vp vnto a greater diligence and carefulnesse towardes their children and chiefly when they did heare the instruction and vertuous education of children so earnestly commaunded of God which when it is rightly taught setteth foorth the glorie of God excéedingly and is most necessarie and profitable as wel to the common wealth generally yea as also to all families perticularly Wherefore as I haue often sayde héeretofore so I now say againe that diligent care and regard is to be had about this first age which the porche and entraunce of life sheweth it selfe as it were a certeine platforme and frame or whole building of the yeares following Theophilus For that you haue so diligently dissolued this doubt and so plainly declared and made manifest this question vnto vs we haue to reioyce and giue you hartie thankes If I remember wel the matter going before you proued by the testimonies of godly learned men that PareÌ„ts run in great daunger which shal not bring vp and chasten their children vertuously and carefully albeit they them selues shal leade a godly and vertuous life And because this your opinion seemeth somewhat obscure and darke I would haue you make it more plaine vnto vs. Theodidactus This doubt is easily discussed if we will giue credite to the holy scriptures For if the lord God doth require the blood at the hand of the watchmam for that he will not shew vnto his neighbour his offence and trespasse that hée might be conuerted vnto the Lorde How much rather will the Lorde God require the blood of children at the hands of those Parents which wil not declare and shew the wayes of God vnto their owne children and when they offend and wander a stray will not reduce and bring them againe into the right way and chasten their offences Theophilus Out of this place of Ezechiel it is said the Father shal beare the sinne of the childe The same Prophet saith The sonne shal not beare the sinne of his father And contrarily The Father saith hee shal not beare the iniquitie of the sonne I would be glad to heare of you how these places are to be vnderstood Theodidactus Parents shal take héed diligently that they liue godly among their children and family and that they bring them vp in the feare and the information of the Lorde and a greater patrimonie than this can they not leaue vnto them But if they them selues shall liue vngodly and their children shall commit the lyke wickednesse receiued from them they them selues shall not only be accursed but also their children shall inherite the curse of their Parentes Not that the children if they repent doe beare the sinnes of their Parentes but that whereas the same wickednesse is and shall bée committed of the father and the sonne there it must néedes be that there shall be a lyke punishment of the vngodlinesse And the Lorde sayeth Exod. 20. I am the Lorde thy God a mightie and a iealous God visiting the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and foorth generation of those that hate mée c. In these wordes Parents and children doe heare that Parents ought to take great héed that they sin not against God that their children also learn not to sin so of God be remoued destroied froÌ„ their posterities ChildreÌ„ ought not to deride offend their pareÌ„ts lest they and their posterities be accursed euen as Cham was accursed Therefore this saying the father shall not beare the iniquitie of the childe thou shalt vnderstande it after this maner The father that shal liue godly and without fault before his children and shal prouide that they may be vertuously and godly trayned vp and instructed then if the sonne will not obey the godly instruction and counsell of his Parentes then hée shall not beare the iniquitie of his childe But if the Parent shall not diligently carefully performe his duetie hée shal beare his childes offences the Lord wil require the blood of the childe at his hand For not to teach and informe his childe in the wayes of God is great wickednesse neither can the holie Ghost dwell or haue any perfect working in y t man where there is so great impietie for true faith inuocation of God must néedes be farre from such a one and the Lorde doeth detest and abhorre him Theophilus Surely Parentes if they bee wise they wil studie and indeuour to efâ—hue this sinne and great offence with al regard and care lest they get and purchase vnto them selues and their children the great wrath and indignation of Almightie God Theodidactus Although simply and in plaine woordes children are not saide to beare the iniquities of their fathers yet are they punished with â—ore plagues with death it selfe for the offences of their fathers which I will make manifest and apparant vnto you by many places of the scripture In Gen. 7. Moyses witnesseth saying The wrath of God doeth not only destroy the men and women but also litle children and infantes yea God doth destroy also the childe yet vnborne for the horrible wickednesse committed of their elders and forefathers Moreouer there was none but Noe with his family that loued and feared God and therefore through his Almightie power they were preserued all the rest perished with the floude In like maner it happened vnto the Sodomites which verie long with their horrible wickednesse prouoked vpon them selues the wrath of God and woulde not obey the voice of GOD vttered by that godly man Loth. Wherfore they were all miserably consumed yea the verie infants which yet had not offended Numeri 16. Sub pedibus Lorach Dathan Abiron dirupta est terra aperiens os suum deuorauit eos cum tabernaculis suis vniuersa substantia eorum c. The grounde cloue a sunder that was vnder them and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them vp with their houses and all their substance and all those that perteined vnto them so that the very infants did not escape but they all went down aliue vnto Hell and the earth closed vpon them and they perished from among the congregation And all Israell that were about them fled at their crie and said let vs be gone least the earth swallowe vs also In the booke of Iosue 6. The infants are also gréeuously punished for the offences of their fathers and elders as it is said They tooke their Citie and slue all that were in the same from the man euen to the woman and from the infant vnto the hore head Were not the sonnes and daughters of Acham and all their shéepe and oxen burnt and consumed for their theft Aman that most cruell enimie of the people of God by commandement of the king was hanged neither did hée himselfe only suffer the punishment of his tyrannie but also his tenne sonnes were al killed and hanged Darius the king commaunded them to bée throwne vnto Lions to
and neighbourhood amongest men Theodidactus O my Theophile there is nothing truer then this your iudgement which also may bée confirmed and prooued by many reasons and Argumentes and also by dayly experience it â—elfe For whosoeuer hath children not altogether foolishe and vnapt for the studie of the holy Scriptures and good letters and doeth not commit them to a skilfull teacher and instructer they doe most gréeuously offende they diminishe and take away the glory of GOD they spoyle the Churche of Apostles Ministers Pastors and Preachers and of other profitable and most necessary giftes For who so doth neither teache his sonne him selfe nor cause hym to bée taught and instructed of others setteth a great window wide open vnto the Diuell to put in practise any kinde of wickednesse hee prouideth to establishe the kingdome of Satan by any meanes giuing occasion to disturbe the kingdome of Christe and in the meane time doeth miserably deliuer into bondage and subiection of the Diuell himselfe the soules of very many For if we shall haue no preachers and teachers then of necessitie it must néedes followe that men shall fall euery where in moste pestilent errors and detestable heresies True faith the worde of God and true worshipping of God shall altogether bée confounded of the false faith superstition and false worshipping and séeme almost to bée vanquished and ouercome Furthermore the common wealth by this meanes doth receiue great ditriment perill danger and incurable plagues and punishments So that neither the Turke nor the Diuell himselfe can bring in or deuise so great perils sieightes and mischiefes to mankinde as hée which shall not set his sonne to the Schole being any thing apt to learning What can bée more pernicious what more pestilent what more cruell then such a Father Surely the Lorde God before whose eies all thinges are manifest will gréuously punish such a negligent and carelesse father without al doubt for suche negligence most hurtfull and dangerous to all mankinde which God who is a iust iudge shall not suffer to escape vnauenged Theophilus As farre as I can gather of your wordes children can scarsely haue a more wicked and cruel enimie then those Parents which doe not rightly discharge their duetie Theodidactus You haue hit the nayle on the head as they say The Iewes haue offered their children to Diuels Pharao and Herode were most cruell and tyrannous towards children and infants but parents which neglect their dueties in bringing vp their children or which doe corrupt and spoyle them that is to say doe not teache them the knowledge feare and loue of God are farre more cruell and outragious enimies For Pharao and Herod only destroyed the bodies of y â— infants young childreÌ„ but these destroy both body and soule And Erasmus teacheth in a certaine place that they