this charge Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children is given to the same persons that are commanded to love God with all their hearts vers 5. and to the same persons that are enjoyned to treasure up Gods word in their hearts vers 6. So that every one that is obliged to love God and to lay up Gods word in his heart is obliged also if he be one unto whom God hath given Children to teach Gods word unto his Children 3. Take notice what is meant by teaching Gods word unto our Children It implies 1. That we should train them up in the knowledge of the Scriptures To teach is to convey knowledge and understanding Psal 119.66 Teach me good judgement and knowledge and to this effect the Persian Translation renders these words Expones ea filiis tuis Thou shalt expound them unto thy Children thou shalt cause them to understand the sense and meaning of my word 2. To teach our Children the Scriptures is to train them up in the obedience and practice of those things which the Lord requireth of us in his holy word There is a teaching to do as well as to know the will of God Psal 143.10 Teach me to do thy will Matr. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you 2 Chron. 6.27 Thou hast taught them the good way wherein they should walk 4. Observe in what manner and when we are to teach Gods word unto our Children this work must not be done in a slight superficial manner but with all diligence Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children And as for the times and seasons when we are to teach them Moses intimates that it must not be seldom but this work must be done frequently we should embrace all convenient seasons to be dropping some portion of Gods word into them Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up 5. We have the persons described whom we are to instruct out of the word of God and they are our Children Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children Now under the name of Children are comprehended our Servants and all others in the Family that need instruction as shall be shewed more fully afterwards Another Scripture wherein God commands us to teach his word unto our Children we have in the Psalms of David Psal 78.5 6 7. He established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known unto their Children that the Generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his Commandments Here we may observe 1. What it is which Parents are to teach and make known unto their Children The Law and the Testimony that is the holy Scriptures which are often called by this name the Law and the Testimony as we may see Psal 19.7 Isa 8.16 20. 2. We have a strict Command and a solemn Injunction from God given unto Parents to make known the Law and the Testimony unto their Children He commanded our Fathers that they should make them known unto their Children 3. We may take notice that this practice of Parents teaching Gods Laws unto their Children should be continued from one Generation to another unto the end of the world That the Generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare unto their Children 4. Here are three things hinted that Parents should aim at in making known Gods word unto their Children 1. The bringing their Children to believe and hope in God That they might set their hope in God 2. The fixing and imprinting in their memories the word and the works of God And not forget the works of God 3. The training of them up in the practise and obedience of Gods Commandments But keep his Commandments The Psalmist shews in the eighth verse what the want or neglect of Parents making known Gods Laws to their Children produceth Children prove stubborn and rebellious or if they make a profession of Religion they soon discover their hearts are not right with God And might not be as their Fathers a stubborn and rebellious Generation a Generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God Besides these Scriptures already mentioned I might produce several others where God commands Parents to make known his word unto their Children as Isa 38.19 The Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth By Gods truth which Fathers are here enjoyned to make known unto their Children we may understand his word for his word is called his Truth John 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth See also Deut. 4.8 9 10. What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day Only take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thine heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons specially the day when thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb when the Lord said unto me Gather the People together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the Earth and that they may teach their Children Here we may observe 1. That Gods word was given to the Jews for this very end that they might be brought to fear the Lord and that they might teach his word unto their Children I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me and that they may teach their Children 2. The Lord chargeth them very strictly to teach their Children his works which they had seen but more specially his word which he delivered to them in Horeb Only take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently teach them thy sons and thy sons sons To these places which I have cited out of the old Testament I will adde one out of the New wherein God chargeth Parents to train up their Children in the knowledge and obedience of his holy word Ephes 6.4 And ye Fathers provoke not your Children but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord The Apostle doth not say And ye Ministers as limiting this work to them but And ye Fathers implying that it is the will of God that all Parents should bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But some may say What is meant by the nurture and admonition of the Lord The Greek words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rendred Instruction 2 Tim. 3.16 and the instruction the Apostle speaks of there is
