Parents houses in such a way of dishonour of Parents they go from Gods presence and let not any such Children ever look for Gods gracious presence with you in any such way but the terrifying presence rather of his justice and displeasure pursuing you as it did wandring Cain who therefore could not long rest in any place wheresoever he came It may be also said of such like Children as of him in Luke 13. that in this way left his Fathers house that he was lost and dead and so are these among the number of persons spiritually dead and if ever by grace they come to themselves as it is said of him in the parable Luke 15. 17. Surely they will lay on hard upon this sin of dishonour of Parents above all other sins as he did whence that speech thereupon Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son 4. It reproveth Childrens less honouring or 4. By slighting Parents when aged or decayed slighting of Parents when they are old or decayed in strength estate or the like contrary to that express charge of God Prov. 23. 22. despise not thy Mother when she is old It was the sin of Samuels Sons that when he was old they cared not for his counsels or checks or imitation of his godly course witness that they walked not in the steps of their Father then 1 Sam. 8. 5. So Adonijah when his Father was old and decrepit he without regard to his Fathers mind counsell or leave is ready to leap into his throne 1 Kings 1. 5. but these had dishonour from others as their punishment for this dishonour of their Parents which was their sinne The people as little regard Judge Samuels Sons 1 Sam. 8. 5. as they did their Father And Adonijah whose sin it was not to Honour his Father when he was old in way of punishment hath not the Honour of a Brother much less of an Elder Brother to Solomon but is brought to an untimely and dishonourable end That Son or daughter who despiseth Father or Mother when old seldome liveth to be old 5 It reproveth the guile of Children in pretending 5. By bare semblances of Honour of them to Honour Father or Mother when in heart they slight them like Absolom formerly mentioned pretending to Honour his Father but intending by and base ends or like him in that parable forementioned Matth. 21. 30. When his Faither saith go and work in my vineyard to day he saith I go Sir but went not Who will such be true to if you be not true to your own Parents Hence when the sin of dishonour of Parents aboundeth here and there that is accounted a perfidious time and place And God in judgement will order it that none shall trust such as have been perfidious dishonourers of Parents albeit they may have never such promising qualifications or relations in other respects Mic. 7. 5. Trust yee not in a friend put not confidence in a guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome why so for the Son Honoureth not the Father the Daughter riseth up against her Mother 6. It reproveth Childrens disgracing or any 6. By disgracing Parents way reproaching of their Parents You are ill birds which thus defile your own nests It was a vile sin in Absolom secretly to disgrace his Fathers government as if careless in it and neglective of what concerned him to look after 1 Sam. 15. 3. there is no man deputed of the King to hear thee saith that Sycophant this was Chams sin to discover his Fathers nakedness to his reproach Gen. 9. 22 25. C ham the Father of Canaan saw his Fathers nakedness and went and told his brethren without namely in a reproachfull way but Absolom and Chams stories shew that they had reproach for reproach in the issue and God will assuredly mete out to such like Children like reproach either from their Children in after times or from others as a just punishment of their reproaching their own Parents 7. It reproveth persons younger or elder having 7. By rayling against Parents Parents living that you now at any time or formerly use railing reviling girding taunting or upbraiding speeches to them or of them Prov. 30. 11. There is a generation that curseth their Father and doth not bless their Motber but such are so odious and inhumane that God singleth out Children of that sort to be cut off by the hand of civill Authority Exod. 21. 17. Levit. 20. 9. He that curseth Father or Mother let him die the death which command of God Christ himself vindicateth from the Pharisees undermining traditions Mark 7. 9 10. Or if such a sin pass the cognizance or vengeance of earthly Judges yet the Lord himself will not suffer such to escape his hand Prov. 20. 20. who so curseth Father or Mother his Lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness He shall come to a loathsome noisome dishonourable and untimely end as a Lamp or Candle that might have burned and shined much Mischiefs attending dishonour of Parents longer but is suddainly put or blown out and that with a stinking Savour left And that Children of all sorts sexes and Ages may more deeply consider and lay to heart this sin of dishonour of Parents let them look wistly and advisedly upon the mischiefs also which attend this sin 1. It maketh way in you for all other sins In 1. It maketh way for other sins Cain this let in fratricide in Absolom who also regarded not Parents or their guidance or Counsels it let in parricide intentionally 2 Sam. 17. 3 4. He never cordially honoured his Father and when he thought he had an opportunity he as little regarded his Fathers life Adrammeleck and Sharezer were no doubt such as had been traded in a way of dishonour of their Father Senacherib that they durst lay their bloody hands upon him to take away his life who had instrumentally given them theirs 2 Kings 19. 37. No doubt but from this root of dishonourable thoughts of Jacob sprung Rubens incest Gen. 49. 5. else the very reverence of a Father had deterred him from it As the Prodigall in the Parable he first breaketh this bond of Honour of Parents and so sinneth against his Father then he is at liberty to commit the vilest acts of riot excess filthinest c. that youngster in Prov. 5. 11 12 13 14 Who confesseth that it was his sin to disregard any thing that Parents of others said to him he also confesseth that even in the midst of the Congregation openly and where the best means were to the contrary he was almost in all evill 2. It bringeth Parents just curses and Gods 2. It brings a curse curse also upon you and upon your posterity As Gen. 9. 22. 25. It brought upon Cham and his posterity by Canaan C ham himself being no more exempted from that curse albeit his
hath spoken so bad of me Plutarch surely he knoweth cause enough to do so else he would not have done it an imitable example of an heathen but ingenious Child to his Father 5. Improve choycer seasons of getting good 5. Improve seasons of soul-good that you may come to be true Honourers of God and then no doubt but you will be Honourers of Parents make God only to be your God first worship him aright and sanctifie his name c. and then you will Honour Father and Mother Levit. â—9 2. Be ye holy saith God as I am holy and then vers 3. chargeth fear yea every man his Father and his Mother be pious to God-wards and you will be pious towards Parents the fear of God is the beginning of such wisdome also Prov. 10. 5. As he that sleepeth in harvest the season of reaping good soul-good also is a Son that causeth shame to Parents also so by rule of opposition he that gathereth in summer is a wise Son or one that will cause Honour to Parents as well as himself or others 6. Set often before your eyes studdy much and 6. Eye good examples this way make utmost improvement of choycer Scripture examples of persons eminen t for honor of parents as that of Shem Abraham Isaack Jacob Joseph yea Jesse himself Luke 2. 51. 7. Inure your selves betimes to Honour Fathers and Mothers without Authority as Aged persons 7. Honour aged persons Levit. 19. 32. Honour the face of the Old man Teleuchus being asked why at Sparte the younger Plut arch sort use to rise up before the aged answered that by giving Honour to others they might learn to Honour their own Parents CHAP. III. Of Honour in speciall due to Parents and that in a direct way and therein of Honour of respect and love due to Parents HAving spoken of Honour in generall required by the 5. Commandement from Children to Parents we come now to speak of Honour in speciall due to them first of that which is in a direct way and therein according to the Method propounded in the first Chapter 1. Of Honour of respect and love due to Parents that Honour is so taken in Scripture we there gave Scripture instances That honour of respect to Parents is due proved and need not now repeat them we may then note as a branch of the general point That Children are bound to Honour their Parents with the Honour of choycest respect and love Honour thy Father and Mother saith Exod. 20. 