a very Father to her Hester 2. 7. she sendeth him word Chap. 4. 16. that she and her maids will solemnly fast and consequently pray too on his and his peoples behalf and so I will saith she go in to the King which yet is not according to the Law and if I perish I perish she will then improve her utmost interest in heaven and earth come what will come of it but she will if possible help out Mordecai and the rest at this dead lift So Joseph he improved his interest in Pharaoh for his Father Jacobs welfare Gen. 47. 1. he told him that his Father and all his and all he had were come and were in the Land of Goshen c. upon which Pharaoh v. 6. biddeth Joseph to place them there Rahab improved her interest not alone in the spies to procure her parents and kinreds safety and welfare as well as her own Josh 2. 12 13. but in the Lord himself also for the same end for this action and success is ascribed also to Rahabs Faith in Heb. 11. 31. with 5. In supplying their outward wants yet so as it be honourably plentifully readily and freely to their content out of the very best and in some cases before themselves Josh 2. We heard but now also what improvement David made in the King of Moab on behalf of his parents and what use Christ the Son of David made of his interest in John the Apostle for his Mother verily good parents did as much with God and men too many and many a time on the behalf of their children as might be shewed in Scripture examples and children cannot do less than repay unto them like for like 5. Which especially we shall presse in this part of the discourse Let children in way of gratefull recompence communicate to their parents of the blessings of this life which God vouchsafeth them according as their parents at any time may need the same Paul in 1 Tim. 5. 4. doth in speciall sort look at this as one way of gratefull requitall of parents when as for instance the childrens Mother is some poor Ancient helpless widdow one that might have charged the Church but that God had given her Children as well as Nephews and they in the first place must learn the gratefull art of maintaining her and of supplying of such a Mother-widdows wants for which end mind we the Apostles words But if any widdow have children or Nephews not let her as if speaking of a Mothers duty to children or kindred but let them learn as speaking of the children firstly and nextly of the Nephews to shew kindness at home and to requite their parents The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in the plurall number and so not agreeing with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the widdow which is the singular but with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 children rather being plurall which clearly evinceth that the scope of the place is to shew not what is the Mother-widdows duty to their children but what is the childrens duty to the Mother-widdow namely as vers 16. To relieve the Mother-widdows and by the light of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used for relieving parents v. 16. and that in v. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used for requiting parents we may have much help to clear this particular now in hand the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth let him abundantly supply their wants or let him minister enough to them or what is sufficient for them or that which is to just content according also as in Greek Authors that word is used but I forbear instances In Scripture the simple verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used Joh. 14. ◠for it sufficeth shew us the Father and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it sufficeth and 2 Cor. 12. 9. my grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is sufficient for thee and Matth. 25. 9. lest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there be not enough for us and you In Heb. 13. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Let us be content with what we have and the like use of it is in other Scriptures and this word used in 1 Tim. 5. 16. for the Churches relief of their officed widdows sheweth that it must be honourable for so in v. 3. It s said Honour them that are widdows indeed It is then such a relief as is in honorem in way of honour of the widdows and if each good and christian child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must in such sort relieve his Mother-widdow then they must do it honourably or in honour of them as a part of this Honour thy Father and thy Mother in an honourable way yea they must do it abundantly sufficiently and to their just content but more happily of these by and by in the manner of doing it Hitherto also some interpreters refer that 1 Tim. 5. 8. who so provideth not for his own and especially them of his own house hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel as a threat and so forcible argument to sway that such should not be maintained upon the Churches charge which may be maintained by their own referring this not so much to the wanton widdows which waste that which should maintain them and theirs as to the children of their widdow-Mothers whose children should take care to provide for them as their own lest they incur this sad censure of persons denying that faith which they do profess and of persons who are worse than infidels And here the force of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taketh place Parents took paines and care night and day and all that ever Gods providence otherwise cast in upon them all still was that their house especially children might be comfortably and sufficiently provided for and that to their just content as Father Jacob said Gen. 30. 30. When shall I provide for my own house Let children then in parents shiftless conditions vicem rependere take their turn of repayment of like for like to Parents Parents according to their childrens needs and wants and their own ability did supply their children with Food Rayment Physick Housing Lodging Attendance and the like In sickness as well as health In all their bodily ayles and infirmities their persons and estates were subservient to them yea sometimes when through infirmity they were froward and distempered in their spirits let children do the like for parents let them provide for their own parents especially what is meet for them in all respects Parents did seasonably provide all needfull supplies for children and did not procrastinate but took the first opportunity to do it for them let children do as much for parents when they need their help and supply Parents did all cheerfully and freely they grudged their children nothing they had nothing they did for their succour and supply Oh that children would repay parents herein also like for like do what they do for them according as they need them freely and cheerfully without the least regreeting