are more brutish fierce cruel then they which throw out their young infants into any wood to be deuoured of wild beasts whose words be these Non satis est inquit filios genuisse ditasse nisi accedat diligens educatio parentes nec sibi nec filiis satisfaciunt Leges in eos seuiunt qui faetus suos exponunt in nemus aliqâ—od obiiciunt feris deuorandis at nullum crudelius exponendi genus quà m quod natura dedit optimis rationibus ad honesta fingendum id beluinis affectibus tradere It is not sufficient saieth hee to beget children and to make them rich except you ioyne therunto diligent and carefull education for otherwise parents neither doe good to themselues nor to their children The lawes are cruell vpon them which destroy their children and cast them in some wood to be deuoured with wilde beastes but there is no kind of destroying more cruell than looke what thing nature hath giuen to bee framed and facioned after a due fourme vnto honest and vertuous thinges to teach and bring vp the same in beastly affections If there were any woman of Thessalia which were able with her Witchcraftes and Sorceries and woulde endeuour and practise to transforme thy Childe into a Swyne Woolfe or other Beast wouldest thou not thinke her woorthie to suffer anye kinde of extréeme torment And looke what thing thou doest hate and detest in her thou thy selfe doest stâ—â—â—e by all possible meanes to bring it to passe thy selfe And Saynte Chrysostome sayeth Patres qui liberorum modestiam temperantiam negligunt liberorum sunt interfectores atque hoc grauiores acerbiores quod haec sit animi perditio mors Fathers which haue no care nor regarde to teache their children modestie temperaunce and suche like vertues are Killers and Mutherers of their owne Children and so muche the more horrible and cruell because this is the destruction and death both of minde and soule Theophilus Nowe I haue heard this I cannot sufficiently maruell neyther can I comprehend by any reason or imagination from whence in those which notwithstanding reioyce exceedingly to be called fathers such crueltie great vncurtesie doeth arise and growe Theodidactus It is indéede an horrible crueltie to kill and murder an Infant but it is a farre greater and more detestable and pernicious wickednesse not to instruct nor to chasten a Childe for not to teache and instruct children is vtterly to ouerthrow the Church of GOD and the foundation of all our Christian Religion because the whole force of the Catholicke Churche consisteth in the succession of our posterities which if they bee neglected in their young and tender yéeres become like vnto a Garden which in the spring time is not digged wéeded sowen and trimmed For where there is nothing sowen there is like to bée nothing reaped but Weedes Thissels and Bryers And héerein with mee also doeth Caâ—iodorus accord which sayeth Indigne transacta adâ—le sceÌ„tia odiosâ— efficit senectutâ— honestè ac sapieÌ„ter acta superior â—â—â—â— fructus capit authoritatis Quid autem senectus surripere valet in quo iâ—ueÌ„tus repreheÌ„sibilis Youth being passed ouer negligeÌ„tly vnworthily bringeth an odious and detestable olde age And the time or age past being honestly and wisely performed spent and passed ouer getteth and obtaineth the fruite and commoditie of great authoritie For what shall olde age bee able to get or challenge to it selfe in whom youth hath deserued al reproch and shame Theophilus Alas what incommodities doe you shew and declare vnto me what perils what dangers what calamities and miseries doth the smal regard and contempt of youth bring with it Theodidactus These calamities and detestable daungers doth Saint Chrisostome greatly deplore and lament saying Vnde damnis incommodis afficimur vnde casus varios vnde calumnias vnde malainnumera quotidie perpetimur Nonne quod filios nostros malos aspicimus eos emendare negligimus How commeth it to passe that we are so vexed and disquieted with losses and discommodities wherof commeth our diuers mishaps casualties and calamities what is the
moste iust Patriarch had thrée sonnes of the which one did degenerate from the pietie and godlinesse of his Parents that hée merited the cursse not onely on hymselfe but also of all his posteritie Iacob the Patriarch had twelue sonnes and but one only daughter neyther is it to bée doubted but that they were very well instructed of their Parents Notwithstanding 〈◊〉 returned home rauished his sonnes became inanquellers 〈◊〉 théeues and that of their owne brother What shall I say of Heli Samuel and Dauid whose godlinesse are abundantly commended in the holy Scriptures And this calamitie hath chaunced chiefly to noble and worthie personages so often as it were by a certain destenie that from thence hath risen this common Prouerbe Herorum filij noxae Of the noblest Parents the wickedest children haue proce 〈…〉 ed oftentimes And of the wisest the most fooles Therefore what shall Parents doe Shall they desist and leaue of their godly care of good and vertuous education God forbid For if children doe commit any sinnes or offences through the negligence of their Parentes the same offences before God shall not bée imputed only to the children but also to their Parents Therefore it is good for the Parents them selues that they diligently perfourme their dueties and that they bring vp their children as it is saide by 〈◊〉 and information in the Lorde And if their paynes a 〈…〉 uels shall take good effect and haue good successe and that 〈◊〉 children become vertuous and godly they shall account it their owne gaine and yéelde heartie thankes vnto God which hath so prospered their labours But if it shall fall out contrary to their expectation that crosse must bée borne paciently And parents ought to bée thankefull that they haue saued their owne soules For albeit this godly and painfull education and instructing of children hath gayned no profite to the children themselues yet doth it bring great and excéeding profite vnto parentes before the Lord our God Theophilus Seeing now almost all things haue beene handeled and declared which may seeme to appertaine vnto the dueties of godly fathers of families and maisters of housholdes Now it resteth that I intreat you also to shew vs how moderately paciently Christian parents ought to beare the death of their children For you shall finde many parents that take the death of their children very sorowfully and impaciently Theodidactus Examples of all times and ages doe testifie that the death of children is to bée borne and suffered with a good and pacient mind and this doeth manifestly appeare aswell by the Heathen writers as also by the holy Scriptures Wherefore Saint Paule playnely writeth that wee shoulde not mourne saying thus Non contristemini sicut caeteri qui spem non habent Be not sorowful as as others which haue no hope Moderate your mourning and doe not bewayle and lament for the dead after the manner of the Ethnickes or as the Saduces which haue no hope of the resurrection For the godly fathers doe knowe and are assured that their children die in the Lorde that they liue now with Christ in the heauens Wherfore they haue no cause to sorrow mourne and let them alwayes kéepe in remembraunce the example of Dauid the Prophet which with great wisedome no lesse patience suffered the death of his sonne Whom hee did not only loue for that he was his only sonne but because also he had begot him of Barfabe whom he loued dearly And as long as he knew that the childe was in grieuous sicknesse he besought God for the childe that hée woulde saue it hee fasted mourned and put on sackloth and â—â—ent in and lay downe vppon the earth and woulde not be comforted by any meanes But at the last when the childe was dead and that his scruauntes durst not tell him For they sayde beholde while the childe was yet aliue wée spake vnto him and hee woulde not hearken vnto our voyce Howe will hee then vexe himselfe if wee tell him that the childe is dead But Dauid perceiuing his Seruauntes whyspering and thought that the Childe was dead and sayde vnto them is the Childe dead They sayde yea And Dauid arose from the earth and washed and annoynted himselfe and changed his apparell and came into the house of the Lorde and woorshipped and after warde came to his owne house and bade that they shoulde prepare that he might eate Then sayde his Seruantes vnto him what thing is this that thou hast done Thou diddest fast and wéepe for the childe while it was aliue and assoone as it was dead thou didst rise vp leaue of thy mourning and did eate meate Hée sayde while the childe was yet aliue I fasted and wepte For this I thought who can tell whether GOD will haue mercie on mée that the Childe may liue But nowe seeyng it is dead wherefore shoulde I fast can I bring him agayne anie more I shall goe to him rather then hée shal come againe to me Héereuppon it came that mourning which profiteth the dead nothing at all grewe into a contempt among the godly that then were liuing and with this answere theÌ„ the which there could not bee founde a Wiser hée satisfied them all that were about him And also Saint Hierome sayeth Vir sapiens quum filium suum bonae indolis amittit non doleat quod talem perdiderit sed magis gaudeat quod talem habuerit A wise man wheÌ„ he loseth his sonne being vertuous and of verie good towardnesse doth not lament and mourne for that he hath lost such a one but rather reioyceth that he hath such a present to offer vnto the Lorde Theophilus These are notable worthie examples without doubt and very effectual medicines to temper moderate our vnmeasurable mourning and sorow of heart and mind conceiued by the death of our children Yet I beseech you if you haueÌ„ any other declare them vnto vs. Theodidactus With all myhearte Dion the sonne of Hipparinus one of Platoes disciples on a time whilest he was making an OratioÌ„ in a publike assembly his sonne fel down froÌ„ one of the loâ—ts on the pauements so finished his life preseÌ„tly Dion being therwithal nothing moued neither altred he his voyce nor changed his countenaunce but constantly coÌ„tinued procéeded in y e thing which he had takeÌ„ in hand The like we read of Anaxagoras who tooke the death of his children very constantly For when Clazomenâ—o had shewed him beeing in great earnest consultation with other that his two sonnes were dead hauing no moe he therwithal being nothing affrighted nor once mooued aunsweared the Messenger after this manner Sciui eos mortales natâ—â— esse I knowe they were borne to die But what shall wée saye of Pericles his constancie which when hee had lost all his children by a common infection and odious plague tooke their death very paciently And was the Author vnto the Athenians that
