Lord is in speciall sort such like as the Jewes to whom this land was first solemnly promulged as in Exod. 20. is expressed who were a people in especiall Covenant with God children of God and of the Church and of the Covenant who professed to look not for a Portion in this world so much as by that Land of promise to be led to a more spirituall and heavenly Canaan and rest of which that earthly Canaan was but a shadow Heb. 4. though this Law being given to Adam in innocency and ingraven in his heart and the rootstep and impression of it being yet left in the hearts of all men by nature and being one of Gods Morall Laws it bindeth all and every Child of man one or other in general and in particular In this promise he doth not say that thy life may be long in the world but that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee which to the Jews was the Land of Canaan to others the Land of their possession wherein if honourers of Parents children shall live long if good for them or if ordered by God to live less while they shall have the blessing of long life And so much for explication of the words the doctrine which we shall through divine Assistance prosecute is this That children Honour their Parents It is a duty The main doctrine The weight of the duty of Honour of Parents proved of greatest moment and concernment Let us first evince the weightiness of this duty and then more fully handle the duty it self Four reasons amongst many may be given to prove the weight of this duty Honour thy Father and thy Mother 1. Because it is placed by the Law-giver himself 1. Because next in order to the Commandements of the first Table and before the Commandements of the second Table immediately next to the commandements of the 1. Table as next in order to them and before all the other Commandements of the 2. Table as in order of duty and dignity preceding the same It is made a sweet closure bond and sementing to both Tables binding and fastning each to other inviolably and inseparably As this is more fast or loose so are mens spirits more girt to the duties of both Tables or more loose from them He that conscientiously honoureth his Parents he is assuredly conscientious of honouring of God in the first place and his Parents for conscience sake unto the Lord Piety to God-ward as a cause precedeth in him to this blessed duty piety towards Parents as to its effect And therefore the Lord doth not without cause stile the duty of Children to Parents by the name of piety 1 Tim. 5. 4. let them learn of shew piety to them at home and to requite their Parents Piety being in the root it is piety in the fruit yea this blessed fruit is a furthering means also to promove all the acts of piety which spring out of that root if Children honour their Parents fully and as they ought they will in observance of their Parents counsels and commands be more carefull of whatsoever God commandeth respecting the first or second Table hence that for the first Table Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear every man his Mother and every man his Father and keep my Sabbaths where under the notion of Gods Sabbaths kept not alone the observation of the Sabbath it self is understood but as in Scripture language the whole worship of God is meant So Esay 56. 4. the Eunuches that keep my Sabbaths i. e. observe my whole worship so Ezek. 44. 24. so Ezek. 20. 24. despising and polluting his Sabboths is despising and polluting his worship hence that is there added and their eyes are towards their Idols Observable it is also that in Levit. 19. 2. God saith be ye holy as I am holy and then addeth verse 3. ye shall fear every man his Mother and his Father From that piety originally springeth this yet again annexeth to this ye shall keep my Sabbaths In the Decalogue that is first Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath and then Honour thy Father and thy Mother Here it is Fear every man his Mother and his Father and keep my Sabbaths that Radicall piety being laid in the heart now this other piety exceedingly furthereth the exercise of particular acts of piety towards God one pious towards Parents will be carefull of all naturall worship to call upon God to love him to fear him to put his trust in him required in the 1. Commandement he wil conscientiously observe all Gods instituted worship avoiding all worship of mens inventing according to the tenour of the 2. Commandement he will reverently and faithfully improve Gods attributes titles words and works avoiding the contrary abuse thereof as it is injoyned in the 3. Commandement he will also as faithfully and fruitfully sanctifie the Lords dayes resting from the works of his calling and especially from vain sports which is that which the 4. Commandement requireth the like may be said of the Commandements of the 2. table which will all be duly attended if this duty of the fifth Commandem be faithfully observed both are implyed in that place of which we shall make much use in this discourse Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that he will command his children and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do judgement and justice if Abrahams children honour his parentall Authority so that they are at his command then they keep the way of the Lord then they do judgement and justice whatsoever path God chalketh out for them to walk in towards God or towards men they will be keeping in it And indeed who better servants in that relation to Masters then those that were good children to Parents who more obedient subjects to lawfull Authority and Fathers of the Common-wealth then such as learned and practised filiall obedience to Parents at home who more respective to Ministers then those that were and are conscientiously respective to good Parents who more tender of their own and others lives and healths of their own and others chastity of their own and others estates and names avoyding the contrary evills to a very sinfull motion looking that way then such as have been Conscientious honourers of their Parents hence on the contrary dishonour of Parents is made a Ring-leading sin a very spring and root of manifold wickedness Ezek. 22. 7. when the Prophet would charge upon all sorts in Jerusalem their most notorious crimes he beginneth thus In thee have they set light by Father and Mother and then goeth on in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger in thee have they vexed the fatherless and widow Ibid. thou hast despised mine holy things and hast profaned my Sabbaths verse 8. In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood vers 9. In vers 10. 11. he chargeth them with horrid fleshly filthiness in vers 12. with
Senacheribs sons did it as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his God they smote him with the sword 2 King 19. 37. Surely the Law even all the Curses and Judgments of the Law must needs be the portion of such Paricides 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who so ill requite their tender-hearted Parents and causes of their lives A second use serveth for exhortation 1. To 2. Use of exhortation Parents Do you what lieth in you to further and look 1. To parents to further this gratitude in their Children 1. By leaving them the choycer blessings of God that you no way do any thing to hinder your children in this duty of gratefull recompencing of Parents for which end 1. Take speciall care to leave your children the good blessings of God respecting their souls welfare for this will lie as a strong ingagement upon your childrens hearts the rather gratefully to recompence you their Parents Thus God required of them of old that they should so carry it that they might leave the Land of Canaan a Type of blessings of an higher nature for an inheritance to their Children for ever The like is charged 2 Chron. 28. 8. This was the gratious care of the Fathers of the two tribes and half to detain their children in the way of Gods worship and fear and to prevent whatsoever might hinder or discourage their posterity from the same Josh 22. 25 26 27 28. And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing saying in time to come your children might speak to our Children saying what have you to do with the Lord God of Israel yee have no part in the Lord So shall your Children make our Children cease from fearing the Lord. Therefore we said let us now prepare to build us an altar not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifice but that it may be a witnesse between us and you and our generations after us that we might do the service of the Lord before him c. This was Joshuah's care also for his Josh 24. 15. But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord And this was Abrahams care Gen. 28. 29. I know him saith the Lord that he will command his Children and household after him and they shall walk in his waies that God may bring upon Abraham namely in his posterity what he hath promised him 2. Use all lawfull meanes industry and providence to leave your Children in such places and 2. By leaving them inabling meanes and wayes for it in such callings and if it may be with such portions that they may not alone be the more ingaged but inabled also in an ordinary way of providence to discharge such a duty of filial recompence to the utmost Thus Jacobs care was to provide for his house Gen. 30. 30. and he had children solicitous and industrious to provide for him in his straits in that time of famine witness their journeyes for that end into Egypt Gen. 42. and 43 and 44. But in a most eminent way it was seen in his Son Ioseph whose great care was that way Gen. 45. 9. Thus saith thy Son Joseph Come down to me and tarry not and vers 10. Thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen and thou shalt be near to me thou and thy Children and thy Childrens Children and thy flocks and herds and all that thou hast vers 22. and there will I nourish thee for yet there are five years of Famine lest thou and thy household and all that thou hast come to poverty 3. By distilling into Children principles of gratitude to others and curbing the contrary in them 3. Distil into your children principles of gratitude to others especially unto progenitors So did Ruth into Obed her Son whence that prophetical speech of good women present at Obeds birth which they spake to his Grandmother Naomi Ruth 4. 15. He shall be to thee a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thy old age for thy Daughter-in-law which loveth thee and therefore will be instructing him that way hath born him And if Parents perceive any expressions of an ungratefull Spirit in their Children though towards others let them be sure to rebuke their children for it and seasonably to root up such sprouts of so bad a Spirit So did good Jethro in his Daughters when they told him what kindness Moses had done to them Exod. 2. 19 20. saith he to his Daughters and where is he why is it that ye left the man call him that he may eat bread 4. Be you exemplary to your Children in this 4. By being examples thereof to Children gratefull recompence of your Parents Hence also their Argument concerning Obed that he would prove such a pious child to his Grandmother Naomi Ruth 4. 15. He will be a nourisher of thy old age For thy Daughter which loveth thee which is better to thee then seaven sons and in her exemplary piety towards thee hath born him If children are continually taught by Parents examples of piety to their parents as well as by their Instructions to be thus pious they will assuredly learn as Pauls phrase is 1 Tim. 5. 4. to shew piety at home and to requite their Parents 5. Be it far from you to be so ungracious towards 5. By avoiding any thing favouring of unnaturalness to them your godly children as not to shield off blowes from them what in you lieth like the Father and Mother of the blind man leave him to shift for himself with He is of years let him answer for himself John 9. 21 22. So did not Joash who in that honest cause of his son Gideon stood in his defence Iudg. 6. 31. Joash said to all that stood by him against his Son will you plead for Baal will you save him he that will plead for him let him be put to death whilest it is yet morning if he be a God let him plead for himself because one hath cast down his Altar But much less let any Parent requite good children so ill as themselves to undermine their childrens safety or liberty Luke 21. 16. Yee shall be betrayed by Parents c. 2. It is of exhottation to children 2. Exhortation to Children gratefully to recompence Parents Motives to it Be you stirred up to piety and gratefull recompence to your Parents And that you may be stirred up hereunto besides that it is honourable in the sight of God Angels and Men so to do whence such Records kept of gratefull Children in honorem as of Joseph and others Consider 1. That by the very light of nature it hath been 1. Naturall light strongly urged and exemplarily practised as we have hinted before Plato in his 8. Book de Republica sheweth that a Child oweth to the Father all things respecting his outward maintainance and comfort as a recompence for his Birth and Education and Tully saith We are not born for our selves but partly for our Country partly for
A FRUITFULL AND USEFULL DISCOURSE TOVCHING The Honour due from Children to Parents and the duty of Parents towards their Children WHEREIN Both the Respective duties of Children to Parents and of Parents to Children are cleared from Scripture together with what may either further or hinder the same And the failings and sins of either against the other together with the manifold causes thereof are discovered which are accordingly applyed and pressed By Thomas Cobbet Minister of the Word at Lyn in New-England Ephes 6 2 Honour thy Father and thy Mother which is the first Commandement with promise Vers 3. That it may be well with thee and that thou maist live long upon the earth Vers 4. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear every man his Mother and every man his Father LONDON Printed by S. G. for John Rothwell at the Bear and Fountain in Cheap-side 1656. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian Reader THis discourse was at first intended onely for the private use of our own Congregation but by the request of some it is now comming into publique view and so to thy hand When the seed was first sown here the Lord was pleased to give a blessed hansell of his grace and some sprinklings of first fruits thereof may he now please to bless the produce of that seed which now is scattering in a large field with a more plentifull harvest-blessing in thy heart in speciall and in hearts of many others by thy means the unworthy seeds-man shall account himself well appayed and abundantly rewarded According as the subject persons firstly concerned in the discourse are all sorts of persons standing in the relation of children and so children in years also as well as persons of riper Age so the stile and phrase is familiar and plain children needing no such high-flown quaint new-coyned words as are even too much in use now adayes both in Press and Pulpit but rather the plainest expressions and easiest to be understood Onely remember also Courteous Reader that under the notion of children in the discourse are understood all such as are in the relation of children whether Adult persons or children in Age thou maiest also Christian Reader frequently meet with the very same Scriptures quoted in the discourse but let not that offend thee since for thy benefit those rich veines of spirituall mine are but further searched into to find out yet more and more treasure according as there is various need and vse thereof and those lively Oracles of God are often consulted withall to see what further of the Lords mind they hold forth in variety of Cases The main heads also of the discourse they are obvious to every eye touched upon by divers expositors upon the Commandements and hinted also in many worthy Catechises but neither let this be any stumbling block to thee but peruse this discourse also and read it over with a teachable heart and thou maiest find I trust through grace some peculiar blessing superadded by the Lord even upon this discourse also Who knoweth not that mans dull and deceitfull heart will not oftimes be moved with generals and common heads of holy doctrine or practice lightly touched upon but when drawn out into particulars and those being distinctly handled wisely applyed and strongly urged and pressed upon the conscience the strong holds of sin and Satan in man come to be thrown down through the power of God accompanying the same every deceitfull reasoning of mans heart is met withall and refuted and every high thing in man which did formerly exalt it self against Christ is by grace captivated and subdued Surely if the plain matters herein discoursed of may have that privilege in reference to the soul which meats of more common and ordinary use have in respect to the body namely to nourish most and to breed the best blood the discourse will attain one speciall end thereof The subject of this discourse Christian Reader it is in the naturo thereof Oeconomicall respecting the Family specially but in the consequences and concernments thereof it may not be unfitly termed Politicall yea Ecclesiasticall as that namely which very nearly respecteth and concerneth the welfare of State and Church The glorious creator of all things having abundance of Spirit he could at first and at once have made millions of people who might presently have constituted civill states and Churches also but he chose that course rather to lay the foundations both of State and Church in a family making that the Mother Hive out of which both those swarms of State and Church issued forth And as he begun both State and Church Entitative and Essentiall in Adams Family so when God himself would institute a more compleat and Organick Church and Common-wealth he laid the foundations of both in the Family of Abraham and Isaac especially of Jacob the Originall Family of all consisting of Parents and Children firstly then of Masters and Servants nextly The originall then of State and Church being the Family they are both in that respect concerned in it yea as the Family is an Originall to States and Churches in their Essentials so also in their Morals in their manners As that Nursery is better or worse and the plants thereof of more or less worth so are both the Orchards of State and Church Cantic 4. 