mother if the child were vertuous to the reproofe of her carelesnesse and negligence if he were vitious naughtie Q. You speake of a troublesome and painfull dutie A. True but if the woman will indeuour to performe it she shall not onely haue the peace of a good conscience but also the hād of the Lord readie to assist and further her Q. What is the third dutie of the married woman The third dutie of the wite to her husband is Subiection A. Subiection The woman must be subiect vnto her husband as vnto her head Q. Where is this warranted and commaunded The proofe of it A. Gen. 3.16 Ephe. 5.22 24. 1. Pet. 3.1 Q. What meane you by subiection A. When the woman dependeth vpon yeeldeth her selfe vnto the will What is meant by the subiection of the wife direction and discretion of her husband and therefore doeth presume neither to ouermaister him neither to control and make vile account of his speeches and actions neither appoint and command him what he should doe or leaue vndone neither yet render checke for check The holy women of antient time are paterns of such subiection to their husbands rebuke for rebuke reproach for reproach from which and the like the holy women of God haue euer been farre of as may appeare 1. Pet. 3.6 Q. What reason had they to do so A. They knew very well that it is as monstrous and vnnatural a thing for the woman to vsurpe ouer the man No wisedome or any other excellent gift in the wife ought to imbolden her to shake off subiection and so to breake the ordinance of God as the feete to direct the eye or the loines to rise vp and set themselues in place of the head Q. But sometimes the wife is wiser more discreete and prouident then the Husband A. It is true but yet this doeth not ouerthrowe the superioritie of the man and therefore if occasion be offered to admonish and aduise her husband she is to performe this dutie with humilitie and reuerence shewing her selfe more willing to heare then to speake to be ruled thē to rule and gouerne her husband 4 Dutie of the wife to the husband is obedience Q. What is the fourth dutie of the wife toward the Husband A. Obedience Q. Is the wife to obey her Husband A. Yea no doubt it is a vertue commended by the Holy Ghost in Sarah Abrahams wife 1. Pet. 3.6 What is meant by obedience Q. What meane you by obeying A. It is to do and practise the commaundements of the husband Q. Must she performe all his commandemēts without exception limitation The wiues obedience to her husband is limited by the word of God A. Not so but so farre forth as they are consonant agreeable with the word of God therfore if he doeth commaund any thing contrarie vnto the will of God she is not to obey him Q. Why Sarah did twise dissemble at the request of her Husband A. It is true but that was her great fault which was rebuked and condemned euen by an heathen man Gen. 25. Q What say you for a fift dutie The 5. dutie of the wife to her husband is to frame her selfe to be like affected with him A. She is to frame and dispose her selfe to the affection desire disposition of her husband Q. How is that A. She is to practise that excellent precept of the holy Ghost Rom. 12.15 whervnto al Christians are boūd as namely Reioyce with her hasbād when he reioyceth and weepe with him when he weepeth therefore she is not frowardly to crosse him in any lawful and indifferēt thing or action as the manner of some is who loue to lowre when their husband is cheerefull and to be merry when he is heauy and to draw back when he is forward to any good thing which behauior as it proceedeth frō a cankred nature so it agreeth not with the holy consent of marriage and is the cause of many mischiefes Q. What is the sixt dutie of the wife A. She must keepe at home or in her house Q. Where is this warranted The 6. dutie of the wife toward her husband is to keepe at home to ouersee his familie The proofe of it There are three causes which moue vnto it A. First of all by the light of nature experience hereof we haue among the heathen Secondly more effectually by the word of God Tit. 2. chap. 5. ver Q. To what end is this required A. For sundrie causes first of all not onely for the preseruation of goods and substance but also for keeping the houshold in good order in the absence of her husband Againe by that meanes to take occasion to doe good for the glorie of God the benefit of the Church which thing appeareth in Iael the wife of Hebr. Iudg. 5 24.25 Lastly to auoid suspition of euill all occasiō that might drawe allure her to commit any vnlawfull act The wife is not to be in her house as in a prison without all libertie of going abroad Q. But is the wife so bound to her house as she is to liue therein as in a perpetuall prison A. That is not the mind of the Holy Ghost but rather an abuse of an holy precept for why there be diuers reasons or causes why the wife should depart out of her house go abroad The wife is to haue her libertie to goe abroad to three endes and purposes 1. End Examples of such holy libertie Q. What are those reasons or ends A. The first is to prouide for her soule eternal good by the publicke Ministerie of the word by christian conuersation amongst the faithfull Q. What examples haue you hereof A. In the noble woman wherof mention is made 1. Kings 4.22 as also in diuers holy and noble women Luke 8. and diuers other places Q. What is your second reason 2. End A. Secondly that the wife may performe the duties of loue and mercy and compassion which are inioyned by the Lord to euerie Christian Q. What lastly 3. End A. She may and ought to goe abroad sometime for the health of her bodie solace of her mind that so she may be the better able to performe all other duties so that place Titus 25. rightly vnderstood maketh nothing for the imperiours husband or the slothful sluggish wife The duties of the Maisters toward their Seruants Q. What is she to consider in the last place A. The wife must be contented to be attired and maintained according to the proportion of her husbands abilitie and estate The 7. dutie of the husband toward the wife Q. What if she labour to exceed it A. She doth not only giue cause to her husband to suspect that she laboureth to please the eye of another rather then his owne but also indeed wasteth and consumeth his goods to his great impouerishment
