable way without Faith but the text saith Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned how far this extends with reference to Infants I know not 3. Others say that Parents Faith is also Childrens according to the Tenour of the Covenant I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed thus Children have faith after a sort So the text saith Rom.
thirsty I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring and they shall spring up as among the grass as willows by the water courses There 's no interest in God or Christ but by the operation of the Spirit the Holy Ghost proceeding from Father and Son teacheth believers all things convinceth of Sin reneweth the will Joh. 14.16 26.16.8 13. begetteth faith uniteth the Soul to God filleth the empty vessel with divine gifts graces influences comforts all the good things of Heaven are conveyed into the Soul by our Lords substitute the Spirit assisteth quickneth inlargeth supporteth and satisfieth yea saith the Christian I have had much experience of the Spirits help in my own Soul but what reason have I to hope for the like to my Children Look on the text again I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed it shall not come on them by drops but be poured on them abundantly they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost see the full promise in Joel 2.28 accomplished Act. 2.17 18. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and Daughters shall Prophecy It 's true there 's something in that Promise Arbitrary and extraordinary suited to that dispensation but something there is also usual permanent and essentially necessary to true Christianity which God makes good to believers and their seed in all ages Oh happy Children that have the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the communion and communications of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 4. Children of Believers are rightful heirs of all Gospel-priviledges I may in a sound sense say of them as Paul of the Jewish Church Rom. 9.4 who are Israelites to whom pertaineth the Adoption and the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the Promises there are two sorts of priviledges 1. External as the Ordinances they being born within the Pale of the Visible Church have the Prayers of Gods People for them Rom. 4.11 As the Children of Abraham had the Seal of Circumcision at eight days old so Children of Believers are Baptized being Disciples of Christ Mat. 28.19 and so have Gods Sheep-mark set upon them betimes and are taken into his peculiar protection and growing up and owning their Baptismal Covenant they enjoy 2. Those Essential Priviledges that accompany Salvation as Reconciliation Adoption Justification and are in a fair way to Eternal Salvation for they lye in the Road of Free-grace under the droppings of the Sanctuary where the Spirit is wont to breathe the breath of Spiritual Life if any be proper heirs of Gods special care and Ordinances surely it 's the Children of Gods People Psal 69.35 36. For God will save Zion and build the Cities of Judah who shall have the benefit of this Salvation He answers the Seed also of his Servants shall inherit it and they that love his name shall dwell therein Parents have pray'd for the Churches Deliverance and their Children shall reap the fruit of their Prayers so Psal 102.28 The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their Seed shall be established before thee there 's a double mercy here 1. In restoring Ordinances 2. In vouchsafing this priviledge to the Children of Believers Oh what would a Child of God give to know that his Posterity should see better days You have it in the Promise and may have it in the performance if you reach out the hand of Faith to receive it for your selves and yours 5. Children of Believing Parents shall be converted to God by Ordinances Psal 110. 3. The People shall be willing in the day of thy Power i. e. in dispensing of powerful Ordinances in the beauties of holiness for holiness is full of glory from the Womb of the Morning i. e. from the beginning of Christs entrance upon his Kingdom thou hast the Dew of thy Youth i. e. those young men of the Seed of the faithful that shall be born to the Messiah resembling Dew for quality and quantity for number and strange manner of Genaration But a plainer text we have in Isa 29.22 23. Jacob shall not now be ashamed neither shall his Face now wax pale through the loss of good blood or death of godly But when he seeth his Children the work of my hands in the midst of him they shall sanctifie my name Oh blessed sight to behold Gods Image and Workmanship in the Souls of our Children this is far better than to behold our Image upon them Gods Picture is drawn by his own hand with the Pencil of his Word and Spirit the discovery of this will raise high Monuments to the glory of Free-grace Lift up thine Eyes saith God Isa 60.45 Thy Sons shall come from far and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side I know it means Gentlie-converts And 't is so much the more of concern to us Isa 49.22 Another text saith they shall bring thy Sons in their arms with great care and tenderness as nurses carry young infants in their bosoms that they be not hurt Oh what a brave sight is it to see converts flocking to Christ and into his Church like doves to their windows or lockers Isa 60.8 the Seventy Translate it as Doves with their young ones unto me You may hope for your childrens saving conversion having those encourageing promises 6. Godly Persons natural Children may and shall be useful instruments of publick good to the Church of God Isa 49.17 Thy Children shall make haste or as others render it thy builders And her Children were her builders as we read in Ezra and Nehemiah That is a glorious day when destroyers are gone and the Churches Children build Zions Temple and Walls But so it shall be Isa 58.12 And they that shall be of thee i. e. thy Children Spiritual or Natural or both shall build the old Wast places thou shalt raise the Foundations of many generations Is not this worth something to have blessed Instruments of Reformation raised out of your loyns as Magistrates or Ministers how did it glad Davids heart that his Son Solomon must build God an house 2 Sam. 7.13 He shall build an house for my name David ecchos ' verse 18. Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto And what if a Zerobbabel or a Joshuah proceed out of thy loyns who knows but some of thy posterity may be raised up as godly Ministers to convert sinners to God hope and pray for all things are possible with God and thou hast incouragement from the Covenant CHAP. V. More grounds of incouragement to Parents from the Promises 7 ANother incourageing word to Parents for their Children is that principles of grace and profession of godliness shall continue to future generations Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall
vain I live saith God to make his words take impression on his surviving Children when he is dead For correction you have a notable promise in Prov. 23.13 14. With-hold not correction from the Child for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not dye I will take care of him thou shalt beat him with the Rod and shall deliver his Soul from Hell O blessed whipping surely such a scourge as fetcheth blood is easier than hell-torments but my benediction shall be upon that correction that 's a cruel Parent that will rather see his Child a flaming Faggot in the scorching fire than try to whip folly out of him that 's cruel pity better he should cry here then roar hereafter yea and curse thee for ever that wouldst not speak a word or give him a tap to prevent these intolerable torments Oh the good that seasonable correction may do if thou prevail not to make thy Child good yet thou wilt have comfort in the discharge of thy duty there 's good hopes of both by the blessing of God Prov. 29.17 Correct thy Son and he shall give thee rest yea he shall give delight unto thy Soul yet take this caution that these promises must not be understood absolutely necessarily and universally producing this effect but ordinarily so it is and this is sufficient motive to Parents to do their duty and incouragement therein 12. The last incouragement to Parents from the Covenant of God for their surviving Children is that God will take care of their outward concerns in the World Prov. 20.7 the just man walketh in his integrity his Children are blessed after him if their Father hath not heaped up riches by cunning and covetous devices and so leaves them but little in the World yet he hath left them in the hands of a good Father who will take care of them when their earthly Parents are gone for this blessed Covenant is not confined to the persons of the Godly but entailed on their Posterity Psal 112.1 2. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his commandments his seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the upright shall be blessed answerable to this I call to mind a passage told me by a Reverend Minister in London who knew a poor and pious Preacher in Wiltshire who had many Children and little to maintain them one askt him how he thought they could shift when he was gone he answered I am not at all afraid of that I am more afraid of them when they shall ride up and down London streets in their Coaches which came to pass for some of them came to be Aldermen of that Famous City our frequent experience confirms this truth what care God takes of his upright-hearted Servants Seed when they are laid in the dust let us take holy David's Experiment Psal 37.25 I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread If there have been some few exceptions these yet do not destroy the truth of a general proposition howbeit temporal promises were more express and positive to the Jews of old than to christians in Gospel-times which consists more in spirituals But this will remain a truth that Children of Godly Parents are usually provided for comfortably even in things that concern this life if it tends to Gods glory and their good and if God see it good in his Infinite Wisdom which limitations must always be annexed to temporal promises but if they be poor defamed sick in prisons banished yet all these work together for their good Rom. 8.28 CHAP. VI. An Answer to an Objection against the premises THE third general head in the Doctrinal part is an answer to a main objection which is this Object You have produced many promises as branches of the Gospel-covenant that the children of godly Parents shall have converting Grace that God the Father Son and Holy Ghost shall be theirs are heirs of Gospel Priviledges shall be sanctified be useful instruments in the Church shall own their profession with an holy conversation if they wander God will reduce them bless Parents instructions corrections take care of their outward concerns c. Now do we not see by daily observation the clean contrary to all these how many worthy Ministers have had worthless sons how many worthless Children are there of gracious Parents nay do we not see some Children of Godly Parents miscarry more than others of their carnal civil neighbours more proud scorners of Godliness companions