Deus est mundo hoc liberis Parentes esse arbitror Looke what God is vnto the worlde I iudge Parents to be the same thing to their children For as God made y ◠that was not to the ende it might appeare So they imitating his power as much as possible might be doe make an immortall generatiō and linage by their progenies Also it shal not a litle stirre vp the mindes of godly children to the loue of their Parentes if they shall rightly weigh and consider that neuer one of the commandements hath any singuler promise but only the 5. commandement For by the name of long life is not only vnderstood the cōtinuance of daies but also the tranquillitie and quietnesse of this corporall life But heere I am more full of wordes then the matter doth require For séeing that youth doe now vnderstand y ◠they receiue so great benefites frō their elders surely except they haue hearts more hard then the Adamant they woulde bee inflamed and incited by their owne accord vnto the honor and loue of their Parents should neede no spurres nor such prouocations and allurementes Theophilus It is very true my good Theodidactus For it were the partes of wise godly childrē willingly to be drawne to the obedience of their parēts But what more special things are there to be deuised for children which might more gladly with greater affection moue them to the obedience of their Parents Theodidactus For the better performing of this honor to their parents childrē ought most specially to remember except they be altogether harde hearted vnnatural y ◠perils dolors anguishes which their mothers sustained suffered for thē in their trauaile birth therw tal let thē diligētly cōsider with what greate paines cares frightes sorrowes charges frō their infancy vpwards they are brought vp of their parents which thing they may more easily collect gather by the education and bringing vp of other children and infantes In like maner they ought to remember and ponder this one thing wel that their children shalbe such to them when they are parents as they now shew themselues towards their parents But this as yet is but a small thing for they ought diligently to consider that to honour their Parentes is the most acceptable woorship to God that can bee that what dueties soeuer thou shalt performe to thy parents the same God iudgeth estemeth as done vnto himself the which also he wil recōpence with many great benefits whē on y ◠cōtrary part as is aforesaid he wil punish the impietie of children towards their Parents with grieuous maledictions plagues and tormentes There is a very profitable lesson concerning these thinges in Eccle. 3. Which because it is somewhat touched before I will here omit Moreouer children ought to set before their eyes the example of Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuing God who albeit he was the liuely image of his father became neuerthelesse obedient vnto his father euen to the death of the Crosse But if children when they bée adopted into Sonnes of GOD for Christ his sake doe desire to be made fellow heires of Christ in heauen surely then very duety requireth that they also follow the exāple of Christ his obedience in earth according to their seueral callings For there bée among the very bruite beasts which when their Parents are well striken in yéeres do by course and turne requite them againe with foode nourishment Therfore what great dishonestie filthinesse detestation and villanie is it if he which bosteth vanteth himself that he is not only a man indued with reason but also beléeueth y ◠he is the adopted sonne of God bee ouercome of the bruite beastes with gratitude kindnes towards their parents Godly children ought to study find out practise these such like examples that at the last willingly by their owne minds they might be excited and drawne to the due obedience of their Parentes Theophilus O good God how profitable how effectual be these things which hitherto you haue declared to the obedience of parents but yet if you haue any other things in store which may seeme meete vnto you to bee vttered vnto vs declare thē here I beseech you that the hearts of these children of our good neighbor Amusus may the more easily bee bowed begin to serue willingly obey the wil minds of their parentes in all thinges Theodidactus Al godly children vertuous young men ought to cōsider diligētly weigh who is the Author giuer of the 5. cōmandement y ◠is to wit almighty God maker of heauen earth the disposer preseruer of al things in them contained yet is not this sufficient except in like maner they doe cōsider what how great the maiestie of God is which hath cōmanded saying Honor thy father and mother c And for that I say God is the author giuer of this precept many things hereof doe necessarily follow Theophilus I would be very glad to heare of you what might ensue bee obteyned hereby for there is no doubt but that it shal bring great profit to the hearers they shal the better vnderstand the fift commaundement Theodidactus For as much as God is the Author giuer of this cōmandemēt First it followeth of necessitie that this precept is good for y ◠God by nature being good cannot commaunde that which is yll Secondly it followeth that this commaundement is necessary that there might be a true worship of God in the which youth might exercise themselues vnto true pietie and godlines Thirdly it is profitable for the rewards that therein is promised Fourthly those doe wel and rightly which kéepe the same Fiftly wée are bounde to the kéeping of the same vnder payne of damnation But that I may be more briefe at the last make an end of these things the minds of children shalbe wonderfully stirred vp to honor their parents if they rightly weigh with themselues what Moses meaneth when he saith Honor thy father mother for although their parents be mē yet doth not Moses say honor thē as they are mē but honor thy father mother as though he shoulde say honor thē whō God fauoureth which God hath coupled together and which are exercised in y ◠kind of life y ◠pleaseth almighty God In like manner he doth not say honor thy God or thine euil father or mother or thine hard harted gētle wayward rich or poore parents but he saith honor thy father thy mother without adding any Epithite cōdition or quality Therefore let children young men learne to reuerence and obey their parents to hold these vocables titles father mother in great price for most sacred reliques And let them rather wishe to die then willingly obstinately to offende them for parents haue nothing in this life wherein they are more affected and delighted
handle hym too sharpely or rigorously saying Et illum adolenscentulum esse te fuisse cogita atque in hoc quod pater es enitere vt memineris te hominem hominis patrem Way and consider this that hee is a young man and also that thou hast beene one thy selfe And further in as muche as thou art a father call to thy minde that thou art nowe a man and the Father of one that may bee a man heereafter Theophilus A very excellent and wise way surely to pacifie and quiet the furious and raging mindes of Parentes when they shall correct theyr children And in my iudgement there is no man that coulde haue giuen more wholesome or better counsel concerning this matter wherefore it is worthie of all men to bee followed Not withstanding I my selfe haue knowne sume furious parentes a brode which haue vsed to strike and buffet their children about the face and head and to lay vpon them like Mault sackes with cudgels staues forke or fire shouel or whatsoeuer came nighest their handes yea and very often also haue cast them on the grounde and spurned and kickt them like dogs which maner of correcting I iudge is vtterly to bee detested and abhorred neither do I think it lawfull by any meanes that they should vse them after such order Wherefore I pray you tell vs how should they bee admonished and perswaded that heereafter they doe not vse and handle their children and seruants after suche raging furious and beastly maner Theodidactus First and chiefly wée must shewe them and set before them the most pure and sacred worde GOD for these men peraduenture béeing so waywarde fierce and cruell as you haue saide woulde vtterly contemne and despise mens reasons wisdome and counsell But y ◠Lord our God of his vnspeakeable good will and