Prov. 2.1 5. My Son if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandments with thee Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Would we have our Children continue in the ways of God walking with and serving God as long as they live By instructing them whilst they are young we shall obtain our desire in this thing Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Would we have our Children instructed how to lead a godly and righteous Life And would we have them throughly furnished with abilities for every good work This may be done by acquainting them with the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Do we desire our Children should be prosperous men both whilst we live and after we are dead and gone into another world This may be obtained by training them up in the knowledge and obedience of Gods word Deut. 29.9 Keep therefore the words of this Covenant and do them that ye may prosper in all that ye do Do we desire that our Children may be blessed with all manner of blessings whilst they live here in this world and do we desire to have their Souls saved when they die The way to obtain this is to train them up in a godly sort that they may know and walk in the ways of the Lord which he hath prescribed to us and to them in his holy word For 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Prov. 10.17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction See also 2 Tim. 3.15 John 17.3 Deut. 28. from vers 1. to 24. SECT 5. We benefit our selves by instructing our Families Mo ∣ tive 5 BY inflructing our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures we shall not only procure much good to our Children and Servants but shall also exceedingly advantage our own Souls and obtain many blessings from God for our selves as well as our Families When Obed-Edom entertained the Ark of the Lord in his house The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his houshold 2 Sam. 6.11 And the Blessings that God gave Obed-Edom were so remarkable that others as well as himself took notice thereof vers 12. And it was told King David saying The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that pertained unto him because of the Ark of God In this Ark were laid up the Laws of God written upon two Tables Deut. 10.2 If we treasure up Gods Laws in our own hearts and teach the same unto our Families instructing them both in the Duties of the first and second Table that is in their duty to God and to Men the Lord will as surely and in as eminent a manner bless us as he did Obed-Edom for receiving the Ark wherein were the two Tables of the Law of God I will instance in some advantages and blessings which those Parents and Masters of Families shall receive that are diligent in training up their Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures 1. The Lord hath promised a long and blessed Life to them and their Children that instruct their Children in his word they shall enjoy a kind of Heaven upon Earth Deut. 11.18 19 21. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your hearts and in your souls And ye shall teach them your Children speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way when thou liest down and when thou risest up that your days may be multiplied and the days of your Children as the days of Heaven upon Earth 2. They shall have a great reward in Heaven who are diligent in instructing those whom God hath committed to their Charge Mat. 24.45 46 47. Who then is that faithful and wise Servant whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his houshold to give them meat in due season Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Verily I say unto you That he shall make him Ruler over all his Goods If we teach our Families the Commandments of God and do also keep them our selves we shall be great Persons in the Kingdom of Heaven how mean and low soever our condition be in this world Mat. 5.19 Whosoever shall break one of these least Commandments and shall teach men so he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven 3. Our Children and Servants will be great Comforts and Blessings to us if we train them up in the fear of God Onesimus before his Conversion was a great cross to his Master but after he was instructed by the Apostle Paul and God had wrought upon him who was a more dutiful Servant than One simus Philem. 11. Which in time past was to thee unprofitable but now profitable to me and to thee They will be great Comforts to us in this world Prov. 10.1 A wise Son maketh a glad Father Prov. 29.17 Correct thy Son and he shall give thee rest yea he shall give delight unto thy Soul The Chaldee Syriack Arabick Greek and Vulgar Latin translate the word Erudi filium tuum c. Instruct thy Son and the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to instruct as well as to correct as Psal 2.10 Be instructed ye Judges of the Earth So that the words may be as well rendred Instruct thy Son and he shall give thee rest yea he shall give delight to thy Soul What greater Comfort can a Parent have than to see his Children walking in the ways of God 3 John 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in truth They will also be a Comfort to us in the world to come What a Joy will it be to a godly Parent to present himself and his Children before the Lord and to say Lord here am I and the Children whom thou hast given me As it is with Ministers of the Word they shall have great joy in those they have instructed and converted to the Lord 1 Thes 2.19 20. What is our hope or joy or crown of rejoycing Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming For ye are our Glory and Joy So it will be with Parents and Masters of Families they shall have great Joy at the day of Judgment in those whom they have taught and brought home to the Lord. 4. It will keep the memory and savour of Gods word upon our hearts and breed in us a spiritual frame of heart to be often teaching Gods word to our Families Deut. 4.9 10. Only take heed to
