Husbands should love their Wives Even as Christ loved the Church and gave himselfe for it In the next ensuing Chapter hee declareth the duty of Children in these words Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right Then hee descendeth to the duty of Parents And yee Fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in instruction and information of the Lord. Then touching Servants Servants bee obedient unto them that are your masters according to the flesh with feare and trembling in singlenesse of your hearts as unto Christ. Concluding the last duty with masters And yee Masters doe the same thing unto them putting away threatning and know that even your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of person with him Thus have wee briefly and cursorily runne over those particular duties deputed to every one from the highest to the lowest in their peculiar places and offices where wee can finde no exemption from the Servant to the Master but that certaine particular duties are enjoyned either As every mans house is his Castle so is his family a private Common-wealth wherein if due governement bee not observed nothing but confusion is to bee expected For the better prevention whereof I have thought good to set downe sundry cautions as well for direction in affaires Temporall as Spirituall which observed it is not to be doubted but that God will give you all good successe to your endevours FIrst therefore in affaires Temporall I could wish you to observe this course so to provide for the releefe and supportance of your familie as you may not onely have sufficient for your selves but also bee helpfull unto others sufficient for your selves in providing food and apparell being all which Iaakob desired of God and helpfull unto others in giving food and rayment to the fatherlesse in providing releefe for the desolate and comfortlesse in harbouring the poore needy and succourlesse and briefly in ministring to the necessity of the Saints and all such as are of the family of Faith And because providence is the way by which releefe both to your selves and others may bee sufficiently ministred beware of Prodigality and excesse Lest you give your honour unto others and your yeeres to the cruell Lest the strangers should bee filled with your strength and your labours bee in the house of a stranger Goe rather to the Pismire who though shee have no guide governour nor ruler provideth in Summer her granary for Winter Neither is it sufficient to gather but frugally to dispose of that which is gathered This Providence admits of no Vitellius break-fasts nor Cleopatra's bankets The Prodigals dainty tooth brought him to feede on huskes Esau's to sell his birth-right for a messe of pottage Ionathans for a honey-combe to endanger his life The Israelites to murmure against Moses Babylons golden cup to fill her full of abominations I have observed and no lesse admired than observed how some have consumed their estates in satisfying their appetites and that only in the choice of meats drinks and was not this a great vanity that those whom meats though lesse delightfull yet more healthfull might have sustained and fewer diseases occasioned could not content themselves with that which might have better satisfied nature but to shew themselves Epicures rather than Christians will bestow the revennues of a Manour upon the superfluous charge of a supper For these are they who like the Erycthons bowels will disgorge as much upon the boundlesse expence of their own Family as might serve wel for releeving a whole Countrey These are they who like the Endive or Misselto suck up al the natiue verdure and vigor of such plants as they inwreath for by their excesse though their owne luscious palats taste no want the comonalty feeles it when they goe to the Markets and finde the rate of all provision inhaunced by such whose Prodigality scarce extends a provident eye to themselves much lesse to the behoofe of others It is said of Cambletes the gluttonous King of Lydia that hee dreamed hee devoured his wife while they lay sleeping together in the same bed finding her hand betweene his teeth when hee awaked hee slew himselfe fearing dishonour Howsoever the History bee authenticke sure I am the Morall taxeth such whose Epicureall mindes are only set upon prodigall expence without respect either of present fortunes or care to posterity whose want is oft-times procured by their riot To bee short as Parcimony is too late when it comes to the bottome so it may bee with discretion used when it is at the top for I approve of his opinion who would have a Gentleman neither to hoord up niggardly nor lash out all lavishly For as the former argueth a miserable and ignoble minde so the latter sheweth a minde improvident and indiscreet both which are to bee so avoided that a meane betwixt both may bee duely observed For as I would have a Gentleman even in arguments of outward bounty shew whence he was descended so would I have him keepe a hanke lest his too free disposition bee through necessity restrained So as in matters of expence I hold his resolve authenticke who said I will never spare where reputation bids me spend nor spend where honest frugality bids me spare It is a good rule and worthy observation for whosoever spares when with credit and reputation hee should spend is indiscreetly sparing and whosoever spends when with honest frugality he may spare is prodigally spending Now in governement of a Family as I would not have you too remisse so I would not have you too severe towards your Servants I meane and those who have received their severall charge from you this it was which moved the Apostle to exhort masters to put away threatning adding this reason For know that even your Master also is in heaven neither is there respect of person with him Therefore it was Saint Augustines prayer unto God that hee would root out of him all rashnesse frowardnesse roughnesse unquietnesse slownesse slothfulnesse sluggishnesse dulnesse of minde blindnesse of heart obstinacie of sense truculencie of manners disobedience to goodnesse repugnance of counsell want of bridling the tongue making a prey of the poore shewing violence to the impotent calumniating the innocent negligence of subjects severity towards servants harshnesse towards familiars hardnesse towards neighbours Hence note how in this holy Fathers repetition and enumeration of many grievous and odious sins hee toucheth severity towards servants as a hainous and egregious offence and not without great cause for if we bee taught not to muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the corne and that we are to spare the life of our beasts much more ought wee to have mercy over such as partake with us in the same Image which wee have equally from him received by whom wee live move and have our being I approve therefore of them who put on the spirit of
