saving knowledge of God and Jesus Christ Even in those places in those families and in those Churches where persons injoy great means of knowledge if inquiry be made what understanding in the things of God such persons have attained unto there will be found much ignorance in many that have a long time injoyed great advantages to get knowledge The people of Israel had greater means of knowledge than any Nation under Heaven Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation yet hear how God complains of Israels ignorance Jer 4.22 My people is foolish they have not known me they are foolish children and they have none understanding they are wise to do evill but to do good they have no knowledge The Hebrews who had excellent teaching a long time in so much that in respect of the time and means they might have been Teachers of others were so raw and weak in knowledge that it was needful for them to be instructed in the first principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 When for the time ye ought to be Teachers ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God The Church of Corinth had many eminent Pastors and Teachers as Paul Apollo c. and did excel in gifts 1 Cor. 5.7 In every thing ye are inriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge so that ye come behind in no gift Yet in this eminent Church there were some found that had no knowledge of God 1 Cor. 15.34 Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Now in regard there is naturally much blindness and ignorance in the minds and understandings of our children and Servants it is necessary we should labour and take great pains with them to bring them to the knowledge of God by instructing them out of Gods word if we have any regard either to the glory of God or to our own good or the good of our Children and Families For 1. The permitting of our Families to remain without the knowledge of God will bring down Gods Judgments upon them for God is wont to pour out his fury upon those persons and Families that have no knowledge of God Jer. 10.25 Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name Ignorance of God was one ground of the Lords controversie with the Land of Israel Hos 4.1 The Lord hath a Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land because there is no truth nor mercy nor knowledge of God in the Land If where the knowledge of God is wanting in a Nation God hath a controversie with that Nation may we not also conclude that God hath a controversie and will plead his controversie with those Families where there is no knowledge of God 2. Our Children will prove great Crosses and bring much grief and sorrow upon us if we train them up in ignorance Prov. 17.25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her that bare him Prov. 19.13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father And as they will be a great grief to their Parents who are nursed up in ignorance so they will walk in such courses as will pierce themselves through with many sorrows Hos 13.13 The sorrows of a travelling woman shall come upon him he is an unwise son 3. If we do not instruct our Children and endeavour to instil knowledge into them they will become useless persons and spend their days in vanity and do no service for God or their Generation They will be unable to undertake and manage common and easie employments Eccles 10.15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because he knoweth not how to go to the City What is more easie to find out than the way to a City where there is much commerce and frequent going to and fro Such persons as are foolish and indiscreet though they labour and toil in common and easie things as easie as to find the way to a City they can bring nothing to any effect And as foolish children will be unable to manage any employments of themselves so so they are unfit to be employed by others Prov. 26.6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage 4. If our Children and Servants be not taught to know the Lord they cannot live godly lives but will be alienated from the life of God Ephes 4.18 Having the understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart They will be so far from leading godly lives if they be brought up in ignorance of God that they will prove vitious persons when the Israelites neglected the knowledge of God they became a sinful nation a people laden with iniquity Isa 1.3 4. Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Ah sinful nation A people laden with iniquity a seed of evil doers Children that are corrupters they have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the holy One of Israel to anger they are gone away backward The Apostle ranketh such as are without understanding among haters of God and the chiefest of sinner Rom. 1.30 31. If our Children and Servants be destitute of the knowledge of God they will be easily drawn to the vilest and most abominable sins such as Idolatry Gal. 4.8 When ye knew not God ye did service to them which by nature are no Gods Blasphemy Psal 74.18 The foolish people have blasphemed thy Name Persecution of the people of God so far as to kill and destroy them Joh. 16.2 3. They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think he doth God service and these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me Adultery Prov. 7.7 10 21 22 25. I beheld among the simple ones I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding and behold there met him a woman with the attire of an Harlot With much fair speech she caused him to yield with the flattering of her lips she forced him he goeth after her straight-way as an Ox goeth to the slaughter till a dart strike through his Liver as a Bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not that it is for his life Such as have no instruction or being instructed do not obey the counsels that are given to them are in the ready way to run into all kind of evil Prov. 5.13 14. I have not obeyed the voice of my Teachers nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me I was almost in all evil in the midst of the Congregation and the Assembly If we tremble at the thoughts of having our Children prove Blasphemers Idolaters Adulterers Persecutors of the people of God and