our Parents and partly for our Children c. 2. Consider that those that are not gratefull to 2. Else not gratefull to ones Country their Parents will never be grateful to their country or self-denying for its good Hence that also of Tully It conduceth much to the welfare of our country that Children be pious to their Parents 3. Consider that therefore the Lord inableth 3. Childrens abilities given for this end you the rather with bodily strength with gifts and parts with Estates with advantageous places and callings that you may be fit for such a service of gratefull recompence of your Parents That blessed man Joseph concludeth thus of all his great Preferments and Abilities which God brought him to in Egypt that it was all for this very end Gen. 45. 7 8 9 10 11. God sent me before your face saith he to his Brethren to preserve you a posterity in the earth c. So then it was not you that sent me hither but God and he hath made me a Father to Pharaoh and Lord of all his house and a Ruler throughout all the Land of Egypt Haste you and go up to my Father and say to him thus saith thy Son Joseph God hath made me Lord of all Egypt Come down to me and tarry not c. And there will I nourish them c. 4. Consider that there is nothing lost by what 4. Nothing is lost by it you do deny your selves in out of gratitude to your Parents but much gained every way thereby 2 Tim. 5. 4. And to requite their Parents for this is good and acceptable before God It s good with the goodness of advantage as well as honesty or honour before God It is acceptable before God and therefore surely most beneficiall from Helpes 1. Serious meditations of what Parents have done for them God to Children And for your helps this way It were good for you to think very much and often and that with much seriousness of intention of mind upon the many unexpressible invaluable irrecompensible benefits and kindnesses which you have from your Parents O when the people thought of that service of love of Jonathan to them all and should any discourtesie be offered to such a one no by no means 1 Sam. 14. 45. Shall Jonathan dye who hath wrought this great Salvation in Israel God forbid So in like sort the thoughts of what good Parents have been instruments of to Children they will crush temptations to ingratitude and provoke to gratitude Besides be you conscious in giving your Parents 2. Give their other honour of Respect Reverence Obedience their due honour of Respect Reverence and Obedience and then there is no doubt but you will be put upon it to give them this other part also of direct Honour even the Honour of Recompence Cautious Let it be with greatest 1. Bowels only look to it that what you do this way in gratefull Rccompence to Parents 1. That it be with greatest bowels and tenderness Parents did so in ministring to you what you wanted do you repay them like for like 2. That it be with greatest meekness and patience 2. Meekness bearing with frailties and waywardness of age as Parents did with waywardness in ministring to you in infancy and child-hood so repay them like for like 3. That it be with much humility stooping to the meanest offices of love for them as Parents did 3. Humility for you whil'st little do you herein repay them like for like To conclude Children may also discern their Marks of right doing it conscientious piety to Parents 1. If when you your selves are in disconsolate 1. If when Children in saddest conditions are cordially sollicitous of Parents help yea desolate conditions yet you are then very cordially carefull of your Parents outward welfare as David of his Parents safety with the King of Moab 2 Sam. 22. when himself is as an outlaw or as it was with the Son of David when upon the Crosse in all that sorrow and pain c. yet how carefull was he that his poor Mother be provided well for Joh. 19. 26 27. Man saith he to John behold thy Mother 2. If your effectuall care of your parents 2. When carefull this way in married conditions comfortable beeings be not alone in your single conditions whil'st unmarried but flourish when you are marryed So it did in Joseph in David in Ruth and others 3. If when you are in a very high and more honourable 3. When carefull this way in highest conditions place than parents then you be nourishers of them yea if you are perswaded in your very hearts that God the rather exalted you thus for your parents sakes that in their straights you might have abundantly and sufficiently to supply them withall and the rather do it Thus it was in Josephs case he thought that God made him a Lord in all the Land of Egypt to preserve his Father and his houshold alive in that time of famine and upon that ground sends to him to come to him promising to nourish him Gen. 45. 7 8 9 10 11. and accordingly he did it Gen. 47. 12. And Joseph nourished his Father and his brethren and all his Fathers houshold with bread according to their Families To conclude this with that memorable speech of Cyrus mentioned by Plutarch in his Apothegms he used to say and that which is the truth he is not fit to rule over others who is not profitable to his parents CHAP. VII Of Honour in a Reflect way due from Children unto Parents HAving dispatched the direct Acts and wayes of Honour of parents we come now to that Honour of Parents which is due to them in a Reflect way For so honouring another is taken in Scripture for being such or carrying it so towards another whom men are to Honour as it may make for such an ones Honour as we shewed in the 1. Chapter So here in the 5th Commandement this indefinite word Honour thy Father thy Mother taketh in Honouring of parents in a reflect way and bindeth Children to be such to their parents and to carry it so as may redound to their Honour especially being such parents as the covenant Jewes were in Church State and many of them godly to whom this Law of the 5th Commandement was first solemnly promulged and to whom it was more solemnly established Whence note That its the duty of children Children of good Parents especially bound to be such and to carry it so as maketh for their Parents Honour and that 1. By minding prising and storing up parents instructions especially the children of godly parents and such as are in covenant and Church-estate to be such and to carry it so as may redound to their parents honour Now here also let us shew 1. How this is to be done 2. Why it must be so And 3. Apply and make use of this so weighty a point
indeavour and unto him and to his grace I commend thee Christian Reader resting Thine in him THOMAS COBBET Lyn in New-England this 1. of Novemb. 1654. The heads of the Chapters the particular Contents whereof stand in the Margin of the Book at their proper places they refer to Chap. 1. Of the Explication of the fift Commandement Where 1. The Terms of the fifth Commandement are explaned and it is shewed that by Father and Mother are principally intended all naturall parents in generall and such who are in covenant and Church estate in speciall and that By Honour is understood both Honour in generall and Honour in special both in a direct way as honour of Respect of Reverence of Obedience of Recompence in a reflect way in being such and carrying of it so as maketh for parents especially good parents honour 2. The weight of the duty of honour of parents is shewed Chap. 2. Of Honour in generall due to Parents Where Is shewed Negatively what honour is not due to parents Affirmatively what Honour is due to parents Use is made for Reproof Of Childrens dishonouring of parents instancing in 7. wayes whereby it is done and 4. mischiefs attending it Of Parents undermining that their honour and that 7. wayes Of corrupters of youth Examination where are 5. marks given of due honour given to parents Exhortation To parents to further this their honour and that 7. wayes To Children to give parents that honour