that power over her Also she ought to declare her reverence to him by an inward wife-like fear of offending him and outwardly by her mild courteous loving and modest speech to him and of him behaviour before him and respective obedience to him as her husband 3. To nourish and cherish him and provide things needful and convenient for him most especially in time of sickness weakness and the like as for her self Ephes 5.29 4. To go soberly modestly and gravely and after a seemly manner in her apparel as becomes godliness not garish flanting and fantastick 1 Tim. 2.9 I will that women adorn themselves with modest apparel modest apparel then is an ornament as well as garish rich and fine or costly apparel and in some respects much more and doth more win the the affections of all sober persons with shamefastness and sobriety and which becometh godliness with good works 1 Pet. 3.4 5. whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of of gold or of putting on of apparel but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of a great price For after this manner in old time the holy women who trusted in God adorned themselves being in subjection to their own husbands 5. To look to the house and the affairs of it and to preserve the goods of it as her own and order them for the best advantage also the children and maid-servants this is expresly commanded in terms 1 Tim. 5.14 6. To advise with her husband ask and learn of him in private 1 Tim. 2.11 7. But especially to be a true helper to her husband in the things of God that concern their spiritual good according to her power And it is a great advantage the wife hath by reason of her interest in her husband and children and the frequent being with him and them to instruct the children mind him of his duty lovingly and meekly advise comfort and encourage him to every good work as well as he her one great end of Marriage Gen. 2.19 20 21. 23. Parents you whom God hath given the honour to be fathers and mothers of children Let me mind you of the particular duties God requireth of you in reference to your children I need not advise you to have care of their bodies and to provide for them in due season all things needful for them Nature teacheth that and he is worse than an infidel or Heathen that doth not provide for his own house 1 Tim. 5.8 but do not mind them more than God but their spiritual good I chiefly aim at 1. Teach and instruct your children in the grounds and Principles of Religion as soon as they are capable of retaining any thing though they do not for the present understand it yet children do many times understand more than we think they do teach them a little at once as they are capable the most easie and fundamental truths first Deut. 6.6 7. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them thy children diligently The word signifies to whet or sharpen as a man sharpens his knife by degrees often drawing it to and fro so should parents teach their children and mark what follows and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down when thou risest up Eph. 6.4 Ye fathers provoke not your children to anger but bring them up in the nourture and admonition of the Lord. A good Catechisme is of great use to this end amongst others Mr. Perkins Catechisme Mr. John Balls and the Exposition also and the Assemblies are all of singular use learned by heart more especially with the proofs the shortest and easiest way to furnish children with the main grounds of Religion and to fit them to hear Sermons 2. Pray often with them and for them 3. Read the Holy Scriptures to them and other good Books as you have opportunity 4. Teach them to read betimes and to read well and hear them read daily 5. See that they attend reverently in time of Religious duties and on the publike Ministry also Exod. 20.8 9 10. 6. Repeat the Sermons unto them or the heads as well as you can and God will help you 7. Examine what they remember what they have heard or read otherwise they will not mind and so not profit by hearing and reading 8. Commend and encourage them when they do well Reprove them when they do evil Correct them also when need requires not in passion a sinful thing and doth little good yet too common and which is worse some foolish Parents presently after correction are ready to take them into their bosom this is of evil consequence and besides it shews they did not correct them in love and judgment but only vent their sinful passion but correct them wisely in meekness and love and let them see you are angry with them for their Souls good till they melt kindly for their faults and humble themselves and beg your pardon Consider well Prov. 19.18 and 22.15 and 23.13 Ephes 6.4 but provoke them not to anger Col. 3.21 Use not threatnings nor many words lest when they see they are but words they slight them and regard not your words nor commands nor your selves neither in a while as I have often seen 9. Give them always a good example in word and deed carry your selves gravely meekly religiously and after a seemly manner towards them evil examples will do them more hurt than all your good instructions will do them good Children have a great conceit of all the Parent doth though bad or untrue and are wonderful apt to imitate them Col. 4.6 Let your speech be always seasoned with salt that is discretion and prudence that it may rellish savour and season others well Avoid all corrupt communication foolish and scurrilous words and jesting Ephes 4.29 And the rather you have great reason thus to do and to endeavour their regeneration and salvation because you have been instruments of their corrupt sinful miserable and damnable estate by natural generation If you be instruments under God of begetting them again as furthering a new spiritual birth and life in them and so of their salvation it will add much to your comfort and crown at the day of your account But if they miscarry and perish through your evil example or neglect of due educating them they shall die in their sins but your Souls must answer to God for them at the day of death and judgment and that may be very soon and will be very sad for you 10. Busie them in some honest and fit imployment as soon as they are capable teach them to be good husbands and house-wives Skill diligence and providence are alone a good portion and livelihood and many times
