abused the Lord his Word and Ministers Job 21.14 Chap. 22.17 Acts 7.59 Oh what jofulness would it be to the damned in Hell if they might have but one Sermon of Mercy and general Redemption from their torments preached unto them they would all without all doubt embrace it upon any terms without any put offs or delays 3ly Thy Companions will add to thy torments if thou wast the cause of their sin or they of thine the Rich Man in the Gospel did not desire the company of any of his Brethren in Hell Luke 16.28 4ly If by thy evil Examples others have followed thee to Hell it will be very grievous for thee to bear If the weight of their damnation must hang on thy back and be a continual Reflection on the dropping on thy Conscience hotter than scalding Lead Mal. 4.1 5ly To be truly sensible when it is too late which is never till the door of Mercy is shut and thou art under condemnation that Christ died to save thee Sinner John 3.16 17. 2 Pet. 2.1 Heb. 2.9 1 John 2.2 as well as the best Saint if thou hadst not slighted and abused his eternal fayour This to know will be a continual torment that the door of Mercy was set open to thee and thou refusedst to enter therein nor suffered others if possible Acts 13.46 6ly If thou play the Hypocrite with the Lord and thy Soul this will be an augmentation of thy Horror Isa 33.14 Job 36.13 If thou art so void of integrity as to dissemble with thy Creator thou mightest have had so much consideration as not to have flattered with thy own Soul to pay for it so dear at last 7ly Breaking thy Covenants and not putting in practice thy good Resolutions will be a great aggravation of thy dolor Rom. 1.31 32. it is a breach of a Command to break a godly covenant made Numb 30.2 Good David resolves to pay his Vows Psal 22.25 66.13 116.14 18. 8ly Putting off of time till it is too late will be an everlasting grief to thy Soul Great is the folly and madness of many who are warned and made sensible that they ought to believe repent and obey the Lord in the Gospel dispensation but for some by-ends or other they will delay till old age or the hour of death and then thy soul-work is at an end for there is no work to be done in the grave Eccles 9.10 and if thou repent in eternal fire it will be too late 9ly Mocking at the Ministers of Christ and slighting of Religion and the professors thereof will multiply thy torment to think that when thou shouldest have practised the true religion thou madest a derision at that salve which should have healed thy wounded Soul Luke 10.16 10ly The consideration of Eternity will greatly increase thy torment To think that when ten thousand years are expired and twenty thousand are added to that still thy torment will have no end thy Soul remains still under the curse in eternal fire Mat. 25.41 3d. Motive to perswade you to your duty is the excellency of a christian state or the enjoyment of a Saint living up as far as he is able in all holy duty And First They have great peace in their Souls Psal 119.165 1st They have peace of Conscience while they live 2 Cor. 1.12 2ly They have peace in their Death Psal 37.37 Revel 14.13 3ly They have peace in the Resurrection-day Mat. 25.34 John 16.22 4ly Their peace will be for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 A Second Enjoyment is They are out of the power of Satan He can only tempt them to evil he cannot carry them on by force nor hath he power over them as he hath over the wicked who have given themselves up to sin 2 Tim. 2.26 for the Saints are beyond his power Acts 26.18 3ly They that are faithful have a gracious Majesty to extol and to implore who is of great patience 2 Chron. 36.16 and of tender mercy Psalm 145.9 great compassion Lam. 3.33 full of pitty James 5.11 He is a guide to the blind a help to the lame Rom. 8.26 safety in Persecution Psalm 27.5 a deliverer in adversity 2 Sam. 4.9 strength in weakness Heb. 11.34 comfort in trouble Isa 49.13 Yea He is all in all Col. 3.11 4ly They have all their sins pardoned Col. 1.14.2.13 Ephes 1.7 5ly And all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes Rev. 7.17 6ly They are joynt-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 7ly They shall be freed from pain sickness and death Rev. 21.4 8ly They shall be invested with a beautiful comfortable delightful and coelestial possession John 14.2 There is light without darkness joy without sorrow health without sickness wealth without trouble ease without pain beauty without deformity riches without corruption comfort without end and life without end it is an incorruptible inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 an Heavenly Kingdom Heb. 12.22 the Residence of Eternal Glory Rev. 21.23 9ly The Saints shall have glorious Companions the Glory of the Father Son and Holy Spirit to behold also all the Saints that ever lived in the World Luke 13.28 Yea glorious Seraphims Isa 6.2 and all the Holy Angels Mat. 25.31 10ly They shall be changed into an heavenly state of Splendor Beauty and Immortality and made like unto the glorious Body of Christ Phil. 3.21 1 John 3.2 1 Cor. 15.51 52. 