without a gracious answer and then see if this be not his answer Son be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven be thou cleansed of all thy corruptions thy faith hath made thee whole Having shewed the Means whereby the work of Mortification may be effected I come now to shew the Manner how it ought to be performed 1. Our Mortification must be speedy Begin to day let the ax be presently laid to the root of these trees and whenever you feel the Devil at work blowing up the Coals of Lust be instantly in arms give not time to sin to get head upon thee resist it in its first motions and risings Delayes herein are very dangerous That Lust which at first may easily be overcome afterwards will hardly be kept under Why should we not be as wife for our souls as we are for our bodies who having fire cast into his bosome or house will not presently cast it out and quench it Woe to those fools who let alone these hellish fires and trifle so long till it hath gotten the mastery You whose Lusts are through your own neglects gotten up into a flame fear leâ—t it be too late to quench them fear lest these fires having been neglected so long should now burn to the bottom of Hell Vain wicked wanton thoughts are evil seeds sown in our hearts by our adversary the Devil which if they be let alone will insensibly grow up first into a blade then to an eare and so bring forth a dismal harvest of wickedness and wrath And therefore our wisest course must needs be so soon as they are sown speedily to weed and pull them up by the roots To which agreeth that of an ancient We must not suffer those fleshly vices to grow and increase but rather destroy them in their first beginnings 2. Our Mortification must be willing and voluntary not forced and constrained The Marriner in a storm casteth away his goods because he dares keep them no longer yet still his heart goeth after them And this is all the mortification of the most they will cast off their transgressions because they dare do no other Then only are we sincere in this work when our hearts are the first in all that opposition we make against our sins when we pray against them heartily when we watch and wrestle and strive and resist them with all our hearts when our very souls long to see the blood of our Lusts and if it were possible we might with safety yet our hatred against them would not suffer them to live They are like to do something to purpose against sin whose hearts do give the first charge upon them 3. Our Mortification must be universal extending it self to all our sinfull Lusts with a sincere purpose not to bear with our selves in any known sin For most certain it is that true mortification and an advised remaining in the practice of any known sin cannot possibly stand together Therefore the Prophet David to testifie the truth of his Mortification saith I have refrained my feet not from one or two but from every evil way he did not willingly bear with himself in the practice of any one sin well knowing every sin to be a transgression of the Law These two words Sin and transgressioâ— are convertible Whosoever committeth sin saith the beloved Disciple Iohn transgresseth the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law yea every sin and so makes us lyable to the wrath of God to all judgements and plagues here and to eternal damnation hereafter God will not spare that soul that will have any one of his sins spared to him He that would have one sin spared would have another and another if it served his turn He that would not have all of Christ would in truth have none of him And he that would not be rid of all sin has no sincere mind to be rid of any Christ will have all or nothing every duty must be done or as good you did none â—very sin must be left or as good you kept them all Canst thou let all sin go but this one even this must go too or thy life must go for it O friend set thy self against every sin great and small open and secret carnal and spiritual Set thy self against them heartily be willing to prosper and overcome and set upon them speedily let no iniquity live a day longer nor sleep a night more in quiet with thee only remembring to go forth against them in the strength of the Lord and then we shall quickly find thee to be one of Christs mortified ones who as thou art dead with Christ shalt certainly live with Christ and raign with Christ to all Eternity FINIS Josh. 24.15 As for Me and my House we will serve the Lord. CHAP. I. The Parts of the Text and Observation thence arising THe summ of these words is The good mans godly râ—solution to serve the Lord with his houshold In which we may observe these particulars 1. The person resolving viz Ioshua he it is who makes this resolution 2. The order of his resolution first himself will serve the Lord and then his house 3. The extent of his resolution viz. his whole house as for me and my house 4. The matter resolved on and this is to serve God Each of these might afford unto us a distinct point of Doctrine But I shall wave them all and insist upon one which as it comprehendeth the main scope of the words so it best suiteth with the scope of my intention in this discourse which is to press all Parents Masters and Governours of Families to a constant and conscionable performance of holy and religious duties in and with their Families The point of Doctrine is this Observ. It is a duty incumbent upon Parents and Masters of Families to be carefull that not only themselves but also all under their charge even their whole houshold do faithfully serve the Lord. It is not sufficient for Governours of Families to be good Christians themselves but they ought to be Christian Governours Not enough to be themselves Religious but they must train up all under their charge in the knowledge and practice of Religion And the truth is good Christians they cannot be who are not Christian Governours He hath little Religion himself that doth not faithfully endeavour to propagate it in his Family Thus Ioshua as a Master of a Family undertaketh not only for himself but also for his whole houshold that he with them and they with him should serve the Lord. Yea and in all ages such as have been most eminent in grace have been most exact in their family-Family-duties instance Abraham the Father of the faâ—thfull of whom God himself giveth thiâ— testimony I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his houshold after him that they shall keep the way of the Lord c. And Iacob his Grand-child walking in the steps of his Father Abraham was
not content at Bethel to worship God sincerely himself but he chargeth his Family to put away the strange Gods which were among them and to serve the true God according to the prescribed rule of his Word David though he were a King and so had the care of an whole Kingdom upon him yet thought his State-affairs no priviledge to exempt him from the Religious ordering and governing of his Family And therefore he professeth That he would walk within his house with a perfect heart that is sincerely discharge the duties belonging to the Governour of an house Yea under the Law we find that the Fathers amongst the Israelites were commanded to teach their Children the meaning of the Passover and of the Feast of unleavened bread And that we may not think this a legal precept abolished in the time of the Gospel the Apostle giveth a general charge to all Christian Parents to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Yea by the practice of the primitive Christians who lived in the dayes of the Apostles it doth appear that so soon as any Governour of a Family was converted and professed the Christian faith he still ingaged his Family to serve God It is said of Cornelius that he was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house And it is recorded of Lydia that she was baptized and her Houshold And it is said of the Iaylor that he believed in God with all his house Yea the houses of the faithfull in the primitive times were stiled Churches which implyeth that their private families were so piously ordered and religiously instructed that they seemed to be little Churches rather than ordinary houses having taken up Ioshuah's resolution