The Fear of the Lord is the Instruction of Wisdom and before Honor is Humility 33. Every one that is Proud in Heart is an Abomination to the Lord Prov. 16. 5. The High-way of the Vpright is to depart from Evil He that keepeth his Way preserveth his Soul v. 17. Pride goeth before Destruction And a haughty Spirit before a fall v. 18. A froward Man soweth Strife and a Whisperer separateth chief Friends 28. A Reproof entereth more into a wise Man than an hundred Stripes into a Fool Prov. 17. 10. The beginning of Strife is as when one letteth out Water Therefore leave off Contention before it be medled with 14. He that hath Knowledge spareth his Words Even a Fool when he holdeth his Peace is counted Wise 27 28. A Fool 's Lips enter into Contention The words of a Tale-bearer are as wounds Prov. 18. 6 8. Before Destruction the Heart of Man is haughty 12. Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue 21. The Discretion of a Man differeth his Anger and it is his Glory to pass over a Transgression Prov. 19. 11. Slothfulness casteth into a deep Sleep and an Idle Soul shall suffer Hunger 15. He that hath pity upon the Poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again 17. Hear Counsel and receive Instruction that thou mayest be wise in thy latter End 20. Reprove one that hath Vnderstanding and he will understand Knowledge 25. VVine is a Mocker strong Drink is Raging And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise Prov. 20. 1. It is an Honor for a Man to cease from Strife But every Fool will be medling 3. Love not Sleep lest thou come to Poverty 13. He that goeth about as a Tale-bearer revealeth Secrets 19. An high Look and a proud Heart and the plowing of the Wicked is Sin Prov. 21. 4. He that loveth Pleasure shall be a poor Man 17. The Mouth of a strange Women is a deep Pit he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein Prov. 22. 14. Hear thou my Son and be wise and guide thine Heart in the Way Be not amongst Wine-bibbers amongst Rioters Eaters of Flesh For the Drunkard and the Glutton shall come to Poverty and Drowsiness shall Cloath a Man with Rags Prov. 23. 19. Who hath Wo Who hath Sorrow Who hath Contentions Who hath Babling Who hath Wounds without Cause Who hath Redness of Eyes They that tarry long at the Wine at the last it biteth like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder Thine Eyes shall behold strange Women and thine Heart shall utter perverse Things Yea thou shalt be as he that lyeth down in the midst of the Sea or as he that lyeth upon the top of a Mast 23 29. Rejoice O young Man in thy Youth and let thy Heart cheer thee in the Days of thy Youth and walk in the Ways of thy Heart and in the Sight of thine Eyes But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee unto Judgment Childhood and Youth are Vanity Eccl. 11. 9. Remember now thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth while the evil Days come not nor the Years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no Pleasure in them Eccl. 12. 1. It is good for a Man that he bear the Yoke in his Youth Lam. 3. 27. These are Instructions given by the Spirit of God and particularly directed to Youth which if followed will lead to true Wisdom but if neglected the Fruit must be Destruction The Difficulties of youthful Years are generally very great for when the Strength of Passions carries them on and there is neither Experience or Apprehension to Stem the Violence of them they run as naturally into Mischief as a Boat adrift down the Stream Upon this Consideration is here often press'd the Necessity of their heark'ning to Instruction taking Counsel admitting of Reproof as the most effectual Means for their Security This Advice is given them by the Spirit of God himself who best knows what is necessary for them Here they have his own Words and such particular Directions as their State requires if they read them often and are Solicitous to make them their Rule they will with them find Life but if they despise them they despise their own Souls and the Effects of his Goodness who has thus mercifully taken Care of them CHAP. XXVII Of Masters and Mistresses of Families Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to these A. Such as they ought carefully to observe and are as follows Behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a Dream saying Arise and take the young Child and his Mother and flee into Egypt Mat. 2. 13. They are to be watchful against all Dangers that threaten their Families The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a Man which sowed good Seed in his Field But while Men slept his Enemy came and sowed Tares among the VVheat The Servants said unto him wilt thou then that we go and gather them up But he said nay lest while ye gather up the Tares ye root up also the VVheat with them Mat. 13. 