was seen to carry him away But herein two extreams are carefully to be avoided viz. Lenity and Severity As Parents ought not to bee too indulgent towards their children which was Elies fault for which sore judgements befell both him and his children So neither should they be too severe in correcting their children as some are having no respect either to the fault age or disposition of their children Therefore the Apostle giveth this dehortation unto Parents Not to provoke their children unto wrath VI. Another duty is To bring up their children in some honest Calling it being the ordinary means as to prevent idleness which is the bane of youth so to inable them to live in the world and to be serviceable to the Kingdome wherein they live In the choice of a Calling respect should be had as to the childrens ability and fitness so to their disposition and inclination carefully observing to what Callings they are most disposed VII To provide fit Matches and Marriages for their children It being the means the Lord hath sanctified for the keeping their bodies chast and undefiled This the Lord gave in commandement to his people of old by his Prophet Ieremy saying Take Wives to your Sons and give your Daughters to Husbands In the choice of an Husband or Wife the Parents ought to have greater respect to piety and prudence thâ—n to wealth and riches for thereby shall they procure much happiness to their children in their Marriages CHAP. XXVII Of Childrens Duties HAving shewed the Duties of Parents towards their Children I come now to shew the Duties of Children in reference to their Parents which may bee brought to three heads viz. 1 Obedience 2 Honour 3 Gratitude I. Obedience This is often pressed in Scripture as the main and principal duty of Children in reference towards their Parents Their Obedience ought to bee expressed 1 By a cheerful yeelding to their Precepts and Commands readily doing what they require of them and that for conscience sake even to the command of God who requireth this duty at their hands for saith the Apostle Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. And again Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right In the former place it is in all things In the latter it is in the Lord whereby is implied that Childrens Obedience must be in all things honest and lawful agreeable to the Word of God so that if their Parents should command them to do any thing contrary to the Word of God they must therein obey God and not their Parents For children are no further bound to obey their earthly Parents than may stand with obedience to God their heavenly Father 2 Children ought to express their obedience to their Parents in hearkning to their good instructions It being the duty of Parents to instruct their children it must needs be the duty of children to hearken unto and to obey their good instructions which Solomon much presseth upon children My Son saith hee hear the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother Where hee doth not only command children to obey the wholesome instructions of their Fathers but doth likewise infinuate that they should not sleight and reject the advice of a Mother because of the weakness of her sex As children ought to hearken to the good instruction of their Parents in all things so more especially in two things 1 In the choice of their Callings 2 In the choice of their Matches 1 The former is commended in the Scripture by the approved practice of godly children as of Iacob Samuel David and others And truly in regard that Parents are the means of bringing up their children in the world till they are fit for Callings and that not without much care and cost is it not most meet and just that their counsel and advice should be taken in the choice of their Calling and course of life And as in their Callings so likewise in their Marriages and not to marry without their consent which the very light of nature teacheth and God himself commandeth when hee layeth a charge upon Parents to give their Daughters to Husbands and to take Wives for their Sons which doth necessarily imply that children ought not to take unto themselves Wives or Husbands without especially against their Parents consent Such Marriages have by the Fathers of the Church been declared unlawful yea and to be of no force till the Parents do ratifie them And therefore such children as shall adventure to joyn themselves in Marriage without their Parents consent how can they expect a blessing from God upon them yea they have rather cause to fear the curse of God upon them and their posterity How did the curse of God fall upon Esau and his posterity because he married against the consent of his Parents taking unto himself Wives which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and Rebeckah II. Another duty which children owe unto their Parents is Honour and Reverence This the Lord in express terms requireth of all children in the fifth Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother This honour and reverence children must manifest 1 By their modest silence before their Parents not forward to speak in their presence without leave from them 2 By their humble speeches speaking unto them submissively and reverently giving them fitting titles as Father Sir and the like 3 By their respective carriage which they should shew by uncovering their heads bowing their body standing up before them with the like Ioseph though highly advanced yet when hee appeared before his Father with his two Sons the text saith Hee bowed himself with his face to the earth Yea though his Father was blind through age and therefore could not see what respect