should instruct them how to follow their Calling and how to speak and walk and to order their conversations aright in all things we should shew them the path of Life and guide them therein that they may obtain eternal salvation in the world to come 4. God teacheth his children and servants out of his holy Word Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law The Lord builds up all his houshold in knowledge faith and holiness upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles that is the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures by the Prophets and Apostles Ephes 2.19 20. Ye are of the Houshold of God and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone He instructs penitent persons by making known his word to them Prov. 1.23 Turn you at my Reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you David describes Gods teaching his people Israel thus Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel In like manner when we teach our children and servants we should teach them out of the word of God and establish them in the knowledge belief and practice of the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures by the Prophets and Apostles 5. The Lord condescends to teach such as are of a froward and perverse disposition The Children of Israel were a perverse generation Deut. 32.5 They are a perverse and crooked generation yet the Lord taught and instructed Israel Vers 10. He found him in a desart Land and in the waste howling Wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye And this he did notwithstanding they were a very froward people as Moses tells us again vers 20. They are a very froward Generation In like manner though our Children or Servants should be of a froward perverse spirit yet we should not forbear instructing them 6. The Lord imprints and fastens in the minds and hearts of his Children and Servants those Instructions which he giveth them hence he is said to seal their instruction Job 33.14 He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction So should we endeavour to imprint those Instructions which we give our Families upon their minds that they may retain them in their memories as long as they live SECT 7. Mothers as well as Fathers must instruct their Children Quest IT may be some will here demand Is it not the Duty of Mothers as well as of Fathers to teach their Children Answ Although the Scripture doth forbid Women teaching in publick Assemblies 1 Cor. 14.34 Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the Law 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence Yet it doth allow them to teach their Children and Servants and though this work doth lie chiefly upon Fathers to teach Gods word unto their Children as appeareth by the special charge that is given to them Ephes 6.4 Isa 38.19 Psal 78.5 yet it is the duty of Mothers also to instruct and watch over their Children and Servants For the proving hereof and the stirring up of Mothers to joyn with and to be helpful to their Husbands in instructing their Children and Servants I shall propose to them these following Considerations 1. It hath been the practice of godly women in former times to instruct their Children in the knowledge of the Scriptures which the holy Ghost hath left upon record as a monument of their praise as long as the world shall continue and as a Pattern to be followed by all women that fear God Solomons mother though she was a Queen did not look upon it as a work beneath her to instruct her Son but taught him a Prophecy containing excellent Lessons concerning Chastity and Temperance defending the Oppressed c. Prov. 31.1 The words of King Lemuel the Prophecy which his mother taught him What this Prophecy was that his mother taught him is set down in the following verses Solomon was instructed by his Father Prov. 4.3 4. I was my Fathers Son he taught me also yet Solomon's mother did not think her self excused from teaching her Son because his Father instructed him but she joyn'd with her husband and teacheth him a Prophecy Now if those women who haue godly Husbands that instruct their Families must also instruct their Children how much more is it the duty of those women who have careless and negligent Husbands that regard not their Families to be diligent in teaching their Children and Servants Another example we have in Lois and Eunice Lois being converted to the Christian Religion trains up her Daughter Eunice in the faith of Christ Eunice being instructed in the faith of Christ instructs her Son Timothy 2 Tim. 1.9 2. Children are commanded to hearken to and not forsake the instruction which their Mothers as well as which their Fathers give them out of the Law of God Prov. 1.8 My Son hear the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother which implies That Mothers as well as Fathers are to teach Gods Laws to their Children 3. It is mentioned as one of the Vertues of a vertuous woman That she looketh well to the ways of her Houshold Prov. 31.27 and this oversight that she takes of the ways of her Houshhold conduceth so much to the good of her Children that it will cause them to bless God for her as long as they live as the next verse implieth Her Children arise up and call her blessed vers 28. And the Apostle Paul adviseth elder women to be Teachers of good things Tit. 2.3 And he tells them both whom they should teach younger women and what Lessons they should teach younger women vers 4.5 which is to be understood of instilling those Principles into their Children and Maid Servants how they should demean themselves when God shall bring them into a married estate and also of instructing their Neighbours and Acquaintance when they visit them and have occasion to confer with them 4. The Mother as well as the Father doth concur to the conveying of a sinful nature unto their Children Psal 51.5 In sin did my Mother conceive me And therefore Mothers ought by their prayers and tears and instructions and the use of all good means to endeavour after the Conversion and Regeneration of their Children as well as their Fathers 5. Children are very apt to follow their Mothers example in so much that it 's become a Proverb As is the Mother so is the Daughter and the truth of this Proverb is such that God himself alloweth of it Ezek. 16.44 Behold every one that useth Proverbs shall use this Proverb
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And several other places So that if we would follow our Light which we have received from Gods word that will teach us to instruct our Children diligently in the knowledge of the Scriptures 10. The great ignorance and folly which is in Children shews that they have need of more instruction than to be called upon to follow the Light that is in them for how little Light have Children before they are instructed God commands his word to be read to Children and why Deut. 31.11 13. Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing Gather the People together men women and children And that their Children which have not known any thing may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as ye live in the Land whither ye go to possess See here how little knowledge is ascribed unto Children That their Children which have not known any thing Observe also what means God prescribes for the bringing Children to know and fear the Lord and that is reading his Law to them Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing that their Children may hear and learn to fear the Lord. Instead of knowledge there is folly in our Children and this folly is bound up so fast in their hearts that it cannot be fetch'd out without instruction Prov. 8. 