12. But having them in choycest respect and love is Honouring of them say other Scriptures therfore Children must most highly respect and love their Parents For our better handling of this branch of Honour let us only shew wherein this commanded respect and love to Parents doth consist or what is required of Children in this that they are required so highly to respect and love their Parents and then afterwards apply it by way of use To the former we answer that Children 1. They are to be delighted greatly in their This respect consisteth 1. In delighting Parents Fathers presence to be much affected with the very sight of a Father or Mother See how Joseph plotteth to have his Father near him when he could not be so near his Father Gen. 45. 10. Thou shalt be near to me c. And when he commeth to the sight of his Father after some years inforced absence of his from his Father he 's even overjoy'd as we say to see him He is as one transported for he falleth on his Fathers neck having first humbly presented himself to him Gen. 46. 29. And he wept for very extasie of joy on his neck a good while his heart was so overcome with strength of affections that for a good space he can silently weep but not utter a word that we read of till afterwards till his good old Father first brake that deep silence vers 30. and then Joseph also speaketh vers 31. As Children are to their Parents the desire of their eyes and that whereupon they set their minds their Sons and their Daughters Ezek. 24. 25. So should Parents be to Children Jacob had enough if his Son Joseph be alive and well he is content to die if God so pleased Gen. 46. 30. Let the sight of absent long absent Parents be to Children even as dear and precious and delighting as their very lives if not more as it is in that precedentall love and respect of the genuine Children of the Father of Spirits Oh the sight of his face the injoyment of his presence especially after some space of the want of his blessed presence what is it not to such Childrens hearts Such for the nature at least of our respect and love should be Childrens love to their Parents 2. They are not forward to part with 2. Backwardnesse to paâ—â— wâ—â—h them their Parents but as urged in a sort forced by any speciall call or providence of God and if sometimes called to be absent from them for a time yet to be longing in a moderate and regular way after their Company againe Both these paticulars are clear in instances the former in Ruth when her Sister Orpha left her Mother with tears in her eyes Ruth 1. 14. And they lift up their voice and wept again and Orpha kissed her Mother in Law but Ruth clave to her yea when urged by Naomi to return after her Sister-in-Law vers 15. Yet saith she vers 19. Intreat me not to leave thee for whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodged I will lodge She will share with her in wealth and woe and nothing but death shall part them vers 17. 2 King 19. 20. Elisha must needs go and kiss his Father and Mother and then he will foolow Elijah God will have the poore captive Woman when her Master liketh her for his Wife yet to bewaile her Father and Mother for a Moneth Deut. 21. 13. Such loathness God will have Children to express to part with dear Parents as Parents are wonderous loath to part with their Children living or dying unless urged by Gods Call like good old Jacob first Gen. 42. 38. My Son saith he of Benjamin shall not go down with you for his Brother is dead and he is left alone if mischief befall him by the way ye go then shall ye bring down my gray haires with sorrow to the grave and Cap. 43. 22 c. And their Father Israel said if it must needs be so then do this c. So should Children not part with their Parents till they must needs till God some way calleth them from them as the genuine Children of God such is their love to him that it is as death to part with him though but for a time Oh if it might be their Fathers pleasure they would never be from him nor have him from them So in the nature of our love to Parents should it be expressed
to them if God should take them away from us yet our love should be expressed in our greatest trouble and grief for them as Isaacks was to his Mother for three years space after as was shewed from Gen. 24. 63. compared with other Scriptures When David would express his great grief for his very afflicted enemies as if his friends or Brethren I bowed down heavily saith he as one that mourneth for his Mother a Mother-Iess Childs mourning then for a deceased Mother is the saddest of mournings Hence it was of old a good Neighbourly Custome to give a consolatory Cup to such as mourned for Father or Mother as such whose grief was deemed so great that they needed some cheering hence the contrary threatned in judgment Jer. 16. 7. Edward the first having his Father Henry the 3. newly deceased and withall one young Prince his own Son dead also he made light of his Sons death in comparison of his Fathers saying He might come to have more Sons but he should never have any more Fathers now this was gon As for the other expression of Childrens love to Parents in longing after them we see it in Jacob witness that part of his plea Gen. 28. 21. So that I come again to my Fathers house in peace and Gen 31. 30. Laban took notice that Jacob longed sore after his Fathers house as in that pattern of love of Gods Children they shew in longing sore after him and of their Communion with him Psal 42. 1 2 3. and 62. 1 2 3 c. So it is in Childrens love to their Parents only this longing after them must not exceed the bounds of particular calls and callings or relations as of Husbands Wifes Servants Ministers Magistrates c. But in such a way and season as it may not break any other bonds of God 3. Children are many waies to deny themselves 3. In denying themselves for them for their Parents choise good any way as when Children in their Parents wants or weaknesses are called to be staies to their Parents allbeit it might be more to their outward advantage to be else where yet they must be willing to suffer and lose somewhat with them and for them rather then forsake them in such a case as Ruth seeing her aged Mother-in-law who had been full of outward blessings but now is empty and very poor she will not leave her though a younger Woman and likely to do better for the outward man other where Ruth 1. 16 c. she will work hard for her stoop low to become a poor gleaner to bring in supplies to her Mother-in-law Cap. 2. and how long did Jacobs Sons imploy themselves in the Managing their Fathers estate and outward affaires supplies not alone before their Marriage Gen. 30. 35. but after witness that Gen. 37. 12 14 42. 1 2 3. 43. 15. and 47. 1 2 3 c. Yea Children are to be willing to run very great hazards or hardships for their Parents sakes rather then to indanger them in their persons and names or the like Notable is that example of good Judah Gen. 44. 33 34. having said v. 30. That his Fathers life was bound up in the Lads life so that as v. 31. If he see not him return he will die and so they shal bring their Fathers gray haires with sorrow to the grave now therefore saith Judah let thy Servant abide instead of the Lad bond-man to my Lord and let the Lad go up with his Brethren for how shall I go up to my Father and the Lad be not with me lest paradventure I see the evill that shall come to my Father Judah had rather live and die a bond-man if thereby he might lengthen out his Fathers daies by Benjamins return or prevent his sorrowfull end by the detaining Benjamin in Egypt Memorable is that story recorded by Pausanias l. 10. writing of the Catanensiaus saith that when Catana a City bordering upon Aetna was set on fire by it they made nothing of their Silver or Gold but as they fled out one taketh up his Mother upon his shoulders another his Father but because they hasted not being so loaden the fire compassed them the flame suddenly passing on yet would they not lay down their Parents wherefore they report that the flames parted as in two and passed over both the young men and their Parents without mortall hurt of them whence in his time honourable memorials were assigned by them to the Catanenses God honoured those acts of high respect to Parents with a notable deliverance and men honoured them with honourable monuments thereof And indeed what did not the pattern of filial respect to his Father the Son of God hazard and undergo for his Fathers sake and honour and what will not any genuine Child of his by his help under go rather then hazard his name or cause and there is a proportion of the like in the Children of mens love to their Parents Parents many waies denyed and hazarded themselves for Children and they may well do as much for Parents 4. They are to be exceedingly affected with 4. In being affected with Parents favour or frownes their Parents true love to them or grounded and just displeasure against them in the speaking expressions of either of them Solomon kept the Records thereof in his case as that he took speciall notice of and was much affected with and God himself took it so well that he ordereth it to be a piece of Sacred Writ Prov. 4. 