to the Father but much more to the child since it is more like that his losse may be supplied by another wife then the childs by another mother Thirdly Because his brother Joseph who was dearely beloved of his Father was supposed to be dead and so Benjamin surviving was heire to the love that belonged to him and so he loved him the more in that he was not only Rachels sonne but Josephs brother and in whose Name and right he was to inherit an high degree of love for Jacob loved him more then all his children Gen. 37.3 Fourthly The Reason of Jacobs great love to Joseph was because he was the son of his old age as is noted in the forenamed vers which hath so much the more force on Benjamins part as he was younger then Joseph and Iacob consequently so much elder when he begate him and to give a reason of this reason the old Father delights so much more in his young child as to be a Father in old age is an argument of more favour from God in supporting his bodily ability so farre or making supply of it by his own power where it is deficient Fiftly Though naturall strength be more feeble and faint towards the end of life naturall affection is more vigorous in its course the longer it lasteth and therefore the love of old age towards young ones is many times a meere dotage whereby he that was once a man growes the second time a child and the more childish the more like to exceed in the love of children But we will abstract from the particular considerations of Iacobs love to Benjamin and propound an observation of more generall use which is this That the best kind of persons are most kindly affected to their kindred Of this you have had evidence enough in Jacob already and the next remarkeable instance is Joseph who though he personated an Egyptian Prince and pretended rigour towards his bretheren while they know him not for he accused them for spies sent after them as thieves put them all together three dayes in ward yet all that while his heart was tenderly affected towards them and turning his face from them he wept Gen 42.24 he tooke upon him to act the part of a sterne Governour but his kind heart put him out of it and he was faine to turne aside that he might not bewray it and for that time he suppressed his compassion but his kindnesse broke out againe and his bowels yearned upon his brother and he sought where to weepe and he entred into his chamber and wept there Chap. 43.30 and when he revealed himselfe unto them he manifested his love very freely and fully for he fell upon his brother Benjamins neck and wept and Benjamin fell upon his neck and he kissed all his brethren and wept upon them Gen. 45.14 15. There be many vigorous reasons of the vehement affections of such as are linked to others in this kind of love especially of Parents to their children which is the track we must take for our way at this time First An impression of Nature which we may observe in a descending as we have done before in an ascending operation in unreasonable creatures for the Sea-monsters hold forth their breasts unto their young Lament 4.3 which by the way shames many nice Ladies and Gentlewomen that are not so kind as to give suck to their owne children and the Beares robbed of their whelpes are extremely enraged 2 Sam. 17.8 and rage towards those that take them is an effect of loving affection to those that are taken from them Secondly But where rationall knowledge is added to naturall affection there it groweth to an higher degree of good-will For the things we know not at all as the vulgar * Ignoti nulla cupido Proverbe saith we have no desire of If we know them but little we like them but little though they be never so good and if our knowledge of them be much our liking of them will be according to the proportion as much And if nature begin and good acquaintantance goe on it takes degree from favour to friendship and the affection of friends is the marriage of soules Deut. 13.6 so far it seemeth did the love of Jacob proceed for it is said in the originall that his soule was bound to his soule that is to the soule of Benjamin Thirdly there is yet a further incentive to this affection if there be any good parts in the party beloved whether of the body as beauty which made David so kind if we may not say fond to his beautifull Absalom as to wish that himselfe had dyed that he might have lived 2 Sam. 19.33 or of minde which is a more generous object of love because mentall endowments are more excellent then corporall Fourthly If with all this Religion come in with its operation and interest and both parties be uniformely pious then is love most accomplished and cometh neere to perfection How many of these causes of love concurred in Jacobs case we cannot tell but sure we are where they all meete in one object they must needs be very potent and the griefe of losse of the party so beloved especially if it