far better than a bare portion though great 11. Be not partial in manifesting your love to them though Nature and Religion bind you to love them and that tenderly The partialness of many Parents in manifesting their affections more to one child than to another hath many times been the occasion of very evil events many times of undoing sometimes of the death of one sometimes of both and so of all their children There is a very sad story of this kind printed of late years You know the story of Jacobs love to his Joseph it was in part the occasion of his Brethrens envy hatred and conspiracie of his death Gen. 37.3 4 7 18 19 20. Also of Davids love to his Absalom also to Adonijah and what grievous doings followed That child whom the Parents so partially affect many times proves the Parents greatest grief and trouble as were Absalom and Adonijah to David and just it is with God it should be so and the neglected child proves the greatest comfort and credit I grant there may be special reasons in one child more than another that may move and draw the Parents affections and that the Parents may love it and delight in it more as in Joseph but take heed of manifesting it further than may be for both their good Take heed also of being too cockering and indulging to your children also of being too severe and rigorous Col. 4.6 Ephes 6.4 Too much cockering commonly spoils them and makes them less loving more careless to please undutiful And too much severity and harshness doth dispirit them makes them heartless mopish disrespectful to their Parents whom they think do not love but hate them Neither be too free and liberal to feed your children with mony nor too niggardly and close handed the one makes them proud prodigal and spend-thrifts the other makes them heartless discontented and often to use very unwarrantable shifts to help themselves The golden mean is best a little with the Parents eye over them to see how they lay it our encourageth them to husband their little well 12. Teach them to be dutiful and carry themselves with due respects to all persons Good breeding is a great ornament and gains love but clownishness disrespect contempt 13. And when they are grown up and to be put out and disposed abroad to a School Calling or in Marriage be very careful to get the best Teacher and the best Master or Mistress for abilities skill honesty goodness the best ordered family where goodness and Godliness is practised taught and encouraged and their everlasting welfare will be furthered And such a Trade and Calling as is not only lawful honest of good report credible and profitable but also sutable to your childrens age abilities means to manage it and to his mind and inclination But in Marriage be most especially careful to have a meet yoke-fellow and helper every way a person as far as you are able upon due inquiry to judge truly religious of a good disposition of honest parentage provident and diligent in an honest and credible calling with other sutable conveniences as much as may be but let the former by no means be neglected Prov. 31.30 Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord shall be praised 1 Cor. 7.39 A little with the fear of the Lord is better than great treasure and trouble therewith Prov. 15.16 Also I advise all persons to deal plainly and faithfully that nothing be pretended that in ordinary ways of Providence will not be found true They that seek to deceive others are commonly also deceived themselves and justly He that walketh uprightly walketh safely Prov. 10.9 yet it is good providence to foresee as much as may be to prevent evils and inconveniences that may fall out Eccles 2.14 The wisemans eyes are in his head but the fool goeth on and is punished Prov. 22.3 And if any says the Apostle want wisdom as who doth not more or less let him ask of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth no man Jam. 1.5 Forget not in every undertaking to seek God first and last 24. Children learn to know and make Conscience of discharging your duties towards your Parents First Honour your Parents it is the express command of God Exod. 20.12 Ephes 6.2 3. Honour thy father and thy mother see what forcible Reasons follow It is the first commandment with promise says the Apostle Ephes 6. namely the first Commandment of the second Table has a great encouraging promise annexed to it viz. long life with it prosperity in those words that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth Honour comprehends Reverence obedience and maintaining them in case of want 1. Reverence them in your hearts as worthy of all respect and honor from you and manifest it outwardly by your humble and reverend behaviour and carriage before them lowly obeysance hearkning unto them by your modest silence before them and when called to speak by mild humble reverend speech to them and of them as Joseph did bowing himself lowly before his aged father though blind and could not see him and much inferior to him in respect of his place and authority in Egypt and himself a married man Gen. 48.10 12. But worthy are those children to be blamed and shamed that before their Parents are bold loud streperous full of words or stout sullen and surly not answering their Parents or in a short suappish manner as if their equals are dogged froward pouting rude But most unworthy are those children who having gotten a little wealth or fine cloathes above their parents are proud and scorn them or are ashamed to own and acknowledge their poor parents and those also that despise reproach or curse their parents such by the Law of God were without mercy to be put to death Levit. 