Family is a Spectacle of more spreading infamy than any subject of inferiour quality I cannot approve of this Apish kinde of formality which many of our better sort use it detracts from their descent to make affectation their Tutresse They were free-borne nothing then that is servile can become them It is nothing to reteine the favour or feature of your Ancestors and to estrange you from that which truly dignifi'd your Ancestors Vertues have more living colours and are seconded with more lasting honours than any outward beauties You deceive your selves if you thinke that honour received her first life from descent no It was demerit that made descent capable of honour A Pedigree argues your Gentility but had not some deserving action beene you had never attained to any noble Pedigree For Gentility is not to bee measured by antiquity of time but precedency in worth If brackish or troubled water seldome come from a pure Spring wilde and unsavory fruit from a good tree whence is it that noble Predecessors whose pure blood was never corrupted with any odious staine should bring forth such degenerating scions Surely this generally proceeds from the too much liberty that is granted to our youth whose inclinations though otherwise good and equally disposed are usually by Custome which becomes a Second nature miserably depraved Society they affect and this infects them repaire to publike places they admit and this corrupts them Those eminent examples which their Noble Progenitors left them become buried with them They comply with the time Vertue they say can hardly subsist where Vice is in highest request What though Plato advise them to make choyce of the best way of living which may bee easily effected by assiduate use and daily custome they have learned to invert his rule by affecting that custome most which tends to the practice of vertue least Besides there is another reason which may bee probably alleaged why generous descents become so much corrupted and vertuous Parents by vitious Children so frequently seconded Our Nobler women though in other respects truly imitable and for their vertuous Conversation admirable come short in one peculiar duty which even Nature exacts of them and which being duely perfom'd would doubtlesly no lesse enable and ennoble them who are descended from them than any particular were it never so powerfull that could informe them These which are mothers by generation are seldome their Nursing-mothers by education No marvell then if they degenerate when they partake of the natures of other women Though their owne mothers blood streame through their veines a strangers milke must feed them which makes them participate of their nature as they are fed with their substance Wheresoever the Nurses milke is received the Nurses manners are likewise reteined Whence it was that Chrysippus expresly commanded that the very best and wisest Nurses should bee made choyce of that what good blood had infused might not by ill milke be infected It was the joynt advice both of Plutarch and Phavorine that a mother should bee her childrens Nurse because commonly with the milke of the Nurse they sucke the quality or condition of her life Yea according to an ancient Decree women were bound to nurse their owne children and not to have any other women unlesse necessity enforc'd them to nurse them Let this then bee rectifi'd yee whose Noble descents have made you eminent in the eye of the world and whom Gods blessing hath made fruitfull Mothers to bring forth a faire and hopefull increase unto the world nurse them with your owne milke this will expresse in you a motherly care to them and beget in them a greater measure of child-like love to you Your care the more it is parentall will exact of them a love more faithfull and filiall Nurse them I say with the milke of your owne brests to feed them with the milke of your owne lives to informe them So shall their actions prove them to bee your Successours when they shall not onely derive their blood from you but on this Theatre of humane frailty shall publish themselves to bee true representers of you For in vaine is your blood to them derived if your memory by their vertues be not revived Give them then that which may make them yours Goodnesse may bee blamed but her succeeding memory can never bee blanched Thus shall you not onely shew your selves worthy of that house from whence you came but after your period on earth bee receiv'd into a more glorious house in time to come IT is not the Nobility of descent but of vertues that makes any one a gracefull and acceptable Servitour in the Court of heaven Houses are distinguished by Coats and Crests but these are dignifi'd by something else In Heraldry those are ever held to be the best Coats that are deblazoned with least charge Consequently then must vertue needs bee the best Coat Shee requires the least charge in her attire shee is not sumptuous in her fare delicious nor in her retinue the more is the pitty numerous Shee confines her desires upon earth within a strait Circumference a very small portion of that metall will content her Her desires are onely there seated where they may bee satisfied Shee sees none so great in the Court as may deserve her envy none so rich in the City as may beget in her an earthly desire none so repos'd in the Countrey as to induce her to change her state Shee is infinitely happy in that shee aymes at no other happinesse than where it is to bee found Ambition may display her Pie-colour'd flagge but shee will never get vertue to bee her follower Her desires are pitcht upon a farre more transcendent honour than these State-corrivals on earth can ere afford her or by their competition take from her Pleasure may cast out her Lure but vertue is so high a flyer as shee scornes to stoupe to ought unworthy of her it pleaseth her to contemplate that on earth which shee is to enjoy in heaven These feathers in the ayre are Objects undeserving her care Profit may seeke to undermine her but all her policy cannot worke on vertues constancy Content is her Crowne Contempt of the world her care what wordlings seeke shee shuns whence it is that her beauty in the darkest Night of adversity shines In a word shee is an absolute Commandresse of her selfe and easie is it to have that Command where no turbulent passions labour to contend Farre otherwise is it with those who be they never so generously descended popularly graced nor powerfully guarded yet being not adorned with this Crest distinguished by this Coat they can neither enjoy freedome within nor safety without Lewis the eleventh had a conceit which no doubt proceeded from his melancholicke and indisposed humour that every thing did stinke about him all the odoriferous perfumes or fragrant savours they could get would not ease him but still hee smelled a silthy stinke So fares it with them whose corrupt
lie in ibid. Those Odours deserve highest honours that beautifie us living and preserve our memory dying ibid. To see a light Lady descending from a noble Family is a Spectacle of more spreading infamy than any Subject of inferiour quality ibid. Gentility is not to be measured by antiquity of time but precedency in worth ibid. The reason why generous descents become so much corrupted and vertuous Parents by vitious Children so frequently disparged ibid. 361 Mothers the naturallest Nurses confirmed by precept custome and example pag. ibid. * Supra pag. 331 332 An effectuall perswasion to that duty ibid. Vertue the best Coat pag. 362 Heraldry proves vertues Coat to be the best because deblazoned with least charge Vertue is no admiring lover of ought that is below her pag. 362 The misery of this age in sumptuousnesse of attire ibid. A notable example of hypocriticall piety pag. 363. Sinnes prevention is to prevent the Occasion ibid. A Shamefaste red the best colour to deblazon vertues Coat pag. 365 Gentlewomen are to reflect more on their inward worth than on their outward weare pag. 367 The honour of Humility pag. 368 A glorious approvall of modest Matrons pag. 369 It will not redound much to a Gentlewomans honour to have observed the fashions of the time but with a discreet Contempt or civill neglect of fashion to have redeemed her time pag. 370 Living actions of true Gentility happy Precursors to the State of Glory ibid. There are native seeds of goodnesse sowne in generous bloods by lineall succession variously instanced ibid. 371 Those who are with the choycest vertues endowed become oft times most traduced ibid. There is no one vertue which