be sodaine and unexpected will be answerable to it for love is the standard to all the affections or as the mould whence they take both figure and measure The Application hereof we must serve in with severall sawces of vineger and oyle according to the different temper of those that have need of it Some are sharpely to be reproved some softly and gently to be dealt withall the first are such as the Apostle bringeth in in his bead-roule of offenders by name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without naturall affection 2 Tim. 3.3 as if their hearts were hewed out of the rock or at least might be said to be hearts of Oake It is a part of the discipline of the Stoicks to cast off all passions and perturbations as being the distempers of such as are weake and unwise rather then the qualifications of those that are established by prudence and ruled by reason and to dry up that humidum radicale of kindnesse which is apt to melt into teares of tendernesse and they argue themselves into a Stock-like stillnesse and drynesse by this * Neminem flebo laetum neminem flâ—ntem ille lachrymas meas ipse absterfit hic suis lachrymis effecit ne illis dignus sit Seneca de Tranquil l. 1. c. 15. p. 147. Dilemma if a man be merry he prevents the use of teares if he weepe his own teares doe make him unworthy of mine and some be hard-hearted enough of themselves without any discipline or instruction who can part with friends kindred Parents partners in the state of marriage or children and yet not to be moved at all for any of them and for such a disposition as this the mother of the Gracchi is commended by Plutarch which I marvell at since he was a
lin 1. p. 20. lin 6 for come to passe which cannot reade which cannot come to passe p. 21. marg for Plin. Nat. Hist c. 53 reade l 7 c. 7. p 29. lin last after the word full adde Gen 15 16. p. 30 lin 23. for notion reade motion p. 33. lin 27 over against the word divers adde in the marg I. H. Hist of the 3 Norman Kings p 117 118 119 120. p. 34. lin 3. blot out the word So and lin 35 for their life is reade the lives of their Popes are p. 37. lin 11. for Deut 3 reade 13. Errata in the second Sermon Page 1. lin 1. for Solicisâ—e reade Soloecisme p. 3 lin 5 for this reade the lin penult blot out he p 5 lin 10 from the bottome after the word them adde Nor the innocence of those whom they have hated without acause as I have * In my Fast Sermon pag. 30. els where observed p 7 l. penult blot out owne p. 9. lin penult for 22. reade 20 p. 13. lin last but one after the word who adde tooke and lin last blot out upon p. 14. lin 2. blot out tooke her death p. 14. lin 14. for whosoever reade whosesoever p. 14 lin last but two after the word were blot out a sin p. 16. lin 27 after the word and reade that p. 17. lin 11. begin the Parenthesis next after the word well The principall Contents of the first SERMON INstruction profitably ministred by way of question Pag. 2. The profitable use of Catechizing p. 3. Too much neglected by some and by others too much urged to the disreputation of a suppression of after-noons preaching p. 4 A Catalogue of profitable questions for self-examination every day p. 6 7 8. The Luxury of Vitellius having 9000. dishes at a meale p. 7. A Reproofe of 1. Impertinent Questionists p. 9. 2. Trifling Questionists p. 9. 3. Curious and presumptuous Questionists p. 10. 4. Distrustfull Questionists p. 10. 5. Blasphemous Questionists p. 11. Luthers censure of the Popish Schoole-Divines for their ignorance of the Bible p. 9. Erasmus his comparison of Luther and Aquinas and his preferring of one page of Luthers books for profitablenesse before all Aquinas works p. 9. Some ordinary things more worthy of serious consideration then many extraordinary p. 12. The shortnesse of mans life with the causes of it the primary cause of it p. 13. Secundary causes 300 severall sorts of diseases named above 2000 yeares agoe Ibid. Their different manner of working unto death p. 14 Pherecides eaten up with lice Ibid. Immoderate passions and affections of the mind no lesse deadly then diseases of the body particular instances thereof p. 14 15 16 17. The sent of lime and snuff of a Candle deadly to some p. 17. Malignant hostility how deadly p. 18. Cruell Malignity in little children Ibid. The deadly cruelty of the Sword p. 19. The vale of the red-Horse why so called p. 19. Strange accidents deadly to some p 20. 606 Houses in London blowne downe at one tempest p. 21. One choaked with a Reyson stone another with a Fly and another with an haire p. 21 Many signes of certain death none of certaine continuance of life p 21 22. Neither kingly prerogatives nor physicall cordials of force against death p. 22. Application The consideration of a short and uncertain life may serve for 1. A spurre unto diligence p. 23 2. A whip or scourge for our negligence p. 25 26 27. 