his Son shewed to him yet notwithstanding he bowed to the very ground And when Solomon heard of the approach of his Mother the Text saith Hee rose from the Throne to meet her and bowed himself unto her and set her at his right hand and all this in token of his reverence and to give good example unto others III. Another duty which children owe to their Parents is Gratitude a thankful requital of their love and care which the Apostle in express terms requireth of all children namely to requite their Parents for that saith hee is good and acceptable before God This requital may and ought to bee manifested seveâ—ral waies As 1 By releeving them according to their need if God give ability Iosephs practise herein is set before us as a Pattern who being in prosperity and his Father in want first sent him corn freely out of Aegypt and afterwards sent for him into Aegypt and there furnished him plentifully with corn and all other needful things insomuch that the text saith Ioseph nourished his father and brethren and all his fathers houshold with
presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his coming Accept it therefore and testifie your acceptance by reading of it and much more by a conscionable performance of the Directions contained in it I think they will carry their own evidence with them that they are all agreeable to the Word of God For I have not made it my business to mint new Notions but to press upon you old Truths and known duties I have drawm them up in a plain and familiar stile and Method studying rather to be profitable than accurate They are of daily use to an holy life therefore I hope you will daily peruse them They are of general use to all sorts of Christians at all times in their several places Callings conditions and relations and therefore I hope you will give the more diligent heed to them Such whose Callings and Businesses will scarce afford them leisure on the week-daies to look into such Treatises as this I do earnestly intreat them that at least on the Lord-daies after the performance of the publick duties of Piety in the Congregation and of private in their Families they would spend some time in reading a part of this book with their Family And the Lord make it abundantly useful and profitable unto you Yea the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Sepulchres London Decemb. 20. 1660. Your Affectionate though most unworthy Minister THO. GOUGE A TABLE of the particular Points contained in this TREATISE CHap. 1. Sheweth how to begin the day with God Chap. 2. Of Secret Prayer in the morning Chap. 3 Of Ejaculatory Prayers 4 Of reading the Scriptures in private 5 Of Christian watchfulnesse over our Thoughts 6 Of watchfulnesse over our Words 7 Of watchfulnesse over our Actions 8 Of watchfulnesse against Sin 9 Of our behaviour at Meals 10 Of Sports and Recreations directions concerning the same 11 Of the duties of our Callings 12 Of our behaviour in secret and directions concerning Divine Meditation 13 Of our behaviour both in good and bad company 14 Directions to the rich how to Improve their wealth to the glory of God and the good of their own souls 15 Directions to the poor shewing how to carry themselves Christian like in their low and mean estate 16 Of Christian-like carriage under reproaches 17 Of our carriage under crosses and afflictions 18 Of Dying well 19 Directions to such as visit the sick 20 Directions how to cloze the day with God 21 Of the Morality of the Sabbath with directions how to sanctify the same 23 Of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with directions for the worthy receiving thereof 23 Of the Common mutual Duties betwixt Husband and Wife 24 Of Husbands Duties to their Wives 25 Of the Duties of Wives to their Husbands 26 Of the Duties of Parents to their children 27 Of the Duties of Children to their Parents 28 Of the Duties of Masters to their servants 29 Of the Duties of Servants to their Masters 30 Of resting upon Iesus Christ alone for life and salvation Christian Directions shewing how to walk with God all the day long CHAP. I. How to begin the day with God I. AT thy first awaking in the morning consecrate unto God the freshest of thy thoughts by lifting up thine heart to him in praises and thanksgivings for that comfortable rest and refreshment hee hath vouchsafed unto thee the night past For had not the Lord been the more gracious unto thee thou mightest have slept the sleep of death yea thou mightest have awaked with hell flames about thine eaâ—s what cause therefore hast thou to blesse God as for the mercies of the night so for the renewing of his mercies with the day And then heartily beg of God his direction assistance and blessing upon thy lawfull pains and endeavours that day II. Having thus consecrated thy first awaking unto God by blessing him for the mercies of the night and for adding another day to thy life then steep thy thoughts in a serious meditation of God and of some or other of his glorious Attributes as 1 Of the infinite Purity of God who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity i. e. with the least approbation but hates all sin with a perfect hatred as being contrary to his nature A serious consideration whereof would through Gods blessing prove very effectual for the suppressing of those impure thoughts which are apt to arise from thy corrupt heart 2 Of the almighty Power of God whereby he is able to strengthen thee in all thy weaknesses to support thee under all thy trials and temptations to supply all thy wants to deliver thee out of all thy dangers to carry thee through all thy undertakings In which respect the Apostle calleth Gods Power a mighty Power and an exceeding-greatnesse of Power Ephes. 