mee that I can neither live well with thee nor without thee Such dishonors of the lovely sex disgraces of woman-hood caused some wise men besides the over-wived a Interrâ—gatus utrum melius esset uxorem ducere néâ—ne inquit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 D. Laert. l. 1. Socrat l. 2. Psal. 128. Socrates to judge that there is matter of repentance both in wedlock and single life but the good woman openeth her mouth with wisedom and her tongue is the law of kindness Prov. 31. 26. 3. Let her b Tit. 2. 5. keepe at home like the fruitfull vine upon the walls of the house breeding up her children and providing for them it is that which God enjoineth that they be discreet chaste keepers at home it is the harlots character Prov. 7. 11. Shee is loud and stubborn her feet abide not in her house now shee is without now in the streets and lieth in waite at every corner Thus much of the duety of the married to the Widow I have to say she is free to marry again but advise her to take heed that 1. Shee marry not to low least suspicion brand her with the obloquie of some former familiarity 2. That shee marry not too soon least shee that can so quickly abolere Sichaeum be thought for want of love to make such short exequies Valeria being demanded why she married not againe could say My Servius is dead to others not to mee 3. That shee sell not her children to want and her selfe to misery by an ungodly concourse of lust and avarice 4. That shee consider well that which deterred Cato's daughter from second marriage I cannot easily said shee finde that man which loveth mee so much as my estate A Praier for the married O Lord God who didst create man and woman joyne them in marriage sanctify and blesse us whom thy providence hath joyned together Lord give us one heart to love thee and one another in thee that we may be heires together of the promise that thy blessings of heaven above and earth beneath the blessings of peace vnity and plenty may be upon us and all that thou givest us Lord Jesus who didst furnish the wants at the Cana marriage with a bountiful supply supply all our necessities with those things which thou knowest necessary for us that in every estate we may finde a cheerful sufficiency Keepe us bodies and soules from all the snares of Satan the distractions of the world corruptions of flesh and blood and the power of sinne that we may live unblameably toward all men and holily before thee to the good examples of sanctity and sobriety to our families and mutual comforts and blessings to each other through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen CHAP. XXV Concerning the duties of Parents and Children § 1. What honor to Parents want of Children good Parents of evil Children § 2. Duety of the Parent Rules thereto belonging § 3. Dueties of Children Rules thereof Motives thereto 1. HOnour thy father and thy mother saith the Lord. Under this name are comprehended all superiors and governers parents by nature order or institution as under the name of children all inferiors sonnes daughters subjects pupills servants c. and honor importeth all dueties respectively to be performed 2. Want of Children is a great affliction to some therefore Hannah wept and prayed in bitternesse of soul it was then a reproach and affliction to the just and a curse on the wicked When God said unto Abraham Fear not I am thy shield and exceeding great reward hee replyed Lord God what wilt thou give mee seeing I goe childlesse Give mee children or I die said impatient Rachel Shee knew not then what 't was to have a Benoni a sonne of sorrow Children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the wombe is his reward hee maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyfull mother of children as the fruitful vine on the sides of the house with children like olive branches God maketh the just mans wife Great blessings if good or greatest afflictions if otherwise certaine cares uncertain comforts a lovely possession but ever bringing the most happy possessor many cares feares and troubles to some most bitter sorrowes if God give thee no children hee hath given thee the lesse care and occasion of sorrows which in their losse sitteth heavily even on the hearts of those mourning parents who may say as that Shunamite Did'I not desâ—re a sonne of my Lord did I not say doe not decceve mee Be thankful for that which God hath given thee no man hath all happinesse some thou hast the greatest if hee hath given thee Christ thy Redeemer and Saviour how justly may hee say that of Elkanah Why is thy heart grieved am not I better to thee then ten sons 3. That good parents have sometimes evil children appeareth in Noah's Cham Elie's and Samuel's sons David's Amnon and Absolom Jehoshaphat's Hezekiah's Manasse and the like Thus God pleaseth either to punish their neglects in breeding them or to exercise their patience and humble them so likewise to manifest to the world that sanctity is by no natural propagation but free grace Sometimes wicked parents have holy sons as appeareth in Josiah sonne of Amon and many others that none may despair of whatsoever family he come 1. The duety of a Parent toward his children is to nourish and breed them up providing necessaries for them to teach them the feare of the Lord 1 Tim. 5. 