3. A check to vain confidence p. 27. 4. A curbe to concupiscence p. 30. In the desire of 1. Riches p. 31. 2. Honour p. 32 33 34 35. Alexander the great wanted a buriall place 30 dayes after his death p. 33. William the Conquerours buriall often interrupted Ib. None more unhappy then the Pope with his triple Crowne p 35 A Pope hardly saved by the judgement of a Pope p. 35 3. Pleasures p. 35 5. A prop to patience against anger or envy at the welfare of the wicked and against immoderate sorrow for deceased friends p. 36 37. A narration of the condition and course of Mr. I. A. p. 38. His travell and returne from Rome without corruption in manners or cooling in Religion p. 39 40 His escape from dangers and dying where he was thought most safe p. 41 His disease p. 42. The Devill busiest with the best when they are at the worst 43. Examples of such as have had fearfull conflicts in their faith and doubtings of salvation out of which they have bin comfortably delivered p. 43 44 46. But if they had not we must judge of the godly by their regular life not by the distempers of their sicknesse or death p. 45. The pious and comfortable conclusions of the life of M. I. A. p. 45 46. The principall Contents of the second Sermon DEath and Divinity make no difference of Sexes p. 1. Every one should be chary of the life of any man p. 3. Murder destroyeth the Image of God as well as a member of the common-weale and therfore is a breach of the first Table as well as of the second p. 3 4. A whole City in danger by the slaughter of one man though they know it not p. 4. The cruelty of the wicked against the godly p. 4 5. Children should be chary of the lives of their Parents why p. 6. A good son to his Parents below is a favourite of the father above p. 7. A bad child a parracide or murtherer of his Parents p. 7 8. Whence it is that Parents love their children better then children do their Parents p. 8 9. Why Jacob was so loving to Beniamin above the rest of his brethren p. 9 10. The best sort of persons most kindly affected to their kindred p. 10 11 12. A reproofe of the want of naturall affection p. 12 13. Some lament more for the losse of a dog or an horse then others for their neare kindred or friends p. 13. Of two extreams better to be too kind then too hard-hearted p. 13. Yet a fault to exceed moderation in sorrow for deceased friends or kindred p. 14. To die for sorrow is not to be guilty of a sin unto death p. 14 15 A young Saint an old devill one of the devils proverbs p. 16. Signes of saving grace in a young child p. 16 17. An historicall passage touching dancing on the Sabbath day to save life whether lawfull to do so to escape such a danger p. 17 The charity of Ph. H. answerable to her piety and both rare in a child of her age p. 18. Parents more honoured by good children then children by good Parents p. 18. The good disposition and religious life of Mrs H. her mother p. 19 20 21 22. Godly examples to be set forth for others imitation p. 22 Wicked men believe not Gods children to be indowed with such gifts and graces as they have p. 22 23. An acknowledgement of the gift and power of prayer in a mean man by a great Prelate p. 23.
and those of his family as little children use to take in providing for themselves and while they shew such a chary disposition towards their health and welfare they shall thereby get themselves an interest in that gracious promise of the Father of Spirits annexed to observation of the fift Commandement which is length of days for to that precept Honour thy Father and thy Mother is annexed this promise that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee and if from children they grow up to the degree of Parents and have children of their own they shall repay them the observance and succour which they have performed to their Progenitors before And on the contrary the praise of such good sonnes must serve to the reproach of such bad children as wickedly requite the blessing of their Parents by wishing for their death who were the meanes to bring them to life and to preserve them alive by their tendernesse over them in the time of their ignorant and impotent minority thence was the observation of the heathen Prophet so the Apostle calls a Poet Tit. 1.12 * Filius ante diem patrios inquirit in anno◠the Sonne inquires into his Fathers yeares before his time thinking it long before he be wrapt in a white sheet and himselfe clad in a black suite that he may have a merry heart under a mournfull habit Such as have so little both of Grace and good-nature as to desire the dispatch of their Parents commonly do somwhat which may be like to lesson the measure of their owne lives as their yoking themselves unsutably without their Parents consent or against their minds the thought of such a thing was so great a griefe unto Rebecca as caused her passionatly to say I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth such as these which are of the daughters of the Land what good will my life doe me Gen. 27.46 and such a griefe as makes one weary of life weares out the life before the time In this respect many children become Parricides of their own Parents by such heard-hearted stubbornesse in wicked wayes as makes them worthy of stoning to death by the Law of God Deut. 21. ver 20 21. whose want of grace and good nature with their grosse ungratitude returning for all their Parents tendernesse and indulgence towards them nothing but what may offend and afflict them is so much more grievous as in relation and affection they were more neere and deare unto them Of the 23. wounds given to Caesar in the Senate-house whichsoever was most deepe and deadly surely that was most grievous to his heart which he tooke from the hand of Brutus when he said unto him * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sueton. in Jul. Caesar cap. 82. and thon my sonne art thou one to kill me who have loved and cared for thee as a Father forhis sonne And howsoever the fore-cited penall Statute Deut. 21. be not in use among the Christians yet it is no more a meere Jewish Law then the sinne is meerely Jewish God seldome suffers a very rebellious sonne unlesse he become a gracious convert which is very rare to passe unpunished in this life and many times his punishment is of that kind which may bring his own sinne to remembrance his child revenging upon him his owne miscarriage towards his Parents Thus much of Judahs care of the life of his Father Jacob. Now of Jacobs danger of death by the losse of Benjamin It shall come to passe c. the reason of this great danger of Jacob was his deare love to Benjamin very deare doubtlesse if it had cost him his life which is commonly greater in the Father to the child then is reciprocated from the child to the Father haply First because the child is better and longer knowne unto the Father then the Father to the child both for certainty of truth and continuance of time Secondly Because naturall affection as the Lawyer speakes of inheritance rather descends from the Parents to the children then ascends from the children to the Parents Thirdly the discipline of Parents is many times grievous to their children crossing their wills and wayes and sometimes severely chastising them for their failings of duty or transgressions against it all which are commonly as unpleasing unto them as profitable for them Fourthly Parents expect in their children to live when themselves are dead and to be perpetuall in their succession while themselves are but temporall and transitory and children take their Parents too many times to be impediments if not to their lives yet to their comfortable living in keeping Inheritance Honours Offices from them and restraint of their liberty which they cannot expect in a full fruition untill they be dead And for Jacobs love to Benjamin it appears to be more then to the rest of his sons by the saying of Judah he loveth him saith he Gen. 44.20 and so he did all his other children but his words imply that he loved him in an especiall manner and measure above his bretheren so that they as not beloved or little beloved in respect of him are not named as partakers of his love and he sheweth his love to Benjamin by being so fearfull of his life for he would not let him goe lest death should befall him in the way Gen. 42.4 any of the rest might have dyed as well as he but his care his feare and his love were all for benjamin in a very eminent degree and that made him so stiffe against the intreaties and undertakings of Judah and of Ruben who when he had offered his two sonnes for security for one yea and as for sacrifice also for he said slay my two sonnes Gen. 42.37 if I bring him not againe he could obtaine none other answer but this My sonne shall not goe downe with you ver 38. hee would have that son never go downe or set but alway to shine within his horizon And the reason of this love if such an heate and height of affection were not rather an aberration from reason may be because he was the sonne of his most beloved wife Rachel for whom he served seven yeares which yet such was his love unto her seemed unto him but a few dayes Gen. 29.22 Secondly Because he was deare bought for while she laboured boured to give life and liberty to him she lost her own Gen. 35.19 In other cases whosoever is the cause occasion or instrument of a friends death is commonly distasted sometimes detested but here innocency pleades against all imputation of guilt and blood and kindred and neerenesse of blood apprehends the mishap at first with griefe not with grudge and after a time when sorrow is asswaged concerning the dead pitty and compassion love and delight doe exercise their operation upon the living with so much more tendernesse as the losse is the greater not only