As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. The point being thus proved by Scripture and Examples come we now to the Reasons for the farther confirmation thereof CHAP. II. The Reasons of the point R. 1. MAy be taken from the command of God who hath commanded as much saying Thou shalt teach my Laws diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house c. And God hath manifested his approbation thereof by commending Abraham for commanding his Children and houshold to keep the wayes of the Lord. So that to whomsoever the Lord hath given this honour to make him a Father of Children a Master over Servants a Governour over an Houshold of them he requireth this duty to teach and instruct all under their charge R. 2. Every mans house is his private charge which he must oversee it is his flock which he must attend You will all acknowledge that every Ministers flock is his charge and that it is a most dreadfull thing for any to neglect them And have not you as great a charge of your family as the Minister hath of his flock Yea doubtless I dare boldly say that every Parent and Master of a Family is as deeply charged with the souls of their Children and Servants as the Minister is with the souls of his flock If therefore your Children and Servants live and dye in their sins through your negligence their blood will be required at your hands Yea let Parents and Masters of Families know and consider that those Children and Servants who by the neglect of their duty to them shall perish in their sins will curse them for ever hereafter amongst the fiends and damned in hell crying out woe and alas that ever we were born of such irreligious Parents and served such wicked and ungodly Masters that had no care of the Salvation of our souls but suffered us to run headlong into these everlasting flames Oh that all Parents and Masters of Families would seriously consider these things and in time labour to prevent them by a conscionable discharge of the duties belonging to their places and relations R. 3. Justice and equity requireth this at your hands to do your utmost endeavour to train up your Children and Servants in the fear of God and to instruct them in the wayes of Godliness that as they help you in many things so you should be a means to help them in this that as God of his goodness hath made them your Children and Servants so you in way of gratitude should strive to make them his Children and Servants And truly though you feed them well and cloath them well and provide well for them yea and teach them how to live another day to live as men yet if you teach them not withall the fear of God whereby they may live as Christians which will make them live for ever wherein do you differ from Heathenish Parents and Pagan Masters for even they will not be wanting in the former things which the Apostle implyeth where he saith He that provideth not for his Family is worse than an Infidel And if you go no further than to make outward provision for the bodies of your Children and Servants you are no better than Infidels and Heathens And therefore how doth it concern you who are Parents and Masters of Families to have a special care of the souls of your Children and Servants by a conscionable performance of holy and religious duties amongst them as Praying Reading Catechising and the like whereby you will not only go beyond all the Heathens in the World but likewise gain an hopefull evidence to your own souls of the truth of grace in you and of the sincerity of your profession that ye are Christians indeed R. 4. The curse of God hangs over those Families in which Religious duties are alltogether neglected yea it abideth in their houses as the Wise man expresseth The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked Howsoever they may seem to abound and flourish in all Worldly wealth and riches yet the curse of God is upon all that they enjoy For as the Lord speaketh by his Prophet Malachy He will curse their blessings that is whatsoever outward good things they did enjoy should be cursed to them Whereupon saith Eliphas in Iob I saw him taking root but I cursed his habitation that is I saw him seemingly setled in his outward prosperity but by the eye of faith I likewise saw a curse hanging over his house and family over his wealth and riches R. 5. Another Reason may be taken from the manifold benefits and commodities wich usually follow upon a conscionable performance of these duties 1. Religious duties consciensciously performed will bring down Gods blessing upon your selves and your relations upon your estate and all your undertakings As God blessed Obed-Edom and all his houshold for the Arks-sake So questionless will the Lord bless those Families wherein holy duties are faithfully performed For Godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of this life that now is as well as of that which is to come Whereupon saith
the Wise man The house of the wicked shall be overturned but the Tabernacle of the upright shall flourish And therefore the Psalmist pronounceth them blessed who thus fear the Lord saying Blessed is he that feareth the Lord and walketh in his wayes for thou shalt eat the labour of thine hand happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee How then can such expect a blessing from God either upon themselves or upon their relations or upon their pains and endeavours who do not set up God and his Worship in their houses seeing it is that whereby Gods blessing is entailed 2. Those Children and Servants who are religiously educated and principled are likeliest to prove comforts to their Parents and Masters What a comfort must it needs be to thee who art a Master of a Family to see thy houshold through the blessing of God on thy care and pains to be walking Heaven-ward Yea when thou comest to lye upon thy death-bed Oh what a comfort will it then be unto thee that thou hast good ground to believe that thy Children are Gods Children and the Servants of Jesus Christ thou maist then with stronger confidence commend them unto Gods Fatherly care and protection and with greater assurance expect Gods blessing upon them after thy death 3. There is no such means to make your Children loving and dutiful unto you and your servants faithfull in the discharge of their duty as to instruct them in the principles of Religion and to plant the fear of God in their hearts In which respect Solomon saith A godly Son maketh a glad Father viz. by his dutiful and respectfull carriage towards him And that servant who shall find true grace either first wrought or further increased in him by his Masters means will endeavour with the utmost of his power to do him what faithfull service he can in way of thankfulness So that if Parents and Masters of Families respect either that charge God hath laid upon them whereof they are to give an account to him at the great day or that good and benefit which themselves may reap thereby they will see good and just ground to be diligent and constant in the discharge of holy duties with their Family R. V. Another reason may be taken from the manifold mischiefs which usually follow and accompany the neglect of family duties 1. From hence come all Domestick brawls and contentions hence it is that the house is divided against it self Husband against Wife and Wife against Husband Master against Servant and Servant against Master Parent against Child and Child against Parent which would be prevented were the Lord better known and more duly worshipped amongst them For where God is served with perfect purity there is perfect peace But where God is not served there is no peace but jarrs and contentions strife and debate which giveth great advantage unto Satan the arch-enemy of mankind who like a roaring Lyon walketh about continually seeking whom he may devour 2. From hence it is that Magistrates are enforced to execute the penalties of the Laws upon so many namely because they are not Religiously educated but suffered to have their wills in their youth Which appeareth from the sad complaints of many malefactors at the place of Execution against their Parents and Masters for their careless omission of their duty towards them saying if they had had any care or conscience of our education if they