3. I was saith he my Fathers Son tender and only beloved in the sight of my Mother When Ruben saw that Joseph was missing in fear of his Father distast thereof saith Gen. 37. 30. The Child is not and I whither shall I go Absolom would be feigning a genuine filiall respect to his Father in this particular that his Fathers favour is all in all to him as a Son and his life doth him no good whilest under his displeasure 2 Sam. 14. 32. He would have Joab say on his behalf to the King his Father wherefore am I come up from Geshur now therefore let me see the Kings face and if there be any iniquity in me let him kill me but he was a very Counterfeit in this God himself alludeth to the case of the displeased Father in Miriams case Numb 12. 14. If her Father saith he had spit in her face should she not be ashamed seaven daies look as it was in Christs deep affections to the expressions of his Fathers love or anger or as it is with Gods other Children that nothing more affects them then the sense of their Fathers love one way or that of his displeasure the other way So it is with ingenuous Children in a like respect of affectionatnesse with Parentall favour or anger 5. They are to prize very much Parents good 5 In prizing Parents instructions and reproofs and savoury Counsels and instructions yea their very rebukes Carefully remembring and
unnaturall wretches as you are your ruine hasteth let unnaturall Absolom's end be a warning to all such 2. It serves to reprove Parents who by your 2. Of Parents some way occasioning alienation of Childrens hearts from them own sins lay stumbling blocks in your Childrens way to tempt them to unnaturallness in affection or alienation of affection or any abatement of that Honour of respect and love which they owe to you for though it be the Child 's great sin to be so alienated in affection to Parents yet you that are Parents may do too much to occasion the same as 1. By committing some heinous sin against God against your Parents or against others and 1 By some grosse sin of theirs against God so bring this as a curse upon your Children to be so unnaturall as we shewed in the unnaturall sins of the Canaanites mentioned Lev. 20. 9 12 c. to the 23. as a just fruit of the curse upon Canaan and upon Cham his Father It was unnaturallness in Absolom to take up the sword against his own Father and to defile his Father bed openly before all 2 Sam. 15. 16. but it is no more then God by Nathan threatned David with for his Murther and Adultery that he would raise up evill to him out of his own house 2 Sam. 12. 9 10 11. 2. By unnaturall carriages towards your 2. By too unnaturall carriages towards Children Children for there are too often too many of such also found even amongst professing Parents or too many Churlish harsh and strange carriages bitter and reviling speeches unmercifull and cruell correctings and punishings of them any of these are apt to sowr Childrens Spirits and to breed alienation of heart from you that are Pareets as Labans Daughters said of their Father Laban in some heat of Spirit Gen. 31. 14 15. Is there yet any portion in our Fathers house they care not how soon they are gon farther from him are we not counted of him strangers 3. By too much greedinesse after the world 3. By Covetous pinchings making thereby your Children more like slaves for your profits then Children as basely putting them off when you have serv'd your turns by thē this made Labans Daughters speak more harshly of their father took off their hearts somewhat from him Ge. 31. 14 15. He hath sold us say they hath quite devoured our money Prov. 15. 27. He that is greedy of gaine troubleth his own house this way also as well as other waies by breeding disturbances and distances even twixt them and their Children and their Children and themselves 4. By breaking just promises made respecting 4. By breaking just promises with Children your Children especially in matters of disposall of them in marriage as when Laban basely breaketh his promise of Rachel to Jacob Ge. 29 18 19 25. his daughters harts could not get clear of these old matters Ge. 31. 14 15. He that sold us c. what portiō have we in his house when children are crost in their just desires as when Merab Sauls daughter is promised to David 1 Sam. 28. 17. just when she was to have had him then she is given to Adriel v. 19. This must needs breed ill blood yea when Parents will force Children to break strongest engagements of love lawfully made to those they would have had as when Michal Sauls Daughter loveth David and is given to him 1 Sam. 18. 27 28. and yet afterward given to Phalti 1 Sam. 25. 44. or when Sampsons Wife is given away by his Father-in-Law to another Judg. 15. 2. this provoked him to seek revenge of that wrong vers 3. 6. Or when you that are Parents will be forcing of matches for sinister and low ends upon your Children crosse to the very bent of their minds as Saul to cause his Daughter Merab to have Adriel when she was to have had David sad have been the mischiefes of this in unnaturall acts of Children against very Parents stirred up therein by such cross acting of Parents One de Sales a French-man stifled his Father a grave Counsellour in Tholous in France because he would not consent to his marriage with one de la Hay So in Fidelia and Caelestina too Italian Ladies who crossed by their Father in their matching to their minds they conspire his death and got him murthered 5. By misplacing your respects upon unworthy 5. By mispleacing affections upon unworthy Children Children as Isaac upon Esau who proved one that little respected his Father witness his crosse matchings to the grief of his Fathers heart Gen. 25. 28. Isaac loved Esau because he eat of his venison Cap. 26. 34 35. Esau took Judith and Balhshema which were a grief of heart to Isaac and Rebeckah David misplaced his respect upon Absolom and loved him too well and more than other his Children and he proved the most unnaturall wretch to him of them all 2 Sam. 15. Cristina a Switzer she inordinately affected her Son Maurice would hardly believe any evill report against him though never so true and this Fellow afterward turned a paricide and by a wile drew his Mother to look into a deep wel and there threw her in where she perished Use 2. For exhortation A second use of this branch of the generall point is for exhortation 1. To Children to cherrish strengthen and inlarge 1 To Children to cherish naturall respects of love to Parents your respect and love to your Parents wherein I may say as Aristotle doth in his Ethicks l. 8. Cap. 16. speaking of the honour due to God and Parents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No man can give them the honour whereof they are worthy only he that to his utmost doth endeavour to give them highest respect he may be called pious Children are never able to aequalize Motives to it or match Parents love to their Children Parents love to Children is as to so many pieces of themselves but Childrens love to Parents is as of those who come from them So that Parents love to Children descendeth as from springs or Fountaines to the streames issuing from them and therefore runneth down more strongly freely and uncessantly but Childrens love to Parents is ascending therefore moveth more slowly and gently and needeth more help in its motion Aristotle observeth well that of which any thing is generated is by a greater and more forcible necessity nearly knit to that which is generated of it than that which is born and generated is to that which begot it Eth. l. 8. Cap. 14. Parents love also hath the start of time to that of their Childrens for Parents love their Children as soon as they are born but Children love their Parents and respect them when they come to understanding and are of some years Parents prevented Children in their love Children can never overtake them therein only must follow them as hard in the way of love as they can Children when little
