Parents if they know any thing at all know that sin is a transgression of the Law and by it the Lord is offended with them that break his Commandments He that keepeth the whole Law and offends in one point is guilty of all James 2.10 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 Parents knowing this if they love their Children they will keep them from sin if possible Reason 2. Parents know that the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 not only the death of the Body but the second Death or the eternal depravation of the Soul from Eternal Happiness and sentenced to eternal wrath Mat. 25.41 I pass to the Third Doctrine which is Doct. 3. That they that are true Christians indeed have such entire love to their Childrens Souls that they will use all means possible to nurture them up in the right way of the Lord This Doctrine seems to be one perfect Character of a Christian and it naturally ariseth from the Text viz. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The 1st Reason is Because Parents know that if the Soul be eternally lost there is no recovering of it again There is a great gulf fixed Luke 16.26 'T is the eternal decree of the Lord that none can pass it none can enter in when the door is shut Mat. 25.10 2d Reason is Because Nurture and Instruction is the way to eternal Life This is life eternal to know thee saith Christ the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 As 1st To know him in his Titles John 1.5 14 29 45 49 51. 2ly To know him in his Nature Rom. 1.3 Acts 13.23 Gal. 4.4 3ly To know him in his Attributes as he is all Wisdom Justice Life Light Mercy Power Majesty Immortality Incomprehensible and Immutable 1 Cor. 1.24 John 1.4 Mat. 28.18 1 Tim. 6.16 James 1.17 4ly To know Christ in his Person in his Excellencies and in his Offices as 1st King 1 Tim. 6.15 2ly Priest Heb. 7.21 3ly Prophet Acts 3.22 23. 5ly To know him in his Promises John 14.16 Mark 10.29 30. 6ly To know him in his Conception and Birth Mat. 1.20 25. 7ly To know him in his Life and Doctrine Acts 10.38 8ly To know him in his Death 2 Cor 5.15 Heb. 2.9 Rom. 5.10 9ly To know him in his Resurrection Rom. 8.11 1 Cor. 15.14 20. 10ly To know him in his Ascention John 3.13 Acts 1.11 Eph. 4.9 10. 11ly To know him in his Glorification Mat. 25.31 John 17.5 12ly To know him in his infinite and special Love John 3.16 Mark 16.15 13ly To know him in our hearts by Faith Eph. 3.17 2 Cor. 13.5 This is a Work that is not truly attained to but by Nurture and wholsome Instruction and God's gracious Inspiration Rom. 10.17 And it requireth great labour diligence and care 3d. Reason is Because Nurture and Instruction in the right way of the Lord is a thing that is hard to be attained As 1st All the promises of the Gospel are spiritual and they that embrace the Gospel must be spiritual men 1 Pet. 2.5 John 15.19 2ly The Doctrine of the Gospel holds forth a state of self-denial Luke 14.26 3ly The way of truth is a way of of Persecution either in word or deed 2 Tim. 3.12 4ly In spiritual Communion all true Believers must separate from sinners Jer. 51.6 Isa 52.11 2 Cor. 6.17 Revel 18.4 John 15.19 5ly There is required great diligence in that there are so many voices in the World and all conclude themselves in the truth that a person that will find the right way had need as Paul saith To prove all things but let them remember to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 That Doctrine which is according to the commands of Christ the practice of the Apostles and that in which all the first Churches were constituted must needs be the truth and no other 4th Reason is Because He that believeth and walketh in the way of the Lord with a perfect heart shall be by Christ made free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 He that is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Parents if they truly love their Children will endeavour their conversion 5th Reason is Because all the promises in the Gospel do belong to those that believe and walk uprightly in the right way of the Lord All is yours saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 3.22 I must not travel any further in this large field but pass to the fourth Doctrine which is The Second Part. Wherein the Duty of Children to God and their Parents is opened 4th Doct. That Children ought to yield obedience to all their Parents commands in the Lord with boly Reverence Honour and Zeal If in our Text Parents are commanded to bring up their Children as t is plain in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Then it is most certain that those Children are Rebels if they do not obey and this Obedience must be performed according to the best Rule or Rules prescribed in the Holy Scriptures And they are these two First What they must not do to their Parents Secondly What they must do to and for their Parents But First What you must not do to your Parents You must not do any thing that doth withdraw and withhold from them that Honour or diminish their Dignity nor that holdeth you back from Love Reverence Obedience and Thankfulness or that which doth seem to lessen their Authority And therefore 1st You must not mock at them when they command you to do that which is lawful right you must not scornfully imitate their words nor their Gestures Looks or Carriages least the Lord be offended with you as he was with those Children 2 Kings 2.23 who by two Bears slew forty two of them Job counts Mockage a great Provocation Job 17.2 As Parents are commanded not to provoke their Children so likewise by Childrens wicked Carriages Parents may be provoked several ways as you will find these Negative Precepts do declare and confirm The eye that mocketh at his Father and dispiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pluck it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Prov. 30.17 Jeremiah enters his complaint to the Lord very Pathetically saying Every one mocketh me Jer. 20.7 'T is a grievous sin in the sight of God and a great offence to Man therefore do not use it at all to any least thou forget thy self and use it to thy Parents and so thou provoke them and offend the Lord Job 21.17 2d Direction is You must not revile or reproach your Parents He that revileth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to death Exod 21.17 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Rulers of thy People Exod. 22.28 Margin Judges Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dijs non detrahes Thou shalt not report ill against the mighties that is they that have Power and