negligence I might say the prophaness of most Parents Masters and Governours of families who have no duties of Religion performed in the family not so much as prayer but live like Heathens and Infidels only work eat drink sleep play and the like worldly things but no service of God or very rarely sometimes some have a short heartless prayer at night yea it is to be feared and I have too much reason to think that some even whom I know and no doubt many others and I therefore mention it that they might see their sin such I say which make a fair profession of Religion and do attend I think constantly on some of the best Preachers and yet have no family-duties or but seldom This is very sad that that which should be minded principally the worship and service of God in the family is either wholly neglected or least minded It was otherwise with Abraham Joshua Job David Daniel and all that ever truly feared God Gen. 18.19 Josh 24.15 Daniel three times a day Dan. 6.10 11 12. David seven times a day Psal 119.64 5. Imploy them well in lawful imployments but do not over-burden them A good man is merciful unto his beast saith Solomon much more to his servant 6. Be careful for them both in health and sickness provide all things needful and convenient for them and in due seasons Allow them convenient time for rest recreations and to mend their apparel and allow them for their work a sutable reward the laborer is worthy of his hire Let poor labouring men especially be fully paid for their work whether they work with you or for you God hates oppression Do not work on the poor mans necessity you would not be willing to be so served your selves Do nothing in this kind but that which is just and honest before God and all men Remember you have a Master in Heaven to whom you must give an account and there is no respect of persons with God Ephes 6.9 And though some poor labouring men will be glad at some times to do any thing to get a peny to supply necessaries yet sure no honest man or that fears God will work on such a man or womans necessity to pinch men that labour of their necessary and convenient food apparel or wages to deny them their just due defer them when they stand in need of it abridge them of their necessary rest abate them in their wages or work on poor mens necessity as the manner of some wretched Masters is to do is hateful to God who is merciful and will surely avenge the poor that cry unto him and severely punish such wretched Masters 7. Teach them their Trade who are put as Apprentices to you It is a great sin to keep them ignorant of the lawful ways and the managing of their Calling a robbing of them and frustrating the end for which they were put to you As for the Mysteries or rather mysterious iniquities many men use in the managing of their Trades and Callings let the wicked keep to themselves whereby many to wonderment quickly grow rich but fear you God It is an old saying Plain dealing is a Jewel but he that useth it shall die a beggar but it is better to die a beggar than a knave to die poor and go to Heaven than to die very rich and go to hell 1 Cor. 6 9 10. The only sure way under Heaven to have a blessing on whatsoever a man hath and Gods favour whose loving kindness is better than life is to deal truly justly and faithfully with all men in all things I will not condemn any whom I see or hear of that suddenly get great estates but I cannot imagine how some men should get such vast estates as they do in a few years if they do not use some subtleties or ways more than are honest But they stand or fall to their great Master I do but give some men an Item God grant the faulty may make use of it I touch not others unless by way of caution 8. Teach them also to be careful diligent and provident for themselves in an honest way that they may see you mind their good as well as your own it will both do them good and make them more careful to manage your business for your comfort and benefit 9. When you have a good servant especially one that feareth God and makes conscience of his ways esteem highly of him or her bless God for and make much of such and use him as a brother or her as a sister in Christ and a good gift of God Philemon v. 16. 26. Servants you that are actually engaged or yet free and intend to be such let me mind you also of your duties and make Conscience of performing them as you tender your own good First as much as in you lieth while you are free or when you shall be free and intend to engage again make choice of a Godly family of such Masters Mistresses or Dames and samilies where piety and good Conscience are exercised and Religious duties constantly performed and encouraged as you tender the everlasting good and welfare of your precious and immortal Souls Be not so deluded as for a little no nor for a great deal of worldly wages or respect to neglect your precious souls Evil and ungodly families have undone many a hopeful servant both in soul and body yet most endeavor to get into families where they may get most wages or other worldly respects without any regard to piety the best things Gods glory or their eternal estate and prove