had corrected and restrained us betimes from our wicked courses we had never come to this dogs-death and shamefull end 3. From hence it is that so many Families are so dissolute and prophane abounding with all manner of sin and wickedness as lying swearing Sabbath-breaking drinking whoring and the like as if there were a seminary of little Devils an houshold of fiends And truly when Families leave God in not doing the good they should God leaves Families to do the evil they should not So that sin hath there free place where Gods service hath no place And sins of commission do usually follow sins of omission it being ordinary with God to punish one sin with another to punish the neglect of duty with the committing of sin by leaving men so to themselves that they break forth into the committing of great and hainous sins A general complaint there is in these dayes of the undutifulness and disobedience of Children of the negligence and unfaithfulness of Servants yea and of the loose lewd lives of both in many Families whereof if we would search the true ground and cause we shall find it rather in the superiours than in the inferiours For howsoever inferiours cannot be excused yet questionless the fault is chiefly in superiours and Governours because they are careless and negligent in the discharge of their duty towards them not praying with them nor Catechising and instructing them as they should For where religious duties are shut out of any Family there usually the door is set wide open to looseness and profaneness 4. The neglect of Religious dutiâ—s in thy Family will make thee guilty of Murther even of Soul-murther which is the greatest of all For whereas the Souls as well as the bodies of thy Children and Servants are committed to thy care and charge if any of them should perish through thy default thou art deeply guilty of their eternal death and damnation and their blood will be required at thy hands As Iacob was accountable to Laban for the â—oss of every Lamb or Sheep at his hand was it required So is every Master of a Family accountable to God for every soul under his roof If any of them perish through his default God will require it at his hands God will require the blood of thy Child the blood of thy Servants at thy hands one day If therefore you will be free from the blood of your Children train them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord pray for them and with them Catechize them c. The Point being confirmed by Scripture and Reason come we now to the Uses thereof CHAP. III. The Vse of Reproof of those Masters who make no Conscience of family-Family-duties Use 1. SEeing it is a Duty incumbent upon Parents and Masters of Families to be carefull that not only themselves but also all under their charge even their whole Family do faithfully serve the Lord then they are greatly to be reproved who are neither carefull to serve God themselves neither take they any care of their Family but as there is no fear of God in their hearts so neither is there any fear of God in their Families Yea instead of Gods service there is all manner of wickedness and prophaneness so that their houses are as so many filthy cages of unclean birds so many styes of all manner of abominations Of whose houses we may say what Solomon said of the Harlots house 'T is the way to Hell that is the high and ready way unto eternal
death and condemnation These men howsoever they would be esteemed good Masters and good Governours yet are they far from such in that they neglect the main duty belonging to good Governours which is to take care of the souls of those under their charge and willingly suffer all manner of wickedness and prophaness to rule and bear sway in their Families and that without any check or controul I dare boldly say it were much better for a man to put his Child into a Pâ—sthouse than into such a Family in that wickedness is more infectious than the Plague spreading infinitely polluting every one it comes near And whereas the Plague and Pestilence can but kill the body the contagion of sin is apt to destroy both body and soul. And therefore what is usually written upon the doors of such houses as are visited with the Plague Lord have mercy upon us may far better be written upon the doors of such houses where through the neglect of Family-duties sin and wickedness doth abound I know there are very many both Parents and Masters who having provided for the bodies of those under their charge think they have sufficiently discharged their duty towards them But I would demand of such if their care be only to provide for the bodies of their Children and Servants what do they more to them then to their beasts If they only cloath them and pay them their wages what do they more to them than the Turks and Infidels who know not God do to their Children and Servants If their care be only to provide for them an earthly inheritance without any care to make them Heirs of an Heavenly inheritance what do they more to them than Iews who are ignorant of Christ and his Gospel do for their Children Let such know that it is their duty to provide not only for for perishing Carcasses but also for the immortal souls of all theirs And it is a vain and foolish imagination for any to think they have done their duty when they have apparelled nourished and brought up their Children and Servants considering they have a far greater account to make before God for their souls of which if any should perish through their negligence and unfaithfullness how dreadfull will their account be oh what answer will they be able to make when the blood of their Children and Servants souls shall be required of them CHAP. IV. An Exhortation unto all Parents and Masters of Families to make Conscience of family-Family-duties Use 2. LEt the second Use be an Use of Exhortation to stir up all Christian Parents and Masters of Families to be carefull that their whole house do faithfully serve the Lord as well as themselves that they take up Ioshuah's resolution as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. As you would not be guilty of the blood of your Children and Servants souls and as you would not have them cry out against you in everlasting fire see that you bring them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Every Governour should be that in the body politick of his own house which the heart is in the natural body of man as it communicateth life and vital spirits to the rest of the members So must the Master of the houshold endeavour to impart the spiritual life of grace to all that are members of his body politick And his house by a constant conscionable performance of holy and religious duties there should be a little Church For the maintaining the Worship of God makes every house to become a sanctuary an house of God Hence divers pious Governours in the new Testament are said to have Churches in their houses as Philemoâ— Aquila and Priscilla and Nimphas whose houses were called Churches as in respect of the Saints in their houses so in respect of the worship of God among them Oh what an honour will this be to us when upon this account our habitations shall be called rather Churches than private houses Temples of God rather than the dwellings of men For the more profitable pressing of this Use I shall shew you what be the duties and services which are especially required of Parents and Masters of Families in reference to those under their charge CHAP. V. Of Family Prayer with quickning Motives thereunto I. PRayer which is one principal part of the service of God in all Families and therefore ought to be performed by the Governour thereof who as he is a King to govern his Family so a Priest to offer up a Morning and an Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and praise unto God in and with his Family This we find commended to us in the practice of the Patriarchs who when they removed to any place they builded an Altar where God was to be called upon by the whole Family Thus did Abraham Isaac and Iacob David though a King yet prayed with his Houshold as their Governour for it is recorded of him that having offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the Lord he returned to bless his houshold