thy self and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things that thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thine heart all the days of thy life but teach them thy Sons and thy Sons Sons especially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb when the Lord said unto me Gather me the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they hall live upon the earth and that they may teach their Children 5. It will be a great support and satisfaction to Governours of Families in a dying hour if their Consciences bear them witness that they have been careful to train up those whom the Lord hath committed to their charge in the knowledge of his word It was a comfort to Hezekiah when he had received the Sentence of Death that he had done that which was good in the sight of the Lord Isa 38.3 Now this is a good thing in the sight of God to bring men to the knowledge of the Truth 1 Tim. 2.3 4. When the Lord Jesus was departing out of this world he mentions twice his giving Gods word to the men that were given to him John 17 8 14. Possibly for this reason to teach us that it will be a great comfort in a dying hour to all such as have had any persons committed to their charge to be able to appeal to God that they have taught and instructed them in the knowledge of his holy word When the Apostle Paul took his leave of the Church of Ephesus and knew he should see their faces no more though he knew that after his departing grievous Wolves would enter in among them not sparing the Flock and also that among themselves some would arise speaking perverse things yet having before been diligent in teaching them the good word of God he doth with a great deal of satisfaction of mind commend them to God and to his word knowing that Gods word was able to build them up under all oppositions and discouragements whatever Acts 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified In like manner when Parents have taught their Children the word of God although they fore-see that after their death their Children are likely to fall into many temptations by reason of seducing spirits or other evils yet they may with much comfort commend them to God and to the word of his grace wherein they have been instructed 6. Such Parents as are careful to instruct their Families and to train them up in the knowledge and fear of God shall not only be blessed themselves but they shall be great blessing unto others Gen. 18.18 19. Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him And why The Reason is rendred in the following words For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him SECT 6. The Evils that arise from the neglect of Family-Instruction Mo ∣ tive 6 COnsider what a great evil it is for Governours of Families to neglect instructing their Families in the knowledge of Gods holy Word 1. They do shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against their Children and Servants For such as do take away the Key of Knowledge do shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against those persons from whom they do take away the Key of Knowledge as is evident by comparing Mat. 23.13 Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in with Luk. 11.52 Wo unto you Lawyers for ye have taken away the Key of Knowledge ye entred not in your selves and them that were entring in ye hindred What a woful crime is this for a man to shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against his Family 2. Such Parents as neglect to instruct their children are more cruel than the Sea-monsters Lam. 4.3 Even the Sea-monsters draw out the brest to their young ones The daughter of my People is become cruel as the Ostrich in the Wilderness Instruction is as necessary for the Soul as the brest or other food is for the Body Yea they are worse than Infidels 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own and specially for those of his own House he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel The providing those things which concern the Souls of our Houshold is as necessary and the neglect thereof as dangerous as the providing for their Bodies Yea they are more unnatural than the damned in Hell for they are desirous that their Relations should be instructed and that means should be used to prevent their eternal damnation Luk. 16.23 27 28. And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham after off and Lazarus in his bosom Then he said I pray thee therefore that thou wouldst send him to my Fathers house for I have five brethren that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment 3. God accounts those Parents haters of their Children that neglect to instruct and correct them Prov. 13.24 He that spareth the Rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Such as do not endeavour to prevent sin in their neighbours do hate them in their hearts whatever shew of love they make in their words Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him If they hate their Neighbours that suffer sin upon them do not they hate their Children that suffer them to live in ignorance of God which is a Soul-damning sin 4. Children and Servants prove great crosses when they are not trained up in the knowledge and fear of God And this comes to pass both by the just Judgment of God who punisheth Parents and Masters neglect of Family-Instruction with the disobedient undutiful carriage of their Children and Servants and also from the power of original corruption which when it is not restrained by good education breaks forth with great violence and causeth persons to be of a perverse and stubborn spirit Eli neglecting Family-Government was punished in his Children by their proving exceeding great crosses to him 1 Sam. 2.33 The man of thine whom I shall not cut off from mine Altar shall be to consume thine eyes and to grieve thine heart And as God dealt with Eli so he ordinarily deals with those Parents that neglect to train up their Children in the knowledge and fear of his Name he suffers them to prove a reproach and