where are Motives 6. Helps 7. Chap. 3. Of Honour of Respect due to Parents Where It is set forth as consisting in eight things Use is made for Reproof Of Childrens unnaturalness to Parents Of parents too much occasioning the Alienation of their childrens hearts from them and that 5. wayes Exhortation To children to cherish due respects to parents where are propounded Motives 3. Helps 5. Cautions To parents to carry it so as may win respect from Children and that 5. wayes Chap. 4. Of Honour of Reverence due to parents Where Is set forth The outward Reverence due in 7. things The inward Reverence due in 7. things Use is made for Reproof Of Childrens Irreverence to parents Of parents undermining that Filial Reverence 4. wayes Exhortation To Children to Reverence parents where are Motives 3. Helps 3. To parents to further filial Reverence and that six wayes Chap. 5. Of Honour of Obedience due to Parents Where It is set forth as consisting in 5. things The manner of it is shewed in 5. particulars Three Reasons are given for it Use is made for Reproof Of Childrens Meerly pretended Obedience Disobedience Of parents occasioning childrens disobedience and that 3. wayes Examination where are given 6. marks of true and due filiall obedience Exhortation To parents to further due filial obedience and that six wayes To Children to yeeld that obedience where are Motives 6. Helps 5. Chap. 6. Of Honour of Recompence due to Parents Where It is set forth as consisting especially in 5. things The manner of it also is shewed 4. Reasons of it are given Use is made for Reproof of Childrens ingratitude in Generall 4. Particulars Exhortation To Parents to further that Filial gratitude and that 5. wayes To Children to recompence Parents gratefully where are 3. Motives 2. Helps 3. Cautions 3. Marks Chap. 7. Of Honour in a reflect way due to Parents or of childrens being such and carrying of it so as maketh for even Godly Parents Honour Where It is set forth as consisting in 10. things the two later whereof are most urged 2. Generall Reasons are given thereof in which are sundry particulars Use is made for Reproof Of Parents too much furthering Childrens dishonourable carriages and courses and that 6. wayes Of Childrens reflecting dishonour upon Parents yea and godly Parents yea and some of those Children formerly hopefully good which is done many wayes the last of them namely degeneration of the Children of the godly being largely urged wherein are shewed The Evils attending such degeneration and those both Of Sin and In Children of the godly in generall and that in 6. things In hopefull ones in speciall and that in 8. things Of sorrow where respecting the Former sort are 7. Later sort are 5. Exhortation To Parents to further their Childrens being an honour to them in the chiefest wayes thereof which parents do five wayes but the first is most insisted upon namely good Education of Children where are Rules 7. Motives 4. To Children to strive to be such an honour to parents in the best way Herein are Motives 3. Helps 3. AN EXPOSITION OF THE FIFTH COMMANDEMENT SHEWING The principall duties of Children to Parents firstly therein intended and what God also requireth in regard thereof from Parents towards their children CHAP. I. OF the weight of the duty of Childrens Honouring of their Parents Exod. 20. 12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee The words which I have Read are obvious to every common eye and intelligible by every ordinary understanding and therefore time need not be spent in any large opening of any obscurity of phrase in them The parts of the Text also are as plainly manifest to be two First a Precept Honour thy Father and thy Mother Secondly a promise incouraging to obey that precept that thy daies may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee In the precept you have First the duty it self injoyned Honour Secondly the persons to whom the duty is injoyned even the children to these Fathers and Mothers yea each Child of what ranck or condition soever who is yet in the Land of the living is required to perform this duty to living Father and Mother and therefore it is put in the second person singular Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long c. Thirdly the persons who by divine command are to be honoured by each Child namely each Childs Father yea and as well each Childs Mother Honour thy Father and thy Mother The main terms then to be further considered of are First that of Father and Mother Secondly that of Honour and then we shall briefly explain the promise By Father and Mother most interpreters understand all superiours First such as are above others yet without Authory properly over them as such as are others superiours by much in years as are Antient men and women to those that are young 1 Tim. 5. 1. or such as are others betters by much in eminency of parts powesse experience bounty grace c. Gen. 45. 8. Job 31. 18. 1 Chron. 4. 14 21. 2 Rings 13. 14 15. Secondly such as are others superiours having Authority over them whether private And that either by the Law of nature as naturall Fathers Who are firstly here intended by Father and Mother even naturall Parents and Mothers who are principally here intended Or by way of private contract as Husbands who are wives superiours specially Masters whether
in the Family 2 Kings 5. 13. or in the School and College 2 Kings 2. 12. who are as Fathers to to their Servants Scholars and Pupils Or Secondly publick even such as have more publick Authority over others either in the Common-wealth as civill Rulers Esay 22. 21. 1 Sam. 24. 12. or in the Church as Church officers teaching and ruling Acts 22. 1. Judg. 18. 19. 2 Kings 6. 21. Now though with Musculus I will not restrain the meaning of the 5th Commandement as only intending naturall Fathers Mothers and the honour due to them from their Children yet because it is undeniable to all that these are principally intended here the other onely in a second place and respect I shall therefore God willing in the insuing discourse attend to that as firstly and mainly aimed at here and plainly and simply expressed in the very letter of the Text. Touching the other word Honour It is to be What is meant by Honour Even considered both in generall and in a restrained sense All meet honour and every kind of regular honour being due from Children to Parents The Lord doth not say love thy Father and thy Mother or fear them or obey them or recompence them or be an honour to them any one of these being too narrow to reach so large a duty as parentall relations call for from their children and each of these being separable from the other and may be in other relations where all the other are not so properly requisite yet no one of these are excluded but all and every of them included in the notion of Honour Filiall Honour is the center wherein they all meet and whence again they are all drawn out to their respective objects Father and Mother Filiall honour must season them each must savour of Honour Filial Honour must regulate them all they must go so far as that goeth and no further Filial honour Honour in the Generall and Honour in speciall both must be their common stamp the impression whereof each must bear Due Filial honour must be their touchstone by which they must receive their triall Honour then in the Generall is Parents due from their children So is Honour in speciall whether that which is more direct or that which is in a more reflect way Honour in a direct way is in Scripture language 1. Direct fourfold even Honour First of Respect Secondly of Reverence Thirdly of Obedience Fourthly of Recompence and are all and each of them included in this generall term Honour 1. Honour of high Respect and love is understood as 1. Honour of Respect in that Psal 15. 