20.9 Prov. 20.20 Mat. 15.4 The ravens shall pluck out his eyes that mocketh at his father or despiseth his mother Pro. 30.17 And be sure those children of what age place or estate soever that carry themselves undutifully or irreverently to their parents shall be paid home in the same kind and full measure God is righteous but he will honor them that honour their parents 2. Obedience is due unto father and mother in all things lawful and which may stand with their obedience to God the Heavenly Father Eph. 6.1 Children obey your Parents in the Lord. There is the duty obedience and the limitation of it in the Lord for this is right says the Apostle Obedience is a true and real honour reverence without this is but complement and this is the real and surrest proof of dutiful children This obedience must be shewed by a ready and cheerful doing what the Parent commands and as he or she commands and forbearing what the Parent forbids But disobedience and rebellion are great sins and such persons are counted by the Holy Ghost as the vilest persons sons
the hand and power of sin Satan death and hell bring them into his Church and kingdome by effectual calling and regeneration and to govern them by his word and spirit to life everlasting John 10.16 Haggai 2 7. Ezek. 34.23 24. Also there must be a particular and distinct knowledge in some measure of the moral law of God and of the Sacraments Of the law of God a brief sum of which we have contained in the Decalogue or Ten Commandments which contains the duty we doe owe to God and Man what is evil and what we are to repent of shun and avoid and what we are to do and practice how we are to carry our selves both towards God in all duties of piety and holiness and towards man our selves and others in the duties of mercy justice and equity The Sacraments also There must be a particular knowledge of the Sacraments of the new Testament viz. Baptism the Lords Supper Baptism is a Sacrament of our ingrafting into Christ communion with him and entrance into the Church Mat. 28.19 Rom. 6.3 4. It signifies the washing away of sin from the Soul by the blood of Christ and the renewing graces of his Spirit and so our justification and forgiveness of sinnes and our sanctification Mark 1.4 Acts 2.38 Titus 3.5 And binds all that have been baptized to believe in Christ forsake sin and live holy according to the command of God Acts 8.37 38. Mat. 3.8 Rom. 6.3 4 5. Baptism it a priviledge which belongs to all the Infants of believing Christian Parents Mark 10.13 14. When some would have hindred the Parents from bringing their young children to Christ to bless them his Disciples rebuked those that brought them but when Jesus saw it he was much displeased and said Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of these and such like is the kingdome of God If little children 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Infants Children new borne as Luke hath it Luke 18.15 be within the Covenant as they are then they ought to have the Seal of the Covenant and if they be of Gods kingdome his subjects then they must wear his Livery and badge Infants are now as capable of receiving Baptism and the benefits of it as the Infants of the Jews were to receive Circumcision and what is now objected against Infant-baptism might as well have been alleadged against the Jews circumcising their children therefore to lay aside or deny Infant-baptism to the children of believing Christians is in effect to make themselves wiser then God I will add but one argument That which was commanded and practised by the people of God for two thousand years yea and much more was approved and commanded of God and is no where forbidden or repealed is still to be used but the sealing of the Infants of believers with the first seal of the Covenant was commanded practised by the people of God so long also approved and commanded of God and 't is no where repealed or forbidden shew it if any can therefore it is still a duty to be observed by Christian believing Parents Object It is objected that Infant-baptism is no where commanded in the new Testament nor any express example and we must do nothing without divine warrant Answ True but this is sufficient warrant to give the first seal of the Covenant to Infants was expresly commanded in the old Testament and is no where repealed or forbidden therefore a duty still as the observation of the Lords day or Christian Sabbath is by the fourth Commandment Besides there are express general commands to baptize Infants in the New Testament as Mat. 28.19 Act. 2.38 39. and general examples of whole housholds and 't is much more then probable there were many children in them let them prove the contrary if they can men had need to have cleer express Scripture to lay aside a duty commanded and approved of God so long practised by the godly by the whole Church of God It troubles me to see and hear that any professing godliness should be so far deceived and be so injurious to themselves their poor Infants as to deny to give them that priviledge and favour which undoubtedly Christ allows and intends whose grace and priviledges are not less to the children under the Gospel then to them under the Law but rather much more That place most think is full Rom. 11.17 The Gentiles being ingrafted into the true Olive-tree do partake of the root and fatness of the Olive-tree of all the priviledges of the Jews the true Church of God whereof Abraham was the root and father of which to be within the Covenant to be members of the Church of God and have the first Seal of the Covenant which now is baptism is one and when they come to years the Sacrament of the Lords supper also I will add but this If Christ under the Gospel hath barred Infants of believing Parents of the Sacrament of Baptism then it is either in mercy or in judgement let them that deny Infant-Baptism make their answer I know readily what to reply But I now study brevity brief hints onely not large treatises 2. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is also an ordinance instituded by Jesus Christ in the same night in which he was betrayed to be a Sacrament of our continuance and growth in Christ to represent and signifie the body and blood of Christ crucifyed for our sins together with all the benefits of his suffering and death 1 Cor. 10.16 and 11.23 24 25 26. To be a special token and pledge of his great love in suffering and dying for lost and miserable sinners and enemies Rom. 5.6 7 8. The end is to confirm our faith in Christ communion with him and all saving graces in us but it cannot confirm these where they are not to keep in remembrance the Lords death until he come again and to testify our love one to another 1 Cor. 10.16 1 Cor. 11.24 26. 1 Cor. 12.13 These and all other grounds and principles of the Christian Religion at least those which are absolutely necessary to life and salvation must be known and understood for without a particular distinct knowledge of these doctrines of faith and godliness in some measure there can be neither saving faith nor repentance nor love nor holiness in truth without which there can be no salvation John 17.3 Isai 53.11 This is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Prov. 19.2 Without knowledge the minde is not good Hos 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledg Particularly concerning the Sacrament consider 1 Cor. 11.27 29. Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and eateth and drinketh damnation to himself Mark the reason in the next words not discerning the Lords body
that power over her Also she ought to declare her reverence to him by an inward wife-like fear of offending him and outwardly by her mild courteous loving and modest speech to him and of him behaviour before him and respective obedience to him as her husband 3. To nourish and cherish him and provide things needful and convenient for him most especially in time of sickness weakness and the like as for her self Ephes 5.29 4. To go soberly modestly and gravely and after a seemly manner in her apparel as becomes godliness not garish flanting and fantastick 1 Tim. 2.9 I will that women adorn themselves with modest apparel modest apparel then is an ornament as well as garish rich and fine or costly apparel and in some respects much more and doth more win the the affections of all sober persons with shamefastness and sobriety and which becometh godliness with good works 1 Pet. 3.4 5. whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of of gold or of putting on of apparel but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of a great price For after this manner in old time the holy women who trusted in God adorned themselves being in subjection to their own husbands 5. To look to the house and the affairs of it and to preserve the goods of it as her own and order them for the best advantage also the children and maid-servants this is expresly commanded in terms 1 Tim. 5.14 6. To advise with her husband ask and learn of him in private 1 Tim. 2.11 7. But especially to be a true helper to her husband in the things of God that concern their spiritual good according to her power And it is a great advantage the wife hath by reason of her interest in her husband and children and the frequent being with him and them to instruct the children mind him of his duty lovingly and meekly advise comfort and encourage him to every good work as well as he her one great end of Marriage Gen. 2.19 20 21. 23. Parents you whom God hath given the honour to be fathers and mothers of children Let me mind you of the particular duties God requireth of you in reference to your children I need not advise you to have care of their bodies and to provide for them in due season all things needful for them Nature teacheth that and he is worse than an infidel or Heathen that doth not provide for his own house 1 Tim. 5.8 but do not mind them more than God but their spiritual good I chiefly aim at 1. Teach and instruct your children in the grounds and Principles of Religion as soon as they are capable of retaining any thing though they do not for the present understand it yet children do many times understand more than we think they do teach them a little at once as they are capable the most easie and fundamental truths first Deut. 6.6 7. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them thy children diligently The word signifies to whet or sharpen as a man sharpens his knife by degrees often drawing it to and fro so should parents teach their children and mark what follows and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down when thou risest up Eph. 6.4 Ye fathers provoke not your children to anger but bring them up in the nourture and admonition of the Lord. A good Catechisme is of great use to this end amongst others Mr. Perkins Catechisme Mr. John Balls and the Exposition also and the Assemblies are all of singular use learned by heart more especially with the proofs the shortest and easiest way to furnish children with the main grounds of Religion and to fit them to hear Sermons 2. Pray often with them and for them 3. Read the Holy Scriptures to them and other good Books as you have opportunity 4. Teach them to read betimes and to read well and hear them read daily 5. See that they attend reverently in time of Religious duties and on the publike Ministry also Exod. 20.8 9 10. 