that is say Expositors to bless God with his Family and to beg Gods blessing on them In the New Testament the Apostle writing to Masters of Families concerning their duties adjoyneth this continue in Prayer implying it to be one special duty incumbent on them to be constant in Family-prayer Of Cornelius it is said that he was one who feared God with all his house which gave much Almes to the people and prayed to God alway which implyeth that he prayed daily with his Family These examples are recorded by the Holy-Ghost as Copies for us to write after But for your more full conviction of that obligation that lyes upon you for the performance of this duty let the following arguments be duly weighed Arg. 1. The first Argument shall be drawn from that trust that is committed unto governours of Families Here observe 1. That Governours of Families are intrusted with the souls with the Religion of their Families not that they may prescribe unto them or impose upon them what way of Religion they please or that inferiours may be excused by the errours or neglects of the Superiours but it is committed to their care and they have received a charge from the Lord to look diligently to all that are under them that they duly worship God observe his ordinances and keep â—â—s statutes That there is such a care incumbent on them is evident under the Law the Master of the Family was by the appointment of God to look to the circumcising of all the Males of his house both those that were born in his house and those that were bought with his money In the fourth commandment the Master of the Family is charged not only to keep the Sabbath in his own person but to look to his family also Thou shalt do no work therein that 's not all nor thy Son nor thy Daughter nor thy Man-servant nor thy
of him that he would by his Spirit help thine infirmities teaching thee to pour out thy soul unto him in Prayer For it is he alone that can teach thee and endue thee with this Heavenly gift 2. Be constant in thy secret devotions which will be a special means to embolden thee to pray with thy Family For when thou findest that thou canst express thy self in any competent measure in secret thou wilt then the better adventure to Pray in private with thy Family And know this for thy comfort that if thou sincerely endeavourest to do what thou canst God will enable thee to do what thou shouldst 3. Rather than the apprehension of thine own insufficiency to pray should occasion a constant omission of the duty I would advise thee to use the help of a form of Prayer for a while till by Gods blessing thou hast attained some ability therein and boldness thereunto 2. Obj. Some against this duty object their multitude of business and little spare time for Family-prayer A. 1. The more and greater thy businesses are the more and greater need thou hast of Family-prayer for the obtaining Gods blessings thereon without which all thy pains and endeavours may signifie little yea prove succesless Assure thy self that the time spent in Prayer both in thy closet and with thy Family will prove no let but rather a great furtherance to thy business 2. Dost thou put off praying with thy Family for the multitude of business Know that therein thou art penny-wise and pound-foolish hazarding the loss of thy precious and immortal soul for the gaining of a little Worldly pelf which will be soon taken from thee or thou from it Oh that such Woâ—â—dâ—ngs would seriously consider that expression of our Saviour What shall it profit a man if hâ— shall gain the whoâ—e World and lose his own soul 3. Dost thou put off Family-prayer for the multitude of Worldly buâ—inesseâ— thereby to encrease thy wealth Know that that wealth is cursed which is thus gotten that substance which is the price of a Prayer may for ought thou knowest be the price of blood Well beware thou neglect not this great duty upon any pretence whatsoever Neither let it be performed after a cold formal and perfunctory manner but be very serious and fervent therein stirring up thy self to an active lively performance thereof which the Apostle intimateth where he saith Be fervent in Spirit serving the Lord and that for two reasons 1. Such Prayers only are acceptable and pleasing unto God these are the Sacrifices wherewith he is well-pleased 2. Such only have the promise of being heard And thereupon saith the Apostle St. Iames The effectual fervent Prayer of a rightâ—ous man availeth much The word in the Greek translated effectual properly signifieth a prayer excited or stirred up and so implyeth both the efficacy and influency of the Holy-Ghost and the vehemency of an earnest spirit and affection which is the only prevailing Prayer CHAP. VII Of Reading the Holy Scriptures in Families with quickning Motives thereunto II. ANother duty incumbent upon Parents and Masters of Families is frequently to read the Holy Scriptures or to cause them to be read in and with their Families Though this be a distinct exercise from the former of Prayer yet do they mutually help one another and therefore are fit to be joyned together We read how the Priest under the Law was daily to light the Lamps and to burn incense as the Lamp signified the Word of God so the incense signified Prayer And as the Lamp was daily to be lighted and the incense daily to be burned so are we thereby taught daily to joyn the Word and Prayer together for as the Apostle speaketh By the Word and Prayer every thing is sanctified Yea this duty of reading the Word we find given in command unto housholders under the Law for saith the Lord Ye shall lay up my words meaning the words of the Law in your heart and in your soul. And ye shall teach them your Children speaking of them when thou sitest in thine house when thou lyest down and when thou risest up which implyeth a diligent reading of the Word in their houses Yea the old people of the Iews were so diligent in teaching their Children the Word of God that Iosephus saith Every one of our people being asked concerning the Laws rehearseth them more easily than his own name In the New Testament we have the Apostles command for this duty for saith he Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly The Word is sometimes taken for Christ himself and so it is true that we should labour that the word Christ should dwell in us But by the Word of Christ is here meant the written Word of God which is here called the Word of Christ both because he is the author of it and because he is the chief subject of it And whereas the Apostle saith Let the Word of Christ dwell in you it is a Metaphor taken from such as dwell under one and the same roof with us and noteth two things 1. That we must get it into our hearts and houses as well as into our Churches 2. That by our frequent reading of it and causing it to be read in our houses it should be as familiar with us as one that dwells with us under the same roof For the better pressing of this duty upon the Consciences of Parents and Masters of Families I shall hint only two Motives to quicken you up thereunto 1. The knowledge of the Scriptures will be an excellent means to keep up your authority in your Families over your Children and Servants For therein they cannot but hear and understand it is their duty to be obedient to you in all things Your own commands and threatnings may perhaps cause them to serve you with eye-service as menpleasersâ— but to hear the commands and threatnings of God in his Word may cause them to serve you in singleness of heart So that if nothing else yet policy methinks should prevail with you to cause the Word of God to be read frequently in your houses 2. Some by reading the Scriptures others by hearing it read in the Family have been converted from the state of nature to the state of grace For faith may be wrought in us by hearing the Word read as well as hearing it Preached St. Austine reports of an Aegyptian Monk who living in a Christian-family where the Word of God was frequently read was thereby converted to the Christian faith And indeed there is a greater vertue in the holy Scriptures than in any other book for the working of conversion in the hearts of natural Men and Women Oh what an encouragement should this be unto Parents and Masters of Families to cause the holy Scriptures to be frequently read in their houses for what know they whether some under their charge may not thereby be converted And that