labour to grow in grace our selves and to be of savoury spirits to express the beauty of holiness in our Conversations if we would have our Families grow in grace For before God promiseth that such as dwell under Israel's shadow should grow as the Vine he promiseth vers 5 6. to be as the dew unto Israel whereby he should grow as the Lily and that his smell should be as Lebanon and his beauty as the Olive-Tree SECT 21. A godly Life and good Example maketh Family-Instruction powerful and successful Direct 21 IF you would carry on the work of Family Instruction successfully walk examplarily in your Families Be Patterns and Examples to them in Faith in Holiness in Meekness in Charity in good Discourse in Self-denial in Patience in Heavenly-mindedness and in every other good work that your Families may know how to walk so as to please and glorifie God by seeing and observing how you carry your selves in all things They that teach others should labour to carry themselves exemplarily in all things towards those whom they instruct 1 Tim. 4.12 Be thou an example of the Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity Tit. 2.7 In all things shewing thy self a Pattern of good works Instruction from a good man is embraced more readily and worketh more powerfully than that which comes from one that walketh contrary to what he teacheth Barnabas being a good man was instrumental by his exhortations to convert many to the Lord Acts 11.23 24. He exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord for he was a good man and full of the holy Ghost and of Faith and much People was added to the Lord. When Levi who taught the people walked with God he turned many from iniquity Mal. 2.6 The Law of Truth was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips He walked with me in peace and equity and did turn many away from iniquity A good conversation is such a powerful means to convert Souls that some who are not wrought upon by the Word are won to Christ by a good conversation 1 Pet. 3.1 Wives be in subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the Wives When Governours of Families return to God and walk with God the Lord hath promised that their families shall be reformed also and put away iniquity Job 22.23 If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy Tabernacles This latter clause implies two things 1. That it is our duty when we return to God to endeavour to reform our Families 2. That when we do return to God and endeavour to reform our Families God will so bless our endeavours that iniquity shall be put far from our Tabernacles And accordingly we find that when the Master of the Family feareth God and doth according to his duty labour to bring his Family to fear and serve the Lord the Lord hath blessed the whole Family with the fear of his Name as we may see in Cornelius who fearing God and being a devout man all his house feared God also Acts 10.1 2. And when Crispus the chief Ruler believed all his house believed also in the Lord Acts 18.8 Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his House SECT 22. Family-Instruction must be continued as long as we live Direct 22 COntinue constant and diligent in this work of Family-Instruction as long as you live notwithstanding all the discouragements that you meet with therein The Lord doth not only require of us that we should teach our Children his holy Word but he commands us also to continue so doing as long as we live Deut. 4.9 Only take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons So also vers 10. Gather me the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth and that they may teach their Children To move you to constancy herein consider 1. That continuance in this work will be a means to promote your own and your Families salvation 1 Tim. 4.16 Take heed unto thy self and unto thy Doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee Isa 64.5 In those is continuance and we shall be saved That is by continuing to work Righteousness and to walk in Gods ways spoken of in the fore-going words we shall be saved It is not enough to do well but we must continue with patience in well doing under all our discouragements if we would have eternal life Rom. 2.6 7. Who will render to every man according to his deeds to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal Life 2. Consider how earnestly God calls upon you not to be discouraged in the doing of any good work but to be stedfast and unmovable and to abound always in the work of the Lord Gal. 6.9 Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not 1 Cor. 15.58 My beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 3. Consider how the Lord commends constancy in that which is good Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing And what a great sin it is to neglect doing good works Jam. 4.17 To him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin To leave off doing good works is the way to run into all evil Psal 36.3 4. He hath left off to be wise and to do good he deviseth mischief upon his Bed he setteth himself in a way that is not good To leave off doing good works will provoke God to send some heavy Judgment upon us Hos 8.3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good the Enemy shall pursue him CHAP. IIII. Objections against instructing our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures according to the fore-mentioned Directions answered I Shall in the next place answer the most material Objections that are or may be made against Parents or Masters of Families instructing their Children and Servants in the knowledge of the Scriptures In doing whereof I shall remove the principal Discouragements that may keep any person either from entring upon or continuing constant in this work of Family-Iustruction SECT 1. The Plea of such as neglect Family-Instruction because they say they are not able to instruct their Families answered Object 1 I Would instruct my Family in the knowledge of the