accordingly and many repent sore when it is too late when they are called by death to give an account of themselves and their time unto God the Judge of all the world Secondly Having made a good choice or being in a Religious Conscientious family bless God for it be willing ready and forward to joyn with them in all Religious duties and to learn of them improve your opportunities and continue there so long as you intend to be servants to others if you may continue change not for worldly respects and advantages only to your prejudice in spiritual things Thirdly Being servants of whatsoever rank sort or condition birth or estate you were before yet being servants know and make conscience of the duty God and Nature require of you As 1. Be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh that is to fleshly and bodily Masters of the same common nature with your selves in all things lawful and that may stand with your obedience unto Christ your heavenly Master and absolute Lord so God himself expresly commandeth Ephes 6.5 Colos 3.22 Yea though they were before inferior to yourselves in divers respects and are still froward harsh cruel ungodly 1 Pet. 2.18 not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward in all things So Colos 3.22 that is in all things lawful all things that may stand with Gods command
thanks-worthy if a man for conscience towards God indure grief suffering wrongfully for what glory is it if when ye are buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God for even hereunto are ye called because also Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow him who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth See here is Gods command Christs example their own duty comfort and benefit to themselves do all bind servants to a meek and patient bearing of reproof and correction blows also 5. Bear with your Masters infirmities for the best of men have their infirmities are subject to like passions as other men as 't is said of Elias Jam. 5.17 as you your selves also have yours and therefore make conscience of bearing with them in others especially in your Governors concealing and covering them in love as much as may be It is a sinful thing to publish or blaze them abroad to the dis-credit of their Master is indeed to their own discredit shame in the end yet it is too common for servants when they meet together to talk of and blaze their Masters and Governors infirmities and secrets also that others abroad know what is said and done secretly in the house Such the Holy Ghost condemneth as tale-bearers Prov. 11.13 and 20.19 and the Apostle as tatlers and busie-bodies wandring from house to house and speaking things they ought not 1 Tim. 5.13 I say also it redounds to their own discredit and shame for who will credit or like such as tattle abroad what they see or hear at home or knowingly receive or willingly retain such in their houses All sober persons will utterly dislike and condemn such persons for so doing To back all these duties and put all servants on to make conscience of performing these duties consider these weighty Reasons 1. The will and express command of God as you have heard so that in a willing neglecting any of these you sin against God and provoke God against your own souls 2. You wrong your Masters whose good you ought to endeavour heartily and honour their persons and authority 3. The great reward you shall receive if not of men yet to be sure of God who has undertaken to be your pay-master Eph. 6.8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free 4. The place Masters are in namely over you in the Lord as your Head and Governour and you in the place of subjection to them so that whatsoever the birth parentage estate parts or former conditions of any of you were yet now being servants by your own voluntary choice or Divine Providence you must be subject and do the duty of servants and it is much better to do that cheerfully and faithfully which must be done and will be much for your comfort and benefit 5. The faithful discharge of these duties is a good way to adorn the Gospel credit Religion and Godliness honour the Name of God the contrary will be an occasion of blaspheming the Name of God and of the Gospel and the ways of Godliness 1 Tim. 6.1 Titus 2.10 and hindring the good of Souls 6. This is one end of your calling to Grace to serve others faithfully 1 Pet. 2.21 22. whereunto also you are called though the place speaks especially and particularly of suffering patiently for well-doing yet excludes not the other but includes it 7. Fellow-servants must be loving one to another and be a help and comfort one unto another in all well-doing and by all lawful means as much as may be that their lives may be more sweet and comfortable to themselves more pleasing to God and their service more acceptable unto their Master and give one another and others a good example of faithfulness diligence chastity sobriety godliness and all Christian vertues and well-doing 8. I might add there will be a day of Death and Judgment in which both Masters and servants must give an account unto God the Judge of all the world how they have carried themselves in their relations one towards another 2 Cor. 5.10 Eccles 12.14 27. Lastly To those that are poor in the world I must add a few words particularly for their comfort and direction and I pray observe them well 1. If now for your comfort you be truly Godly that is know God and Jesus Christ savingly and if you do truly desire to believe and endeavour to serve God daily and faithfully though but weakly as your education 't is probable hath been but mean then you are rich and great in the sight of God God is your Father and Jesus Christ your Redeemer Justifier and Saviour the Holy Spirit is your Sanctifier and Comforter and Heaven your in heritance all is yours if you be Christs 1 Cor. 3.22 23. Bless God with all your Souls serve him with all your heart you are happy in a far better condition than many thousands though you have little or nothing in the world and they have hundreds or thousands by the year if they be Christless ungodly and graceless and such I am confident some of those to whom I intend this are Fear not you shall never want things necessary any thing that God your Heavenly Father knows to be good and necessary for you Consider Psal 34.9 10. 