1. Tit. 2. 4. Gen. 18. 19. Exod. 12. 27. Exod. 13. 8 14. Deut. 4. 10. Deut. 6. 7 20. Deut. 11. 19. Deut. 32. 46. Josh. 4. 6 7 21 22. Josh. 22. 24. Psal. 74. 4. Isai. 38. 19. Joël 1. 3. Ephes. 6. 4. to reprove their â—innes 1 Sam 3. 13. Prov. 13. 24. Prov. 29. 17. Hebr. 12. 9. Gen. 34. 30. to pray for them 2 Sam. 12. 16. Job 1. 5. to lay up forâ—them 2 Cor. 12. 14. Gen. 24. 36. 2 Chron. 21. 3. to bestow them in marriage Gen. 24. 2 3. Gen. 21. 21. Gen. 28. 1. Judg. 14. 3 5. Therefore these following rules are necessary for parents concerning the same 1. Study thy family that thou maist not be a stranger at home first it is necessary for thee to proportion the expences thereof and the breeding of thy children according to thy estate lest thou build higher then thy foundation will beare it hath been the evident ruine of many families that parents have bred their children in so great an heigth as that the meanes they were able to leave them could not maintain them It is not a little wisedom to live within thy fortunes and to use thy children to a condition rather much too low then the least little above thy estate the minde will easily greaten and rise with the fortunes but very hardly lessen or descend it is an evident danger to beare a saile
our own consciences placing religion in those things which God hath left indifferent as they who prohibited certaine meats or marriage nor will wee dispense with that word in any one point for by any humane authority pretended or pressed to the contrary 3. In all thy actions and designes before thou enterprise duely and seriously consider the end thereof that is as wee have noted like the rudder in the ship though iâ— come last it directeth first and last look before thee and consider what must be the end O that they were wise saith the Lord that they understood this that they would consider their later end so shalt thou at once and ever conclude of all sinful actions with the Apostle The end of those things is death 4. In all thy actions set thy selfe ever in the presence of God so did David professe Psal. 16. 8. ever remember that thou art in his sight and that nothing thou doest or thinkest can be hid from him neither solitude nor darknesse can vaile thee Psal. 139. 11 c. 5. In all that thou doest be sure to hold the rule of charity for that is the fulfilling of the Law this is the fruit of God's Spirit let all things be done in charity there can be nothing acceptable to God which doth not hold this 6. In all religious well designed acts be what thou seemest the hypocrite doth but personate act and counterfeit the saint hee seemeth good but is doubly impious as the Orator said of the Servilii which were very like but not the same so like that they were not distinguished abroad at home they were not of strangers by their own they were When the hypocrite hath deceived other men he never can beguile his owne conscience be thou therefore just and sincere in thy deportment before God and man 7. Do nothing to others which thou wouldst not have done to thee 't is Christ's rule and the summe of the law and the Prophets concerning our duety in the second Table 8. Doe nothing whereof thou must at best bitterly repent thee when the Philosopher had a great price of folly set him he answered I will not buy repentance so dear 9. Doe nothing against thy conscience for fear or favor of men esteem a good testimony thereof before all treasure in some things we sinne all but blessed are they that condemne not themselves in those things they know 10. In every undertaking pray God to direct counsel and blesse thee in every thing by praier and supplication let your requests be made knowne unto God hee is unworthy to be blessed in his works who will not acknowledge God's providence in asking the same A Praier for direction in all our actions MOst merciful Father who hast promised that if the wicked turne from his sins that he hath committed and do that which is lawfull and right he shall live and his transgressions shall not be mentioned unto him in humble acknowledgment of our many sinnes the equity of thy judgments to give us over to our own unhappy waies who have so long refused to be guided by thy holy word and our owne helplesse impotency to stay our selves turn unto thee or set our selves in any good way to serve and please thee wee pray thee for Christ Jesus sake to pardon all our misdeeds and to vouchsafe to lead us in thy pathes and the way thou wouldst have us to walke in we have long gone astray like lost sheep and thou best knowest O our God how dangerous