12. which are thence stored with Trees better or worse and their fruits more or less wholsome if that School be but well ordered and the lesser Scholars in it well principled and grounded Prov. 4. 4. those which afterwards come to be made use of for more eminent use and service in State and Church they will be the more precious ornaments to them both if that lesser Artillery Company of Trained Persons Gen. 14. 14. be but well looked after and mannaged the Commanders and File-leaders which issue thence into those greater Armies of State Job 29. 25. and of Church Cantic 6. 4. they commonly prove more famous in their Achievements and exploits As the waters at that wel-head of State and Church are more or less pure or wholsome bitter or sweet so are they usually of like sort in those streams of State and Church which borrow their Originall and supply from that spring Numb 24. 7. And Oh that the Lord would so far bless this discourse that it might become instrumentall to the healing of any naughty waters of any such springs as sometimes he did of that at Jericho by means of Elishas casting of Salt thereinto 2 Kings 2. 21 22. that there might be no more such spirituall death and barrenness as is chiefly occasioned in Church and State by corruptions in the Family in these declining and degenerating dayes Something no doubt is amiss in parents something in Children both may hence have healing if the Lord but speak the word with him therefore I leave this my poor
indeavour and unto him and to his grace I commend thee Christian Reader resting Thine in him THOMAS COBBET Lyn in New-England this 1. of Novemb. 1654. The heads of the Chapters the particular Contents whereof stand in the Margin of the Book at their proper places they refer to Chap. 1. Of the Explication of the fift Commandement Where 1. The Terms of the fifth Commandement are explaned and it is shewed that by Father and Mother are principally intended all naturall parents in generall and such who are in covenant and Church estate in speciall and that By Honour is understood both Honour in generall and Honour in special both in a direct way as honour of Respect of Reverence of Obedience of Recompence in a reflect way in being such and carrying of it so as maketh for parents especially good parents honour 2. The weight of the duty of honour of parents is shewed Chap. 2. Of Honour in generall due to Parents Where Is shewed Negatively what honour is not due to parents Affirmatively what Honour is due to parents Use is made for Reproof Of Childrens dishonouring of parents instancing in 7. wayes whereby it is done and 4. mischiefs attending it Of Parents undermining that their honour and that 7. wayes Of corrupters of youth Examination where are 5. marks given of due honour given to parents Exhortation To parents to further this their honour and that 7. wayes To Children to give parents that honour where are Motives 6. Helps 7. Chap. 3. Of Honour of Respect due to Parents Where It is set forth as consisting in eight things Use is made for Reproof Of Childrens unnaturalness to Parents Of parents too much occasioning the Alienation of their childrens hearts from them and that 5. wayes Exhortation To children to cherish due respects to parents where are propounded Motives 3. Helps 5. Cautions To parents to carry it so as may win respect from Children and that 5. wayes Chap. 4. Of Honour of Reverence due to parents Where Is set forth The outward Reverence due in 7. things The inward Reverence due in 7. things Use is made for Reproof Of Childrens Irreverence to parents Of parents undermining that Filial Reverence 4. wayes Exhortation To Children to Reverence parents where are Motives 3. Helps 3. To parents to further filial Reverence and that six wayes Chap. 5. Of Honour of Obedience due to Parents Where It is set forth as consisting in 5. things The manner of it is shewed in 5. particulars Three Reasons are given for it Use is made for Reproof Of Childrens Meerly pretended Obedience Disobedience Of parents occasioning childrens disobedience and that 3. wayes Examination where are given 6. marks of true and due filiall obedience Exhortation To parents to further due filial obedience and that six wayes To Children to yeeld that obedience where are Motives 6. Helps 5. Chap. 6. Of Honour of Recompence due to Parents Where It is set forth as consisting especially in 5. things The manner of it also is shewed 4. Reasons of it are given Use is made for Reproof of Childrens ingratitude in Generall 4. Particulars Exhortation To Parents to further that Filial gratitude and that 5. wayes To Children to recompence Parents gratefully where are 3. Motives 2. Helps 3. Cautions 3. Marks Chap. 7. Of Honour in a reflect way due to Parents or of childrens being such and carrying of it so as maketh for even Godly Parents Honour Where It is set forth as consisting in 10. things the two later whereof are most urged 2. Generall Reasons are given thereof in which are sundry particulars Use is made for Reproof Of Parents too much furthering Childrens dishonourable carriages and courses and that 6. wayes Of Childrens reflecting dishonour upon Parents yea and godly Parents yea and some of those Children formerly hopefully good which is done many wayes the last of them namely degeneration of the Children of the godly being largely urged wherein are shewed The Evils attending such degeneration and those both Of Sin and In Children of the godly in generall and that in 6. things In hopefull ones in speciall and that in 8. things Of sorrow where respecting the Former sort are 7. Later sort are 5. Exhortation To Parents to further their Childrens being an honour to them in the chiefest wayes thereof which parents do five wayes but the first is most insisted upon namely good Education of Children where are Rules 7. Motives 4. To Children to strive to be such an honour to parents in the best way Herein are Motives 3. Helps 3. AN EXPOSITION OF THE FIFTH COMMANDEMENT SHEWING The principall duties of Children to Parents firstly therein intended and what God also requireth in regard thereof from Parents towards their children CHAP. I. OF the weight of the duty of Childrens Honouring of their Parents Exod. 20. 12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee The words which I have Read are obvious to every common eye and intelligible by every ordinary understanding and therefore time need not be spent in any large opening of any obscurity of phrase in them The parts of the Text also are as plainly manifest to be two First a Precept Honour thy Father and thy Mother Secondly a promise incouraging to obey that precept that thy daies may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee In the precept you have First the duty it self injoyned Honour Secondly the persons to whom the duty is injoyned even the children to these Fathers and Mothers yea each Child of what ranck or condition soever who is yet in the Land of the living is required to perform this duty to living Father and Mother and therefore it is put in the second person singular Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long c. Thirdly the persons who by divine command are to be honoured by each Child namely each Childs Father yea and as well each Childs Mother Honour thy Father and thy Mother The main terms then to be further considered of are First that of Father and Mother Secondly that of Honour and then we shall briefly explain the promise By Father and Mother most interpreters understand all superiours First such as are above others yet without Authory properly over them as such as are others superiours by much in years as are Antient men and women to those that are young 1 Tim. 5. 1. or such as are others betters by much in eminency of parts powesse experience bounty grace c. Gen. 45. 8. Job 31. 18. 1 Chron. 4. 14 21. 2 Rings 13. 14 15. Secondly such as are others superiours having Authority over them whether private And that either by the Law of nature as naturall Fathers Who are firstly here intended by Father and Mother even naturall Parents and Mothers who are principally here intended Or by way of private contract as Husbands who are wives superiours specially Masters whether
joyes and delights as of the kingdome of grace here so of that of glory hereafter so in Deut. 30. 15 19. I set before thee life Rom. 8. 6. To be spiritually minded is life Act. 11. 18. Repentance unto life Psal 36. 9. With thee is the fountaine of life John 3. 36. He shall not see life CHAP. II. Of Honour in generall due to Parents HAving explained the words of the 5. Commandement shewn the weight of the duty therein injoyned to Children we now come to make further inquiry into the duty it self which we shall consider of in the method propounded 1. More Generally 2. More particulaly First then of Honour of Parents in a generall consideration wherein we shall 1. Consider what kind and manner of honour this honour of Parents so generally considered must be 2. Make some uses thereof To the first inquiry we answer 1. Honour not due to Parents which is 1. In way of dishoner to God Negatively what Honour is not due to Parents 2. Affirmatively what manner of Honour is due In a negative way we say the Honour of Parents 1. It must not be in any way of dishonour to God either by sinnes of Omission or of Commission Children must not so respect esteem and love Father or Mother as to love and prefer them in their respects to the Lord. He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me saith Christ Matth. 10. 37. Children may not be so transported with affection to Parents as thereby to be hindered from a call of Christ or attending upon it As he in Luk. 9. 65. when called to follow Christ would have gon first and buried his Father but vers 60. is answered by Christ Let the dead bury their dead but go thou and preach the Kingdome of God or as the other in Luk. 9. 61. that would ingage to follow Christ but he would first bid farewell to those at home namely Parents Kindred c. But Jesus Christ accounteth such inordinacy of affection in those who professe to set their faces towards heaven to be a looking back to the world and the like and therefore vers 62. Jesus said unto him No man having put his hand to the Plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdome of God Children may not have such carnall affection to Parents or be so glued to them as not to be able to part with them and forsake them and deny themselves in them for the sake of Christ when they are thereunto called The Spouse of Christ Solomons Antitype must forget her Kindred and Fathers house for her Lords sake and nearer Communion with him Psal 45. 10. Children may not so love Father or Mother as out of respect to them to forsake Christs truth or faith or to imbrace any thing contrary to the faith or truth of Christ a sin too common amongst the Children of Papists and other Heretiques and Opinionists this is also to love them more then Christ Better that the Daughter in such a case of Christs faith and truth be at variance against the Mother that she contend even with her for Christs truth for the faith once delivered to the Saints that she beat down with all her might the Mothers errors and evils In which case also Christ saith Matth. 10. 35. He commeth to set a man at variance against his own Father and the Daughter against her Mother He that more desireth after his Parents presence then after the Lords or more delighteth in them then in the Lord himself or is more moved in their causes then in the Lords or is more troubled for them and their disgrace then for the Lords dishonour or the like he doth not honour his Parents according to Gods mind and heart yea he that comparatively and where the love of Father or Mother and the love of Christ are not compatible where the condition and case is so qualified that love to Parents and love to Christ become flat contraries and must one give place to the other one or the other must be laid aside in such a case He that hateth not his very Father and Mother cannot be Christs Disciple Luk. 14. 26. In such a case Godly zealous Levi is commended Deut. 33. 9. Who said to his Father and his Mother I have not seen him The like might be said in that honour of Reverence and Fear Children may not be so afraid of Parents or of their frownes or blowes or distastes or disinheritings c. as not to be afraid of Gods displeasure but to adventure that in some way of sin rather then run the hazzard of â— Fathers or Mothers displeasure Christ 〈…〉 his Mothers displeasure or rebuke so as 〈◊〉 her sake to omit any duty to God his Father or to neglect his heavenly Fathers business 〈◊〉 in answer to that check of Maries Luk. 2. 48. Son why hast thou thus dealt with us behold thy Father and I have sought thee sorrowing he sayth vers 49. Wist ye not that I must be about my fathers business 〈◊〉 was a notable speech of that Pagan Priest Câ—râ—alus being to sacrifice and at the same time required to come away to his Father he boldly answered He must first dispatch the duties of publick Religion or of Religion which was of publick Concernment and after that those of private piety to Parents Children must indeed honour their Parents Counsels and Commands with the honour of obedience and observance yet not so as in a way of dishonour to God to neglect what he requireth or to do any thing which he forbideth Ahaziah King of Judah is branded for this 2. Chron. 22. 3. That he walked in the waies of the house of Ahab for his Mother was his counsellour 2. It must not be in way of Inaequality to either Parent The Father is not to be preferred 2. With In equality to either Parents by the Child as a Child before the Mother or the Mother more loved reverenced obeyed or recompensed then the Father The Parents are equally Parents and equall causes of the Children and so by the law of nature as Parents they are to share equally in the honour of such instrumentall causes of the be ing of their Children Hence though in Exod. 20. 12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother the Father is set before the Mother yet in Lev. 19. 3. which is an exposition of the 5. Commandement the Mother is set before the Father Yee shall fear every man his Mother every man his Father to shew that the Father being set before the Mother for honour which comprehendeth fear and the Mother being set before the Father for fear which is a speciall branch of honour they are both alike for honour in the generall and for fear in speciall This Willet in his sixfold Commentary upon Leviticus and Ainsworth in his notes upon Levit. 19. 3. They both do note from Maimony So Musculus in his common places and exposition of this fifth Commandement he