6. Repeat the Sermons unto them or the heads as well as you can and God will help you 7. Examine what they remember what they have heard or read otherwise they will not mind and so not profit by hearing and reading 8. Commend and encourage them when they do well Reprove them when they do evil Correct them also when need requires not in passion a sinful thing and doth little good yet too common and which is worse some foolish Parents presently after correction are ready to take them into their bosom this is of evil consequence and besides it shews they did not correct them in love and judgment but only vent their sinful passion but correct them wisely in meekness and love and let them see you are angry with them for their Souls good till they melt kindly for their faults and humble themselves and beg your pardon Consider well Prov. 19.18 and 22.15 and 23.13 Ephes 6.4 but provoke them not to anger Col. 3.21 Use not threatnings nor many words lest when they see they are but words they slight them and regard not your words nor commands nor your selves neither in a while as I have often seen 9. Give them always a good example in word and deed carry your selves gravely meekly religiously and after a seemly manner towards them evil examples will do them more hurt than all your good instructions will do them good Children have a great conceit of all the Parent doth though bad or untrue and are wonderful apt to imitate them Col. 4.6 Let your speech be always seasoned with salt that is discretion and prudence that it may rellish savour and season others well Avoid all corrupt communication foolish and scurrilous words and jesting Ephes 4.29 And the rather you have great reason thus to do and to endeavour their regeneration and salvation because you have been instruments of their corrupt sinful miserable and damnable estate by natural generation If you be instruments under God of begetting them again as furthering a new spiritual birth and life in them and so of their salvation it will add much to your comfort and crown at the day of your account But if they miscarry and perish through your evil example or neglect of due educating them they shall die in their sins but your Souls must answer to God for them at the day of death and judgment and that may be very soon and will be very sad for you 10. Busie them in some honest and fit imployment as soon as they are capable teach them to be good husbands and house-wives Skill diligence and providence are alone a good portion and livelihood and many times
of Belial Deut. 13.13 and the Apostle compares such to brute and unruly beasts 3. Maintenance also is due unto Parents from the children in case of want or need to their utmost ability to visit them in time of sickness weakness and trouble as Joseph did his father Gen. 48.1 comfort them in time of mourning and sorrow as Jacobs children did Gen. 42.5 and relieve them in their wants and nourish them as Joseph did Gen. 47.12 and Ruth her good mother-in-law Ruth 2.8 And this is that which the Apostle requires of children to requite their parents which he calls a shewing piety at home and says it is good and acceptable before God These things are contained under the word Honour Secondly Children must love their Parents unfeinedly for their great love and many respects to them and to esteem them highly as worthy all love honour and obedience from them Thirdly Pray for your Parents daily heartily fervently Fourthly If you observe any failings and infirmities in them as alas who living is without being frail sinful men all subject to like passions and infirmities I say 't is your duty above all others to bear with them and cover them in love as far as you can Notable is the example of Shem and Japhet Noahs sons towards their father Noah for which they were blessed and Cham and Canaan for discovering their fathers shame cursed Gen. 9.22 c. This is a duty due from all inferiors-to their Superiors There are many strong and weighty reasons obliging children to the performance of all these duties to reverence their parents both of them equally to obey them also to maintain them love them esteem them bear with and cover their infirmities As 1. Because you have your beings from them you never had a being in the world and so a capacity of being holy and happy to all eternity without them Therefore you owe unto them next under God your own selves and all you have and can do for them 2. Because of the great pain and trouble in child-bearing breeding and bringing forth 3. Their great pains care and trouble day and night continually to preserve you and nurse you up when you were the most weak helpless shiftless and vilest creatures in the world by reason of native corruption and original guilt 4. For covering and clothing you when you were naked and worse than naked all polluted in your blood Ezek. 16.3 6. 