33. Hear instruction and be wise Neither will instruction do it alone unless correction be joyned with instruction Prov. 22.15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a Child but the Rod of Correction will drive it far from him Prov. 29.15 The Rod and Reproof give wisdom But how will that Child prove that is left to himself and hath neither instruction nor correction The next words will inform us But a Child left to himself bringeth his Mother to shame As he that refuseth to receive instruction regardeth not but despiseth his own Soul Prov. 15.32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own Soul So he that refuseth to give instruction to his Children may be said to despise the souls of his Children For if he did regard them he would seek after their salvation and if he did seek after their salvation he would instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures which are able to make them wise to salvation There being much folly in our Childrens hearts if we let them live without instruction they will go astray and perish eternally Prov. 10.21 Fools die for want of wisdom Prov. 5.23 He shall die without instruction and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray SECT 17. Heb. 8.11 explained It doth not imply Family-Instruction or Ministerial Teaching to be needless Object 17 IT seems a needless thing for Parents to teach their Children or Masters their Servants seeing the Lord hath promised in the times of the Gospel And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest Heb. 8.11 Answ I. The sense and meaning of this Scripture They shall not teach every man his Neighbour c. is much perverted when it is brought to prove either Ministerial Teaching or Family-Instruction to be needless and of no use in the days of the Gospel For 1. As to the preaching of the Word the Lord Jesus will have that continued and will afford his presence with this Ordinance till the end of the world Matth. 28 19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Till all that belong to the Election of Grace are brought home to Christ and till all that are brought to Christ are made perfect and are arrived unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ God will have the work of the Ministry continued and Pastors and Teachers to carry on this work Ephes 4.11 12 13. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Now this work will not be fully done till the end of the world 2. Neither doth this Scripture make void Family-Instruction for the same Apostle who wrote this Epistle to the Hebrews wherein he saith They shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother c. chargeth Parents in the days of the Gospel to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6.4 yea in this very Epistle to the Hebrews he saith of such as are dull of hearing Ye need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 which he would not have done if he had thought teaching by men to be needless under the days of the Gospel II. When it is said They shall not teach every man his Neighbour c. The meaning is they shall not only be taught by men but they shall also have the teaching of Gods Spirit whereby the teachings they have from men shall be blessed and be made effectual for the conveying of the knowledge of God Many Examples may be given where this word Not is not an absolute negation but signifies not only take one or two Hos 6.6 I desired mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt Offerings Sacrifice was commanded under the Law and therefore the meaning cannot be that God did not at all desire Sacrifice but that he did not desire Sacrifice only but mercy also or that he desired mercy more than Sacrifice as the following words intimate And the knowledge of God more than burnt Offerings John 7.16 Jesus answered them My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me That is It is not only mine but also his that sent me III. This Scripture may be understood comparatively of the abundance of knowledge that should be in the times of the Gospel above what was in the times of the Law Knowledge doth so abound under the New Testament Administration that some mean and weak persons in the time of the Gospel know as much of Christ crucified and God reconciled in Christ and other Gospel-Mysteries as they that were Teachers of others knew under the Law Zach. 12.8 He that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David Knowledge should so abound that there should seem to be no need of teaching every man his Neighbour in comparison of what was under the Law when the Doctrine of the Gospel was wrapped up in so many Types and Shadows that it was
Gold and a multitude of Rubies but the Lips of Knowledge are a pretious Jewel VVisdom is of that excellency that it far surpasseth all the Silver and Gold and pretious Stones in the world Job 28.16 17 18. It cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphir the Gold and the Crystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine Gold no mention shall be made of Coral or of Pearls for the price of Wisdom is above Rubies How desirous are most Parents to leave their Children great Estates If Wisdom be better than all the Riches of the world why should we not desire and labour more to leave them endued with VVisdom than to leave them great Riches 2. If we leave them endued with VVisdom though they be poor we leave them better than if we left them Kings and Princes destitute of VVisdom Eccles 4.13 Better is a poor and a wise Child than an old and foolish King Many persons who have aspiring minds would spare no pains to make their Children Kings and Princes if they saw any possibility to effect it why then should we be backward to convey that to our Children which will be a greater advantage to them than the promoting of them to be Kings 3. Wisdom will make our Children of an excellent Spirit Prov. 17.27 A man of understanding is of an excellent Spirit An excellent Spirit is a great Ornament to a man and to be preferred above Nobility of Birth Beauty Riches or any external Accomplishments Darius finding in Daniel an excellent Spirit preferred him above all the Princes and Nobles in his Kingdom Dan. 6.3 This Daniel was preferred above the Presidents and Princes because an excellent Spirit was in him and the King thought to set him over the whole Realm 4. Wisdom and Understanding will make the Members of our Family useful in their Generation in whatsoever places and stations they shall be fixed by the Providence of God What blessing was prayed for on Boaz his behalf by his Friends Do thou worthily in Ephratah Ruth 4.11 The same shall fall upon our Children if we train them up in acquaintance with God They shall do worthily in the places where God casts their lot although their lot be cast in evil times and sinful places Dan. 11.32 Such as do wickedly against the Covenant shall be corrupt by Flatteries but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits By being endued with Wisdom and Understanding they will prove great Blessings