your reading may be the more profitable observe these few directions 1. Before you read lift up your heart unto God in some short Prayer beseeching him who is the Father of light to enlighten the blind eyes of your understandings that you may understand what you read so to strengthen your memories that you may remember it and that he would give you Wisdom to apply faith to believe and grace to practise what you read Which Prayer is necessary before reading because as the Apostle speaketh Naturally we understand not the things of the Spirit of God neither can we know them because they are spiritually discerned And it is only the Spirit of God that revealeth them unto us which we have no hope to attain but by fervent Prayer 2. The Word must be read and heard with all holy reverence and attention as being the Word of the great God whereby he revealeth himself and his will cleerly unto us for the building us up in all grace and Godliness 3. In reading every one ought to take special notice of such passages as are either more weighty in themselves or proper to them for their particular cases use and occasion 4. In reading or hearing any portion of Scripture let every one apply it to himself as spoken to him By this means may every one be much edified by every part of the Word of God CHAP. VIII Of Family-Catechising with quickning Motives thereunto III. ANother duty incumbent upon Parents and Masters of Families in reference to those under their charge is to instruct them in the principles of Religion in a Catechistical way For to Catechise is to teach the first principles of Christian Religion whereby they who are young may be acquainted with God betimes This we find given in command unto Housholders under the Law for saith the Lord Thâ—se words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Where by Children are not meant only natural Children but likewise servants it being usual with the Hebrews by Children to understand all under subjection We have a Prophesie that there shall be as it were a succession of Christs name from generation to generation His name shall endâ—re sor ever his name shall be continued as long as the Sun or as the phrase imports His name shall pass from Father to Son Every Father then must by Christian instruction declare the name of Christ to his Son that so the name of Christ may pass from Father to Son from generation to generation which prophesie concerns the time of the Gospel wherein Parents are commanded to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord or to nurture them up in instruction as the word in the Greek properly signifieth This duty is commended to us by the example of Godly Housholders in all ages I know saith God of Abraham that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord. We likewise find David often instructing his Son Solomon 1 Chron. 28.9 And that this was the practice of the Saints in the time of the Gospel appeareth from the expressions of the Apostle Ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God And leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ which imply a form of Catechism which was used by the Christians in those dayes And oh that all Christian Parents and governours of Families in our dayes would make conscience of instructing and teaching their Children and Servants in the principles of Religion out of some good Catechism Observing these two Caveats 1. That this duty be done frequently on some day or dayes every week 2. That it be done by little at once for to be too long or tedious therein is apt to dull the understanding and to cause wearisomeness in the learner For the better pressing this duty I shall add a few motives or arguments I. The first Argument or Motive may be taken from the benefits which will follow thereupon 1. Timely instruction will season their hearts that they are like to be better for it all the dayes of their lives and therefore saith the Wise man Traiâ— up or as the Word signifieth Catechise a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it But as a Vessel will retain long the savour of that liquor it was seasoned first withall So will men the instructions they have learned in their youth 2. It is an excellent means to keep them from the errours and heresies of the times For Children well Catechised and instructed in the principles of Religion are in great measure antidoted against the danger of seducing doctrines The Apostle saith There must be heresies which are of a spreading nature and therefore by our Saviour compared to Leaven What better preservative against the infection of false doctrines errours and heresies than to be well Catechised Observe who they be that are easiest seduced by false teachers who they are that have embraced their erroneous tenets and you shall find that they were such who were never well Catechised nor grounded in the principles of Religion As therefore you would not have your Children and Servants poysoned with the erroneous Doctrines of false teachers do your endeavours to get them well rooted and grounded in the knowledge of the truth 3. It is an excellent means to make them hear the publick Ministry of the Word with more profit For thereby they will be enabled to Examine the Doctrine which they hear by the analogie of faith It is foretold that in the latter dayes there shall be false teachers who shall privily bring in damnable heresies And therefore we are not to receive all for truth which is delivered in the Pulpit but as the Apostle exhorteth us to prove and try all things and to hold fast only that which is good which we shall never be able to do unless we be first well Catechised and instructed in the principles of Religion as also well acquainted with the Scriptures If therefore you who are Parents and Masters of Families would discharge your duty herein how would Errours vanish Religion flourish and how would knowledge and grace abound in your Children and Servants II. Another argument may be taken from the manifold damages which usually follow a neglect of Family Catechising 1. It is the ground of that ignorance and spiritual blindness which overfloweth this Nation For as darkness proceedeth from the want of light so ignorance must needs proceed from the want of teaching 2. It is the ground of that looseness and prophaneness that is in many Families For where Gods service hath no place there sin will
be sure to have free place Where the light of knowledge is not set up by Catechising there the deeds of darkness will be sure to break forth Where there is no spâ—aking to God by Prayer nor speaking of God by Catechising you may be sure there will be speaking against God and all the wayes of holiness 4. It is the ground of that barrenness and unfruitfulness under the Means of grace that is to be found amongst many in these dayes For were Children and Servants better Catechised they would better understand the mysteries of the Gospel and much more profit by the Ministry of the Word than they do It is found by experience that the most intelligent and best practised hearers are such as have been well Catechised and instructed The seed which thou thus timely sowest will spring up to a plentifull harvest 4. Such Parents and Masters as neglect this duty do what in them lyeth to damn their Children and Servants as well as themselves For how can it be expected but that those Children and Servants who through want of the light of knowledge walk in darkness should unavoidably stumble into hell Oh that so many Parents and Masters should be so cruel and unnatural to their Children and Servants as to neglect this duty the blood of souls is upon you Obj. Against this so necessary a duty some are apt to object and say To what purpose should we Catechise our Children considering that through the tenderness of their years they are not capable of the Mysteries of Salvation A. 1. Though Children are not so capable of apprehending cleerly the mysteries of salvation as they will be afterwards yet none can deny them to understand so much as to be capable of the seeds of grace which