makes a Gentlewoman more gracious in the eye of her beholder than Modesty the greatest advancer of many ancient family ibid. To be high borne and basely minded is to ingraft bastard suppes in a noble stocke pag. 372 High and Heroicke vertues become great Houses confirmed by the resolution of a noble Lady in rejecting the powerfull solicitancy of a Sensuall Suiter ibid. Emulation of goodnesse in great Persons is honourable ibid. How these native seeds of goodnesse may be ripened by instruction pag. 373 No Tutresses sitter to perfect this excellent worke in Gentlewomen than those who were the secondarie instruments of their beeing strengthened by example and reason ibid. A select Choice and recommendation of sundry bookes of instruction to the perusall of our English Gentlewoman ibid. A briefe enumeration serious discussion and judicious election of sundry ancient Fathers with other morall Authors ibid. 374 c. English translations the lights of Ladies but Dampes of Schollers pag. 375 Private Nurseries houshold Academies ibid. The first instruction takes the deepest Impression with an usefull application to every condition pag. 376. Necessarie directions highly conducing to the good report and repute of Maides and Matrons ibid. The most precious things have ever the most pernicious Keepers Nothing more precious than a Virgins honour it were a shame for the Mother for any base lucre to prove a treacherous Keeper ibid. The whole progresse of a Gentlewomans conversation should be a continued line of direction to which line he confines his observation pag. 377 HONOUR Observat. 8. PRomotion discovers what men be but true Honour shewes what they should be pag. 379 Honour is painted when it is not with vertue poudred pag. 380 Morall Philosophy nor Christian Theory could ever hold that for deserving greatnesse which had not neare relation to goodnesse ibid. Their memory cannot live long who make Authority a Sanctuary to wrong ibid. Vertue defined and by it true Gentility with the honour of an ancient family expressed pag. 381 An accurate connexion with a personall application of the preceding Subjects to all Gentlewomen ibid. 382 Be women never so eminent they are but painted Trunkes if vertue be not resident ibid. Vertue should not onely be resident but president over all their actions ibid. No Cloth takes such deepe tincture as the Cloth of Honour ibid. No Pleasure can be constant unlesse it afford inward content ibid. There is nothing asperseth a deeper staine upon the Cloth of Honour than too much attention unto Sycophants ibid. Soveraigne receipts against the poison of flattery with a serious exhortation to the entertainement of humility patience constancy and every generous vertue ibid. 383 Violets though they grow low and neare the earth smell sweetest and Honour appeares the fullest of beauty when shee is humblest ibid. Honour if truly grounded can looke in the face of terrour and never be amated pag. 384 She that makes vertue her object cannot but make every earthly thing her Subject ibid. Honours imprezza and Pasture ibid. Honours compleat armour dresse and portraiture ibid. HER Description with motives to her imitation ibid. A briefe but usefull application ibid. Honourable Personages should be Presidents of goodnesse ibid. LANDMARKES are usually erected for direction of the Mariner and Magistrates elected for instruction of the inferiour ibid. The world a Maze of Misery a vale of vanity Pag. 385 Man a story of calamity a statue of infelicity Pag. 385 To be a Lady of Honour is more than titular ibid. Three especiall Objects upon which Honourable personages are to reflect Charitie Pag. ibid. Chastitie Pag. ibid. Humilitie Pag. ibid. A most accurate and serious discourse on each particular Object pag. 385 386 The very last day to an honourable Christian is every dayes memoriall ibid. The actions of Noble Personages like sweet odours diffuse themselves by imitation to their followers pag. 387 Those that are followers of their persons will bee followers likewise of their lives ibid. Their private family is a familiar Nursery ibid. Foule enormities must admit of no Priviledges Eminent Persons are to be their owne Censors ibid. An excellent application by way of Exhortation to all such honourable Censors ibid. Vertues are more permanent Monuments than Statues styles trophees or obeliskes ibid. Vertue or Vice whethersoever takes hold first reteines a deeper impression in honour than any lower Subject ibid. In these whom Nobility of bloud hath advanced be ever some seeds or semblances of their Progenitors reteined ibid. This confirmed by Philosophicall reason and example President and Precept pag. 288 Great mindes are many times sicke of great maladies how this by timely prevention may be seasonably cured ibid. The efficient cause why Vertue or Vice whethersoever takes hold first reteines a deeper impression in Honour than in any lower Subject illustrated by instance ibid. First Motions have deepe impressions first Notions firme retentions pag. 389 The greatest profit of Honourable personages is to become Proficients in the practice of vertue Their highest delight to subdue their delights to the obedience of reason for the love of vertue ibid. The Corruption of time hath introduc'd that deformity of fashion as it asperseth on our formall imitators much imputation ibid. Where Youth is initiated in affectation of State it partakes
will become such a firme Cement or ligament to their affection as their mutuall supplyes may produce reciprocall tyes by which harmonious freedome or propriety of living one may enjoy the others society without the least conceipt of a too tedious beholding In the disposing too of your estates let me advise you not to neglect opportunity of doing good to your owne now while it is in your power to dispose of your owne Many by deferring the settling of their estates to their death become abridged of their intents by being prevented with the inopinate arrest of death and so leave their distracted estates to be determined by Lawyers who being sed with fat fees make fooles of your intended heires leaving them after many an humbly complayning to bemoane their leane fortunes when they fall into consideration how their extracted estates by those numerous Suite atoms are resolved into papers And how their long practise in a litigious kind of Alchimy by a precious pragmaticall pouder has reduc'd all their Chymicall fortunes into the Remaines of a greater Worke the Elixir of poverty Sicknesse is a sufficient burden of it selfe disburden then your selves by disposing of your estates before sicknesse commeth not by dis-possessing your selves of them for so you may give others power over you but by a discreâ—t and deliberate disposure of them that temporall cares may lesse intangle you when sicknesse shall surprize you and your inward house be set in such order as your composed Soules may receive rest to your comfort and Gods honour Thus farre have wee enlarged our discourse in laying before you the care which you are to have in spirituall affaires for improving your Children in that best knowledge which may truly enable them for their highest inheritance as likewise how you are in a conscionable provision to addresse your inferiour care for their temporall subsistence In which two respects as you shall performe the office of prudent and affectionate Parents so shall those rich treasures which you Deposit in succeeding hopes of your Children crowne your silver haires with incomparable comfort For as this religious care was sincerely discharged by you so shall you receive those filiall Offices from yours as may amply recompence your care and as you shall now heare returne to their