Satan's snares are to us how many the distractions of a beguiling world how fraile and infirme sinful flesh and blood and how many our errours But O Lord thy wisedom cannot erre therefore renouncing our own guidance wee render our selves into thy gracious hands humbly beseeching thee who freely givest wisedom to all that aske and upbraidest no man hold thou up our goings in thy pathes that we faile not direct all our waies that we neither decline to the right hand nor to the lest to offend thee Give us the shield of our salvation and let thy right hand uphold us O thou that hearest the prayers of them that call upon thee heare us for our soules waite on thee direct and guide us keepe us and counsell us in all our actions that we may neither do nor designe any thing but that which is pleasing to thee and which thou wilt blesse unto us that we may walk unblamably and prudently toward all men and holily before thee that in all our actions wee may glorifie thee that wee may adorne the Gospel of Christ by our holy conversations give good example to our neighbours and stop the mouthes of all malicious adversaries so that when these daies of sin are ended we shall rest from our labors we may enter into that promised rest which remaineth for thy people where shall be no more sin error nor curse hear us O Lord in these and all other things necessary for our bodies or soules for Jesus Christ his sake Amen CHAP. XXIII Of the government of Families the dueties of Masters and Servants Husbands and Wives Parents and Children § 1. Of a Familie § 2. Dueties of Masters § 3. Dueties of a Servant § 4. Motives to their dutie 1. WEe have spoken of actions in general and come now to the particular falling under domestick relations of Master and Servant Man and Wife Parents and Children Duties of Publick Persons are without the verge of my present purpose 2. A Family is an epitomy and summe of a Common-wealth which consisteth of several families as the ocean of drops therefore hee meriteth well of the state who well administreth his owne family as he deserveth punishment who doth the contrary A good Patriot equally solicitous for the state and family is a rare jewell but more rare though of lesse worth is an Aristides blame-worthy in this that in his justice and care for the Republick hee was so unjust to and carelesse for his owne family that leaving them to the publick charity hee dishonored vertue with his poverty and herein his policy was lame 3. Some have distributed the family into three parts the first commandeth as Master the second commandeth but not in chiefe as the good vine not on the top but sides of the house the third are auxiliar onely obeying as children and servants 4. Now though this be the order and order so necessaâ—y that without it no society of man can subsist yet must it be with that sanctity and equity that the God of order may be known to govern though man administer and with that lenity and candor of command and willing reverence in obeying that all may seem managed with love not feare familiarity rather then rigid and imperious severity for which I suppose the ancient Latines comprised all three orders under the name of Familiares 5. God in his abundant mercy as hee hath not been sparing
Prayer for one ready to receive the Lords Supper pag. 111. A private Prayer after reâ—eiving the Lords Supper pag. 112. Another private Prayer immediately after receiving the Lords Supper pag. 113. 15 Of the Sabbath the name institution things considerable for the sanctification the beginning and ending reasons of the institution the change of the Lords day now to be observed of all Christians how we must sanctifie it p. 114. A Prayer for the Sabbath day morning pag. 125. To the ordinary evening prayer may be added this private prayer for the Sabbath p. 128. 16 Of Love and Charity what they are how they differ in their objects love to God considerable in the object and measure severall states degrees perpetuity and opposition signes thereof common lets meanes on our part to be used c. motives to incite us thereto pag. 129. A prayer for love to God pag. 14â— 17 Of love to our selves kinds thereof love to our neighbour the necessity and excellency thereof conditions and signes of friendship what and how excellent it is the true end and lawes thereof what choice we are to make of friends and whom to avoid of love to our enemies we ought to love them without any malice and to make a right use of them p. 144. A Prayer for Love and Charity p. 180. 18 Of the soule affections mind and thoughts in generall corruption of the heart danger difficulty of the cure necessity of a right ordering our thoughts rules of practice pag. 181. 19 Of right ordering the thoughts in respect of some particular passions affections and perturbations of the mind in their distempers of love delight joy rejoycing mirth sorrow anger hatred malice envy impatience discontent a contented mind pag. 201. The Prayer for patience pag. 226. 