fauour towardes vs doeth so dearely loue parents and so tenderly prouide for their children that hée doeth not onely commaunde them to correct their children but being very desirous and willing to cure and remedie suche rage and furie deeth also shew vnto vs what instrument is méete and what wée ought to vse and exercise in correcting Theophilus With what matter or instrument I pray you ought children to bee corrected Theodidactus The Lord our God by Solomon doth teache euery where that children shoulde bée beate with the rodde saying after this maner Withholde not correction from thy Childe for if thou shalte smite hym with the rodde hée shall not die thereof Thou smitest him with the rodde but thou shalt deliuer his soule from Hell And againe who so spareth the rodde marreth his childe Loe héere not that wise Solonion doeth teache that children ought to bée corrected with the rodde but the Lorde our God himselfe which hath spokē by the mouthes of his holy prophets whose worde abideth for euer Theophilus If these foolishe harebrayned and rashe Parents woulde heare and willingly obey and followe this little admonition then shoulde they not haue so many deafe blockishe foolishe bleere eyed and also oftentimes madde children as they haue which discommodities we see come very often by the continuall and vnreasonable beating and buffetting of them about the heads as I said before Theodidactus You gather and apply all thinges very rightly For if Parentes woulde not beate their young and tender children with their harde fistes vpon their eares and heades but in stéede thereof and of their Cudgels Staues and suche like according to the counsell of Solomon woulde take and vse the rodde then shoulde they haue wherein they might reioyce and become the parents of wise and worthie children whereas contrary wise they are compelled will they nill they to haue the gouernment of deaf lumpishe ignorant and foolishe children all the dayes of their life to their great sorrowe and griefe very often Theophilus Whereas I haue nowe begunne to mooue you with my questions I knowe not yet where or howe to make an ende seeing therefore you haue alredie shewed vnto vs the instrument where with children should be corrected and admonished that they shoulde not bee beaten about the heads Nowe I beseeche you shew vs where and on what part of the body they should be beaten Theodidactus I teach nothing héere neither woulde I perswade or councell you that you shoulde followe mine opinion and minde in this thing but rather the godly opinion of the holy Ghoste which by Solomon speaketh after this maner Tonde latera eius dum infans est Hit him vpon the sides whilest hee is yet a childe c. Beholde here the clemencie and prouidence beholde héere I say the excéeding great mercy of God which also hath vouchsafed to shewe and manifest vnto vs that part of the body which hee would haue beaten least at any time either wée our selues or our little children shoulde sustaine any losse perill or displeasure by meanes of our correction Theophilus Wherefore are parents compelled to bee so diligent carefull and prouident in the instructing and chastening of their children and what is the ende of this so great labour and trauaile Theodidactus They shall instruct nurture and chasten their children not to the ende that they might set them forwarde and promote them to worship and great honours or that they shoulde excell others in humane knowledge wisedome and science or that they shoulde gather together and heape vp great riches and treasure for them But they ought chiefly to respect this that they may bée made vertuous and godly And this end and maner of training vp of youth is most profitable and excellent of all others wherein all godly parents ought to haue their chiefest pleasure and felicitie For Parents ouer and besides that naturall loue affection which nature hath ingraffed into al liuing creatures towards their young ones besides those sorrowes griefes which they often sustain in their bringing vp yet ought they to haue their chiefest care for their godly education as wée haue often saide And this let them do not with angrie bitter and raging minde towards them when they finde them not so apt and forward as they wish least they begin to refuse hate and detest instruction and vertuous discipline before they shall féele the profite and commoditie thereof Let them temper and bridle the austeritie sharpnesse and rage of their authoritie and power with such affection and desire of lenitie gentlenesse and mildnesse and so rebuke and chide the offender that they had rather to haue them corrected and amended then punished or tormented and let them rather endeuour to withold and draw them from future faultes and offences than rigorously to execute punishment of their faultes presently committed Theophilus The greatest part of the welfare and prosperitie of children doeth depend as farre as I perceiue of the good instruction and diligent and wise chastening of parents Theodidactus It is very true for the Lorde our God hath commaunded that children shoulde honour and obey their parents and in
the same commaundement also hée hath giuen a charge vnto the Parents that they should perfourme and do their duetie that is to say that they teach instruct their children in the true knowledge of God and bring them vp in the feare of the Lord. For howe shall the children perfourme their dueties towardes their Parents if that parents shall first neglect their dueties towardes their children And albeit the slouth and negligence of parents doeth not excuse the wickednesse and impietie of children before God notwithstanding parents owe this duetie to their children that they prouide for them not only corporall foode for their bodies but much rather spirituall foode and nourishment for their soules if otherwise they couet and desire to haue them saued Theophilus But if after all wholesome admonitions and councels instructions and chastisements they remain stubborn disdaineful children do receiue no godly admonition nor wil suffer nor abide any correction what doe you thinke is meete to be done with such and howe should a man deale them Theodidactus Such stubborne wicked and rebellious wretches are first to be dispoiled and depriued of all their possessions and inheritance and that by the authoritie of the lawes written Theophilus How many causes be there set down of ingratitude contumacie stubbornnesse and disobedience for which a father may disherite his sonne Theodidactus There are setdowne and regestred fourtéene speciall causes Theophilus Declare them vnto vs I pray you for by the grace of God it may be that in the hearing of them it shal driue a greater feare and terrour into them Theodidactus 1 Prima si filius parentibus manus intulerit The first is if the sonne shal lay violent handes vpon his Parents 2 Si grauem iniuriam eis fecerit If he shal worke them any villanie iniurie or wrong 3 Si contumaciter eos accusauerit de causa quae non est aduersus principem vel rempublicam If stubbornly and disobediently hee shal accuse them of a matter or cause that is not against the Prince or common wealth 4 Si cum maleficis versatur If he do haunt or be conuersant among wicked persons drunkardes whoremongers theeues murtherers and such like 5 Si maledicus efficiatur If hee become a cursed speaker railer and blasphemer 6 Si parentum vitae insidiatus fuerit If hee shal lye in waite to slea and murther his father 7 Si vxori vel concubinae eius se immiscuerit If hee shal meddle or haue to doe with his fathers wife or concubine 8 Si exdilapidatione filij graue dispendium parentes sustulerint If the Parentes shal susteine great dammage losse and hinderaunce by meanes of the riotous and wastful spending of their sonne 9 Si pro persona vel debito eius in quantum potest fideiubere noluerit If he wil not vndertake become suretie for his fathers own person or his debt to the vttermost of his power 10 Si prohibuit eos facere testamentum If hee shal prohibit or let them to make their wil and Testament 11 Si contra voluntatem parentum inter arenarios mimos perseuerauerit quum pater non fuerit illius professionis If against his fathers minde and wil hee keepe company with Ruffians quarrellers foolish Minstrelles and such like when his father is not of the same profession 12 Si filia luxuriosam vitā egerit quū parentes vellent eam pro posse dotare nisi neglexerint eam maritare vsque ad 25. annos If the daughter shal leade aluxurious wanton and riotous lyfe when her Parentes are willing to bestowe and set her foorth in mariage to the vttermost of their abilitie and power except they shal deferre her mariage vntil shee be 25. yeares olde 13 Si parentibus furiosis debitam curam non impenderit If they wil not giue due regarde and reuerence to their Parentes although they be furious and way warde 14 Si patrē captū de carcere deducere neglexerit Hae inquam sunt causae cur parentes liberos suos haereditate excludere possint If hee shal neglect contemne and haue no regarde or care to ransom and deliuer his father out of prison being taken by enemies These I say be the causes wherefore parentes may disherite their children Theophilus But if they bee more wicked and stubborne than that these corrections and punishmentes can bridle and holde them vnder or rather after all these good and wholesome admonitions and chastisementes they continue rebellious what doe you thinke is to bee done then Theodidactus The same that the Lorde hath commaunded by