4. He honoureth them that fear the Lord that is he highly esteemeth and respecteth he most dearly loveth and affecteth them 1 Tim. 5. 17. The Elders that Rule well count them worthy of double Honour i. e. of respect as well as that of Recompence 1 Pet. 3. 7. Giving Honour to them as to the weaker vessels i. e. having a tender respect to them 2 Sam. 6. 22. Of them shall I be had in Honour i. e. highly esteemed respected and intirely beloved So here Honour thy Father and thy Mother i. e. highly prise and respect and most dearly love thy Father thy mother yea so as it be in a way of Honour to them as Parents and not barely as others not so nearly related 2. Honour is taken in Scripture for Honour of Reverence and fear So when God speaketh of 2. Honour of Reverence his Honour as to a Master he calleth it fear Mal. 1. 6. if I am a Master where is my fear or Honour as a Master hence that of Saul to Samuel 1 Sam. 15. 30. Yet Honour me before the people or let the people see that thou doest reverence me Hence that Levit. 19. 32. honour the face of the old man i. e. reverence it So here Honour thy Father and thy Mother i. e. reverence and awe them in an honourable way to them as Parents and not as others meerly not so nearly related 3. Honour is taken in Scripture for Honour of 3. Honour of Obedience Obedience So Mat. 1. 6 if I am a Father where is my Honour i. e. of obedience It being spoken to those Respectless Awless and also disobedient Priests and People there mentioned So Eph. 6. 1. to prove that Children should obey their Parents in the Lord the Apostle brings in the fifth Commandement v. 2. Honour thy Father and thy Mother because if to Honour Father and Mother then to obey them for obedience is in part the honor due to them only they are to obey them so as Honour of Parents may be seen and read as in large Characters in all the Acts and passages of that obedience 4. Honour is taken in Scripture for Honour of 4. Honour of Recompence Recompence and thankfulness Numb 22. 37. cannot I Honour or recompence thee Honourably saith Balack to Balaam It is the same Hebrew word with this in Exod. 20. 12. Judg. 13. 17. That when this is come to pass I may Honour thee i. e. make thee some gratefull recompence 1 Tim. 5. 17. Count them worthy of double Honour i. e. that of Recompence as well as that of respect So here Honour thy Father and thy Mother 2. Reflect Honour or being an Honour to them and carrying of it so as maketh for Parents Honour i. e. as they need and as thou art able hast opportunity make them thankfull recompence onely so as all may be as Honour to them as Parents and not in the least savouring or holding forth any dishonour to them Honour in a Reflect way is to be such or to carry it so as may redound to anothers Honour whom we are bound to Honour 1 Sam. 15. 30. Honour me before the people i. e. carry it so before them as may not redound to my disgrace but honour So in that also if I am a Father where is my Honour Mal. 1. 6. i. e. why are not you as my Children an Honour to me not such a dishonour to my name that my holy name and ordinances suffer reproach and contempt by you or why do not you carry it more honourably so as may make for my honour and not so basely as maketh for my great dishonour Ester 6 6. The man whom the King will honour i. e. enact and do something making for his Honour Judg. 13. 17. that I may do thee Honour i. e. do something making for thine Honour It is the same Hebrew word and in the same conjugation with this verb in Exod. 20. 12. So here Honour thy Father and thy Mother i. e. be an honour to them carry it so as may redound to their honour and no way to their disgrace The promise followeth That thy daies The promise explained may belong in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee this further declareth who are firstly concerned in the precept namely such whose God the
filial obedience as Solomon saith of him Prov. 4. 3 4. I was my Fathers Son and he taught me also saying keep my Commandements and live but v. 10 11. He records other words of his Father saying thus I have taught thee in the way of wisdome and so in this of filiall obedience as vers 4. I have led thee in the right paths and how obedient a Son Solomon proved let his works declare in his exact observing all his Fathers mind in that of building and furnishing of the Temple 1 Chro. 22. and Chap. 29. with 2 Chro. 5. and 6. and in that solemn charge of his to him touching exemplary justice upon Joah and Shimei 1 King 2. 5 6 7 8 9. which he accordingly executed v. 31 32 33 34 35 36. 44 45 46. and in the great charge of his Father to keep the Lords charge c. v. 3. and Chap. 3. 3. Solomon loved the Lord walking in the statutes of David his Father The Rechabites parents which first yeelded filial obedience to their Father Rechab and taught their children practically as well as preceptively filiall obedience had a posterity successively by that means of parents doing the like from parent to child famous some ages after for filiall obedience 3. By inuring children to obedience to God 3. Inure your children to wayes of obedience unto the Lord be you frequently curbing their disobedience to Gods commands Abraham who was famous for the Lords attestation of his care to improve his authority this way in laying his command upon his houshold to walk in the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. as he had an obedient houshold of his servants in the relation of a master Gen. 14. 23 24. Not one of them offers to plunder to the worth of a shooe-latchet Abraham having vowed to the contrary so had he as obedient a child to him in the relation of a Father who laid down his neck to the very block is willingly bound to become Gods sacrifice at his Fathers command Gen. 22. 9 10. Jonadab who laid the weight of his parentall authority upon his children in matters savouring of an heavenly weaned and mortified Spirit had a most obedient posterity Parents are injoyned to lay out the weight of thelr authority this way Deut. 32. 46. You shall command your children to do all the words of this Law This was Davids practice 1 Chro. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart c. And so 1 King 2. 3. and Prov. 4. 5 6 7. he said to me get wisdome get understanding c. Jos 24. 25. I and my house will serve the Lord Josuah dareth undertake it God hath given Josuah experience what parentall and masterlike commands also can do that way to bring them under obedience and service to the Lord and so to him also as a Father of the Family injoyning and requiring such serving of God 4. Use holy wisdome in giving your parentall 4. By using pathetical words in giving out commands to them commands to your children namely in the most moving expressions which may help on affectionate attendance and observance thereof thus good Bathshebah when she would draw Solomon to follow her gracious directions even in his place of a King to which he was devoted see how she circleth him with her pathetical expressions Prov. 31. 