20 Of Hope Feare Cares Iealousies pag. 227. A prayer for hope p. 233. A Prayer against feare p. 240. A Prayer against cares pag. 241. A Prayer for sanctification of the thoughts pag. 250. 21 Guidance of the tongue excellent use abuse evils of the tongue concluding the necessity of a right guidance thereof motives thereto rules by which it may be done pag. 252. A Prayer pag. 265. 22 Of externall actions in generall whence the good are how requisite how regulated rules concerning them pag. 266. The Prayer pag 270. 23 Government of Families duties of Masters and Servants motives to their duties pag. 271. A short morning prayer with a Family p. 277. Another Morning Prayer for a Family pag 278. A short Evening Prayer p. 282. An Evening Prayer for a Family more enlarged p. 283. 24 Of Marriage institution end and fruits thereof of choice in generall and particular who are to be avoided Duties of the married mutuall and peculiar advice to widdowes p. 287. the prayer pag 299. 25 Duties of Parents and Children honour to parents want of children good parents of evill children duty of the parent rules thereto belonging duties of children rules thereof motives thereâ—to p. 299. the parents Prayer p. 310. the childrens prayer p. 315. 26 Of the wounded spirit or afflicted conscience what it is how great an affliction what the conscience iâ— How comfortable the peace thereof why God afflicteth his What things principally wound the conscience What they who are afflicted with the apprehension of Gods wrath against their sinnes must consider What they must examine and practise p. 316. the prayer p. 336 27 Sense of spirituall wants afflicteth but not so much endangereth the soule what we are herein to consider examine and practise p 337. the prayer 344. 28 Of the conscience afflicted with feare of tentations and falling away what we are herein to consider examine and practise pag 346 an ejaculation to be used as soone as thou awakest pag 354 another for thy last waking pag. ib. the prayer of a wounded spirit against temptations p. 355. 29 Guidance of the mind in encrease of wealth afflictions common their fruit in good men poverty a great tryall riches great temptations commonly mistaken how to guide the minde in encrease of riches or a full inheritance pag. 357. the rich mans petition pag. 364. 30 Poverty a great temptation yet having a capacity of true happinesse what we are to consider herein and what to practise pag. 365. the poore mans petition pag 373 31 Of liberty and restraint misplaced by an injurious world comforts for prisoners rules hereto appertaining p 374 the prisoners petition pag 384. 32 Of Banishment severall kinds generall cause what we must doe to be comforted herein pag. 391. the banished mans petition pag. 399. 33 Of old age common evills thereof the foundation must be happily laid in youth how the evills of age may be lesâ—ed or more patiently borne by what rules of practise it may be improved to comfort pag 400. the old mans supplication pag 414. 34 Meditations for women neere their travell all misery is from sin sins pardoned in Christ why the punishments are not taken away womens comforts therein directions necessary thereto p. 415 a prayer for them in or neere their travaile pag 422. â— thankesgiving pag 425. 35 Directions for the sicke as all afflictions sanctified so sicknesse is profitable for Gods children many waies how it may become so to us duties of those that visit the sick pag 425. a prayer for the sicke pag 430. thankesgiving for health recovered pag 434. another after the ceasing of the plague p. 435. 36 Meditations concerning death seeing all must dye how to prepare that death may not be terrible meanes to comfort in death of deare friends comforts against death pag 439 a prayer for him that is at the point of death or hath received the sentence of death in himselfe pag 454. ERRATA Pag. 2. marg read invenâ—rint p. 4. m. r. placat p. 5. m. sin r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 7. l. 2. our soules p. 8. l. 3. r. Satan Subtile p. 13. m. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 15. m. r. hac mundi domo ib. l. 32. r he must therefore p 17 l. 28. the first cause 22. l. 18. holy ascentions p. 24. l. penâ—lt r. marketh the Church p. 25. l. 10. was reserved 29. l. 35 by the power p. 31. l ult so was fulfilled p. 32 l. 16. r. as the heire ib. l. ult changes p. 37. l. 4. the place p. 38. l. â—3 encrease thy p. 48. l. 9. r. in thee ib. r. Concerning the Holy Ghost § 1. what we are p. 51. l. 2. r. whereof he â—b l. 3. sheepfold p. 52. l. 6. are but onâ— p. 62. l. 2. there is entire p. 64. l. 3. what use we p. 66. l. 16. bearing in life p. 72. l. 21. beare all p. 74. 19. the confidence p. 78. l. 33. he looketh on 79. l. 11. his brethren 93 l. 27. preserve thee 95 l. 30. to the deafe 98. l. 7. in their legends 117 l. 14. to intimate 137. l. 14. and have his 146. l. 19. not so for it â—nd 174. l. 4. feeding on thee