and decay whereof will arise many troubles and mischiefes WE HAVE HItherto spoken of diuers Persons contained in the fist Commandement and now let vs speake of the duties of Maisters and seruants Three reasons doe shew that Maisters of families owe dutie toward their Seruants Q. DO Masters owe duties to their seruants how may that be proued A. By the order that God hath appointed betweene Maisters and seruants for why The Maister is set in a Superior degree ouer the seruant 1. reason and therefore as in a naturall bodie the principall members haue a speciall care ouer the base and inferiour so ought the maister ouer the seruant Besides The 2. reason seruants are helpfull and beneficiall vnto their Maisters for why they serue not onely for their comfort and defence but also for their honor game and commoditie and therefore in all equitie they are bound in some sort to requite their seruants The 3. reason Lastly the duties of Maisters are as clearely and fully described and set downe in the word of God as appeareth in the old new Testamēt and namely Prou. Exod. 21. Deut. 15. Ephes 6. Col. 4. as the duties of seruants all which were to no purpose if Christian housholders ought nothing vnto their seruants Q. what are the duties that they do owe A. Diuers And First of al housholders are to care and bring vp their seruants in the true knowledge of God and his sincere religion that so they may not only worship the Lord aright The 1. dutie of the Maister is to bring vp his seruants in the true knowledge and religion of God There are 4. reasons mouing hereunto but also attaine vnto eternall happines in heauen which is the chiefe end of the life of man and of all the graces of God bestowed vpon him Q. What reasons haue you to proue that this ought to be performed by Housholders to their seruants A. First if euerie Christian ought to haue a care of the saluation one of another 1. and to that end to imploy all good meanes that they can both by themselues and by others then are Maisters more to doe the same to their seruants because ther is a more straight bond betweene the Maister and the seruant then betweene Christians one toward another for why in the Fift Comandement as Housholders are contained vnder the name of Parents so vnder the title of children are seruants comprehended Againe there is no doubt 2. but that when the Lord commanded his people that they should whet his word and law continually vpon their children as appeareh 2 Deut. 6. 11. vnder the name of children he also containeth seruants Furthermore 3 Abraham was not ignorant of his dutie in this respect for why the Holy Ghost doth commend him Gen. 18. for that he both did and would teach and instruct his houshold in the knowledge and obedience of the will of God Lastly 4. Reason al that faithful seruants of God continually followed his example as may appeare that many in the Scripture are not only cōmended for that they themselues did knowe serue and feare the Lord but for that their houshold by their meanes did the same were in the like happie estate Examples of Maisters carefull to traine vp their seruants in the true feare and religion of God Q. Where doeth this appeare A. Acts. 10. in Cornelius Rom. 16. in the houshold of Aquila Priscilla the like we read of the Iaylor his family Act 16. of diuers others amongst which Ioshua saith confidently I and mine houshold will serue the Lord. Q. You haue said very well but what if all these reasons will not preuaile with Maisters and Housholders A. Then let their owne gaine and commoditie moue them This may be a 5. reason to the former purpose The religious seruant is the most profitable seruant It is proued to be so by 3. reasons Q. What meane you by this A. Doubtlesse they can neuer haue good faithfull seruants seruing for their commoditie without religion and the true feare of God Q. How can you make that manifest A. First a religious seruant that feareth God doth tremble is afraid to do any thing that may hurt or indamage his Maister 1. yea to do so much as offend him Againe 2. he wil be as diligēt to procure the comfort cōmoditie of his Maister as his owne therefore is as faithfull in the absēce of his Maister as whē he is presēt example whereof we haue in the seruāt of Abrahā Gen. 24 Lastly 3. Reason the Lord wil blesse the house where such a seruant is and will prosper and giue successe to all that he taketh in hand Q. You speake the truth for this appeareth in Ioseph Iacob Dauid and such like But what is the Maister to doe to bring his seruant to that passe and estate you speake of It is the dutie of Masters toward their seruants to vse all means that they may to bring them to the true knowledge and feare of God 1. meanes A. Although he is not to vsurpe and take vpon him the functions and duties proper to the publicke Minister of the word of God for that were to bring woe and confusion vpon himselfe yet may he lawfully and with the blessing of God performe diuers duties and yet keepe within his owne limits and compasse Q. What are they A. He is to exhort and inforce his seruants to resorte to the publicke Ministerie of the word Secondly 2 he is to read himselfe or cause to be read in his house continually the holy Scriptures Thirdly 3 he may impart to his seruants the things which he hath learned either by reading or hearing Fourthly 4 he must examine and make triall how they profit by the publicke exercises of religion Furthermore 5 he is daily to pray with and for his seruants that God may giue them knowledge and faith in his holy word Lastly by his holy and Christian example and conuersation he is to bring them to a loue and delight in the knowledge and practise of true religion Q. But what if seruants will not profit but cōtemne the word of God all good admonitions continuing stil vnfaithfull to their Maisters and rebellious against God 2. dutie of Maisters toward their Seruants is correction if they deserue it what is the Maister then to do as a further dutie A. He is to vse correction and discipline Q. But may a Maister correct his seruant A. Yea no doubt for it is a thing warranted both by the word of God and light of nature as also by the consent of all nations To the vsing of the correction of seruants arigh◠foure rules are to be obserued 1. Rule Q That he may performe that dutie in the right manner what rules are to be obserued therein A. He is to put a differēce amongst his seruants in regard of