Labourer a deserving hire YOu have heard what is required of Parents to their Children their incessant cares jealous feares and these intermixed with such doubtfull hopes as not one houre without a corroding care nor a promising hope without a threatning feare It was observed in Augustus that so long as his two daughters Iulia and Livia were in his presence hee could never returne any expression to his Councell with much resolvednesse His mind was not fixed upon an Answer but upon his daughters behaviour Where he collected by the company they frequented how their affections were inclined If Iulia converse with a Ruffian it becomes no lesse a sting to her fathers heart then a staine to his daughters reputation Whereas if Livia enter into discourse with any grave Senatour this pleasing object redounds equally to his solace as well as her honour Now to recompence these numerous cares and anxious feares which become constant companions to Parents hearts let Children returne a gratefull remonstrance of their duty and zeale in these three distinct respects First in tendring them the sacrifice of Obedience Secondly in performing that filiall office with all reverence Thirdly in affording them if necessity should thereto enforce them their best supportance Of these we shall take occasion to treat severally and with that perspicuity as the very youngest and rawest in these offices may vnderstand his peculiar duty It was an excellent admonition of that sonne of Sirach Honour thy Father from thy whole heart and forget not the sorrowes of thy Mother Which admonition in the next ensuing Verse he strengthneth with this Emphaticall remembrance Remember that thou wast borne of them and how canst thou recompence them the things that they have done for thee This confirmes that Maxime of the Stagyrite To our Masters our Gods and Parents can never be rendred an equivalence And if that divine rule hold that the obedience we exhibit to our Superiours we even exhibit to God himselfe who is the Lord paramount and in whose presence the highest Potentates are inferiours what superiority in a degree of such propinquity exacts of us a more filiall duty whence it was that blessed Basill falling into a serious contemplation of this tender native affection affirmeth That we are bound to love our Parents as our owne proper bowells So as hee well deserveth saith Saint Gregory to bee punished with blindnesse which lookes vpon his Parents with a louring count'nance or with proud eyes offends the Piety of his naturall Parents Canst thou looke said that excellent Morall vpon those who brought thee forth into the world with a contemptuous eye as if they were not worthy to live in the world Must those who bred thee breed a distaste in thee Art thou by being a man of place ashamed of thy birth which gave thee a being upon Earth Must thine honour so degenerate from nature as nature must veile to honour and make the affluence of a fading state to soveraignize over her Are these arguments of Obedience when creditors become debters and Parents servants to their Children As every family is a private Soveraignty so ought there to bee a disposition order or apt symmetry in every member of that family The Members are Ministers unto the Head so are Children and Servants to the Master of the House Should the least Member surcease to minister the Head could not chuse but infinitely suffer Now how unnaturall bee those Tendrells how adulterate those Scienes which decline from that Stemme which gave them growth from that parentall Stocke which render'd them their first birth The Philosopher indeed gives a reason why Parents love their Children more then Children their Parents and why they know more then those Children that derive their being from them because sayes he as water is the purest which flowes from the Fountaine Head the nearest so that love which descends from the Originall root is ever the dearest and for as much as true love is ever grounded upon knowledge for otherwise it merits rather the title of folly then fancy in regard Parents know us better to be theirs then we our selves know us to be theirs so much more as their knowledge is surer so much is their parentall affection purer Whence the Poet delivers this for a knowne experiment Nature do's oft descend but seldome mount Parents areeres fall short in their account But if Children would consider how they have received their native being from them againe those incessant cares which attend them with those promising hopes which they have treasured in them they would hold it one of the highest taskes and noblest Acts of piety to be imployed in those offices
foolish you cannot be so long as dis-obedience hales you to ruine For your folly becomes an abridger of your dayes or an ingager of your yeares to many dis-consolate cares Inverting that by making it a cursing which by preserving it in his owne purity might have beene an incomparable blessing Remember then that golden sentence and let it reteine a faire Character in the signature of your conscience Childrens children are the crowne of the Elders and the glory of the Children are their Fathers As you are their Crowne so let them be your glory Let every day wherein you live produce a testimony of your unfeigned duty your entire love This shall be a meanes to accumulate Gods blessings on you and leave patterns of piety to such as shall succeed you with a Sacrifice of like Obedience to please you and in the memory of their vertues deservingly to prayse you Thus by performing the religious taske of sincere Obedience you cannot chuse but seasonably afford them your Supportance to whom you tender'd such entire Reverence Should Children forget their duty to those that bred them or neglect all such pious offices as properly become them Should those native impressions be wholly razed in them which as shadowes to their bodies should individually attend them Should humanity lose his name or piety relinquish her nature yet might these even by fixing on sensible creatures find such moving objects as the very parentall affection which these inferiour Emblemes beare to those that gave them being could not chuse but strike in them a glowing shame and present to their weake memory the neglect of their necessitated duty It is said of the Cranes that when their Parents have moulted their feathers their young ones seeke about for all such necessaries as may relieve them till such time as their aged Parents recover their feathers or by death leave them Likewise to shew how wee ought to succour and support our Parents when they grow aged may be instanced in the tender affection of the Storke whereof wee reade that when the Storkes grow old their affectionate brood take up their Parents upon their owne wings and set them in their nests and like tender Infants place them in their owne bosome where they nurse and nusle them affording them all supportance that may any way accommodate them Nay of all the birds in the ayre the Vultur onely suffers his Parents to perish with hunger which discovers his ravenous and odious nature It is most true what an ancient Father sometimes observed should wee bestow on them whatsoever we could possibly conferre on them yet could wee not doe that which they have done for us beget them How tender then should wee be of their supporting from whom we receive the source of our being It is written of the Tyger though a beast of a savage and truculent nature that when they take away the young one they set looking Glasses or some transparent models in the way to stay the pursuit of the she Tyger wherein seeing her selfe represented by reflexion of the Glasse she there solaceth her selfe with the conceit of her owne forme