Parents over them A fearing love and a loving fear Q. What are the duties of children to Parents A. Two Reverence and Obedience Q. Wherein consists their Reverence A. In their speech and gest re Q. How doth reverence appear in speech A. 1. In a modest forbearance to speak in their presence Job 22.9 10 21 till Parents give leave 2. In right framing their words when they do speak Q. How may they frame their words aright A. 1. Their words must be honourable to them or of them giving them their Titles of Father Lord Sir Mother Gen. 22.7 1 Kin. 2.20 2. They must bee few onely as occasion is offered 3. They must bee meek and humble as Jonathan to his Father 1 Sam. 19.4 4. They must observe fit opportunities 1 Sam. 19.9 and 20 30. when their Parents are not busie or in passion 5. A ready pleasing in their answers as 1 Sam. 3 4 6. Matth. 21.30 Q. How must they expresse Reverence in their gesture or carriage A. 1. In tendering obeysance Gen. 46 29. 1 Kin. 2.19 Gen. 46.12 uncovering the head standing up bowing the body or knee 2. In modesty and bashfulnesse in their countenances and carriage 3. in taking the lower place 4. In asking their blessing Gen. 27.19.34 Q. What obedience is due to Parents A. Both Passive and Active 1 Pet. 1.14 Q. Wherein must Passive obedience appear A. In forbearance to do any thing of moment without consent of Parents As In choice of a Calling Gen. 28.2 2. In marriage Deut. 7.3 1 Cor. 7 36 37. Gen. 24.67 and 29.18 Judg. 14.2 3. In disposing of their goods Gal 4.1 4. In ordering their apparel Gen. 37.3 2 Sam. 13.18 4. In vowing Num. 30.4 Q. Whereby must their Atctive obedience bee manifested A. 1 In obeying their commands to come or go or do any thing required Gen. 28.5 and 49.1 1 Sam. 17.19 20. 2. In hearkening to their instructions Prov. 1.8 9. and 4.1 3. 3. In patient bearing their reproofes Gen. 37.10 1 Sam. 20.30 with amendment Ezod 18.17 contra 1 Sam. 2.25 Pro. 13.1 4 In submission to their corrections Heb. 12 9. and reforming Prov. 29.7 5. In recompencing their care love and kindnesse if God makes them able 1 Tim. 5.4 by protection provision Joh. 19.17 support comfort c. 1 Sam. 22.3 4. Genes 37.35 and 47.8.47.12 Q. What more is required A. 1. In natural infirmities inward or outward they are to beare them patiently and cover them carefully from others Gen. 9 23. Luke 2.51 contra Pro. 30.17 2. In casual necessities upon their bodies or estates they are to their power to relieve them Q. Doe children owe any Duties to their deceased Parents A. 1. Yes A decent and honourabble burial as they are able Gen. 25.9 and 35.29 2. In paying their debts if the State will bear it 3. To suppresse evil reports of them 4. 1 Kin. 3.3 and 15 12 To imitate their good examples these are a part of that honour due to their Parents Q. What is the extent of their obedience A. The Text saith in all things that is in all lawful things in the Lord Eph. 6.1 In things indifferent bringing their wils to their Parents Q. What motives are there to enforce these duties upon children A. 1. This is well pleasing to the Lord and the cantrary displeasing 2. Parents are in Gods stead to them and in doing their duties to them they doe it unto God and contra 3 The promises made to their obedience of long life Eph. 6.1 2 3. and happinesse in this world in their persons estates posterity by their Parents blessings Deut. 5.16 and the contrary threatnings and curses to undutiful children Prov. 30.17 4 This Obedience to their parents on earth shall be a good evidence they are childen to God their Father in heaven Q. Are there not some besides natural Parents that children owe duty to A. Yes Such as are in the place of parents to them which may be three wayes 1. Fathers or mothers in Law by marriage 2. Guardiars the next of kin when Parents are dead 3. Tutors and School-masters intrusted with them Q. What duties do children owe to their fathers or mothers in Law A. The same for the most part that they owe to their natural Parents As 1. Reverence Exod 18.7 2. Subjection Luc. 2.51 3 Recompence as Ruth 1. and 2. chap. Q. Vpon what grounds are these due A. 1. The marriage bond maketh man and wife one flesh and so to be accounted by them 2. It is an honour to the natural Parent for children to respect the other party that is now one flesh with them Q. What duty owe they to Guardians and Tutors c. A. A subjection and reverence because they have the trust and charge of Parents to them as Esth 2.20 2 Kings 2.12 15. Gal. 4.2 Chapter 2. The Duties of parents to their children Ephes 6.4 And ye Fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Col. 3.21 Fathers provoke not your children to anger lest they be discouraged Q. WHat are the parts of those Texts A. Three 1. A prohibition provoke not your children to wrath 2. A reason thereof lest they be discouraged 3. A Precept but bring them up c. Q. What duties are here enjoyned A. 1. To nourish or breed them up with food apparel and other necessaries 2. To nurture them viz. with good discipline 3. To instruct them in the wayes of God in admonition of the Lord. Q. What is the foundation of Parents duties to their children A. Love as in other relations Tit. 2.4 by reason of the paine paines care and cost which nothing but Love will beare out Q. What vices are contrary to this love A. 1. Want of natural affection in the defect Rom. 1.30 Tit. 3.3 2. Doating on them and fondnesse in the excesse with too much indulgence 1 Sam. 2.29 Q. What are the general duties at all times to be done by Parents A. 1. Faithful and fervent prayers for them 1 Thes 5.17 from beginning to end 2. Upright walking with God before them Psal 112.2 Prov. 20.7 and 13.22 3. A provident care for their childrens good all their dayes both temporal and spiritual good Q. What is the duty of mothers to their children in their infancy A. 1 Before it is borne care for the safe carriage delivery of it 2 When it is borne 1. provision of necessaries for it Luke 2.7 2. Nursing it her selfe if God make her able Gen. 21.7 Sarah and Hannah 1 Sam. 1.22 Psal 22.9 3. Procuring of right Baptism which concerns also and chiefly the father as in circumcision Q. What duties concerne them in childhood A. A special care in bringing them up and in putting of them forth when fit Q. What must Parents aime at in bringing of them up A. 1. At their temporal good in first nourishing them well providing all needful things for life and
