and instruct our Children or Servants because they are stubborn and rebellious 3. Though our Children and Servants should be hard-hearted and rebellious yet we should not forbear or cease to instruct and teach them the good word of the Lord For 1. This will be a means to break their hard hearts and lead them to Repentance and keep them from being rebellious for time to come It will break their hearts though they be as hard as the Rock Jer. 23.29 Is not my word lik as a fire saith the Lord and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces It will be a means to lead them to repentance though they be of such a refractory spirit as to oppose the the Truth and should be such slaves to Satan as to be led captive by him when and to what he pleaseth 2 Tim. 2.24 c. The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil who are taken captive at his will It may keep them from being rebellious for time to come Psal 78.5 7 8. He established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God and keep his Commandments and might not be as their Fathers a stubborn and rebellious Generation 2. We should sin against God if we should leave off teaching our Children or Servants because they carry themselves unkindly and disobediently towards us The people of Israel carried themselves stubbornly and rebelliously both against God and against Samuel 1 Sam. 8.7 19. yet Samuel tells them he would not cease to pray for them and to teach them lest he should sin against God 1 Sam. 12.23 Moreover as for me God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the good and the right way It is the Will and Command of God that rebellious and hard-hearted persons should be taught his Word as we may see Ezek. 2.3 4 7. where the Lord acknowledgeth the Children of Israel to be rebellious impudent and stiff-hearted and yet he saith to the Prophet Thou shalt speak my words unto them whether they will hear or whether they will forbear for they are most rebellious And if it be Gods Command that the Rebellious should be taught his Word it must needs be a sin to forbear teaching our Families though some or all of them are rebellious persons for then we sin when we transgress any of the Commandments of God 1 John 3.4 Sin is the transgression of the Law 3. Though our Children should for the present rebel against those Instructions and Commands which they receive from us yet afterward they may consider their ways and repent and follow those Counsels and Instructions which we have given them The elder Son spoken of in the Parable at first refused to obey his Father but afterwards he repented and did what his Father commanded him Matth. 21.28 29. A certain man had two Sons and he came to the first and said Son go work to day in my Vinyard he answered and said I will not but afterwards he repented and went 4. If your Children be hard-hearted weep over them when you instruct them that may be a means to break their hearts Acts 21.13 What mean you to weep and to break my heart It is said Job 14.13 The Water wear the Stones Seeing waters will wear the stones why may not you hope by your tears to dissolve and break the stony hearts of your Children SECT 6. The Plea of such as say their Children are too young to be instructed answered Object 6 Mr Children are young and it is too soon to begin to teach them the Scriptures they can't understand any thing as yet if I should go about to teach them and besides I am afraid I should prophane the word of God and take the Name of God in vain if I should teach them whilst they are young and therefore I will let this work alone until they are grown up unto years of discretion then I will do it Answ 1. We can't begin too soon to teach our Children the word of God As soon as they have learned to speak we should endeavour to learn them the Scriptures Isa 28.9 Whom shall he teach knowledge and whom shall he make to understand Doctrine Them that are weaned from the Milk and drawn from the Brests It is said of Timothy 2 Tim. 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is rendred by the Vulgar Latin Ab infantia From thy Infancy and by Schmidius A primâ infantia From thy first Infancy the same greek word is translated Luke 18.15 Infants and Acts 7.19 Young Children Luke 2.12 A Babe The word imports that Timothy was taught the Scriptures very early as soon as ever he was capable of learning them That Precept which is given Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the Way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it implies that we should begin betimes to teach our Children the ways of the Lord. The Hebrew word used there for a Child as Schindler observes totam aetatem teneram complectitur comprehends all a mans tender years as Infancy Childhood Youth It is rendred a Babe Exod. 2.6 The Babe wept and it is applied to one that hath not capacity to discern between good and evil Isa 7.16 Before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and chuse the good So that when Solomon saith Train up a Child in the way that he should go this Precept reacheth our youngest Children and intimates we should begin very early with them to teach and instruct them as soon as there is any capacity in them to learn 2. Satan begins betimes to corrupt our Children and to teach them that which is evil We see many Children learn to lie as soon as they can speak Psal 58.3 They go astray as soon as they are born speaking lies Others learn to mock the people of God 1 King 2.23 There came forth little Children out of the City and mocked him Others learn other vices And shall not we begin as early to teach them good things as Satan begins to teach them wicked and evil things 3. There is a greater capacity in Children to learn and understand than many are aware of They are capable of receiving the holy Ghost whilst they are in their Mothers womb Luk. 1.15 41. And such on whom God pours out his Spirit whilst they are Infants are capable betimes of knowing the things of God We read Psal 8.2 Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because