formall Pharisaicall Honour of Parents there is an Honour of Parents common not alone to Hypocrites but to very Pagans also who from meer naturall principles have done much this way in Honour of Parents and have been very eminent and famous therein But to passe them by at present and instance in others Paul before his conversion was an exact Moralist touching the letter of the Law and so of the 5th Commandement he was blamelesse Phil. 3. 6. So that young man in his sense had kept all and o the 5th Commandment according to the letter of it Mark 10. 19 20. Yet a meer unregenerate person Now if persons in the relation of Children rightly honour their Parents it may be discerned Marks of due honour of Parents by such markes as these 1. If Conscience to God and to his command 1. If from a good conscience hath the greatest stroak in the Honour given to Parents by their Children If rightly honoured they are honoured in the Lord as in that branch of this Honour it is said Eph. 6. 1. Children obey your Parents in the Lord. So it is true in Honour in generall or in any other particular of Honour due to Parents they must be respected reverenced and recompenced c. in the Lord. Or so as it be from a good Conscience and may stand with a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1. 5. the end or scope of the Commandement even of the whole Law specially that of the second Table and particularly this of the fifth Commandement also is Love to whom Matth. 22. 37 38 39 40. all the duties of the Law are referred as to their head out of a pure heart and a good Conscience and faith unfeighned True it is the Law of nature and Nations also may and must have a strong hand in the Honour of Parents by their Children but must not have the chief hand therein respect may and must also be had to the blessing of life and that it may be well with us Eph. 6. 2 3. Honour thy Father and Mother that thou maist live long and that it may be well with thee We may and must aime at this that it may be well with us in our souls bodies estates names occasions relations changes prosperity adversity life death and after death but yet conscience to God and his command together with chief respect had to the glory of God must be the great wheel which carrieth us on in this good way Paul thought to gain eternall life by his Morall Righteousness that set him so hard to this and other works of the Law Ph. 3. 6 7. The yong mans question intimateth what was uppermost in his heart in all his keepings of the Law namely the getting of eternall life onely Mark 10. 17 19 20. And therefore these were notright in any of their acts of obedience to this fifth Commandement or to any of the rest of the ten Commandements Now if this Honour to Parents be indeed from a good conscience it will be also from faith unfeigned This is discerned if from Faith for they are joyned 1 Tim. 1. 5. When the interest which children have in the Lord and in his gracious covenant and promises is a main ground of the Honour of Reverence or of any other Honour which persons as in the Relation of Children do give unto their Mother or to their Father this is suitable to Gods mind Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear every man his Mother and every man his Father why so or what should move them to that it followeth I am the Lord your God Because they believe him to be their blessed Covenant Father in the Messiah they are therefore the rather to put all the Honour they can upon the Image of his Father-hood in their Parents Now it is as God would have it So when persons as in If from love of God the relation of Children do respect prise and love their Christian Parents the more because they love the Lord who requireth this at their hand now it is well a so or when an holy fear attendeth them lest not alone their good Parents hearts If from fear of Sin but lest the Lord also and his Spirit should any way be grieved or displeased by their expressing or carrying it towards them in any way contrary to due Honour of Parents they are afraid to carry it irreverently disobediently disrespectfully or ingratefully towards them even when some way tempted thereto lest the eyes of Gods glory should thereby be provoked now also it is well Or when at any time they espie any dishonourable If kindly broken and Abased when the contrary in them is discerned thought or stirring in their minds or spirits or take notice of some speech or carriage of theirs savouring of dishonour to Father or Mother and this melteth their hearts kindly before the Lord and maketh them ready to confess the same ingenuously to living Parents as well as to the Lord and that in all the aggravations thereof yea when a very shadow of such dishonour of Parents or the remembrance of any passages savouring thereof though past long ago and possibly before God touched their hearts effectually as well as since that these also are matters of heart Abasings breakings and bitter complaints before the Lord this argueth a good conscience in this particular also When they also do watch their spirits and hearts to keep them to the Rule as well as over If watching over their spirits also so that end their speeches gestures and actions to keep them as close as may be to that rule Honour thy Father and thy Mother this also argueth Honour of Father If there be no outward thing frighting or chiefly drawing to it and Mother from a good conscience In a word when there is no other thing of an inferiour nature either to affright and force them to it or on the other hand to bribe them to it as say riches preferments patrimony or the like humane Attractives and yet they are inwardly moved and strongly and prevailingly carryed out in a way of Honour of Parents All these do undoubtedly evince that now at least there is a blessed Spirit and habit of Honour of Parents wrought in such Children by the speciall efficacy of the Holy Ghost from which such do now at least Act in matters respecting their Parents Honour and that now at least a good conscience and conscience to God and to his Command doth set them about this blessed work The clearing of this first mark which indeed is the main of all might satisfie us but for further help in this discovery let us adde three or four marks of Honour rightly given to Parents A second mark then hereof is when Children 2. If holding up Parents Honour when aged and decayed are conscientiously carefull to hold up Parents Honour when they are Aged yea and when through infirmity Parents some way miscary As Sem and Japhet were cordially
others as the Vine-branches do yeeld the grapes which yeeld the chearing wine to mans heart and that they shall be such as shall be an honour to their Parents by their manner of walking towards God Parents and others as Olive-plants yeeld that oyle of Olive which maketh mans face to shine I forbear to instance in other promises 4. Pray much and plead earnestly with God 4. By praying and pleading with God much for Children for your Children that God would write his Law and so the Law of the fifth Commandement also in their hearts ingrave the Law of grace in them to dispose and inable them to obedience to all his Commandements 5. Act your faith upon the promises of God 5. By acting faith in Gods promises for Children undertaking for your Childrens best welfare as Esay 61. 9 and 65. 23. Gen. 17. 7. Acts 2. 38 39. Esay 59. ult cap. 44. 3 4. Which as they are made to the whole Church as an homogeneall whole so to each part of which that whole consisteth If the woman of Canaan can believe And for her daughter she may have not only that mercy of disposessing the devill but what she will for her Matth. 15. 28. Oh woman great is thy faith be it to thee as thou wilt If that man in Mark 9. 21 22 23 24. Can believe that Christ can help his Son at that or any other dead lift all things are possible to him that believeth even to a Parent believing for his Child Eveu that could believe for her very babe whom out of faith she called Seth for God said she hath appointed me another seed or good and godly Child instead of Abel whom Cain slew she faled not of what she believed for him for he proved a most worthy man to God and man-ward So did Noah prove of whom his father when born could believe therfore in faith called him Noah saying this Son shall comfort us concerning our work and toyl of our hands c. Gen. 5. 29. So did Moses prove a man eminent not alone for honour of God but for honour of Parents witness those Acts of Honour to his very Father in Law Jethro mentioned Exod. 4. 8. and cap. 18. 7. and Numb 10. 31 32 33. Concerning which Moses when he was a very babe his own Parents acted their faith and from that faith used that means to become an instrument of speciall honour Heb. 11. 23. They in Psal 102. That believed for their Children that their Children should continue vers 28. The Children of thy servants shall continue must needs believe for their help and grace to obey the fifth Commandement which is made by God himself a very speciall means of continuing and living long in the Land which the Lord thy God shall give them 6. By good education of Children 6. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord hence those two joyned Eph. 6. 1 2 3. Children are charged with this Honour thy Father and thy Mother Parents with their duty in lieu thereof and as a means to further it vers 4. Likewise ye Parents provoke not your Children to wrath and that way hinder your children in it but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and that way further your Children in it Isaac that was so well educated by his Father in what a high degree doth he honour his Father with this Honour of obedience when at his Command though being in the flowre of his youth about 30. years old he could easily have escaped his old Fathers hand yet is content to let him bind him to be offered up as a sacrifice unto God Gen. 22. 9. So Noah's Shem and Japhet whom he had educated well though Cham proved a wretch yet they proved eminent examples of Honour of Parents witness their act formerly mentioned Gen. 9. 23 24. So Solomon who was so well educated and instructed both by his Father David witness the Records which he kept of the principle things his Father instructed him in mentioned Prov. 4. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. and of his Mother Bathsheba witness his Records of some speciall Patheticall Counsels of her to him mentioned Prov. 31. 1. to 10. How eminent he proved in this way of Honour of Parents let that act of his towards his Mother mentioned 1 Kings 2. 19. declare though a King upon his throne yet the King rose up to meet her and bowed himself to her c. the like might be said of Jacob's Joseph so well educated by his Father witness the earliness of grace in him Gen. 37. 1 2 3 4 c. How eminent he was in this way of Honour of Parents his story shewes Gen. 47. 12. be nourished his father c. And cap. 48. 12. and Joseph bowed himself viz. to his Father with his face toward the earth But concerning Parents education of Children we shall speak largely to it God willing afterward 7. It is good also that as Manoah in that case 7. By advising with best Ministers what is best for that end inquired of the Angel concerning their Son Sampson Judg. 13. 8 12. How they should order the Child and how they should do to live so let Christian Parents be taking the best advise and help they can of their able and faithfull Ministers how they should order their Children as may be for the best every way for Gods glory and their Honour 2. Use Exhortation To Children 2. To Children to give Parents such due Honour Motives to it to endeavour to give this Honour in general due by the Command of God from you to your Parents for which consider 1. Of some Motives to it And 2. Of some helps and means to this duty only remember I speak to the Children of the Godly to the Children of the Church though not altogether excluding others Motives to this duty are such as these 1. In that God hath placed the image of his father 1. Gods image in Parents hood upon parents therfore honour them he that honoreth God wil honor an especial Image of any divine excellency of his the father-hood of God is a choice relative divine excellency of his witness that name of honor not alone respecting us his adopted Children yea his begotten ones by grace but respecting his only beloved Son only begotten by nature let this Image hereof in the parents of our Persons be the rather venerable and honourable in our eyes Hence that Argument of God Mal. 1. 6. A Son Honoureth his Father If I be a Father where is my Honour my Fatherly Image is Honoured by a Son in his Father and will not you who are in a sense my Sons Honour my own father-hood whereof that in others is but 2. Childrens Covenant-interest by their good Parents an Image 2. In that God taketh Children into his Covenant even from the respect he hath to their Godly Parents if God honor parentall
be 6. Blessings upon posterity thereby blessed in their Children and posterity as Shem was thereby in his posterity and Japhet in his Gen. 9. 23 26 27. Yea it s the way to have like Honour meted out to you from your Children therefore the rather Honour Parents Do to them as you would have others in like relation to do to you Matth. 7. 11. 2. Consider of some helps and means to this Helps to it Avoid Causes of dishonour to Parents as 1. Self-conceit duty 1. Take heed of all and every of the causes of Childrens dishonour of their Parents As 1. Self-conceitedness as in Absolom who thought himself fitter to rule then his Father 2 Sam. 15. 3 4. there is none deputed of the King to hear thee Oh that I were Judge I would do every man justice hence that state of high dishonour to his Father and treachery against him 2 Sam. 15. 7. to 12. Like the yonger Son in the Parable Luke 15. 12 13. Who thought himself fitter to manage his Portion then his Father and thence slighteth and so leaveth his Father's watch guidance and presence 2. Over-weaned conceits of what you do for 2. Conceit of what Children do for Parents Parents when indeed you can never do enough for them who under God gave you your being like the Elder son in the Parable Luk. 15. 28 29. Who is ready to talk great things to his Father of his serviceableness to his Father so that when his Father intreated him who might have commanded him to come in he slights his Father's intreaties he is angry with his Father findeth fault with his Fathers kindness to his prodigall Brother whereas he that had deserved more kindness from his Father never had the like from him for so he answers his Father Loe these many years do I serve thee neither at any time transgressed I thy Commandement and yet thou never gavest me a kid but as soon as this thy Son is come which hath devoured thy living with harlots thou bast killed for him the fatted Calf and it is to be feared to be the case of too many Children in N. E. where Parents are put hard to it to make more use of their Children for their work and business that they poring too much upon what they do for their Parents and not seriously weighing what their Parents have done for them they slight them in their hearts 3. Curiosity and an inordinate desire of liberty 3. Curiosity The young man Eccles 11. 9. He must needs walk in the wayes of his own heart and sight of his eyes and so careth not for Honouring God or man Like the Prodigall Son in the Parable he must needs abroad to see fashions what should such a spark as he do alwayes at home to be there held in as he is he would rather be at liberty and therefore let his Father do as he will he broad from him 4. A discontented spirit a spirit of unsettledness 4. Discontent which sometimes is the very blast of God upon young men for some other foul sin as that wandering spirit was upon Cain for his but then Cain must away from home from his parents though thereby he goeth from the presence of God like the Prodigall Son in the Parable not content with his Fathers finding but he will be for himself though after some bought experience of his he afterward finds that the meanest case and place of the lowest in his Fathers house be far better then his 5. Ambition and eager desire of man in outward 5. Ambition respects then is meet for you this also maketh many slight their Parents seek to shake off their Parentall watch and rule This made Absolom turn a vile traytor to his Father 2 Sam. 15. and this also put on Adonijah very far that way 1 Kings 1. 5 6. 6. Envy at just respects shew'd by Parents to 6. Envy fellow Brethren or Sisters like the elder Son in the parable out of envy of his Fathers kindnesse to his younger Brother this maketh him fly out so unreverently against his Father and to charge him closely with injustice and partiality Luke 15. 28 29. Thus Jacobs Sons envying that their Father respects young Joseph so much they are resolv'd to make some hand of him though they know thereby they shall rob their Father of a great part of his comfort if not undermine his life they regard neither so their Father is set light by that while 2. Take heed of bad company and counsell 2. Avoyd bad company which is apt to mislead you even to dishonour your Parents When Solomon Prov. 19. 26. had told his Son the sad doom of a Son that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother he then giveth his Son this counsell as an Antidote against any such like sin vers 27. Cease my Son to hear the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge hence is it that the boon companion who is a glutton and a drunkard is also wont to be so stubborn as not to hear the voyce of his Parents Deut. 21. 20. Such as contrary to that advice Psal 1. 1. Do walk in the counsell of the ungodly and stand in the way sinners they came to sit also in the seat of the scornfull to scorn at any none excepted no not Parents themselves Prov. 30. 17. there is an eye that mocketh at his very Father despiseth to obey his Mother better therefore were it for younger persons to company and counsell with wise youth who conscienciously Honour their Parents and that will be verified Prov. 13. 20. That he that walketh with the wise shall be wise when as a companion of fools shall be destroyed 3. Take heed of poring upon any failings in Parents 3. Avoyd poring upon Parents failings which may tempt you to slight your Parents Children in such cases must be as not seeing the failings they do see in Parents carriages sometimes and as not hearing their failings in expressions sometimes which they do hear ingenious Shem and Japhet will not see their Fathers nakedness Gen. 9. 23 24. And so continue to Honour their Father Noah wheras Cham that will needs look so wistly and take such notice of his Fathers nakedness commeth to despise him and deride him Let Children remember that God the Law-maker and the fifth Commandement their Law and Rule they must walk by is without spot or failing and therefore They must Honour Father and Mother 4. Listen not to unworthy reports or whispers 4. Listen not to whisperers which ungratious persons set on work by Belial may suggest to you any away against your Parents Shem and Japhet would not listen to their Brother's tale in that vile way he told it but if ought be a miss to provoke them to slight their Father they will cover it rather when one told Teleuchus how ill his Father spake of him saith Teleuchus if my Father
