Sight and am no more worthy to be called thy Son But the Father said to his Servants Bring forth the best Robe and put it on him and put a Ring on his Hand and Shooes on his Feet and bring hither the fatted Calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry For this my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found Luk. 15. 20. Parents are to receive their Children with Tenderness and Love when they return from their ill Ways Ye Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord Eph. 6. 4. Fathers provoke not your Children to Anger lest they be discouraged Col. 3. 21. Parents are to treat their Children with Mildness avoiding all that causes Dejection and Discouragement and yet bringing them up in the Knowledge and Fear of God These are some principal Duties belonging to Parents which if duly observ'd will bring Peace of Conscience and cannot fail of good Effects But however in this important Concern it cannot be amiss to add something out of the Old-Testament Abraham said unto his eldest Servant of his House that ruled over all that he had Put I pray thee thy Hand under my Thigh and I will make thee swear by the Lord the God of Heaven and the God of the Earth that thou shalt not take a Wife unto my Son of the Daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell but thou shalt go to my Country and to my Kindred and take a Wife unto my Son Isaac Gen. 24. 2. It ought to be the Solicitude of Parents to see that their Children be well married the Choice of the Person is of great Concern And they the Parents of Rebekah said we will call the Damsel and enquire at her mouth And they called Rebekah and they said unto her wilt thou go with this Man And she said I will go Gen. 24. 57. Children ought not to be dispos'd of in Marriage by their Parents but with their own free consent Isaac called Jacob and Blessed him and charged him and said unto him Thou shalt not take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan Gen. 28. 1. And Joseph said to his Father they are my Sons whom God hath given me in this place And he said bring them I pray thee unto me and I will bless them And he blessed Joseph Gen. 48. 9 15. It belongs to Parents to be very careful in the choice of Persons for the Marriage of their Children and likewise to give them their Blessing These Words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine House and when thou walkest by the VVay and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6. 6. Good Instructions to be given by Parents and to be often repeated to their Children In that Day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his House when I begin I will also make an end For I have told him that I will judge his House for ever for the Iniquity which he knoweth because his Sons have made themselves vile and he restrain'd them not 1 Sam. 3. 12. Children are to be corrected for the Evil they do If Reproofs are not regarded some other Expedients must be resolv'd upon for an Indulgence in case of Crimes is the Provocation of Judgments And the King commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai saying Deal gently for my sake with the young Man even with Absalom 2 Sam. 18. 5. Parents ought to retain the Bowels of Parents towards their Children even when they are wicked And his Sons went and feasted in their Houses every one his Day and sent and called for their three Sisters to eat and to drink with them And it was so when the Days of their feasting were gone about that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the Morning and offered Burnt-Offerings according to the number of them all for Job said It may be that my Sons have sinned and cursed God in their Hearts Thus did Job continually Job 1. 4. An excellent Example of Parents to be watchful over the Conduct of their Children and to be solicitous in preventing their falling under God's Displeasure and daily praying for them My Son hear the Instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother My Son if Sinners entice thee consent thou not If they say Come with us My Son walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy Foot from their Path for their Feet run to Evil Prov. 1. 8 15. Parents are to be very careful in preventing their Childrens falling into ill Company and industrious iâ— withdrawing them from it if once engag'd He that spareth his Rod hateth hiâ— Son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Prov. 13. 24. Chasten thy Son while there is hope and let not thy Soul spare for his crying Prov. 19. 18. The just Man walketh in his Integrity his Children are blessed after him Prov. 20. 7. Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he wilâ— not depart from it Prov. 22. 6. Foolishness is bound in the Heart oâ— a Child but the Rod of Correction shall drive it far from him Prov. 22. 15. Withhold not Correction from the Child For if thou beatest him with the Rod he shall not die Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and shalt deliver his Soul from Hell Prov. 23. 13 14. The Rod and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself bringeth his Mother to Shame Correct thy Son and he shall give thee rest Yea he shall give delight unto thy Soul Prov. 29. 