their age sexe disposition and other properties for one sort is not to be dealt withall as another Secondly he is to dispence proportion correction 2. Rule according to the nature measure of the offence and therefore he is not egerly to pursue small faults and ouer passe great nor extreamly to reuēge offēces against himselfe to make light account of sinnes committed against God and the saluation of the seruant Thirdly 3. Rule he is not to correct and trouble himselfe about euery fault but lightly to passe ouer small offences and infirmities Lastly 4. Rule he is not to chastise his seruant in bitternes reuenge but in loue cōpassiō that the seruant may plainly see that it is done for his benefite and welfare Q. What kinds of punishment or correction is he to vse A. Diuers according to the nature of offences as words admonition sometime more mild somtime more vehemēt now thē stripes and correction of the hand if all this will not serue as a desperate and infectious member he is to be remoued expelled out of the family All this is warranted from the word of God and example of his best seruants 3. Dutie of Maisters toward their Seruants that they deale equally and iustly with them To the end Maisters may deale equally and well with their seruants 4. things must be practised 1. Dutie belonging to the Maisters equall dealing with his Seruant Q. What is the third generall thing that the Maister is to performe toward his seruant A. That which is cōmanded by the Holy Ghost Col. 4.1 in these words Ye Maisters doe or offer to seruants that which is good and equall Q. What particular duties doeth this generall Commandement containe A. Diuers And first of all they are not to keepe away their seruants hire wages as wicked Laban did from Iacob Ge. 29.23 but pay discharge that which was agreed vpon which is required by the Lord of Maisters And there is great reason thereof for why by the very light of nature the labourer is worthie of his hire Mat. 10.1 Tim. 5.18 therfore to keep away the seruants or hirelings wages is in many places condemned as a grieuous sinne in the sight of God 2. Dutie belonging to equall dealing with the Seruant Secondly they are to teach instruct their seruants apprentises in the knowledge and skill of those Arts Trades and Misteries for the obtaining whereof they willingly bound themselues with them and therefore to disappoint and deceiue them when they haue receiued their money and imployed their time and labour about their owne cōmoditie it is plaine and vnnaturall falshood and euen contrarie to equitie and reason whatsoeuer colour and pretence they may set vpon the matter Q. What say you thirdly 3. dutie belonging to equall dealing with the seruant A. Maisters when they commaund their seruants any thing they are to make their whole minde and purpose fully knowne vnto them and not to speake vnto them either through negligence and pride or disdaine and impatience imperfectly and as it were in a riddle or darke speech whereby the seruant hanging in suspence knoweth not what to doe and what to auoid according to the example of Abraham Cen. 24. whose wisedome and equitie all Maisters are to follow for why it were vnreasonable tyrannicall to deale heardly with seruants for not doing that thing which they knew not 4. Thing belonging to good and equall dealing with Seruāts Fourthly maisters are to commaund nothing that is hurtfull and daungerous either to the body or to the soule of their seruants As for example to lie and speake vntruthes to picke or steale to commit whoredome or vncleannesse to fight desperate fraies to murther and shed blood in the vniust diuellish quarrell of their Maister and such like in which respect diuers persons are cōdemned and noted with infamie in the holy Scrptures As Putiphers wife alluring Ioseph to vncleannesse Absolom commaunding his seruants to murther his brother Amnon the like is to be seen in Saul 1. Sam. 21. In the high priest Act. 24. and many other For doubtlesse it is a most vniust and cruell thing that whereas the maister ought to haue a speciall care of the good estate of their seruants both in respect of their soules and bodies to command any thing that should indanger either of both which the Prophet Dauid knew right well therefore would not drinke the water that was brought to him with the daunger of his seruants 5. Dutie of the Master toward the Seruant to the end hee may deale equally with him Q. What is the fift dutie A. The master is to command those things which the seruāt is able to beweeld performe bring to passe not the things that do exceed his abilitie strength according to the example of cruel Pharaoh who laid such heauy burdens charges vpon his poore seruants the Israelites that they were inforced to grone and be weary of their liues This is to deale worse with a reasonable creature and one that carrieth the Image of God thē a good mā will deale with a bruit beast For as the holy Ghost saith Pro. 12.10 A good man pittieth his beast Q. Now proceede 6. Dutie belonging to equal dealing with the Seruant A. Although a seruant is not vnreuerently at all times to answer his master admonishing and rebuking him yet is he in some weightie causes and respects to giue his seruant leaue to answer for himselfe according to the example of Iob ch 31. for otherwise the most innocent should be condemned as guiltie which were a most vniust and vnreasonable thing and therefore the seruant must be suffered to make his iust and lawfull defence Q. What further haue you to say 7. Dutie belonging to equal dealing with the Seruant A. Seuenthly the Maisters are not alwayes to weare and consume their seruants about their owne commoditie and profit but at the last that in due time to giue thē leaue to prouide for themselues by some honest lawfull means Which thing Iacob in all reason doeth require of Laban Gen. 20. herewithall when seruants haue consumed their strength cōtinued many years in faithful seruice they are not to bee sent away with empty hands but the master is to requite them in some sort according to his abilility These things are cōmanded by the Lord as things iust and equall Deut. 15. in other places of the law How greatly vniust cruell dealing with seruants displeaseth the Lord we may read Ier. 34. Q. What yet further A. The maister is to tender maintaine his seruant when he is sicke and vnable to prouide for himselfe as also to vse all good meanes for the recouerie of his health 8. Dutie of equal dealing with the Seruant for it were vniust to vse the health of the seruant and then to forsake him in his sicknesse in