24 28. If they are not very Watchful variety of Disorders will insensibly creep into their Families both as to themselves their Children and Servants And it is their Sloth Sleeping and Neglect is the general Occasion of it For reforming such great Discretion is necessary and this they must earnestly beg of him who is the Father of Light and Fountain of all Wisdom The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Man that is an Housholder which went out early in the Morning to hire Labourers into his Vineyard And when he had agreed with the Labourers when Even was come the Lord of the Vineyard saith unto his Steward Call the Labourers and give them their Hire Mat. 20. 1 1. Three Points proper for this State 1. To be Watchful and Early 2. To consider and look into the Business they have to do and prudently prepare for the effecting it 3. To make just Payments according to Agreement and without delay This last is often of so great Concern that the Neglect of it is attended with so many Inconveniencies as to deserve no better Name than of Injustice and Oppression If any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own House he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5. 8. How great the Obligation is of providing for Family may be understood from the frightful Character here given of those who neglect to do it O God how unhappy is their Condition who lye under this Guilt I wish all Heads of Families would seriously consider it that terrified with it they might be affraid 〈…〉 what should be the Comfort and Provision of their Family Do's not this want considering when it is scarce look'd upon as a Fault to throw away Summs upon Humor and Sport and to let Idleness and Intemperance eat out Estates This is no less in
for that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is Abomination in the Sight of God Luk. 16. 15. How can ye believe which receive Honor one of another and seek not the Honor that cometh from God only Joh. 5. 44. For they loved the Praise of Men more than the Praise of God Jo. 12. 43. Let us not be desirous of vain Glory provoking one another envying one another Gal. 5. 26. Tho' I give my Body to be burned and have not Charity it profitteth me nothing Charity envieth not Charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own 1 Cor. 13. 3 c. Thus plainly speaks the Rule And now if upon a serious weighing of these Particulars it does appear that a Universal Humility is most pressingly recommended and Pride is condemn'd in all its Branches then it must be own'd that in whatever way we seek Glory with Men and desire to be rais'd in the Opinion of the World in whatever way we labor to magnifie this unworthy Clay give our selves the Preference to others and in our Hearts despise our Neighbor so often we forsake our Rule and by a just Judgment upon Pride are rendring our selves eternally contemptible by the very ways in which we unduly seek Esteem If this be so then I think Christians have Reason to consider and reform the general Method of their Lives For if looking upon themselves they see the great Business of their Thoughts their Study their Contrivance their Expences is in the Service of Pride that in this they place their Happiness for this they deny themselves suffer many Inconveniencies hazard their Health exhaust their Estates c. must not they in this see they make Idols of themselves and for this self-worship despise all the Instructions Christ has given them and forsake his Gospel And can this way this Martyrdom of Self-love ever bring them to Heaven What then do they do Believe in Christ and his Promises and yet live in Contradiction to both This is in Fact to renounce both our Reason and Faith Heaven can never be the Reward of such insolent and wilful Madness They must either follow the Ways of the Gospel or lay by the Hopes of its Promises Christians are a People that make Profession of following the Law of Christ And yet in this Point all are striving to out-do one another in departing from it in forsaking the Ways of Humility and following those of Pride CHAP. XV. Of Detraction Reviling or Speaking Evil of our Neighbor Q. WHAT Directions does the Gospel give as to these Points A. They are all forbid For since the Gospel commands us to love our Neighbors as our selves and to do to all Men as we would that Men should do to us it is evident what Judgment we are to make of Detraction or speaking Evil of our Neighbors which is so contrary to these Two great Precepts of the new Law Detraction then is the Transgression of all that it is so positively commanded us in the Love of our Neighbor above-mention'd c. 9. and is yet more expresly forbid God gave them over to a reprobate Mind to do those things which are not convenient being filled with Maliciousness full of Envy Debate Deceit Malignity Whisperers Backbiters Despiteful Proud Boasters Inventers of evil things Covenant-Breakers Who knowing the Judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of Death not only do the same but have Pleasure in them that do them Rom. 1. 