84.11 Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son how shall he not with him freely give us all things Consider well Mat. 6.25 to the end where you shall read how Christ argues for your comfort and ours also Where God gives life which is the greater better gift says Christ he will give meat and drink which is the lesser and he that gives a body will give raiment which is the lesser good He that will give a hundred or thousand pound to his childe will not be wanting to give him a little meat drink and clothes a few shillings for his present necessaries He that cloth s the field with grass and corn and the Lillies that neither toil nor spin Yea He that feeds the ravens kites and other Birds and Beasts that live on prey God provides for them when they awake in the morning they sing and are merry and yet they do not know where they shall have one small bit and they praise their Maker in their kind depend on him without distracting or carking distrustful cares and he provides for them every one food convenient in the due season Read Psal 104.27.28 and 147.15 16. How much more will he provide for you who truly desire and endeavor to serve and fear him Be not faithless but beleeve But 2. If you have not true saving knowledge and sanctified Grace an interest in Jesus Christ if ignorant or unholy and unrighteous then I beseech you whatsoever you do neglect yet neglect not any longer to give diligent endeavour
are those that having by their labour gotten a little money either lavish it out in some finery or dainty fare and strong drink above their ability in a moderate way at some special time is not to be blamed And so feasting as it were one day and then are forced to fait or go with an empty belly two or three days after whereas a wise husbanding that little they get might supply their wants at all times something comfortably Thus living and walking according to these and the former rules and directions none need to fear either want or death but may comfortably say with David The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want Psal 23.1 and apply that of Isaiah Isa 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds None need to fear want that hath an All-sufficient God and a most tender Father to provide for them nor need to fear death seeing to die to a Godly man is to enter into peace and rest in his bed none fear to go to bed when they know they shall rest Object Thus to live perhaps some will say or at least think were to banish all joy and comfort and to live an heavy mopish melancholy life Ans 1. The world is much mistaken and deceived The Godly man is forbidden or debarred no joy natural or worldly that is lawful and convenient for matter and other circumstances but only meer carnal sensual delights and others when and so far as they are evil in respect of circumstances which worldly delights so far worldly and voluptuous men must and will repent of when they shall give an account of themselves and their sinful pleasures and delights unto God 2. None under Heaven have so much true joy delight and content as the truly Godly man hath or may have even the most strict and most religious of them But indeed their joy and delights are not carnal but spiritual not outward in the face voice and lungs but inward in the heart a true sound solid joy but the joy of worldlings is a slight superficial underling joy of the bo y not of the soul like the flash of a bavin in the fire or straw it will make a great flame and noise but yeeld little hear it doth scorch rather than heat kindly and is quickly gone and out but the Godly mans joy is in his soul Luk. 1.46 47. Psal 13.5 and 33.21 a substantial hearty and lasting joy What greater joy can there be What greater comfort and cause of rejoycing than to know and be assured or have some comfortable grounds of hope that they are freed from the reigning and condemning power of sin from the destroying power of the devil death and hell have their sins pardoned God reconciled Christ to be their Saviour God to be their Father the Holy Ghost to be their sanctifier instructer guide and comforter and Heaven to be their everlasting inheritance and that in the mean time all things even the worst shall work together for their spiritual and everlasting good comfort and happiness the all wise and over-ruling gratious Providence of God Rom. 8.28 Psal 25.10 Therefore says the Apostle Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say Rejoyce Such a joy as the world can neither give nor take away nor understand Isa 9.3 Prov. 14.10 John 16.22 Object 2. Yet again p ssibly some may think this seems to be too much preciseness and niceness more than needs What shall none go to Heaven but such as live very precisely and strictly Answ I cannot deny but many shall go to Heaven yea all that are truly Godly and live holily though they are not of so strict a life as some are But 2. I never heard or read of so much as one in all my life that was truly Godly that thought himself too holy and strict but of many no doubt truly Godly strict who have complained and were troubled that they were no more holy and conformable to the will and Law of God and to Jesus Christ Read and consider David Psal 119.5.14 15 16 33 34. and many other places Paul also Rom. 7.18 19 c. and Phil. 3.9 10 12 13 14. 