1. 19. A serious consideration whereof cannot but stir thee up as to flie unto God by Prayer in all thy wants straights and dangers so to cast thy self upon him and his mighty Power to rest and rely upon him for seasonable help succour and deliverance who never faileth those who put their trust in him 3 Of the Omnipresence of God of his continual presence about thee and with thee wheresoever thou art and whatsoever thou doest For hee is about thy bed and thy path and taketh notice of all thy actions and when no man seeth thee yet hee seeth thee before whose Tribunal thou must one day stand to give an account of all thy actions Surely it would be a special preservative against sin and a singular means to make thee watchful over all thy waies and actions if thou didst seriously consider Gods All-seeing presence about thee 4 Of the Omnisciency of God his knowing of all things even the secret thoughts of thine heart and the inward intenâ—ions of thy mind before whom all things are naked and unbowelled as the Apostle speaketh Not an ambitions worldly lustful thought in thine heart but God is privy to it And as the wise man speaketh Hee will bring every secret thing into judgement This if it were seriously considered how would it make thee watchful over thy very heart and careful to suppress all wicked lustful thoughts at their first rising and to keep thee upright and sincere in what thou doest especially in the duties of Gods worship and service as knowing there is no dissembling before God III. Call to minde what sin it is whereunto thou findest thy self most propense and with which thou art oftenest and easiliest overcome as having least power to resist it And every morning furnish thy self with the strongest Arguments thou canst against it and then bring up thine heart to a firm
measure suitably thereunto To that end observe these Directions 1 So soon as you get home withdraw your self into some secret place and there upon your knees from your heart bless God as for hâ—s manifold favours mercies and blessings so especially and above all for the fountain of all blessings the Lord Jesus Christ for his Covenant of Grace made unto you in him for adding the Sacraments as Seals to the Covenant of Grace for the strengthening of your Faith and for making you that day partakers of his blessed Sacrament and for that comfort and refreshment which you finde therein I hope you are not such beasts as to forget to return thanks to God for the food wherewith your bodies are refreshed And will you bless God for your corporal food and not for your spiritual food whereby your souls are nourished unto everlasting life Will you bless God for a crumb and not for a Christ in whom are all good things contained in a most eminent manner 2 Did you finde your hearts cheared and warmed at the Lords Supper beware of quenching that spiritual heat which was there kindled in you by a sudden falling into worldly conferences and fruitless discourses But labour to keep alive that sacred fire which you found then kindled in your hearts by prayer meditation and holy conferences for know that a sudden quenching of the Spirit will exceedingly tend to the hardening of your hearts 3 Maintain a stricter watchfulness over your selves against sin for the time to come Were your souls washed at the Sacrament with the blood of Christ from the filthy spots and stains of sin and will you sâ—on after with the Sow wallow again in the filth of sin and miâ—e of sinful filthiness Did you upon your approaching to that Ordinance cast up your sins by confession and will you now with the Dogge return to your vomit again Did you there by the eye of faith see Christ crucified for your Sins under the rites of breaking the Bread and pouring out the Wine and wil you now by a fresh committing of sin crucifie him again rather resolve and strive hence forward to crucifie your sins for which Christ was crucified to hate abhor and abandon every Sin as much as in you lieth 4 Labour to live more soberly righteously and godly in this present world More soberly towards your selves more righteously towards your Neighbours and more godly towards God As you have been made partakers of an Ordinance not common to all but peculiar to Saints so your lives should have somewhat peculiar in them which is not common to wicked men You should live convincing lives by exceeding others in holiness and in righteousness You must be more frequent and fervent in Family-duties more careful in sanctifying the Lords Day more just and honest in your dealings with men living so as you may credit your Profession and adorn the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And when you are tempted to any sin thus reason the case with your selves Was I not lately at the Lords Table and did I not there vow and promise to be more watchful against Sin and more careful to walk in the waies of godliness and shall I now step out of the way of godliness into the way of sin Thus lay your temptation to the touch-stone of your vow and try whether it bee not against it which through the blessing of God may prevent many a Sin CHAP. XXIII Of the Common mutual Duties betwixt Husband and Wife HAving shewed the general Directions which appertain to Christians as Christians I come now to the particular Duties which appertain to thee in thy several and distinct relations For it is not sufficient that thou make conscience of the general Duties of Christianity but thou must also be conscionable in the performance of the particular duties of thy several relations whereby much good is both mutually communicated one to another and received one from another Whereas the Apostle Paul in setting down the severul Duties of relations doth still bring them under three Heads viz. Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants I shall follow his Method shewing thee the duties of each of these For the Duties of Husband and Wife they may be drawn to two Heads 1 To such as are common to both 2 Such as are proper and peculiar to each severally The common and mutual Duties are these I. A loving affection of one to another I call this a mutual Duty because as the Husband is to love his Wife so the Wife is to love her Husband Love is a duty which every Christian oweth to another Love thy neighbour as thy self saith our Saviour Where by Neighbour is meant every man every woman so that we are bound to love every one even our enemies for Christs sake But the nearer any are knit together the more they are bound to this duty of love and to abound therein Now who are so nearly knit together as Husband and Wife and therefore there ought to be a mutual loving affection between them and that love which one sheweth to the other will stirre up the other to requite that love again so as there is nothing lost by love II. Outward concord and agreement This should be as farre as is possible with all men i. e. so farre as may stand with faith and a good conscience but more especially between Husband and Wife who are so nearly knit together For without concord and agreement between Husband and Wife what comfort can either find in their house The truth is every one lives more or less comfortable in his house as there is concord and agreement there And therefore saith the Wise man Better is a dinner of herbs or roots where love is than a stalled Oxe and hatred therewith And again Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith than an house full of sacrifice with strife i. e. slender fare yea a dry crust with peace and concord is more comfortable than good chear with strife and contention for that will so imbitter the sweetest Meats that a man can find little relish in them For the better preserving of concord and agreement betwixt Husband and Wife take these few Directions 1 Labour to suppress and keep down all furious Passions which doe usually occasion discord and dissention especially when one is passionate it will be the wisdom of the other to act patience and to express a spirit of meekness for when both are hot and angry together then the fire of contention is like to increase to such a flame as will not suddenly bee quenched And therefore I would commend this rule to Married persons To beware of beâ—ing both angry together but rather let one be to the other like Davids Harp to apt ease Sauls fury 2 Though the fire of contention be kindled at home yet let it not break forth into thy neighbours house but bee sure thou keep it within
of Husbands in reference to their Wives I come now to shew the Duties of Wives towards their Husbands As the main duty on the Husbands part was love so the main duty on the Wives part is subjection under which many particulars are comprised The subjection of the Wife to the Husband implieth two things 1 That she acknowledge a superiority in her Husband 2 That she put in practise such duties as doe issue and flow from the acknowledgement of that superiority I. The former is not only a duty but the ground of all other duties whatsoever for till the Wife be fully satisfied about the superiority of her Husband no duty will be performed by her as it ought Therefore Wives ought to learn this point in the first place viz. That their Husbands are their superiours which clearly appeareth 1 By the order of Creation The Man was first created and thereupon had the Birth-right 2 By the institution of God who said to the woman Thy desire shall be subject to his and he shall rule â—ver thee 3 By the names and titles given in Scripture to the Husband which doe imply a superiority in him as Lord Guide Head c. I grant indeed there is but a very little disparity and small inequality between Husband and Wife being both governours of the same Family Parents of the same Children and heirs together of the grace of life yet God having so expresly appointed subjection on the Wives part it ought to bee acknowledged II. As the Wife ought to acknowledge and yeeld a superiority in her Husband so she ought to put in practice such duties as doe issue and flow from the acknowledgement thereof which may be branched into three particulars 1 Honour This God requires of all inferiours towards their Superiours in the fifth Commandement and therefore is a duty incubent upon all Wives in reference to their Husbands who are their superiours as being their Lords Guides and Heads This honour VVives ought to express 1 By their inward esteem of their Husbands accounting them worthy of honour for their place sake because they are their Husbands whether they be richer or poorer elder or younger than selves 2 By their outward respect which they should manifest both by their reverend carriage and speech giving them such title as signifie superiority and savour of respect 2 Another Branch of the VVives subjection is Meekness which she ought to shew 1 In a quiet taking of reproof from her Husband As it is the Husbands duty to reprove his Wife upon just occasion so it is her duty to take it with all meekness and mildness and to endeavour to amend and reform what is justly reproved Yea though the Husband should chance to reprove his VVife wrongfully as even the best and wisest sometimes may doe it will bee a part of wisedome in the wife rather to take it meekly and patiently than to break forth into