11ly The greater thy Works are here the greater will thy glory be in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.41 42. yet he that hath the least glory will have enough Psal 16.11 12ly That which makes all perfect and compleat and causes thy great felicity to be superexcellent is that all this felicity and glory is to continue for ever and ever Dan. 7.18 Rev. 22.5 A Fourth Motive is Let the shortness of your life and the uncertainty of the time of your death or dissolution let this be a great obligation on your Hearts to perswade you to do your generation-work so far as it concerns your eternal happiness in the life to come do but consider the many similitudes that the days of mans life is set out by 1st It is likened to a shadow Job 14.2 that with the swift course of the Sun or Wind vanisheth 2ly To grass that to day flourisheth in great beauty Psal 103.15 Isa 40.6 7. but to morrow it is cut down and destroyed Luke 12.28 Mat. 6.30 3ly To a cloud Job 30.15 that fleeth swift away with a strong wind 4ly To an Eagle flying a Ship sailing and a Post riding Job 9.25 26. all which pass out of sight immediately 5ly To a Weavers shuttle Job 7.6 that fleeth out of hand in a moment 6ly To an Hireling Job 7.1 2. that is here to day and gone to morrow 7ly To a fading leaf Isa 64.4 which the wind carrieth presently out of sight 8ly To a Sleep Psal 90.5 that passeth the time away insensibly 9ly To smoke Psal 92.3 that fleeth up into the air and is not seen 10ly To a tale that is told Psalm 90.9 that is soon forgotten 11ly To a Pilgrim Gen. 47.9 Heb. 11.13 that lodgeth here to night and to morrow he is gone 12ly To an hand-breadth Psal 39.5 so that with Job we may conclude that Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble be cometh forth like a flower and is cut down he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not Job 14.1 2. so that every man in his best estate is altogether vanity Psal 39.5 For as the fishes that are taken in an evil net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them Eccles 9.12 For when they shall say Peace and Safety then suddenly Destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5.3 I come now in the lat place to signifie to you the danger of disobedience to Parents 1st They that despise their Parents shall be destroyed Prov. 20.20 Exod. 21.17 Lev. 20.9 2ly Poverty and Shame is their portion Prov. 13.8 3ly They were of old to be stoned to death Deut. 21.21 4ly The Lord will suffer the fowls of Heaven to execute justice upon them Prov. 30.11 5ly The Lord will bring such as disobey their Parents into captivity Ezek. 22.7 15. 6ly Ishmael was cast out of his Fathers family for mocking at Sarah Gen. 21.8 12. Gal. 4.30 7ly Hophin and Phinehas were slain 1 Sam. 2.25 8ly Absolom was hanged on an Oak in his rebellion against his father David as being neither fit for Heaven nor yet to dwell upon the earth 2 Sam. 18.9 I might enlarge these Doctrines with many Uses but I leave them all to the industry and practice both of the Godly Parents and Dutiful Children to make the most excellent use of all these Precepts and Directions in all their loving Exercises and Carriages each to other and shall return to the plough but by the way I have met with a sort of People which positively deny Christ come in the flesh impudently and confidently affirming that Christ was never seen with mortal Eyes and never died and therefore if any of these people will believe the Scriptures to be the word of God and a rule for their Faith so far as it relateth to the real and true History of Christ our Saviour let them read those Scriptures which concern Christ and they may know that Jesus is the true Christ and Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe and that he was seen of many and did dye was buried and rose again and ascended into Heaven But to conclude To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 Let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing Phil. 3.16 And as many as walk according to this rule peace be unto them and mercy upon the Israel of God Gal. 6.16 Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep thorough the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good Work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his fight thorough Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Heb. 13.20 21. FINIS
1st A Person under provocation is hard to be workt upon Prov. 18.19 2dly Moses himself being provoked by Israel's Idolatry brake the Tables of the Commandments Exod. 32.19 3dly Cain Esau and David being provoked resolved upon murder but Cain only was in the Act Gen. 4.8 The other two were overcome by length of time and loving importunity Gen. 27.41 1 Sam. 25.21 4thly The Patriarchs being provoked by Jacob's special love to Joseph sold him into Egypt Gen. 37.27 5thly Simeon and Levi being provoked by Sechem's deflowring their Sister Dinah they destroyed them all Gen. 34.25 6thly Samson being provoked several times by his Wives and the Philistines he burnt their corn and destroyed many of them and himself with them at the last Judges 14. Ch. 16. Ch. 17. 