Concerning the first such children especially are bound 1. To be observing minding prising and treasuring up such parents good speeches as so many oracles of God which will evidence to all that their Children honour them Job 15. 18. which wise men have told from their Fathers and have not hid it a sign then that those wise Children minded well and stored up their godly Fathers counsels so Psal 44. 1 2. We have heard with our ears Oh God our Fathers have told us what thou didst in their dayes c. So Psal 78. 2 3. I will utter mysterious sayings of old which we have heard and known and our Fathers have told us Prov. 4. 3 4. For I was my Fathers Son he taught me also and said to me retain my words keep my Commandements and live Get wisdome yet understanding c. To which purpose also children must in case of any difficulty or doubt arising to them repair firstly to their godly parents for counsell and resolution How oft is that mentioned when thy Son asketh thee in time to come saying what mean the Testimonies and the Statutes which the Lord our God hath Commanded you then thou shalt say thus and thus to thy Son c. Deut. 6. 20 21 22 23 24 25. So Exod. 13. 14. Josh 4. 6 21. This reflecteth much Honour upon parents wisdome and ability that they are able to give forth Gods mind to their children and upon their piety and fidelity that they make conscience to do it and upon their holy industry and vigilancy that they are ready to take all occasions to help on their Children in the things of God 2. To acquaint parents in the first place with 2. By acquainting them with their secrets all their Secrets which are of weight It s implyed in Sampsons speech speaking of his Riddle Judg. 14. 16. I have not told my Father nor my Mother and should I tell it thee This evidenceth that Children magnifie their parents wisdome and fidelity above others that their breasts shall be the only prime Cabinet of the Childrens Secrets 3. To ask leave of their parents at least whil'st 3 By asking their leave for what they do Children are under their tuition for what they do Ruth 2. 2. Let me go I pray thee saith Ruth to Naomi to glean in his field in whose eyes I shall find favour and she said go my Daughter Exod. 4. 18. Let me go saith Moses to Jethro and return to my brethren which are in Egypt and see whether they be yet alive and Jethro said to Moses go in peace 2 Sam. 13. 26. Let my brother Ammon go with us saith Absolom to David though out of a bad end and Chap. 15. 17. Let me go I pray thee and pay my vow unto the Lord in Hebron saith Absolom to his Father though out of a base end If Dinah as its probable did without leave from her parents go to see the daughters of the Country then was it no wonder that being out of her way she so miscarried as Genesis 34. 1 2. Shechem saw her took her and lay with her and defiled her This also redounds to the Honour of the Parents Authority that Children shew thereby that they dare not attempt any thing without their likings yea and their wisdome-fidelity is hereby honoured that they know better what is meet for Children to do than themselves and will order their wayes better than they can do themselves 4. To set forth to parents praise what is good in 4. By setting forth the praise worthiness in parents them as occasion requireth and to maintain their names even when they are dead all they can Prov. 31. 28. Her Children rise up and call her blessed 5. To vindicate any wrongs injury or dishonor 5. By vindicating parents wrongs done to parents so far as it lyeth in the compass of Childrens calls places thus Amaziah 2 Kings 14. 5. as soon as confirmed in his Kingdome he slew his servants who had slain Jehoash his Father 6. To do parents all the honour they can at 6. By honouring them at their death their death Genes 25. 9. Abrahams Sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the Cave of Machpelah So Gen. 35. 29. Isaacs Sons Esau and Jacob buried him Gen. 50. 8. And Joseph went up to bury his Father and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh and all the Elders of his house and all the Elders of Egypt and all the house of Joseph and his Brethren and his Fathers house only they left their little ones their flocks and herds in the land of Goshen they and their wives also went so 7. By thankfull rendring notable mercies shewed to parents great a journey to solemnize the old Fathers Funerall and to do him Honour there 7. To maintain a thankfull remembrance of remarkable mercies extended to parents or Ancestors Esay 38. 19. The living the living he shall praise thee as I do this day saith Hezekiah when he recovered from so great a death the Father to the Children shall make known thy truth God would have them of old to perpetuate their Ancestors deliverance out of Egypts bondage Exod. 13. 8 9 10. From the slaughter of their first born there which to the succeeding posterity were also Fathers Exod. 12. 25 26 27. So Est 9. 21 22 23 24 26 27. Care was taken for the perpetuation of a thankfull remembrance succesfully for their Ancestors delivery from the mischiefs of Hammons bloody plot And if our Fathers had more Honour put upon them in our thankfull solemnizing the memoriall of their deliverance from the horrid mischief of that devilish Powder-plot in the year 1605. it might do well Surely it redoundeth to parents Honour if they are of so high esteem and respect in their Childrens eyes that any notable mercy extended to them shall be for ever kept in thankfull remembrance by their posterity 8. To improve godly persons interest in the 8. To make best improvement of the holy interests Lord and in his Covenant by faith and to plead them in their prayers this act of Children redoundeth exceedingly to parents Honour holding forth their parents to be persons so highly honoured of God as to be deeply interested in him in his Covenant and Grace and to be of such faith in God and in his Covenant thus did David twice Psalm 116. 16. Truly Lord I am thy servant the Son of thy handmaid Psal 86. 16. give thy strength to thy servant and save the Son of thy handmaid In the former he in a holy wise glorieth in his Mothers interest in the latter he pleadeth her interest in the Lord 1 Kings 8. 25 26. Therefore now Oh Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my Father that which thou promis'dst him So Jacob pleaded his Grand-Fathers and his Fathers interest Gen. 32. 5. And Jacob said Oh God of my Father Abram God of my Father Isaac c. 9. To imitate all
Honour of Respect Reverence Obedience and Recompence to Fathers of our flesh and such carrying of it so by Children as it redoundeth to parents honour as we have largely declared O what Honour of Respect Reverence Obedience and holy Recompence to him and what manner of carrying of it so as may redound to his Honour doth God expect from you his Chldren to whom he is not only a Father of your Spirit or Soul as he is to all others but a covenant-Covenant-Father If God require that to Parents from their Children upon pain of life and death he much more requireth this from you his Covenant and Church-Children upon pain of loss of eternal life and undergoing eternal death But is that the Honour of Respect which you who are degenerate Children give to this your Father to have no desire of the knowledge of his wayes As it is said of that degenerate generation in Job 21. 14 15. whether those in Jobs own time or those before the floud of whom Job 22. 15 16 17 18. but to wish rather what those wretches there mentioned that God might depart from you in respect of any such motions which he maketh and convictions and restraints upon your Spirits which sometimes you meet with and to take no delight at all in God in his word worship wayes daies government Saints and Servants Or is this the honour of Reverence which you give him to be awless fearless of his presence when you are in his house when at Prayer with your Parents or the like and to be constantly fearless of his displeasure or of sinning against him Or is this the Honour of Obedience which you give him to obey the motions of your own hearts lusts of your Companions of Seducers and of the very Divell himself but as for Gods charge or Commands you make light of them So that God may say of you as he did of that degenerate generation of old and speak of it as inter horrenda Hear O Heavens and give ear O earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished Children and they have rebelled against me the Oxe knoweth his owner the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Ah sinfull Nation Children that are corruptors they have forsaken the holy one they are gone away backward Isa 1. 2 3 4. And as Isa 30. 9. This is a rebellious people lying Children Children that will not hear the law of the Lord. Or is this the honour of holy Recompence which you should have rendered to him for all his benefits towards you to depart from him to vex and provoke his holy Spirit which is striving with you as he was with that degenerate generation in Gen. 6. 2 3. to corrupt your selves as did that other generation mentioned Deut. 32. 5. whose spot was not the spot of Children or of right-bred children of God who were a crooked and perverse generation Surely God may and doth say to you as he did by Moses to them vers 6. Do you thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise is not he thy Father that hath bought thee hath not he made and established thee finally is this your being an honour to God your heavenly father to cause the name of God to be blasphemed and the way of truth to be evill spoken of for your sakes as it may be said of you which was said of those degenerate Jewes Rom. 2. 