to the Families Cities and Kingdoms in which they live They will be blessings to the Houses and Families where they live Prov. 24.3 Through wisdom is an house builded and by understanding it is established Yea they will be Blessings to the Towns and Cities wherein they live Eccles 9.14 15. There was a little City and a few men within it and there came a great King against it and besieged it and built great Bulwarks against it now there was found in it a poor wise man and he by his wisdom delivered the City By the means of a wise Woman the City of Abel was preserved from destruction When Joab was come against it with a great Army to destroy the place she by her wise carriage both mollified Joabs Spirit and brought over the men of the City to comply with his desire and so saved the City from ruine 2 Sam. 20.15 16 22. Yea more than this they will be Blessings to the States and Kingdoms in which they live Prov. 28.2 For the transgression of a Land many are the Princes thereof but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged Joseph being a wise and discreet man Gen. 41.39 was a great blessing to all the Land of Egypt and not to Egypt only but to all the Countreys round about who were sustained by the Provision that he had laid up against the time of that great Famine 5. Wisdom will cause our Children to live in good repute and credit all their days Prov. 3.35 The wise shall inherit Glory but shame shall be the promotion of Fools Eccl. 8.1 A mans wisdom maketh his face to shine It will procure them favour and honour and respect from all sorts of persons Prov. 4.7 8. Exalt her and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her she shall give to thine head an Ornament of Grace a Crown of Glory shall she deliver to thee Prov. 14.35 The Kings favour is towards a wise Servant 6. Wisdom will keep our Children from imbezeling away and mis-spending their Estates which we leave them and will help them to preserve increase and use well that portion of Goods or Lands that we shall bequeath to them Prov. 24.4 By knowledge shall the Chambers be filled with all the precious and pleasant Riches Prov. 21.20 There is a treasure to be desired and Oyl in the dwelling of the wise but a foolish man spendeth it up 7. Wisdom will keep them from falling into those troubles and snares wherewith foolish and indiscreet persons are intangled Prov. 22.3 A prudent man fore-seeth the evil and hideth himself but the simple pass on and are punished And when they do fall into trouble knowledge will help them to get out of their troubles Prov. 11.9 Through knowledge shall the Just be delivered 8. Wisdom will preserve them from keeping evil company that they shall not be intangled with the acquaintance either of lewd men or lascivious women which are the bane and destruction of many young men Prov. 2.10 11 12 16. When wisdom entreth into thine heart and knowledge is pleasant to thy Soul Discretion shall preserve thee and Vnderstanding shall keep thee to deliver thee from the way of the evil man from the man that speaketh froward things to deliver thee from the strange Woman even from the stranger which flattereth with her words 9. Wisdom will make our Children prove great Comforts to us Prov. 10.1 A wise Son maketh a glad Father Prov. 23.15 16. My Son if thine heart be wise my heart shall rejoyce even mine yea my reins shall rejoyce when thy lips speak right things And vers 24 25. The Father of the Righteous shall greatly rejoyce and he that begetteth a wise Child shall have joy of him thy Father and thy Mother shall be glad and she that bare thee shall rejoyce 10. Wisdom and Understanding are means of leading them to life and salvation Prov. 16.22 Vnderstanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it Prov. 3.21 22. Keep sound Wisdom and Discretion so shall they be Life and Grace to thy Neck John 17.3 This is Life eternal that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Do we not thirst after the salvation of our Childrens Souls If we do then let us be diligent to instruct them in the Striptures which will make them wise to
thine heart and tie them about thy neck when thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee 6. The abiding of Gods word in our hearts and memories will help our perseverance 1 John 2.24 If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Father and in the Son The way to abide in Christ is to let his word abide in us John 15.7 If ye abide in me and my words abide in you 7. It will help forward our salvation to keep in memory the word of God 1 Cor. 15.2 By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you It is not only useful to such as are in a state of Grace to treasure up Gods word in their memories but also to the Unconverted for it may be a means of their Conversion and turning unto God Psal 22.27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord Seeing therefore it is so advantagious for all sorts of persons to have Gods Word treasured up in their memories cause both your Servants and Children to commit to and keep in memory what you teach them out of the Scriptures and to that purpose cause them often to reherse those Scriptures wherein they have been instructed The Hebrew word which we translate teach diligently Deut. 6.7 Thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children signifieth also to repeat often one and the same thing to inculcate it again and again with much diligence And let not the rehearsing of the same Scriptures by and to the members of your Family be irksome and tedious to you seeing it will prove beneficial to them For what the Apostle faith of writing the same things to the same persons viz. to the Church at Philippi Phil. 3.1 To write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous but for you it is safe The same I may say of repeating the same things in our Families it should not be grievous to you seeing it is safe for them SECT 6. The necessity of watching over our Families Direct 6 WAtch over your Families and see whether they live according to those Instructions which you give them out of the Word of God Solomon speaking of a vertuous Woman saith of her Prov. 31.27 She looketh well to the ways of her houshold A Governour of a Family must not only instruct his Houshold but look yea look well to the ways of his Houshold that he may see that none of them live in any vice or in the neglect of their duty to God or their Neighbour We read of a man which sowed good seed in his field but while men slept the Enemy came and sowed Tares among the Wheat Matth. 