passionate expressions yet in such a case she may clear her own innocency and shew her Husbands mistake but if he will not beleeve her or turn away from her she ought to bear it with meekness and mildness 2 In being willing to be advised by her Husband and ready to follow his good advice yet 〈◊〉 the VVife hath a clearer sight and seeth better than her Husband what God hath commanded though she may not usurp authority over her Husband yet shee may and must in all humility perswade and advise him to that which is good And happy is that Husband if hee can see his own happiness in whose bosome the Lord hath laid so good a counsellor 3 Another Branch of the VVives subjection is Obedience and indeed this is the principal part of that subjection which the Apostle requireth of VVives to their Husbands Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands And the Apostle Peter commands this duty unto VVives by the example of Sarah who obeyed Abraham Now Sarahs obedience to Abraham was eminent in two things especially 1 In doing what he required of her for when on a sudden there came three men to Abraham and he was desirous to entertain them he bid his VVife make such and such provision with all possible speed and accordingly she did 2 In forbearing to doe any thing without his consent Though Sarah was highly provoked by Hagar who despised her Mistris yet would she not deal roughly with her much less turn her out of doors till she had her Husbands consent who said unto his wife Doe to thy Maid as it pleaseth thee In like manner should VVives manifest their obedience to their Husbands 1 In a ready and willing doing of what their Husbands require of them 2 In a forbearing to doe things which appertain to their Husbands authority without their particular or at least general consent VVhen an Husband from the experience hee hath of his VVives wisdome and faithfulness giveth liberty unto her to doe what she pleaseth in the Houshold affairs then the VVife may doe much without a particular consent from her Husband but otherwise she shall doe well to forbear unless upon good ground she is confident her Husband will not dislike the doing of such a thing For the kind of obedience which the VVife is to yeeld to the Husband the Apostle sets it down in two expressions As unto the Lord and in the Lord. The former hints unto us that the VVives obedience must be a consciencious obedience that is in obedience to God to his Ordinance and Commandement who requireth it of them so that it must be in conscience of the Ordinance of God and in obedience to his command and thus will their obedience to their Husbands be an acceptable service unto God For as they releeve Christ in the Poor who releeve them for Christs sake so those VVives obey God in their Husbands who obey them for Gods sake I mean out of conscience to the ordinance and command of God The latter expression in the Lord hints unto us that the Wives obedience must bee in all lawful commands not extending to any thing against the VVill of God so that if Husbands command any thing against the revealed VVill of God their VVives are not bound to obey them for their Husbands power is subordinate to the Power of God and the subordinate power must ever yeeld to the supream power And therefore if Wives shall out of respect to or fear of their Husbands yeeld obedience to any unlawful command doing that which is evil their Husbands command will be no good plea much less sufficient excuse for them CHAP. XXVI Of the Duties of Parents HAving shewed the Duties of Husbands and Wives I come now to shew the Duties of Parents and Children The Duties of Parents in reference to their Children are these I. To see that they bee admitted into the Church by Baptism in conven◠〈…〉 i. e. within some few daies after
they are born The Iew. vere commanded to circumcize their children on the eighth day But though Baptism succeeded in the room of Circumcision as the Apostle hinteth yet are not wee now under the Gospel strictly tied to that day notwithstanding from that command of God to the Iews wee may doubtless infer that the Children of Christians may and ought to be baptized within some few daies after they are born II. To train them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. This duty the Apostle Paul in special presseth upon Parents Yee Parents saith hee bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord q. â— Let your main care be not how to make them rich but religious how to work the sincere fear of God into their souls that as God of his infinite goodness hath made them your children by natural Generation so you should strive and indeavour to make them his Children by a godly and religious education Austin in his fifth Book of Confessions speaking of his Mother Monica saith That shee travelled with greater care and stronger paiâ— for his spiritual birth than for his natural birth And truly the like care and pains should be in all Parenâ—â— towards their Children Not thinking it sufficient that they have brought them up to some good Trade whereby they may live another day But they must likewise bring them up in the fear of God teaching them so to serve him here that they may live with him eternally in the Heavens For your better help herein take these few Directions 1 Instruct them in the Principles of Religion by teaching them some good Catechism which should be frequently if not daily performed though but a very little at once to prevent wearisomeness in your children Q. How soon should wee begin to teach our children A. When they are able to learn any thing that is evil it is high time to teach them something that is good Solomon