worship In case of grosse Idolatry or the like then zealous Levi saith to his Father and to his Mother I have not seen him Deut. 33. 9. And Asaph an highest Civill Ruler called to do justice without respect of persons he removeth Maacha his Idolatrous Mother from her Regency 1 King 15. 13. 5. That it be not so as when you are called Or 5. Such as for them to neglect just respects to others to maried conditions then for Parents sakes to neglect just respects to your spouses and regard to your Families welfare Gen. 30. 30. in that case Jacob will say to Laban his Father-in-Law when shall I provide for my house and that Law Gen. 2. 24. taketh here place for this cause shall a man forsake Father and Mother and cleave to his Wife 2. Of exhortation to Parents to carry it so 2. To Parents to carry it so as may win respect as may even win and gain such respect and love from your Children which is due from them as for instance 1. Be frequently instructing your Children in the best things in their Soul-matters this won Solomons heart the more to his Father David insomuch that he keepeth a honourable record of his Fathers instructions Prov. 4 4 5 6 c. The bond of love is doubled when natural Fathers by Gods blessing upon their instructions and admonitions become spirituall Fathers of their Children and a twofold cord is not easily broken 2. Be ever and anon incouraging your Children 1. By incouraging them in good in any good thing hence that Allusion Isa 66. 13. as on whom his Mother comforteth which as they are more abundantly encouraged by them so enlarged also in affections to them Famous is the example of William Hunters Mother as he was leading to the stake for Christ Son William saith she I think thee as well bestowed as ever any Mr. Fox Acts and Mon. Child that I bare in my womb and that example of the Mother of that little Child which was Martyred with Romanus who stood by incouraging her Child and when all others almost wept to see the Childs tortures she stood by rejoycing and when that fatall act of cruelly was to be done upon the Child to take away its Head after she had taken her Child and kissed it she stood by singing All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord we yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints We know most dear to be bidding the Child also to remember the children of Bethlehem who were martyr'd for Christ 3. Be ready to defend and vindicate Children 3. By defending them in a just cause in any just cause as Joash did his Son Gedeon against those that complained of him for throwing down Baals Altar Judg. 6. 29 30 31. and Joash said to them will yee plead for Baal will ye save him he that will plead for him let him be put to death if he be a God let him plead for himself the blind-mans Parents did not thus who out of a base fear put off all to their Son he is old enough let him answer for himself John 9. 21. yea let Parents vindicate their children from unjust slanders as the Father of the wronged Damsel was to do Deut. 22. 13. to 9. this must needs win love 4. Be conscionable sollicitous of your childrens 4. By care of their outward weal. outward welfare as was Jacob of his Sons Ge. 37. 14. and Jesse of his Son 1 Sam. 17. 17. this also much gaineth upon childrens hearts 5. Carry it towards your children with much 5. By Compassionatness toward them tenderness and bowels as need and prudence requireth Numb 11. 12. Carry them in thy bosom as a nursing Father the sucking child Psal 103. 13. as a Father patieth his children Mal. 3. 17. as a Father spareth his Son that serveth him this as it breaketh every way-ward heart of a child so it winneth the Son as it is in the fruit of Gods bowels expressed to his children so in mens to theirs CHAP. IV. Of Honour of Reverence due from children to Parents WE have handled that first branch of Honour of Parents in a direct way we now proceed to the second which is the Honour of Reverence for so Honour is taken as we shewed in the 1. Chapter Observe then as a second branch of the generall point that Children are to Honour their Parents with the Honour of Reverence Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear Honour of Reverence due to Parents every man his Mother and every man his Father Heb. 12. 9. the Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them due reverence For the better handling of this part of Childrens duty we shall first shew wherein this Reverence of Parents consisteth and is expressed and 2. Make use of it Touching the first we say this Reverence due to Parents is either outward or inward 1. Then outward Reverence is due from children 1. Outward as to Parents and so 1. Children are to rise up and to stand bare before their Parents when they come to them or speak to them for if of Fathers in age God saith Rise up before the hoary head and Honour the face of the old man Levit. 19. 31. Rising to Parents he surely requireth it of children to their own Parents Henre the excuse of Rachel though a married woman from unavoidable necessity as reason why she rose not up to her Father Laban Gen. 31. 35. And Rachel said to her Father Let it not displease my Lord that I cannot rise up before thee for the custome of women is upon me it must be some avoidable necessity that must be a just reason that children rise not up before their Parents else Parents have just reason to be displeased when Achsah daughter to Caleb is to request a thing of her Father she keepeth not her posture of sitting in which she was before but lighteth off the beast she rode upon and then speaketh her mind to her Father Judg. 1. 13 14 15. It stands not with Parents Honour for children to sit and speak but rather they should stand up when they speak to Parents 2. If Parents be comming towards children they 2. To meet parents comming are to prevent them and meet them 1 Kings 2. 19. Bathsheba went to Salomon to speak for Adonijah and the King rose up to meet her 3. They are to bow to them so Salomon 1 Kings 3. To bow to them 2. 19. he bowed himself to his Mother So Joseph Gen. 48. 12. and Joseph brought them out from between his Fathers knees and he bowed himself with his face to the earth So Moses to his Father-in-Law did obey sance and all these their Sons were great men yet not too great or high to stoop in way of Honour of Reverence to Parents 4. They must speak Reverently both to their 4. To speak to them and of them reverently Parents and of them
filial obedience as Solomon saith of him Prov. 4. 3 4. I was my Fathers Son and he taught me also saying keep my Commandements and live but v. 10 11. He records other words of his Father saying thus I have taught thee in the way of wisdome and so in this of filiall obedience as vers 4. I have led thee in the right paths and how obedient a Son Solomon proved let his works declare in his exact observing all his Fathers mind in that of building and furnishing of the Temple 1 Chro. 22. and Chap. 29. with 2 Chro. 5. and 6. and in that solemn charge of his to him touching exemplary justice upon Joah and Shimei 1 King 2. 5 6 7 8 9. which he accordingly executed v. 31 32 33 34 35 36. 44 45 46. and in the great charge of his Father to keep the Lords charge c. v. 3. and Chap. 3. 3. Solomon loved the Lord walking in the statutes of David his Father The Rechabites parents which first yeelded filial obedience to their Father Rechab and taught their children practically as well as preceptively filiall obedience had a posterity successively by that means of parents doing the like from parent to child famous some ages after for filiall obedience 3. By inuring children to obedience to God 3. Inure your children to wayes of obedience unto the Lord be you frequently curbing their disobedience to Gods commands Abraham who was famous for the Lords attestation of his care to improve his authority this way in laying his command upon his houshold to walk in the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. as he had an obedient houshold of his servants in the relation of a master Gen. 14. 23 24. Not one of them offers to plunder to the worth of a shooe-latchet Abraham having vowed to the contrary so had he as obedient a child to him in the relation of a Father who laid down his neck to the very block is willingly bound to become Gods sacrifice at his Fathers command Gen. 22. 9 10. Jonadab who laid the weight of his parentall authority upon his children in matters savouring of an heavenly weaned and mortified Spirit had a most obedient posterity Parents are injoyned to lay out the weight of thelr authority this way Deut. 32. 46. You shall command your children to do all the words of this Law This was Davids practice 1 Chro. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart c. And so 1 King 2. 3. and Prov. 4. 5 6 7. he said to me get wisdome get understanding c. Jos 24. 25. I and my house will serve the Lord Josuah dareth undertake it God hath given Josuah experience what parentall and masterlike commands also can do that way to bring them under obedience and service to the Lord and so to him also as a Father of the Family injoyning and requiring such serving of God 4. Use holy wisdome in giving your parentall 4. By using pathetical words in giving out commands to them commands to your children namely in the most moving expressions which may help on affectionate attendance and observance thereof thus good Bathshebah when she would draw Solomon to follow her gracious directions even in his place of a King to which he was devoted see how she circleth him with her pathetical expressions Prov. 31. 1. c. The prophecy which his Mother taught him v. 2. What my Son and what the Son of my womb and what the Son of my vowes hence that parenthesis in Jacobs charge to his Son Joseph Gen. 48. 7. And as for me when I came from Padan Aram Rachel Josephs deer Mother died in the Land of Canaan in the way when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath c. He would in a holy wise insinuate and get within Josephs heart hereby And then his eares and heart will be open to all he hath to give him in charge 5. Do you readily yeeld to the just desires even 5. By yeelding to childrens just desires of your children and it will notably prevail with your children most readily to yeeld to any just commands of yours As Caleb who giveth to his daughter Achsah the upper and nether springs at her request Iud. 1. 15. As it was good counsell given to that Father of the Common-weal Rehoboam 2 Chro. 10. 3 4 7. to be kind to his people to please them speak good words to them in way of answer to their request and they would be his servants for ever So is it in this case of Fathers of Families wise and seasonable condescendencies sometimes in parents to children It winneth their hearts and ingageth them to constant obedience 6. Do you also sometimes hearken to the good 6. By hearkening sometimes to childrens good advice advice which even your children do seasonably and in a suitable manner give to you and this also will exceedingly win your childrens hearts to an obedientiall submission to your just commands Thus did Terab Abrahams Father yeeld to Abrahams advise in the matter of his remove from Vr in Mesopotamia to Haram towards Canaan as Act. 7. 1 2 3 4. compared with Gen. 11. 31 32. and 12 1. sheweth So did Rahabs parents follow her advice they repaired to her house when Jericho was besieged by Josuah and being there they stirred not out of dores according as the spies had Counselled Rahab her self to look that it might be so done Josh 2. 18 19. compared with Chap. 6. 23. 2. Exhortation to Children to yeeld such obedience 2. This use serveth for exhortation to Children that you would be stirred up to the duty of honour of filiall obedience to your parents else all other outward expressions of respect to them are but bare Complements this is in speciall sort a reall honouring of them As it is in the children of God in reference to their heavenly Father It is more than all formalities of offering sacrifices to him or the like as he said to Saul 1 Sam. 15. 22. Behold to obey is better then sacrifice and to harken then the fat of Ramms As the contrary disobedience is as iniquity and Idolatry verse 23. So is it in the case of the Children of men their obedience to Parents is all in all their disobedience and stubbornesse to Parents is vilest iniquity Now the better to further Children in giving this honour of filial obedience we shall Motives to obedience to Parents propound 1. Some motives 2. Some helps to it As for motives thereunto let it be considered 1. That the Lord himself doth highly honour such as honour their parents by honour of obedience 1. God and Men honour such as yeeld it and he ordereth for them speciall honour from others Prov. 1. 8 9. The instruction of a Father and the Law of a Mother harkened unto he saith
recompence to be given to Parents proved thankful recompence Christ himself ratifieth this as commanded of God and as injoyned also virtually in the fifth Commandement and that if a Son do nothing for his Father and his Mother in their need they break that Commandement and such as are instruments to hinder them from it they make the word of God of none effect Mark 7. 10. Moses said honour thy Father and thy Mother vers 12. and ye suffer a man no more to do ought for his Father or Mother vers 13. making the word of God of none effect 1 Tim. 5. 4. But if any Widdow have Children or Nephewes let them that is the Adult Children of such ancient widdowes learn to shew piety or kindnesse at home and to requite their parents that this is the meaning is evident from the scope of the Apostle who is speaking of what Widdowes are to be honoured and owned by the Church imployed and maintained by the Church viz. such as are Widdowes indeed vers 3. namely as vers 5. expoundeth every way desolate not only in respect of want or deprivall of an husband to provide for her but of Children or near kindred to take care of her or minister supply to her As for any other Widdow as vers 4. expresseth who hath Children or Nephewes to provide for her the Apostle would not have the Church charged with them but injoyneth it from God as the Childrens duty if such be living or near kinsfolkes duty to shew piety or kindness to them and especially the Children they must learn to shew piety to them at home and to requite their parents And its observable that the Holy Ghost saith not let them only shew piety requite Parents but let them learn to do it there is an holy skill and art of doing it to know wherein and how and when and for what ends to do it every one knoweth not the right art of doing it And he that hath any holy skill that way may be a daily proficient in it there is some mystery in it and it would be learned by all every one must be teachable and willing and desirous to understand his duty this way and to know it more and more and the more each one practiseth according to the Rules of God this commendable art the better artist no doubt he will prove therein I shall endevour according to that small measure which I have received to give some few directions which may be of some use this way Let us then first consider wherein or in what way this filial gratefull recompence is to be made to Parents 2. Why it is to be made 3. Make such use of it as may both discover any thing contrary to it or any hinderance in it and likewise what may any way further either the Theorie or Practice of it In all which we shall make much use of that fundamentall notion as I may call it which the Holy Ghost giveth us for this end in the very phrase he useth to express the duty it self 1 Tim. 5. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vicem rependere as Beza and others render it parentibus or to progenitours as it is in the Greek whether next parents or Grand-Fathers and Grand-Mothers or the like there must be a thankful retaliation as much as may be though perfectly and fully it cannot be for parents have given their children their beings under God and their very life and existence which the children can never do to them but as much as may be they must repay them like for like Touching the first thing propounded in what way children must recompence parents I answer 1. In way of gratefull serving of them and It consisteth in childrens 1. Gratefull serving of their parents their good as thereunto called of God Paul alludeth to this in Phil. 2. 