too great for the bottome farre more safe is it to enjoy a concealed estate then to oâ—tent and exceed a broken one Secondly it is necessary to know the qualities of thy family we are many times the last that heare of the exorbitances of our houses the neighbours whisper and children sing our reproaches in the streets before we so much as suspect them something there is in affection which eft soon blindeth the wise with too secure opinion of their childrens good nature and discretion to deport themselves so Augustus Caesar was deceived in his Julia whom he beleeved chast though he was not ignorant of that dangerous symptom of immodesty her over-daring audacity until in her incurable infamy he knew that pleasures liberty luxury and vaine compture were precipices to whoredome something also there is in parents giving their children too much power to follow their own Genius led away with the fancy of that blinde-mans parents Joh. 9. 21. hee is of age hee shall speak for himselfe as if in their wilfull neglect of duety they should not be responsible to God for their children Elie's inexpiable sinne in too milde a reproofe of his debauched sonnes is a sad document to all carelesse and indulgent parents If thou do not thy uttermost endeavour to stay thy children from sin if they perish God will require their blood at thy hands if thou do though without successe thou hast delivered thy soul from that guilt 2. Another duety of parents is to do a constant and holy endeavour to provide and lay up for their children idleness carelessnesse luxury and vain expences of parents impiously betray their children and expose them to the mercy of a pitilesse world to beggery and misery It is pity that this republick among many good lawes wanteth the censorian law of the Romans to punish negligent and unthrifty men and to sequester so much of their estates as might secure the wife and children from want The Apostle marketh the idle with the black line of inordinate walking interdicting him food who will not labour and the improvident hee counteth a denier of the faith worse then an infidel Some are foolishly kinde to strangers and unnaturally carelesse of their own like the river Xalon which they say riseth in Castel and bestoweth his streames in watering Aragon Worse are they then bruits who by a natural insâ—inct with restlesse industry finde meat for their yong the hungry bird flieth with her mouth full to them Doe thy endeavour and commit the successe to God who careth for all those that trust in him but let it be an holy endeavour hee that laboureth by fraud oppréssion rapine lying robbery or any unjust way ventureth his soule to leave his children rather rich then vertâ—ous therein lesse charitable to himself then Dives in hell seemed to his brethren he would have a preacher sent them from the dead to warne them that they might not come thither Nor is this the way to leave them rich God usually bloweth upon such an estate and it cometh to nought whereas a little which the righteous hath is better then great riches of the ungodly It was David's experience I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread that which is unjustly gotten is but a cantarides in the sweet box it corrupteth the whole store or as gravell in thy bread a mischievous accession such was poore Naboths vineyard to Ahab that little spot carried away a kingdom from his posterity a wise man will not put up one ill-gotten penny into his treasure he must needs bring a curse upon his children who will make them rich by sinne Experience hath often preached this to us in the sudden ruine of great families which like the Prophets gourd soone rose and in their acme as quickly withered away because there was a mischievous worm at the root Sinne ever carrieth a curse with it except in case of repentance which in this case cannot be without disgorging and restitution of all that which wrong or fraud had swallowed of other mens Among parents just provision for children matching them well is a principal wee reade of it in Abraham and see it in all the prudent herein respect thou most their soules health compell not but advise the best committing the main to God by whose providence if thou finde a good match thou hast gained a sonne or daughter if otherwise thou hast lost a childe 3. Count godlinesse as truely it is the greatest gain and accordingly let thy chiefe care be to bring up thy children in true wisedome and instruction of the Lord if thou wilt be happy and have thy children so and beginne betimes the new vessel will hold his first seasoning long how happy are those young Timothies who have an holy Lois and a religious Eunice to make them know the Scriptures from their childe-hood to enure them daily to the exercises of religion praier catechizing in the doctrine of faith and sanctimony reading hearing and repeating by heart some sentences of holy