but were in a state of Grace they had Faith as precious Faith as the Apostle himself who wrote this Epistle vers 1. To them that have obtained like precious Faith with us But by the dawning of the Day is meant the Day of Glory which is called the Day of Christ Phil. 1.9 10. Phil. 2.16 and by way of Emphasis That Day 2 Tim. 4.8 And by the Apostle Peter in this same Epistle Chap. 3.12 The Day of the Lord. It is the dawning of this day that the Church and People of God long for Cant. 2.16 Vntil the day break and the shadows flee away turn my Beloved and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of Bether Rev. 22.20 Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus By the Day-Star arising in their hearts is meant their full and immediate fruition of the Lord Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven for they having like precious Faith with the Apostle had this Day-star the Lord Jesus already dwelling in their hearts by faith Ephes 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith And the Apostle speaks not of what they had already but of what they should attain unto hereafter which is their full and immediate enjoyment of Christ in Heaven Our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven may well be set out by this Phrase the Day-star arising in our hearts because when we come to heaven there shall be great Glory revealed in us as well as given to us Rom. 8.18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us And the reason why the Saints desire to be in Heaven is That they may be with Christ Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ The World may well be stiled a dark place in opposition to the Kingdom of Heaven which is called by the Name of Light Col. 1.12 The Inheritance of the Saints in Light and because most places and persons in the world are full of Ignorance and Darkness In the Psalmists days all places of the earth except the Land of Israel were dark places Psal 74.20 The dark places of the earth are full of the Habitations of Cruelty And in Israel which was a Land of Vision the Prophet complains Hos 4.1 There is no knowledge of God in the Land Now as long as we are in this dark place the World where we are compassed about with much ignorance we shall do well to take heed to the word of Prophecv which the Lord hath given us as a Light to guide and direct our paths till the Day of Glory dawn upon us and we are taken up into the Kingdom of Heaven where there shall be no need of the Sun or Moon or any Temple but the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb shall be the Light of His People for ever Revelat. 21. 22 23. Thirdly We may observe That we cannot have a more sure Rule to guide us either in matters of Faith or Practice than the holy Scriptures What do we desire to guide and direct us what we should believe or what we should practise Do we desire a Vision a Revelation a Voice from Heaven The Word of Prophecy is as sure as these Yea the Apostle having been speaking of a Voice from Heaven gives the preheminence to the Word of Prophecy and saith We have a more sure Word of Prophecy Besides this place which I have already produced to prove that the Light to which we must attend and by which we must order our Lives and Conversations is the Mind and Will of God revealed in the Scriptures I might mention several others as Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light Psal 119.105 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path The same also may be gathered from the discourse of Christ with the Lawyer and of Abraham with the rich man that was in Hell-Torments Luc. 10.25 26 27 28. There came a man to Jesus Christ and asked him this question Master what shall I do to inherit eternal Life And whether doth Christ send him for direction To the Scriptures He said unto him What is written in the Law How readest thou Whereupon the man tells Christ what he had found written and what he had read in the Law And he answering said Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy Neighbour as thy self To which Christ gives him this answer And he said unto him Thou hast answered right this do and thou shalt live Whence we may infer That reading the Scriptures and practising what we read will guide us into the right way that leads to everlasting life When the Rich Man who was tormented in Hell pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus to his Brethren to preach to them that they might not come into that place of torment what answer did Abraham give him Did he tell them They had a Light in them if they did follow that it would lead them to Repentance and Salvation No he refers them to the Scriptures Luc. 16.29 Abraham saith unto him They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them He doth not mean they had Moses and the Prophets alive and conversing amongst them in their own persons but they had the Writings of Moses and the Prophets and they were to attend to them and adds moreover If the Scriptures that were written by Moses and the Prophets would not lead them to Repentance the coming of one from the dead would not work upon them verse 31. If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead 5. The danger of neglecting the Scriptures and following our own Light without looking to and regulating our apprehensions by the word of God may be further evidenced from the fallible nature of our understandings We are all of us since the fall of Adam subject to many and great mistakes insomuch that ' David cried out Psal 19.12 Who can understand his Errours We are subject to such great mistakes that a man that walks as he thinks according to his Light may commit hainous sins when he is pesrwaded in his mind that he doth nothing but what he is bound in conscience to do When the Apostle Paul persecuted the Members of Christ he did not do it from malice or to please the Jews or to get preferment but he followed his Light he thought verily that it was his duty to oppose the ways and Members of Christ Acts 26.9 I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth A man may be so far mistaken as that he may think he doth God good service when he is committing abominable sins It is an abominable sin to kill the servants of Jesus Christ yet