22. for as a Son with the Father hath he served with me in the Gospell Mal. 3. 17. his Son that serveth him In case especially of parents meanness as with us generally in New England there is need that some of their children at least should even work for them Jesus Christ when on earth he wrought hard with his reputed Father for the maintenance of his poor Mother Mark 6. 3. Is not this the Carpenter say they the Son of Mary And I say in way of grateful serving of parents they must do that in a way of gratitude which their parents in way of parentall love did for them they must vicem reddere as I said the phrase is in Tim. 5. 4. give like for like How did parents work and labour Working for them out of love to them for them Answ 1. They did it with much tender respect and affection to children for love of them rather than themselves they had many a bowel-pang and thought of their children carrying them on to and in their toyles and labours Alas thought they many and many a time if we take not such and such pains if we use not such and such diligence in our callings our poor helpless babes our poor children will want this and that for the back and for the belly c. As Jacob said Gen. 30. 30. when shall I be for mine own house also He looketh not so much to provide for himself as for his wives as an husband for his children as a Father children do you like for like If servants in some cases will continue serving their Masters because they love them whence that boring of such a servants ear Exod. 21. 5 6. then do you children much more out of respect to your parents this serving of parents and labouring for them and that out of respect to them is all but due debt on your part You have reason to look backward to what is past and lyeth already in banck on your parents part and what Bils or Bonds on their part which requir greater disbursments this way than ever you can make if you should serve them all your daies And if you pay in now a little and then a little as you are able and as your parents needs call for it yet may you very well have low thoughts of all such petty payments as yet are so exceedingly short of that vast sum of service and ministration which is due to your parents 2. Parents did what service of love they did for their children with a great deal of Alacrity With alacrity and freeness with heart and good will as we use to say Children do you the like for them even servants are to serve their Masters with good will Eph. 6. 7. and to do what they do for them ex animo heartily Col. 3. 23. Much more should children do so in what you do for your parents Farents good hearts they did nothing they did for children grudgingly though never so harsh to flesh and blood though very toilsome no it never deared them as we say knowing that their poor children should have the benefit
a very Father to her Hester 2. 7. she sendeth him word Chap. 4. 16. that she and her maids will solemnly fast and consequently pray too on his and his peoples behalf and so I will saith she go in to the King which yet is not according to the Law and if I perish I perish she will then improve her utmost interest in heaven and earth come what will come of it but she will if possible help out Mordecai and the rest at this dead lift So Joseph he improved his interest in Pharaoh for his Father Jacobs welfare Gen. 47. 1. he told him that his Father and all his and all he had were come and were in the Land of Goshen c. upon which Pharaoh v. 6. biddeth Joseph to place them there Rahab improved her interest not alone in the spies to procure her parents and kinreds safety and welfare as well as her own Josh 2. 12 13. but in the Lord himself also for the same end for this action and success is ascribed also to Rahabs Faith in Heb. 11. 31. with 5. In supplying their outward wants yet so as it be honourably plentifully readily and freely to their content out of the very best and in some cases before themselves Josh 2. We heard but now also what improvement David made in the King of Moab on behalf of his parents and what use Christ the Son of David made of his interest in John the Apostle for his Mother verily good parents did as much with God and men too many and many a time on the behalf of their children as might be shewed in Scripture examples and children cannot do less than repay unto them like for like 5. Which especially we shall presse in this part of the discourse Let children in way of gratefull recompence communicate to their parents of the blessings of this life which God vouchsafeth them according as their parents at any time may need the same Paul in 1 Tim. 5. 4. doth in speciall sort look at this as one way of gratefull requitall of parents when as for instance the childrens Mother is some poor Ancient helpless widdow one that might have charged the Church but that God had given her Children as well as Nephews and they in the first place must learn the gratefull art of maintaining her and of supplying of such a Mother-widdows wants for which end mind we the Apostles words But if any widdow have children or Nephews not let her as if speaking of a Mothers duty to children or kindred but let them learn as speaking of the children firstly and nextly of the Nephews to shew kindness at home and to requite their parents The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in the plurall number and so not agreeing with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the widdow which is the singular but with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 children rather being plurall which clearly evinceth that the scope of the place is to shew not what is the Mother-widdows duty to their children but what is the childrens duty to the Mother-widdow namely as vers 16. To relieve the Mother-widdows and by the light of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used for relieving parents v. 16. and that in v. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used for requiting parents we may have much help to clear this particular now in hand the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth let him abundantly supply their wants or let him minister enough to them or what is sufficient for them or that which is to just content according also as in Greek Authors that word is used but I forbear instances In Scripture the simple verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used Joh. 14. ◠for it sufficeth shew us the Father and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it sufficeth and 2 Cor. 12. 9. my grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is sufficient for thee and Matth. 25. 9. lest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there be not enough for us and you In Heb. 13. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Let us be content with what we have and the like use of it is in other Scriptures and this word used in 1 Tim. 5. 16. for the Churches relief of their officed widdows sheweth that it must be honourable for so in v. 3. It s said Honour them that are widdows indeed It is then such a relief as is in honorem in way of honour of the widdows and if each good and christian child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must in such sort relieve his Mother-widdow then they must do it honourably or in honour of them as a part of this Honour thy Father and thy Mother in an honourable way yea they must do it abundantly sufficiently and to their just content but more happily of these by and by in the manner of doing it Hitherto also some interpreters refer that 1 Tim. 5. 8. who so provideth not for his own and especially them of his own house hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel as a threat and so forcible argument to sway that such should not be maintained upon the Churches charge which may be maintained by their own referring this not so much to the wanton widdows which waste that which should maintain them and theirs as to the children of their widdow-Mothers whose children should take care to provide for them as their own lest they incur this sad censure of persons denying that faith which they do profess and of persons who are worse than infidels And here the force of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taketh place Parents took paines and care night and day and all that ever Gods providence otherwise cast in upon them all still was that their house especially children might be comfortably and sufficiently provided for and that to their just content as Father Jacob said Gen. 30. 30. When shall I provide for my own house Let children then in parents shiftless conditions vicem rependere take their turn of repayment of like for like to Parents Parents according to their childrens needs and wants and their own ability did supply their children with Food Rayment Physick Housing Lodging Attendance and the like In sickness as well as health In all their bodily ayles and infirmities their persons and estates were subservient to them yea sometimes when through infirmity they were froward and distempered in their spirits let children do the like for parents let them provide for their own parents especially what is meet for them in all respects Parents did seasonably provide all needfull supplies for children and did not procrastinate but took the first opportunity to do it for them let children do as much for parents when they need their help and supply Parents did all cheerfully and freely they grudged their children nothing they had nothing they did for their succour and supply Oh that children would repay parents herein also like for like do what they do for them according as they need them freely and cheerfully without the least regreeting
thought Parents in many respects denyed themselves for their childrens sakes fared the harder that they might have food enough sometimes spared it from their own bellies that their children might have it they went meanly and coarsely clad that the children might have the better apparel especially those little children that were more shiftless that the rest they should be sure to have of the best they could get for them Let children also in many respects deny themselves for their more shiftless parents sake It was not cost their parents stood upon according to their abilities and ranck they would willingly sequester of the best of their estates so their children might have what was fit for them for back or belly for their education to literature or other imployments as they were thereof more capable let children repay like for like in this to spare no cost for them and to let parents partake of the best of what God giveth them and not of the refuse thereof for their supply It was an ingenious Act of Reuben who finding a thing better than ordinary a Mandrake he bringeth and giveth it to his Mother Leah Gen. 30. 14. And Sampson if he meet with hony and hony-combe his Father and Mother shall have part of it Judg. 14. 9 And Joseph sendeth his Father not of the refuse but of the good things or better sort of things of Egypt Gen. 45. 23. And when he commeth to Egypt he doth not put him into some wast building or into some blind and old hole and barren out-corner of the Land but he procureth him and his houshold to be placed in Goshen in the best part of Egypt Gen. 45. 13. compared with Chap. 47. 6. And what though children should be fain to spare somewhat from themselves for such like needfull supplies of their parents out of their best things yet they must do like for like their parents having done as much and more for them as we said even now It is a good speech of Aristotle Ethic. l. 9. cap. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Children seem in speciall fort to be bound as debtors to supply their parents with things necessary for their provision And it is more comely to supply necessaries to the causes of our being than to our selves And then he addeth that speech 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we must give honour to them even as it were to Gods see in what a plentifull way by the light of nature this heathen Philosopher seeth children ought to minister to their parents even in all things they stand need of and in what a self-denying way Judging it meetest for children to prefer their parents in such supplies before themselves and in what an honourable awfull and conscientious way as I may call it all should be carryed even as if they were offering some Sacrifice to God himself And how justly all this is due from children to parents it s not a matter left to their own curtesie and will whether they will do it or not do it nor is it a matter of meer charity as alms to other poor but children are bound thereto as debtors and no wonder he saith its meeter we provide for the causes of our being than for our selves For he maketh children and that rightly parents debtors as he doth else-where in his Ethicks and debtors we know must in case take care to pay their Creditors and to Live of the rest as the Prophet advised her 2 Kings 4. So must children in case spare it from their own selves that parents may Reasons why recompence is due to parents are taken 1. from Childrens state as Children being Gods rewards be supplyed Now let us briefly give some reasons of this duty The 1. Reason may be taken from the Condition and state of children as children they are or should be made up of recompence be all recompence they are given of God to their godly parents as rewards Psal 128. 3. The fruit of the womb is his reward God intends them as rewards if they prove otherwise than such every way they do what in them lyeth to frustrate Gods ends so are they an heritage of the Lord Ibid. Not alone such as God will improve for his own honour and possess for his own use but such as should by the blessing of God Minister a blessed income of comfort succour support and supply to their parents as from the Lord by them according as they may stand in need thereof 2. Reason may be taken from the nature of such 2. From the nature of such recompence it is piety gratefull recompence it is counted and called of God by the name of piety 1 Tim. 5. 4. Let them learn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to exercise piety towards their own house or to requite their parents In some cases it is preferred before giving to religious uses as to the Corban for Temple uses Mark 7. 10 11 12 13. Christ condemneth the giving to the Corban that which should have been rather sequestred for parents supply by their Children 3. Reason from the justice and equity of it 3. From the justice and equity of it children have received their very essence and existence instrumentally from parents and that is more than all that which children can Minister to them as Christ said in another case Is not the life more than meat and the body than rayment and so I might say here and what then can children return to parents in lieu thereof besides all the cares fears exercises and troubles of parents in behalf of their Childrens outward and inward welfare for which children can never make them amends 4. From the benefits comming by parents 4. Reason may be taken from that blessed fruit which children of good parents reap even in outward blessings by their Prayers blessing covenant-interests and the like A good man leaveth an inheritance to his childrens children respecting the outward as well as the inward man Prov. 20. 7. the just mans children are blessed after him in outward matters so far as is good for them as well as in spirituall things Psal 112. 1 2 3. The seed of fearers of God have Gods promise of becomming mighty upon the earth and the generation of the upright shall be blessed blessed indefinitely and so every way blessed blessed in their bodies blessed in their spirits blessed in their names in their labours in their estates in their relations in their undertakings in their choices and changes blessed in their protections provisions plenty and the like And surely children are then bound in regard of so much good which commeth by their parents to communicate to them in all the good blessings of God which for their sakes they the rather received Let us now make some use and application of what hath been said the use serveth Use 1. For reproof and conviction to all Use of reproof 1. To ingratefull Children children who are ungratefull to your parents to be unthankfull to any