Scripture that the word of God may dwell plentifully in them and that all religious habits may grow up in them that they may know Christ and remember their creator in their youth in an happy childe-hood singing Hosannaâ—s to him the bloody Dionysius did nothing more cruel then when he commanded his enemies sonne to be brought up in liberty of sinne and indulgence to all which the unbridled affections of youth could lead him to how impious are those parents whose neglects or wilful connivance betray their childrens soules to hell and damnation while they delay to plant sanctity in their mindes the busie tempter taketh advantage on a corrupt nature to sow his tares and make them habitually wicked from the cradle if thy childe were fallen or wounded dangerously thou wouldst not say It will be time enough to helpe him hereafter for shame be not lesse carefull for an eternal soule then a soon decaying-body Assoone as they are capable teach them the fear of the Lord thou knowest not how soon God will take thee from them or them from thee herein there is much discretion to be used in preparing milk not strong meats for babes lest thou rather stupifie then instruct the longer thou delayest the harder the cure will be it is not an easie taske to unteach children evil habits nor canst thou reasonably think religion to be a childe of one night like the fruit which Aarons rod did beare Num. 17. 8. it is long coming to maturity we quickly learn evil but slowly good present thy yong Samuel to the Lord that he may blesse them and thee 4. Set thy children in some calling breed them not only to uselesse ceremonies There are some things in breeding children to comity and good behaviour which wee not unaptly call comâ—lements for indeed sweet comly discreet
death from the power of sin the snares of Satan the world and the flesh heare the voice of their praiers when they cry unto thee helpe them against all their enemies blesse their substance and accept the worke of their hands be thou ever their refuge and save them Thou who dividest the earth among the sonnes of men whose providence descendeth unto the feeding and preserving the poorest of thy creatures feed them with bread of their stature thou who encreasedst the oile and the meale so that it failed not in all the famine whether it be much or little which thou shalt be pleased to give them let thy blessing be with it that in every estate they may faithfully depend on thy gracious providence which never faileth them that trust in thee and finde such a sufficiency therein that they may live cheerfully and contentedly that they may never want that which thou knowest necessary and comfortable for their bodies and soules Lord give them hearts faithfully to seek thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof that all these things may be administred unto them O Lord God who hast promised to be a father of the fatherlesse who hast planted thine owne image of love and compassion in the hearts of parents towards their children heare the praiers of a poore father for his children and deny not the requests of my lips when thou shalt be pleased to take me from them leave them not destitute shew thy selfe their keeper directer and counseller that they may never swerve from thy commandements as thou hast shewed me mercy and compassion all my daies so holy father let not thy mercy depart from them but keep them in thy faith fear and love that as thy providence hath brought us together in this family so when this mortal life shall be ended we may by thy mercy all happily meet in the eternal communion of Saints in thy kingdome of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour AMEN 1. The crown of the aged is children and the duety of children toward their parents is honor reverence fear obedience gratitude châ—erishing them in their age love and patience all this is comprehended in the fifth precept of Gods law honour thy father and thy mother who are comprehended under these titles I have already shewed I have here to speak of duety to parents 2. These rules of practice are hereto observable for the guidance of those children which feare the Lord and expect the promise their made to the obedient 1. Honor thy father and mother it is Gods expresse command and a dictate of nataâ—e this importeth reverence in thy bodily gesture before them as King Solomon rose upto meet his mother Bath-sheba and bowed himself vnto her as Moses went out to meet his father in law and did obeisance reverence in thy speech toward them and thy behaviour before them that it be not rude and such as becometh not the presence of those whom God will have honored as his vicegerents in the family So saith the Apostle Wee have had fathers of the flesh and wee gave them reverence none but a cursed Cham will behave himselfe unreverently before his father or mother or any waies tell or discover their failings to discredit or dishonor them but