Moyses his seruant saying after this maner Si genuerit homo filium contumacem qui non audiat patris aut matris imperium coercitus obedire contempserit lapidibus eum obruet populus And if a man haue a sonne that is stubborne and disobedient which disdayneth the voyce and commaundement of his father and mother and when hee is chastened wil not hearken vnto them but contemneth it all the people shall stone him with stones vnto death Theophilus A harde sentence without doubt and of al stubborne and rebellious children deepely to be weighed and considered Theodidactus Truely it is an harde and fearfull sentence wherout all young men may gather as is méet for them how great the wrath of God is against the sinne of disobedience Neither doeth the law of God only hate and detest such stubborne and rebellious children But also the verie Ethnickes would haue them cast off from their parentes and to be vtterly dispossessed which Aristippus teacheth by an excellent Apophthegme after this maner A certaine man accusing him for that hee so cast off his sonne and contemned him as though hée had neuer begot him hée saieth Doe wée not cast away from vs our spittle lice and such like as thinges vnprofitable which neuerthelesse are ingendred and bread euen out of our owne selues His minde and iudgement is that they are not to bée accounted for children whiche otherwise haue nothing in them whereby they might commende them selues to the loue and effection of their Parentes but only that they be by them begotten So the olde father Menedemus to his sonne Clinia brought in by the Poet Terence in his third Comedie speaketh after this maner Ego te meum dici tantisper volo dum id quod te dignum est facias So long and no longer shalt thou be my sonne As thou behauest thy selfe with discretion Thus did the verie Heathen men which had not the law of God to direct them as wée haue handle their degenerate and disobedient children whom God woulde haue also to be an example vnto vs. Theophilus Thus of your fatherly beneuolence haue you taught and diligently instructed vs hethertoo howe good howe profitable and necessarie it is to instruct and chasten youth in vertue and godlinesse From whence as out of a most sweete and pure fountaine al other vertues doe flowe Nowe if it seeme good
and worse except Godly instruction bee ioyned with moderate correction Theodidactus Without all doubt a horrible punishment remaineth to suche Parents which so negligently contemne and despise their owne naturall children besides that it is a very great negligence or rather a horrible mischiefe either to cast the bridle into the neckes of young men or to corrupt and spoyle them with wicked instruction or their owne lewde and naughtie examples Neuerthelesse how common these thinges are in mans life it is too manifest when Parents or Teachers are either Epicures or otherwise lewde and licentious liuers and doe not exercise their children and seruants vnto the knowledge and feare of God but oftentimes doe nourish and confirme them in wicked erronious and detestable opinions these mischiefes are to bée punished no doubt as God hymselfe saith Contemnentes me reddam contemptos I will make my contemners contemned and despised Theophilus O twise yea thrise happie are those parents which doe not vainely negligently heere these and such like threatnings but proceede and go forward I pray to recite other places wherin God doth threateÌ„ lither slouthful and negligent parents Theodidactus Fathers and maisters which withholde their children and families from hearing and learning the worde of God by commanding and appointing them in the meane time some other busines or els by reason of their ignorance or impietie haue no care or regarde to bée taught and trayned vp in true godlinesse are not only wicked and iniurious to themselues but also to their whole families so that suche shall receiue double the greater condenination It is set downe in the Decalogue or tenne Commaundementes That children woulde honour their Parents but with what face dare that Father exact of his child the honour commaunded of God in the second Table when as hée himselfe doth not perfourme his owne duetie which in the first Table of the Commaundements is required of him touching the due honour of God and the sanctifying of the Sabboth day Children are not borne of their parents at auenture but they bée the gift and blessing of God The Scripture saith God blessed them said Crescite multiplicamini Encrease and multiplie And the Psalmograph saith Filii tui sicut nouellae Oliuarum in circuitu mensae tuae Ecoe sic benedicetur homo qui timet dominuÌ„ Thy children shalbe like the Oliue branches round about thy Table Beholde thus shall the man bee blessed that feareth the Lord. Children are giuen vnto Parents by the diuine and Almightie power of God and are committed vnto them as an heaueÌ„ly treasure not to the end that they shoulde bée prophaned and brought vp only to the vse of this terreine and earthly Citie but that they should bée sanctified hallowed vnto the vse of the heauenly Ierusalem wée haue lost in our first Parent the right of our heauenly life inheritance and wée are borne the children of Gods wrath death and hell Therefore what is more cruell what is more horrible or moÌ„strous then such a father which after he hath children doth not apply all his whole studie and indeuour to this ende chiefly that hée may recouer againe the right of that Heauenly inheritaunce before loste as is said For except this bée brought to passe what other thing doe children gaine by their Parents but hell and euerlasting death But these are the maners and conditions of many Parentes in these our dayes in the gouerning and ordering of theyr families that they haue a farre greater care about their Horses and Swyne as wee haue often sayde then about their Children and family For twise in one day at the least they giue Meate and Water vnto their hogges and Horses to eate and drinke to refreshe and comfort them and to kéepe them in good liking and plight of their bodies but in a whole wéeke they will scarscely spare so muche time as once or twice to haue their mindes refreshed and their soules fed with the wholesome foode of the worde vnto euerlasting saluation Theophilus I haue knowne many which very diligently haue taken great paynes and care how to teache their Parrats Popinieyes and Pyes to pratle and talke vnto them very timely while they are yet but young knowing this that the elder they are before they take it in hande the harder and more difficill can they bee taught according to the olde prouerbe Psittacum vâ—tulum negligere ferulam What maner watching and paines is there about a prading Parret or chattering Pye and what Lithernesse and negligence about the teaching of Children Men take great paines as wee see euery where and will refuse no labour or trauell that they might haue a faire dogge to hunt and pursue the chase a lustie and couragious horse to take a iourney runne his course and too fetch the carrier But about their children they seeme to haue very little or no care at al that they might become the seruants of God ornaments of his Church good members for the common wealth What answere shal these Parents make to GOD the moste iust Iudge when hee shall demaunde an account of them for their duetie so shamefully neglected Theodidactus Doe you desire to knowe of mee what maner an account the Lorde God will take and exact of such Surely none other than as hée required of Heli the high Priest of Israell which was most diuine and holy and shall bée to the ende of the worlde at which iudgement and account whosoeuer doeth not tremble and feare I iudge them to be more harde than the Adamant and such as vnto whom this vehement and horrible exclamation of Saint Augustine may bée very aptly and well applied saying O dolosa libertas O grandis filiorum perditio O paternus amor mortifer Ecce filios sedicunt diligere quos veraciter ingulari procurant dicunt eos amare quibus tam suspendia parant melius sanè fuisset eos nunquam fuisse natos quam sic miseros liberos suos extremis malis perdere tandem in aeterna Barathra conucere O lamentable libertie O greate perdition O fatherly affection the deadly destroyer of children beholde they say they fauour their Children whose destruction they rather procure they saye they loue them for whome ere it bee long they prepare the gallous and hanging Surely it had been much better they had neuer beene borne then so to cast away their miserable children into extreme punishment and at the last to throw them into the bottomelesse pit of hel for euer Theophilus O immortall God before this day I coulde neuer vnderstande the wickednesse of these parents which both by their negligence and vngodly examples spoile and vtterly cast away their children and bee not onely iniurious to themselues and theirs but also they striue and indeuour as much as in them is to extinguish the Church of God trouble disquiet and destroy the whole common wealth and so at the last vtterly extirpe and roote out all good loue