live after the flesh you shall die the Companion of Fools shall be destroyed c. is for you you shall die as well as any persons in the world if ye live after the flesh and if ye will keep evil company c. And this promise is for you They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing c. If you will seek the Lord he will give you all good things And the example of Gods Judgments on such as murmured and such as committed fornication c. was written for your admonition to deter you from committing those sins 1 Cor. 10.8 10 11. When Eliphaz had been instructing Job in several things concerning the misery of wicked men the nature of afflictions the blessings that God bestoweth on godly men c. he concludes his discourse thus Job 5.27 Lo this we have searched it so it is hear it and know it for thy good or as it is in the Margin for thy self From the different rendring of the last clause of this Verse we may draw this note That then a man knows Divine Truths for his good when he knows them for himself that is the way for a man to get good by the knowledge of Divine Truths is to make a particular application of them to his own Soul 5. When you instruct them in the performance of any duty either towards God or their Neighbour teach them how and in what manner to perform that duty shew them also the necessity of it and the advantages and benefits that will come to them if they follow your counsel and the evils that will befall them if they neglect it Thus David instructed Solomon he exhorts him to know and serve the Lord 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him Then he shews him in what manner he must serve the Lord willingly and sincerely Serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind He tells him why it was necessary that he should serve the Lord with a perfect heart and with a willing mind For the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts He acquaints him also with the benefit that he should receive if he would seek and serve the Lord If thou seek him he will be found of thee and with the evils that would come upon him if he forsook the Lord But if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever It is said of Solomon Eccles 12.10 The Preacher sought out acceptable words or as some render it verba desiderii words that might stir up desires after those things which he taught the people words that might win and gain upon their affections Follow Solomon's example in teaching your Children seek out such Scriptures as may put an edge upon their affections and inflame them with a desire to practise those things which you teach them to be their duty Consider also what may dicourage or hinder them from the performing those Duties which you press upon them and endeavour to remove those hindrances for what the Apostle saith in another case 2 Thes 2.7 the same is true here That which now letteth will let until it be taken out of the way 6. So teach them their duty as also to direct them where they may have strength to perform it And to that end guide them to Christ without whom they can do nothing John 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing and by whose help they shall be able to do all things Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthneth me By which means when they find no strength in themselves they shall be able to say they have it in Christ Surely shall one say In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength Isa 45.24 And seeing Christ conveys his strength to us in a way of Reliance upon him for it is through faith that out of weakness we are made strong Heb. 11.34 and seeing faith is helped much by the promises when you instruct them in their duty guide them to some promise of the Covenant of Grace where God hath promised to inable them to perform that duty that so by the help of the promises they may trust in Christ to work all their works in them and for them and may through faith in him receive strength to walk before God in newness of Life Thus when the Apostle taught the Romans that they should not let sin have dominion over them Rom. 6.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal Bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof He presently puts them in mind of a promise wherein the Lord hath promised so to over-rule us by his grace that sin shall not have the Dominion over us vers 14. Sin shall not have the Dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 7. If you would so instruct your Families as to edifie them in your Teaching then stir them up to the practise of those Duties which make for their edification As First To walk in the fear of the Lord Act. 9.31 The Churches were edified walking in the fear of the Lord. Secondly To live in love and peace 1 Cor. 8.1 Charity edifieth Ephes 4.16 Maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of it self in love Rom. 14.19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith we may edifie one another Thirdly To get Faith and to live by Faith after they have gotten it 1 Tim. 1.4 Godly edifying which is in faith Fourthly To pray in a fervent gracious spiritual manner Jude 20. But ye Beloved building up your selves in your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost Fifthly To meditate often on what you have taught them 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear unto all SECT 4. What are the fittest times and seasons for instructing our Families Direct 4 THe seasonableness of a work makes it amiable Eccles 3.1 11. To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven He hath made every thing beautiful in his time The seasonableness of a work renders it also the more successful Psal 1.3 He shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of waters that bringeth forth his fruit in his season and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Such as are Rulers of Families must not only provide meat for their Families but meat in due season and by so doing he that is the supreme Lord of all Families shall give them his blessing Matth. 24.45 46 47. Who then is a faithful and wise Servant whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them meat in due season Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Verily I say unto you That he shall make him Ruler over all his goods Now concerning the times and seasons that you should take for the doing this work
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