our Parents and partly for our Children c. 2. Consider that those that are not gratefull to 2. Else not gratefull to ones Country their Parents will never be grateful to their country or self-denying for its good Hence that also of Tully It conduceth much to the welfare of our country that Children be pious to their Parents 3. Consider that therefore the Lord inableth 3. Childrens abilities given for this end you the rather with bodily strength with gifts and parts with Estates with advantageous places and callings that you may be fit for such a service of gratefull recompence of your Parents That blessed man Joseph concludeth thus of all his great Preferments and Abilities which God brought him to in Egypt that it was all for this very end Gen. 45. 7 8 9 10 11. God sent me before your face saith he to his Brethren to preserve you a posterity in the earth c. So then it was not you that sent me hither but God and he hath made me a Father to Pharaoh and Lord of all his house and a Ruler throughout all the Land of Egypt Haste you and go up to my Father and say to him thus saith thy Son Joseph God hath made me Lord of all Egypt Come down to me and tarry not c. And there will I nourish them c. 4. Consider that there is nothing lost by what 4. Nothing is lost by it you do deny your selves in out of gratitude to your Parents but much gained every way thereby 2 Tim. 5. 4. And to requite their Parents for this is good and acceptable before God It s good with the goodness of advantage as well as honesty or honour before God It is acceptable before God and therefore surely most beneficiall from Helpes 1. Serious meditations of what Parents have done for them God to Children And for your helps this way It were good for you to think very much and often and that with much seriousness of intention of mind upon the many unexpressible invaluable irrecompensible benefits and kindnesses which you have from your Parents O when the people thought of that service of love of Jonathan to them all and should any discourtesie be offered to such a one no by no means 1 Sam. 14. 45. Shall Jonathan dye who hath wrought this great Salvation in Israel God forbid So in like sort the thoughts of what good Parents have been instruments of to Children they will crush temptations to ingratitude and provoke to gratitude Besides be you conscious in giving your Parents 2. Give their other honour of Respect Reverence Obedience their due honour of Respect Reverence and Obedience and then there is no doubt but you will be put upon it to give them this other part also of direct Honour even the Honour of Recompence Cautious Let it be with greatest 1. Bowels only look to it that what you do this way in gratefull Rccompence to Parents 1. That it be with greatest bowels and tenderness Parents did so in ministring to you what you wanted do you repay them like for like 2. That it be with greatest meekness and patience 2. Meekness bearing with frailties and waywardness of age as Parents did with waywardness in ministring to you in infancy and child-hood so repay them like for like 3. That it be with much humility stooping to the meanest offices of love for them as Parents did 3. Humility for you whil'st little do you herein repay them like for like To conclude Children may also discern their Marks of right doing it conscientious piety to Parents 1. If when you your selves are in disconsolate 1. If when Children in saddest conditions are cordially sollicitous of Parents help yea desolate conditions yet you are then very cordially carefull of your Parents outward welfare as David of his Parents safety with the King of Moab 2 Sam. 22. when himself is as an outlaw or as it was with the Son of David when upon the Crosse in all that sorrow and pain c. yet how carefull was he that his poor Mother be provided well for Joh. 19. 26 27. Man saith he to John behold thy Mother 2. If your effectuall care of your parents 2. When carefull this way in married conditions comfortable beeings be not alone in your single conditions whil'st unmarried but flourish when you are marryed So it did in Joseph in David in Ruth and others 3. If when you are in a very high and more honourable 3. When carefull this way in highest conditions place than parents then you be nourishers of them yea if you are perswaded in your very hearts that God the rather exalted you thus for your parents sakes that in their straights you might have abundantly and sufficiently to supply them withall and the rather do it Thus it was in Josephs case he thought that God made him a Lord in all the Land of Egypt to preserve his Father and his houshold alive in that time of famine and upon that ground sends to him to come to him promising to nourish him Gen. 45. 7 8 9 10 11. and accordingly he did it Gen. 47. 12. And Joseph nourished his Father and his brethren and all his Fathers houshold with bread according to their Families To conclude this with that memorable speech of Cyrus mentioned by Plutarch in his Apothegms he used to say and that which is the truth he is not fit to rule over others who is not profitable to his parents CHAP. VII Of Honour in a Reflect way due from Children unto Parents HAving dispatched the direct Acts and wayes of Honour of parents we come now to that Honour of Parents which is due to them in a Reflect way For so honouring another is taken in Scripture for being such or carrying it so towards another whom men are to Honour as it may make for such an ones Honour as we shewed in the 1. Chapter So here in the 5th Commandement this indefinite word Honour thy Father thy Mother taketh in Honouring of parents in a reflect way and bindeth Children to be such to their parents and to carry it so as may redound to their Honour especially being such parents as the covenant Jewes were in Church State and many of them godly to whom this Law of the 5th Commandement was first solemnly promulged and to whom it was more solemnly established Whence note That its the duty of children Children of good Parents especially bound to be such and to carry it so as maketh for their Parents Honour and that 1. By minding prising and storing up parents instructions especially the children of godly parents and such as are in covenant and Church-estate to be such and to carry it so as may redound to their parents honour Now here also let us shew 1. How this is to be done 2. Why it must be so And 3. Apply and make use of this so weighty a point
judge the world namely of the ungodly and so their ungracious Children also among the rest neither Son or Daughter wil then be respected by them and if zealous Levi in that way of divine Justice here Know not his own Children Deut. 33. 9. much more hereafter where Godly zeal shall be in its perfection and without any drosse of sinfull nature cleaving to it Godly Parents in attesting and gladly owning the righteous sentence of Jesus Christ against all and every sinner saying Depart from me ye cursed into everstasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels Matth. 25. 41. They shall know neither Son nor Daughter Now in all these mischiefs attending degenerating Mischiefs attending the degeneration of the hopeful Children of the godly from the waies of God and precepts and examples of godly Parents those degenerate ones who have given good hopes of better thnigs you also have you share with others but I would adde and present a few things more unto your sad and serious consideration 1. That it is very questionable whether ever 1. God may never come so near to them again God will come so near you again yea or no he may wholy with draw and return no more as in the case of degenerate Saul Rehoboam Iehoash and others 2. That if he should return again the work 2. The work will be the more painfull will be more difficultly painfully brought on You have broken Gods Prison and if brought in again you must expect more of Gods Irons to be clapt upon you God was in setting your bones and you foolishly breaking them again it will be more painfull to have them set again you have falsifyed your trust with God and he will more hardly be drawn to trust you again with such mercies 3. You will be more apt to be hardened in the 3. They are rather most apt to be hardened in their way way of degenerating and apostacy when you once begin to turn away you will be apt to superadde other sins and likewise many excuses for that which drawes you away from God and good which will but fasten and further you more in your way of degenerating 4. That you will be more afraid of God or to 4. They will be the more afraid and discouraged to come nigh to God come nigh to him being privie to your selves how far how long and against how much light you have gone from him yea you will grow discouraged and at length at a point with God even desperate in your course As those degenerate ones who Ier. 2. 25. say There is no hope but we will walk after our own devices or like those of a like stamp in Ezech. 33. 10. Who when called to come to God they say if we pine away in 5. Commonly the latter end of such is worse than their beginning our iniquities and our sins be upon us how shall we then live 5. It is well if God leaving you such as you are upon your leaving of him it befall not you which is parabolically represented to befall that degenerate generation that the unclean spirit being to mans view gone out of them being restlesse he resolveth to return as to his own house and finding them empty of the Spirit indwelling in them though swept from many pollutions of the world and garnished with goodly common gifts of the Spirit and the like he returneth with seven worse spirits and so their latter end becommeth worse than their beginning Matth. 12. 43 44 45. We have done with the use of reproof We come now to the second use which serveth for exhortation 1. To Parents 2. To Children Use of exhortation to Parents to use all good meanes to farther this reflect Honour from their Children First then let godly and Christian Parents be exhorted So to be and so to carry it in your place of Parents as may further that reflect Honour due to you from Children especially in this respect that your Children may rise up after you to hold up purity power of Religion as your selves do desire indeavour to doe and that your children may not degenerate there from neither whilest you are with them nor after your selves shall be moved from out of this world And for this end First and chiefly let good Parents take speciall care use the utmost diligence you can about the 1. By their good godly education matter of the good and godly education of your Children I have lightly touched this formerly I shall now more fully prosecute the same this is expresly charged and that as the especiall duty respecting Parents in their place in regard of the honour due to them from their children in their place Ep. 6. 2 3 4. Honour thy father thy Mother saith God to Children hereupon annexeth And you Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath so to hinder your Children from honouring of you but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and so further your due honour from them Prov. 22. 6. Train up a Child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Would you have your Children to understand the Scriptures and to make profitable use thereof to their own and others best good train them up thereunto betime So was Timothy by his good Mother Eunice witness that 2 Tim. 3. 15. And that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to Salvation through faith in Christ. Or would you have your Children afterwards to pray or to praise God and Christ aright then inure them to that also betime As those godly Parents did theirs whence that in Matth. 24. 15 16. There were Children crying in the Temple saying Hosanna to the Son of David and you may see there how Christ took it and that he justified it and grounded it upon the Scripture Psal 8. 2. Out of the mouths of Babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou maist still the Enemy and Avenger Christ made account that his praise was much perfected by the Hosannahs of Children which they have been taught to utter by their good Parents God had much glory by the prudent answer of that Child who spake as we formerly mentioned at the martyrdome of Romanus the enemie had much confusion as Mr. Fox saies well in his first Book of Martyrs If you would have them believe in their old age further them in it in their childhood and Youth So did the Parents of David a type of Christ further him this way Whence that speech Psalm 2 2. 10. I was cast upon thee from the Womb thou art my God from my Mothers belly and vers 4. thou madest me hope when I was upon my Mothers breasts that is very early very betimes in my very Childhood Hence the blessed succession of the indwelling of faith first in the
Covenant may be attended by their Children and so the whole Covenant fully effected in the promised mercies of it also to them and to their Children Now this duty of good education of Children being so weighty and being a furtherance to the other duty in hand even Childrens beeing an honour Rules concerning good education of Children to their Parents every way besides former things occasionally hinted Let us here propound 1. Some few rules about it 2. Some motives to it As for Rules about education 1. Let Parents wisely observe and pry into the 1. Observe the genious bent and capacity of Children genius as I may call it and bent and capacity of their Children which way they are most biased in their spirits and of what they are most capable Prov. 20. 11. Even that Child is known by his doings whether his work be pure or whether it be right that is as is well noted in the Synod Bible Children shew betimes whether they be inclined to good waies or bad and must be dealt withall accordingly When Themistocles was a very boy Plutarch tells us that he would not play with the boys but compose their differences So Alexander the great when he was a boy at play with other boys and was asked whether he would wrestle after the manner of the Olympick games yes gladly saith he If I might wrestle with a King Such speaking signes gave they of an Heroick and Princely Spirit when they were little and so many others do no doubt in other things 2. When Parents by wise observations do perceive 2. Carry it wisely and suitably towards them as that their disposition requireth the bent and bias of their Children now let them carry it towards them accordingly If they be strongly bent to some vice more than others as Lying as it is said of some Psalm 58. 3. They go astray from their birth speaking lies admonish them betimes in the evill of it represent to them what God speaketh in especiall wise against it what sad examples and sequels in Scripture and otherwise both in poynt of sin and in point of judgements are found thereof after which course taken then watch them the more narrowly and spare them not for it if they fall into lying again and do the like in case of a slandering disposition or of a venerious or lustfull disposition or a proud spirit shewing its lofty bent after gay apparell great and high things in the world or a covetous spirit shewing it self in expressions of a greedy having and craving spirit in them when Children in a gripple and nigardly temper and the like or a scoffing spirit or a profane spirit or an intemperate spirit in matter of meat and drink or a whimficall brain-sick disposition even in their Childhood and youth spare no seasonable rebukes or correction whereby to curb such vile dispositions in them seasonably and thoroughly Prov. 23. 13 14. With-hold not correction from the child thou shalt beat him and save his soul from hell and 22. 15. folly is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him It 's Gods ordinance for the seasonable and true redress of such evill dispositions and the cure of such distempers of nature If Cham had curb'd that slandring disposition earlier in his Son Canaan it had been better for them both if Isaac had seasonably curb'd Esau's voluptuous disposition Gen. 25. 25. And David Amnons lustfull disposition that mischief had not fallen out in both their Families mentioned Gen. 26. 35. and 2 Sam. 13. 1 2 4 15 17. If the Jewes had curb'd those buddings out of their sons and daughters pride or Josiah had done so with that of his Children the whole Land had not so sinned and smarted by it as it did Esay 3. 5 16 17. and Zeph. 1. 8. If Absoloms aspiring spirit had been seasonably observed and crushed by David in his child-hood and youth It had never grown so impetuous and mischievous as is spoken 2 Sam. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 11 12 13 c. It was those Jew parents horrid sin that they were covetous themselves and so rather cherished than curbed a covetous spirit in their Children untill the Lord seeing them all from the greatest to the least eldest to the youngest given to covetousness he undertaketh the punishing thereof to their cost Jer. 6. 13 c. If those parents who might well enough have discerned a jeering spirit in those boyes before it brake out so far as afterwards had seasonably curbd it in them the wild bears of the wood had never been such executioners of the Prophets just curse against them for that flout of theirs come up thou bald-head come up thou bald-head 2 Kings 2. 23 24. And doubtless that was not the first time that the blasphemous Son of the Israelitish woman mentioned Levit. 24. 10 11. had declared the profaness of his Spirit which if timely corrected and curbed It had not broken out in so capitall a way as then it did And I might say the like of all other folly or foolish dispositions which are in Childrens hearts naturally which as they outwardly appear if duly corrected and curbed they would be removed or driven far away Prov. 22. 15. If Children either by common or saving influences of the Spirit are more ingenuous spirits and of better and more hopefull dispositions Oh let parents as they discern the same incourage the same all the prudent and pious wayes that may be thus wise and gracious Rebeccah perceiving in her Son Jacob the specimen and signall tokens of a plain honest single open-hearted spirit she expresseth and enlargeth her love far more to him than to her Eldest Son Esau whom she perceived to be of a more haughty and voluptuous spirit Gen. 25. 27 28. and amongst other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tokens by which to Judge and accordingly to incourage such laudable ingenuity and hopefull disposition of Children or youth mind and observe the nature and scope of their questions and how ready they shew themselves thereby to search and seek after and to understand the best things and of weightier concernment to their souls as a worldly covetous frame of heart is discovered by answerable questions whence that character given of worldlings there be many that say who will shew us any good even any worldly good Psal 4. 6. and as their graceless spirit is described by their omission of enquiries and asking after God Esay 65. 1. So an inquisitive disposition after soul-matters in Children as a better and more hopefull Omen in them is to be incouraged by parents Exod. 12. 26. and 13. 24. Josh 4. 21. when thy Son shall ask thee in time to come what meaneth this or that then you shall say the Lord did thus and thus so let parents mind and encourage some better speeches which sometimes beyond expectation will fall from very Children those rarer speeches and answers of