23. Thou that makest thy boast of the law through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God vers 24. For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you when such as you are by your vile speeches carriages opinions or courses of life shall occasion the prophaner sort or enemies to God and his Church Ironically to say as they of old did of those degenerate Jewes Ezech. 36. 20. These are the people of the Lord So by your meanes others now a daies to say of you Yea these are your younger generation of the Church these are those that are in the Covenant of grace these are your Church-members these are they which in their Infant-Baptism were devoted to the faith and worship of Father Son and Holy Ghost these are the brood of such Puritan Ministers and other precise followers and the like blasphemous sarcasmes wherin the Lords precious name together with his Truth Covenant Saints and Servants are also vilely reproached Again as such Children are Gods Servants and Children so they are by externall calling Covenant and Church Interest his subjects also Of them is Gods kingdome Luk. 18. 16 17. Now for His Subjects such as you are who are the subjects of the Lord thus to break your Oath or Covenant of Allegiance and to reject his goverment over you by his Word Spirit or Discipline like those degenerate Jewes who said of the promised Messiah Jesus Christ We will not have this man to rule over us Luke 19. 27. Hereby you do but rebel against your Lord and Soveraign and what is rebellion but as the sin of witchcraft 1 Sam. 15. 23. even a hellish execrable and damnable crime But to proceed to the other branches of the evill of sin in this degeneration of such Children In which we shall be more brief 2. Hereby you become breakers of Covenant 2. It is a breach of Covenant with God with God with whom you are confederate Yea you hereby tear off the very seal of the Covenant even your Baptism Thus God when telling Moses how that people would degenerate he saith Deut. 31. 20. They would break his Covenant so Isaiah charging the degenerate generation in his daies also with their sin he saith Isa 24. 5. They have transgressed the Lawes they have broken the everlasting Covenant And as for invalidating after a sort of the Covenant-seal thereby you may see it in those degenerate ones mentioned even now Rom. 2. 25. If thou be a breaker of the law thy Circumcision which to them was the seal of the Covenant and of the righteousness of faith as Baptism is to us Gen. 10. 11 13. Rom. 4. 11. is made uncicumcision and so ineffectuall It is as it were torn off and trampled under foot through that sin of theirs Now if this be so heinous a thing with men to break Covenant with Princes to tear off tread under foot their broad seals how evill is this in Gods sight and if that breach of a Covenant made before God even with a tyrant by Zedechiah were so grievous to God that as Ezech. 17. 15 16 17. he saith Shall he escape that doth such things or shall he break Covenant and be delivered So I may say here to these degenerate Children of the godly shall such as you are escape the fiery displeasure of God that do such things or shall you that break Gods Covenant be delivered from wrath to come no assuredly unlesse the Lord give you repentance unto life And consider of it in the fear of God
matter be good and right As if he were very sollicitous of Right twixt man and man but withall telleth them there is none deputed by the King to hear thee Now he beginneth closely to scatter seeds of prejudice and discontent in the subjects against the present government set over them then vers 4. wisheth in their hearing Oh that I were Judge in the Land that every man which hath any sute or cause might come to me and I would do him Justice now he speaketh a good word for himself to be thought of and put in some chief place in the state and vers 5. every subject that cometh near him must have his hand he must take him he must imbrace him and kiss him and no wonder that now he hath as v. 6. even stollen away the hearts of the men of Israel Oh thinketh every one what a worthy and hopefull Prince is this how sollicitous that every man do right and have right done him how marvellous kind and condescending to the meanest subject he would surely make us in time a very good King c. Now Absolom hath plaid his game well thus far it remaineth onely that Absolom in pretence at least give his Father the Honour of going by his leave to Hebron a place fittest to hatch the Treason against his Father which he hath been all that while brooding and where that fire may flame out best which he hath been kindling this leave is easily gained from his Father vers 7 8 9. he hath 200 men to attend him to Hebron and when thither come Achitophel is sent for the conspiracy is ripened and numbers of Associates daily increase and good David soon perceiveth his mistake in his Sons pretended submission and obeisance Yea but the fifth Commandment would cut off all such Attractives to selfish Honour of Parents and therefore saith Honour thy Father and thy Mother namely poor or rich high or low as well I that hath nothing to give and leave thee as that hath never so much hence when Christ would shew upon what as upon their bottome and basis all the commands of God either respecting God or men do hang and depend he saith Matth. 22. 37 38. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all tby heart this is the first and great Commandement and vers 39. the second is like to this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self and vers 40. On these two Commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets those are the two wel-springs of all obedience to the Law and word of God and therefore all the particulars are reducible to those two heads if the Honour of respect reverence or obedience which we give to God be not from love to our selves or to our own ends but to himself then it is honouring of God indeed so if our honour which we give to our Parents be not from love to our selves but it is from intire love to them that we shew forth such respect or reverence or obedience or thankfulness to them now it is Honour of Parents indeed Again as it must not be Honour of Parents from self-love as opposed to intire love of Parents so it must not be from self-love as opposed to love of God the love of whom especially should put Children upon Honouring the Image of his Father-hood in their Parents hence in that Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear every man his Mother and Father why so I am the Lord thy God and so thy Father in Covenant and Covenant-mercies and priviledges a Father of mercies promised and offered to them c. therefore out of love to me Honour every one of you his Parents And as Childrens honour of Parents must not be selfish in reference to love of self-profit and preferment or the like so neither in reference to love of self-ease or meer immunity from punishments or corrections in any contrary way of dishonour whether from Parents privately or the civil Magistrate publickly if Childrens Honour of reverence and obedience which they outwardly hold forth should be extracted chiefly from the force of Parents austere carriage or threats or blows or the dread of the correction from civill Authority or the like it is a slavish and not a filiall Honouring of them when Paul would express in a word that Timothy served with him in the Gospel neither formally nor feignedly nor selfishly nor slavishly nor forcedly but freely sincerely and regularly he expresseth it thus Phil. 2. 22. As the Son with the Father he hath served with me in the Gospel the Honour then of a Son to the Father is or should be neither feigned formall selfish nor slavish 2 In an affirmative way we say the Honour Honour of Parents must be 1. Cordiall of Parents 1. It must be cordiall not alone God as a Father must have each of his Childrens hearts in all the Honour they give him as his Sons and Daughters but Solomon as a Father may groundedly say as Prov. 23. 26. My Son give me thy heart namely as that which must crown all the Honour which thou my Son must give me as thy Father thus Timothy serveth with Paul in the Gospel as with his Father by grace as an ingenious Son with his Father at any other work namely with all his heart Phil. 2. 22. 2. It must be constant as long as the relation 2. Constant holdeth firm twixt Parent and Child which is as long as they Coexist in this world and till one of the Relates are taken away by death Parents from Children or Children from Parents they must obey this morall precept which bindeth semper ad semper alwaies and to all times Honour thy Father and Mother hath no prefixed time set to it It is not Honour thy Father and Mother whil'st a little one whil'st a youth whil'st so or so old whil'st in a single condition or with the like limitations no but it is without restraint and limitation to ages sexes conditions places relations callings imployments it is for term of life and that to which each one Male or Female younger or elder married or unmarried learned or unlearned godly or ungodly high or low Prince or Peasant rich or poor is bound unto hence also that Prov. 23. 22. despise not thy Mother when she is old when she was young yea when she was middle aged or the like thou prisedst and respectedst and didst reverence and obey her do it as well when she is old hold on doing of it to the last Age may wear and waste a Mothers beauty strength parts senses limbs estate c. but her relation of a Mother is as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might for the ever of this life that is alwayes in its meridian and knoweth no evening the person may be gray-headed but her Motherly relation is ever in its flourish It may be Autumn yea Winter with the woman but with the Mother as a Mother it is alwayes Spring Look as that