of Drunkards Swearers Debaucht persons that have proved a great dishonour to God scandal to Religion grief to Godly and Heart-breaking to their Parents yea have so prejudiced the Spirits of wicked men that they say this Religion is but a fancy praying so much is needless and what 's become of the Covenant you so much boast of Nay have we not seen some Children of Godly Parents live and dye visibly graceless under tokens of Gods Wrath yea hastning their death by intemperance and overmuch wickedness How is this consistent with all that you have spoken How is God true to his Covenant This is a sad truth and cannot be denied and an awful consideration and possibly hath staggered the Faith of some and strengthened the hands of some wicked against the power of Godliness and is too palpable an observation to be denied But yet I hope to clear this tremendous providence from the holy Scriptures by propounding these seven considerations 1. Some of the Children of Gods People can set their seal to Gods faithfulness in the Covenant made to their Parents and their Seed this clears Gods truth and the goodness of Religion I doubt not but some Children of the Covenant can speak the language of Solomon in 1 Kin. 8.23 24. Lord God of Israel there is no God like unto thee who keepest Covenant and Mercy with thy Servants that walk before thee with all their heart who hast kept with thy Servant David my Father that thou promisedst him thou spakest also with thy mouth and hast fulfill'd it with thine hand as it is this day will not some stand forth and say I bless God for Godly Parents my Soul hath found the benefit of their Prayers and fruit of Gods Promise I prefer this charter to all earthly priviledges let others say their pleasure I will for ever adore Free-grace that brought me forth under so good a Covenant it 's better to me than to be born of a Royal Race and being Heir to a Crown he is my God Exod. 15.2 and I will prepare him an habitation my Fathers God and I will exalt him and cannot some Parents say 2 Sam. 7.19 God hath spoken well of his servants house for a great while to come behold I see the buds of Grace in this or that Child and a saving growing work in another blessed be Free-grace I can hold forth this token for good against all the
cavils of prophane Spirits and against my own unbelieving fears 2. God never forsakes the Children of Godly Parents till they forsake him poor Children run away from God before he turn them off 1 Chron. 28.9 If thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever If Solomon or any other Child or Children of a Godly Father put on a Cloak of Religion to please Parents or accomplish a carnal end while they live and cast off Religion and perversly turn their backs on God and embrace wicked ways without true Repentance they have discharged God of his performing promise because they have voluntarily descarded the condition on their part now at ripe age when they are fit to make a choice it 's a voluntary act proceeding from their own wilfulness John 5.40 You will not come unto me and then it becomes a judicial act in God to forsake them because they first forsook him and neither they nor their Parents can find fault with God for withdrawing from them that Grace they abused which he is not bound to give them 3. Parents have no reason to challenge God for non-performance of the terms of the Covenant but themselves for their neglect of duty to their Children this is ordinarily the reason of their Childrens miscarriage even godly Parents are too apt to miss it by over fondness and negligence in their education not admonishing counselling correcting them David had been too indulgent to Adonijah in not crossing him and doubtless his Conscience flew in his Face upon his Ambition this is a plain case good Eli honoured his sons above God 1 Sam. 2.29 by permitting them to dishonour him chusing rather to offend God by connivance at their sin than displease them by severe rebukes effectual restraints and severe punishments for as a Father and as a Magistrate he ought to have curbed them therefore God saith I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth of because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not Oh what privy nips do the Consciences of Parents give them when their Children grow up and take not good ways alas I sinned against God and now God leaves them to themselves I have no cause to censure God but condemn my self God is Righteous their sin is a Glass to see my own Lord humble me and convince them oh pardon my iniquity that I may pray believingly for my Seed 4. God may pass by the immediate off-spring of his faithful Children and work upon their more remote posterity Free grace sometimes runs under ground for a season and breaks out at a distance an immediate Son is bad but grace layes hold on a Grandson Jehoshaphat was a good man 2 Chron. 20.32 But Jehoram his Son proved bad 2 Chron. 21.6 Yea Ahaziah his Son walked in the ways of the house of Ahab 2 Chron. 22.3 4. Vzziah did right in the sight of the Lord 2 Chron. 26.4 And Jotham his Son 2 Chron. 27.2 6. But had a bad Son Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.1 2. Yet Electing love broke out again in good Hezekiah 2 Chron. 29.2 But it lay dormant for a considerable time and laid not hold of Manasseh 2 Chron. 33.2 Yea some think his forc'd Repentance was not sincere and saving however the grace of God withdrew from Amon his Son 2 Chron. 33.20 But laid hold on good Josiah his Son 2 Chron. 