7thly Saul being provoked by Nahash the Ammonite destroyed his Army 1 Sam. 11.11 I might tell you of Jehosaphat Josiah Hezekiah Jeremiah and many more both of the Kings and Prophets as also some of the Apostles who were provoked to do that and also to speak that which otherwise they would not had they not been urged to it but it will be too large a Task here to enter upon You may observe the Effects of Provocation in them as you read of them in your Bibles I pass to the seventh Reason 7th Reas is Because by Provocation they are tempted many times to destroy both body and soul which is both accomplished by felo dese it being a breach of the sixth Commandment my self hath been by 〈◊〉 Provocation tempted to this evil had not the grace of God restrained me Benedictus fit Deus What Horrid extremity and Inveterate Cruelty in opposition to the Commandment of God and love to our own selves does Provocation drive such into who beyond any brutal act do lay violent hands on themselves how hath it emptied them of all Faith Fear Love and Hopes of a future Happiness that were as Saul and his Son Jonathan Achitophel Zimri and Judas provoked to destroy themselves 1 Sam. 31.4 2 Sam. 17.23 1 Kings 16.18 Mat. 27.2 The true fear of the Lord was fled from before their eyes who are under a Provocation to act in this kind Parents for the love of your Childrens Souls least this Temptation attend them give them no just occasion of Provocation least their blood be required at your hands and you will have enough to do to answer for your selves 1 Pet. 4.18 For if the righteous scarcely shall be saved where wilt thou O poor sinner appear 8th Reason is Because Provocation is the first step to take off Childrens natural Love from their Parents and so a means to teach them to break Gods Commandment Honour thy Father and thy Mother and will you teach them to dishonour you by being unnatural to them and provoke them to wrath and so to disobedience True natural Love is not so settled in the heart the Child being under the Continual Dropping of this dark Cloud of Provocation First Doubts of its Parents true Love to it and then being chaffed a long time by it comes to believe they have none at all and so that love that was before seated in the heart is now as I minded before turned into a kind of an Antipathy which 1st If the belief of being their natural Issue And 2dly If the Grace of God did not bear them up their pure natural Love would be turned into an absolute Hatred but Parents take the stone out of their way least they should stumble and fall and none to help them Col. 2.2 Let your hearts be knit together in love 9th Reason is Because the faithful in all ages have been to us in this a good Example What great love had Abraham for Isaac as the Lord testifieth Gen. 22.2 Isaac to Esau Gen. 25.28 Rebeckah to Jacob Jacob to Joseph and Benjamin Gen. 37.3 David to Absolom though a Rebel 2 Sam. 13.39 Hannah to Samuel 1 Sam. 1.22 Job to his Children Job 1.5 Which the Lord taketh special notice of Oh how tender are the Ews of their young and the Hinds which the Prophet Jeremiah seems to wonder at Jer. 14.5 It is said of Monica the Mother of Austin while he was addicted to sin her Prayers and Tears were so abundant that St. Ambrose comforted her with these words Impossibile est ut filius tantarum Lachrymarum periret 'T is impossible a Son of so many Prayers and Tears should miscarry 'T is reported of several Parents in Carthage who when their Sons were exiled as soon as they were aboard they threw themselves down into the Sea and were drowned How many in this our age have been seized with death as soon as they have lost their Beloved Children Time will fail and I should be too tedious if I should travel this Field any further I leave it to your judicious reading Contemplation and Experience and pass it 10th Reason is Because Provocation may be the great Hindrance of their Souls Salvation If the value of one Soul be of more worth than the whole world as is most certain Mark 8.36.37 Mat. 16.26 Then how tender of and what care should Parents take of their Childrens Souls Emit chare qui solvit animam He buys dear that pays his Soul But much more dearer that pays two at once Parents should stand in the Gap with Moses Exod. 32.32 and plead with the Lord for their Children Paul was so vehemently affected for Israels Salvation that he wisheth himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Separated from the fruit of Christs Love for a Season so they might be eternally saved Rom. 9.3 It will be sad at the last day if you must answer for their Souls who I fear will have too much to answer for your selves endeavour to win them and not to provoke them this know that he that winneth Souls is wise Prov. 11.30 Take the yoke of Christ on you and learn to be meek and then you will find rest unto your souls Mat. 11.29 You should with the good Shepherd watch for your Childrens Souls Heb. 13.17 And with Paul be glad to spend and be spent for them 2 Cor. 12.15 11th Reason is Because all Carriages of Parents to Children ought to be sweetned with true Love Love is a winning Grace My Son saith Abraham when he was to sacrifice Isaac Gen. 22.8 God will provide himself a Lamb a Loving Speech your Looks your Carriage your Words and Deeds should be all seasoned with Love 't is the first the last the new and the old Commandment 1 John 2.7.3.11 23. God is love 1 John 4.8 It will surely please his Sacred Majesty most to have all his of the same nature as himself if thou do all in love the Lord will love thee freely Hosea 14.4 He will preserve thee Psal 145.20 Paul saith Ye are taught of God to love one another 1 Thes 4.9 It will do well to learn this Lesson and then every wheel being oyled with this grace will go round very pleasantly and all