28 c. I fear lest when I come I shall not find you such as I would lest there be Debates Envyings Wraths Strifes Backbitings Whisperings Swellings Tumults 2 Cor. 12. 20. Wherefore laying aside all Malice and all Guile and Hypocrisies and Envyings and all Evil-speakings 1 Pet. 2. 1. Speak not Evil one of another Brethren He that speaketh Evil of his Brother and judgeth his Brother speaketh Evil of the Law and judgeth the Law But if thou judge the Law thou art not a Doer of the Law but a Judge There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy who art thou that judgest another Jam. 4. 11. Nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 10. Not to keep Company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Railer with such an one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5. 11. Put them in mind to speak Evil of no Man to be no Brawler but Gentle shewing all Meekness unto all Men Tit. 3. 2. Thus speaks the Rule and while it sets Detraction or Backbiting and Reviling and Whispering among those Sins which exclude from the Possession of God what must be said but that they who do these things either know not their Rule or think that by Custom 't is made void If something of this were not how should those who profess to believe and follow the Gospel live on in the open Breach of it and make that their general Entertainment which is here declar'd a Forfeiture of Happiness This seems a strange Blindness or Delusion and so much the greater that it is not the Practice only of such who by their Wickedness live at Defiance with Heaven but even of those who by their pious Endeavors and stricter Disciplin seem in earnest in what they profess Here 's the Surprize And to these I make it my Petition that they would take more Pains in knowing what their Rule teaches and since this declares Backbiting and Whispering to be so criminal that they would remember it and no more make these their Sport For that Piety cannot be true which has not this Regard to the Will of God and the Observance of his Law CHAP. XVI Of the Watchfulness and Industry of a Christian Life in Reproof of a slothful and idle Life Q. WHAT Directions does the Gospel give as to the Points of Watchfulness and Idleness A. It speaks plain enough Watch and pray that ye enter not into Temptation Matth. 26. 41. Let your Loins be girded about and your Lights burning and ye your selves like unto Men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open unto him immediately Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching And if he shall come in the second Watch or come in the third Watch and find them so blessed are those Servants And this know that if the good Man of the House had known what Hour the Thief would come he would have watched and not have suffered his House to be broken through Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh at an Hour when ye think not Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing of a Truth I say unto you that he will make him Ruler over all that he hath But and if that Servant say in his Heart my Lord delayeth his coming and shall
me for ever Jer. 35. 18. Thus speaks the Rule the Will of God is manifest in it and the doing his Will being the only Secure Way wherein a Christian is to walk Children have no other Means of coming to their Heavenly Father but by doing his Will here on Earth and with a particular Care observing whatever charge he has given them in Relation to their Parents The Precept is repeated so often that there can be no dispute of it And yet to see with how little Respect some Parents are treated how much others are slighted and neglected and that many have no greater affliction in the World than what is given them by the Children of their own Bowels and this at an Age when Parents stand most in need of Comfort and Children being at years of Discretion cannot be Ignorant of their Duty To see this I say one would think God had never spoke in the Case or not manifested his Will What then must be said but that Christians have a Rule but have little concern in following it and that upon this account they cannot rationally expect the Blessings God has promis'd to the Observers of it This is the First Commandment as the Apostle says with Promise and it cannot be question'd but as the Observance of it is so particularly enforced with a Promise of God's Favor so the Contempt of it must be the Forfeiture of all such Expectation must provoke God's Displeasure and be follow'd with Judgment CHAP. XXVI Of Youth Q. HAving now spoken of the Duties of Children to their Parents Pray tell me are there not some Instructions particularly directed to Persons while yet in their Youth for such seem very much to want them A. Yes