while the Hunters make way for escape Whence wee may take a view of the tender affection of the savagest Creature to her Cubs in an imaginary reflexion on their feature These unfeignedly love those who came from them and no doubt by a secret instinct of nature are equally requited by a thankefull remonstrance returned to them and shall the Parthian Tyger reteine more impressive Characters of a tender nature then the most noble and rationall Creature You heard before how when the old Storke through age becomes naked of feathers destitute of all personall supply or succour when her life becomes tedious unto her through those infirmities of age which attend her yet shee receives comfort from those who derived their being from her Shee is fed by her brood and carried by them from place to place upon their wings So was aged Anchises carried by his pious Aeneas and so should all Children doe to their distressed Parents Valerius relates an excellent example wherein hee shewes how we ought by so imitable a patterne to succour and support our Parents when they are in necessity which hee commends unto us in this admirable story There was sometimes a certaine noble Woman of high descent and parentage who being adjudged to dye for some foule offence yet in respect of her Family the Iudge decreed she should not dye publikely but be shut up in prison and so dye for hunger But her tender-hearted Daughter being then married having got leave of the Iudge that shee might daily visit her Mother a dis-consolate prisoner but before she were admitted to her to be carefully search'd that shee brought no reliefe unto her So as being in that manner prevented to afford her such comfort or repast as she desired behold how wittily naturall affection became provided shee pull'd forth her owne brests and with her milke nourish'd her Mother And when the Iudge wondred how shee could so long subsist being deprived of all meanes of reliefe having at last heard what her Daughter had done unto her Mother being moved with compassion and the unexemplary piety of her affection he restored the Mother to her Daughter Now shall Pagans expresse better the piety of Christians then Christians the humanity of Pagans Shall a beameling shew more splendor then the Sonne it selfe whose reflection affords that lustre A glimmering at the best had but these Ethnicks and that onely darting from the light of nature whereas we enjoy the Sunne in his Meridian glory being adorned with an inward beauty expecting no Elysiaâ— fâ—â—lds but those essentiall joyes of Eternity As our hopes are higher our expectance surer our grounded assurance firmer let our affections appeare purer our actions in the practise of piety clearer It was an excellent commendation which that Monument bore in her front to the memory of that vertuous Matron Constantia the Lady Lucie A true performer of all duties to Husband Parents Children Friends In the first expressing conjugall constancy in the second filiall piety in the third naturall propinquity in the fourth reciprocall courtesie Now of these some have maintained that no office was more obliging then that of a Child to his Parent confirming their affection with this reason In the losse of a Wife one may redeeme that losse with the marrying of another In the losse of a Child one may repaire that losse in the generation of another And in the losse of a Friend one may recover that losse by the purchase of another But should we forgoe a Father or a Mother wee cannot possibly restore that losse with the supply of another Howsoever I stand doubtfull of the authentick validity of this opinion seeing wee are expresly injoyned to leave Father and Mother for our Wife which parentall dereliction implyes that Man is to adhere to his Wife in the
such a faire provision as it may prepare you to be loyall Lovers discreet Fathers just Masters friendly Neighbours and which is above all such absolute Commanders of your own affections as should all those occurrents which encounter mortality oppose you they could not surprize you because a pious resolution hath reer'd her counter-mure to secure you This Taske I shall account happy so it may redound to your profit Gods glory FINIS A Tablet reflecting upon this SVPPLEMENT A Preamble branching it selfe into a briefe Analysis of the whole Tract pag. 1. Of Conjugall Offices pag. 6. OBSERVAT. 1. The excellent saying of Caia wife to Caius Tarquinius ibid. The noble Florentines Impreze which hee caused to be engraven for a Nuptiall Embleme pag. 7 Conjugall Offices are not to be disorderly mixed Palaemon si Caulam negligat Galataeam faciet indigentem Galataea si Colum deserat Palaemonem faciet insipientem p. 9. The Offices of a Wife to her Husband pag. 10 Wonderfull Examples of Piety and Mortification p. 13 A discreet loving Treaty betwixt a Wife and her Husband recommended to the constant practise of all affectionate Censorts p. 14 Offences ingenuously acknowledged are with conjugall piety and pity to be pardoned and this locally instanced p. 15 Of Parentall Offices p. 16. OBSERVAT. 2. A Parentall care reflects properly upon two distinct Objects Internall Externall The one to educate them in Principles of Religion the other to accommodate them for a Vocation p. 16. 17. c. The highest point of discretion in a Schoole-master is to find out the disposition of his Scholler p. 18 Inconsiderate youth accounts the fruitlesse expence of time a meere pastime ib. Parents are to dispose of their estates now while they stand seazed of estates lest their decease alter the intention of their estates p. 22 The Offices of Children to their Parents ibid. Children are bound to render unto their Parents expressions of their duty and zeale in three respects Obedience p. 23. c. Reverence p. 23. c. Supportance p. 23. c. The fruits of Obedience as they have relation both to Children and Parents p. 25 The Admonition of an incensed Father to a disobedient Sonne p. 27 A constant position observable in disobedient Children p. 28. The graduall respects of love and duty p. 30 Of Domestick Offices p. 31. OBSERVAT. 3. The Offices of Masters to their Servants ibid. Two extreames or perillous Poles to be avoided whereby this Domestick Obedience may be better observed Lenity p. ibid. Severity p. ibid. No Servant meaner then a Parcimonious Master p. 32. The duty of Servants to their Masters p. 34 The duty of a Servant to his Master will make a Servant an happy Master ibid. Emblematicall Hieroglyphicks of sloath p. 35 Adam no sooner became sinfull then the earth unfruitfull ibid. It is not sufficient for a Servant to intend his owne peculiar charge unlesse he admonish others of the neglect of their care p. 36 Of Neighbourly Offices p. ibid. OBSERVAT. 