15 17. From these Instructions may Christian Parents know what is the Will of God and how to satisfie those Duties which God has impos'd on them in regard of their Children These Duties are great and on the due discharge of them depends no less than as Solomon says delivering their Childrens Souls from Hell Nature therefore is not to be a Rule to those who have undertaken to be directed by the Will of God To consult Nature then either in the Indulging or Punishing of Children is to forsake the Rule Both are to be regulated as God has prescrib'd CHAP. XXV Of Children to Parents Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give in this Point A. I am come to set a Man at Variance against his Father and the Daughter against her Mother and the Daughter-in-law against her Mother-in-law And a Man's Foes shall be they of his own Houshold He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me Mat. 10. 35. Parents are to be loved honor'd and obey'd in all that is lawful but not in things contrary to the known Will of God He answered and said unto them why do ye also transgress the Commandment of God by your Tradition For God
commanded saying Honor thy Father and Mother And he that curseth Father or Mother let him die the Death But ye say whosoever shall say to his Father or his Mother it is a Gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me and honor not his Father or his Mother he shall be free Thus have ye made the Commandment of God of none Effect by your Tradition Mat. 15. 3. The Precept of God commanding all to Honor Father and Mother is not to be transgressed under the Cover of pretended Piety Such Glosses are a Violence to the Law of God His Mother said unto him Son why hast thou thus dealt with us Behold thy Father and I have sought thee sorrowing And he said unto them how is it that ye sought me Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's Business Luk. 2. 48. God is the first Father and to be obey'd in the first place All that is created must give place to his Will whatever is not consistent with this must yield He said unto another follow me But he said Lord suffer me first to go and bury my Father Jesus said unto him Let the Dead bury their Dead but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God And another also said Lord I will follow thee But let me first go bid them farewel which are at Home at my House And Jesus said unto him no Man having put his Hand to the Plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God Luk. 9. 59. Domestic Duties are to give place to greater And he Jesus went down with them his Parents and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them Luk. 2. A good Example of Obedience And when he came to himself he said I will arise and go to my Father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee Luk. 15. 17. Children sensible of their undue Ways ought to have recourse to their Parents with Confidence and Humility according to the Example of the Prodigal Son When therefore Jesus saw his Mother and the Disciple standing by whom he loved he saith unto his Mother Woman behold thy Son Then saith he to the Disciple behold thy Mother And from that Hour that Disciple took her unto his own Home Jo. 19. 26. Children ought to be mindful of their Parents especially at the Hour of Death with a Recommendation to their best Friends Children obey your Parents in the Lord For this is right Honor thy Father and Mother which is the first Commandment with Promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the Earth Eph. 6. 1. A general Duty of Children to obey and honor their Parents in all that is not Sin With a Blessing annext to it Children obey your Parents in all things For this is well-pleasing unto the Lord Col. 3. 20. If ye endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons For what Son is he whom the Father chasteneth not We have had Fathers of our Flesh which corrected us and we gave them Reverence Shall we not much rather be in Subjection unto the Father of Spirits and live For they verily for a few Days chastened us after their own Pleasure but he for our profit that we might be Partakers of his Holiness Heb. 12. 7 9. Children even when Chastized by Parents after their own Pleasure ought not to lose the Reverence due to them but submit with respect If any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at Home and to requite their Parents For that is good and acceptable before God 1 Tim. 5. 4. An express Duty of Children to be Respectful and Dutiful at Home and by such Arguments of Gratitude to make some acknowledgment of the great Obligation to their Parents This cannot be expected from little Ones who are not capable of these Sentiments and therefore this must be spoke to Children when now grown up and at an Age of giving this Comfort to their Parents Here it cannot be unseasonable to make some Additions out of the Old Testament Honor thy Father and thy Mother That thy Days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Exod. 20. 12. He that smiteth his Father or his Mother shall be surely put to Death Exod. 21. 15. Ye shall fear every Man his Mother and his Father and keep my Sabbaths I am the Lord your God Levit. 19. 