unnatural as to send it out of Doors so soon as it was born not regarding it as though it were none of her own as some Women do who are worse to their young than the savage beasts of the field that will not take care to nurse preserve and protect their young ones it is looked on as a judgment by the Prophet Hosea 9.14 What saith he wilt thou them give a miscarrying womb and dry breasts most Women are much troubled if they cannot bare Children then why not much more if they do not let them suck of that Milk which nature has provided for the Childs nourishment it is a small sign of remorse when they are not troubled for that which is their own proper faults Fouthly All Children do naturally love those Parents most whom they sucked to take care for assist and help in their necessities when old if there be a kind of an Affection in Nurses to those they nurse and a peculiar love in the Child to the Nurse whom it sucked till death much more the Natural Affections of a Child to its Natural Parents who bore it and nourished it with their own milk what other Benefits arise thereby I leave it to your Experience to witness in length of time Nurse your Children your selves do not as t is said of the Deer that they repulse and separate those that are impotent do not turn your Children out of doors least they in time have the same Opportunity and you your selves share of the like fare from them 't is the sin of the last times to be without natural Affections therefore take away the cause that the effect may cease 3 Direction is Dedicate your Children to the most High offer them up in your Prayers Wishes and Desires to the Lords omnipotent Care and Protection Hannah dedicated Samuel unto the Lord 1 Sam. 1.28 Every First born was to be offered to the Lord Exod. 13.12 O that Ishmael might live before thee saith Abraham Gen. 17.18 How excellently did Zathariah yield up John to the Service of the Lord Luke 1.76 So Parents should do and pray continually with good Job for their Conversion and offer daily Sacrifice for them do not forget to offer your Souls in Prayer with and for them that they may be sensible how great care you have of their Souls eternal well-being Job 1.5 4 Direction Parents be sure you agree together in your Commads Let not the Father command one thing and the Mother presently contradict it before the Child this will harden them in Disobedience the first Precept to the Woman after the transgression was to be subject to her Husband and he should rule over her Gen. 3.16 But that Woman is very impudent that is so far from obeying her Husband that she will Lord it over him by contradicting his Authority in just commands and more especially when so much evil attends it as in this case Parents should both take great care not to oppose each other before their Children but chiefly when it is about their Childrens duty but to take another fit Opportunity in cool Blood in Love and in their Childrens absence to dispute the lawfulness of the matter 5 Direction Keep your Children in due subjection before they be too stubborn He that spareth the rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chastneth him betimes Prov. 13.24 Chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul spare for his crying Prov. 19.18 Rods and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself brings his Mother to shame Prov. 29.15 Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest and delight unto thy soul Prov. 29.17 A Bishop is commanded to have his Children in subjection with all gravity 1 Tim. 3.4 6 Direction Let your Children be your chiefest joy in this World Rejoyce in them as they are the gift of the Lord but do not idolize them good Job took delight enough in his Children as himself expresseth Job 19.17 Chap. 29.5 Yea when the Lord hath permitted their death by a great wind he seems to rejoyce that as the Lord gave them so he hath now taken them away and saith he blessed be the name of the Lord Job 1.19 without sorrow repining and murmuring he seems to joy in this affliction hopeing they were gone to a better Father All the Patriarchs did take delight in their Sons and Daughters except when they sinned Gen. 34.30 7 Direction You must reprove and rebuke your Children if they sin This Work must not be done to halves as Old Eli did 1 Sam. 3.13 If they sin against the Lord and no Reproof nor Rebuke will prevent them they must be restrained with due severity Folly is bound up in the heart of a Child but the rod of Correction driveth it away Prov. 22.15 Withhold not Correction from thy Child for if thou beatest him with rods he shall not die Prov. 23.13 St. Paul saith We had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence Heb. 13.9 This Duty must 1st be done with Love because it is God Ordinance to restrain them from iniquity Deut. 8.5 2dly You must shew them their sin for which you rebuke or correct them Saying with the holy God O Do not this abominable thing which I bate Jer. 44.4 3dly Tell them that thou dost correct them out of Conscience to God and Love to their precious souls Prov. 11.30 