34.2 You see how grace skips and leaps over the head of one and lays its hand upon another yea sometimes it crosseth hands and as Jacob guided his hands wittingly laying his right hand on Ephraim and his left hand on Manasseh Gen. 48.14 20. setting the younger before the Elder contrary to Josephs desire and design Thus God crosseth our natural affections and expectations blessing such as we least thought of and leaving others that our hearts were most set upon to convince us of the freeness of his grace But thus his Covenant doth stand sure 5. Delays are no denials God hath his time to bring in the Prodigal Sons of pious Parents nullum tempus occurrit Regi the King of Heaven can take what time he pleaseth to work on hearts Saul shall long persecute the Church yet become a chosen vessel it 's worth observing that the Children of many godly Parents sowed their wild Oats in youth even godly Jacob was guilty of many faults stealing the blessing by a lye Several of Jacobs Sons had foul spots Ruben and Judah were guilty of Incest Simeon and Levi of rash Anger Treachery Murder yet all godly Patriarchs Several combining out of envy to sell Joseph Whereby they broke their Father Jacob's honest heart but let not godly Parents make too hasty conclusions He that believes makes not haste It may be God defers to hear because he loves your company and would make you an Errand to the throne of grace your Prayers are yet too cold he thinks fit to quicken importunity the Answer will come double loaden and pay for all your pains and patience give God the glory of his wisdom he knows how to husband your mercies better than you it 's worth observing that those Women in Sacred Writ that waited longest for Children had the best as Sarah Rebecca Rachel Hannah Manoahs Wife and Elizabeth Be not preposterous you may see Gods Salvation before you die 6. If God never shews mercy to your seed you must not so much murmur at his Justice as adore his Soveraignty he is absolute disposer of his own grace such an act of Prerogative may be admired must not be questioned The Apostle Paul having waded as far as Scripture led him into the unfathomable Abyss of God's casting of the Covenanted seed of believing Abraham and adopting the forlorn and forsaken Gentiles stands on the bank of that Ocean and cries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Ro. 11.33 how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out The immensity and ineffability of these counsels are such depths as he saith in Job 32.13 He giveth not account of any of his matters They are oft unaccountable but never unrighteous Kings have Arcana Imperij misteries of State not fit to be communicated to vulgar capacities And much more the infinit God Deut. 29.29 secret things belong to God It 's presumption to pry into Gods Ark our weak eyes cannot behold this glorious Sun poor sinner down on thy knees and say thus to God Lord I will rather adimire the riches of thy grace to my own Soul than quarrel with thee for not giving my Child grace It is an abstruse and inscrutable depth my humble Ignorance or nescience shall stop at thy pleasure my will shall be melted into thy will if my seed must glory in thy Justice I will acquiesce therein and say though clouds and darkness are round about thee yet righteousness and judgment are
the habitations of thy throne Psal 97.2 7. Yet for all this Religion must be owned and vindicated God is good to the Soul that seeks him Isa 45.9 to the Soul that waits for him He never said to the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain Lam. 3.25 If God never shew mercy to any of my seed yet I will never justifie the wicked by saying It 's in vain to serve God Mal. 3.14 No God forbid Il wil never say that prayerless Families are as good as praying Families my own experience and thousands more besides the infallible verity of the faithful God Psal 19.11 will contradict that Atheistical Maxim in the keeping Gods commandments I have found great reward Yea I have found that the miscarriage of my Child which is the greatest cross that ever I met with hath been blessed for the good of my Soul as the good Woman said bearing my Children and my crosses have cost me dear but I could not be without either it 's not fit I should chuse my affliction and what God lays on is welcome and I will like Christ no worse for his Cross for I find these bitter Waters most medicinal and the sweetest fruit grows on this bitter Tree the badness of my Child hath helpt to make me better this heart-breaking hath proved an heart melting it 's true wicked men are hardened by seeing the Children of the Covenant thus miscarry even as divisions Mat. 10.34 35. 2 Cor. 2.14 and offences amongst Gods people are occasions of their ruine yea the Gospel-preaching is the savour of Death to some but as God is just therein to them so my Soul hath cause to bless the Physitian of Souls that so tempers this poison as to make it wholesome Physick to my poor Soul my crosses are better than their comforts I will commend Religion though I mourn over my irreligious Child Godliness is gain though I gain not Grace for my Child by it CHAP. VII An Vse of Conviction and Humiliation ALL the improvement I shall make of this point shall be 1. Of Conviction 2. Exhortation 1. Of Conviction if this be true that notwithstanding the sins and sufferings in a godly mans family which occasion much grief to his Spirit yet he is comforted and satisfied in Gods gracious Gospel-covenant Then it follows by the rule of contraries that those Families that have no right to this Gospel-covenant are in a woful state have no grounds of comfort satisfaction no hopes of Salvation so remaining they are not under a blessing but under a curse Prov. 