will goe with blessed Shem and Japhet with the vaile of discreet piety to conceale them Glory not in the dishonor of thy father saith the sonne of Sirach for thy fathers dishonor is no glory unto thee for the glory of a man is from the honor of his father and a mother in dishonor is a reproach to the children When God commanded Israel to be holy hee thus beginneth Ye shall fear every man his mother and father here indeed religion beginneth toward those whom God hath set in his own room on earth to nourish and give lawes to them and to receive their first tribute of obedience due to him by them there is little hope of it when it here blasteth in the bud the breach of this law carrying a fearefull curse with it as being a sinne against God and nature therefore the heathen Decius when he was offered the imperial crown refused it saying I fear lest being made an Emperour I should forget to be a sonne I had rather be a dutiful son then an Emperour let my father rule my Empire is to obey 2. Obey thy parents in all things not prohibited by God Hearken unto thy father that begat thee Forsake not the law of thy mother Children obey your parents in all things 3. Patiently beare their infirmities where age maketh them pettish where they erre not gain-saying or answering againe contend not irreverently with them though thou art in the right when they are angry with thee overcome that anger with patience 4. Be such to thy parents as thou wouldst have thy children to thee commonly it will be so an evil sonne seldom proveth an happy father Whoso honoreth his father shall have joy of his own children but as God rewardeth the duety of children according to his promise so will he their impiety and disobedience according to his justice because hee is true in both all sinnes have their severe punishments following them and when God's justice is most slow it is most sure but there are some sins which are more destructive to humane society which God the preserver thereof usually punisheth in this life that hee may deterre men from committing them so it is observable that cruelty oppression and murder seldome goe unpunished here but most closely acted sometimes they are discovered by extraordinary meanes and disobedience to parents may hence appeare odious to God and man that it is commonly punished by the like deportments of their children an example thereof is commonly found in every family of the disobedient O Sonne cryed the father beaten and dragged out of doors by the haire of the head draw mee no further for thus farre I drew my father 5. Love thy parents tenderly though the reflexes of this love are not so strong yet doe them all the good thou canst love them next after Christ above him thou maiest not No man can requite his parents and teachers yet shew thy love and gratitude to them if they want nourish them so did good Joseph so tender ought thy care to be of them that it should be thy grief if thou do any waies grieve them My son help thy father in his age and grieve him not as long as he liveth Thou must be cheerful to them not violate this piety so much as with an ill looke A necessary document for those prodigals which will not be warned from ryot and lewd company until they bring their parents hoary head with sorrow to the grave and necessity bring them home in rags as also to the profane Esaus whose impious matches are a griefe of minde unto Isaac and make
Rebecca cry I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. Now though it be true he that doubteth whether he ought to worship God and honour his parents rather wanteth stripes then arguments yet seeing the corrupt nature of man is prone to all impiety I will hereto adde some motives to this duety 1. It is the only commandement with promise of reward Honour thy father and thy mother that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee that it may goe well with thee the son of Sirach saith Honour thy father and thy mother that a blessing may come upon thee from them 2. This is just before God and pleasing to him releeving thy father shall not be forgotten in the day of thy affliction it shall be remembred 3. A third motive may be taken from the contrary curse to him that any way dishonoreth father or mother 1. Cursed is he that setteth light by his father or his mother there is no more evident signe of an impious minde then contempt of parents 2. He that wasteth his father and chaseth away his mother is a son that causeth shame and whosoever robbeth father or mother and saith it is no transgression the same is the companion of a destroyer 3. The eie that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick it out 4. Whoso curseth his father or his mother his lamp shall be put out in obscure darknesse every one that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death his blood shall be upon him so he that smiteth father or mother there is no lesse punishment severe enough for such an unnatural prodigie as a parricide or hee that retributeth injury where he oweth highest gratitude 5. Lastly I wish all disobedient children to read Deut. 21. 