4thly Reprove and Corect them with pitty telling them if good Words would have restrained them you would not have used Blows Psal 103.13 5thly Shew them by some place of Scripture How much the Lord is offended with them for this their sin Deut. 29.20 6thly Keep them from evil Company that are the Inducements to sin 1 Cor. 15.33 7thly Correct them not in anger but with fair and loving words as it were with severity according to the Fact but all in a Cool Blood Jer. 30.11 8thly Be often in Prayer with and for them that if all other means fail that this may work upon them for their Souls eternal good thus rebuke and correction may be rightly performed and the Child not provoked to anger but love 1 Thes 5.17 9thly Be sure that the Sin that thou correct thy Child for be not an evil which he has seen thee often guilty of then 't is to be feared that thy Correction will do no good 1 John 3.20 10thly Forbear many chiding Words and Threatning Expressions Ephes 6.9 11thly Smile not on them in their sin nor use no shew of approbation towards them in it for this will harden them Solomon saith a flattering Tongue worketh ruin Prov. 26.28 12thly Do not rail on them nor miscall them when you correct them This does not become a Servant of Christ 1 Pet. 3.9 8 Direction is Be sure look well to it that at all times your Children obey your lawful Commands do not let them run at full length of Reins See that they speedily and duely perform what you order
their time and spend their whole Estate to Pamper and feed their Carkass whose God is their Belly and whose glory is in their shame who mind Earthly things Phil. 3.12 Feeding themselves without fear Jude 12. The iniquity of Sodom was Pride and fulness of Bread with abuudance of Idleness Ezek. 16.49 Iniquity in the most strictest sense is Idolatry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the house of an Idol or the house of Iniquity Hosea 4.15.17 the Iniquity of Glutony was such an heinous Sin in the time of the Law that the Glutton was to be stoned to death Deut. 21.20 Secondly Some make their riches their God setting too much love on them and trusting in them as the rich man in the Gospel who said to his Soul Eat Drink and be Merry Luke 12.19 St. Paul gives charge to the Rich that they trust not in uncertain Riches 1 Tim. 6.17 and that Covetousness be not once named by them Eph. 5.3 because it is Idolatry Col. 3.5 it was well said of good David if Riches increase set not you heart upon them Psal 62.10 for riches profit not in the day of Wrath Prov. 11.4 3dly Some men love their Wives and some Women their Husbands above Christ they that so do Christ saith are not worthy of him Matt. 10.37 there ought to be a natural and a mutual love but we ought to love our Creator above all Matt. 22.37 Deut. 6.5 Luk. 10.27 Deut. 10.12 4thly Some love their Farms and Merchandize above Christ I have bought a piece of ground saith one I have bought five Yoke of Oxen saith another Luk. 14.14 They think their houses shall continue for ever they call their lands after their own name Psal 49.11 this their way is their folly 5thly Some men love their Dogs or Horses better then they love Christ as appears 1st Some men expend hundreds by the year on them 2dly They build stately Houses for them 3dly They pride up themselves in them and always delight in their company they do not love to walk without them at their heels 4thly They feed them with mans food and are at the charge of great fires and costly Cloathing for them but these very Men will not admit Christ to have any such Charges bestowed on him at any time his Interest Ministers and Poor are slighted by them Judge ye whither these men do not love them more then they love their Maker or Christ the Saviour 6thly Some men make their pleasures their God they will spend whole days and nights yea almost all their Life-time in Carding and Diceing and other vain and foolish Gaming and Pastime as they call it and quite forget the Lord their Maker Isaiah 51.13 Job 35.10 The Lord accepted not of Israels service because that in the days of their Fasts they did find pleasure Isaiah 58.3 St. James plainly sets out wicked men by this among other marks to know them by that they lived in pleasure James 5.5 not that they had pleasure now and then but it was the Summum bonum of their Life these shall receive the reward of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.13 it being at best but meer Vanity Eccl. 2.1 as Idols are Isaiah 41.29 7thly Some people Idolize their Children 1st They lay up almost their whole time upon them 2dly They think the Earth bringeth forth nothing good enough for them to feed on 3dly They bestow great charges upon Costly and Superfluous Cloathing them and attendance on them 4thly They set their whole heart on them to admire them quite for getting that they are but lent them of the Lord and they are to be brought up in his Service Deut. 6.7 and not to be loved served admired and adored above their Creator 8thly Some have innovated Sacraments and Anathematized them that would not fall down before them here the Church of Rome may admire her Multiplication of Sacraments Christ hath but two Sacraments in his Church viz. Baptism and the Lords Supper but they have made a large edition besides