1. c. The prophecy which his Mother taught him v. 2. What my Son and what the Son of my womb and what the Son of my vowes hence that parenthesis in Jacobs charge to his Son Joseph Gen. 48. 7. And as for me when I came from Padan Aram Rachel Josephs deer Mother died in the Land of Canaan in the way when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath c. He would in a holy wise insinuate and get within Josephs heart hereby And then his eares and heart will be open to all he hath to give him in charge 5. Do you readily yeeld to the just desires even 5. By yeelding to childrens just desires of your children and it will notably prevail with your children most readily to yeeld to any just commands of yours As Caleb who giveth to his daughter Achsah the upper and nether springs at her request Iud. 1. 15. As it was good counsell given to that Father of the Common-weal Rehoboam 2 Chro. 10. 3 4 7. to be kind to his people to please them speak good words to them in way of answer to their request and they would be his servants for ever So is it in this case of Fathers of Families wise and seasonable condescendencies sometimes in parents to children It winneth their hearts and ingageth them to constant obedience 6. Do you also sometimes hearken to the good 6. By hearkening sometimes to childrens good advice advice which even your children do seasonably and in a suitable manner give to you and this also will exceedingly win your childrens hearts to an obedientiall submission to your just commands Thus did Terab Abrahams Father yeeld to Abrahams advise in the matter of his remove from Vr in Mesopotamia to Haram towards Canaan as Act. 7. 1 2 3 4. compared with Gen. 11. 31 32. and 12 1. sheweth So did Rahabs parents follow her advice they repaired to her house when Jericho was besieged by Josuah and being there they stirred not out of dores according as the spies had Counselled Rahab her self to look that it might be so done Josh 2. 18 19. compared with Chap. 6. 23. 2. Exhortation to Children to yeeld such obedience 2. This use serveth for exhortation to Children that you would be stirred up to the duty of honour of filiall obedience to your parents else all other outward expressions of respect to them are but bare Complements this is in speciall sort a reall honouring of them As it is in the children of God in reference to their heavenly Father It is more than all formalities of offering sacrifices to him or the like as he said to Saul 1 Sam. 15. 22. Behold to obey is better then sacrifice and to harken then the fat of Ramms As the contrary disobedience is as iniquity and Idolatry verse 23. So is it in the case of the Children of men their obedience to Parents is all in all their disobedience and stubbornesse to Parents is vilest iniquity Now the better to further Children in giving this honour of filial obedience we shall Motives to obedience to Parents propound 1. Some motives 2. Some helps to it As for motives thereunto let it be considered 1. That the Lord himself doth highly honour such as honour their parents by honour of obedience 1. God and Men honour such as yeeld it and he ordereth for them speciall honour from others Prov. 1. 8 9. The instruction of a Father and the Law of a Mother harkened unto he saith
shall be an ornament to a Sons head and as precious chaines about his neck a badg and pledg of honour in the eyes of his people Prov. 13. 18. He that hearkneth to reproof of a Parent especially shall be honoured Hence God causeth so honourable a Record to be kept in Scripture of the Acts of obedience to Parents in Isaac Jacob Joseph and others Memorable is that Jer. 35. 18 19. Where God chargeth Jeremiah to tell the Rechabites Because you have obeyed the commandement of Jonadab your Father and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he hath commanded you therefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel Jonadab the Son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever namely so long as that state and Church of Judah should stand as they should not he rooted out as Jer 31. 36. There is the like phrase in a like sense so they should be be honourably imployed according to that phrase in a like sense Jer. 33. 17 18. 2. That the Lord sometimes taketh occasion 2. God manifesteth great things to such in such a way to manifest such speciall grace to children whilest in this way of filial obedience as either was not at all or not in that measure shewed to them before Observable is that in Jacob whose journey to Padan Aram is put upon the account of his filial obedience even by his malicious Brother Esau Gen. 28. 7. now as he in his obediential way journyed from Bershebah towards Haran v. 10 11. there he seeth the ladder set upon the earth and the top of it reached to heaven and behold the Angels of God ascending and descending upon it and behold the Lord stood above it and said I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac thy Father the land whereon thou liest will I give it to thee and to thy seed v. 12 13. and vers 14. He promiseth to multiply his seed and that in him and his seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed and vers 15. Behold I am with thee saith God and I will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again to this land for I will not leave thee untill I have done that which I have spoken to thee of and vers 16 17. Jacob awoke and said Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not this is none other then the house of God this is the gate of heaven Never had Jacob that we finde before this time so glorious a manifestation of the promised Messiah to be God and man in one person as that one Ladder with its top reaching to heaven and its bottome on earth to be as a blessed Medium and Mediator by which God and Man heaven and earth should be joyned together as by a Ladder set on earth yet reaching up to heaven to be he by whom the Angels minister unto us and by whom all graces and spirituall blessings descend upon us and our hearts and spirits our prayers praises and other holy services yea and our whole persons one day ascend up to Heaven Never had Jacob such glorious promises of blessing upon him and his seed before Never was he in such a Corner of Heaven before And who then would not be incouraged to filial obedience and to be found in the way there of wherein others have found more of God and Christ than ever before 3. That Gods speciall presence and blessing 3. Gods special presence and blessing is with such is with you in a way of filial obedience to your parents so in this Scripture mentioned Jacob had Gods gracious promise of his presence with him and preservation of him in all places whither he went and that his seed with him should be blessed 4. Promises made to children with their parents come by that meanes to be fulfilled 4. That it tendeth to the ratification and accomplishment of the promises made to you in your godly parents As to Abrahams children in case of their obedience of his godly commands Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that he will command his Children and household after him And they in obedience to his command shall keep the way of the Lord that the Lord may bring upon Abraham even in his children after him that which he hath spoken of him even his promises respecting him and his seed Deut. 32. 