3. Every one that curseth his Father or his Mother shall be surely put to Death He hath cursed his Father or his Mother his Blood shall be upon him Levit. 20. 9. Honor thy Father and thy Mother as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee that thy Days may be prolonged and that it may go well with thee in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Deut. 5. 16. And the Levites shall speak and say unto all the Men of Israel with a loud Voice cursed be he that setteth Light by his Father or his Mother And all the People shall say Amen Deut. 27. 14 16. Notwithstanding they the Sons of Eli hearkened not unto the Voice of their Father because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2. 25. Bathsheba therefore went unto King Solomon to speak unto him for Adonijah And the King rose up to meet her and bowed himself unto her and sat down on his Throne and caused a Seat to be set for the King's Mother and she sat on his right Hand 1 Kin. 2. 19. Esther had not yet shewed her Kindred nor her People as Modecai had charged her For Esther did the Commandment of Mordecai like as when she was brought up with him Esth 2. 20. A wise Son maketh a glad Father but a foolish Son is the Heaviness of his Mother Prov. 10. 1. A Fool despiseth his Father's Instruction But he that regardeth Reproof is Prudent Prov. 15. 5. A foolish Son is a Grief to his Father and Bitterness to her that bare him Prov. 17. 25. He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth Shame and bringeth Reproach Cease my Son to hear the Instruction that causeth to err from the Words of Knowledge Prov. 19. 26. Hearken unto thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Prov. 23. 22. Whoso robbeth his Father or his Mother and saith it is no Transgression the same is the Companion of a Destroyer Prov. 28. 24. The Eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagle shall eat it Prov. 30. 17. Jeremiah said unto the House of the Rechabites thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel because ye have obeyed the Commandment of Jonadab your Father and kept all his Precepts and done according unto all that he hath commanded you Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel Jonadab the Son of Rechab shall not want a Man to stand before
me for ever Jer. 35. 18. Thus speaks the Rule the Will of God is manifest in it and the doing his Will being the only Secure Way wherein a Christian is to walk Children have no other Means of coming to their Heavenly Father but by doing his Will here on Earth and with a particular Care observing whatever charge he has given them in Relation to their Parents The Precept is repeated so often that there can be no dispute of it And yet to see with how little Respect some Parents are treated how much others are slighted and neglected and that many have no greater affliction in the World than what is given them by the Children of their own Bowels and this at an Age when Parents stand most in need of Comfort and Children being at years of Discretion cannot be Ignorant of their Duty To see this I say one would think God had never spoke in the Case or not manifested his Will What then must be said but that Christians have a Rule but have little concern in following it and that upon this account they cannot rationally expect the Blessings God has promis'd to the Observers of it This is the First Commandment as the Apostle says with Promise and it cannot be question'd but as the Observance of it is so particularly enforced with a Promise of God's Favor so the Contempt of it must be the Forfeiture of all such Expectation must provoke God's Displeasure and be follow'd with Judgment CHAP. XXVI Of Youth Q. HAving now spoken of the Duties of Children to their Parents Pray tell me are there not some Instructions particularly directed to Persons while yet in their Youth for such seem very much to want them A. Yes there are such Behold one came and said unto him Good Master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal Life And he said unto him why callest thou me Good There is none Good but one that is God But if thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments He saith unto him which Jesus said Thou shalt do no Murther Thou shalt not commit Adultery Thou shalt not Steal Thou shalt not bear false Witness Honor thy Father and thy Mother and thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self The young Man saith unto him all these things have I kept from my Youth up What lack I yet Jesus said unto him if thou wilt be perfect go and Sell what thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come and follow me But when the Young Man heard that Saying he went away Sorrowful for he had great Possessions Mat. 19. 16. The Commandments are to be kept by all Persons in their Youth and even then they are to consider which is the Way to eternal Life and whether they walk in it and what is yet wanting to them It is said of this Young Man that Jesus beholding him loved him Mar. 10. 21. And thus only can Youth expect the Love of Jesus If this be true then what is the unhappy State of those great Numbers who have their Thoughts Desires Affections so confin'd to Self-love and the Love of the World that they scarce think of another Life Grant them O God a better Spirit And the Child grew and waxed strong in Spirit filled with Wisdom and the Grace of God was upon him And when he was twelve years Old they went up to Jerusalem after three Days they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both bearing them and asking them questions Luk. 2. 