5. For their continual care and cost in bringing you up to be able to shift and do something for your selves 6. They intend that all they have laboured for taken great pains and care early and late day and night shall be yours in due time 7. Especially for their many prayers pains and endeavors in instructing you c. that you may be born again be new creatures sanctified and saved eternally Fifthly Give all diligence to learn of them to get sound and saving knowledg grace and holiness to be truly Godly and live holily to be justified sanctified and eternally saved Now while you are young as soon as you are capable of doing any thing towards your salvation in the use of means before the world hath gotten room and possession in your hearts and affections Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth saith the wise Solomon Eccles 12.1 Now you are most fit for that duty now your minds and hearts are in some respects like clean white paper free to receive any thing in to write any thing upon If the devil once ingrave wickedness in your hearts and the world its sinful vanities you are like to live always die and perish in your sins for ever unless God be very merciful unto you But if you get your minds and hearts seasoned with sound knowledg and saving Grace while you are young you will be always good godly and everlastingly saved and happy Oh! it is a lovely thing to be Godly while young to see young persons breathing and panting after grace and holiness following hard after the Lord and walking in the ways of God as young King Josiah did and young Samuel and Timothy a thing very pleasing to God He delights greatly in such persons communicates much of himself unto them honors them much When you come into years you will have many worldly occasions and businesses to mind besides you do not know how soon you may die how short your lives are and how little time you have to get that which of necessity must be had or perish for ever namely sound knowledge of the doctrine of salvation true living Grace and holiness your persons justified by the only righteousness of Jesus Christ and so pardon of sin reconciliation with God acceptation of your persons services in the blood and for the sake merit and mediation of Jesus Christ for by Nature and your first birth you were the children of wrath children and slaves to sin and Satan walking in the lusts of the flesh and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh utterly unable to do any thing that is truly good and acceptable to God or to avoid evil and the wrath to come as the Apostle and experience assures us Ephes 2.1 2 3. Titus 3.3 Four things which a good old experienced Christian but the last night before I wrote this put some few of you in mind of which I will here set down with some enlargement 1. To labour to get sin imbittered That is to see and be truly sensible what an evil thing sin is how filthy hateful dangerous and damnable that it may be bitter unto you loathed subdued and mortified by you by all means through the assistance of the Spirit of God Rom. 8.13 2. To be self-emptied That is to see how empty you are of any thin that is truly and spiritually good in and of your selves that the best performances even of the most holy persons are so imperfect that they must utterly renounce all confidence in them in the point of justification before God Isai 64.6 Luk. 17.10 Rom. 3.23 to the end Gal. 2.16 3. To esteem Christ highly as only necessary to redeem you justifie and save you and most worthy of all your love service and obedience 4. To imbrace holiness also as that which is absolutely necessary to spiritual life and salvation Heb. 12.14 1 Pet. 1.14 15. To this end consider and what I say to you in this as also in the former things I say unto all consider seriously two things 1. The torments of hell as most intolerable easeless and endless Oh! to suffer eternally without all possibility of an end or any intermission ease or mitigation it is a thing most astonishing fully to consider of and see into 2. The joys felicity and glory of Heaven in the presence immediate and full enjoyment of God himself Jesus Christ c. and that for ever and ever never to have any end nor abatement Such and so great as mortal eyes never saw nor ear heard nor the heart of man
other ways is sinful and is all quite lost and you over and above in case you shall so do guilty and must give an account of your layings out as well as of your receivings in Vse a moderation and be sober in your desires and endeavours after and in your delighting and rejoycing in any worldly things as wealth credit honor preferment ease liberty and the like also in sleep and rest The Heathens many of the moral Heathens taught and practised this lesson of moderation as Cato Fabricius Scipio and very many more we read of yea Hannibal though a Souldier and Caesar an Emperor that they might not exceed the bounds they would be sure to abridge and deny themselves of much of that which was lawful in meat drink apparel recreation Houshold-furniture meerly upon the account of honor credit or esteem in the world because they judged it a brave thing to be sober and temperate and a shameful thing unworthy for a man especially if of note in the worlds esteem for wisdom to be overtaken with excess in the use of meat drink apparel c. or of passion Now what a shame is it that the Heathens Pagans that knew not the true God should go much beyond Christians in these things which know the true God end have his word to inform and direct them and are frequently called on by his Ministers and by his Providential works to live soberly especially such as pretend to Godliness and that Heathens should rise up in judgment against Christians and condemn them for being given to excess in eating drinking daintiness excess in apparel to be as rich and costly in their apparel as other Christians that are much above them yea as Heathens that are much superior to them in many ways and respects and be as fashionable and modish yea as fantastick many Professors as the loose prophane vain men and women of the world as gayish and apish to the great dishonour of God scandal of Religion discredit to the Gospel