46. Set your hearts to all the words which I testifie among you this day which you shall command your children to observe to do all the words of this Law vers 47. For this is not a vain thing for you because it is your life and through this thing you shall prolong your daies in the land which yee go to possess Albeit God had made so many promises of their injoyment of Canaan and many blessings of grace protection peace and the plenty there upon them and their posterity yet the meanes of accomplishment of all must be 1. That parents themselves must set themselves to obey all Gods Commands 2. They must lay their authority upon their Children to require of them also obedience to all Gods Commands 3. The Children in obedience to their parents commands under God they must observe to do all the words of that Law 1 King 2. 1 2 3. David chargeth his Son Solomon saying Keep the charge of the Lord thy God to walk in all his waies c. that by keeping this charge of God as given in charge by me thy Father according to God thou maiest prosper in all thou doest and vers 4. that the Lord may confirm his word which he spake concerning me namely in respect to my Children saying If thy Children take heed to their way to walk before me in truth with all their heart and soul there shall not fail thee said he a man on the throne of Israel 5. That your examples of filial obedience in 5. It will be a meanes of the like obedience in other Children you may be a meanes to work somewhat at least upon other Children yea even upon disobedient ones as Jacobs did upon Esau Gen. 28. 6 7 8. He never considered his disobedient course of matching with Canaanites against his parents minde But when he saw that Isaac his father had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take him a Wife from thence and not to take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan and that Jacob obeyed his Father and Mother and was gone to Padan Aram and Esau seeing the Daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaack his father vers 9. Then went Esau to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abrahams Son to wife Now he thought his matching thus unto the family of Abraham might better please his Father and so did it 6. In that else in a contrary way of dishonour 6. The contrary will expose the very place where they are to Gods curse of parents you will what in you lieth
thought Parents in many respects denyed themselves for their childrens sakes fared the harder that they might have food enough sometimes spared it from their own bellies that their children might have it they went meanly and coarsely clad that the children might have the better apparel especially those little children that were more shiftless that the rest they should be sure to have of the best they could get for them Let children also in many respects deny themselves for their more shiftless parents sake It was not cost their parents stood upon according to their abilities and ranck they would willingly sequester of the best of their estates so their children might have what was fit for them for back or belly for their education to literature or other imployments as they were thereof more capable let children repay like for like in this to spare no cost for them and to let parents partake of the best of what God giveth them and not of the refuse thereof for their supply It was an ingenious Act of Reuben who finding a thing better than ordinary a Mandrake he bringeth and giveth it to his Mother Leah Gen. 30. 14. And Sampson if he meet with hony and hony-combe his Father and Mother shall have part of it Judg. 14. 9 And Joseph sendeth his Father not of the refuse but of the good things or better sort of things of Egypt Gen. 45. 23. And when he commeth to Egypt he doth not put him into some wast building or into some blind and old hole and barren out-corner of the Land but he procureth him and his houshold to be placed in Goshen in the best part of Egypt Gen. 45. 13. compared with Chap. 47. 6. And what though children should be fain to spare somewhat from themselves for such like needfull supplies of their parents out of their best things yet they must do like for like their parents having done as much and more for them as we said even now It is a good speech of Aristotle Ethic. l. 9. cap. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Children seem in speciall fort to be bound as debtors to supply their parents with things necessary for their provision And it is more comely to supply necessaries to the causes of our being than to our selves And then he addeth that speech 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we must give honour to them even as it were to Gods see in what a plentifull way by the light of nature this heathen Philosopher seeth children ought to minister to their parents even in all things they stand need of and in what a self-denying way Judging it meetest for children to prefer their parents in such supplies before themselves and in what an honourable awfull and conscientious way as I may call it all should be carryed even as if they were offering some Sacrifice to God himself And how justly all this is due from children to parents it s not a matter left to their own curtesie and will whether they will do it or not do it nor is it a matter of meer charity as alms to other poor but children are bound thereto as debtors and no wonder he saith its meeter we provide for the causes of our being than for our selves For he maketh children and that rightly parents debtors as he doth else-where in his Ethicks and debtors we know must in case take care to pay their Creditors and to Live of the rest as the Prophet advised her 2 Kings 4. So must children in case spare it from their own selves that parents may Reasons why recompence is due to parents are taken 1. from Childrens state as Children being Gods rewards be supplyed Now let us briefly give some reasons of this duty The 1. Reason may be taken from the Condition and state of children as children they are or should be made up of recompence be all recompence they are given of God to their godly parents as rewards Psal 128. 3. The fruit of the womb is his reward God intends them as rewards if they prove otherwise than such every way they do what in them lyeth to frustrate Gods ends so are they an heritage of the Lord Ibid. Not alone such as God will improve for his own honour and possess for his own use but such as should by the blessing of God Minister a blessed income of comfort succour support and supply to their parents as from the Lord by them according as they may stand in need thereof 2. Reason may be taken from the nature of such 2. From the nature of such recompence it is piety gratefull recompence it is counted and called of God by the name of piety 1 Tim. 5. 4. Let them learn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to exercise piety towards their own house or to requite their parents In some cases it is preferred before giving to religious uses as to the Corban for Temple uses Mark 7. 