40 42 46. And Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature and in favor with God and Man v. 52. Youth ought to seek the best Company by whose Conversation they may be advanced in Virtue and all true Wisdom How wretchedly then do they go out of the Way who avoiding these seek and love none but those from whom they can learn nothing but Folly or Vice Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. Likewise ye Younger submit your selves unto the Elder 1 Pet. 5. 5. I here add something out of the Old Testament Thou shalt rise up before the hoary Head and honor the Face of the old Man and fear thy God I am the Lord Levit. 19. 32. My Son forget not my Law but let thine Heart keep my Commandments Prov. 3. 1. Let not Mercy and Truth forsake thee 3. Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart and lean not on own thine own Vnderstanding 5. Be not wise in thine own Eyes fear the Lord and depart from Evil 7. Get Wisdom get Vnderstanding Forget it not neither decline from the Woods of my Mouth Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee VVisdom is the principal thing therefore get VVisdom And with all thy getting get Vnderstanding Pro. 4. 5. Take fast hold of Instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy Life Enter not into the Path of the VVicked and go not into the VVay of evil Men. Avoid it pass not by it turn from it and pass away v. 13. He is in the VVay of Life that keepeth Instruction But he that refuseth Reproof erreth Prov. 10. 17. VVhoso loveth Instruction loveth Knowledge but he that hateth Reproof is brutish Prov. 12. 1. A Man shall be commended acording to his VVisdom but he that is of a perverse Heart shall be despised Prov. 12. 8. The way of a Fool is right in his own Eyes but he that hearkeneth unto Counsel is wise v. 15. Lying Lips are Abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly are his delight v. 22. A wise Son heareth his Father's Instruction But a Scorner heareth not Rebuke Prov. 13. 1. He that keepeth his Mouth keepeth his Life But he that openeth wide his Lips shall have Destruction v. 3. Poverty and Shame shall be to him that refuseth Instruction But he that regardeth Reproof shall be honored v. 18. He that walketh with wise Men shall be Wise But a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed v. 20. He that walketh in his Vprightness feareth the Lord but he that is perverse in his Ways despiseth him Prov. 14. 2. Go from the Presence of a foolish Man when thou perceivest not in him the Lips of Knowledge v. 7. Fools Mock at Sin v. 9. There is a Way which seemeth right unto a Man but the end thereof are the Ways of Death v. 12. He that is slow to Wrath is of great Vnderstanding but he that is hasty of Spirit exalteth Folly v. 29. The Way of the Wicked is an Abomination unto the Lord but he loveth him that followeth after Righteousness Prov. 15. 9. A Scorner loveth not one that reproveth him neither will he go unto the Wise v. 12. The Lord will destroy the House of the Proud v. 25. The Thoughts of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord v. 26. He that refuseth Instruction hateth his own Soul but he that heareth Reproof getteth Vnderstanding 32.
yet the Pastors of his Church are to teach This is the Ordinance of Christ and the Practice is confirm'd from Heaven And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do And the Lord said unto him Arise and go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do Act. 9. 6. Christ calls upon Saul stops him in his evil way but for his Instruction he sends him to a Disciple If this be the Will of God who can pretend to serve God and yet make exceptions against doing his Will When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small Dissension and Disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question Act. 15. 2. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter v. 6. Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders 22. Questions of Faith are referr'd to the Pastors of the Church S. Paul and Barnabas tho' great Apostles and particularly inspir'd pronounce not in this case but help to publish what the Pastors assembled had determin'd And as they went thro' the Cities they delivered them the Decrees for to keep that were ordain'd of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem And so were the Churches established in the Faith and increased in number daily Act. 16. 4. The Faithful receive the Decrees of their Pastors and thus was the Faith establish'd and they perserv'd from the dangers of Novelty and Error Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood Act. 20. 28. It is the Ordinance of God that the Flock be under the care of the Pastors by these it is to be fed and preserv'd from Error This Charge is given them by the Holy Ghost Who dare alter the Method They that stood by said Revilest thou God's High Priest Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the High Priest For it is written Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy people Act. 23. 