become first Husband and Wife then Parents to children and with that Masters of servants which are all the Relations of a Family The principal care must be to chuse fit Materialls for the building which how well and how far it may be done is delivered in the Sermon hereto anneved to which I refer the Reader 2. For a Family already Constituted but corrupted and needing Reformation the same course must be taken as in Reforming a corrupted Church For as there Preaching and Catechising and all wayes of Instruction are first to be used by the Minister the chiefe Officer thereof and after that the practice of that knowledge wrought must be pressed by Admonition Reproofe Exhortation And lastly if these proceedings prove ineffectual the exercise of Discipline and Censures upon wilfull and stubborn offenders Just so it ought to be in a Family as it is also a little more largely directed in the Sermon following to which I refer But we are to speak now onely to the first of those three how the chiefe Housholder may lay that foundation of Reformation in his Family which is by Knowing and Teaching them under his charge the true knowledge of those Duties belonging to the several Relations of a Family as afore To which purpose I would commend if they have not better the reading and practicing in all good conscience and sincerity of the Sermon following as far as it concerns themselves in their single double or threefold Relation viz. as Husbands to Wives as Parents to chidren as Masters to servants And then to Teach the rest of the family their correlates wives children servants their particular duties according to their relations respectively But when their children or seroants are to be transplanted either for the constituting a new family as Husbands or Wives or for the furnishing of another family as servants then to aquaint them with and make them understand the duties of their new Relations before they come to practice them To which end the little short Catechisme's fitted for each Relation will much conduce if they be taught explained wisely by the chieife Housholder and impressed on them by his own Example in the performance of his duties in all his owne relations The Benefit of teaching and whetting on of these prineiples conscientiously will be exceeding great For 1. By this meanes Housholders themselves may come to see repent of and amend their own miscarriages not onely when they were children or servants but also their present neglects of their duties as Husbands Parents Masters which they must performe as they expect that their correlates should be good serviceable to them or Gods blessing upon both 2 By the knowledge they may get by teaching others they may not onely learn their own Duties in all their Relations but also be able to call upon their Inferiours to do their Duties and to exact them of them when they goe astray 3. This if they have any conscience or care to please God may serve to make them the more carefull to performe their own Duties in all their Relations because now their Inferiours will be able to discover their failings having learned their Duties in such Relations when God shall call them to them 4. This way they may fit and prepare their children and servants to be Materials of new Families as Husbands or Wives according to their Sexe to be Parents or Masters being already furnished with the knowledg of the Duties of those new Relations 5. And lastly make them Instrumentall and serviceable to the publick good as good Neighbours in Townes good Members of Churches good Subjects in the State and some of them good Officers in Church or State For that Rule of the Apostle here holds well He that cannot rule his own Family how shall he govern the Church or Common-wealth 1. Tim. 3.4 5. One thing more and I have done Because Duties will not easily goe down or be digested if they be not manifested to be imposed by Divine Authority I have following the Reverent Doctor herein backed the most of them by Texts of Scripture which held out either expresse Commands or eminent Examples of holy Saints the best comments upon commands or noted Extravagances of wicked men against the rule of the Word which in opening and explaining of the Answers are to be taken notice of and applied by the chief Housholder I need say no more to perswade the Governours of Families to set upon the exercise and practice of these Directions than what I have said in the Sermon I onely adde this short Ejaculation for them and theirs That the God of all grace would blesse and prosper them to the Glory of his Name the Honour of Religion the publick Good of Church and State and to the furthering of their comfort here and eternall Salvation and glory hereafter Amen FAMILY REFORMATION Promoted Joshua 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. THere hath been of late all know much talke but God knowes more need of a general Reformation The foundations of Church State are out of course and unlesse God put under his hand very like to come to confusion The common mistake and mischief is that every man almost complains but few or none do help to amend what is amisse in themselves or others It were the readiest as first and chiefest way to reform all for every one to mend one that is himselfe For a Family being made up of single persons in several Relations Townes or Congregations of many Families and the whole Nation of Townes or Congregations if single persons were but as they should be and as in serious thoughts they acknowledge they ought to be that is Religiously good the whole body of Church or State must needs be so But it is not so easie a matter to reforme one man I meane to perswade him to reforme himselfe while some for ignorance cannot others for the Impetuousnesse of their lusts will not and others out of selfe-conceite think they need not Reforme unlesse there be some other Superiour and Superintendent power to do it we are not like in hast to see a Reformation There are therefore blessed be God some other means left us to effect this work First the Govornours of families Secondly Officers in the Church And thirdly Magistrates in the State If Governours of families would but reforme their own Relations the Church would have little use of her Discipline and the State lesse of Execution of Justice If on the other side Townes or Congregations be loose and profane the Nation consisting of them cannot be good or happy if Families be wicked and licentious Townes and Parishes consisting of them must needs be naught And if single persons be and in spight of houshold discipline will be vitious Families consisting of such must necessarily be bad and consequently all very bad The Reformation then of all should first begin with Single persons if they refuse the Housholder must undertake