3. I say also that even wicked loose prophane persons when themselves come to die if the eyes of their understandings be truly open and conscience awaked they will justifie the most holy strict Christians and heartily wish that themselves had lived so I have heard and seen some do so on their sick beds when they had dying thoughts 4. Consider what Christ saith and commandeth us and all men Mat. 5.48 Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect and what the Apostle saith and enjoyns in the name of God 1 Pet. 1.15 16. As he which has called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I that is God or Christ am holy Now who can be perfect in this life for degree as God our Father in Heaven is Holy And who can be so holy in all manner of conversation while in the state of mortality as Jesus Christ is holy yet this we are all commanded to endeavour after here And now dear Friends and Christians give me leave to add only a few choice places of Scripture to be always ready at hand and before your eyes Ephes 4.22 23 c. Put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts And be you renewed in the spirit of your mind and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour for we are members one of another Be angry namely when there is a just cause but sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath neither give place to the Devil Let him that stole steal no more but labour with his own hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths but that which is good for edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are souled up unto the day of redemption Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice And be ye kind to one another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ sake hath or as you desire God should forgive you Phil. 2.1 2 to 7. If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship in the Spirit if any bowels of mercy fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife and vain-glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of another Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Rom. 12.1 2 I beseech you by the mercies of God Brethren that ye present your selves a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed in the renewing of your minds Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise think on these things 1 Pet. 3.8 9 10 11. Be all of one mind having compassion one of another love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing For he that will love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil Colos 3.12 13. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel one against another even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all things put on charity which is the bond of perfectness And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which ye are called in one body and be ye thankful Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks unto God and the Father by him Act. 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 2 Cor. 13.11 Finally Brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of peace and love shall be with you Heb. 13.18 20 21. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepherd of the sheep through 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 sight through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 5.10 11. And the God of all Grace who hath called us to his eternal Glory by or in Jesus Christ after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you To whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Now dear Christians Brethren and friends consider what I have written and the Lord give you understanding in all things and forget not to pray for him and his who is April 1670. Your very affectionate kinsman and friend to love and serve your Souls good while he is T. M.
own salvation But be careful to hear with humble hearts with much attention to remember believe love and practice what you hear for not the hearers but the doers of the Law are blessed Rom. 2.13 Jam. 1.22 23 25. And be earnest with God in behalf of your Minister that he may be a useful instrument of God to your soules and esteem him highly in love for the works sake 1 Thes 5.12 13. 3. Meditate often on the word you hear and read 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate on these things for blessed is the man that doth meditate therein day and night Psal 1.1 2. Oh how I love thy Law said David Psal 119.97 It is my meditation all the day Meditate often 1. Of your sins and what they deserve 2. Of your death 3. Of the day of judgement 4. Of the joys of Heaven 5. Of the torments of Hell And 6. Of God especially of the omniscience omnipresence power justice and mercy of God and of the merit of Christ Dr. Vsher has an excellent treatise of meditation on Prov. 18. Meditation is of great use to further our knowledge and understanding in the things of God to help our memories stir up affections help faith repentance love and every grace put on to practice and to bring in much sweet comfort and spiritual thought 4. Be careful conscientiously to keep the Christian sabbath or Lords day holy for we are expresly so commanded Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy viz. in all the duties of Gods worship publick private and secret the whole day is the Lords but for our spiritual advantage and benefit who allows us six daies for our worldly business reserving only some small portions of them at our best advantage to seek his blessing on our undertakings and one whole day in seven for his service for us