4. All Neighbourly Offices pitch upon three particulars Arguments of Discourse or Communication p. 36. c. Arguments of Action and Negotiation p. 36. c. Arguments of Pastime and Recreation p. 36. c. Foure cautions in matters of Discourse to be avoided that all grounds of distaste may be better diverted Telling marvailes p. 37 Pressing reasonings p. 37 Lessening others merits p. 37 Making comparisons p. 37 Three particulars observable in arguments of Discourse Verity ibid. Vtility ibid. Modesty ibid. Three peculiar Subjects wherein these Neighbourly Offices are to be exercised LIFE p. 38 FAME p. 38 SVBSTANCE p. 38 Five degrees of civile society 1 Of one Family p. 39 2 Of one City p. 39 3 Of Neighbourhood or Propinquity p. 39 4 Of Amity p. 39 5 Of one Countrey p. 39 The dangers arising from opinionate wits p. 44. The unexpected events of frequent meetings p. 45 Circumstances observable in all inferiour actions of delight 1 With whom wee consort p. 46 2 For what end we consort p. 46 3 The meane p. 46 whereby we may attaine the end for which we consort HEE winds up the Series of his discourse with a repetition and usefull application of every particular branch ibid. The usuall salutation by the ancient Lations observed and as it is to this day by us reteined p. 47 HEE concludes this Supplement with a briefe relation of the benefit of every particular Subject ibid. A Conclusive POEM contracting all these Subjects in one BY Him who steers the sterne of ev'ry State Inspires our Muse informes us how to write That Palme of peace that day which knowes no date That Sole-all-seeing and surveying sight That wings our faith and cheers us when we fight By His sweet influence was this begun With whom it ends and so my Worke is done To you then ENGLISH GENTLEMEN to whom Our first part is addrest Bestow your care To act what may Gentility become That as yee in your Fathers Fortunes share Your Vertues may proclaime whose Sonnes yee were 'T is this will leave your Names more eminent Then Honour fading Favour or Descent Next to you ENGLISH LADIES who expresse A native beauty in each act yee doe Let good resolves prepare your morning dresse And thinke on Heav'n when wanton Suiters wooe Or on those Mates yee stand affianc'd to Fame is a precious odour whose least graine Once shed is hardly gather'd up againe LADIES LOVE LECTVRE to you have I read Where yee such fresh-choice-fragrant flow'rs may cull As yee no other Ornaments shall need Fill then your Iv'ry-azur'd bosomes full Ne're any such did Atalanta pull Prove usefull Readers then and if yee erre Condemne mee for a carelesse Lecturer Lastly I 've cloz'd all in a SVPPLEMENT Where modest tearmes describe the art of love Which to the rest gives such Embellishment 'T is styl'd the TRIVMPH of the TVRTLE-DOVE Whose reall-loyall Emblemes if yee prove I shall not chuse but like where ere I looke And for your sakes make bold to kisse the Booke FINIS FOR THE MOST VERTVOVS AND Nobly-Accomplisht LADIE THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ELIZABETH DOWAGER COVNTESSE of STRAFFORD HIGHLY EMINENT IN THE SKALE OF THE SERIOUS'T AND SERENEST JUDGEMENTS FOR HER PIOUS CONSERVATION OF THE LIVING MEMORY OF Her most Absolute CONSORT A CHARACTER OF HONOVR TO write of Honour and not amply according to Honours Character were a derogation to her and to write exactly would require a more expert and judicious Artist then every rude Myson to take in hand a subject of such consequence But vertue as she is best adorned when least garnished with externall colours so Honour is most lively when she seemes most naked of Rhetoricall Varnish The best Moralls have ever pourtray'd Justice by a scale poyzing every action duely discussing every ambiguity throughly without fixing of her eye on the object of Majesty commanding or of Amity with more easie meanes perswading They have deciphered Fortitude not by Thrasoe boast or a precipitate opposing her selfe
fidem violare nefas nuptialem thorum venerari aâ—cus Thales Miles Ambros. lib. 1. de Abraham Aeliâ—n in nat hist. Alciaâ— in Emblem This you may the better retaine by engraving in the window of your Bed-chamber with thas noble Flâ—rentine this Impreze to make you more tender of your nuptiall honour Emblema est 〈…〉 theri Ier. 5.8 Heb. 13.4 Ier. 5.7 Optima semper ingenia quaedam geâ—â—â—â—a comitatur modestia Gen. 39.9 Tali conjugio fruor ut sive foris egrediar sive revertar quicquidevenerit libentissimè patior patiendo vinco citiùs quà m vincor Vid. Licost. Apotheg Meleand in Bast. Palemon ad caulam Calatea ad colum Plutarch Licosth Macrob. The offices of a wife to her husband Obsâ—ruantur fenestrae ut luceat domâ—s Sen in Herc. Fur. Macrob. Habitus mentis in corporu statu cernitur Gestus corporis indicat qualitatem mentis Vid. Gre. in Mor. Bern. in Epist. Aug. in Confess Nazian Luke 13.32 In urbe maxima confluunt vitia Bona consortia vita solatia Petrarch de remed utriusquè fortunae Caro quò agilior Anima debilior Anima quò sortior Caro infirmior In Pandect Hippol. de Collib Obserantur aedes quò interiores splendeant sedes Quae unius cellulae clausa angustiis latitudine coeli fruebatur Her de laud. Asellae Epist. 15. A discreet loving Treaty betwixt a Wife and her Husband recoÌ„mended to the constant practice of affectionate Consorts Primitias prolis teneas Botolphia sedes Ingenio pollens palladis arte potens Prae sâ—ciis docilis puerilibus Argus in annis Ast Spurii stirpes obtinuere leves Vid. Remaines of a greater work Aug. Gen. 3.16 Victi victoresquè in lachrymas fusi Cadmaea victoria 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ambros. li. 1. de offic ca. 18. Vxorem vivam amare voluptas est defunctam religio Observ. 2. A Parentall care reflects properly upon two distinct Objects Arist. in Eth. Prov. 22.6 Vid. Plutarch Trog Pomp. Macrob in aturn Stobae Appian Alex. Patere How a Prodigals profuâ—enesâ—e abuseth his parents providence With such transported spirits as these divine ayres are accounted choyce Canto's only for dull eares Our ignorant gentry estrangeth Philosophy from their society The reason why young Gentlemen are not in learning delighted is because they are not in principles of learning sufficiently grounded Vid. Petrarch The highest point of discretion in a School-master is to find out the disposition of his Scholler Inconsiderate youth accounts the fruitlesse expence of time a meere pastime 〈◊〉 senâ—x tenâ—io â—idem in qu◠〈…〉 sâ—m Hier. ad Pammach Ocean de eâ—ror Orig. Levius esâ— dispendium sertâ—â—ae quà m famae famae quà m animâ— Chrysol Lâ—â—â—â—t 1 Tim 5.8 Talis substantia non est stabilis aut ipsis invenientibus est peritura aut à malis haeredibus esâ— dissipanda Chrysost. in Matth. Vide Plut. vid. Var. Macrob in Saâ—â—â— Media viâ— peâ—ere via dirigitur quâ adâ—â—ctam â—endiâ—ur Fodere nondum didicerunt mendicare crabuerunt fures igitur non caiâ—s vident quâ—m cum iis currunt 〈◊〉 adulteris portione ponunt Ista ne generosa cersâ—amus vitia quae antiquae 〈◊〉 detraxerunt auspicia Pandect Parents are to dispose of their estates now while they stand seized of estates lest their decease alter the intention of their estates The offices of Children to their Parents Children are bound to render vnto their parents expressions of their duty and zeale in 3 respects OBEDIENCE Ecclus. 7.27.28 Magistris diâ—s Parentibus non 〈◊〉 reddi equivalens Arist. Eth 9. Parentes nostros vt propria viscera dâ—ligamus Basil. Mâ—retur caecitatis suae subire supplicium qui parentum vultus torvo visu respexit elatis oculis laeserit pietarâ—â— Greg. Sicut membra capiti liberi et servi patri familiae Elench Parentes pius diligunt faâ—es quam è converso eò quòd magis sciunt parentes quám filij quòd ab iis sunt geniti Arist. Eth. 8. Rariùs ascendit descendit gratius 〈◊〉 Quae patres paeris non retulere suis. Salv. Illud expectandum est à nobis quod praestitimus nostris Panorm Quicquid parenti placuisse vivo senserit eo etiam mortuo praestare non desiâ—it Paterâ— O quam parva fuis tenero placuere parenti Parvula in nostris misuere noble Hom. in Iliad Vita spectabilis vultus amabilis Vita enormis forma deformis Greg. The fruits of obedience as they have relation both to Children and Parents REVERENCE Prov. 16.31 Ecclus 25.6 a Quare nihil turpiuâ— est quà m grandis natu senex qui nullum aliud argumentum quo se probet diu vixisse quà m aetatem Sen. de Tranq an b Malle esse se quà m vivere mortuum Ib. c Nihil sene elementario turpius Sen. Nihil dialectico sene deformius Petrarch Ecclus 25.3 Ecclus 25.4 5. Omne peccatum incurabilius est in sene quam in juvene Holgot sup li. Sap. Quantò senes sunt morti viciniores tantò debent esse puriores In decret dist 86. Tune Aurorae filius nepenthiacis Salamancae fumis primas Aurorae horas offeres E tabernis vestri proruant Rhetores A constant position observable in disobedient Children Prov. 17.25 Prov. 17.6 SVPPORTANCE Plin. in Nat. Hist. Aelian Sambuc in Emblem Paradin Soli vultures parentes fame mori permittunt Ib. Quam vis plurima 〈◊〉 reddidima rursus tamen eos generare non possumus Ciâ—il Admoverunt labiis Tigrides ubera lacte sugunt Nutricis ilia Basil. Homil. 