saith when hee was young and tender his Father taught him And that his Mother did so too you may read in the last chapter of the Book of Proverbs 2 Betimes instruct them in the practical part of Christianity by calling upon them frequently to read the Scriptures daily to offer up a morning and an evening Sacrifice of prayer and praise unto God constantly to give thanks before and after meals carefully to avoid all known sins and diligently to perform every known duty and that out of conscience This the Lord commended in Abraham I know him saith God that hee will command his children and his houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement 3 Bring them with you to the House of God so soon as they can remember any thing which they hear When Ioshua read the words of the Law before the Congregation of Israel it is expresly said That the women and the little-ones were amongst the men 4 Examine your children at home of what they have heard in the publick Congregation and labour to make it more clear and plain to their understanding 5 Bee often speaking before them of the great things the Lord hath done for his Church and people both of old and in your daies This the Lord commanded the Israelitish Parents to do to their children which wee finde accordingly practised by them As children generally have good memories so they are excellent at the remembring of stories 6 Bee patterns of piety and godlâ—ness unto your children For the truth is there is great force in Examples to draw others either to good or evil And it is usually the disposition of Children to follow their Parents And therefore how doth it concern Parents to look to their waies and courses especially how they behave themselves before their children who are much inclined to follow their example Oh that all Parents would seriously think of this that the consideration hereof might reclaim them from all loose and wicked courses lest by their evil example they make their children twofold more the children of Hell than they were by nature 7 Bee sure you forget not daily to pray to God for them especially that hee would indue them with his saving sanctifying graces that as they grow in years so they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And for your incouragement know that children of many prayers seldome miscarry Parents are generally careful to lay up wealth and riches for their children oh that they would be as careful to lay up a stock of prayers for them in Heaven which will questionless prove their childrens best portion Oh that all Parents would thus indeavour to bring up their children in the fear and nurture of the Lord that as they were instruments to beget them in the flesh so they might be instruments to beget them in the Faith which is the main duty incumbent upon Parents in reference to their children III. Another duty is To provide for the bodies of their children as well as for their souls This the Apostle intimateth where hee saith If any provide not for his own and specially for those of his own house hee is worse than an Infidel viz. in this point because he by the light of nature knoweth this to be a duty And again saith the Apostle in 2 Cor. 12. 14. Children ought not to lay up for their Parents but Parents for their children as God shall bless them But yet beware of with-holding thy hand from works of charity because of many children nay rather the more children thou hast the more liberal thou oughtest to be that so the Lord may double his blessing upon thee and thine for the seed of the merciful saith the Psalmist are blessed And saith the Apostle Hee that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully IV. It is the duty of Parents to rebuke their children when they do amiss whereby you may both free your selves from the guilt of your childrens sin and prevent much evil in your children For questionless the want thereof is one special cause of so much wickedness and prophaneness in many children V. When reproof prevails not you ought to correct them for their faults This duty the Scripture often presseth upon Parents Chasten thy Son while there is hope and let not thy soul spare for his crying or as the Original properly signifieth Let not thy soul spare to his destruction Intimating that the Fathers sparing of his child may tend to his destruction or as wee use to say bring him to the Gallows So that too much lenity may prove the greatest cruelty in the issue An Antient Father in the Church relates a sad story of a youth whose usual custome it was upon auy thing that crossed him to curse and blaspheme and not being duly corrected for the same hee continued in that wicked course to his dying-day and as the story noteth the Devil
bread according to their families And it is recorded of Ruth that she did not only glean for Naomi her Mother in Law but having food given her by Boaz servants for her refreshment she reserved part thereof and gave it to her mother I have read of a Daughter whose Father being sentenced to be famished to death and thereupon none being suffered to bring him Meat she gave him suck with her own breasts How blame-worthy then yea and unnatural are such Children whose Parents being poor and themselves able to releeve them doe notwithstanding 〈◊〉 them to want things needful Saint Iohn saith That the lâ—ve of God dwelleth not in him who shutteth up his bowels of compâ—ssion from his brother How then can it dwell in that Child who shutteth up his bowels of compassion against his own Father or Mother who having not only a sufficiency but also an affluency of worldly things suffers his Parents to want necessaries 2 By loving their Parents