the cure In his default the Officers of the Church must make supply by their discipline And in their neglect either the civil Magistrate must reforme both Church and Families and single persons or expect nothing but ruine and destruction of all Now seeing as was said it is not possible or not very probable for us Ministers to perswade every single person to a serious and through Reformation of himselfe It remaines to us in the second place to try how far we can prevaile with chief Housholders to act their part to make their Families good so all good who have both power in their hands and all good reason to move them thereunto as shall appear hereafter For this purpose I have chosen this text as a worthy Instance of an Exemplary Resolution in a great and good Housholder that renowned Joshua by name Who leaving others to their choice for himselfe and family undertakes to be Religious Doe you sayes he as you please chuse what Gods you will serve But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Parts of the text In the words we may without much curiosity of Division consider these general parts 1. The Epitome of all Religion expressed in these words To serve the Lord which is the summe of both Tables of the Law especially of the first 2. Joshuahs Resolution to serve the Lord wherein we have three particulars 1. His appropriation of it to himselfe As for me I will serve the Lord. 2. The extension of his Religion to his family As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. 3. The Order of it First himselfe will be Religious and then his house I and my house c. 1. For the first The service of God to be the sum of all Religion 1 The Epitome of Religion it appears by those places of Scripture where true Religion is commanded Exod. 23 25. Ye shall serve the Lord your God To serve God Deut. 10.12 What doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to serve him with all thy heart and all thy soul How To keep the Commandements of the Lord c. That is all his Commandements of both Tables Some there are who distinguish Worship and Service making Worship the object of the first Table and Service of the second but without any ground of Scripture for that holds out Service as more general and including Worship as a more special part of Gods Service as is evident in the texts above cited and many more like unto them We may better distinguish the Service of God into Imediate which is properly called Worship in the fiâ—st Table and Mediate by men which is called Righteousnesse in the second Table for though we do not properly worship God by doing the works of righteousnesse yet are we said to serve God in doing to men the duties of the second Table As the Apostle sayes of servants That in obeying their Masters they serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.24 We note this because it will be of use anone 2 Joshua's Resolution 2. For the particulars of the second part Joshuahs resolution many things might be obseved but we shall wave them all and look at him onely as an Housholder with Relation to his family I and my house will serve the Lord and draw out this one Observation That it is the property Observation and duty of a good Housholder to provide and taks care that all under his charge doe serve the Lord that is be religious and righteous the one towards God the other towards men 1 Proved We shall first confirme it and then apply it confirme it 1. In general 1 In general by examples And here we have first the commended example of Abraham the father of the faithful by God himselfe Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement c. Which also he practised Gen. 14.14 where we heare of his trained or instructed catechised servants And Gen. 17.23 being entered into Covenant himselfe and circumcised he circumcised the same day Ishmael his sonne and all that were borne in his house Gen. 35.2 Jacob purgeth his family and bought with money This Family Religion or Reformation is graciously and couragiously resolved on by David Psal 101.2 c. I will behave my selfe wisely in a perfect way I will walke within my house with a perfect heart c. And marke his wisdom both in the constitution and ordering of his Family ver 3. I will set no wicked thing a thing of Belial the discription of a wicked person before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside c. I will not know a wicked person ver 4. as if said None such shall come into my house He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house or if he doe unawares come in he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight ver 7. Who then shall serve him he that will serve God with him Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the Land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way as I resolved to do ver 2. he shall serve me Hence it is observable in the New Testament that as a proper consequence of the Housholders conversion when any such believed his Family believed with him Joh. 4.53 it s said of that Nobleman Himselfe believed and his whole house So Acts 16.15 Lydia was converted baptized and her houshold and ver 33. the Jaylor was baptized he and all his as if they had learn'd Joshuahs resolution As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. This for the general 2 Specially in two Respects 2. We shall look more specially and particularly at those Duties which concern the good Housholder to performe and practice and that with Respect either to his Relations or to the particular Services required in the Family 1 To the several Relations in the Family As 1. In respect to his several Relations in the Family which oftentimes if not alwayes are of three sorts 1. As anâ— Husband to a wife 2. As a Parent to children 3. As a Master to servants The same person may stand in this threefold Relation and in all these the Duty lies upon him to see that all under his charge do serve the Lord See the particulars 1. As an Husband to a Wife 1 As an Husband to a Wife And the Apostle hath instructed him in that 1 Pet. 3.7 Likewise ye Husbands dwell with them your wives according to knowledge c. That is being able and ready to instruct and guide them in the service and wayes of God This is implied also 1 Cor. 14.35 If wives will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at home and ver 34. they are commanded obedience as also saith the Law which implyes he hath power to command them