by his example they coulde more easily tollerate and beare the death of their déerest friendes with greate pacience and constancie These examples doe admonishe vs that wée doe beare paciently and with good mynds the death of our children For séeing that the heathen men haue excelled in so greate constancie of mind I pray you what shal not wee suffer which haue professed our selues to be Christians We I say which are ingraffed vnto Christ vnited vnto him through that most sacred holy baptisme know that our children haue not onelie a Father héere vpon the earth but also in the heauens which hath prepared his Angelles that they should kéepe and take charge of our children in the stéede of Nurses Wherby also by many examples he hath declared and made manifest vnto vs that hée careth for them and preserueth them farre better and in more happy state and condition then parentes can eyther hope or wishe when vnto them it may séeme they vtterly perish and are most infortunate Which by the example of the Patriarche Iacob wee may plainely sée For when hée mourned and lamented for his sonne Ioseph being lost and as hée thought was miserably deuoured of the wilde beastes yet God in the meane time did exalt and promote him vnto great honour and dignitie in Aegypt and made him the instrument and meane to comfort his father and brethren and prolonged their dayes whereas other wise they were al in danger to haue perished with famine which fell ouer al the Landes there adioyning The like happened of Saule séeking his Fathers Asse which by the commaundement of GOD by Samuell was annoynted king of Israell Read the nienth and tenth chapters of the first booke of the kinges otherwise called the first booke of Samuell The like was in Christ which at the last was founde in the middle of the Doctors reasoning and disputing amongest them and posing them Therefore those Parentes more sorrowful then néede and bearing the fortune and death of their Children too vnpaciently if they beholde and consider the promises of God and these examples they shall easily sée and learne that these their vnfaithfull sorowes and cares for their Children are not onely wicked but also vayne and foolishe and so shall they confirme their fayth that afterwarde they shall more easily performe their dueties towardes their Children according to their vocation and moderately sustayne and with patience beare the fortune of their Children though it were accompanyed with death it selfe And they ought to beléeue and haue sure confidence that although they were lost or dead that yet neuerthelesse the Lord our GOD hath chiefe regarde and care of them if they liue in his feare And thus shall they more easily moderate and qualifie their immoderate sorrowes and mourninges Theophilus O immortal GOD who can sufficiently maruel and commende the constancie and pacience of these Ethnickes Againe if wee woulde faithfully beleeue that our Children are so carefully kept and preserued of GOD and that all thinges depende vpon his prouidence wee woulde with greater confidence commit all things vnto him which doe appertayne eyther to the bodies or soules of our children And wee woulde not bee so sorrowfull and discouraged when any aduersitie shall chaunce either to our selues or our children but woulde farre exceed those Ethnickes in constancie of minde When I reade so many and so notable thinges among the Philosophers of fortitude and constancie I am ashamed of the inconstancie of those men which seeme to bee adourned and garnished with so rare and singuler erudition and knowledge of God But nowe my good Theodidacte I woulde at the last know this one thing of you whether is it the duetie of godly Parentes to elect and choose for their sonnes beeyng once growen to mans state and stayednesse of life godlie wiues according to the example of Abraham Theodidactus Godlie Parentes before all thinges shall haue speciall regarde and care that they ioyne not their Sonnes in marriage vnto Lawelesse and vnbeléeuing wiues without anye difference but shall followe the example of the Patriarche Abraham which woulde not haue his sonne Isaac to be coupled in matrimonie vnto a wise from among the Chanaanites giuing his seruaunt charge after this manner Put thine hande vnder my Thigh that I may sweare thée by the Lorde GOD of Heauen and earth that thou doest not choose and take a wife for my sonne of the daughters of the Chanaanites amongst whom I now dwell but thou shalt goe vnto mine owne countrie kinred frō thence doe take a wife for my sonne Isaac Without doubt this so godly an example of Abrahā ought to admonish earnestly moue vs which haue either sōnes or daughters ready to marry to haue great care of them For except Abraham had feared some greate perill and daunger and had knowen some great secrete mischief to be hid and lurking therin certainly he woulde neuer haue giuen so earnest charge to his seruaunt That he should not take a wife of the daughters of the Chanaanites For it was not to be doubted but that some of their daughters were of good towardnes nature inclination also tractable which happily might haue béen drawne vnto Abrahams religion but hée would not haue his sonne to aduenture and make triall of so great a danger and in so weightie a matter Now forasmuch as Abraham did séeke to eschue this perill with what face boldnes or example dare we presume to attempt the same But hereof if God will wée will treate more at large in some other place of our next booke The second Booke of the dueties of Children towardes their Parents FOrasmuch as I haue alreadie spoken and that you haue so willingly heard from mée and my good friend Theophilus many things concerning those dueties which are required of Parentes towardes their Children nowe is it méete and conuenient that wée procéed to the other part of this our worke and purpose For I promised that to the vttermost of my simple skill and slender capacitie I would shew and declare vnto you those things which did apperteine to the dueties of Godly obedient children that is to wit what honour reuerence and obedience euery childe oweth to their Parents But my good Amusus before wée treat of this thing at large I woulde all your children were here present and that you woulde counsell them as I saide in the beginning of our talke that they may be silent and verie attentiue and bring with them pennes incke and paper to the ende they might note the most principall matters and worthie examples and so the better commit them to memorie Amusus Beholde here they are readie Elizabeth Anne Leuinus Charles Frauncis Paule Marie Katherine and Barbara and according to your commaundement I haue admonished them that they might hearken with all reuerence and marke euerie thing diligently Theodidactus What other thing should I wish to these your swéet childrē than that y e God
so matcheth withfarre richer wiues then themselues they seldom acknowledge them for their husbands but rather account them as bondmen of their dowrie And Menander saith Vxorem ducito ex aequalibus ne si ex ditioribus duxeris dominos tibi pares non affines imo fugiendae sunt pecuniosae vxores quia pecuniosa vxor non est vxor sed verius imperiosa domina Marry thou a wife from among thy familier mates least if thou shalt marry one of the richer sort thou gettest lordes and maisters ouer thee in steede of kinsmen nay rather these rich monied wiues are to bee shunned for such as doe bring with them their stuffed bagges with these red ruddockes proue very seldome louing and obedient wiues but rather stately Lady like and imperious dames Theophilus I pray you sir tell me yet this one thing Is it not good to marry a faire wife Theodidactus All young men for the most part couet to marry faire wiues But Theophrastus is of this minde that a man may vse and inioy a harde fauoured and browne woman with lesse griefe and sorrowe then hée may preserue and kéepe his faire and well fauoured wife for hée accounteth nothing certaine and sure vnto any man whereon both the eyes and feruent desires of all people are wholy bent and firmely fixed For as muche as one with fauour and comelinesse will séeke to solicite her another with his fine wit and painted eloquence will moue and prouoke her some with delicate daliance mixed with mery conceipts wil séeke to allure her and others with liberall giftes will not sticke to inticâ— her Nam pecuniae obedunt omnia For all thinges obey to money And the fort or Castle bée it neuer so strong by one meane or other must néedes bée ouercome and vanquished which one euery parte is so besieged and assaulted The Poet Ennius perswadeth vs to marry such as are of pure and perfect chastitie of comely stature though somewhat browne which also Aulus Gellius declareth and affirmeth saying Eas statâ— formae esse quae nec formosissima nec turpissima forma sunt sed mediocritatem quandam habent quae quidem mediocritas omnibus in rebus laudatissima est Those women are accounted well fauoured and comely which are neither the fairest nor yet the foulest or harde fauoured but haue a certaine meane as wée commonly vse to say shee is neither faire nor foule but browne louely which mediocritie in all things verily is to bee commeded and praised And this comely stature out of doubt is sufficient and best agreing for the procreation of children For comelinesse and séemly proportion in women auaileth very much euen as in the men a good countenance a comely stature with wisdome and discretion is to bée wished and moste acceptable vnto a woman Therfore in a wife not beautie and finenesse but vertue and godlinesse is to bée respected as Michael Verinus saith very properly in these verses Sit formâ—sa aliis vxor tibi siâ— bona nescis quà m noceat castae forma pudicitiae Egrè formosam poteris seruare puellam nuuc prece nunc aura forma petitaruit The faire and beautifull let be to other wights I say the vertuous and the modest maide get thou if that thou may For beautie hindereth