5. Respect is due from the Flock to their Pastor they are not to revile him And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord and as many as were ordain'd to eternal Life believed Act. 13. 48. Those who are ordain'd to Salvation hear and believe the Apostles This was the way to Life Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. Have the Pastors of the Church Power from God He gave some Apostles And some Pastors and Teachers For the perfecting the Saints for the edifying of the Body of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 11. If thus God has declar'd the design of his Goodness in the Ordinance of Pastors then it must be the greatest duty and interest of the Flock to adhere to the Pastors of the Church For thus has God appointed for preserving it in Unity and Truth Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1. 10. Thus is strictly enjoin'd the Flock then they must be careful in observing the Means which God has ordain'd for Unity He therefore that despiseth despiseth not Man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 8. If the Flock despise the Doctrin of those whom God has appointed to teach it they despise not Man but God We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 12. If these are to be esteem'd and lov'd this must be chiefly in their Instructions and Admonitions then no Contentions no setting up against them Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6. 6. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 14. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine for the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corn and the labourer is worthy of his reward 1 Tim. 5. 17. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God Whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves For they watch for your Souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you v. 17. What Charge given by God to the Flock Remember Submit Obey Follow the Faith of those who have the Rule over you for these must gâ—ve account of your Souls But can they be any part in this account who refuse to obey He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 Jo. 4. 6. Are these thus discern'd Then the Flock must here see the necessity of hearing those whom God has appointed to feed the Flock And now having gone thro' the Principal Duties of a Christian Life as likewise the Particular States in some of which every Christian must have a part and having seen in all these what is the Will of God as it is deliver'd in holy Writ what better Conclusion can I make than earnestly to recommend to all that they would frequently read seriously consider and with exactness attend to what the Spirit of God says to them It is the effect of an infinite Mercy that God has thus left his holy Will manifested to us that in this we might have a sure Guide And there is no other Way to Salvation but this alone of doing the Will of God Thus Christ has declar'd and what greater Interest then can a Christian have than in knowing the Will of God This is the best Study this the best Learning All other without this are vain and useless Ornaments but this alone without all others will make a Man Wise to Salvation If the World sets up for other Ways if it has Number and Custom to give Authority to them yet all this makes them not warrantable to the Christian he must consult his Rule and whatever he finds not allow'd there he must renounce as Antichristian for it is Christ and not the World is his Guide to Salvation How perversly blind then are all those Christians who make it their Business to study the World and esteeming this the best Education are at a great Expence in training up their Children to an early Knowledge of whatever it admires And when this is done what is the Effect but only to be skill'd in Vanity to be learned in those things which lead them out of the Way And in the mean time the only thing Necessary is neglected and they are Strangers to that Knowledge which can be their only Guide to that Life for which they were born Whereas the great Business of all that believe is to know the Will of God and by doing it to work out their Salvation If this be the Error of such as are blind Lovers of themselves and the World instead of God then such as follow the Light of Faith must follow another Business They must make it their general Study to know the Will of God they must strictly inform themselves what he commands what he forbids what he approves and disapproves and this being most expresly deliver'd in holy Writ they ought to esteem the particular Knowledge of this their only solid Accomplishment and not think they have any thing valuable in them whatever their natural or acquir'd Abilities be as long as they are Ignorant of this By this Method Christians will soon be qualified for making a true Judgment of all Things and Circumstances of human Life they will judge the World and all its Ways and not be in danger of being deluded by its Specious and most Authentic Snares This is the true Christian Wisdom and whosoever takes another Way tho' he may come to an eminent Degree of admir'd Knowledge yet he will never be Wise to Salvation FINIS