10 11 12 13. Christ condemneth the giving to the Corban that which should have been rather sequestred for parents supply by their Children 3. Reason from the justice and equity of it 3. From the justice and equity of it children have received their very essence and existence instrumentally from parents and that is more than all that which children can Minister to them as Christ said in another case Is not the life more than meat and the body than rayment and so I might say here and what then can children return to parents in lieu thereof besides all the cares fears exercises and troubles of parents in behalf of their Childrens outward and inward welfare for which children can never make them amends 4. From the benefits comming by parents 4. Reason may be taken from that blessed fruit which children of good parents reap even in outward blessings by their Prayers blessing covenant-interests and the like A good man leaveth an inheritance to his childrens children respecting the outward as well as the inward man Prov. 20. 7. the just mans children are blessed after him in outward matters so far as is good for them as well as in spirituall things Psal 112. 1 2 3. The seed of fearers of God have Gods promise of becomming mighty upon the earth and the generation of the upright shall be blessed blessed indefinitely and so every way blessed blessed in their bodies blessed in their spirits blessed in their names in their labours in their estates in their relations in their undertakings in their choices and changes blessed in their protections provisions plenty and the like And surely children are then bound in regard of so much good which commeth by their parents to communicate to them in all the good blessings of God which for their sakes they the rather received Let us now make some use and application of what hath been said the use serveth Use 1. For reproof and conviction to all Use of reproof 1. To ingratefull Children children who are ungratefull to your parents to be unthankfull to any
Concerning the first such children especially are bound 1. To be observing minding prising and treasuring up such parents good speeches as so many oracles of God which will evidence to all that their Children honour them Job 15. 18. which wise men have told from their Fathers and have not hid it a sign then that those wise Children minded well and stored up their godly Fathers counsels so Psal 44. 1 2. We have heard with our ears Oh God our Fathers have told us what thou didst in their dayes c. So Psal 78. 2 3. I will utter mysterious sayings of old which we have heard and known and our Fathers have told us Prov. 4. 3 4. For I was my Fathers Son he taught me also and said to me retain my words keep my Commandements and live Get wisdome yet understanding c. To which purpose also children must in case of any difficulty or doubt arising to them repair firstly to their godly parents for counsell and resolution How oft is that mentioned when thy Son asketh thee in time to come saying what mean the Testimonies and the Statutes which the Lord our God hath Commanded you then thou shalt say thus and thus to thy Son c. Deut. 6. 20 21 22 23 24 25. So Exod. 13. 14. Josh 4. 6 21. This reflecteth much Honour upon parents wisdome and ability that they are able to give forth Gods mind to their children and upon their piety and fidelity that they make conscience to do it and upon their holy industry and vigilancy that they are ready to take all occasions to help on their Children in the things of God 2. To acquaint parents in the first place with 2. By acquainting them with their secrets all their Secrets which are of weight It s implyed in Sampsons speech speaking of his Riddle Judg. 14. 16. I have not told my Father nor my Mother and should I tell it thee This evidenceth that Children magnifie their parents wisdome and fidelity above others that their breasts shall be the only prime Cabinet of the Childrens Secrets 3. To ask leave of their parents at least whil'st 3 By asking their leave for what they do Children are under their tuition for what they do Ruth 2. 2. Let me go I pray thee saith Ruth to Naomi to glean in his field in whose eyes I shall find favour and she said go my Daughter Exod. 4. 18. Let me go saith Moses to Jethro and return to my brethren which are in Egypt and see whether they be yet alive and Jethro said to Moses go in peace 2 Sam. 13. 26. Let my brother Ammon go with us saith Absolom to David though out of a bad end and Chap. 15. 17. Let me go I pray thee and pay my vow unto the Lord in Hebron saith Absolom to his Father though out of a base end If Dinah as its probable did without leave from her parents go to see the daughters of the Country then was it no wonder that being out of her way she so miscarried as Genesis 34. 1 2. Shechem saw her took her and lay with her and defiled her This also redounds to the Honour of the Parents Authority that Children shew thereby that they dare not attempt any thing without their likings yea and their wisdome-fidelity is hereby honoured that they know better what is meet for Children to do than themselves and will order their wayes better than they can do themselves 4. To set forth to parents praise what is good in 4. By setting forth the praise worthiness in parents them as occasion requireth and to maintain their names even when they are dead all they can Prov. 31. 28. Her Children rise up and call her blessed 5. To vindicate any wrongs injury or dishonor 5. By vindicating parents wrongs done to parents so far as it lyeth in the compass of Childrens calls places thus Amaziah 2 Kings 14. 5. as soon as confirmed in his Kingdome he slew his servants who had slain Jehoash his Father 6. To do parents all the honour they can at 6. By honouring them at their death their death Genes 25. 9. Abrahams Sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the Cave of Machpelah So Gen. 35. 29. Isaacs Sons Esau and Jacob buried him Gen. 50. 8. And Joseph went up to bury his Father and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh and all the Elders of his house and all the Elders of Egypt and all the house of Joseph and his Brethren and his Fathers house only they left their little ones their flocks and herds in the land of Goshen they and their wives also went so 7. By thankfull rendring notable mercies shewed to parents great a journey to solemnize the old Fathers Funerall and to do him Honour there 7. To maintain a thankfull remembrance of remarkable mercies extended to parents or Ancestors Esay 38. 19. The living the living he shall praise thee as I do this day saith Hezekiah when he recovered from so great a death the Father to the Children shall make known thy truth God would have them of old to perpetuate their Ancestors deliverance out of Egypts bondage Exod. 13. 8 9 10. From the slaughter of their first born there which to the succeeding posterity were also Fathers Exod. 12. 25 26 27. So Est 9. 21 22 23 24 26 27. Care was taken for the perpetuation of a thankfull remembrance succesfully for their Ancestors delivery from the mischiefs of Hammons bloody plot And if our Fathers had more Honour put upon them in our thankfull solemnizing the memoriall of their deliverance from the horrid mischief of that devilish Powder-plot in the year 1605. it might do well Surely it redoundeth to parents Honour if they are of so high esteem and respect in their Childrens eyes that any notable mercy extended to them shall be for ever kept in thankfull remembrance by their posterity 8. To improve godly persons interest in the 8. To make best improvement of the holy interests Lord and in his Covenant by faith and to plead them in their prayers this act of Children redoundeth exceedingly to parents Honour holding forth their parents to be persons so highly honoured of God as to be deeply interested in him in his Covenant and Grace and to be of such faith in God and in his Covenant thus did David twice Psalm 116. 16. Truly Lord I am thy servant the Son of thy handmaid Psal 86. 16. give thy strength to thy servant and save the Son of thy handmaid In the former he in a holy wise glorieth in his Mothers interest in the latter he pleadeth her interest in the Lord 1 Kings 8. 25 26. Therefore now Oh Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my Father that which thou promis'dst him So Jacob pleaded his Grand-Fathers and his Fathers interest Gen. 32. 5. And Jacob said Oh God of my Father Abram God of my Father Isaac c. 9. To imitate all