chastitie of this thou maiest bee sure the maide that beautie doeth possesse chaste hardly shall indure For some with wordes will her assault and sleights of Venus vse and some with gold will her allure which scarsce she will refuse These and many other thinges are to bée wayed and considered in the choyse of a wife and chiefly this that thou chosest one like to thy selfe in religion stocke wealth and comelinesse for the vnlikenesse of these things is oftentimes the occasions of contempt and continuall brawling and chiding For Cicero in his first booke of Offices saith Nihil amabilius nec copulatius quà m morum similitudo bonorum There is nothing that winneth more loue nor surelier knitteth men together then a likenesse in good conditions For in whom bée like desires and like mindes it happeneth among them that either with other is as much delited as with himselfe And so is it brought to passe that Pithagoras requires in amitie Vâ— vnus fiat ex pluribus That many may become one Also it is good for a man to marry a maide and suche a one as before hath béene married to no man For who so taketh a Widdowe to wife tyeth hym selfe chiefly vnto two great troubles first hée must deuise and labour by all meanes possible to make her forget the manners and qualities of her first husbande secondly hée must acquaint her verie warely with his owne nature and qualities and make her to haue a good opinion liking of himselfe and of his maners both which hee shal hardly doe without great pollicie and discretion Theophilus You haue nowe declared vnto vs the chiefe pointes concerning Matrimony it selfe Nowe it is needful that you shew vnto vs whether the priuie contractes and espousalles made without the consent of Parentes and gouernours ought to be accounted lawful before God and men or not And whether such knottes affiances and betrothinges may bee broken which are done without the good wil and consent of Parentes Theodidactus Before all thinges young men must séeke to shunne abhorre this detestable sinne of disobedience the which alas at this day is too common lest they intangle them selues vnto marriage without the consent of their Parentes for this is not only great disobedience but rather verie great madnesse For what is more grieffull and more miserable than a marriage enterprised and begunne so wickedly or a knot so vnluckely knit that it cannot bée vnlosed againe all the dayes of our life wherein wée shall continually be exercised in sorrowe vnquietnesse and brawling detayned in miserie misfortune and calamitie out of the which wee can neuer wynde our selues nor be deliuered excepte it be by death Truely youth must néedes fall into great perilles and daungers when neglecting and contemning the authoritie of their Parents they aspire and studie by all meanes possible to attaine vnto marriage making them priuie nothing at all vntill the matter be past remedie and so begin their wedlocke in sin and disobedience which God will neuer blesse nor prosper But contrariwise if they will endeuour to kéepe the commaundementes of Almightie God and to honour and obey their Parentes then hée hath promised to loue them and will bestowe his bountifull liberalitie and blessings vpon them In the meane time Parents ought not to neglect their dueties in bestowing and matching of their children for when the time serueth and the occasion is offered of God to bestowe their sonnes or daughters vnto matrimony then shal they not doubtfully dispute and reason about the dowrie stocke or Parentage and to séeke a knot in a rush as they say or to detract and prolong the time without iust cause but the will of God
of their Parentes Theodidactus This we ought to knowe and vnderstand that after such commixion and coupling of them selues together they may not be seuered nor disioyned neither may such marriages be broken by the authoritie of their Parents for because there is now no question of any marriage to come and the authoritie of Parentes is alreadie violated and corrupted so that great iniurie shoulde be offered vnto the woman if shee should be cast off againe and forsaken And to conclude I will adde this one thing that it doeth appertaine as wel to the duetie of Parents as of Iudges for they ought to weigh and consider where and in what cases the fathers may haue a probable cause to breake the marriage and where not which causes I will leaue to be discided of the Diuines and such as haue to deale in those nuptiall affaires Beséeching Almightie God to graunt your children good successe and to bestow his blessings on them as well in this single life as also in that married estate whensoeuer it shall hereafter please him to all your comfortes and his euerlasting glorie to whom be praise for euer Amen ⧠Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintâ—â—â— by Thomas Dawfon and Gregorie Seton 1581. Amusus â—eâ—â—â—leth the state of disordered families Psal 39. The workes commended The family is committed to the wife aswell as the husband The argument diuided into siâ— partes The definition of mariage Mariage was firste instituted of God Gene. 2. Ioan. 2. Mariage doth please God The end of mariage is in â— sortes Good lessonâ— for husbandes and wiues The dueties of godly couples Mat. 18. Of the Procreation of children Gene. 3. 1. Reg. 2. Iudi. 13. Luc. 1. The peruers iudgement of the people Pro. 10. Pro. 17. Psal 128. The wise answer of Cresus Deut. 6. Eodem 11. â—â—â—l 1. Eccle. 7. God commandeth children to be nurtured Eccle. 30. Ephe. 6. Parentes are stirred vp to instruct their children with sweete promises Prou. 29. Eccle. 30. We must not deale with youth by threatnings stripes Tobi. 4. Dan. â—3 1. Mach. 2. 2. Mach. 7. â— Tim. 1. Luke 2. Eccle. 7. Of Athanasâ—â—â— Bish of Alexandria Of Origen 〈…〉 Eusebius Iohannes Aegyptius The example of Cato Children are to be instructed by the examples of the Elders The necessarie instruction of poutly The best schol Master is to bee chosen Dayly Experience proueth this true Isocrates Plate The end of instruction is this Children must be taught from their tender yeeres A good similitude Paulus Ver. Ioan Mur. â—â—enorunâ— Prouerb A similibus A causa A causa What thinges children are to be taught By 3. thinges may we know that there is a God c. Children ought to beleeue these thinges chiefly The examples of husbandmen What seede ought to bee sowne in the midst of children The causes why children ought to be instructed Preceptes of good maners Recreation must be vsed Optimaratio iustituendi De nobili officio parentum Psal 36. 37. A good fourme â—â— teaching The discription of a true father Senum Officium Diffinitio patris familias What it is to bee occupied with children Fathers should vse 3 offices at once Tobias 4. Prou. 29. Eccl. 30. An Antidote against Arrogancie A good praier Ephe 6 A good caâ—eat vnto the pareÌ„ts of our time A common fâ—ing very true Mat. 18. Mark 9. Of degenerate children A good lesson for parentes 1. Timo. 5. Hortandi sunt liberi ad eleemosynam Proue 11. Mat. 14. Prou. 11. Children must bee committed to godly schoolmaisters 4. Timo. 2207. A man must not bestowe his whole studie in one arte only Ludouicus â—â—ues Plinius An example of Phi. of Macedon kinges of the Persians The efficacie of education Pro. 22. Plato in libro 4. de republic Erasmus Isocrates Deogines Aristippus Lycurgus giueth an example of two whelpes What vse can doe in education is here shewed We must not leaue of instructing for the stupiditie of wit Matth. 9. Marci 7. Num. 22. In education three things are necessarie After what maner forward wittes should be vsed Children are to be corrected Prou. 23. Eccle. 30. Pro. 13. Pro. 10. Eccle. 4. Augustinus Bernardus Innocontiâ—â— Correction is necessary Seneca A good note Cicero Isocrates Valeri Max. de Luci. Bru. â— Reg. 12. 1. Cor. 9. Body and soula compared together Mat. 4. Luke 4. Fathers abuse their authorities Prou. 19. Ephe. 6. Ambrose Seneca The tirannie of L. M. Axio the noble Romaine passed the boundes of his duetie in correcting his sonne A meane in correcting is best Augustine giueth a reason with what intente children should bee corrected What the father shoulde think vpon whilist he is in correcting Prouer. 13. Children shuld bee corrected with the rodde That parte of the bodie which is to be beaten The end whâ—e children should bee corrected After what maner children ought to be chastened A good note Inglossa cap quinta vallis Obquae exhaeredari posset filius Deut. 22. A stubborne disobedient childe to be stoâ—â—ed to death Deut. 21. Degenerate children are to be cast of forsaken Against negligent parents Children 〈…〉 the pledges of God ArgumentuÌ„ a simile 1. Regum 2. 4. Cockering is the originall cause of negligent instruction â—ere the absurd excuse of Parents is reâ—â—â—yed 1. Regum 3. Heli suffereth the punishment of his negligent instruction Paul Cicero Verrâ— Negligent parents are iniurious to their countrie and common welth Fathers ' and mothers spoiâ— their owns children Children are the blessinge of God How the inheritance of y â— he â—uenly life being lost is recouered by the parentes Negligent parentes are sharply accused A vehement exclamation of S. â—ug against negligent parentes What and ho 〈…〉 great mischiefs doe arise by negligent instructinge What shall befall vpon vs without preachinge and teachinge Negligente parentes doe exceede in cruelty Pharao Herod or any other Tyraunte Erasmus Women of Thessalia were transformers of men â—utâ— beast Tomo â— Those that doe not teach their children be the destroyers of Christes Church Tomo 3. 14. What a Sea of euils this negligent care of children doth bring Tom. 2. 292. Erasm The exclamation of Crates S. B. doth bewayle the negligence of Parentes The admiration of Lucius Apuleus The Sabboth day abused The exclamation of Quintilianâ— Whether negligent Parents are to be compelled by any lawe If the feare and loue of God will not cause Parentes to be careful for their children much lesse will any lawe that can be deuised by men What is the chiefe of mans felicitie Solons law was verie sharpe against negligent Parents The Ethnickes are to be compelled one way but the Christians an other way Ezechiel 1â— How the children beare the sinnes of the Parents Children may not deride their Parents Gene. 9. Gene. 1â— Num. 16. Parentes and infantes together are greeuously punished Iosue 6. Iosue 7. Hester 9. Daniel 6. Regum 11. Regum 12. Deut 2â— A hight and excellent treasure to bee borne of good parents A