13.24 25. Though we sow the good Seed of the word in our Families yet if we sleep when we have done that is if we be secure and careless and do not watch over them the Enemy will come and endeavour to sow Tares either the Tares of Error or the Tares of Strife and Dissention or some other evils To quicken you to this duty of watching over your Families consider 1. How prone mans nature is unto that which is evil our proneness to sin is so great that they which have had good and wholesome Instructions given to them are very apt to turn aside and go astray if they be left but a little to themselves A remarkable instance of this we have in the Children of Israel who upon Moses his absence by the space only of forty days fell into the sin of Idolatry and made a golden Calf and worshipped the same for the God that brought them out of the Land of Egypt Exod. 32.1 to vers 9. And yet Israel had received many good instructions from Moses yea they had heard God himself speaking to them from Mount Sinai and delivering his Law to them wherein he had expresly charged them not to make to themselves any graven image c. And to beget the greater Reverence of his Law there were such Thundrings and Lightnings and such dreadful fire as that Moses and all the people quaked and trembled with fear And notwithstanding this solemn delivery of the Law of God they quickly fell into this fearful sin of Idolatry Exod. 32.8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them It was not above six weeks as some compute the time after the delivery of the Law that they made this Calf not above six months after they came out of Egypt as Rivet observes This sin of theirs was the more to be wondered at because they had seen the mighty works of God upon the Egyptians whose gods could not deliver them out of the Lords hand they had also seen his wonders at the red Sea besides they bad in a solemn manner promised obedience to all the Commands of God Exod. 24.3 All the people answered with one voice and said All the words which the Lord hath said will we do And yet after all the Instructions and all the Ingagements that lay upon them to obey the Lord they quickly fell into that foul sin of Idolatry 2. Consider what a mighty charge you have to look after It is beyond Silver or Gold or precious Stones you have the Souls of your Families committed to your charge you have such a charge of them as that you must give an account to God for them Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Ruleover you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account SECT 7. The Vsefulness of Reproof and Directions about giving Reproof Direct 7 WHen your Children or Servants do any thing contrary to the Instructions you have given them out of the Word of God Rebuke and Reprove them Reproofs grounded upon the Word of God and wisely administred will be a great furtherance of their Souls salvation as you may see Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and Reproofs of Instruction are the way of Life The sence of which is this the Law of God gives us Light and Direction how to order our Conversations aright and when persons are instructed out of this Law and reproved when they go astray from it this is the way to save their Souls Although some persons in your Families should be addicted to lying and other hainous sins and have been habituated to them for a long season yet you may hope by instructing and reproving them according to the Rules of Gods Word that you shall reclaim them from their Vices and make them sound and sincere Christians The Cretians were notorious Lyars and so given to sensuality that they seemed more like Beasts than Men slothful persons that minded little else but their Bellies yet the Apostle would not have Titus despair of reforming them and making these Cretians sound and good Christians And what course doth he direct
exceeded he openeth also their ear to discipline and commandeth that they return from iniquity So should you charge and command your Children that they sin no more when you correct them 3. God is not extream to correct for every small fault Psal 130.3 If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand If any thing be done ignorantly he is ready to wink at that Acts 17.30 The times of this ignorance God winked at 4. God distinguisheth between his Children Such as are dutiful diligent Children shall not be corrected so smartly as those that are careless and negligent Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him 5. When Gods dearest Children need Correction and he seeth it is for their good they shall have it as well as others So should you do If you have any Child which is dearer and more delightful than the rest you should correct that as well as the others when it needs Correction Prov. 3.12 Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth 6. The Lord corrects in measure Jer. 30.11 I will correct thee in measure and will not leave thee altogether unpunished He is careful not to break or sink his peoples Spirits by his Corrections Isa 57.16 I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the Spirit should fail before me and the Soul which I have made In like manner you should be careful that you do not correct your Children out of measure or so as to sink and quench their Spirits 7. God doth not correct his Children in anger but out of love Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten And as he corrects in love so he doth aim at their good Heb. 12.10 They verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness In like manner when you correct your Children let it not be in passion but out of love to their Souls and with a desire and design to do them good 8. God tries to reform his Children first by lesser and more gentle afflictions and when they will not prevail to reform them then he deals more severely with them and will not leave following them with one correction after another till he hath humbled and reformed them Isa 9.1 At the first he lightly afflicted the Land of Zebulun and Naphthali and afterwards did more grievously afflict her by the way of the Sea Lev. 26.23 24. If ye will not be reformed by these things but will walk contrary unto me then will I also walk contrary unto you and will punish you yet seven times for your sins So should you first try more gentle means and if that will not prevail chastise them more severely and be not discouraged from instructing and correcting them till you have humbled and subdued their spirits and caused them to reform their lives SECT 9. How to keep up our Authority over our Children and Servants Direct 9 IT will conduce much to the rendring of those Instructions which you give your Families more powerful and effectual to keep up your Authority in your Families and so to carry your selves that your Children and Servants may reverence and respect you It is said of Christ Mat. 7.28 29. The people were astonished at his Doctrine for he taught them as one having authority And what followed hereupon His word became very powerful Luke 4.32 They were astonished at his Doctrine for his word was with power When persons reverence those that teach them it causeth their Doctrine to work the more effectually upon their hearts and lives Mark 6.20 Herod feared John and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly If you say What course should we take that we may keep up our Authority and be reverenced in our Families I answer First Be careful to honour God to submit and subject your selves unto him and then he will cause your Families to honour you and to submit and subject themselves to your Commands It is God that inclines mens hearts to honour us 1 Chron. 