3.33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked the Plague is in that house set a cross on that door and say Lord have mercy upon it wicked families read your doom and train of curses in Deut. 28.15 16 17 18 19. you make great reckoning of your estates alas there 's no Covenant blessing in any thing you have they are in themselves great blessings of God but to you they are cursed Mat. 2.2 If you will not hear and if ye will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name saith the Lord of Hosts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not lay it to heart it 's a dreadful flaming text against impenitent inconsiderate sinners not only their persons but all their domestick concerns are under a curse your meat money houses wives children garments imployments injoyments all that you do all that you have shall be accursed this is an heavy case a grounded curse by man lyes long and lights sadly upon Successors Noah pronounced a curse on Cham's off-spring Gen. 9.25 which never left them till it rooted out the Canaanites by Shem's Posterity The subject is large and astonishing I shall say something 1. To Irreligious Parents 2. To Irreligious Children 1. There are some Parents within the bounds of the visible Church that 1. Understand not this Covenant never set themselves to consider it they bring their Infants to be baptized in a custom because others do so and it would be a shame not to have them Christened Neighbours would cry out against them but they neither know the meaning of Baptism nor Covenant nor have they any mind to know them 2. Take no pains to get their own Souls interested in this Covenant Eph. 2.12 but are strangers from the Covenants of Promise and so have no hope for themselves or seed we find great fault with prodigal Parents that imbezel and alienate their Ancestors Inheritance that should have descended to their Children but it 's a thousand times worse for Parents to cut off this blessed entail of the Gospel-covenant 3. Most are negligent in doing their duty to Children alas how few will take pains to instruct them in the principles of Religion the nature use ends of the Seals of the Covenant in praying for them as if there were no such text in the Bible or they had never made such a promise Eph. 6.4 to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Ah! wretched Father Mother out of your own mouth are you condemned that promise what you never intend to perform how notoriously do you falsifie your promise betray your trust 4. There are too too many Parents that are scandalous prophane atheistical and teach their young ones to lye swear be drunk unclean by the evil example they set before them A Child brought up with Plato coming home hearing his father in a furious passion could say I never saw or heard the like in Plato Alas sirs you lessen your esteem with your Children by sinful courses you bring guilt upon your family yea you do your endeavour to root out your family The seed of the wicked shall be cut off Psal 37.28 The whole Psalm and daily experience testifies the same Hab. 2.10 Ah sinner thou hast consulted shame to thy house and some generations hence may reap the fruits of thy folly The text saith he will visit the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate him Exod. 20.5 There are some hereditary sins and some hereditary punishments bequeathed as an heritage to their Children Divines vindicate Gods Justice in proving that God may righteously punish sins of Relations in their correlates Filij sunt res Parentum for Children say some are portions of Parents as people are the riches and good of Princes yea they have in them aliquid parentis something of the Parent they are pieces of them So David was punished in his Childs death But I shall not spend more time in this point because somuch is said by many others How can you see your Children damned in Hell through your default How can you hear their cries and see their torments in that Infernal Lake gnashing their Teeth and roaring with Flames about their Ears saying
exercise Repentance and enquire what sin he is now punishing you for thus you may make a virtue of necessity Your defect of Children may prove an increase of your graces But take heed of despising the blessing or taking occasion of revelling away your Estates that 's an extream one way as penuriousness is unreasonable in you on the other hand both are sins to be avoided and mortified study Col. 3.5 Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness Inordinate Affection Evil Concupisence and Covetousness which is Idolatry Away with all licentious practises live Chastly modestly moderately humbly diligently in both callings 3. Adopt some to be a Child or Children to you if you be persons of any Estates this is Mr. Paul Bains advice they must saith he not revel with their Substance nor must they live like idle persons and busy-bodies for want of this imployment but they must save the matter of their Estate and depute some as Adopted Children and be helpful in Educating others Thus he Adoption hath been used in all civilized nations and it is In alienam familiam transitus A passing legally out of one Family into another And amongst the Romans it was Aut per praetorium aut per populum That which was done by the Proetors was called Adoption That which was done by the People was called Arrogation They had many formalities about it needless here to be recounted But by this means you may have children whom you may account as your own you rich men that God hath denied the fruit of your bodies to have you no near kinsmen or poor neighbours to whom God hath granted a lovely off-spring surely it would be acceptable both to God them and your selves to pick out an ingenuous child help him to learning train him up for God bequeath your Estates to make an Experiment of him while you live So may you have comfort of him and he may bear up your name Do good with your Estate and be serviceable in Church and Commonwealth I know some rich men grudg and envy any that are likely to enter into their labours but as their glory will not descend after them so usually those Estates do no good when they are gone Psal 49.17 Eccl. 2.19 For who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool that shall have rule over his labour 4. Take more time and pains for the good of your own Souls and lay out your selves for the good of others if you be unmarried study that Text 1 Cor. 7.33 35. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord how he may please the Lord. Not that married persons have a Supersedeas or Quietus est from Soul-concerns But the un-married have a more leisure and fairer opportunity for immediate acts of Devotion Married persons have some divertisements in themselves lawful which un-married are free from The Married may have numerous Children and so have many distractions which Childless persons are not intangled in and so may Vacare Deo be more at leisure for God or as the word is attend on the Lord without distraction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sit close to the Lord without Disjunction Indivisâ cum domino conjunctione vivatur like the faithful servants who depart not from their Masters side O happy souls who have an heart and leisure to keep so close to God! You have more time than others see your feet and hands and heart run parallel Your opportunities are double to others Let your improvement be doubled You have no children to lay up for Lay out the more for God He expects more from you than from others You have no children to maintain Honour the Lord with your substance Prov. 3.9 Buy Bibles and Catechisms for poor Children Maintain them at School Relieve the poor Incourage a Gospel Ministry Give the tenth part at least of your yearly incomes to charitable Uses Let your own hands be your Executors Trust not others when you are dead For as it is no thanks to you to bequeath Legacies when you are forced to leave all so you know not how they will be imbezelled or disbursed Besides you lose the opportunity of shewing your charitable Disposition Living Springs send forth streams liberally Dead Pits afford nothing but what is drawn out with Buckets Watch and catch at Objects and occasions of doing good Spare upon your selves but be liberal in good uses Let your Superfluities give way to your Brothers Conveniencies Your Conveniencies to his Necessities Yea your Necessities must go to supply his Extremities Fear not wanting your selves You put all into a good Bank Dare you not trust God upon his Bills of Return Promises If you lend to the Lord doubtless he will repay Do you fear the Alsufficient God will turn Bankrupt Consult the Experiences of Gods servants and see if the Jewish Proverb have not proved true Decima ut dives fias Pay Tythes that thou mayest be rich Remember what our Lord saith Luke 6.38 Give and it shall be given you good measure pressed down shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosomes CHAP. IX An Exhortation to Parents to have their Children within the blessed Covenant I Have dispatched the three first Exhortations 4. The last concerns all Parents to do their endeavour to the uttermost to bring their Children and leave them under this Covenant Alas What signifies your leaving them great Estates Hundreds a Year or Thousands of Gold and Silver in comparison of this David was a King and his many Sons Noble Princes and Solomon one of the most glorious Monarchs that ever the Sun saw so that it became a Proverb Solomon in all his glory Mat. 6.29 2 Chro. 11.15 Laurence Saunder writ to his Wife Riches I have none to endow you with but that treasure of tasting How sweet Christ is which I feel I bequeath to you Fox Mon. And David left him in peaceable possession of the Kingdom and the Lord magnified him exceedingly Yet all this did not cheer up dying Davids heart so much as this blessed Covenant That 's but a carnal heart that can brag of what treasures of worldly riches he leaves his children The gracious soul would rather bequeath a promise to them than all the wealth of the Indies Zenophon tells us that one being asked Where 's your Treasure He answered him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where Cyrus my friend is Much more may a Christian say Christ is my Friend and my All. Oh that I could leave him in the bosom of my dear Child That is the height of my Ambition to have my Children gracious and glorified As an honest Minister said If I may but see the fear of God in my Children Satis habeo satisque mihi uxori filiis filiabus perspexi I have enough and my self Wife Sons Daughters are all well provided for I need no more Oh! that God would set Parents hearts towards the Covenant