conscience wherof the Centurian as appeareth Mat. 8. resorteth to our Sauiour Christ to obtaine recouerie and health for his seruant who thē lay in extremitie of sicknes And a certaine Philistim is noted of crueltie 1. Sam. 30.11.12.13 for that he forsooke his seruant and left him destitute of al necessaries being now sick and vnable to attend vpon him 9. Dutie of equall dealing with the seruant Q. What say you in the last place A. When the seruant dieth the maister is to see him committed to the earth by honest and comely buriall This is a dutie which one Christian oweth to another and therefore is a Christian master to perform it much more to his seruant which hath finished his life in his seruice of this was Isaac mindful as appeareth in the buriall of Deborah his wiues nurse and seruant OF THE DVTIES of seruants towards their Maisters 1. Dutie of Seruants to their Masters is loue Q. VVE heard before of the duties of masters toward their seruants let vs now come to the duties of seruāts toward their masters What is the first dutie A. Loue. Theseruant must loue his maister Q. You say well for without this the seruant can do no dutie in the right manner or acceptable to God But can the seruant easily performe this dutie It is a hard thing for Seruants to loue their Maisters A. No It is an hard matter in this corruption of mans Nature to performe it to any man but especially for seruants toward their maisters Q. How commeth that to passe The reason of the difficultie A. By reason of the inward pride whereby euery man hath a desire to be aduance laboue others as also for that by the light of nature we all loue libertie and hate bondage and seruitude as a punishment for sinne Q. By what reasons may seruants be induced to loue their maisters By 3. reasons seruants may induce their heartes to loue their Masiers 1. Reason A. First of all if they wil be accounted true Christians the seruants of God they are to loue all men in generall yea euen their very enemies therefore much more their maisters to whom they are neerely bound Againe 2. maisters doe beare and represent the person of Iesus Christ the great maister and Lord of the whole world and therefore if they loue Iesus Christ they must needes loue their earthly maisters Lastly 3. maisters are instruments and meanes wherby the Lord cōueyeth many graces and benefites vnto seruants Q. What are those Seruants receiue diuers sortes of benefites from their Masters A. An house an habitation together with a lawful calling to attend vpon which is not euery mans case Secondly masters do free their seruants and defend them from many disgraces 1. Sort. 2. Sorte iniuries oppressions which otherwise they should suffer at the hands of them who are mightier then themselues Furthermore maisters direct their seruants in a course seruing to their comfort and benefit 3. Sort. who of themselues would runne hedlong into a number of miseries destructions Lastly if they be Christian masters 4. Sort. they haue not only a care for the outward estate of their seruants in ministring to them such things as are necessarie but principally they haue care of the eternal saluatiō of their souls Q. Your reasons are essectual to perswade and haue preuailed with such who were indued with any grace of Gods spirit which thing they haue declared not onely by a tender care of the good estate of their Masters but also by amiable countenances and sweet behauiour as appeareth by diuers in the holy scripture But now what is the second dutie of seruants to their Maisters 2. Dutie of Seruants to their Masters is reuerence subiection The preofe of it A. Reuerence and Subiection Q. Where is that warrāted required A. Ephes 6.5 1. Pet. 2.18 1. Tim. 6. 1. Tit. 2.9 In all which places reuerence and submission is required at the hands of seruants toward their Maisters Q. But what should moue them to performe this dutie There are 3. Reasons mouing to this dutie 1. Reason A. Diuerse reasons And first the Maister is aduaunced and lifted vp into an higher degree of prehemiuence then the seruant and therfore it is his dutie to stoope down to him as his superiour Againe 2. Reason the state and condition of the maister is better then that of the seruant in the outward respect therefore he must honor him as his better Lastly the master taketh his authoritie ouer the seruant 3 Reason from no creature in heauen or earth but onely from God himselfe Rom. 13. Pro. 8. therefore the seruant cannot resist his Maister The Seruant is to reuerence his Master 1. In heart inwardly 2 outwardly And that also diuers waves or cōtemne him but he must needes resist God and despise his maiestie Q. Is the seruant onely to reuerence the maister inwardly in his heart A. No he is to expresse it outwardly and that diuers wayes First of all in his countenance for why he is not to looke vpon his Maister with a light stubborne 1. In countenance proud and disdainfull countenance 2. In Speech and wordes And that 5. wayes Q. Is he not to shew reuerence and subiection in his verie speech and words A. Yes and that diuers waies And first he is to yeeld to his Maister titles of reuerence 1. Way and honour according to his place and estate 2. King 2. and. 5. Secondly 2. he is not to gaine-say and contend with his Maister except it be in a matter of great importance and necessitie and yet the same with reuerence and submission Thirdly 3. he must not answere againe when he is admonished or rebuked Tit. 2.9 this is a signe of a rebellious heart and an occasion of much euill Prou. 15.1 Furthermore 4. he is not to speake vnreuerently or scoffingly of his gouernours behinde their backe as is the manner of some wicked seruants Q. What say you lastly A. The seruant is not to murmure grudge or repine at his estate namely that he is a seruant and in subiection 5. Way of shewing reuerence but willingly submit himselfe to his estate 2. Cor. 7.20 Ephes 6.7 And there is great reason therof for if the Lord who can as easily make a Maister as a seruant did not see it good for his owne glorie and the benefit of the seruant he would neuer haue called him thereunto Q. But is it not a great temptation for a seruant to yeeld all this that hath bin spoken of to a crooked churlish and a wicked Maister A. It is so but yet a seruant is to comfort and arme himselfe out of the word of God by these considerations There are 4. Reasons of great force to moue Seruāts to loue reuerence obey euen wicked and churlish masters 1. Reason First that albeit the Maister doeth abuse