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
Rom. 1.3 Of whom concerning the flesh Christ came Rom. 9.5 Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God 1 John 4.2 5ly Christ had also blood One of the Soldiers with a spear peirced his fide and forthwith came there out blood and water John 19.24 Thou hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood Revel 5.9 We have redemption through his blood Col. 1.14 You are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.19 And the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 Heb. 9.14 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved Rom. 5.9 6ly And as he had flesh and blood so also bones These things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled a bone of him shall not be broken John 19.36 Handle me a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Luke 24.39 7ly Christ died Jesus when he had cryed again with a loud voice yielded up the Ghost Mat. 27.50 Mark 16.37 Luke 23.46 John 19.30 To this end Christ died Rom. 14.9.15 Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8.11 If righteousness came by the law Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2.21 And that Christ died for all 2 Cor. 5.15 Christ humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 In due time Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5.6 While we were sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5.8 8ly Christ was buried Joseph brought fine Linnen and took him down and wrapped him in the linnen and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewen out of a rock and rolled a stone unto the door of the Sepulchre Mark 15.46 And that Christ was buried and he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.4 Being buried with Christ in baptism Col. 2.12 Rom. 6.4 How are the Valentinian and Utichen Heresies detected it is plain Christ was begotten born had a body of flesh blood and bones died and was buried which body c. he receiv'd of the Virgin Mary being compleat and perfect God-man in one person Heaven and Earth being as it were united in one person in an Hypostatical Union by which divine and miraculous Union all the Elect are come to obtaining Union with God and Eternal Salvation Article the Fourth Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate suffered and was buried c. Pilate said unto them what shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ they all said unto him let him be crucified and he delivered him to be crucified Mat. 27.22 26. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 1 Cor. 1.23 Acts 4.10 1 Cor. 2.2 Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it in Linnen Cloaths with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury and laid it in a new Sepulchre John 19.40 41. Article the Fifth And rose again the third day according to the Scriptures c. 1 Cor. 15.4 We have testified of God that he raised up Christ 1 Cor. 15.15 But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 And he said unto them thus it is written and thus it behoveth Christ to suffer and to rise again the third day from the dead Luke 24.46 He hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Per. 1.3 Christ the first fruits from the dead Col. 1.18 Christ the first begotten of the dead Rev. 1.5 That Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead Acts 17.3 That Christ should be the first that should arise from the dead Acts 26.23 Christ being risen from the dead died no more Rom. 6.9 He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies Rom. 8.11 To this end Christ both died and rose again Rom. 14.9 Gal. 1.1 He spake of the resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in hell Acts 2.31 It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again Rom. 8.34 10.9 According to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Ephes 1.19 20. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel 2 Tim. 2.8 Article the Sixth And ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father c. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into Heaven and sat on the right hand of God Mark 16.19 And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Luke 24.51 While they beheld he was taken up and the cloud received him out of their sight Acts 1.9 Who is even at the right hand of God Rom. 8.34 Eph. 1.20 If ye be risen with Christ seek those things that are above where Christ fitteth at the right hand of God Col. 3.1 Heb. 1.3 8. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God Heb. 10.12 12.2 Christ who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God 1 Pet. 3.22 Acts 2.33 a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5.31 Article the Seventh And is to come again in Glory to judge the living and the drad of whose Kingdom there shall be no end c. If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again John 14.3 28. This same Jesus which is taken up into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 1.11 For the son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels Mat. 16.27 And they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory Mat. 24.30 Mark 13.26 Luke 21.27 It is he which was ordained of God to be judge of quick and dead Acts 10.42 I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Dan. 7.27 The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 Article the Eighth And in the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of Life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets c. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things John 14.26 It is the Spirit that quickeneth John 6.63 The Father the Word and the Holy Ghost