there are such Behold one came and said unto him Good Master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal Life And he said unto him why callest thou me Good There is none Good but one that is God But if thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments He saith unto him which Jesus said Thou shalt do no Murther Thou shalt not commit Adultery Thou shalt not Steal Thou shalt not bear false Witness Honor thy Father and thy Mother and thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self The young Man saith unto him all these things have I kept from my Youth up What lack I yet Jesus said unto him if thou wilt be perfect go and Sell what thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come and follow me But when the Young Man heard that Saying he went away Sorrowful for he had great Possessions Mat. 19. 16. The Commandments are to be kept by all Persons in their Youth and even then they are to consider which is the Way to eternal Life and whether they walk in it and what is yet wanting to them It is said of this Young Man that Jesus beholding him loved him Mar. 10. 21. And thus only can Youth expect the Love of Jesus If this be true then what is the unhappy State of those great Numbers who have their Thoughts Desires Affections so confin'd to Self-love and the Love of the World that they scarce think of another Life Grant them O God a better Spirit And the Child grew and waxed strong in Spirit filled with Wisdom and the Grace of God was upon him And when he was twelve years Old they went up to Jerusalem after three Days they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both bearing them and asking them questions Luk. 2. 40 42 46. And Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature and in favor with God and Man v. 52. Youth ought to seek the best Company by whose Conversation they may be advanced in Virtue and all true Wisdom How wretchedly then do they go out of the Way who avoiding these seek and love none but those from whom they can learn nothing but Folly or Vice Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. Likewise ye Younger submit your selves unto the Elder 1 Pet. 5. 5. I here add something out of the Old Testament Thou shalt rise up before the hoary Head and honor the Face of the old Man and fear thy God I am the Lord Levit. 19. 32. My Son forget not my Law but let thine Heart keep my Commandments Prov. 3. 1. Let not Mercy and Truth forsake thee 3. Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart and lean not on own thine own Vnderstanding 5. Be not wise in thine own Eyes fear the Lord and depart from Evil 7. Get Wisdom get Vnderstanding Forget it not neither decline from the Woods of my Mouth Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee VVisdom is the principal thing therefore get VVisdom And with all thy getting get Vnderstanding Pro. 4. 5. Take fast hold of Instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy Life Enter not into the Path of the VVicked and go not into the VVay of evil Men. Avoid it pass not by it turn from it and pass away v. 13. He is in the VVay of Life that keepeth Instruction But he that refuseth Reproof erreth Prov. 10. 17. VVhoso loveth Instruction loveth Knowledge but he that hateth Reproof is brutish Prov. 12. 1. A Man shall be commended acording to his VVisdom but he that is of a perverse Heart shall be despised Prov. 12. 8. The way of a Fool is right in his own Eyes but he that hearkeneth unto Counsel is wise v. 15. Lying Lips are Abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly are his delight v. 22. A wise Son heareth his Father's Instruction But a Scorner heareth not Rebuke Prov. 13. 1. He that keepeth his Mouth keepeth his Life But he that openeth wide his Lips shall have Destruction v. 3. Poverty and Shame shall be to him that refuseth Instruction But he that regardeth Reproof shall be honored v. 18. He that walketh with wise Men shall be Wise But a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed v. 20. He that walketh in his Vprightness feareth the Lord but he that is perverse in his Ways despiseth him Prov. 14. 2. Go from the Presence of a foolish Man when thou perceivest not in him the Lips of Knowledge v. 7. Fools Mock at Sin v. 9. There is a Way which seemeth right unto a Man but the end thereof are the Ways of Death v. 12. He that is slow to Wrath is of great Vnderstanding but he that is hasty of Spirit exalteth Folly v. 29. The Way of the Wicked is an Abomination unto the Lord but he loveth him that followeth after Righteousness Prov. 15. 9. A Scorner loveth not one that reproveth him neither will he go unto the Wise v. 12. The Lord will destroy the House of the Proud v. 25. The Thoughts of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord v. 26. He that refuseth Instruction hateth his own Soul but he that heareth Reproof getteth Vnderstanding 32.