8. 9. Valer. Max. The gradual respects of love and duty Donec ab Insulae finibus removeantur languentem agentes vitam emori non poterint The Offices of Masters to their â—ervants Bern. Med. 3. Two extreames to be avoyded whereby this Domestick Obedience may be better observed Prov. 29.21 Prov. 19.19 No servant meaner then a parcimonious Master Vid. Lucian in Sat. Luke 12.45 Lacrymans amoris Epicaedium vel Heroinum Elegium Farn. in Epig. Colos. 4.1 Eph. 4.9 The duty of Servants to their Masters Vid. Laert. Eph. 6.5 The duty of a servant to his Master will make a servant an happy Master Tunc nostra magis clarescunt bona cuÌ„ fuerint praesentibus comparata malis Gothofred de corp Iur. Civil Casel de jure civili Iulius Pacius in Analysi Theoph. Instit Fabrot Inter. Vid. Plut. in Mor. Ovid. in Met. Arist. in Eth. Emblematicall Hieroglyphicks of Sloath. Adam no sooner became sinfull then the Earth unfruitfull It is not sufficient for a Servant to intend his own peculiar charge vnlesse hee admonish others of the neglect of their care Vid. Arist. in Polit. Zenophon in Cyro ped Observ. 4. Oratio vinculum humanae societat iis Societas solatium animae peregrinantis Vid Cic. Hippol. Casiman Laert. in vit Diog. Prov. 11.12 Arist. in Eth. Melanct. Fonseca Pererius DISCOVRSE LIFE Foure cautions in matters of discourse to bee avoided that all grounds of distaste may be better directed Three
of filiall duty and to performe them with all alacrity Besides doe Children desire a blessing The Honour which they render unto their Parents is confirâ—ed with a promise Nor is any Commandement ratified with a stronger Assumpsit Length of dayes is promised which implyes an abridgement of time to such as neglect it Nay that I may presse this Argument a little further by recounting those benefits which arise from parentall honour wee shall generally observe how that dis-regard to obedience which Children shew towards their Parents â—s fully requited by the Disobedience of their Children when they come to be Parents For what more may you expect from yours then what you tendered unto yours You may collect hence what singular blessings are from Obedience derived Againe what discomforts even to Posterity are from disobedience occasioned The one proposeth a long life the other implyeth a short life The one conferrs a comfort on us in our posterity the other a myriad of afflictions in our progeny Nor can that Child be of â—a ingenuous nature who with a free and uncoacted embrace addresseth not his best endeavours to advance this Honour Let him but respect upon his parents tendernesse and hee cannot chuse but highly taxe himselfe of unthankefulnesse should hee suffer the neglect of one houre in returning the obedientiall sacrifice of a Child to his Father Neither is any time to be exempted from so pious a taske For as their tender and vigilant eye has beene from infancy to yeeres of more maturity ever intentively fixed that their hopes might be improved and their comforts â—n that improvement numerously augmented so ought it to be the delightful'st study to their posterity to crown their Parents white hairs with comfort and in imitation of that veâ—tuous Corinthian to recollect themselves by considering what might give their Parents most content and with all cheerfulnesse to performe that for them even after their death which they conceived could not chuse but content them in their life Alas so indulgent are most Parents and so easily contented as the very least offices of duty performed by their Children transport them above comparison When Children in Obedience play their part They drop young blood into an aged heart Nay I may truly affirme of this precious plant of filiall Obedience what our ancient Poets sometimes wrote of that Aesonian herbe or what the ever living Homer reported of his Moli that it has power to restore nature and beget an amiable complexion in the Professor For a good life attracts to the countenance sayes the Ethick expressive Characters of love Now should you more curiously then necessarily enquire after the extent of this Obedience as wherein it is to be exercised and to what bounds confined take this for a positive Rule that in whatsoever shall not be repugnant to the expresse will of God there is required this Observance yea even in matters of indifference it is farre safer to oppose your owne wils then distaste your Parents It was an excellent saying of Saint Gregory Hee that would not offend in things unlawfull must oft abridge himselfe in things lawfull The way to infuse more native heat in this Obedience is to shew an alacrity of obeying even in Subjects of indifference for a remissenesse in these cannot but argue a probable coolenesse in those of higher consequence And as the command of a discreet Father will injoyne his Child nothing but what may comply equally with piety and reason so will a dutifull Child submit himselfe to his Fathers command without the least unbeseeming debate or expostulation Thus from these Premisses may wee draw this infallible Conclusion Would you enjoy length of dayes glad houres or a succeeding comfort in yours Answer their aged hopes who have treasured their provisionall cares for you bring not their silver haires with sorrow to their Grave but returne them such arguments of proficience in every promising Grace that your sincere and unfeigned Obedience may not be only a surviving comfort to your Parents but a continuall Feast to your owne Conscience Neither are you to performe these offices of Obedience with a regardlesse affection or without due Reverence For as God would have those who are Labourers in his Vineyard to doe their worke with cheerefulnesse so is it his will that naturall Children returne all offices of duty and filiall Obedience with humility and reverence Age is a crowne of glory when it is found in the way of righteousnesse And this closeth well with that saying of the Preacher The crowne of old men is to have much experience and the feare of God is their glory But admit they were such whom native Obedience injoynes you to reverence as the nearer to their Grave the further from knowledge the nearer to earth the more glued to earth yet for all this in lawfull things are you not to alien your thoughts of obedience from them but as you derived your being from them so with a sensible compassion of their infirmities with the veile of piety to cover their nakednesse It is true indeed what that sententious Morall sometimes observed There is no sight more unseemely then an old man who having lived long reteines no other argument of his age then his yeares This moved Curius Dentatus to conclude so positively that he had rather be dead then live as one dead Neither indeed is age to bee measured by yeares but houres Many are old in yeares who are young in houres Many old in houres who are young in yeares For time is of such unvaluable estimate that if it be not imployed to improvement it becomes a detriment to the Accomptant No object more distastefull said that divine Morall then an Elementary Old-man No subject of discourse more hatefull said witty Petrarch then a d dialecticall Old-man A logicall age howsoever it appeare copious in words it seldome becomes plenteous in workes Free discoursers in Philosophy are oft the slowest proficients in the practick part of Philosophy Whereas it is better to be a Truant at Schoole then in the practise of life For as it is better to know little and practise much then to know much and practise little So it is a more usefull knowledge to learne the art of living then of learning For many with their learning have gone into Hell whereas none were they never so simple but by living well have gained Heaven It is an excellent Caution indeed and well deserving our deepe Impression If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth what canst thou find in thine age Put sufficient it is not to gather but to make use of that experimentall treasure Medicines deposited afford small benefit to the Patient nor are Talents to bee buried nor our Lights under a bushell shrouded Knowledge cannot be usefully active unlesse it be communicative Howsoever then Age in respect of her ancient livery with those aged Emblemes of her antiquity exact