tenne that hath a peculiar promise of a long and comfortable life yea and the onely Commandemēt of all the sixe of the second Table that hath any promise at all annexed vnto it O therefore that there were in men professing that they will heare and do the will of God the like heart to feare him to keep all and among all of the second Table specially this his cōmaundement alwaies that it might go well with them and with their children for euer But to conclude seeing God by his good prouidēce hath stirred vp this vigilant Pastor holy man of God while he yet liued to take such paines in writing this Explanation which he had often gone ouer in his publike Ministerie neglect not I pray thee the reading of such a sound fruitfull Treatise which will teach thee to retaine and encrease thine owne honour and dignitie to giue to euery sexe age calling condition of men the honour and dignitie which is due to them Now the Lord giue a gratious blessing hereunto to all other thy holy exercises and meditations euen for his onely begotten Sonnes sake Christ Iesus our only Mediator and Aduocate who together with the Father and the holy Ghost be blessed and praised for euermore S. Egerton THE DOCTRINE of Superioritie and Subiection contained in the fift Commaundement of Almightie God WEE haue by the grace of God passed through the first Table of the Cōmandements of God and now are wee come to the second Table Q. What speciall difference doe you see betweene the one and the other The special difference betweene the two Tables of the law of God Answ In the first Table the Lord as a most wise and holy Housholder and Lord of his Church doth first of all prouide for all duties concerning himselfe Who are to be accoūted Superiors In the second hee doth prescribe what duties his people are to performe one towards another Wherein appeareth his singular wisedome and goodnesse in that he is not content alone to haue a care of his owne glorie but also taketh order for the welfare and good estate of his people Q. How many sortes of duties are contained in the second Table Two sortes of duties cōtained in the 2. Table of the law of God A. Two Namely speciall duties pertaining to some speciall persons And generall which all men in generall are to performe one towarde another Q. Where are the speciall duties contained A. In the fift Commandement Q. What are the words A. Honour thy father and thy mother that they may prolong thy dayes in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee Two things to be obserued in the 5. commandement Q. How many things doe you obserue therein A. Two 1. The Precept First of all the precept it selfe Who are to be accoūted Superiours 2. A reason Two things shew the dignitie of this commandement Secondly A reason adioyned to perswade to the practise thereof Q. Why is this Commandement placed foremost in the second Table and hath a promise which the rest of the Commandements contained therein haue not 1. Because it hath the first place in the 2. Table A. To shew the excellencie and necessitie thereof Q. By what reasons may we further bee perswaded of this 2. Because it hath a promise annexed vnto it A. First of all it doth in certaine infe riour persons traine men vp as it were in a certaine inferior Schoole The dignitie of the 5. commandement may be further discerned by 3. reasōs The first reason to rise vp to the knowledge of the soueraigne Lord and to giue vnto him the reuerence and honour due to his diuine Maiestie Secondly it vpholdeth and continueth all those estates degrees and orders whereby the societie The second reason or fellowship of man is as it were by certaine ioynts and sinewes ioyned and knit togither and without which it would by a certaine pernicious confusion be cleane dissolued and vtterly perish Who are to be accoūted Superiours Thirdly if the duties of this Commaundement bee not performed the generall duties of the other Commaundementes must needes faile The third reason For he that will not performe a dutie toward him to whom hee is bound by a cartaine straight and peculiar band much lesse will hee perform duties to them that are further remooued Q In what words is the Precept contained The words of the precept A. In these Honour thy Father and thy Mother Q. How manie things are wee to note herein Two things to be noted in the precept 1. Person 2. Things due vnto them A. Two First of all certaine persons Secondly the thing due to those persons Q. Which are the persons A. Father and Mother Al superiors are comprehended vnder the titles of Father and Mother 1. Naturall parents Q. What meane you by Father Mother A. They are to speake properly only those which God in his singular wisedome doeth vse as instruments and meanes to giue men life and being in this world Who are to be accoūted Superiours for who is so ignorant which knoweth not that the Father begetteth and the Mother conceiueth and bringeth forth Q. Why are these two ioyned together in regard of honour and dutie The mother is copertner with the father in honour for two causes A. First because they meete together in the worke of procreation Secondly to preuent and meete with the corruption and partialitie of children who otherwise would either contemne the Mother and yeeld all honour and dutie to the Father by reason of his principalitie or els because the Mother doth beare them nourish them and is most tēderly affected toward them would be wholy addicted vnto her excluding and making no account of the Father Q. How may it appeare that this is the reason A. By many cleare places of the worde as Leuit. 19.3 Prou. 13.12 and chap. 10. vers 1. Ephes 6.1 2. Col. 3.10 Q. Are no other persons contained vnder these A. Yes all such as are in stead of Parents not onely in regard of superioritie but also for that they are to prouide for the good and benefite of their inferiours both in soule and bodie For so wise and mercifull is the Lord that are hee hath appoynted naturall Parents to begette and bring foorth children and thereby to giue them simplie a beeing in this life so hath hee ordayned other persons as it were Parents to tender and giue them a well and happy being 2. Kings all ciuil magistrates vnder them Q. Who are those persons which you meane 3. Ministers of the word A. Kings Princes and Magistrates Ministers of the worde of GOD 4. Housholders Housholders Schoole-maisters and Teachers 5. Schoole-maisters 6. They that excell in any vertue Those that are indued with any excellent grace and gift aboue others 7. They that exceed other in age Lastly the aged