to exercise our selves in the works of piety and holyness works of mercy and charity and works of present and urgent necessity that is such as could not be foreseen and done before nor cannot be put off to another day as the feeding of the beasts watering them quenching of fire broke out helping a poor beast fallen into a ditch and such like It is the Lords day not ours set apart not for our worldly business actions recreations or discourse but his service God allows us six dayes for them and this day one in seven and the first day of the week for his service as may be clearly concluded and proved from the fourth Commandment Christs resurrection and resting from the great work of our redemption the practice of the Apostles and the whole Church of God to this day He that makes no conscience of keeping the Lords day holy will make as little conscience of any other duty of piety towards God or dealing with men 5. Pray frequently fervently and constantly in publick in private and in secret also daily 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing that is daily instantly and constantly not that we should spend all our time in praying and do nothing else but keep a constant course of prayer at the most convenient seasons daily and be also ready to pray whensoever there shall be a fit opportunity offered have alwayes a praying frame of heart as much as may be Luk. 18.1 Our Saviour put forth a Parable sayes the Evangelist to this end that men should pray alwayes that is constantly and importunately and not faint Eph. 6.18 Praying alwayes i. e. on all seasons and fit opportunities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pray at least twice a day morning and evening the Jews had their morning and evening sacrifices and incense offer'd a type of prayer Daniel notwithstanding his great and weighty imployments and publick business prayed three times a day solemnly on his knees Dan. 6.10 David seven times a day Psal 119.164 But many are like Heathens and like the bruite beasts have no prayer in the Family daily or none in private and some onely at night in a short curtal drowsy manner without faith c. In the morning when you wake let your first serious thoughts be of God and his goodness towards your selves and others the night past and heartily praise God for them Psal 103.12 Praise thou the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits i.e. not any of them Consider well Psal 92.1 2. And when you are up and dressed first addresse your selves to God by humble and hearty praises and prayer for grace and power against sin and to live holily for preservation from evils both of sin and suffering also for a blessing on your lawful undertakings and thankfully acknowledge his goodness and benefits and so labour to have your hearts filled with a sense of Gods goodness and holy resolutions to walk with God as Enoch did Also at night consider what has been done that day past and how bless God for what hath been well done for mercies received and evils prevented his blessings on your undertakings and assistance of you in your callings humbly acknowledging and bewailing what has been done amiss beg pardon and commit your selves and all to his protection and care for the night and time to come in well doing Use all kinds of prayer confession deprecation petition and thanksgiving 1. Confession confess your sins daily humbly and unfeignedly to God with sorrow and shame and purpose of reforming what has been amiss Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall have mercy 2. Deprecation pray to God to remove evils felt and prevent evils fear'd both of affliction and trouble but especially the evil of sin 3. Supplication petition to God for mercy pardon power against sin and for good things needful both for soul and body this life and that to come for your selves and others especially for those to whom you stand in a more special relation be earnest with God for Magistrates and for your Ministers as you love your own good and welfare of soul and body 4. Thanksgiving and praises be thankful to God for every mercy and good thing privative and positive for evils prevented and removed and for good things bestowed and promised for soul and body for your selves and others for this life and that to come Psal 103.1 2. Ephes 618. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance supplication for all Saints 1 Tim. 2.1 2. I exhort first of all that supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority that we may lead ae quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty 6. Singing of Psalms Davids Psalms especially and above all others is an ancient an heavenly spiritual comfortable soul-refreshing Christian duty frequently practised by the people of God both under the old and new Testament in the
far better than a bare portion though great 11. Be not partial in manifesting your love to them though Nature and Religion bind you to love them and that tenderly The partialness of many Parents in manifesting their affections more to one child than to another hath many times been the occasion of very evil events many times of undoing sometimes of the death of one sometimes of both and so of all their children There is a very sad story of this kind printed of late years You know the story of Jacobs love to his Joseph it was in part the occasion of his Brethrens envy hatred and conspiracie of his death Gen. 37.3 4 7 18 19 20. Also of Davids love to his Absalom also to Adonijah and what grievous doings followed That child whom the Parents so partially affect many times proves the Parents greatest grief and trouble as were Absalom and Adonijah to David and just it is with God it should be so and the neglected child proves the greatest