reverence yet deserves it most honour when those gray haires are beautified with knowledge Oh how pleasant a thing is it when gray headed men minister judgement and when the Elders can give good counsell Oh how comely a thing is wisedome unto aged men and understanding anâ— prudency to men of honour This no doubt as it begets them esteeme amongst their Equals so it highly improves their reverence with Inferiours For foolish age though it should be exempted from derision yet such is the levity of time and piercing eye of youthfull observation as age becomes censured by youth whereas youth ought rather to interpret the best then detract in the least from the reverence of age It is too true that every obliquity be it either of higher or lower quality is more incurable in age then youth The reason is Age becomes more insensible of what it has committed and growes more indurate through an accustomed habit whereas though an unconfined heat of youth drive the other into folly an ability of conceipt brings them to an apprehension of what they have done and consequently to a recollection of themselves to reforme what they have mis-done Now the way how to improve this reverence in Parents to their Children and Magistrates to their Inferiours is to expresse such patterns of piety in the whole course of their life as the very shadows reflecting from such Mirrors may produce an awfull reverence zeale and love in their Observers with a zealous desire of imitation in their Successors This no doubt begot a pious emulation in our Predecessors towards those whose actions being of ancient record induced them to trace those steps wherein they had walked and with much constancy to professe those vertues which they had found in them so highly approved Others lives became their lines lines to direct them by their Coppy lights to conduct them to an higher pitch of true Nobility It is a Rule worthy inscription on the ancient Wardrobe of Age Old men by how much they are unto death neerer by so much more ought they to be purer This will attract unto them duty in their life and eternity after death Now Gentlemen that you may better observe this Reverence addressed to those to whom you owe all Obedience be it farre from you to debate or dispute their commands It suites not well with the duty of a Child to expostulate with a Father especially in morall respects where the quality or nature of the command discovers no Opposition to the Law divine Be never in their presence without a pious feare and awfull reverence Interrupt them not in their discourse neither preferre your owne opinion before their advise It tastes of an ill condition to stand upon conditions with a Father upon proposals of meanes or exhibitions But much more distastefull to contest in termes as if the memory of nature were lost in you and all acquaintance with piety estranged from you This it was which moved that dis-passionate Theban to take up his unseasoned Sonne in this manner putting him in mind of his neglect even of civile duty which the better to remember hee layes before him his uncivile demeanour in this severe Character An Ale-house seemes by your Apologie an excellent Receipt for a Male-content I am sory you have lost the Principles of more divine Philosophy You might recall to mind those Attick Studies wherein you were sometimes versed those Academick Colleagues with whom you discoursed A Memoriall of these might have better qualified this humour by reducing your troubled affections to a clearer temper But my hopes now are to be resolv'd into prayers for as yet there can appeare small hope where your Morning Sacrifice is offer'd to Smoake a sweet perfume for an intended Convert You seeme to presse your Father to a performance of promise God blesse you I see plainely your pen must necessarily make that Maxime good Where there is a want in the practise of piety it must needs beget a neglect of Duty nay of Civility I could wish that you would be as ready to reform the errours of your life as I to performe the Offices of a fatherly love So speedily do's love descend so slowly do's it ascend To conclude all in one I must tell you to condition with a Father argues no good condition in a Sonne But let the wisest Consort you consult with advise you and with their Tap-Rhetorick surprize you you shall find that I have power to proportion meanes to every ones merit From which resolution neither shall affection draw me nor power over-awe me So as if you expect from me a Patrimony exercise Piety Be what you seemâ— or prove the same you vow Wee have dissembling practisers enow Thus have you heard the course of a profuse Sonne with the resolution of a dis-consolate Father Collect hence what discontents accompany the one what distractions conscionably may attend the other Children reflect constant cares but uncertaine comforts Cares are proper attributes to Parents Comforts those fruits after a long Seed-plot of cares the sole Harvest they reape It is true Parents are to dispence with discomforts in their Children and receive them as familiar Guests to lodge with them But what heavy fates attend such Children as exemplarily present this condition Welcome Guests you cannot be to your father in heaven who make your inferiour cares such unwelcome Guests to him on earth I have found in some Children a serious inquisition after their Fathers yeares so as if they could possibly have contracted with the Register to inlarge his aged Character hee could not want an ample Fee for so gratefull a labour Such as these would ride in their Fathers saddle before their time But trust me few of these Lap-wing hopes or loose-pinion'd desires but they cloze in a fatall Catastrophe and as their ill-grounded hopes were scean'd in prodigality so they end tragically in an Act of misery Let it be your honour to reverence their gray haires and with wishes of pious zeale to rejoyce in their length of dayes For this it is will bring an happinesse to your age and beget a reverend obedience in yours as you in all piety offer'd like Sacrifice unto yours For take this for a constant position You shall seldome see any Prodigals falling short of these inherent Offices of duty but if they live to have a progeny they receive the like discomforts from their posterity Nay I have knowne very few such Vnnaturalists who desired their Fathers death in hope to enjoy his Land that ever enjoy'd much comfort in possession of that Land For as these murder their Parents in their hearts so they are many times stifled in the fruition of their hopes Tasting more aloes of discontent in their enjoying then ever they did sweetnesse in their expecting Consider then the excellency of that divine Proverbe A foolish Son is a griefe unto his Father and a heavinesse to her that bare him Now lesse then