and the profession of it sadding the hearts of the sober tender Christians hardning of vain persons in their vain fantastick modes and ways the great hinderance of the conversion of soul who are strengthned in their sins by the vain conversation carriages habits of such as pretend to real piety The work of conversion will never go prosperously on or as sometimes for merly till Christians are reduced to their wonted gravity sobriety and moderation in apparel and other carriages For what may and do many loose persons say We say they think Religion is but a fancie a precise humorous singularity nothing of reality for we see that they themselves that are so precise and ready to run after Sermons are as covetous and greedy of the world as ambitious as fashionable and complying to the modes of the times and as proud as any others are if there were a reality in Religion and they themselves beleeve it would they do so and so Therefore use a moderation be sober and temperate in these and also in your desires cares and endeavours after worldly things and in your delight in them Be not covetous and having pinching and sparing farther than is meet and commendable God will provide Heb. 13.5 He hath said Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Neither let Heathens condemn you for prodigal and lavish spending or laying out for outward good things for the back belly and house nor for pride vain-glory self boasting and self-exalting for delighting and solacing your selves in outward good things for ambitiousness affectation of worldly esteem and to be some-body in the world above others or voluptuousness given to pleasures worldly delights sleep ease or the like But if you will be ambitious or covetous covet earnestly the best things to be rich in the knowledge of the things of God rich in faith rich in grace be ambitious who shall go one before another in humility self-denyal and in all good works Laying up for your selves a good foundation against the time to come that ye may lay hold on eternal life i. e. to have a good argument and evidence in your selves that you are in the number of them that have a true saving faith love to God Jesus Christ and his children and ways to which God of his free Grace hath promised eternal life So the Apostle exhorts 1 Tim. 6.17 18. 19. Study and endeavour to be good and useful in and to all your relations to improve them for their good every way especially for their spiritual and everlasting good and welfare both for the credit and propagation of Religion as well as for your own peace and comfort in the faithful discharge of your duty There are the relations of husbands wives parents children brethren sisters masters servants fellow-servants neighbors acquaintance Christians subjects members of the Common-wealth and Kingdom It is not enough for a married man to be a good man but he must be a good husband and so for a married woman to be a good woman but she must study to be a good wife also So likewise to be a good child a good sister a good father a good brother a good mother a good master a good servant and so in every relation any do stand in to any other that all may be the better for you and you for them and God may be glorified by all on your behalf And therefore labour to insinuate your selves as much as conveniently may be into the favour of every one of Superiours by submission obedience and diligence of equals by courtesie and freedom of inferiours by affability mixt with gravity and gentleness c. The Heathen could say Nemo sibi natus est no man is born for himself but partly also for his friends and partly for his Countries good for a general good He is not a true Christian indeed no nor a right qualified man that doth not desire and endeavour to be good and beneficial to all relations I desire to be not only a good man but also a good Minister of Jesus Christ a good husband a good child a good father a good brother a good master a good servant a good fellow servant a good friend a good kinsman a good neighbour a good acquaintance a good Christian a good subject and a good member of the Church and Kingdom in which I live and am a member through the goodness of God I speak upon supposition if I were in all these relations as I am in many that all relations might be the better for me by being a husband to one a master to others a father to others a brother to others c. Oh! that the good Lord would inable and make me good useful and beneficial in and to every relation Oh! that I could be your pattern in every relation in all well doing Oh! how glad should I be in every relation
can conceive 1 Cor. 2.9 Psal 31.19 Sixthly Children must learn to be mannerly to know their duty towards all and accordingly to carry themselves mannerly loving and with due respectfulness and courtesie to all sorts of persons even to the meanest and poorest Good breeding and carriage is very commendable and winning Seventhly As you grow up in discretion and years be faithful diligent careful and provident to look unto and do your Parents business the benefit will be all your own hereafter and you will have the peace and comfort of a good conscience in discharging your duty in the mean time and ever Eighthly Imploy some time every day in private alone in reading the Holy Scriptures prayer meditation on what you have heard and read and labour to use and improve all Ordinances of Christ for your spiritual advantage and Souls benefit Ninthly Brothers and sisters must love one another in a special manner and be very willing and ready to do all good offices one for another Love as Brethren saith the Apostle