daily experience confirmeth 2. It is found by sad experience that Children uncatechised as they grow in years so they grow in sin and wickedness whereby they become more backward and untoward to the learning of any thing that is good yea and opposite thereunto If you do not the Devil will Catechise them betimes and of him they will quickly learn O prevent as much as may be that enemies sowing his tares be before hand with him take the first season to cast in your good seed The first season is the fittest season Obj. Should we constantly observe these Religious exercises in our Families which you thus press upon us we should hinder our servants work and thereby hazard our estates and so shew our selves worse than Infidels A. 1. This is a meer delusion of Satan to keep you from the discharge of your duty For know assuredly that the time spent in religious exercises with your Family is so far from hindering your servants work that it will rather further it and bring such a blessing upon it that shall return upon your selves For profit and increase is the gift of God who will give it to such as fear him and observe his commandments Oh then say not of Family-duties as Iudas did of that oyntment which Mary poured on our Saviours feet why is this waste Think not that time waste and lost which is spent in the service of God and in the performance of the duties of your places and relations 2. A wilfull neglect of Family-duties is like to bring the curse of God upon your estates yea upon your selves and all that belong unto you Read what Moses saith in Deut. 28.15 16 17 18 19 20. 3. Who can produce the man that did really suffer in his estate by the loss of that time which he spent with and for God Surely as the whetting of the Sythe is no hinderance but rather a furtherance of the Workman So the exercises of Religion can be no hinderance to your Family-affairs but rather a great furtherance unless you think this an hinderance to stay to take Gods blessing along with you without which what are all your own and servants pains but vain and fruitless 4. Suppose you should suffer somewhat in your estate by the loss of that time which you spend upon Religion you will have no cause to repent thereof For whilest others with Martha are carefull and troubled about Worldly things thou with Mary hast chosen the better part Thou hast lost a little of thy Temporals to gain Spirituals and Eternals for thy self and thine How wise are those men who prefer Temporals before their Eternals and will advance their estates upon the ruines of their souls CHAP. IX Of Sabbath sanctification in Families IV. ANother duty incumbent upon Parents Masters and governours of Families is To look to the sanctification of the Lords-Day to see that the Christian Sabbath be sanctified as by themselves so by their whole Family even by all under their charge This is expressly enjoyned in the fourth Commandment which is directed not so much to Children and Servants as to Parents and Masters of Families who are there commanded not only in their own persons to keep holy the Sabbath day but to see that their Children and Servants do it also For thus the Commandment runs The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not do any work Thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant Which Phrase as Zanchy well noteth implyeth that it is the duty of Parents and Masters of Families to see that their Children and Servants do not any way prophane the Sabbath-day but that they keep it as an holy rest The sanctification of the Sabbath consists 1. In a resting upon the day 2. In a consecrating that rest to the Worship and service of God Therefore it is the duty of all Parents and Masters of Families to take care that both themselves and all under their charge do keep it 1. As a day of rest 2. As an holy rest I. As a day of rest resting in special from all the works of their ordinary calling The very name Sabbath which in Hebrew signifieth rest and the express prohibition in the fourth Commandment of doing any work on that day do shew that it is a day of rest How blame-worthy then are some Masters who contrary to the express command of God do set their Servants about the ordinary work of their calling on the Lords day Let such know that what is got by their Servants work on that day is but the gain of wickedness which will prove their loss at last II. It is the duty of Masters to take care that their Families keep the Lords day as an holy rest by consecratng that time which they set apart from their Worldly business to the worship and service of God in the duties belonging to such an holy-day For the Sabbath was not simply ordained that we and our servants should rest from our bodily labour but that we should in a special manner worship God on that day So much is implyed both in the first and last words of the fourth Commandement In the
beginning it is said Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy And in the close it is added The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it that is sanctified it and set it apart to be wholly consecrated to him and to his worship and service That Parents and Masters of Families may the better discharge their duty herein observe these directions 1. Look that your Children and Servant go with you to the Ministry of the Word and let none be left behind without necessary and urgent occasion It being the ordinary means God hath sanctified for the reforming of their lives and the saving of their souls When Iacob went to Bethel to Worship he took his whole houshold with him When Elkaâ—ah went up to offer unto the Lord his Sacrifice all his house went with him In like manner do thou carry thy houshold with thee to the house of God 2. After the publick Ordinances be carefull to call together all under thy charge and let there be a repetition of the Sermons Preached either by thy self or some one of thy Family who can write best And then examine them one after another What they remember of the Sermons they have heard labouring to make them plain unto them and to apply them also Thus did our blessed Saviour with his beloved Disciples for after his Preaching when he was come home he said unto them Have ye understood all these things which ye have heard And Mark saith When they were alone he expounded all things to his Disciples Whereupon one observeth That Christ by his example doth instruct every Master of a Family how to carry himself in reference to those under his charge on the Lords dayes after their departure from the publick Congregation And truly much good will hereby redound as unto your selves so likewise unto all under your charge For 1. It will make them give better attention unto the Ministry of the Word when they know they shall be called to an account and examined what they have heard 2. It would much help and confirm as your selves so your Children and Servants in the understanding and believing of what hath been delivered publickly by the Minister if you would repeat and search the proofs of Scripture which were brought for the confirmation of the doctrine III. Another duâ—y to be performed in and with your Families for the better sanctification of the Lords day is singing of Psalms which as it was much practised by the Saints and people of God of old under the Law so is it both a lawfull and a meet thing to be used by Christians now under the Gospel and that as publickly in the Church so privately in the Family 1. We find it was an ancient custome of the people of God to sing Psalms in their Families according to that of the Psalmist the voice of rejoycing is in the Tabernacle of the righteous that is in the dwelling places and houses of good men 2. We have our Saviour herein for a pattern of whom it is recorded that after the eating of the Passeover which was in a private house he sung a Psalm with his Family IV. Another duty to be performed in and with your Family for the better â—anctification of the Lords day is Reading some part of the holy Scriptures whereof before Chap. VII As also some good Sermon or Treatise of practical truths V. Another duty is Family-prayer Whereof before Chap. VI. VI. Another is Catechising those under your charge whereof see Chap. VIII A