may make their Families religious with themselves 1. Begin at home 1. Begin at home and make themselves examples to their Families as Joshua here observes the right order I first and then my house shall serve the Lord Inferiours look more at what Superiours doe then what they say The wickednesse of the Heathens was from the lewdnesse of their gods and goddesses as the Poets described them Jupâ—ter adulterous Venus a wanton Bacchus a revelling drunkard c. Who will care to be better then his God what servant will be more religious than his Master or maid than her Lady or Mistresse Nay it is a shame to a Parent or Master to have his children or servants better then himself And this is the reason why dissolute and wicked Masters will not endure religious servants because their life is a real reproof Solomons experience tells us When a Ruler of House or Town or Nation hearkens to lyes all his servants are wicked Pro 29.12 It 's true in other vices of Superiours when they are Drunkards Vnchast Profane their servants are so too or will quickly be made such If you would have your families in all Relations religious and holy be you holy in all manner of conversation if you be wicked it s in vain to offer to make them good It will be said Physitian heal thy self Nothing either silences or duls the edg of instructions reproofs corrections more then to hear Thou that teachest another teachest thou not thy selfe Thou that sayest thy Wife Childe Servant should not commit Adultery be drunk be a profaner of the Sabbath lye swear c. dost thou do all or any of these things As one candle cannot light another if it selfe be out so nor shall an housholder inform or inflame his family with the love of God and godliness if himselfe want it or reforme those that walk disorderly if himselfe need Reformation Reformation never sticks but as they say in fleying of a beast at the Head When one told Sigismund the Emperour Let the Reformation begin from the Minorites a kind of Fryars No sayes he if ever it be done it must begin at the Majorites We heard afore when the chief Housholder was converted believâ—d all his house believed also 2. Look to the constitution of the Family 2. Look well to the constitution of your Families as some say of Churches the house being to be a lesser Church that they be at least visible Saints that is apparently religious though perhaps secret hypocrites That is look well when you first set up a family whom you admit into that society Especially for a wife servants for Children cannot be chosen but given as a gift from God If in choice of a Wife men look either onely or chiefly at Beauty Parentage Portion it matters not for Râ—ligion if they be vexed with an ill piece of Housholdstuffe they may thank themselves and make the Reformation of the Family very difficult if not impossible When the Husband shall call to prayers and the Wife to playing Carding Dice what hope of Reformation or Religion there When Mical shall scâ—ffe at Davids devotion what can be expected that 's good Woe be to him that hath a Philistine in his bosome as Sampson had So if in choice of a servant men shall look onely at their own service for such an imployment never care for the Religion or godlinesse of that servant the lesse of that the better is it any wonder they complaine of ill servants and bad services can you look they should be faithfull to you when they and you are unfaithful to God Mark and imitate Davids choice Psalm 101.4 I will not know a wicked person v. 6. Mine eyes shall bee upon the faithful that they may dwell with me c. 3. Set up Religion in earnest 3. Set up and keep up Family Religion in earnest and not in formality only Instruction Catechising Reading of the word praying sanctification of the Sabbath c. in your selves and yours And resolve to exercise and execute Family-discipline upon those that are incorrigible If admonition reproofe correction will not amend them proceed to the censure of houshold Excomunication the house being a lesser Church So David resolved Psal 10.4 5 7. A froward heart shall depart from me He that privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight in my house Let no Swearer Drunkard Vnclean person c. dwel or tarry in your houses Tell them As for me and my house we will serve the Lord if you will not serve the Lord with me you shall not serve me 4. Keep out as much as you can all wicked Companions from your houses 4. Keep out It s not possible to keep Religion up in your Families in power and purity when Swearers Drunkards c Atheists and Scorners of godlinesse may have entertainment and countenance therein These will corrupt your children and servants and well if not your wives These will scoffe you out of your Religion or coole and quench your devotion Prayers and Reading c must bee sometimes intermitted to gratifie them Sabbaths must be profaned for their sakes Say then you Masters of houses Away from me ye wicked I will keep the commandements of my God even Strangers of old were to be kept from profaning of the Sabbath as in the fourth Commandement the stranger that is within thy gates or if not to be turned out of doores out of the gates Nehem. 13.17 21. If they will not observe the religious services of the house nor goe with you to Gods house let them not lodge in your houses Say then peremptorily say and hold it As for you doe as you think good be wicked profane c. it is like you But as for me and my house we wâ—ll serve the Lord. Lastly to conclude all Here might have been added a short exhortation to all sorts of Inferiours in the Family relations Inferiors to submit to this way as wives children servants to submit to this Religious Ordering or Reformation by the Governour of the house If he must necessarily command they ought conscientiously to obey that so the family Town Church State may be happily reformed and blessed Chapter 1. The Duties of Children to their Parents Col. 3.20 Children obey your Parents in all things for that is well pleasing to the Lord. Q. WHat are the parts of this Text A. Three 1. A duty Obey your parents 2. The extent of it in all things 3. The reason or motive For this is well pleasing to the Lord. Q. What is meant by children and Parents A. By children are especially meant such as proceed by natural generation by Parents natural Parents both father and mother Q. What are the grounds of childrens duties to Parents contra 2 Tim. 3.3 A. A mixture of love and fear love from the affections of Parents to them and fear from the authority of