Bribery Usury Extortion c. if therefore the bond of the fifth Commandement be broken men rush upon breach of the sixth Commandement witnesse their bloodiness mentioned v. 9. upon breach of the seventh Commandement witness their filthiness instanced in vers 10. 11. upon breach of the eighth Commandement witness their oppression usury bribery extortion v. 12. upon breach of the nineth Commandement witness their carrying of tales to shed blood v. 9. yea upon breaches of all the Commandements of the first Table witness their despising the holy things of God and profaning his Sabbaths v. 8. Deut. 21. 20. the Parents are brought in complaining This our Son is stubborn he will not obey our voice he is a glutton and a drunkard It is no wonder that children who honour not Parents are given to those or to any other vices to which loose and lewd companions will readily draw them Surely it is justly to be feared to be too much our case in New England where many of the youth grow so rude and profane so regardless of Superiours in the family as masters in the State as Magistrates in the Church as Elders where many of them are so vainly given so loose in their company so proud and supercilious in their carriages so new-fangled in their fashions and ruffianly in their hair nay jearers many of them at the best persons and things in a word where is so little yet appearing of God or good in too many of them I say it is justly to be feared that children here are not honourers of Parents Here Parents are commonly put more to it to make use of their childrens hands and help and so children here being naturally apt to count too much upon what they do for Parents they are as apt to set the more light by them and by their instructions and admonitions and so an open way is made thereby to any other wickedness amongst them Hence also malefactors when at the Gallows they have made their dying Confessions they have laid on hardest upon this sin as the rise of those which brought them at length to that sad end that they regarded not their Fathers they despised their Mothers were unruly and disobedient Children to their Parents Ah will some then say the good counsels which our fathers or our mothers gave us but wretches that we were we would never hearken to them nor regard them Let all good people take warning by us and let all young men or women that hear us for ever take heed by our example how you despise your Parents or slight their Counsels or rebukes The second reason is taken from the law and 2. Because this is made of such weight by the Law and light of nature and of nations light of nature and nations which have put a like weight upon this duty of Honour of Parents making it as next to the honour of God himself Pythoragus having given the priority to the worship of the Gods as the poor Pagan calleth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so goeth on speaking of their divine worship and then immediatly addeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is in short but thus First honour nour God as by the Law is appointed then hothy Parents And mind his speech that he maketh this by Law appointed even by the Law of nature and nations For no other Law had these Heathens So Phocyllides in his admonitory Poem also saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 First honour God and after that thy Parents So Plato in his booke of Lawes first he provideth for the worship of God and in the next place for the Honour of Parents So Aristotle Eth. l. 8. c. 16. He joyneth Honour of Parents next to that of God and saith That to neither can sufficient honour be given onely he that according to his utmost ability honoureth them he is saith he the truly pious person to God and to Parents So Isocrates in his Admonitory Oration to Demonicus counselleth and chargeth him thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fear God honour also Parents Aelian in his 3. book c. 21. telleth a story that when the Greeks took Troy pittying the miseries of their captives they caused it to be proclamed that every free Citizen should carry out some one principall thing which they should most desire hereupon Aeneas neglecting other matters carried out his Gods as they call them the Greeks liking well his piety permitted him to take some other thing which he should most desire he then taketh up his aged Father and carrieth him out next upon his shoulders with which act they were so affected that they gave him all his goods and treasures also thus by the dim light of corrupt nature the poor Pagan is directed to place Parents honour next to Divine But our glorious Lord and Law-giver to shew the great weight of this duty he will not leave it to be inforced by natures Law or light only but he will adde his morall sanction of it as his own promulged Law and he will not doe it in more obscure termes or so as only to be drawn by Consequence but this shall be expressed in so many words It shall be written as in Capitall Letters that every one that runneth may read it and none may plead excuse or exemption yea the Command it self shall be expressed in so few and so familiar words that the least Child who can remember any thing shall be able to remember this and even with its milk almost drink in this principle of Honour of Parents 3. Because the Lord annexeth no particular promise to any other of the ten Commandements 3. Because a promise is added only to this Commandement but to this In which sense the Apostle speaking of this Commandement saith It is the first Commandement with promise Eph. 6. 2. It s a signe then that this duty above many others is of great account with God and of greatest concernment unto man and that the blessings of promise are wont more manifestly and plentifully to follow the obedience to this Commandement then to any of the rest of the Commandements of the second table at least which have no promise at all 4. Because the blessings promised to this are of greatest moment annexed to them neither generall or speciall 4. Because the blessing here promised and made as the Argument to move to obedience to this Commandement is of so great moment and concernenent as being life it self and the continuance of it and blessing upon it And what more desirable of all temporall blessings then life Skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life What more usefull a blessing then this whereby a man hath so much opportunity afforded and continued to him to get and to do the best and the most good and to bring in the most glory to God What more delightfull a blessing then this the very notion whereof is used in Scripture to expresse the glorious and transcendent
sollicitous to hold up their Aged and miscarrying Father Noahs Honour yea though tempted by their brother Chams derisive tale about their Father to have disrespected him yet see their conscientious care of maintaining their respect and reverence to their Father in avoyding any occasion as sight of his nakedness which might have drawn on contempt of him in them Gen. 9. 22. And Ham the Father of Canaan saw his Fathers nakedness and told his two brethren without vers 23. And Shem and Japhet took a garment and laid it upon their shoulders and went backwards and covered the nakedness of their Father and their faces were backward and they saw not their Fathers nakedness 3. When good Children do even thirst after 3. If Children thirst after Parents souls welfare their carnall Parents souls welfare and peace above others and are ever and anon contriving which way to help on that also Thus did Abraham what in him lay to help out his Idolatrous Father Terah from his course and way as might be shewed by comparing Acts 7. 3 4. with Gen. 11. end and 12. 1. and John 24. 2 3. 4. When they are as willing and joyfull to Honour 4. If as willing to Honour them as to be Honoured or rewarded by others Parents all the just wayes of Honour of them as they are to partake of any benefit of their parentall respects or bounty as they are to have it be well with them here or hereafter as they are to live long upon the earth or as they are to have the like due honor put upon them by children which they already have or may come to have themselvs 5. When they do not so soon forget their Parents after they are dead and gone Sarah was 90. years old when she bare Isaac Gen. 17. 17. And lived 37. years after For she died when she was 127. years old Gen. 23. 1. then Isaac was 37. years old he was 40. years old when he maried Rebeckah Gen. 25. 20. Which was three years after his Mothers death and when he married or took Rebeckah to wife then it was that Isaac was comforted after his Mothers death Gen. 24. 67. For three years space then this pious Son was ever and anon mourning in thoughts of his good Mothers death and God made this his sweet companion Rebeckah a speciall comfort to him against that trouble about his Mothers death A third use is of exhortation and that to Parents 3. Use Of exhortation 1. To Parents to further this their due Honour 1. By preventing their being either corrupted or dismayed in matters of Religion to indeavour what in you lieth to help forward your Children in their Conscionable performance of this their duty of Honour of Parents and for this end 1. Take very speciall care to prevent whatsoever either may corrupt them or any wayes discourage them in the matter of the Honour of God himself or of his word For if they grosly fail in the matter of the Honour of God of his word they will as grosly fail in the matter of Honour of Parents As we see in Elies Sons who were vilely corrupt in the matters of Religion as those of common honesty 1 Sam. 2. 12 13 14 15 16 17 22. and vers 25. they were as vile transgressours against the fifth Commandement requiring Honour to Parents they hearkened not to the voice of their Father Imitable therefore is that care of the Godly Fathers of the two Tribes and half to remove occasions of discouraging their Children from the fear or worship of God Josh 22. 25 26 27 28. And if we have not rather done it built this Altar of witness saying in time to come your children say they to the Fathers of the ten Tribes there met may say to our Children what have you to do with the God of Israel ye have no part in the Lord so shall your Children make our Children cease or be discouraged and Apostatise from fearing or worshiping the Lord. Oh! that Christian Parents would the rather keep out Anabaptistical principles and doctrines as from their own hearts so as much as may be from the eares and minds of their Children lest being told thereby that they have nothing to do with the God of Israel and they have no part in the Lord they are made thereby to cease or be discouraged from the fear or worship of the Lord but that by the way 2. Redress what in you lyeth if you did not 2. By redressing disorders in them one towards another prevent disorderly carriages of your Children towards one another for if they are inured to carry it badly one toward another they will also carry it dishonourably towards Parents Gen. 37. 23 24. Jacobs Sons who before their conversion carried it so unworthily towards Joseph they carried it as malepertly towards their Father Gen. 34. When vers 30. their sorrowfull Father had expressed his fears of the ruine of him and of his house which might be occasioned by his Sons Murther of the Shechemites they saucily answer vers 31. Should he deal with our Sister as with an Harlot Absolom that will carry it so cruelly and perfidiously towards his brother Amnon 2 Sam. 13. 28 29. He proved as very a perfidious and cruel wretch towards his own Father not many years after Cap. 15. Rebeckah's care therefore was imitable to prevent or remove the continuall discords and jarrs and mischiefs which might arise from that heart-grudge between Esau and Jacob which because she could not heal she sends away Jacob from Esaus company Gen. 27. 42 43 44 45. 3. Labour to be fearers and honourers of God your selves as an heavenly Father and then you 3. By being fearers of God themselves have the advantages of the promises of God that your Children shall be blessed also and consequently furnished with this spirituall blessing a spirit of Honour of Parents Psal 112. 2. The generation of the upright shall be blessed that they shall be a comfort to you as Vine-branches issuing from the wombs of your wives yielding in time grapes of Consolation to Parents in the wayes of due honour to God or Parents c. Psal 128. 1. Blessed is every one that feareth God c. And vers 2. happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee And vers 3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull Vine by the sides of thine house thy Children as Olive-plants round about thy Table which is not barely a promise that their wives shall have Children or many Children as if that made them so peculiarly happy as is promised they should be for ungodly persons are full of Children Ps 17. 14. They send forth their Children like a flock Job 21. 11. No but it s a promise of making the fearer of God happy in the qualification of his Children that they shall be such as shall yield wine of consolation to them in what they shall be to God and to their Parents and to