conscionable performance of these will exceedingly help forward the sanctification of the Lords day and that without tediousness VII Another duty incumbent on Parents and Masters is godly conference Conferring before your Children and Servants about some good and profitable matter especially of the Sermons you have heard The counsel which the Apostle giveth concerning our words and discourses as it ought to be carefully observed and followed by us at all times so especially on the Lords day Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths but that which is good to the use of ediâ—â—ing that is to the winning of them who are not converted or to the further building up of those who are already converted And the Prophet Isaiah forbiddeth the speaking our own words on the Sabbath day that is all discourses which are meerly Worldly and about earthly things more than charity and necessity requireth Under which prohibition of not speaking our own words is implyed a direction to speak the word of God or those things which tend to the honour of God and the spiritual good of others VIII That you may the better discharge your duty in looking to the sanctification of the Lords day Be sure you suffer none under your roof to spend any part thereof either in idleness or in sports and pastimes 1. Not iâ— idleness it being not a day of idleness but of spiritual action 2. Not in sports and pastimes especially such as tend to carnal and sensual delight For the Lord hath forbidden every man the following his own pleasure on his holy day And the truth is sports and pastimes are greater impediments to the worship and service of God than the ordinary works of our calling in that they do more subtilly steal away the heart from holy duties than those do Whereupon St. Austin thought it better to plow on the Lords day than to dance and sport Obj. Some Object and plead the hard labour their servants have undergone the week before and thence think they may be allowed a little recreation on the Lords day A. 1. The rest of the Lords day is the best and fittest recreation for the refreshing of their bodies who have been tired with labour the six dayes before And if they be spiritually minded the best and fittest recreation for the refreshing of their souls is singing of Psalms the perusing their spiritual evidences for Heaven the solacing themselves in the meditation of Christ of what he hath done and suffered for them holy conference and the like 2. If you think bodily recreations necessary for your servants health why do you not rather allow them some part of your own time on the week-dayes than to rob God of any part of his day which he hath wholly appropriated to the duties of his Worship and service Whereas the Lord might have reserved six dayes for himself and allowed but one unto us he hath dealt so bountifully and graciously with us as to reserve but one to himself and leave six for our business And shall we be so ungratefull as to encroach upon it and Sacrilegiously steal away some part of that small time which he hath reserved to himself for our Servants recreation CHAP. X. Of Exemplary lives in Parents and Masters of Families V. ANother duty incumbent on Parents and Masters of Families is To shew themselves patterns of piety and Godliness unto their Children and Servants by an holy
he slew a man he that Sacrificeth a Lamb as if he cut off a dogs neck Though the Sacrificing of Oxen and Lambs were good and commanded by God himself yet because they failed in the manner of performing them they were no more acceptable to God than the killing of men or cutting off a dogs neck which things were forbidden by the Law and abomination to the Lord. 3. Failing in the manner of performance makes God not only to reject our duties but to pronounce a woe and a curse against the performers of them Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently Though it be the work of the Lord that work which the Lord appointeth to be done yet notwithstanding if it be done negligently not after a right manner cursed is he that doth it 4. It is the right manner of performing duties that obtaineth a blessing from God It may be thou hast heard much and prayed much and fasted much and yet hast found little good or benefit thereby Examine whether thou hast not been dead and dull formal and perfunctory in them doing them as if thou didst them not If so no marvail that thou hast received so little good by them As therefore thou wouldst be loth to pray in vain or hear in vain or fast in vain as thou wouldst be loth to lose the things which thou hast wrought see to it that thou be as carefull of the manner as of the matter of them how thou dost them as that thou dost them Do what thou dost with all thy soul yea and with all thy might and then thou maist expect a plentiful and gracious return For the right manner of performing good duties take these few directions I. Be sure you take Christ with you both for assistance and acceptance 1. For assistance For without me saith Christ you can do nothing That is without Union with Christ and Communion with him you cannot perform any acceptable service unto God You may fall upon the duty of prayer and attend upon the Ministry of the Word but without assistance from Christ you can neither do the one nor the other as you should Whensoever therefore you set upon any good duty in the first place beg strength and assistance from Christ and rest and lean upon him for his help go not to pray or hear but in the strength of the Lord. 2. Take Christ with you for acceptance both of your persons and services Christ is the beloved Son of God with whom he is so well pleased that likewise in him he is well pleased with all those that come to God by him and look for neither audience nor acceptance but upon his account alone The truth is as our persons are vile and wretched and all as an unclean thing so our Services even our most holy Services are all polluted and tainted with the corruption of our natures and therefore they are odious and abominable in the sight of God who may justly reject both us and them and will do it unless covered with the worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ but in him we shall not fail to obtain gracious acceptance Whensoever therefore we go unto God in prayer or in any other ordinance let us carry Christ with us in the arms of our faith Plut arch in the life of Themistocles reports that it was the usual custome of some of the Heathens namely the Molossiaâ—s that when they would seek the favour of their King they took his Son in their arms and so went unto him And questionless it would be the wisdom of Christians in seeking the face and favour of God who is the King of Heaven and of earth to take the holy Child Jesus with them without whom they may not see his face II. Stir up thy self and all thy strength put forth thy self to the uttermost strive to be lively active and stirring in Spirit Get the Spirit of faith and of power this will be oyle to the wheels and wind to the Sails which set all a going let this be wanting and thy best services will be lifeless and dead Services in which the Lord takes no delight There is a threefold strength we should labour to put forth in all our holy duties 1. Strength of Intention 2. Strength of Affections 3. Strength of Body 1. We must intend our work as if it were for our lives for so it is whether it be the work of praying hearing meditating or the like We must put forth the strength of our intention as well as of our attention not giving way either to drowsiness of body or distractions of mind But oh what light matters are apt to steal away our minds and thoughts in the performance of holy duties If one of our superiours were talking with us he would expect that we should mind what he saith and not turn aside to talk with every one that passeth by us But when God is speaking to us in the ministry of his Word or we are speaking unto him by prayer how ordinarily do we turn aside to every vain thought and trifling business which offereth it self to us Intend God more earnestly and this will fire your thoughts 2. Strength of affections is required in every good duty Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might saith the