18 c. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son which will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother and that when they have chastened him will not hearken unto them then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him and bring him unto the Elders of his city c. and the men of the city shall stone him with stones that he dye so shalt thou put away evil from among you A Praier for children to use O Lord God who hast ordained strength in the mouthes of babes and sucklings sanctifying them from the womb open our lips that wee may shew forth thy praise holy Lord Jesus who taking up children into thy sacred armes declaredst that unto such belongeth the kingdome of God who for our redemption becamest an infant and for our instruction obedient to humane parents who art the eternal son of God have mercy on us sanctify us bodies and soules unto thy kingdom and service keep us in our tender years by thy holy spirit from all the errors sins and pollutions of youth make us sincerely obedient to our God that in him wee may honor and obey our parents in all things in reverence and thankefulnesse for their tender care over us blesse their endeavours to provide for us spare them that they may live to bring us up in thy faith feare and love that thy great name may be glorified and they comforted in us and we with them preserved unto thine everlasting kingdom through Jesus Christ our ever blessed Lord and Saviour AMEN CHAP. XXVI Of the wounded spirit or conscience afflicted by the apprehension of Gods wrath against some great sinnes spiritual wants or fear of tentations § 1. What a wounded spirit is how great an affliction what the conscience is how comfortable the peace thereof why God afflicteth his § 2. What things principally wound the conscience § 3. What they who are afflicted with the apprehension of Gods wrath against them must consider § 4. What they must examine § 5. What they must practice 1. I Have spoken concerning the guidance of the Thoughts Words and Actions in generall and in some particular relations to external dueties I shall now endeavour to give directions suitable to some conditions first of the inward man and next of the outward The spirit of man will bear his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can beare saith Solomon The word signifieth a smitten contrite or broken spirit It is a manner of speaking borrowed from bodily afflictions by stripes contusions bruises or wounds wherein by cutting or hurting the sinews and veins the body weakened and endangered without cure to death disabled so that it cannot support it self is apt to inflammations and distempers every light touch hurteth it it depriveth a man of rest so that he is impatient of this present posture and more grieved at the change To expresse the intense sorrow of the soule weak confidence and enfeebled life of the spirit God calleth it a wounded spirit 2. This affliction is so great as it exceedeth all other temporal sorrows and is such as none can truely judge of but they who have with David seen confinia inferni as he saith Psal. 116. 3. The sorrowes of death compassed me and the paines of hell gat hold upon me or found me Other sorrowes may be eased by giving the afflicted something equivalent to that whose losse grieveth him as where one treasure is lost and another found or by some compensation and repair as Job had a second brood and encrease of wealth Elkanah intimated such a medium consolationis when hee said to afflicted Hannah Am not I better to thee then ten sonnes but so can this never be if you give a man of an afflicted spirit riches company of dearest friends or that which might relieve refresh or delight some others you do no more ease him then you could the broken bones by putting on some purple or rich robes no no the grief is within and there must be cured nothing external can do it in other griefes time will mitigate sunt verba voces excellent lenitives of sorrow in some other kindes wine merry company musick or the like meanes may have some part as the wise man saith Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish and wine to those that be of heavy hearts let him drinke and forget his poverty and remember his misery no more So Davids harp could for the time refresh Saul and charme the evil spirit but this grief admitteth of no efficacy in such comforts In other pressures wee may be eased or conveyed away from the evil as Paul was from the Jews conspiracy as David from Saul but there is no flight from a wounded spirit Whither ever we goe we carry our affliction with us our secret tormenter in us In fine as it is in sense of a separation from God the reality whereof is the second death so no creature in heaven or earth can cure it there can be