because of the near relation one to another in the flesh for brothers and sisters to live at variance or as strangers one to another is sinful and shameful What! should not they love and live lovingly one with another that were begotten of the same father or born of the same mother lay in the same womb fed at the same brest and table and frequently plaid together If any of you be faulty I can accuse none for shame let it be so no more but labour to be cordially united in love and help one another in all well doing especially in the way to Heaven Lastly When you are grown up and desire to change your condition and dispose of your selves abroad in a calling place and especially in way of Marriage observe I pray these few directions and God will be with you to bless and prosper you 1. Resolve on nothing till you have first acquainted your Parents or Guardians that are in place of Parents and have their consent and advice you have your being and education breeding and bringing up by their care pains and charge and therefore do owe your selves to them and therefore should do nothing without their consent and advice 2. Be earnest with God in prayer for direction and a blessing on your undertaking most especially in the choice of a yoke-fellow God is the great disposer of all things and most wise yea only wise 1 Tim. 1.17 Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers but a prudent wife is from the Lord Prov. 19.14 Therefore be sure to seek unto God for a meet yoke-fellow as the gift of God 3. Let Godliness in a yoke-fellow be that which above all you desire and endeavour after to find in an helper Never marry with one that is not truly religious and though Religion alone is not sufficient to make a fit match suffer not your selves to be corrupted with the worlds false glosses of beauty wealth or the like neither cross the rules of Nature in too much disparity of age or degree or in robbing Patents of their right marry not with any of evil report for beauty or lucre sake among all the ends of marriage mentioned in the Scripture 't is observed there is none to make one rich or worldly great They that look only or chiefly at beauty parts riches or other worldly advancements many times have that which they desire but little comfort with it often a cress and sometimes a curse with them He that would have Gods blessing on the marriage must invite God to the marriage he that would have not his wine turned into water but his water turned into wine must invite Christ to the wedding he that would have Gods favour and blessing must ask his leave and presence and follow his direction by his word and gratious Providence Be not hasty but wisely deliberate and considerate ere you pass over your selves liberty and all for so long a term as during life much less sell your selves and your liberty and comfort only for worldly estate wit or beauty though never so great and be always a servant for these uncertain and unsatisfying things And it is good to express before engagement what you expect both for piety and all other matters of habitation manner of living order of family and the like This is the way to have marriage a merry age matter of much comfort 25. Masters you to whom God has given the honour of being Masters and Governours of a family and servants 1. Know I pray and remember that most of the before-mentioned duties incumbent on Patents concern you also to practise towards your servants as to instruct them in the grounds of true Religion to pray with them and for them daily read the Scriptures before and to them daily and see that they be present and do attend with reverence both at private duties as prayer reading the Scriptures repetition of what has been heard and the publike Mnistry of the word and that they also do read the Scriptures often examme them what they do remember help them what you can and give them a good example in all things 2. When they do well encourage them restrain them from evil and from evil places and company And when they do ill reprove them but privately shew them their error and the evil of their ways in love that they may see you seek their good as well as your own and the faithful discharge of your duty to God and them 3. Rule them not with rigour harshness or bitterness use them not as slaves but as fellow servants to Christ with love and gentleness forbearing threatnings as much as may be that they may serve you out of love and for conscience sake Rigour bitterness harshness foul language are hateful to God and often do much hurt make many mopish careless some distracted and others desperate but love gentleness and good usage hath often done much good even on difficult natures and your authority must be improved for their edification and not for their destruction 2 Cor. 10.8 And if they reply when reproved soberly hear their defence and reasons as Job did Job 31.13 But be sure you command your servants and children nothing but what is lawful just and equal and agreeable unto nothing that is against the Law of God which must be all our rule for so doing your selves will be guilty of a double fault and suffer most in the end and I would gladly prevent your dashing on this rock and all others 4. Allow them time convenient as for your work so for Gods service publike and private duties of Religion and piety It is not enough to instruct them and blame them for omissions but you must also allow them convenient time it will be no let to your work and business but a whet rather bring a blessing on your affairs as Abrahams servant did Gen. 24.12 27 42 48 52. But lamentable is the carelessness and