Wise man This may especially be applyed to the duties of Gods worship and service that we do them vigorously with all the strength of our affections Which the Apostle requireth where he bids us be fervent in spirit serving the Lord. The word in the Greek notes an ebullition or boyling up of our spirits to the height There is nothing in the World more unbecoming the Worship of God than flatness of spirit and coldness of affection when a man serves God as if he served him not It was Davids commendation that the zeal of Gods house did eat him up Which expression sheweth the vehemency of his zeal and strength of his affections as in reforming Gods house so in performing the duties of his Worship and service For this was Iacob honoured and called Israel because he prayed with the strength of his affections and is therefore said to wrestle with God in prayer whereby he prevailed As thou desirest to prevail with God in Prayer thou must with Iacob wrestle with him putting forth the strength of thine affections which will be a special means to keep away vain wandring thoughts So long as honey is boyling hot flies will not venture on it So if the heart and affections be boyling hot in prayer vain thoughts are not apt to enter in 3. Strength of body must likewise be put forth in every good duty For Col must be worshipped as with our spirits so with our bodies And blessed is the strength which is put forth in the service of God Carnal men are apt to lay out the strength of their bodies upon their lusts Why then should not we be as ready to
to the husband so that they prove blessings and comforts each to other Children likewise are blessed and sanctified to their Parents and Servants to their Masters Yea Family-prayer produceth Gods blessing upon their callings and enjoyments upon their losses and crosses both are thereby blessed and sanctified unto them 2. Family-prayer as it is a sanctifying ordinance so it is a seasoning ordinance it seasons the whole house with the fear of God It is recorded of Cornelius that he was a devout man one that feared God with all his house who prayed to God alwayes his constant course of praying with his Family questionless did season his whole house with the fear of God As Prayer-less Families are for the most part destitute of the fear of God so in those Families where a constant course of Praying is kept up there the hearts of many are seasoned with the true fear of God As Abraham was a Praying-master so he had praying-servants For inferiours are very apt to write after the Copy of their Superiours and to follow their example Thus by a praying Master Children and Servants are taught to Pray 3. Family-prayer is a special preservative against common calamities Polanus in his Syntagm relateth how in the year 1584. there was such a terrible Earth-quake that overthrew all the houses in a whole Town in Switzerland save one wherein the Master of the Family was at the same time praying with his Wife Children and Servants If God doth not preserve praying-families from those common judgements and calamities which befall others yet he will so sanctifie those calamities unto them that they shall turn to their good according to that gracious promise All things shall work together for good to them that love God V. Consider the manifold mischiefs that usually sollow and accompany the neglect of Family-prayer As 1. Neglect of Family-prayer is usually accompanied with the neglect of all other Religious duties which is found true by sad experience For whoever heard that the Scriptures were read or Catechising used in any Family where Prayer was omitted So that Prayer-less houses are as Sepulchres wherein all Religion lyes buried 2. Neglect of Family-prayer exposâ—th the whole houshold to the wrath and fury of God as the Prophet Ieremiah implyeth where he saith Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not upon thy name Where by the fury of God is meant his wrath in the highest degree his anger boyled up to the height Oh who can abide this scalding wrath And by pouring out Gods fury is meant Gods inflicting his fierce wrath in the greatest measure in the highest degree The words though they are set down in the form of a Prayer yet they are a prediction as well as a petition of Gods dreadfull wrath and fury to be undoubtedly inflicted upon all Prayerless-families For the Prophet put up this Prayer unto God as foreseeing the certain ruin and destruction of such Families as called not upon the name of the Lord He knew that God would assuredly pour out his fury upon their Families who did not pour out their souls unto him Oh that all Masters and Governours would seriously think and meditate on this fearfull imprecation of the Prophet against all Prayerless-families that so they might dread the omission of so necessary a duty as much as the scorching wrath and fury of God yea as the scorching fire of hell for what is hell it self but the feeling of this wrath and fury of God I shall close this with answering three Questions and as many Objections 1. Q. How often should we Pray with our Families A. 1. Every day For first our Saviour hath intimated so much unto us in his plat-form of Prayer by teaching us to Pray for our daily bread in these words Give us this day our daily bread that is bread needfull for the present day And in regard we daily stand in need of bread therefore our Saviour would have us pray daily for the same 2. Have you not daily wants to be supplyed wants for your selves and wants for your Children and Servants Have you not daily infirmities in your Family to be healed Are you not daily subject to dangers and temptations And do you not daily sin against God Is it not necessary then that you daily Pray unto God for the supply of all your wants for the healing of all your infirmities for the preventing of the dangers you are daily subject unto for the strengthning you against all your temptations for the pardoning of all your sins Surely our daily wants our daily infirmities our daily dangers our daily temptations and our daily sins do all call upon us for daily prayers And as you and yours daily partake of Gods mercies is it not just and equal that you all should daily bless God for the same The truth is every day supplyeth new matter both of Prayer and praise and therefore there is just cause daily to offer up our Sacrifice of Prayer and praise unto God 2. Q. How oft in each day are we bound to pray with our Families A. Family-prayer ought to be performed twice at least viz. In the Morning and in the Evening 1. For first this is commended unto us by the Morning and Evening Sacrifice under the Law which we find given in command unto the Jews And are not Christians under the Gospel as well as those under the Law obliged to offer up their Morning and Evening Sacrifice 2. Equity requireth this duty at your hands as the mercies of God are renewed upon you and yours every Morning and the showres of his compassion fall down upon you every night so you should not forget to offer up both a Morning and an Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and praise unto him who is so continually mindfull of you 3. Q. What time in the Morning and Evening is fittest for the performance of Family-prayer A. For this no certain rule can be prescribed in regard of the several occasions which may fall out in a Family and by reason of age sickness and the like in the Governours thereof Yet it were to be wished that the Morning Sacrifice if possibly may be betimes in the Morning before Servants go about the works of their calling as being the fittest time for holy exercises when the Spirits are freshest and freest from Wordly thoughts and distractions And it were to be wished that the Evening Sacrifice may be before Supper in regard that afterwards we are generally more heavy and sleepy and will find it more difficult to keep up our hearts and spirits in the duty Having thus resolved the Questions come we now to the Objections raised against the duty of Family-prayer CHAP. VI. Objections against Family-prayer Answered 1. Obj. SOme Object their inability to pray they know not how to perform the duty A. 1. Let the sense of thine own weakness drive thee unto God for power and strength Beg