And truly that love which Parents bear unto their Children and have manifested by bringing them up in the world should by the law of equity stirre up in Children a love to their Parents for love deserveth love 3 By concealing and covering their infirmities which will evidence the truth of their love to their Parents and procure Gods blessing upon them Shem and Iaphet we read were blessed for this because they would not behold the nakedness of their Father when being drunken he lay uncovered in his Tent and Cham for discovering and making known his Fathers nakedness was cursed of God As therefore Children would avoyd Chams curse let them carefully shun Chams Sin forbearing to blazen abroad their fathers infirmity CHAP. XXVIII Of the Duties of Masters THe last Head of Family relations is Master and Servants The Duties of Masters in reference to their Servants may be brought under two Heads 1 Such as concern the Bodies of their Servants 2 Such as concern the Souls of their Servants The Duties of Masters in reference to the Bodies of their Servants are 1 To provide fitting raiment for them such as may fence them against the extremity of the weather I mean if by agreement they are bound to find them apparel as is the condition of most Apprentices 2 To give them wholsome and sufficient food As their food must be wholsome for the preservation of their health so sufficient for the encrease of their strength that they may be the better enabled with cheerfulness to doe their Masters service Solomons Housewife among other things is commended for her giving meat to her houshold and a portion to her maidens VVhereby is meant a sufficient portion and quantity of meat to her servants Oh that all Huswives would imitate her herein and not pinch their Servants bellies which too many doe 3 To afford them Physick when they are sick For Masters are commanded to give unto their servants that which is just and equal And is it not just and equal that those servants who labour for their Masters in the time of their health should be cared for by their Masters in the time of their sickness The Centurions care for his sick Servant is left upon record for our imitation who used the best means he knew for his Servants recovery which was to goe unto Christ. The humanity of this Centurion being a Gentâ—le may be a witness against the inhumanity of many Christians who take little care for their sick Servants 4 Not to oppress them with labour by over-working them requiring more of them than they are well able to perform This would be cruelty in a man to his Beast much more in a Master to his Servant Indeed the Aegyptians dealt so cruelly with the Israelites that they groaned under their burthens whose groans ascended unto the ears of God who thereupon came down to deliver them from their bondage And let Gods hearing the cry of those oppressed Servants and revenging them of their Oppressors make all Masters beware of laying heavie burthens upon their Servants requiring more of them than they are well able to perform lest their groans ascend up unto God 5 To pay them their wages when it is due without delaying it or defrauding them of any part thereof It is reckoned in Scripture as a crying Sin to keep back and with-hold the Labourers or Servants wages a sin that crieth unto God for vengeance who is the Poors avenger and as he taketh special notice of their wrongs and oppressions so will he take care to avenge the same II. The Duties of Masters in reference to the Souls of their Servants are 1 To instruct and Catechise their Servants in the Principles of religion For if it be a duty incumbent upon all Masters of Families to provide for the nourishment of the bodies of their Servants how much more then should they be careful for the nourish-of their souls yea let all Masters of Families know that they are as expresly charged to teach and Catechise their Servants as the Minister is to instruct his Flock witness Gods command to the Israelites Thou shalt talk of my Lawes when thou fittest in thine house and when 〈◊〉 walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up And God hath manifested his approbation thereof by commending Abraham for his practice therein 2 To cause the Scriptures to bee frequently read in the Family We read that under the Law the people of Israel were commanded to cause the words of the Lord to be written upon the Posts of their Houses to the end they might be frequently read by every one in the House And saith the Apostle Paul Let the Word of Christ dwell in you By the Word of Christ the Apostle meaneth the Doctrin of the Gospel which was published by Christ and is contained in the Old and New Testament Let this word saith the Apostle dwell in you i. e. be yee much imployed in the reading thereof as in your Closets so in your Families or as Calvin interprets it Make the Word familiar to you by giving it household entertainment But oh what a stranger is the Word to most Families how seldome is it read amongst them If that house bee an Hell where the Scriptures are not read as Luther said Oh how many houses are there as so many hells for want of reading the Scriptures 3 To pray daily in and with their Family To offer up a morning and an evening Sacrifice of prayer and praises unto God in their Family For the better stirring you up to this much negleâ—ted duty of Family-prayer I shall commend a few Arguments 1 Taken from the practice of the faithful in all ages Wee read it was Abrahams practice wheresoever hee came to build an Altar to God where God should be called upon joyntly by him and his family Wee read likewise it was Iobs practice as you shall finde Iob 1. 5. And