health Math. 7.9 19. Gen. 37.3 Zech. 8.5 Joh. 4.47 2. Nurturing them with good manners Prov. 22.6 Levit. 19.32 Prov. 25.6 Luk. 14.8 and in some honest Calling Gan. 4.2 and 37.12 Exod. 2.16 c. 2. At their spiritual good in admonition of the Lord Deut. 4.9 Gen. 18.19 Prov. 4.4 2 Tim. 1.5 In reading the word 2 Tim. 3.15 Catechising Deut. 6.7 and by an exemplary life Josh 22.15 Q. what are the meanes of Nurture A. 1. Frequent admonition to fasten their instructions Deut. 6.7 wheting them 2. Correction both in words of reproofe Prov. 6. 23. and 15.32 and in stripes if needful Prov. 22.15 and 23.13 14. Q. What duties do Parents owe to children at riper age past childhood A. 1. Provision of fit callings as afore 2. Provision of fit matches in marriage as Abraham and Isacc did for theirs both which require preparation of a Stock and Portion Q. What are the duties of Parents at the time of their death A. 1. Good counsel precepts directions as Isaac and Jacob did 2. Faithful prayers and blessings of them commending them into the hands of God 3. Commending them to some faithful friend to oversee them and supply their losse Esth 2.15 4. To settle their estate by Will to prevent divisions amongst children Isa 38.1 Q. Are there not some besides natural Parents that owe duty to children A. Yes those that are in stead of Parents which are as afore fathers or mothers in Law guardians and tutors or scoolmasters Q. What duties do fathers and mothers in Law owe to children A. The same for the most part that natural Parents owe to them Luk. 2.48 Exod. 18.1 Ruth 3.1 Q. What reason is there for this A. 1. Marriage making man and wife one flesh they ought to love each others children as part of themselves 2. It 's a signe of entire love to each other Love me and love my childe c. 3. It 's a special means to preserve love betwixt them Q. What duties do Guardians owe to the children entrusted with them A. The same some few excepted that natural Parents owe them Esth 2 7 11 20 22. and 4.13 1 Tim. 5.8 Q. What are the special duties A. 1. To look carefully to their education 2. To preserve their patrimony c. Q. What is the duty of Tutors c A. 1. To instruct them well in Piety or Religion 2. In learning 3. In good manners Chapter 3. The Duties of Servants to their Masters Eph. 6.5 Col. 3.22 Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh not with eye-service c Q. WHat are the particulars of these Texts A. Four 1. The kindes of their duties 2. The manner 3. The extent 4. the motives Q. What are the kindes of servants duties A. Two Inward and outward Q. What are the inward A. 1. In judgement to he perswaded of their Masters Superiority over them 2. In a special affâ—ction of feare not a slavish but reverential feare counting them worthy of all honour Mal. 1.6 Eph. 6.5 1 Pet. 2.18 Q. What are their outward duties A. Two Reverence and Obedience Q. Wherein appeares their Reverence A. 1. In speech 2. In their carriage Q. How in their speech A. 1. In forbearing to speak in their presence attending to what they say 2. In ordering their speech aright when they do speak where their words must be 1. Reverent giving their titles Lord Master c. 2. Few 3. Meek and humble 4. Seasonable Mark 4.10 5 Ready to answer Job 19.16 6 True without lying 7. Good of them in absence as contrarily Ziba of his Master 2 Sam. 16.3 Q How in their carriage A. 1. By obeysance 2. Standing before them 3. Heads uncovered 4. Sober and modest countenance 5. Modesty of apparel sutable to their estate and place Q. What are the parts of their obedience A. 1. Negative or passive to forbear what is forbidden or denied them as 1. Not to goe when and whether they list 2. Nor doe their own but their Masters businesse 3. Nor dispose of their goods without leave Prov. 31.15 Exod. 21.4 4. Nor marry without their consent 5. Nor goe away before their time expired 2. Affirmative or Active and that expressed 1. In doing their commands Luke 17.7 8. 2. In hearkning to their instructions both Religious and Civil 3 By patient bearing their reproofes or corrections 1 Pet. 2.18 though unjust Tit. 2.9 with speedy amendment Prov 27.22 Q. In what manner must all their duties be performed A. 1. In singlenesse of heart Col. 3.22 and heartily v. 23. or from the heart not with eye-service or as men-pleasers as Geheri c. 2. In conscience as fearing God as unto Christ as serving the Lord Christ Eph. 6. 3. With good will which implyes four things 1. Cheerfulnesse 2. Quicknesse or readinesse 3. Diligence and activenesse in it 4. Faithfulnesse 1 Cor. 4.1 Tit. 2.10 In respect of 1. Their Masters goods both in keeping them as Jacob and increasing them as they that had the Tallents contra Tit. 2.20 2. Their businesses dispatching them well as Gen. 24.2 12 26 33.56 3. Their secrets especially their infirmities by concealing them Jerem. 38.27 4. Good example to their fellowes to make them faithful diligent c. contra Math. 24.48 49. 5. Loving and careful of their children to procure their good of soul and body Q. What is the extent of their obedience A. In all things that is in all lawful things in the Lord to bring their judgement to their Masters in all indifferent things For which end let them chuse to serve Religious Masters Q. What are the motives used to perswade servants to doe their duties A. 1. The place of a Master he stands in Christs stead and so Christ is served or neglected in him 2. The honour of their own place and condition they are Christs servants and freemen 1. Cor. 7.22 3. The Recompence of their service from God Col. 3.24 Q. What is that Recompence A. Reward or punishment Q. What reward is promised to them A. 1. Temporal many blessings First from their Masters as Joseph Mordecai c. 2. From strangers that behold their good service 3. He will bless their labours when they come to deal for themselves Gen. 43.23 as he did Jacob. 4. And give them such good servants as they have been 2. Eternal of the Lord receive the reward of inheritance with their Masters verse 24. Q. What punishment is threatned A. The contrary to the Reward Temporal sending them hard Masters or bad servants when they are Masters or curse their labours And eternal v. 25. He that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong he hath done Q. Are there any other motives A. Yes 1. If their Masters reward them not God will if they wrong them God will right them upon their Masters He that doth wrong though a Master shall receive for the wrong he hath done No respect of persons with God 2. By being good servants they shall