the Scripture long life is accounted a blessing so shorte life a curse Q. Doeth God bestowe this blessing vpon all good and obedient children simply and without exception God doth sometimes make short life a great blessing to obedient children A. No he bestoweth it no further then may make for their good for when he seeth that it may hurt them he taketh away some of them in their yong yeares that is when he knoweth that by their frailtie and weaknes they may be carried away with the generall corruption of the time wherein they liue or else will shewe his tender loue toward them in taking them vp vnto himselfe before euill daies do come Examples hereof we haue in the sonne of Ieroboham 1. Kings 14. In Iosiah Enoch and such like Q. Is God then true in his word and Promise A. Yea no doubt because God giueth more then he promiseth to wit not only an happie life for a miserable life and eternall life for a short and vncertaine life but also taketh away his children betimes that they may the longer enioy his presence Q But euill and disobedient children do enioy long life as well as the obedient Whensoeuer God giueth long life to wicked children they so continuing without repentance it is a wofull curse and no blessing A. Seldome and although they doe yet is their long life so replenished with miseries plagues and the iudgements of God that it seemeth rather to be a death drawne out at length then long life here promised Q. What doe you conclude from all this Two sorts of Superiours A. Two things First of all that vndoubtedly all those that performe the duties of this Commandement shall haue a long and a blessed life as is proued and confirmed both by the word of God and continued experience of all ages Secondly that euill and disobedient children shall either liue a short life or in great miserie here after in the extreame torments of hel-fire with the rebellious diuels and the damned reprobates Q. Thus hauing obened the meaning of the Commaundement and as it were laide the ground let vs now come to the things that arise out of the same What are they A. They are all particular duties of Superiours to their inferiours and of inferiours to their Superiours Q. How many sorts are there of Superiours A. Two sorts namely publique and priuate Q. What meane you by publique Superiours A. Such as haue a more large and greater care and charge committed to them by the Lord. Publike Superiours Q. What by priuate Superiours A. Such whose care and charge is cōtained within narower straighter bounds Priuate Superiours There are also two sortes of Publike Superious Q. What say you of the first sort A. Some of them haue respect and are especially occupied about the outward ciuill 1. Ciuil Magistrates ciuill and politicall estate of the Church and these are Kinges Princes and Magistrates Others doe especially watch and haue regard to the spirituall estate of men not so much procuring worldly peace and commoditie as the eternall saluation and happines of them who are committed to their charge and these are Ministers and Preachers of the word 2. Ministers of the word Q. But because that Magistrates are in the highest degree of preheminence next vnto God aboue all other persons order requireth that we first speake of them and of the things perteining vnto them And are not all men to giue diligent care to the Doctrine concerning the Magistracie It is a doctrine to bee diligently hearkned vnto A. Yes no doubt and first of all The doctrine of Superioritie is to be diligently hearkened vnto of all inferiors for three causes Magistrates themselues that they may thereby learne what duties they are to performe themselues and to looke for at the hands of others But besides these inferiours haue speciall cause to be acquainted with this kind of doctrine The first cause First of all to stirre vp their hearts to be thankfull to God for that hee hath so mercifully and graciously euery way prouided for their safetie and comfort by means of the sacred ordinance of Magistracie The second cause Secondly that they may learne what iust and great cause they haue daily and continually to pray vnto God for the good and prosperous estate of Magistrates as it is commanded 1. Tim. 2. The third cause Thirdly to allure and perswade them to yeeld themselues in obedience and to performe all willing duties to their soueraigne Gouernours and Superiours God is the author of al Magistracy Q. Let vs then proceed to the Treatise it selfe which is to go forward in this order It is proued two wayes that God is the author of Magistracy A. First of all we will inquire who is the authour and principall cause of magistracie Secondly what speciall qualities and graces 1. By the law of Nature and gifts are required in Magistrates themselues and in such persons as do belong to them 2. By the word of God Thirdly what duties they are to perfor me Q. Who is the vndoubted Authour and efficient cause of Magistracie A. No other but God himselfe as may appeare It may three wayes as it were by an increase of certain steps and degrees appeare that magistracie is acknowledged to be of God euē by the lawe and light of Nature First of all by the law of Nature but more effectually and euidently by the word of God Q. Make the first argument more cleare and manifest A. There is no doubt but that God hath planted naturally in the heart of man a certaine sense and knowledge of Magistracie the commondities thereof as may appeare First of all in that there was neuer people or Nation so barbarous and sauage The 1. way or meane and steppe neuer assembly of men so void of the light and knowledge of God which hath not onely desired but also set ouer them some Prince or Superior to the end that they might not onely bee gouerned and directed by him as their head but yeeld dutie and homage to him A matter cleare by the experience of all times The 2. way or meane and steppe Againe the wise and best learned amongst the heathen haue expresly affirmed in their writings that kings Princes and Magistrates do proceed from God The 3. way or meane and steppe Lastly they do greatly commend magistracie and doe bewaile and condemne the state of them that are without that benefit and in conclusion some of them haue set downe rules and orders for ciuill gouernment The same is most surely and plentifully proued by holy Scriptures Q. What testimonies besides haue you out of the Scripture to proue this point A. Verie manie both in the old and new Testament Q. What remember you out of the old Testament 1. Of the old Testament Vertues required to be in a magistrate A. Pro.