29.12 Both Riches and Honour come of thee And when we are vilified flighted and disregarded this also is of God Psal 44.13 Thou makest us a reproach to our Neighbours a scorn and derision to them that are round about us It is God that subdues the hearts of Children and Servants and other inferiours and makes them subject to their Superiours Psal 18.47 It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the people under me And it is a Judgment which the Lord layeth upon us when our Children or Servants carry themselves proudly or disobediently towards us Isa 3.5 The Child shall behave himself proudly against the Ancient and the Base against the Honourable Now if we be careful to glorifie God he will cause us to be honoured if we slight or disregard him he will cause us to be despised 1 Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed If we submit our selves to God he will cause our Wives and Children and Servants to submit themselves unto us James 4.7 10. Submit your selves therefore to God Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up By lifting up is not only meant deliverance out of trouble but it implieth also that God will cause those that submit themselves to him to be honoured and reverenced he will lift them up in the hearts and estimation of all sorts of men that they shall carry themselves respectively towards them But if we rebel against God he will raise up evil against us out of our own Houses and cause some or other of our Families to carry themselves rebelliously and contemptuously towards us Thus when David had despised the Commandment of the Lord God raised up evil against him out of his own House 2 Sam. 12.9 11. Whilst he walked in the ways of God all sorts of persons strangers as well as his own people were subject to him Psal 18.43 44. A people whom I have not known shall serve me as soon as they hear of me they shall obey me the strangers shall submit themselves unto me But when he turned aside from God Sbimei one of his Servants curseth him to his face and his own Son Absolom riseth up in Rebellion against him Secondly When your Children carry themselves undutifully or irreverently towards you or do any thing that is sinful and displeasing to God reprove them and if Reproofs do not make them amend correct them This will make them give you reverence Heb. 12.9 We have had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live Thirdly Avoid frowardness intemperance and all other vices and carry your Souls in a holy gracious and exemplary manner for if you be addicted
these Rev. 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take of the Water of Life freely Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come and buy wine and milk without money and without price Joh. 7.37 In the last day that great day of the Feast Jesus stood and cried saying If any man thirst let him come to me and drink John 6.37 Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out The understanding of Christs love how willing and ready he is to receive such as come to him will be a powerful means to draw their Souls to Christ Jer. 31.3 With loving kindness have I drawn thee Hos 11.4 I drew them with the Cords of a man with the bands of love Fourthly Inform them what Jesus Christ expecteth from those that come to him and close with him if they would be owned by him for true Disciples and such as shall partake of his saving benefits As 1. They must abandon all their sins 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity 2. They must deny themselves and take up their Cross and follow Christ Mark 8.34 Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Luke 14.27 Whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple 3. They must love and prefer Christ above all their Relations and whatsoever else is dear to them in the whole world Matth. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me 4. They must take his yoke upon them and submit to his Government and obey his Commands Matth. 11.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart and you shall find rest unto your Souls John 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments John 15.14 Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you 5. They must continue believing in Christ and walking in his ways as long as they live John 8.31 Then said Jesus unto those Jews which believed on him If ye continue in my words then are ye my Disciples indeed Let them know also that the Lord Jesus doth not expect that they should do these things in their own strength but that if they look up unto him he will give them his holy Spirit to enable them to do all these things and whatsoever else he requireth of them Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them Fifthly Fortifie them against the Offence and Scandal of the Cross of Christ that they may not revolt and depart from Christ after they have embraced him when they shall meet with troubles and persecutions for the Gospels sake as many are apt to do Matth. 13.21 Yet hath he not Root in himself but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended If you ask How shall we fortifie our Families against the offence of the Cross that when troubles arise for the Gospels sake they may not fall off from the ways of CHRIST I answer First Tell them at their entrance into Christianity what they must expect to meet withal if they will be Christians indeed Let them know they shall be hated in the world 2 Tim. 3.12 Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Luke 21.12 Ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake and must look for Reproaches Confiscation of Goods Imprisonment and all sorts of persecution This was the means that Christ used to keep his Disciples from being offended at the troubles should come upon them He told them before hand what they must expect to meet with John 16.1 2. These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service As it is with those that build an House or a Tower they should first sit down and consider what will be the cost and charges that they must be at in building Luke 14.28 29 30. Which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it Lest haply after he hath laid the foundation and is not able to finish it all that behold it begin to mock him saying This man began to build and was not able to finish So they who have a purpose to become Christians had need count what it may cost them to be Christians indeed they must count upon it that for ought they know it may cost them the loss of all things even of their Lives and see whether they are willing to become Christians on these terms lest after they are entred into the ways of Christ they should depart from them when they meet with persecutions for the Gospels