for one another but joyntly with one another or together Q. What must they pray for together A. 1. That they may be one spirit as one flesh 2. That this Ordiance may be sanctified to them 3. That if God please they may have children comely wise gracious and heires of salvation 4. A competency to bring them up 5. For graces wanting or weak in themselves Q. What good must they promote in each other A. 1. Of their soules 1 Cor. 7.16 1 Pet. 3.1 7 both for conversion and edification and if fallen restoring one another 1 Thes 5.11 Levit. 19.17 2. Of their bodies in health and in sicknesse as mutual helpers Gen. 27.14 3. Of their good name Matth. 1.19 Prov. 22.1 both preserving it and preventing ill reports 4. Of their goods or estate Prov 31 12. Q. What common duties concern them in regard of others A. They respect the Family or others Q. What concerns them joyntly to the Family A. A joynt government of it each to be helpful in overseeing the children servants and affairs thereof The Husband chiefly without doors the Wife within 1 Tim. 5.14 Prov. 31.11 c. Q. What Duties respect both in regard of strangers A. 1. An hospitable intertainment Gen. 18.6 7. c. 2. Relieving the poor Nehem. 8.10 Prov. 31.20 Thus farre the duties common to both the particular duties of each party follow Chapter 6. The Duties of Wives to their Husbands Col. 3.18 Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Q. WHat are the parts of this Text A. Three 1. Their subjection commanded wives submit your selves to your husbands 2. The motive or reason of it As it is fit 3 The rule or direction in the Lord. Q. Why doth the Apostle begin first with Husbands and Wives A. 1 Bâ—cause man and wife were the first couple in the World before there were Parents and children or Masters and servants 2 Because they are the chiefe of the Family and rule of all the rest if they be not good husband and wife they will never be good Parents nor good Masters 3 Because if they neglect their duties to each other nothing goes well in the family the rest will be naught by their example Q. Why doth the Apostle in every Relation begin first with the Inferiour A. 1. Because inferiours are most unwilling to undergoe their burdens 2. To obey well is the best way to learn to rule well They prove best Superiours that are best Inferiours 3. It 's most for their own ease because as they are weakest so like to feele the smart of it Due obedience will move Superiours to be kinde to them Q. Why amongst Inferiours doth he first begin with Wives A. 1. To shew the wives inferiority to her husbands as children to Parents c. 2. Wives were the first on whom subjection waâ— laid as instrumental to sin 3. The wives example if good is very prevolent to the rest to do their duties 4. They most unwilling to yeeld subjection by reason of the little distance from and nearer Union with their Husbands Q. What is the maine duty of the Wife A. Subjection or submission to her husband Gen. 3.16 Q. Wherein doth that subjection consist A. In these two things 1. An acknowledgement of his Superiority over her 2. In her respect to him as her Superiour Q. How doth it appear that her Husband is her Superiour A. 1. God hath given it to him Gen. 3.16 2. Nature teaches it in the weakenesse of all Females 1 Pet. 3.7 The weaker vessel and so inferiour to the Males 3. His Titles imply superiority as Lord 1 Pet. 3.6 Guide Prov. 2.17 Head 1 Cor. 11.3 4. He represents Christ she the Church Eph. 5.23 5. Woman was made for the Man not the Man for the Woman Gen. 2.18 1 Cor. 11.8 9. Q. What reason is there of this acknowledgment A. Because this is the ground of all true subjection and obedience as to the Ordinance of God Q. Wherein stands her respect to him A. In two things Reverence and Obedience Q. What is her reverence to him A. Inward or outward Q. What is her inward Reverence A. An high esteeme of him for his place sake as her Lord and Head by the Ordinance of God which is called feare 1 Pet. 3.2 and Reverence Eph. 5. last a reverential feare Q. Whereby is that feare manifested A. 1 By her care to please him 1 Cor. 7.34 2 By her joy in pleasing him Pro. 31.12 3 By her grief in offending him Q. Whereby is her outward fear or reverence discovered A. By her behaviour and speech Q. What must her behaviour to him be A. 1 With gravity in a sober carriage 1 Tim. 3.11 2 Meeknesse or mildness in a cleare and amiable countenance 3 Courtesie on all occasions 4. Modesty in Apparrel fitting for his estate and place Q. How must she order her speech A. She must order it aright both in his presence and absence How in his presence A. 1. Her words must be few Contrary Pro. 7.19 rather with silence than much talking 1 Tim. 2.12 2. Reverent giving him his due Titles of Lord or Husband 1 Pet. 3.6 3. Meek from a quiet spirit 1 Pet. 3.4 2 Kin. 4.10 22. Q. How in his absence A. Speaking of him with all due respect as her Superiour Gen. 18 1â— Q. Wherein consists her obedience A. It is either Passive or Active Q. Whereby is her Passive obedience manifested A. In forbearing to dispose of the affairs of the family against his minde or without his consent Gen. 16.5 6. and 21.10 and 2 Kin. 4.10 22. Q. May the Wife do nothing without his consent A. Yes in three cases 1. In case of Impotency as when he is sick or distracted c. 2. Of impossibility when far absent 3. Of allowance manifested two wayes 1. Generally by resignation of all to her Prov. 31.10 11. 2. Particularly in some things expresly or by silence and connivence Q. How doth this appear her duty A. 1 by that Law Gen. 3.16 2 By example of the good Shunamite 2 Kings 4.9 3 From an Husbands power to make void her vowes Num. 30.7 13. Q. Wherein consists her Active obedience A. In obeying his commands and bearing his reproofes Q. Wherein appears her obedience to his commands A. 1 In cohabitation following him whether God by his providence calls him Gen. 31.16 1 Cor. 4.5 1 Pet. 3.7 2 Coming to him when sent for as Jacobs wives did Gen. 31.4 contra Esth 1.17 3 Doing what is required of her as Sarah Gen. 18.6 and Jeroboams wife 1 Kings 14 2. Q. How must she beare his Reproofes A. 1 If unjust yet with patience 2 If just though sharp with meeknesse Gen. 33.1 3 With readinesse to amend what was done amisse Gen. 35.2 4. Q. What reason gives the Apostle to enforce these duties A. Because it is fit to do so Q What meanes that fitnesse A. 1 Decency or comlinesse So it is