God of his Fathers to shew that his Fathers Instructions were instrumental to bring him to Repentance when he was in his affliction III. Though you should not convert your Children or Servants by the instructions which you give them out of the word of God yet possibly what you do may prepare them for the Ministry of the Word the Seed you have sown may be quickned by the Ministry of the Word to their conversion and salvation And this is no small mercy to be instrumental to plow up the fallow ground and to prepare the hearts of your Children and Servants for the publick Ministry of the Word All that heard John Baptist were not brought to believe in Christ yet was not John the Baptist's labour in vain for John's Labours did prepare them for Christ and when they came to hear Christ the remembring what they had heard from John did help them to believe in Christ as we may see John 10.40 41 42. And Jesus went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized and there he abode and many resorted to him and said John did no miracle but all things that John spake of this man were true And many believed on him there IV. Consider what pains the Husbandman takes in tilling the Earth and what long patience he exerciseth before he reaps any fruit of his Labours He ploweth often in order to the fitting and preparing the Earth to receive the Seed and after his Seed is sowen it lieth buried under the ground and for a season nothing appears after his Seed cometh up it is a long time to the Harvest and many times by unseasonable weather either immoderate Rain or Drought or Blasting or Mildew all his Labour is lost Yet he renews his labour again year after year as long as he liveth and ploweth and soweth his ground in hope of the blessing of God The Apostle puts us in mind of the Husbandmans patience to make us patient in waiting for better things James 5.7 Be patient therefore Brethren unto the coming of the Lord Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious Fruit of the Earth and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter Rain What though you see no fruit after much pains taken with your Families And after some appearance of fruit there comes a blasting of your hopes yet you must renew your Labours day after day hoping that at length God will bless your endeavours The fruit of instruction in the conversion and edification of your Families is much better than the fruits of the earth and is worthy of more pains and patience than the Husbandman exerciseth for obtaining the fruits of the earth Remember therefore and follow the counsel of Solomon Eccles 11.6 In the morning sow thy seed and in the evening with-hold not thy hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good V. Though you should not convert the Souls of your Children and Servants yet you must go on to instruct them for in so doing you shall deliver your own Soul Ezek. 3.19 If thou warn the wicked and he turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way he shall die in his iniquity but thou hast delivered thy Soul And shall be clear from their blood Acts 20.26 27. I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God VI. Though you should take much pains in instructing your Families and should be instrumental to convert none of them yet your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord for you shall have a great Reward from God Your Reward shall be according to your work and pains that you have taken not according to your success Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be As it is with the Ministers of Christ if they have taught the people diligently and faithfully the good word of the Lord though they have not converted them they shall have their Reward from God and be glorious in the eyes of the Lord Isa 49.4 5. Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for naught and in vain yet surely my Judgment is with the Lord and my Work or as it is in the Margin my Reward with my God Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength So also it shall be with Masters of Families Wherefore do not give over this work through any discouragement but be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding therein inasmuch as you know that your labour shall not be in vain according to what you find recorded 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. CHAP. V. Considerations to quiet Parents whose Children died in such an estate as they can have no hope of their Salvation IF any shall demand further Suppose after all our endeavours to teach convert and save our Children and Servants Souls some of them should prove vile and wicked persons and should live and die in their sins and so should perish eternally What Considerations may quiet our minds and support us under such a trial as this to see our Children or any other Member of the Family for whose conversion and salvation we have put up many prayers and have taken much pains in teaching and instructing them perish eternally SECT 1. Answer 1. THough our Children and Servants whom we have instructed and for whom we have prayed should prove very vile and wicked yet we should hope as long as we and they live that God in his due time may hear our Prayers and bless our Endeavours for the conversion of their Souls Eccles 9.4 For to him that is joyned to all the Living there is hope The Lord sometimes gives Repentance unto Life to the worst of men to such as are the Devils slaves and such as are taken captive by him at his will and to such as do oppose the means of their salvation 2 Tim. 2.25 26. And as God calls some of the chiefest Sinners so he calls some towards the latter end of their days Some were called into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour of the day when they had spent all the day in idleness Matth. 13.6 7. About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them Why stand ye here all the day idle Go ye also into the Vineyard If we should die before them and see them continuing in their sins till our dying day yet as Noah though he foresaw that the Gentiles who were the posterity of Japheth Gen. 10.1 5. would continue a long time in their