altering of Sacraments As First Baptism from a Believer to an Infant from Dipping to Sprinkling or Pouring as the mincing Reformers would have it Also they altered the Supper from Night to Noon from breaking the Bread to putting a melting Wafer into the Mouth not only of Men and Women but of Children so soon as they received their Cristendum all which if omitted must be punished with Anathema's or Death as are many of those Vanities which they enjoyn to be believed or done As 1st The Infalibility of their Church 2dly Mass 3dly Prayer for the Dead Saints 4thly Prayer to the dead Saints 5thly Transubstantiation 6thly Purgatory 7thly Auricular Confession 8thly Prayer in Latin with Beads 9thly Merrits of Works 10thly Denying the Laity the Cup. 11thly Absolution and Indulgencies 12thly Images They that enjoyn matters in Religious worship which Christ hath not appointed and punish the offenders with Excommunication Imprisonment or Death or that which is Ten times worse viz. the Hellish Inquisition these do set up their own inventions and adore them above their Maker when we ought to extol him only that rideth upon the Heavens Psal 68.4 9thly Great is the Folly and Madness of some who worship the Image of any Creature in which they imagine there is Divine Goodness as those which adore the Image of the Virgin Mary and the like when we are directly commanded not to make to our selves the Image of any thing that is in the Heaven above or on the Earth beneath nor yet to fall down and Worship it Deut. 5.8 9. 10thly To make to our selves an Image of our Creator and to fall down to worship it is Idolatry in an high degree yea great Folly and Vanity for any to imagine that they can make an Image of such an incomprehensible Essence Job saith He doth great things that we cannot comprehend Job 37.5 to 8. read Isaiah 40.12 to 20. 11thly Some men commit Idolatry by extolling adoring and worshiping of Men such was the evil of the Jews concerning Herod Acts 12.21 23. Peter was afraid that Cornelius would have worshiped him and therefore saith he stand up I my self am a man Acts 10.26 The Priests of Jupiter were guilty of this fact in that they endeavoured to offer a great sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul which makes Paul to cry out Sirs why do ye these things we also are men of like passion with you Acts 14.13.15 12thly It is Idolatry to worship an â—mageâ— twice St. John was reprehended for this fact in falling down to worship an Angel Revel 19.10 Rev. 22.9 13th It is Idolatry to worship the Sun the Moon or other Planets or any of the hosts of Heaven in the days of that young good excellent King Josiah The people of Judah did burn Incense to the Sun and to the Moon and to the Planets and to all the Hosts of Heaven 2 Kings 23.5 This good man caused this their wickedness to cease he being convinced of the evil of such
how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Jer. 4.14 Therefore keep thine heart with all diligence for out of it are the Issues of Life Prov. 4.23 9ly Some break the Sabbath by counting the time of hearing a Burthen Such were they the Lord exclaims against saying When will the New Moon be gone that we may sell corn and when will the Sabbath be over that we may set forth wheat making the Ephah small and the Shekel great Amos 8.5 The Word of the Lord is to them a reproach they have no delight in it Jer. 6.10 These do not take delight in approaching to God nor do they call the Sabbath a delight Isa 58.2 13. He that delighteth in the Law of the Lord is the blessed man Psal 1.1 2. 10ly Some break the Sabbath by their spend it in reading vain Books that do rather instigate their vile nature to sin than to shew them the way of Mortification Regeneration and Eternal Life which is contained in the Holy Scriptures which ought to be the only Book which a Christian should read and study St. Paul reasoned out of the Scriptures Acts 17.2 The Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures daily Acts 17.11 The Scripture is the most profitable Book in the World 2 Tim. 3.15 to 17. And therefore Christ bids the Jews search the Scriptures John 5.39 Yea the Apostles themselves were ravished with Christ's expounding of the Scriptures Luke 24.32 It were much better that they that have any vain books would do as the people of Ephesus did to burn them rather than to spend time on the Sabbath day to read them or any other time else Acts 19.19 11ly Some break the Sabbath in Drunkenness and Gluttony many will flock together in private Ale-houses and other private Houses and send for such things as their Hearts lusts after and fill themselves till they are overcharged with sufeiting and drunkenness which ought not to be Luke 21.34 And when Sermon is over they let their Reins run at random and take their fill without controul of any till they are under that woe Isa 5.11 These that count it pleasure to riot in the day time and have their eyes full of Adultery and cannot cease from sin 2 Pet. 2.13 14. which St. Paul positively forbids Rom. 13.13 12ly Some break the Sabbath in sleeping in the time of Hearing of the Word preached These are totally without the sence of their eternal Happiness or Misery they are as it were men without Souls for they have no real Sence nor