to know and serve God How else can an Husband say as Joshua I and my house will serve the Lord when one principal party is at liberty to serve the Devil without controle 2 As a father to children 2. As a Father or in his death or absence a Mother unto children The Scripture is expresse for this and full Deut. 6.7 8. These words which I command thee shall be in thine heart And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children and thou shalt talke of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up The same is repeated again to note the excellency and necessity and common neglect of this duty Deut. 11.18 with this addition in both places Thou shalt write them upon the dooreposts of thy house and upon thy gates to make them know and remember them the better So Pro. 22.6 Train up a childe in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it The New Testament speaks the same language Eph 6 And ye Parents bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 3. As a Master to servants 3 As a Master to servants Abrahams example is here recorded for imitation He will command his houshold as well as his children that is his servants and they shall keep the way of the Lord c. That Psal 101. is Davids profession for ordering his servants He will have all his servants faithful and religious or make them such or else eject and turn them out of doores The Masters of families Exod. 12.44 were to see that their servants did eat the Passeover and did sanctifie the Sabbath Exod. 20. in the fourth Commandâ—â—ent Thus in respect to his Relations 2 To the kinds of service of God 2. In respect to the several kinds of Services of God to be maintained in the Family and they are as we said of two sorts 1 Immediate in the first Table 1. Immediate service of God in the first Table of the law called specially Worship and that according to the four Commandments thereof 1. To know feare love trust delight in God required in the first Commandement 2. To cause them to know and attend upon all instituted Ordinances of worship as Prayers Reading hearing the word Grace Thanksgiving at Meales Sacraments c 3. To Reverence Gods Name in not taking it in vain and reverent using of all his Ordinances and Creatures 4. To sanctifie his Sabbath These the chief Housholder is to take care of in all in his Family as the places afore-cited manifest 2. Mediate Service 2 Mediate in the second is that which at second-hand redounds to God by serving of men according to the Commandements of the second Table Teaching them to be obedient to Superiours to be meek quiet peaceable To be chast and temperate To be just and righteous in their dealings To be true and faithful in their words And to be moderate in their desires contented with their own estate c. In doing these things men are said by reflexion and at last result to serve God as is clearely spoken of servants Col. 3.24 and Eph. 6.6 Not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart And ver 7. With good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men God is pleased to esteem himselfe served and worshipped in faithfull performance of the works of our callings and duties of the second Table to our neighbour as well as in our Immediate worship of himselfe in the first Table 3. By Reason Thus have we both explained and confirmed the Doctrine by light and proofes of Scripture we shall adde the light and strength of Reason 1. He is Gods Deputy 1. The chief Housholder is in his family Gods Deputy or Vice-roy yea a God to his Wife children and servants as Moses was to Aaron Exod. 4.16 Liberis suis Pater Dei vice est Greg. Naz. And therefore to manage his Authority for God in promoting his service in the little World or Kingdom of his own House He hath Gods Titles of Father and Lord put upon him and so the Supreame power in the family to command all his subjects for so they are in a sense for God As was said of Abraham he will command his Houshold c. He is also called the Head of the Family though chiefly of his wife to oversee and guide the body that little Domestical body 2. The Chief housholder Christian is in Christs stead 2 In Christ stead in all his offices As to his family And hence it is said of dutiful servants that in serving their Masters they serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.24 whose Deputies Masters are to them Whereupon they are invested with all his Offices as every good Christian is to himselfe Rev. 1.6 1 Pet. 2. of Prophet Priest and King These three Offices met all in one man at the beginning as in Adam to be sure he was all these to his Family afterwards they were severed and distributed into several persons one a Prophet another a Priest another a King Sometimes two of them met in one person a Priest a King as Melchisedeck a Prophet and a Priest as Samuel a Prophet and a King as David But they never met all in one person till Christ the Second Adam was anointed above his fellowes and recovered that which the first Adam lost And this Oyntment descended to the skirts of his garments the meanest of his Members but especially to Houshlders as their primitive right to be in one person a Prophet a Priest and a King to his Family Touch but the particulars 1. A Prophet 1. A Prophet to teach and instruct his Houshold Deut. 6.6 Thou shalt diligently teach them c. Eph. 6.6 Every Housholder is a Preacher to his own family a Minister in a sense to read and expound with modesty the word of God to Catechise and instruct his wife children servants 2. A Priest 2 A Priest to offâ—r Sacrifice for them and with them as Job did for his Both propitiatory sacrifice after a sort that is praying for pardon of their sins and for grace and Peace-offerings or Eucharistical Sacrifices of Praises and Thanksgiving for them and with them as for himselfe 1 Pet. 2.9 Ye are a royal Priest-hood that ye should shew forth the praises of him Heb. 13.15 who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvelous light 3. A King 3. A King to rule and command as well as to protect his family Abraham will command his Houshold c. And the Coercive and correcting power over his family argues his authority to be King-like The very Heathens acknowledged this truth by the light of Nature Eph. 1. last That every man should beare rule in his own house It is spoken with respect to the Wife