good waie to prouide for children Riches are not to be heaped v 〈…〉 for children Psalm Prouerb 3â— Solomons prater Tomo 3 fol. 7 84. Vertue and the blessing of God the chiefest riches Erasmus Philomon Epictetus Tomo 4. fol. 57. Isocrates A good name is better then riches What manner of inheritance shoulde bee left for children Plato What maner of monumente a father ought to leaue behinde him Of paines â—â—â— labour Gene. 3. 2. Thessa 3. lob 5. There is nothing more to be detested then idlenesse Bernardus Augustinus Laboris commendatio ab honesto Ab vtili Celsus Plato Xenophon Epicharinus A necessitate Lycurgus lawe Mar. Cato Deogenes The paines of studies are not to be remitted Marcus Marullus Solom 12. A handicraft science or facultie is to be learned The lawe of the Spartaines Suetonius An example of Nero. An example Science the Port of need From what thinges youth aâ—e to be feared First from Adolatrie Secondly from all these vices following Thirdly children are to be feared from lying Leuit. 19. Collo 3. Ephe. 4. Prou. 6. Idem 12. Idem 21. Psal 5. Iesus Syrach 20. Act. 5. Solon Aristotle The Persians taught their children three thinges Aristotle From wicked lusts Cicero lib 1. officiorum Exod. 20. Leuit. 20. They must flee fornication and Adulterie Tobias 4. Cor. 6. Ephe. 5. Drunkennes is to bee shuned Esay 5. Eccle. 19. Prou. 23. Ibidem Aug. in quodam sermone Aug. in lib. de paeniten Adem The order of the Lace â—euching drunkennesse Children must abstaine from wine Ephe. 5. Aulus Gelli Plutarch Hope of honor and feare of paine Idem Plut. of flatterers c A declaration of Saint Paules wordes Educat liberos per eruditionem et correptionem What and how greate benefits children doe receaue from the 〈…〉 parents Vnhonest vnlawefull things are to be shunned Gene. 3. The maner and order how tâ—terâ—efie children Gene. 6. 7. by what means children may learne to feare the wrath of God Gene. 19. Exod. 8. 9. 10 c. Heere are horrible examples of rebellion c. 1. Regum 4. Gene. 4. Num. 16. â— Sam. 18. â— Sam. 20. Whither children ought to be sent into straunge countries to learne the liberall sciences Gene. 42. De Natura Ceti De Delphinis natura The duetie of mothers Ephe. 5. Col. 3. 1. Pet. 3. Pet. 3. Mothers oght to nourish their children with their owne dugges Aulus Gol. How a Nurse should be chosen if neede reâ—uâ—re What company a child ought to vse and what play fellowes he must haue Prouerb What a childe ought to proâ—ourâ—e first Ambrosius â—ut duetie to God our Parents and countrie From what vices children ought to be feared A common prâ—verbe Chrysostome his exhortation vnto mothers De Monica matre Aug. exemplum Euridices Ionica Lacena Cornelia Women gette great renowâ—â— in the good and vertuous education of their children then by the curious garnishinge of themselues c. How parentes are to be comforted whiche after al godly instructions are compelled to suffer wicked and degenerate children Adam Gene. 4. Noe. Gene. â— Iacob Dina. Gene. 3â— Herorum filii noxae The death of children is to be â—â—rne moderatly Paule 2. Reg. â—â— Mourning profiteth the dead nothing at all Hieronimus De Dione De Anaxagora De Pericle eiusque constantia in morte libero â—um Angels are good Nurses vnto our children Gen. 37. 39. 40. 41. 42 43. 44. 45. 46 1. Reg. 10. Luke â— Parents ought to take great heede that they choose godly wiues for their Sonnes Gen. 24. The order of the seconde Booke deuided into 5. partes Ephes 6. Collos 3. Exod. 20. Gene. â— Esay 5â— Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Leuit. 19. Tob. 7. Leuit. 27. Eccle. 3. Places which do teach young men to feare God and to honour their Parentes Prou. 23. Ecele 3. Prou. 1. Idem 4. Idem 19. Sapien. 3. Collos 3. 1. Petr. 5. As blessinges are offered of God euerie where vnto obedient children so vnto the wicked and rebellious plagues and curses are alwayes imminent Prou. 20. Cyrillus Chrysost Basilius Euripides The definition of this worde honor What it is to honour c. Ephe. 6. Coll. 3. Heb. 12. 7. 9. Prou. 1. 4. 6. 8. 15. 17. 29. In what thinge the true honor of pa. doth consiste What men are to bee honored before other There bee fiue causes of honor c. Ephes 6. Coll. 3. Parentes are Gods vicars in earth Disobedient children are accursed of God Iacob Ioseph An example of the Rahabites Hierom. 35. Gen. 22. 37. Gen. 4. Examples of disobedience Examples of obedience Gen. 19. Gen. 37. Iudith 13. 3. Reg. 12. Hierom. 41. Dan. 4. Mach. 5. Mach. 9. Leuit. 19. Bias. Ambrosius Bernardus Basilius The exclamation of Basil A declaration of the fift precept or commaundement The ende of the fift precept Plato Cicero Seneca D. August D. Hier. Aristo 8. Topicorum Wonderfull loue and honor shewed vnto Parents An example of Aeneas Valerius â—â—â—â— Of the daughter that nourished her mother in prison Aethna An example oâ— Philonius Callias Cymon And example of Mauricius Gene. 31. August Psal 70. Cyrillus Hiero. The persons of pa are not to be respected but the will of God is to be considered D. Grego A horrible example of a child c. Num. 16. An example worthy to be remembred of an olde man 4. Regum 2. â— terrible and fearfull example of the children that derided Helisaeus Exemplis Cyconiae Of the dutie of children towardes their parentes Cyprianus de 12 abusiombus Ambrosius Lodouicus Viues Good lessons for young men D. Hieronimus ad LetaÌ„ Quomodo erudienda sit puella quae Christiana est futurâ— S Ierom vnto Leta howe a maiden ought to be brought vp which shall be a Christian Eccle. 21. A wise daughter what she is to her husband Quintilian Why children seruantes and maydes liue oftentimes most miserably Why the affections of children are more colde towards their Parents than of the Parentes towards their children The first cause of disobedience The seconde cause why children are so disobedient Philo. Only the â— commaundement hath a promise What thinges do chiefly stirre vp children to the honor and obedience of Parentes To honor Parents is the most acceptable worship to God The fift commaundement 〈…〉 good necessary profitable â—â— Rebellious children doe stay their parents very often not with sword but with sorowe and heauinesse of heart Solon Exod. 21. August Ezechiel Greate commodities growe vnto vs by ouâ— elders 1. Time 3. Ad Titum 3 â— Time 3. The knowledg of the tongues is necessary to the studie of diuinitie Of the praise of learning Aristotle Anacharsis Aristippus Diogenes Idem Cicero Diogenes Ab vtili Alphonsus Bernard Ab affectu Seneca Pithagoras Hebraei WheÌ„ we ought to learne Rambam August Gene. 3. Socrates August Saluius It is better to learne late then neuer Aristotle Solon Harmolaus Barbarus Seneca The ende of studies August Aristippus Antisthenes Leontichides Auaritia Ambitio The enemies of learning Seneca Idem Hierony Demosthe Seneca Idem Oenopides Aristippus Plato Aristotle The difference betweene the learned and vnlearned Socrates Diogenes Cleanthes Glycon Plutarchus Empedocles Of the dignitie of vertue Socrates Hesiodus Horatius How wee mu 〈…〉 come to vertue The difference betweene the affections of the godly and vngodly A tale of Hercules The example of Hercules The example of Moyses Of the study of wisedom Preu 20. 16. Eccle. 9. eodem 4. 6. The comendations of wisedome Clement Isodorus Lactantius Two steppes vnto wisedome Lactantius August Animi aegestas Sapientis proprâ—â—m Eccle. 10. Prou. 17. Aristotle Of shamefastnesse Paulus Ver. â—udo Vâ—â—es Cato Terentius Diogenes Seneca Ambrosius Verecundiae â—aâ—des Signes of good towardnesse in youth Of the famâ—â—leâ— conuersation of the good 〈◊〉 euill Proâ— â— Ecclâ— 13. Ambrose Isidorus Solomon Seneca Menander What youth ought to folow and what to shunne 2. Timoth. 2. Peter 5. Iacobi 4. Iohn 2. 1. Cor. 6. Ephes 4. Filthie speech and drunkennes must be shunned Anacharsis Diogenes Garrulitie is â—â—proued Osâ—e 4. 1. Cor. 6. Apoc. 21. Deut. 27. Math. â— 1. Cor. 6. The rooâ—e oâ— adulterie The example of Alexander Against Adulterers Sapi. 3. 4. Iob. 31. Matrimony instituted of God Gene. 2. Cor. 7. In his booke intituled Eâ—chiridion militis Christians The fruits of wicked lusts The 〈…〉 of â— gooâ—â—â—â—â—e Pro. 12. 14. 18. Eccle. 25. Eccle. 26. Proue 19. Vertue â— godlinesse is â—â—â—â—ly to bâ—e respected in marriage Philelphus The end of mariage What mauner Wife is to bâ—e maried Theophrastus Cecero Pithagoras We ought not to marry without the consent of our Parents dear friends Ambrose De nuptiis tit decimo Franciscus Barbarus The example of Cyrus King of Persia Euaristus Deut. 22. Tob.