Knowledge of their future being they quite forget that hearing the Word is their Souls harvest Learn of the Ant O thou sluggard which gathereth her meat in the harvest Prov. 6.6 to 12. If thou dost not thy want shall come on thee as an armed Man Prov. 24.34 He that sleepeth in harvest is a Son that causeth shame Prov. 10.5 Sleepiness discovers a slothful heart Prov. 19.15 And too great want when it is too late will be the Issue as in the case of the five foolish Virgins Mat. 25.5 8. Such Sleepers ought to pray with good David unto the Lord To enlighten their eyes least they sleep the sleep of death Psal 13.3 Were these very people but hearing of a Tale told or any vain Discourse it is a great chance but they would be awake enough to laugh at it and perhaps to help it forward too all implying that they have no feeling in their hearts of a future being Ephes 4.18 19. 13ly Some break the Sabbath in letting or forcing of their Children Servants or Cattel to do any unnecessary business that day The Lord gave it in charge that the Children of Israel should do no servile work in the day of the Feast of unleavened bread Levit. 23.7 8. of the wave offering Levit. 23.21 in the convocation of blowing Trumpets Levit. 23.25 Numb 29.1 on the day of the passover Numb 28.18 in the days of fasting Levit. 23.28 Numb 29.7 on the week of the Feast of Tabernacles Numb 29.12 35. So they that are Governours of Families must neither command nor any ways suffer any thing that are under their power to break the Sabbath by labour That which the Lord alloweth to be done on the Sabbath the doing of it is no breach of the Commandment as First Works of Charity 1st Laying up for the poor 1 Cor. 16.2 2ly In pulling our Neighbours Cattel out of a pit Luke 14.5 Mat. 12.11 3ly Feeding or watering of Cattel to keep them alive Luke 13.15 4ly In giving to young children and sick persons such things as is for their health and comfort Christ himself healed on that day Luke 14.4 Mark 3.3 John 9.14 Luke 13.14 16. 5ly In taking care to preserve the life of mankind as in necessary food in taking pains and care for Women in Travel in keeping Children and others from fire and water and other eminent dangers Secondly In relation to the worship which the Lord appointed We are to go to the places of our Christian Assemblies and return to our own habitations with such convenient helps and supplies as are necessary Acts 11.26 Thirdly In the defence of our Persons Estates and Lives against Robbers and the Government of our Nation and Country to keep peace and to keep out forreign Enemies may be done by us on the Sabbath-day Jericho was taken on the Sabbath-day Joshua 6.15 20. Seven days Israel pitched over against the Syrians and on the Seventh Day Israel slew 120000 of the Syrians but in all remember that he that did wilfully break the Sabbath was to be put to death though I confess that is no law to us Christians and it serves to shew us that the Jewish Sabbath is not our Sabbath Exod. 31.15 Numb 15.32 to 36. But O do not work nor yet suffer any of thine so to do on the Lords day 14ly Some break the Sabbath in neglecting to hear the word They will sit at home and sleep or walk in the fields or take Physick to prevent the loss of a working day which is to rob God to serve our selves or give themselves over to some vain exercise to such the Apostle gives charge Not to for sake the Assembling of your selves as the manner of some is Heb. 10.25 If you cannot find the Truth in a publick Oratory you may seek it from House to House Acts 5.42 For the true Church in the Apostles days met in houses Rom. 16.5 1 Cor. 16.19 Philemon 2. You are commanded to give all diligence 2 Pet. 1.10 To prove all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 Not to be slothful in business but fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 15ly Some break the Sabbath in neglecting of the general duties of the day When they are off from hearing the word they omit to pray in their families and neglect to instruct their Children and Servants and do not call them to read the Scriptures nor do they reprove rebuke or correct them if
Authority over thee Magistratus ne exsecrator Thou shall not be he that curseth the Magistrate that is the Powers that rule over thee He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach Prov. 19.26 St. Paul saith That no Revilers shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.10 Therefore have a care and do not speak slighting and deriding Words to thy Parents nor of or to any person of what Rank Degree or Quality whatsoever 3d. Direction is You must not curse your Parents For every one that curseth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to death Levit. 