consider 1. Of some Motives 2. Two or three helps Motives 1. It will breed and feed in you due Motives to it 1. It furthereth reverence to other superiours Reverence to all other superiours hence in the fifth Commandement Honour of Parents and therein Honour of Reverence of them is put for the like Honour of Magistrates Ministers and Masters from their subjects people and servants if the one be in persons in truth in the former relation it will be in them in the latter 2. It wil be a notable means to prevent many other 2. It preventeth other sins sins of yours which would be dishonourable to parents Moses having rehearsed many abominable practices of the Canaanites in Levit. 18. and in the last verse said ye shall not commit any of those abominable customes Chap. 19. 3. he chargeth them to fear every man his Mother and his Father and vers 4. also adjoyneth that they should not turn to Idols c. or apostatise from God and his worship Surely then that Reverence unto Parents is inserted as a help both against the former and against the later evils and scandals and wofull experience evinceth this that where this hedge of childrens Reverence and awe to Parents is broken down there is a free inlet of vilest and most scandalous 3. The power of Parents to bless or curse children courses 3. There is in your Parents some paternall power if justly used to bless and to curse you Gen. 49. is a record of Jacobs blessing of his Sons and in an ordinary way there is a proportion thereof in other Parents and therefore the rather Awe your Parents Helps this way may be such as these Helps to it 1. Awe of God 1. Labour for a filial awe of God as your Father and so of his Fatherly commands and consequently of this his command as his command and of his displeasure against you if it be not attended and observed 2. Labour you for more holiness of heart It 2. Holiness is profaness of heart God-ward which breedeth and feedeth irreverence to Parents and so contrariwise the more holy God-ward the more awfull of Parents Levit. 19. 2. be ye holy for I am holy and vers 3. yea shall fear every one his Mother c. 3. Present your Parents so to your minds as 3. Eye the Image of God in Parents bearing the Image of Gods Father-hood and that also will help on your filiall awe and Reverence to them 2. It serveth for exhortation to Parents to carry 2. Exhortation to Parents to further filial Reverence in their children 1. By your piety it so as may gain Reverence and awe from your children for which end 1. Carry it very piously in your places for that will gain awe in your inferiours children or others Job 29. 7. when I prepared my seat in the street saith holy Job the young men saw me and hid themselves vers 8. let but any other Godly man come suddainly where rude persons are met how doth the very sight of him oftentimes appale them as experience witnesseth the Image of Gods holiness in any is venerable 2. Season your children betime with principles 2. By right principling of them of religion of their duty to God to Parents to others so did Eve her Seth and Seth his Cainan and Cainan his Mahaleel c. and all of them proved well to God and man-ward 3. Bring them oft to Gods aweful and awing 3. By inuring them to holy Assemblies Assemblies where they will hear and learn Reverence to God or men Deut. 31. 12. gather men women and children that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord thy God and observe to do all the words of this Law even this of the fifth Commandement also Honour Father and Mother with the Honour of Reverence 4 Correct them wisely and seasonably as for 4. By correcting irreverence in them other sins so for those which savour of irreverence to Parents this by the Lords blessing will help on filial Reverence hence those two joyned Heb. 12. 9. we had Fathers of our flesh who corrected us and we did them Reverence there is a great deal of folly and so a bundle of irreverence also in a childs heart naturally but God saith the rod of correction shall drive it far from him Prov. 22. 5. Acquaint your Children ever and anon 5. By minding children oft of Gods judgements with Gods more awing and dreadfull providences especially respecting Children which gave not their Parents reverence as of Cham Absolom and others The punishment of a stubborn Son by mans hand must be so as all Israel may hear and fear Deut. 21. 21. So let all our Children hear of Gods hand this way that they may fear the sins of dishonour of Parents 6. Inure them to awfull subjection and obeysance 6. By inuring them to filiall subjection to you as Parents betimes early practising of filial Reverence will strengthen and stablish a very habit of it hence the requisit in Church officers or elders and deacons 1 Tim. 3. 4. 12. having their children in subjection with gravity or honesty they must see they be inur'd to reverence and seemly carriages towards them and before them and then others that come to their houses will find this to the Elders Honour CHAP. V. Of Honour of Obedience due to Parents NOw we come to the third branch of direct Honour of obedience due to parents Honour namely Honour of obedience for so Honour is taken in Scripture as we shewed before Observe then as a third branch of the generall point that children are to Honour their Parents with the Honour of obedience Honour thy Father and Mother saith Exod. 20. 12. but obeying them is Honouring of them say other Scriptures as we shewed Chap. 1. therefore children are bound to yield obedience to their Parents For the fuller handling of this particular we shall inquire 1. Wherein this Honour of filial obedience It consisteth consisteth 2. What manner of obedience it is which must be yielded 3. Why children must yeeld it 1. In childrens being content to be set about meanest imployments 4. What use is to be made of this branch of Honour of Parents To the first I answer that filial obedience consisteth 1. In childrens being content to be set about meanest imployments even as though they were servants their Parents so requiring it hence that Mal. 3. 17. his son which serveth him Neither Rebekah nor Rachel though of able Parents thought much to keep their Fathers sheep Gen. 24. and Chap. 29. neither did Christ himself refuse to be subject to his Parents in their meaner imployments Luke 2. 51. Matth. 13. 55. his reputed Father Joseph was a Carpenter of a very mean Trade hence that Is not this the Capenters Son but Mark 6. 3. these neighbours and Countreymen of Christ as man who had most cause to note his usuall imployments they
side or the like Let him relieve or Minister sufficiently to them besides this sin invalidateth what in you lyeth the 5th Commandement Mar. 7. 10 11 12 13. Moses saith Honour thy Father and Mother but you will not suffer a man to do ought for his Father or Mother and so make the word of God of none effect nor will any pretences as there are for need of what parents should have for religious uses for the Corban and that by bestowing the same upon such uses parents will have benefit enough and the like not such nor any other pretence whatsoever will pass with God why children should neglect or omit so weighty a duty of ministring to their parents If Job say if I have seen any poor without covering if his loynes have not blessed me then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade c Job 31. 19 20 21. Surely much less could he charge himself with any such sin as this is we are speaking of and lest any pretend ignorance of parents straights and wants verily you must look after that and make sure of that that they do not lack any suitable supply as 1 Tim. 5. 8 16. Evinceth and let men take heed they delude not themselves this way I may say as Solomon said in another cause Prov. 24. 12. If thou sayest behold we knew it not Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it and he that keepeth thy soul doth not he know it and shall not he render to every man according to his works if Christ be so severe against neglect and omission of supply of ministring to his other needy sick or imprisoned ones as Matth. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels vers 42. For I namely in my members as vers 46. expoundeth it was hungry and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave no drink vers 43. I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not How dreadfully will he speak to all and every one of you who are unnaturall ingratefull Children who have suffered your Christian Parents to want such supply and help as you might have ministred but did it not And here also as subordinate to this particular reproved in children we might reprove deboist youngsters who by their dissolute courses wast their estates whereby they might have ministred to Parents wants afterwards but by their own prodigality come to be disinabled But we shall leave them to consider of 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. and Prov. 23. 20 21 29. to the end and Isa 5. 22. and verse 11. unto verse 18. and such other Scriptures 3. It serveth to abase such of you as any way 3. Such as steal away or wast Parents estates impair your Parents outward Estates by stealing from them as Prov. 28. 24. Who so robbeth his Father or his Motber and saith it is no transgression is the Companion of a destroyer or a destroying man Heb. a Highway-side robber or associate to them inuring himself to pilfer smaller matters from Parents Imagining or at least pretending to himself or others that there is no hurt no great fault in that he learneth the trade of thieving and at length is an open practitioner thereof and is a destroying man to himself at last commeth to the Gallowes This as I may say is the Genesis of such a youngsters course and many a wretch at the Gallowes hath made an answerable Analysis of his lewd course till he hath brought it up to this as the very head and beginning of it they first began to pilfer this and that from their Father and Mother else had never come to this sad end Michas thieving and stealing from his Mother received indeed a stop Judg. 17. 1 2. But he occasioned his Mothers curse ibid. and so many such like acts occasion the like from other Parents But say you wast not your Parents estates this way if you do it by secret excesse in Drinking and Feasting or in gaming or company-keeping it is an evill requitall to your Parents for all their care and paines to lay up somewhat to mantain their children comfortably and honourably and you thus basely cast it away Prov. 16. 26. He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth shame Mothers who of the two are the most tender-hearted towards their Children yet even their hearts are alienated from children by such vile courses Such profuse mispending of Fathers Estates even chaseth away a tender hearted Mother But oh how farr doth it estrange the heart of the Lord himself from any such miscreants as you are 4. It serveth to abase such of you as are cruel 4. Such as are hard-hearted to their Brethren or hard-hearted to your fellow brethren or sisters like Edomites to the Israelites their kindred not only looking on upon them in their Affliction without succouring of them but spoyling of them themselves Obad. 12. 13 14 c. For which the vengeance of God was then threatned and afterwards executed upon them Now such ingratefull unkind dealings with your Brethren it is unkind requitall of your Parents in Gods account As Abimelech and the men of Shechem raging so against his seventy Brethren Judg. 9. 2 3 4 5 6. It s called wickedness done by Abimelech to his Father and God accordingly avenged the same by making Abimelech and the Shechemits which were fellow-actours in that Inhumanity to be mutuall executioners of divine Justice each upon other Judg. 9. 56. Thus God rendred the wickednesse of Abimelech which he did unto his Father in slaying his seventy Brethren Unkindness to Children being ever reckoned as unkindnesse offered to Fathers As the Edomites unkindness to the Israelites is unkindness to Edoms Brother Jacob Obad. 10. 11 c. So when Joash dealt so unworthily with Zecheriah good Jehoiadahs son It s said of it 2 Chron. 24. 22. Thus Joash the King remembred not the kindnesse which Jehoiada his Father had done to him but slew his Son c. 5. Let it abase all such of you as in any unnatural 5. Such as are treacherous or inhumane to parents way either betray your good Parents to persecutors malice of which Matth. 13. 12. The Children shall cause the Parents to be put to death which must needs be a double death to them in a manner as in a sort that was to Christ to be betrayed by one of his own Children as it were One of you saith he to his Disciples shall betray one Matth. 26. Or if you be any other waies inhumane towards your Parents by striking them though not mortally which God maketh death to such monsters of mankind Exod. 21. 15. He that striketh Father or Mother shall die And what then will be the doom of paricides who strike them mortally Absalom would have done it â— Sam. 16. 11. He sought his Fathers life and
last saying how have I hated instruction It is the reproof he hath had but despised how hath my heart despised reproof it is the voyce of his teachers which he hath heard but not obeyed I have not obeyed the voyce of my Teachers If one might lay ones ear in the other world at the mouth of the bottomless pit one should hear many such desperate moans and yellings out such complaints so that though poor Parents suffer by such wretches as you are at the present yet a time will come when you your selves shall thus clear them and condemn your selves 3. Such Children of Christian Parents who take to deboist company and take up any Ruffianly 3. For deboist company and courses customs or courses in your hair in your garb in your jovialling and rioting Prov. 17. 2. A wise servant shall have rule over a Son that causeth shame a deboist Son who is not fit to be trusted with any business of his Fathers putteth shame even upon his Father and Family as well as upon himself Christians are spiritual Priests unto God 1 Pet. 2. 5. truly as it was of old Num 21. 9. the daughter of any Priest if she profane her self she profaneth her Father so it is here such profane Children as you are you do even profane your very good Parents Or as it is in the case of Elders of Churches it s put upon their account of blame if their Children be accused of Riot or are unruly and therefore it s said Tit. 1. 6 7. If he be blameless having Children not accused of riot or unruly for a Bishop must he blameless c. So is it true of other godly Parents some blemish and blame reflecteth upon them when their Children are so culpable such scandalous Children of the Church as you are It is no wonder that you get no good by your Education if given to such loose companions and their Counsels this is the cause of the other as it was in Rehoboam when those young blades gave him that boisterous counsell 2 Chron. 11. 4. He slighted the grave counsell of those Ancient Fathers of the State so it is here hang it will such companions say what needst thou care what the old man saith nor is it likely that ever such a Son should be better so long as knit to such comrades Prov. 9. 6. Forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding yea but first those companions must be cashiered yea this also is the cause of the first branch of dishonour cast upon your Parents by deriding of their good Children Psal 1. 1. There is a gradation 1. A man walketh in the counsell of the ungodly 2. Then he standeth in the way of sinners then 3. He taketh up his chair he sitteth in the seat of the scorners such snares are there in the way of the froward to others as well as to themselves Prov. 22. 5. And so true is it that evill communication corrupteth good manners 4. Such Children as match dishonourably to 4. For matching dishonourably your Parents even to your Christian Parents profession and gracious interests so did that posterity of Seth the Children of the Church in matching with the posterity of out-cast Cain Gen. 6. 2. The Sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and took them wives of all which they chose thus did Esau dishonour that blessed stock of which he came to match into the cursed brood and Family of Cham Gen. 26. 34 35. And Judah did too much this way Gen. 38. 2. and God put dishonour upon him in that vile brood which came of his Canaanitish wife Shuah even Er and Onan whose vile wickedness God immediately revenged Vers 7 9 10. And no wonder since he so much dishonoured his Father and Fathers house by that match and so mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands as it s called Ezra 9. 2. And they said truly though they spake it guilefully Gen. 34. 14. We cannot give our Sister to one that is uncircumcised for that were a reproach when such matches are made by your selves yet your Parents are supposed if not censured by others either to abuse their parentall Authority in way of Commission contrary to Gods Rules forbidding such unequall matchings or to neglect their Authority in way of sin of omission of duty for prevention of such an evill and so your Parents come hereby to suffet reproach besides by such unworthy matches vile practices come to arise which yet were more reflect upon your godly Parents Honour As was too evident in that posterity of the Sons of God and Daughters of men Gen. 6. 2 3 4 5. and in Judahs brood by Shuah now mentioned and in that mungrell generation which spake half the Jewes Language and half the Language of Ashdod This also tendeth to undermine those direct Acts of Honour due to your Parents such bad Husbands will be hindring the wives due respect to her good Parents or any due reverence to them or filiall obedience to them or any filiall recompence of them and the like mischief will a bad wife do in that way to her husband to withdraw him from giving due Honour to his good Father or Mother as too common experience maketh it good but God will pay such of you home either by laying you as low as hell in troubling and terrifying your consciences for such courses of which there are sometimes examples or if not that way yet by some notable judgements of his exposing you to contempt as he did those of the old world 5. Such persons are especially to be reproved 5. For degerating from the good precepts and practices of their godly parents and Ancestors who being Children of the Church Children of godly Parents and Ancestors yet walk not after the precepts which they often gave you nor in the blessed paths wherein they exemplary led you yea you steer a contrary course unto that of your gracious Fathers or Mothers Grand-fathers or Grand-mothers yea some of you who possibly have been convinced of the evill of your State by nature and have been so far wrought upon as to give good hops of the best things to bebegun in you yet you also come afterwards to degenerate like those Sons of God Sons of the Church Gen. 6. 2. who receive not so much as the Footsteps of any of the gracious wayes of their good Ancestors such a generation are spoken of Judg. 2. 7 10 12 17. And the people served God all the daies of Joshuah and all the dayes of the Elders that outlived Joshuah And all that generation died and there arose another generation after them which knew not the Lord. And they forsook the Lord God of their Fathers they turned quickly out of the way which their Fathers walked in obeying the Commandements of the Lord but they did not so Your Parents and Ancestors made conscience of reading and hearing the word of God