sake and so become a reproach and and scandal to Religion 2. Inform them that unless they be willing and resolved to suffer the loss of all things for Christ when they are called to it they cannot be the Disciples of Christ Luke 14.33 Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple And if they go about to save their Lives when the Lord Jesus calleth them to lay them down they shall lose eternal Life Mark 8.35 Whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels the same shall save it Thirdly That they may not be discouraged from embracing the Lord Jesus and the Christian Religion because of those sufferings that they must expect to meet with in the profession and practise of the ways of Christ propose to them such considerations as may encourage them to embrace the Cross of Christ with chearfulness As 1. Whatsoever losses they sustain on the Account of Christ or his Gospel shall be made up to them with an hundred-fold advantage in this life and if not in the same kind yet in some other thing which is as good or better besides the recompence that they shall have in the world to come Mark 10.29 30. Verily I say unto you There is no man that hath left House or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time Houses and Brethren and Sisters and Mothers and Children and Lands with persecution and in the world to come life everlasting 2. The sufferings of this present life will increase our glory in the world to
chastising us for it as hath been already hinted Object 5. Answ 1. 2. Pray to God to turn and bow their hearts to be willing to embrace instruction What Solomon saith of the heart of a King Prov. 21.1 The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord as the Rivers of Water he turneth it whither soever he will The same is true of the hearts of all other men they are in the Lords hand and he turneth and disposeth of them as he pleaseth Though your Children or Servants should be never so vile perfect slaves to Sin and Satan opposite to all that is good God can change their hearts and make them come and submit themselves to you and desire to be instructed by you in those things that concern their salvation Rev. 3.9 Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet What a great and sudden change did God work on the Jayler's heart Before God touched his heart he dealt harshly and ruggedly with the Apostles He thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks Acts 16.24 but when God came to awaken him before one night had passed over his head he was so altered that he came trembling and fell down at the Apostles feet and desired to be instructed what course he should take to save his soul vers 29 30. He called for a light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out said Sirs what must I do to be saved 3. After you have prayed to God watch your opportunities wherein it is most probable they will listen to you as in sickness or when they are under some other affliction or in a great storm of Thunder and Lightning or under any other awakening Providence and when you find them in a tractable frame deal effectually with them set home upon their hearts the greatness of their sin in refusing instruction and to that end put them in mind of these Scriptures Prov. 1.24 25 26 27 28 31. 15.32 Jer. 6.8 In times of distress God is wont to open mens ears to discipline which are shut against good counsel in the day of prosperity Job 36.8 10. If they be holden in the cords of affliction he openeth their ear to discipline When there were mighty thundrings and lightnings in the Land of Egypt Pharaoh though he was a man of a hard heart sent for Moses and Aaron and humbled himself for his sins and desired their prayers Exod. 9.27 28. The Prophet Jeremiah likeneth unruly persons that will not listen to and obey such Instructions as are given them out of the word unto the wild Ass Jer. 2.24 A wild Ass used to the Wilderness that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure in her occasion who can turn her away All they that seek her will not weary themselves In her month they shall find her As the wild Ass that is used to the wilderness wanders up and down at her pleasure and cannot be tamed till her month come that is till she grows big with young and is weary and heavy pained with the burden that she carries and then it is easie to find her out and deal with her So it is with some sinners though they be as wild and as unruly as the Ass that is used to the Wilderness and there is no turning of them whilst they are in their prosperity and when they have their occasions and opportunities of sinning yet when their month comes when they are burdened with afflictions and involved in such streights difficulties that they cannot tell what to do to wind out of them then it is easie having access to them Wherefore if you have unruly Servants or unruly Children watch your seasons to deal with them and when God strikes fear and terrour into their hearts by any providence do you strike in with your instruction 4. If you cannot do any good to them by instruction endeavour to win them to Christ by a pious heavenly exemplary conversation There is great force in a godly conversation to gain upon such persons as stand out against and shew much opposition to the word of God 1 Pet. 3.1 Likewise ye 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 5. Desire some godly Ministers to deal with them if you cannot prevail with them your selves to submit to instruction It may be God will bless the Counsel the Reproof the Exhortations that his Ministers shall give your Children and Servants if you make known your cafe to them and desire them to deal with your Families and to convince them out of Gods word that it is their duty and will conduce much unto their good to submit to instruction It is said of John Baptist who was one of Christs Ministers Luke 1.17 He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the Disobedient to the wisdom of the Just And the like is promised Mal. 4.6 He shall turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers lest I come and smite the Earth with a Curse And what was promised to John the Baptist the same good effect may we expect from the endeavours of other godly Ministers namely that God will bless their labours to the conversion of our Children 6. If they be your Children that refuse to be instructed correct them The Rod may do that which words will not do Solomon adviseth to apply the Rod to such as are fools Prov. 26.3 A Rod for the fools back Now if you would know whom he accounts fools you shall find they are such as refuse and despise instruction Prov. 15.5 A fool despiseth his fathers instruction And Prov. 1.7 Fools despise wisdom and instruction Now the Rod of Correction will fetch this folly out of the hearts of your Children Prov. 22.15 If they be your Servants that refuse instruction as soon as you can with a good conscience dismiss them from your service David's care was to get good Servants and if any of them proved vitious and would not be reclaimed he cast them out of his Family Psal 101.6 7. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the Land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me he that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my House he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight Imitate this example of David get godly Servants or at least endeavour to make them godly after they are come under your Roof and if they be such as will not be instructed and reformed remove them and make this Covenant with all that you shall admit for time to come That they submit unto instruction SECT 26. What they should do who