worship In case of grosse Idolatry or the like then zealous Levi saith to his Father and to his Mother I have not seen him Deut. 33. 9. And Asaph an highest Civill Ruler called to do justice without respect of persons he removeth Maacha his Idolatrous Mother from her Regency 1 King 15. 13. 5. That it be not so as when you are called Or 5. Such as for them to neglect just respects to others to maried conditions then for Parents sakes to neglect just respects to your spouses and regard to your Families welfare Gen. 30. 30. in that case Jacob will say to Laban his Father-in-Law when shall I provide for my house and that Law Gen. 2. 24. taketh here place for this cause shall a man forsake Father and Mother and cleave to his Wife 2. Of exhortation to Parents to carry it so 2. To Parents to carry it so as may win respect as may even win and gain such respect and love from your Children which is due from them as for instance 1. Be frequently instructing your Children in the best things in their Soul-matters this won Solomons heart the more to his Father David insomuch that he keepeth a honourable record of his Fathers instructions Prov. 4 4 5 6 c. The bond of love is doubled when natural Fathers by Gods blessing upon their instructions and admonitions become spirituall Fathers of their Children and a twofold cord is not easily broken 2. Be ever and anon incouraging your Children 1. By incouraging them in good in any good thing hence that Allusion Isa 66. 13. as on whom his Mother comforteth which as they are more abundantly encouraged by them so enlarged also in affections to them Famous is the example of William Hunters Mother as he was leading to the stake for Christ Son William saith she I think thee as well bestowed as ever any Mr. Fox Acts and Mon. Child that I bare in my womb and that example of the Mother of that little Child which was Martyred with Romanus who stood by incouraging her Child and when all others almost wept to see the Childs tortures she stood by rejoycing and when that fatall act of cruelly was to be done upon the Child to take away its Head after she had taken her Child and kissed it she stood by singing All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord we yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints We know most dear to be bidding the Child also to remember the children of Bethlehem who were martyr'd for Christ 3. Be ready to defend and vindicate Children 3. By defending them in a just cause in any just cause as Joash did his Son Gedeon against those that complained of him for throwing down Baals Altar Judg. 6. 29 30 31. and Joash said to them will yee plead for Baal will ye save him he that will plead for him let him be put to death if he be a God let him plead for himself the blind-mans Parents did not thus who out of a base fear put off all to their Son he is old enough let him answer for himself John 9. 21. yea let Parents vindicate their children from unjust slanders as the Father of the wronged Damsel was to do Deut. 22. 13. to 9. this must needs win love 4. Be conscionable sollicitous of your childrens 4. By care of their outward weal. outward welfare as was Jacob of his Sons Ge. 37. 14. and Jesse of his Son 1 Sam. 17. 17. this also much gaineth upon childrens hearts 5. Carry it towards your children with much 5. By Compassionatness toward them tenderness and bowels as need and prudence requireth Numb 11. 12. Carry them in thy bosom as a nursing Father the sucking child Psal 103. 13. as a Father patieth his children Mal. 3. 17. as a Father spareth his Son that serveth him this as it breaketh every way-ward heart of a child so it winneth the Son as it is in the fruit of Gods bowels expressed to his children so in mens to theirs CHAP. IV. Of Honour of Reverence due from children to Parents WE have handled that first branch of Honour of Parents in a direct way we now proceed to the second which is the Honour of Reverence for so Honour is taken as we shewed in the 1. Chapter Observe then as a second branch of the generall point that Children are to Honour their Parents with the Honour of Reverence Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear Honour of Reverence due to Parents every man his Mother and every man his Father Heb. 12. 9. the Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them due reverence For the better handling of this part of Childrens duty we shall first shew wherein this Reverence of Parents consisteth and is expressed and 2. Make use of it Touching the first we say this Reverence due to Parents is either outward or inward 1. Then outward Reverence is due from children 1. Outward as to Parents and so 1. Children are to rise up and to stand bare before their Parents when they come to them or speak to them for if of Fathers in age God saith Rise up before the hoary head and Honour the face of the old man Levit. 19. 31. Rising to Parents he surely requireth it of children to their own Parents Henre the excuse of Rachel though a married woman from unavoidable necessity as reason why she rose not up to her Father Laban Gen. 31. 35. And Rachel said to her Father Let it not displease my Lord that I cannot rise up before thee for the custome of women is upon me it must be some avoidable necessity that must be a just reason that children rise not up before their Parents else Parents have just reason to be displeased when Achsah daughter to Caleb is to request a thing of her Father she keepeth not her posture of sitting in which she was before but lighteth off the beast she rode upon and then speaketh her mind to her Father Judg. 1. 13 14 15. It stands not with Parents Honour for children to sit and speak but rather they should stand up when they speak to Parents 2. If Parents be comming towards children they 2. To meet parents comming are to prevent them and meet them 1 Kings 2. 19. Bathsheba went to Salomon to speak for Adonijah and the King rose up to meet her 3. They are to bow to them so Salomon 1 Kings 3. To bow to them 2. 19. he bowed himself to his Mother So Joseph Gen. 48. 12. and Joseph brought them out from between his Fathers knees and he bowed himself with his face to the earth So Moses to his Father-in-Law did obey sance and all these their Sons were great men yet not too great or high to stoop in way of Honour of Reverence to Parents 4. They must speak Reverently both to their 4. To speak to them and of them reverently Parents and of them
yea also in those spirituall matters of their souls in the things and comforts of God and of his word and seals and services c. The way to have body and soul to do well and prosper yea the way to have God himself shining and smiling upon children to have Gods blessing upon childrens reading hearing and meditating of the word to have God answering even their prayers to have God ordering all things for good to them which befall them to have God to be with them and bless all they do take in hand to do well by them in life and death is to yeeld due and true obedience to Parents Prov. 15. 5. is verified in obedientiall hearkning to Parents counsels or rebukes the eare that heareth reproof abideth among the wise It is amonst the number of them else that care or person would not hearken but which is more it abideth among them such an one doth not apostatize from the company and condition of persons truly wise I fear if the bottom of the Apostasie of many promising professors now a daies were searched into this would be found there they were or are disobedient children to their parents but as for the obedient God is so well pleased with them that he thinks he can never deal well enough with them Now in the third place we shall make use of 1. Use of reproof of childrens this branch even of siliall obedience the use whereof serveth 1. For reproof and that first of children 1. Of such who in shew express obedience to 1. Pretended obedience your Parents commands but in reality do it not like the Son in the Parable who when bid by his Father to go and work in his Vineyard he saith I go Sir but went not Matth. 21. 