And first of all by giuing to them their iust Titles Q. What Titles A. Such as serue not onely to expresse and set forth the excellencie of their calling but also the nature of the duties which they are to performe Q. What examples haue you hereof A. Very many in the word of God for there we may see that Obadiah and the Shunamite calleth the Prophets Elah and Elisah by the name of Lordes The Prophets are euery where called Seers and men of God The Ministers of the word are both in the Old and new Testament not onely called Pastors and Feeders but Maisters Ambassadors and such like Q. What is to be auoided herein Yet heerein also as well excesse as defect is carefully to be auoyded The 2. dutie concerning reuerence in speech is that the people giue a true testimony of the graces of their ministers A. Both Defect and Eccesse as was said before in the gesture or outward behauiour of the bodie Q. What is the second respect you spake of of how many things doth that consist A. Of two things for first of al they are not to raile nor speake contemptuously and slanderously of the person or office of the Minister in his absence Secondly they are to speake reuerently of him and in all truth and faithfulnes to defend his cause The first whereof is a grieuous fault condemned in the word of God euen in regard of priuate men This is the verie propertie of hypocrites and malitious enemies against the truth The contrarie is a note of hypocrits malitious wicked men Ahab Priests Scribes Pharises Good men speake well of their good ministers Ichoshaphat Nicodemus 3. Dutie in respect of reuerence concerning speeche that they do charitablie rather lessen then ouer-hardly to censure their infirmities as appeareth in Ahab toward Michaiah and in the high Priestes Scribes and Pharises with their adherents against Iohn Bahtist Christ Iesus and his Apostles The other is a dutie practised by them that had felt sweetnes and profited by the Ministerie of the word as by Ichosaphat Nicodemus and diuers others specified in the Euangelists Q. What say you to the third A. The people are not by speech to discouer blase abroad or publish vnto others especially enemies of the truth the fault and infirmities of their Teachers Q. Why not A. Because first of all it were to play the parte of cursed Cham who discouered the nakednes and shame of his father as also of those helhounds the yong childreÌ„ of Bethel who vpbraideth the Prophet by his baldnes Yea it were diuellish ingratitude for any to lay open the faultes and offences of him who desireth with all indeuour to heale and couer their sinnes and transgressions both before God and men Q. What is the second generall dutie of the people to their Minister The 2. general duâ—ie of people to be performed to their mâ—nisters it is Obedience Wherevnto 3 things are required 1. Thing is that they be willing to suffer iust reproofe A. They are to obey and submit themselues to him according as it is commaunded by the Holy Ghost Heb. 13. Q. What is required herein A. First they are willingly to yeelde themselues to be gouerned and ruled yea to be admonished reproued and censured by him And that not without good reason and equitie for seeing God requireth those duties at the handes of the Minister it is good reason that the people should yeelde thereunto Q. Who hath done so A. The best and greatest persons amongst the seruants of God as Dauid Ichosaphat and diuers other Q. What is the second thing required A. The people must be content with their owne places and duties 2. They must not presume to intermeddle with any publike dutie proper to the minister such as are preaching of the word c and not vsurpe and incroach vpon the office and duties proper peculiar to the publike Ministers of the word Q. What are these duties A. First of all the Preaching opening and Interpreting of the holy Scriptures Secondly Publike Prayer Thirdly the Administration of the holy Sacraments 3 Reasons why the people may not intermeddle with the duties of the minisers office Q. Why may not the people meddle with these things A. First because God in his wisedome hath distinguished euery calling with the duties thereof from all other containing them so within their limits that one is not to incroach vpon another 1. Reason Secondly 2. Reason the Ministerie of the word is so holy a thing and doeth import the Lord himselfe so nigh that no man may take it vpon him except he be called of God Lastly 3. Reason if euery man might vsurpe the duties of the Minister it would opeÌ„ a way for a number of mischiefes and that to the ruine and ouerthrow of the saluation of man in regard whereof the Lord from time to time hath bin most seuerely reuenged vpon the persons of them that haue intruded themselues into the office of the Minister as it is manifest in Saul and King Vzziah Touching Obedience the people are in the 3. place dutifully to heare and embrace the truth of all their holy doctrine Q. What is the third thing required as belonging to the submission of the people to the Minister A. The people are humbly readily and chearefully without pride and contradiction to heare imbrace and practise the doctrine which the Ministers doe deliuer according to the example of the Bereans Thessalonians and such like among the seruants of God Q. Is this simplie to be performed and without exception A. No for the people are to examine the Ministers doctrine whether it be agreeable with the word of God or no a thing not onely commaunded by the Holy Ghost as appeareth 1. Thessa 5. 1. Ioh. 4.1 but also practised by the seruants of God Q. What is the third generall dutie which the people owe to their Minister A. They are to maintaine and sustaine him and his familie with all necessaries 3. Generall dutie to be performed of people to their ministers it is maintenance of them and their families The proofes of it are sundrie testimonies of holy scripture according to their abilitie Q. Where is this warranted and commaunded A. In many places both of the old and new Testament Q. What reason should moue men to the practise hereof A. First of all naturall equitie that is The labourer is worthie of his hire Secondly the excellencie of the thinges which the people reape at the handes of the Minister 3. Reasons drawne froÌ„ the same according to that of the Apostle 1. Cor. 9.11 If we haue sowne vnto you spirituall thinges is it a great thing if we reape your carnall things Thirdly the sweete promises of God made to the performance of this dutie and his heauie iudgements threatned against the contrarie Many examples recorded therein Lastly the examples of the worthie seruants of God who haue bin verie carefull