but will much more extend to children and servants There is a kinde of Civil judicature erected in the Family a power to examine try censure punish and eject offenders Gen. 21.10 Cast out the Bondwoman with her sonne And this houshold discipline David resolves to exercise in his house Psal 101. either to keep out or cast out such as are wicked and incorrigible This of the second Reason 3. Every chief housholder hath Curam animarum 3. He hath the cure of souls the charge of the souls of his family not properly pastoral but very like it He must give an account of the soules of his Wife Children Servants as well as the Magistrate of the souls of his Subjects Ezek. 34.10 or the Minister of the soules of his people Ezek. 2.18 It concerns him therefore very nearely to endeavour to make them Religious which is the onely way to save their soules 4. His house is a lesser Church 4. Every Christians house should be a lesser Church as the Church is called the House of God Hence we read of a Church in a house Rom. 16.5 The Church which is in the house of Aquila and Priscila Philem. ver 2. The Church in thy house Whether it were because the Congregation did assemble in their houses having at that time no publick place of meeting or that in their houses there were enough to make a little Church as some limite the number at lest to seven or whether their houses were so ordered for Religion that they seemâ—d to be lesser Churches it is not material to inquire Of that famous Emperours house Constantine it is reported by Eusebius that the exercises of Religion were so ordered in it that it differed little from a Church There were Prayers morning and evening reading of the word Catechising Singing of Psalmes all but Sacraments and Preaching as in the Church And to use St. Chrysostomes words Where there are in a house Prayers and Singing of Psalmes Tom. 1. pag. 6.11 l. 19. c in Psal 41. and reading of the Prophets c. a man should not much mistake in calling such a meeting or assembly a Church And this service of God in the family he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good Liturgie worship of God And besides there is or should be exercised a Church-like Discipline even a lesser Excommunication of refractorie offenders as David professes he would deal with wicked proud deceitfull lying servants Psal 101. If by instruction admonition correction he could not reclaim them he would Excommunicate cast them out of the Church in his house This may suffice for confirmation of the point 2 Applied We now come to the Application of all by Uses and Inferences therefrom 1 To check the rashnesse of young people 1. To consider and bewaile the rashnesse of many young ones who rush upon Family Relations and never know or weigh how fit or unfit they are to discharge the Duties of those Relations They must be married forsooth in all the hast there 's one Relation then come children perhaps before the lawful time there 's another And then servants must be had to attend them and theirs that 's a third Relation but know not what the duties of any of those relations are nor the charge of those souls under their Inspection While a man is single he hath care almost of none but his own soul and much liberty to study how to serve and please God 1 Cor. 7.34 But when once he hath a family made up of these three relations his duties are multiplied with them and now he must take care of the Soules of wife children servants and yet scarce knows how to take care of his own soul Little do they consider that the chief housholder must be a Prophet to teach a Priest to pray with and for a King to rule his own family when they cannot teach pray or rule themselves Let this consideration check and coole the heat and heady rashnesse of younger people 2 It shews the iniquity of Toleration 2. This may serve to discover the iniquity of that so much cal'd for cursed Toleration of all Religions falsly called Liberty of Conscience The mischiefes of it are so many and so great that they cannot be aforehand imagined Besides the publick disturbance of the peace by different fractions and factions c. The natural or unnatural consequences of such a Toleration the divisions in families will be as many almost as there are persons and the wisest Housholder cannot possibly redresse it But the maine is this that it will prove impossible for the most pious Housholder to do his duty in making his Family Religious and to serve God with him in all his relations when as he hath no coercive power to resolve with Joshua I and my house will serve the Lord. Suppose which experience daily confirmes to be true The Housholder be a godly zealous Protestant his Wife an Independent the children Anabaptists some one or more of the servants Papists c. How is it possible the Superiour should unite all these into a Church in his house to serve God if a toleration for all Religions be granted Some will pretend they goe to serve God in their own way and assemblies and perhaps goe to serve the Devil in the Stewes or Taverne How shall the Housholder joyne with his family wife children servants in prayers reading hearing Sacraments sanctification of the Sabbath by all together which is charged upon him in the fourth Commandement when they not onely detest his way of serving God but his prayers reading Sabbaths c. and perhaps himselfe different affections commonly arising from differing opinions and judgements Let the wise consider it 3 Complaint of many Housholders 3. Here 's matter of just complaint of many of most Housholders who are discovered to be little Religious themselves by the profanenesse and loosnesse of their Family wives children servants In that place afore cited Deut. 6.6 7. its made a sign of a man that is godly and religious that hath Gods words in his heart that he endeavours to make his family such These words that I command thee shall be in thine heart And thou shalt teach them to thy children c. Contrarily ignorance of God and irreligion in their families are joyn'd together Jer. 10.25 and both of them Characters of a nation or family lying under the wrath of God and subject to his curse and destruction Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the families that call not on thy Name Much complaining there is every where of the badnesse of servants children wives as if they were corrupted abroad when the truth is they are either corrupted or neglected at home for want of instruction or houshold discipline or good example of the chief and Head of the family This might be exemplified in all the Relations of the family and in all the Services of God