save to the uttermost Heb. 12.6 Jam. 1.6 7. all that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the uttermost i. e. to the utmost extent of the Covenant-grant yea saist thou I believe his ability but I question my right coming therefore 2. There is a particular persuasion that God will grant this request Ergo for this child or in this case 't is true sometimes the Lord doth impress this upon the Spirit with power that this Mercy shall be granted this Child shall be Converted but this is not necessary for the obtaining of the Mercy a godly Soul may want faith to believe the issue of his Prayer and yet be heard as you see in David Psal 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes Mark it he had no particular faith for his preservation yet he prayed still nevertheless Saith he Thou heardest the voyce of my supplication when I cryed unto thee Observe it the want of his Faith hindred not the fruit of his Prayer nor will it do of thine 2. What ailes thee to follow so hard after God Is it not a principle of Faith Hast thou not laid hold on Gods Covenant for thine own Soul What means that frequent renewing of thy Covenant with the Lord in taking God to be thy God chiefest Good and utmost End and thy dedicating thy all to the Lord This shews thou art in Covenant for this is the Essence of saving Faith and thy being so much concerned for thy Seed declares plainly thy being in Covenant Thou goest daily to the Lord in earnest pleadings for thy Children and wilt not be beat off like the foresaid woman though one while he answers not another while he gives discouraging answers And is not this sincere faith Our Lord accounted it so in the woman that weathered out so many affronts in her importunate pleas And are not thy motions still more vigorous Poor soul thou art following the Lord with tears sighs and groans for thy wandring Child saying still Mar. 9.24 Lord I believe help thou my unbelief I will still express my desires of Grace for my child or children nothing else shall serve my turn Civility will not please me nor profit them without Sanctity I am not satisfied with Gifts without Grace Common Grace without Saving Grace Carnal men are well content to see their Children Witty Ingenious Industrious and likely to thrive in the World good Husbands notable Tradesmen and likely to come to preferment But oh my Lord thou knowest my breathings I look further My soul longs for a principle of Grace and a Portion in another World This is all my desire and all my Salvation Yea you 'l say But I am afraid I offend God by being too importunate Who can tell whether my Child be Elected and if not it 's in vain to pray I cannot alter Gods Decree Deut. 29.29 I Answer The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things that are revealed belong unto us and to our Children for ever that we may do all the words of this Law You must not make Gods hidden Councels but his holy Scriptures the Rule of your Prayers 1 Tim. 2.4 God saith he will have all men saved Thus his Will is manifested and I told you the Warrant you have to believe and pray for the Children of the Covenant and you cannot be too importunate so as you do not limit the Holy One of Israel and as longas there is life there is hope Therefore continue your Prayers the term of your natural life unless God take you off by some remarkable Providence I knew a very gracious zealous woman many years ago who was weeping and wrestling with God in an Out-house in the night for the precious Soul of her Prodigal Son who was now fallen sick and upon his Death bed and while she was groaning out her soul with tears and strong cryes she thought she heard a voyce saying to her Be content what I have done I have done She rose off her knees could not speak a word more went away quieted and upon enquiry found that her Son breathed out his last breath at that very instant in a Town two miles thence I am not credulous of such Storys but have great reason to believe the truth of it yet the instance is singular However this is a truth that God shuts up the Spirit of Prayer when he doth not intend to hear a good Woman so God had never denyed what she had asked of God in Prayer One objected a child of hers dying she replyed it's true but I could never Pray for that Child Gods assistings or withdrawings often portend the event But 't is safest for us to suspect some fault in our Persons or Prayers if God do not hear us for our Children therefore it becomes us to search our Consciences and Conversations to find out the Sin confess it beg a pardon in the Blood of Christ and Mortify it and then Pray say as Divine Herbert's Church Lock and Key I know it is my Sin which locks thine ears and binds thy hands Out-crying my requests drowning my tears Or else the chilness of my faint demands But as cold hands are angry with the Fire and mend it still So I do lay the want of my desire Not on my Sins or coldness but thy will Yet hear Oh God! only for his bloods sake which pleads for me For though sins plead too yet like stones they make His bloods sweet current much more loud to be The End
who dictated them 1. The Penman or Instrument David is described these four ways 1. By his natural descent the Son of Jesse 2. By his Royal Dignity raised up on high 3. By his Divine Unction anointed of God 4. By his Employment Exercise sweet-Psalmist of Israel whose breath is sweet to this Day 2. The Authour that dictated to David Viz. 1. The Holy Ghost Spirit spake by me Viz. 2. God the Father the God of Israel Viz. 3. Jesus Christ the Mediator of the Covenant called here the Rock of Israel as he is called 1 Cor. 10.4 2. In the Temple or the Matter David speaks are also two things considerable 1. The nature of David's Regiment 2. The Excellency of the Covenant For the former which unfolds to us the nature and properties of David's Kingdom as the type and of Christs as the Antitype in four particulars 1. The holiness of it he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God a brave character 2. The happiness of it he shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun riseth a morning without clouds 3. The fruitness of it as the