excellent are not onely disgraced and deformed but vtterly fruitelesse and like a ring of gold as the Prophet in another sense speaketh in a swines snout Q. For the furtherance whereof how is the Schoole-maister to behaue himselfe which is the third generall thing you spake of 3. Dutie of the Schoole-master toward his Scholler is good example of life coÌ„uersation The reason of it A 4. dutie of the Schoole-master is to pray often both with and for his Schollers A. He is to walke before the eyes of his scholler in a wise holy sober and comely behauiour The reason wherof is for that the schollers are readie to follow the example of their Maisters in all things whether good or euill as we may see in the schollers of Plato Aristotle Pythagoras and such like Q. Is not the Schoole-maister to pray often with and for his schollers A. Yes for without that smal or no successe is to be looked for The duties of Schollers to their Schoolemasters OF THE DVTIES of Schollers to their Schoole-maisters and Teachers Q. HAuing spoken of the duties of Schoole-maisters equitie and order doth require to speake of the things that Schollers ought to performe what say you to that 3. Sortes of duties to be performed of Schollers to their Schoolemasters A. The things which they are to performe are diuerse The first concerneth themselues The second hath respect to their Maisters The third containeth their behauiour to all men in generall Q. What say you of the first which concerne themselues 1. Sort of the which there are 2. A. That which they are to performe in regard of themselues and their owne good is two-fold For first of all they are to giue diligent care attention heedfulnes to that which is taught and deliuered Secondly they are to labour that they may profit therin Q. Why is the first required A. Because that without diligent hearing and attention The Reason of the first dutie teaching and instruction be it neuer so plaine wholsome excellent it is in vaine like as if a man should sing vnto a dâ—afe eare for hearing â—oeth naturally and in order before vnderstanding wherevpon Schollers in all languages are termed by the name of hearers Q. But how shall Schollers profite and increase by that which they heare How the 2. Autie is to be performed that the Scoller may profit Things to be iuoyded which hinder profiting A. They are to auoid some things and performe some other Q. What are the things they are to auoid A. Idlenesse excessiue eating drinking sleeping recreations the companie of idle vaine persons amourous and such like By all which meanes a man doth fruitlesly mispend his time blunt and dul his wits and weaken his memorie Things to be practised for the profit 〈◊〉 the Scholler Q What is he to performe A. To call to mind things heard often and seriously to meditate therof conferre thereof with others and be readie to teach them the things hee himselfe hath â—earned 2 Sort of duties Of the which there are 3. Q Wâ—at say you of his dutie towards his Maister A. His duetie containeth three things 1. Loue. For first of all hee is to loue his Ma ster as an other parent yea and in some respects more then his naturall Parent 2 ReuereÌ„ce Secondly hee is to reuerence and honour him 1. In heart First of all in his heart and affections 2. In speech present or absent Secondly in his speech both in the presence and absence of his Maister 3. In gesture Thirdly in outward gesture and behauiour By all which outward effects is laid open the inward reuerence and honour of the heart Q. What is the third dutie A. Thankfulnesse which containeth all meanes which serue to requite the loue 3. Dutie is Thankfulnes care labour and trauaile of his Maister with all fruits and benefites ensuing thereof in which regard manie are renowned commended euen in prophane Hystories as Alexander the great to Aristotle his Maister Vnthankfulnes is a great sin in Schollers highly displeasing to God Contrariwise all such haue beene condemned as vnnaturall monsters which haue shewed themselues vnthankfull or vnkinde towards their Schoole-maisters Fathers in learning as that MoÌ„ster of Nature Nero towards his Maister Seneca So certain yong Schollers as appeareth in Prudentius who with their stiles and penkniues bereaued their Christian maister of his life vpoÌ„ all which hellish Vipers afterward came the horrible vengeaunce and iudgementes of God And not without cause seeing they did in a hellish manner violate and transgresse this fift commandement Q. Say somewhat of the third and last thing namely the behauiour of Schollers before all men in generall 3. Sort of the duties of Schollers A. As their bringing vp is more excellent then others so are they to excell others in behauiour Q. How to excell They are to excell others that want good education in their whole carriage and behauing of themselues toward all men A. In Religion courtesie humilitie humanitie comelines and order in eating and drinking talking recreations entertainments salutations such like According to the rules and precepts which they haue learned not only out of the Scripture word of God but out of the writings of ciuil political men And therefore in this respect are condemned al which professing learning are yet in their maÌ„ners behauior proud prophane noisome inciuil vncomly wherby they are so farre off from adorning coÌ„mending good learning that they doe most notably deface it coole the affections of many towards it OF THE DVTIES OF the elder and yonger sort Q. WE are now come to the other sorts whereof we spake before and first of all we are to begin with the elder sort The duties of the Elder toward the yonger 1. Things to be considered coÌ„cerning the elder persons 1. The vertues wherewith they are to be indued 2. The duties which they are to performe toward the yonger in yeares The vertues which ought to bee in the Elder are manie as the Apostle setteth them downe â—â—t chap. 2. vers 1.2.3 what say you of them A. For the better handling of that which concerneth them we are to consider what vertues and properties are required in their persons Secondly what they are to performe being thus qualified to the yonger sort Q. What are the vertues or properties required in the persons of auncient men and women A. The most of them are set downe in the first second third verses of the 2. chap. of the Epist to Titus The words are these But speake thou the things which become wholesome doctrine That the elder men be watchfull graue temperate sound in the faith in loue and in patience The elder women likewise that they be in such behauiour as becommeth holinesse not false accusers nor subiect to much wine but teachers of honest things Q. What duties are