estrangement from God yet he hoped that God in due time would convert them and cause them to embrace the true Religion which was continued in the Off-spring of Shem Gen. 9.27 God shall enlarge or as the word may be render'd God shall perswade Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem. So should we hope concerning our Children that God will perswade their hearts to repent of their sins though we should see them go on in evil and destructive courses a long time together and that because of his promise to circumcise not only our hearts but the hearts also of our Seed to love him with all our hearts and all our souls that both we and they may have everlasting life Deut. 30.6 2. If after all our prayers and tears and instructions and endeavours after their salvation we should see any of our Children or Servants live and die in such a condition as that we could have no hope of their salvation we may quiet our minds with such considerations as these I. Consider Gods Soveraignty He hath a soveraign power over all his Creatures to dispose of their temporal and spiritual estate according to his own pleasure we are in Gods hand as clay in the hands of the Potter Jer. 18.6 O House of Israel cannot I do with you as this Potter saith the Lord Behold as the Clay is in the Potters hand so are ye in mine hand O House of Israel And what is the power the Potter hath over the Clay Rom. 9.21 Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same lump to make one Vessel unto Honour and another unto Dishonour Jer. 18.4 The Vessel that he made of Clay was marred in the hand of this Potter so he made it again another Vessel as seemed good to the Potter to make it If it be in the Potters power to make every Vessel as seemeth good to him if he may make of the same lump one Vessel to honour and another to dishonour may not the great God do what he pleaseth with his Creatures May not He make of Children that are born of the same Parents and enjoy the same instructions one a Vessel unto Honour and another a Vessel of his Wrath and Displeasure for ever All Creatures in Heaven and in the Earth and in the Sea and in all other places are disposed of by God according to his will and good pleasure Psal 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in Heaven and in Earth and in the Seas and in all deep places And shall we think much or repine against God when he disposeth of our Children or any other Member of the Family as seemeth good in his sight When the Lord said to Eli I will judge his House for ever And I have sworn unto the House of Eli That iniquity of Eli's House shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever 1 Sam. 3.13 14. This was sad tidings yet when Eli considered it was the Lord who had power to dispose of him and his Family as seemeth good in his sight he quietly submitted his will to the will of God vers 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good No Parents did ever thirst more after the salvation of their Childrens Souls than Jesus Christ thirsted after the salvation of fallen man yet when he saw that it was his Fathers good pleasure to hide the Mysteries of the Gospel from some persons who were wise and prudent in worldly matters with whom he had taken much pains in preaching the Gospel he rested abundantly satisfied in the will and pleasure of his Father Mat. 11.25 26. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight From verse 19. to 24. Jesus Christ upbraids the Cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they repented not and tells them what an heavy condemnation they should have at the day of Judgment more dreadful than Tyre or Sydon or Sodom and Gomorrah And at that time when he had done upbraiding those Cities he addresseth himself to his Father wherein he declares his perfect acquiescence in his Fathers will Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight although he had hid the Mysteries of the Gospel from the wise and prudent and we know that eternal perdition followeth the hiding of the Gospel 2 Cor. 4.3 If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost and had revealed them only or chiefly at least to such as were in comparison of the wise and prudent men in the world but Babes Now seeing our Lord Jesus did acquiesce in his Fathers good pleasure when he saw many amongst whom he had preached and done his mighty works continuing in their unbelief and impenitent condition and so perishing eternally It concerneth us to submit our selves to the will and pleasure of God if after all the pains that we have taken to convert and save our Childrens Souls he should leave some of them to perish in their sins We must know that he is God and so may dispose of us and all that belongs to us as he pleaseth and howsoever he is pleased to deal with us we must be still and silent under his hand Psal 46.10 Be still and know that I am God II. Others as good and better than we have met with the same trial viz. some of their children and servants have degenerated and proved vicious and lewd persons and have lived and died in their sins notwithstanding all the pains that their Parents and Governours have taken to convert and save their souls Adam had a Cain who murthered his own brother and was a fugitive and vagabond in the earth and hath the brand of a wicked man set upon him by the Holy Ghost 1 John 3.12 as well as righteous Abel Noah had an Ham who saw and divulged his fathers nakedness and had his fathers curse upon him and his posterity as well as a pious Shem and Japheth righteous Lot had two daughters that enticed him to drunkenness and incest Ishmael in his younger time was so vile that Abraham cast him out of his family for a scoffer Isaac had a profane Esau who sold his Birthright for a mess of Pottage a man hated of God Esau have I hated Rom. 9.13 as well as a godly Jacob. Jacob met with crosses in his Children Reuben his first-born defiled his Fathers Bed Simeon and Levi by their cruelty in slaying the Shechemites after they had drawn them to be circumcised made Jacob's name to stink among the Inhabitants of the Land Gen. 34.30 Judah lieth with his Daughter-in-law Tamar supposing her to have been an Harlot with divers other crosses in the rest of his Children as the selling of Joseph into Egypt c. Aaron lost two sons Nadab and Abihu In