last saying how have I hated instruction It is the reproof he hath had but despised how hath my heart despised reproof it is the voyce of his teachers which he hath heard but not obeyed I have not obeyed the voyce of my Teachers If one might lay ones ear in the other world at the mouth of the bottomless pit one should hear many such desperate moans and yellings out such complaints so that though poor Parents suffer by such wretches as you are at the present yet a time will come when you your selves shall thus clear them and condemn your selves 3. Such Children of Christian Parents who take to deboist company and take up any Ruffianly 3. For deboist company and courses customs or courses in your hair in your garb in your jovialling and rioting Prov. 17. 2. A wise servant shall have rule over a Son that causeth shame a deboist Son who is not fit to be trusted with any business of his Fathers putteth shame even upon his Father and Family as well as upon himself Christians are spiritual Priests unto God 1 Pet. 2. 5. truly as it was of old Num 21. 9. the daughter of any Priest if she profane her self she profaneth her Father so it is here such profane Children as you are you do even profane your very good Parents Or as it is in the case of Elders of Churches it s put upon their account of blame if their Children be accused of Riot or are unruly and therefore it s said Tit. 1. 6 7. If he be blameless having Children not accused of riot or unruly for a Bishop must he blameless c. So is it true of other godly Parents some blemish and blame reflecteth upon them when their Children are so culpable such scandalous Children of the Church as you are It is no wonder that you get no good by your Education if given to such loose companions and their Counsels this is the cause of the other as it was in Rehoboam when those young blades gave him that boisterous counsell 2 Chron. 11. 4. He slighted the grave counsell of those Ancient Fathers of the State so it is here hang it will such companions say what needst thou care what the old man saith nor is it likely that ever such a Son should be better so long as knit to such comrades Prov. 9. 6. Forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding yea but first those companions must be cashiered yea this also is the cause of the first branch of dishonour cast upon your Parents by deriding of their good Children Psal 1. 1. There is a gradation 1. A man walketh in the counsell of the ungodly 2. Then he standeth in the way of sinners then 3. He taketh up his chair he sitteth in the seat of the scorners such snares are there in the way of the froward to others as well as to themselves Prov. 22. 5. And so true is it that evill communication corrupteth good manners 4. Such Children as match dishonourably to 4. For matching dishonourably your Parents even to your Christian Parents profession and gracious interests so did that posterity of Seth the Children of the Church in matching with the posterity of out-cast Cain Gen. 6. 2. The Sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and took them wives of all which they chose thus did Esau dishonour that blessed stock of which he came to match into the cursed brood and Family of Cham Gen. 26. 34 35. And Judah did too much this way Gen. 38. 2. and God put dishonour upon him in that vile brood which came of his Canaanitish wife Shuah even Er and Onan whose vile wickedness God immediately revenged Vers 7 9 10. And no wonder since he so much dishonoured his Father and Fathers house by that match and so mingled the holy seed with the people of the lands as it s called Ezra 9. 2. And they said truly though they spake it guilefully Gen. 34. 14. We cannot give our Sister to one that is uncircumcised for that were a reproach when such matches are made by your selves yet your Parents are supposed if not censured by others either to abuse their parentall Authority in way of Commission contrary to Gods Rules forbidding such unequall matchings or to neglect their Authority in way of sin of omission of duty for prevention of such an evill and so your Parents come hereby to suffet reproach besides by such unworthy matches vile practices come to arise which yet were more reflect upon your godly Parents Honour As was too evident in that posterity of the Sons of God and Daughters of men Gen. 6. 2 3 4 5. and in Judahs brood by Shuah now mentioned and in that mungrell generation which spake half the Jewes Language and half the Language of Ashdod This also tendeth to undermine those direct Acts of Honour due to your Parents such bad Husbands will be hindring the wives due respect to her good Parents or any due reverence to them or filiall obedience to them or any filiall recompence of them and the like mischief will a bad wife do in that way to her husband to withdraw him from giving due Honour to his good Father or Mother as too common experience maketh it good but God will pay such of you home either by laying you as low as hell in troubling and terrifying your consciences for such courses of which there are sometimes examples or if not that way yet by some notable judgements of his exposing you to contempt as he did those of the old world 5. Such persons are especially to be reproved 5. For degerating from the good precepts and practices of their godly parents and Ancestors who being Children of the Church Children of godly Parents and Ancestors yet walk not after the precepts which they often gave you nor in the blessed paths wherein they exemplary led you yea you steer a contrary course unto that of your gracious Fathers or Mothers Grand-fathers or Grand-mothers yea some of you who possibly have been convinced of the evill of your State by nature and have been so far wrought upon as to give good hops of the best things to bebegun in you yet you also come afterwards to degenerate like those Sons of God Sons of the Church Gen. 6. 2. who receive not so much as the Footsteps of any of the gracious wayes of their good Ancestors such a generation are spoken of Judg. 2. 7 10 12 17. And the people served God all the daies of Joshuah and all the dayes of the Elders that outlived Joshuah And all that generation died and there arose another generation after them which knew not the Lord. And they forsook the Lord God of their Fathers they turned quickly out of the way which their Fathers walked in obeying the Commandements of the Lord but they did not so Your Parents and Ancestors made conscience of reading and hearing the word of God