comfort and credit I grant there may be special reasons in one child more than another that may move and draw the Parents affections and that the Parents may love it and delight in it more as in Joseph but take heed of manifesting it further than may be for both their good Take heed also of being too cockering and indulging to your children also of being too severe and rigorous Col. 4.6 Ephes 6.4 Too much cockering commonly spoils them and makes them less loving more careless to please undutiful And too much severity and harshness doth dispirit them makes them heartless mopish disrespectful to their Parents whom they think do not love but hate them Neither be too free and liberal to feed your children with mony nor too niggardly and close handed the one makes them proud prodigal and spend-thrifts the other makes them heartless discontented and often to use very unwarrantable shifts to help themselves The golden mean is best a little with the Parents eye over them to see how they lay it our encourageth them to husband their little well 12. Teach them to be dutiful and carry themselves with due respects to all persons Good breeding is a great ornament and gains love but clownishness disrespect contempt 13. And when they are grown up and to be put out and disposed abroad to a School Calling or in Marriage be very careful to get the best Teacher and the best Master or Mistress for abilities skill honesty goodness the best ordered family where goodness and Godliness is practised taught and encouraged and their everlasting welfare will be furthered And such a Trade and Calling as is not only lawful honest of good report credible and profitable but also sutable to your childrens age abilities means to manage it and to his mind and inclination But in Marriage be most especially careful to have a meet yoke-fellow and helper every way a person as far as you are able upon due inquiry to judge truly religious of a good disposition of honest parentage provident and diligent in an honest and credible calling with other sutable conveniences as much as may be but let the former by no means be neglected Prov. 31.30 Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord shall be praised 1 Cor. 7.39 A little with the fear of the Lord is better than great treasure and trouble therewith Prov. 15.16 Also I advise all persons to deal plainly and faithfully that nothing be pretended that in ordinary ways of Providence will not be found true They that seek to deceive others are commonly also deceived themselves and justly He that walketh uprightly walketh safely Prov. 10.9 yet it is good providence to foresee as much as may be to prevent evils and inconveniences that may fall out Eccles 2.14 The wisemans eyes are in his head but the fool goeth on and is punished Prov. 22.3 And if any says the Apostle want wisdom as who doth not more or less let him ask of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth no man Jam. 1.5 Forget not in every undertaking to seek God first and last 24. Children learn to know and make Conscience of discharging your duties towards your Parents First Honour your Parents it is the express command of God Exod. 20.12 Ephes 6.2 3. Honour thy father and thy mother see what forcible Reasons follow It is the first commandment with promise says the Apostle Ephes 6. namely the first Commandment of the second Table has a great encouraging promise annexed to it viz. long life with it prosperity in those words that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth Honour comprehends Reverence obedience and maintaining them in case of want 1. Reverence them in your hearts as worthy of all respect and honor from you and manifest it outwardly by your humble and reverend behaviour and carriage before them lowly obeysance hearkning unto them by your modest silence before them and when called to speak by mild humble reverend speech to them and of them as Joseph did bowing himself lowly before his aged father though blind and could not see him and much inferior to him in respect of his place and authority in Egypt and himself a married man Gen. 48.10 12. But worthy are those children to be blamed and shamed that before their Parents are bold loud streperous full of words or stout sullen and surly not answering their Parents or in a short suappish manner as if their equals are dogged froward pouting rude But most unworthy are those children who having gotten a little wealth or fine cloathes above their parents are proud and scorn them or are ashamed to own and acknowledge their poor parents and those also that despise reproach or curse their parents such by the Law of God were without mercy to be put to death Levit. 20.9 Prov. 20.20 Mat. 15.4 The ravens shall pluck out his eyes that mocketh at his father or despiseth his mother Pro. 30.17 And be sure those children of what age place or estate soever that carry themselves undutifully or irreverently to their parents shall be paid home in the same kind and full measure God is righteous but he will honor them that honour their parents 2. Obedience is due unto father and mother in all things lawful and which may stand with their obedience to God the Heavenly Father Eph. 6.1 Children obey your Parents in the Lord. There is the duty obedience and the limitation of it in the Lord for this is right says the Apostle Obedience is a true and real honour reverence without this is but complement and this is the real and surrest proof of dutiful children This obedience must be shewed by a ready and cheerful doing what the Parent commands and as he or she commands and forbearing what the Parent forbids But disobedience and rebellion are great sins and such persons are counted by the Holy Ghost as the vilest persons sons