30. Or if you do any thing which for the matter of it is injoyned by your Parents yet formally and properly it s not filial obedience but rather yeelding obedience to some lust of your own which biddeth you do such and such things which Parents enjoyn As when a covetous lust will put you on to do your Fathers will and work that you may have the gain of it or the like or if you do at length what Parents require in a better manner yet it may abase you that you did it not more readily and seasonably you first were too disobedient in your carriage like the Son in the parable that said at first he would not Matth. 21. 28 29. Afterward indeed he repented and went and so at last did the will of his Father But it was to him and by proportion should be to you a ground of penitent shame and sorrow that at first you were so disobedient 2. Of such children who are plainly disobedient 2. Disobedience to parents to your Parents and persist in it or at least continue too long in it without repentance for the same Some there are that when their Parents do even stoop somewhat below themselves and not command so much as intreat them to do this or that lawfull thing at their request yet will boldly deny their parents desires like the Elder Son in the Parable who when his Father commeth out to him and intreateth him to come in will not come in Luk. 15. 28 29. Some when their Parents would have them of an honest calling or course of life as more fit for that and such as may be more serviceable to God and men in it yet will not be ruled no they must take to some other course that their foolish hearts like better or else their Parents cannot be in quiet like Adonijah that contrary to God and his Father Davids mind would needs be a King when yet he was no way fitted for it 1 King 1. Some will like those in Gen. 6. 2. be matching but as themselves only foolishly fansie and Parents cannot be at rest for them but they must needs have such a one like Sampson Judg. 14. 2. He came and told his Father and Mother saying I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistins now therefore get her for me to wife and when his Parents wisely and faithfully replyed vers 3. Is there never a daughter among all my people that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistins Sampson saith to his Father get her for me for she pleaseth me or is right enough in mine eyes Some children are grown to such an height of disobedience as they are grown stubborn resolute wilful in their disobedience they are long habituated in it they will not now be counselled commanded reproved or corrected by Parents they are above that they are past that they will be no longer curbed or controlled not they by Mother or Father either but little do you consider what a black brand you do carry herein upon your selves of your reprobation and as a token thereof of your judiciall hardening It was said of Esau Esau have I hated or in my counsell rejected Rom. 9. and what a grief of mind was he to his Parents by disobedient carriage in his matches Gen. 26. When God hath a mind to ruinate Elies Sons as men of Belial whom he abhorred 1 Sam. 2. 25. It s said they hearkened not to the voyce of their Father they would on in their course say the old man what he will to the contrary because the Lord would slay them Their counsels commands checks rebukes yea and corrections too are not hearkened to but all slighted to make way for the fatall ruin of children devoted and destinated to saddest ends either by the hand of some enemies as in the case of Hophni and Phineas 1 Sam. 2. 25. compar'd with Chap. 4. 11. or by the hand of civill justice as Deut. 21. 20 21. they bring out their stubborn Son that will not be ruled by them and he is stoned to death sometimes by some more immediate hand of God as that disobedient yong man which would none of the voyce of his teachers parents or others he hated their reproofs c. He is smitten by dreadfull horror of conscience inwardly whence that dolefull mourning at last when it is too late Prov. 5. 11 12 13. and with lothsome diseases outwardly he even rotteth above ground and pineth away his flesh and body is consumed ibid. And hence we might give instances of very dreadfull examples of the lives and deaths of stubborn and disobedient children and what other can be expected when they are in that black rowl of persons given up of God to a reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. He gave them up to a mind void of judgement to do those things which are not convenient being filled with all unrighteousness v. 29 c. disobedient to parents v. 30. 2. It serveth to reprove parents who any way 2. Of parents occasioning childrens disobedience 1. By abusing their Authority occasion disobedience in children 1. By abusing their authority in giving out unjust commands to them which the
child towards a Mother and of a Brother or Sister towards a Brother or Sister especially when afflicted Esay 63. 9. and Mark 3. 35. It will be a Christ-like part and an Image of his indeared and self-denying respects to us who have done to him any services and offices of love that gracious children be as children indeed in way of holy recompences by all due respects succour and sympathy of love to their afflicted Mothers or Fathers for all those greater services succours and sympathies of their love towards them 3. Let children recompence parents by being 3. In being very sollicitous of parents good and safety in hazzards and straits effectually sollicitous of their parents outward safety and good in times of danger and straits thus David fearing the malicious rage of Saul against his parents for his sake secureth them with the King of Moab whom he requested saying 1 Sam. 22. 3. Let my Father and Mother I pray thee come forth and be with you till I know what God will do for me and vers 4. he brought them before the King of Moab and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the hold So Jesus Christ that unparalleld example of thankful recompence of parents see Joh. 19. 26 27. how sollicitous he is and what effectual order he taketh for his poor Mother even then when he hung bleeding upon the Cross when Jesus saw his Mother and the disciple standing by whom he loved he saith unto his Mother Woman behold thy Son then he saith to the Disoiple Behold thy Mother or take her use her love her tender her look to her do for her as for thy own Mother and so indeed John understood Christs speech and therefore it is added And from that hour that Disciple took her unto his own home When a Lion intercepteth Sampson and his Father and Mother in their journey Judg. 14. 5 6. Sampson interposeth twixt danger and his parents adventureth his own life and slaieth the Lion when danger was impending upon Jericho and a bloody storm was gathering over it Rahab will not be saved alone but must have her Parents and Kindred also preserved Josh 2. 13. That ye will save alive my Father and my Mother and my Brethren and Sisters and all that they have and deliver our lives from death And indeed parents are the head of the Family and as it is in the body natural every member is ready to rescue the head from hurt and rather expose it self to hazzard than indanger the head so should it be in the body oeconomicall the children especially should take all effectuall care that may be to preserve their parents from hazzard or harms like those young men of Catana of whom we spake before which adventured the very flames to preserve their parents from burning Scipio Africanus when the consul Scipio Cornelius his Father had almost lost the day to Hannibal and was now both sorely wounded and surrounded by the enemy he being then but 17 years old boldly and undauntedly breaketh through the surrounding enemy and rescueth his Father from that danger as Livy reporteth young Manlius Son to Lucius Manlius a young man of rare abilities and sit for publique services but put by his Father to live an obscure life in too mean imployments for which amongst other faults his Father was to be impeached by Pomponius the Tribune which young Manlius perceiving he repaireth early to the Tribunes Chamber who supposing he came to help on the intended impeachment of his Father he caused all to depart the room but young Manlius having a sword privily under his coat threatned the Tribune with present death unless he would swear to desist wholly from prosecution of his Father and as Valerius Maximus reporteth he did so and so rescued his Father from that danger overlooking all unkind passages mentioned of his Father towards him when the Son of Craesus who was formerly dumb saw a Persian Souldier ready to run him thorow though to him unknown who he was it is said that this young man that for a time had lived mute for himself then for the safety of his Father he obtained power to speak for he cryed out to the Persian Soldier Oh do not kill King Craesus my Father as also Val. Max. l. 5. reporteth Such strange effects even in poor Pagans hath their sollicitous care of their parents safety produced and let not the children of Christians be behind hand therein Herein also must children vicem reddere pay and give in like for like Oh the many sollicitous thoughts and most serious endeavours of parents about their childrens safety and outward good when time was when they were but in any likely-hood of any harm come to them when they were little if they were but missing a while from home and their parents not knowing where they were like Joseph and Mary when Jesus being then 12 years old was missing they sought him sorrowing Luke 2. 