tender grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain 4. Here 's an uncomfortable exception with reference to David's Family and Kingdom in these words Although my house be not so with God 2. Here 's an Excellent description of the nature properties and suitableness of the Gospel-Covenant in these four particulars Viz. 1. The dureableness of it Everlasting 2. The orderliness of it Ordered 3. The sureness certainty of it 4. The suitableness to David as to his 1. Present desires in this World 2. Eternal Salvation hereafter You see the Text is a full store house a rich treasury a blessed Magazine whence we may fetch both meat and medicine food and physick work and reward all things that concern grace and glory 1. The Text then presents to us David's case and 2. Cure 1. His Case is presented negatively Although my house be not so with God 2. His Cure positively which is the Covenant that 's a Salve for all Sores a Remedy for all Maladies a Supply for all Wants I am not ignorant that some carry the sense thus Although my house be not so with God i. e. my house is not such an unstable inconstant thing to alter and change as the Weather from a glorious Sun-shine morning to a dark cloudy gloomy evening so it may prove a stormy rainy day no no my House and Family is fixed setled splendid and compleat if not in my outward affairs at present yet in the Messiah to come out of my Loynes in the fulness of time his Kingdom will appear and shine most gloriously and break in pieces all other Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever so you read Dan. 2.44 But though that be a great truth I am apt to incline to those Interpreters that take this as a concession concerning the defects and imperfection of Piety and Tranquillity in David's Family q. d. I must needs confess that neither I nor my Children have lived so exactly or ruled so uprightly in the fear of God as we ought we have had our faults and folly which have clouded our Consciences and Reputation and therefore have not injoyed such uninterrupted prosperity as we might had we walked more closely and exactly and therefore sad Clouds and Storms have darkened and disturbed our Heaven yea oft benighted our state domestical political ecclesiastical as well as personal my Children have not been like tender Grass springing up to maturity but some of them cut off in the prime of their days I have been banisht from my Throne and family not suffered to build God an House nor abide in his Sanctuary my wounded Spirit hath sighed out many heavy groans God hath oft with-drawn his Grace hid his Face and left my Soul on the brink of hellish despair yet for all this I can in my lowest ebbs cast my Eye upon the Gospel-Covenant and fetch relief from that in my lowest state inward or outward Many Doctrines may be drawn out of this large and full Text. Doctrine 1. That it 's a singular mercy to be be trusted with a Family This is implied and owned by David in 1 Chron. 17.16 25. God setteth the solitary in Families Psal 68.6 Doct. 2. House-holders must make inspection into their Families So doth David here and Psal 101.2 3. he had a large Family State-affairs on his hands yet prays with his Family 2 Sam. 6.20 puts it not off to Stewards or Chaplains See Prov. 27.23 Doct. 3. A Religious Family is to be with God Although my House be not so with God he earnestly desires all the members of his Family might be with God laments the contrary for the Lord is with them that are with him 2 Chron. 15.2 Doct. 4. The best Families have their defects and imperfections David's Family for all his care may be far from the rule not only as to individual members but as to the complex body of a Family there were disorders even in Christs own Family Doct. 5. Family-faults bring family plagues family-defects produce family-afflictions God will not spare sinning families though dear to him nay they shall smart soonest and sorest Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the families of the Earth therefore I will punish you Doct. 6. Family-miscarriages do greatly trouble gracious house-holders He speaks of it with sad resentment Oh what bitterness is it to a godly Father Master to find disorders in such as are under his charge Doct. 7. The Covenant of Grace is extensive and comprehensive The godly have much comfort and content in it with reference not only to themselves but their houses and families Doct. 8. The Covenant of Grace is Everlasting It is from all Eternity in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt Father and Son Tit. 1.1 2. and endures for ever Psal 111.9 Doct. 9. There is a comely and admirable order in the Gospel-Covenant An order of persons in the Fathers Election Sons Redemption Holy Ghosts Application believers reception An order of things supream subordinate causes means instruments promises priviledges principles and practices all keep their places they do not interfere or thwart each other Doct. 10. The Gospel-covenant is sure and stable Things are not left at uncertainties nor depend on the mutable Will of Man as of old it was with Adam but they are the sure Mercies of David Isa 55.2 and 54.9 10. Doct. 11. There 's that in the Covenat that answers a Christian's desires As the Christians desire is mainly carried to it so there is that in it which answers and satisfies those desires desires are vast and immense but the contents of the Covenant run parallel and are every way adequate to just desires Doct. 12. A Christians Salvation is wrapt up in the Gospel covenant Upon this may a Child of God venture his Soul Eternal Life is contained and comprehended in it I wave