20.9 He that curseth his Father or Mother his lamp shall be put out in obscurity Prov. 20.20 He that curseth his Father or Mother let him dye the death Mat. 15.4 Mark 7.10 Prov. 30.11 As you must not curse them in words so you must not curse them so much as in your Hearts or Thoughts Eccles 10.20 For the Lord seeth and knoweth the Heart and all its purposes intents and imaginations for all things are naked before him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.13 4th Direction is You must not set light by your Parents Cursed is he that setteth light by his Father or his Mother and all the people shall say Amen Deut. 27.16 The Prophet Ezekiel reckons it up among the sins of Jerusalem in that Catalogue Ezek 22.7 In thee saith he have they set light by Father and Mother For which sins the Lord was so much offended that he threatens them with Captivity and Destruction Ezek. 22.15 16. The Commandment saith Honour thy Father and thy Mother But he that setteth light by them as not to regard them does no part of Honour to them and so by it becometh a Transgressor against God and his Parents 5th Direstion is You must not despise them when poor or old Joseph who was then a Ruler in Egypt when his Father came to him who was old blind and poor too in respect to Joseph who was the next Man to the King yet it is said He bowed himself with his face to the ground and fell on his neck as their manner was and wept Gen. 46.29 48.12 So far was Joseph from despising his Father though he did sustain him and his in Poverty and Necessity that he shews him great Tokens of Honour saith the Wise Man Hearken to they Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Prov. 23.22 Also he counts him a Fool that despiseth his Fathers Instruction Prov. 15.5 And a foolish Son despiseth his Mother Prov. 15.20 Therefore despise them not and be wise 6th Direction is Thou must not stain their Innocency by thy unjust uneven and wicked Walking The Lord took so much care that Parents should not be stained with their Childrens sins that he gives it in charge that if the Daughter of a Priest prophaned her Father by wheredom she should be burnt with fire Levit. 21.9 They that stain themselves by Murder shall dye Dent. 19.13 The rebellious and stubborn are to be stoned to death Deut. 21.21 Therefore walk in Innocency all thy days Phil. 2.15 7th Direction is Thou must not smite nor prosecute them He that smiteth his Father or his Mother shall surely be put to death Exod. 21.15 in the latter days our Lord foretold that the Wickedness of some would be so great that they would not only rise up against their Parents But they would cause them to be ut to death Mat. 10.20 Absolom that went about to persecute his Father David was hanged in an Oak as not being fit for Heaven nor yet to live on Earth 2 Sam. 18.9 Therefore Children have a care of Rebellion and Persecution least the Lord take you away as he did Absolom 8th Direction is You must not use so much as any shew of revenge if you think you are wronged You must not harbour such a thought in your breast it may be it is an Instigation of Satan to tempt you to evil or what is done is done on purpose to prove you whether you have any grace in your Hearts or no. Avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath Vengeance is mine saith the Lord I will repay it Rom. 12.19 9th Direction is You must not use any slighting Expressions neither of them nor to them nor yet slander them If he that uttereth a slander is a fool as the Wise Man saith Prov. 10.18 What shall he be counted that is the first framer thereof Children should always count their Parents much better than themselves which if they did there would be then no ground to slight and reproach them A Wise Son maketh a glad Father Prov. 15.20 Then he that slighteth laugheth at and reproacheth his Parents is but a fool and a Capital Sinner 10th Direction is You must not if your Parents are wicked follow them in evil Examples It is recorded to the everlasting shame of many of the Kings of Israel and Judah how they followed the evil Examples of their wicked Parents 2 Kings 21.4 in Idolatry and other grievous crying Sins as you may read at large in the two Books of the Kings and Chronicles 11th Direction is Thou must not steal from thy Parents nor pourver away their Goods nor like the Drone Bee to wast and consume thy Parents Estate Whoso robbeth his Father or his Mother and saith it is no transgression the same is a Companion of a destroyer Prov. 28.24 He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach Prov. 19.26 Therefore let him that hath stole steal no more Ephes 4.28 12th Direction is Thou must not follow thy Parents in any kind of Sedition Heresie Schism Superstition false Doctrine or Idolatry If thou know it so to be by the plain words of Scripture but thou must avoid it and perswade thy Parents to turn from it In this case it is far better to obey God rather than Man Now in the second place I come to the positive Rules to shew you what you must do And 1st Direction is Thou must stand in fear of them this is a positive command Ye shall fear every man his Father and his Mother Levit. 19.3 He that feareth them not will never do them any honour he that truly standeth in fear of his Parents how doth he seek all means and use all ways possible to please them 2d Direction is You must do your best endeavour to hide your Parents faults Children may see many gross faults in their Parents which they themselves ought not to mind to be such they ought not to discover it but as Shem and Japhet hide their Fathers nakedness if possible Gen. 9.23 It is one way to oblige their Parents to love them at all times and in all places 3d. Direction is You must do your duty in all service of honour Such is the fifth Commandment and the first with promise Ephes