48. So have dear parents many a time done the like for their children if looking but a little more pale than usual or not eating their meat as at other times Ah the fears and heart-akes of tender-hearted parents about them lest they should fall sick or if any way hurt or in pain or sick Oh the sorrowful dayes and nights which parents that while pass over fearing lest they should miscarry and how many castings about and contrivings and inquiries are made by parents what way or course or means might be seasonably used which is most likely to ease or heal or revive their dear children and to rescue them from the Jawes of death let children repay unto parents like for like How many hazzards how many sufferings have parents formerly exposed themselves unto for childrens good and safety Like Moses his parents Heb. 11. 23. through faith hiding Moses when an infant from the mischief of Pharaohs Butchery not fearing the Tyrants bloody edict which was that each male child of the Israelites should be slain or like David who understanding that wife and children and all are captived by the Amalekites he will adventure a thousand hazzards but he will rescue them Many a tender-hearted Mother will expose her self to be some way mischiefed by a bear or bull or dog or the like to save and rescue her child from being hurt by any of them when they are in imminent danger thereof She will be ready to thrust her tender hand into the very fire to pull or snatch out her little child from being burnt or scorched by it Now let children repay them like for like 4. Let children in way of recompence improve 4. In improving their utmost interests in God or men fot their good their best interests either in God for their good inward or outward through exercise of their faith in prayer or otherwise for that end or in men by intreaties or otherwise to further the same parentall good As Hester did for her Unckle Mordecai who had been
side or the like Let him relieve or Minister sufficiently to them besides this sin invalidateth what in you lyeth the 5th Commandement Mar. 7. 10 11 12 13. Moses saith Honour thy Father and Mother but you will not suffer a man to do ought for his Father or Mother and so make the word of God of none effect nor will any pretences as there are for need of what parents should have for religious uses for the Corban and that by bestowing the same upon such uses parents will have benefit enough and the like not such nor any other pretence whatsoever will pass with God why children should neglect or omit so weighty a duty of ministring to their parents If Job say if I have seen any poor without covering if his loynes have not blessed me then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade c Job 31. 19 20 21. Surely much less could he charge himself with any such sin as this is we are speaking of and lest any pretend ignorance of parents straights and wants verily you must look after that and make sure of that that they do not lack any suitable supply as 1 Tim. 5. 8 16. Evinceth and let men take heed they delude not themselves this way I may say as Solomon said in another cause Prov. 24. 12. If thou sayest behold we knew it not Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it and he that keepeth thy soul doth not he know it and shall not he render to every man according to his works if Christ be so severe against neglect and omission of supply of ministring to his other needy sick or imprisoned ones as Matth. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels vers 42. For I namely in my members as vers 46. expoundeth it was hungry and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave no drink vers 43. I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not How dreadfully will he speak to all and every one of you who are unnaturall ingratefull Children who have suffered your Christian Parents to want such supply and help as you might have ministred but did it not And here also as subordinate to this particular reproved in children we might reprove deboist youngsters who by their dissolute courses wast their estates whereby they might have ministred to Parents wants afterwards but by their own prodigality come to be disinabled But we shall leave them to consider of 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. and Prov. 23. 20 21 29. to the end and Isa 5. 22. and verse 11. unto verse 18. and such other Scriptures 3. It serveth to abase such of you as any way 3. Such as steal away or wast Parents estates impair your Parents outward Estates by stealing from them as Prov. 28. 24. Who so robbeth his Father or his Motber and saith it is no transgression is the Companion of a destroyer or a destroying man Heb. a Highway-side robber or associate to them inuring himself to pilfer smaller matters from Parents Imagining or at least pretending to himself or others that there is no hurt no great fault in that he learneth the trade of thieving and at length is an open practitioner thereof and is a destroying man to himself at last commeth to the Gallowes This as I may say is the Genesis of such a youngsters course and many a wretch at the Gallowes hath made an answerable Analysis of his lewd course till he hath brought it up to this as the very head and beginning of it they first began to pilfer this and that from their Father and Mother else had never come to this sad end Michas thieving and stealing from his Mother received indeed a stop Judg. 17. 1 2. But he occasioned his Mothers curse ibid. and so many such like acts occasion the like from other Parents But say you wast not your Parents estates this way if you do it by secret excesse in Drinking and Feasting or in gaming or company-keeping it is an evill requitall to your Parents for all their care and paines to lay up somewhat to mantain their children comfortably and honourably and you thus basely cast it away Prov. 16. 26. He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth shame Mothers who of the two are the most tender-hearted towards their Children yet even their hearts are alienated from children by such vile courses Such profuse mispending of Fathers Estates even chaseth away a tender hearted Mother But oh how farr doth it estrange the heart of the Lord himself from any such miscreants as you are 4. It serveth to abase such of you as are cruel 4. Such as are hard-hearted to their Brethren or hard-hearted to your fellow brethren or sisters like Edomites to the Israelites their kindred not only looking on upon them in their Affliction without succouring of them but spoyling of them themselves Obad. 12. 13 14 c. For which the vengeance of God was then threatned and afterwards executed upon them Now such ingratefull unkind dealings with your Brethren it is unkind requitall of your Parents in Gods account As Abimelech and the men of Shechem raging so against his seventy Brethren Judg. 9. 2 3 4 5 6. It s called wickedness done by Abimelech to his Father and God accordingly avenged the same by making Abimelech and the Shechemits which were fellow-actours in that Inhumanity to be mutuall executioners of divine Justice each upon other Judg. 9. 56. Thus God rendred the wickednesse of Abimelech which he did unto his Father in slaying his seventy Brethren Unkindness to Children being ever reckoned as unkindnesse offered to Fathers As the Edomites unkindness to the Israelites is unkindness to Edoms Brother Jacob Obad. 10. 11 c. So when Joash dealt so unworthily with Zecheriah good Jehoiadahs son It s said of it 2 Chron. 24. 22. Thus Joash the King remembred not the kindnesse which Jehoiada his Father had done to him but slew his Son c. 5. Let it abase all such of you as in any unnatural 5. Such as are treacherous or inhumane to parents way either betray your good Parents to persecutors malice of which Matth. 13. 12. The Children shall cause the Parents to be put to death which must needs be a double death to them in a manner as in a sort that was to Christ to be betrayed by one of his own Children as it were One of you saith he to his Disciples shall betray one Matth. 26. Or if you be any other waies inhumane towards your Parents by striking them though not mortally which God maketh death to such monsters of mankind Exod. 21. 15. He that striketh Father or Mother shall die And what then will be the doom of paricides who strike them mortally Absalom would have done it â— Sam. 16. 11. He sought his Fathers life and