is declared in the next words The Law of his God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide Fifthly Bring them in love with the word of God love to the Word will root and ground the Truths of God in their hearts Ephes 3.17 Rooted and grounded in love Love to the word of God will root it so deeply and firmly in their hearts that no troubles will cause them to depart from the word of God but they will stick and cleave to it unto their dying day Cant. 8.6 7. Love is strong as death many Waters cannot quench Love neither can the Floods drown it If you ask How shall we bring our Children and Servants to love the Word of God I answer 1. Shew them the purity excellency and amiableness that is in the word of God Psal 119.140 Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it 2. Stir them up to practise the word of God that will cause them to love it Psal 119.167 My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies and I love them exceedingly 3. Shew them what a dangerous thing it is not to love the word God is wont to send down sore Judgments upon them that do not receive his Truth in the love of it 2 Thes 2.10.11 12. Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 4. Exhort them to put away and hate their sins and then they will love and delight in the word of God Psal 119.163 I hate and abhor lying but thy Law do I love 5. Counsel them to feed daily upon Gods word by Meditation and Faith for this will cause them to taste the sweetness of it Jer. 5.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my Heart Psal 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet And when they taste the sweetness of Gods word they will love it above all things in the world Psal 119.103 128. How sweet are thy words unto my taste Yea sweeter than Honey to my month therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold yea above fine Gold SECT 12. How to draw our Families to close with Christ How to ortifie them against the offence of the Cross Direct 12 ENdeavour as much as in you lieth to draw them to JESUS CHRIST that they may receive and close with him upon the terms of the Gospel Whatever Instructions you give your Families if you leave them Christless you leave them in a miserable perishing condition 1 John 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life But if you can prevail with them to come to and to close with JESUS CHRIST they shall become the Children of God and shall assuredly obtain everlasting Life John 1.12 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name 1 John 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting Life If you ask What shall we do that we may draw our Children and Servants to come to and close with JESUS CHRIST I answer First Shew them their miserable lost and undone condition without Christ The misery of Man without Christ is set out by the Apostle Ephes 2.12 That at that time ye were without Christ being Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and Strangers from the Covenants of Promise having no Hope and without God in the world In this Text the misery of such as are without Christ is set forth several ways 1. They are Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel that is they are none of the People of God 2. They are Strangers from the Covenants of Promise that is they have no part or portion in any of the promises either of the first or second Covenant the Covenant of Works or the Covenant of Grace 3. They are without hope They have no hope of mercy either in this world or in the world to come They may have much presumption and much carnal security but they have no hope 4. They are without God that is without the love and favour of God without the grace of God without any communion with and enjoyment of God There is much also said in few words towards the setting forth of the misery of a man that is without Christ in that fore-mentioned Scripture 1 John 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life He hath not the Life of Grace here but is dead in his sins he hath not the Life of Glory hereafter but is debarred of all hope of entring into the Kingdom of Heaven for ever The conviction of their misery and perishing condition without Christ will draw them to seek after Christ Luke 15.17 18. I perish with hunger I will arise and go to my Father Mat. 8.25 His Disciples came to him saying Lord save us we perish Inform them also that salvation from their miserable perishing condition is to be had in Christ and no where else but in Christ Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby they may be saved When the people of Israel saw that salvation was to be had in the Lord and no where else this caused them to come to him Jer. 3.22 23. Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel Secondly Acquaint them with the amiableness and excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ with what benefits they shall receive from him if they embrace him as namely that all their sins shall be pardoned Act. 10.43 and their Souls shall be taken into Covenant with God Isa 55.3 and they shall be blessed with all spiritual blessings Eph. 1.3 and that they shall have all the blessings of Heaven for ever John 3.16 When the Spouse had set forth Christs excellencies that he was the chiefest of ten thousand altogether lovely c. Cant. 5.10 16. They that before saw no beauty or comeliness in him why they should desire him vers 9. What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved c. fell in love with Christ and began to enquire where they might find him and how they might come to enjoy him Chap. 6.1 Whether is thy Beloved gone O thou fairest among women whether is thy beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee Thirdly Cause them to understand that God is very willing to bestow his Son and Jesus Christ is very willing to bestow himself upon all those that feel their need of him and are willing to receive him as is evident from such Scriptures as
the training up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures cause the Ministry or Ministers of Gods word to be slighted but on the contrary the more our Children and Servants are acquainted with the Scriptures the more they will prize and reverence the Ministers of Christ for the Scriptures do teach us to esteem very highly of Christs Ministers 1 Thes 5.12 13. We beseech you Brethren to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake Rom. 10.15 How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad Tydings of good things 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine They are stiled Christs Embassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 Now we are Ambassadours for Christ And who are more honoured than the Embassadours of an Earthly Prince The Scriptures shew what a great sin it is to despise the Ministers of Christ the Lord Jesus counts himself and his Father despised when they are despised Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 1 Thes 4.8 He that despiseth despiseth not man but God who also hath given unto us his holy Spirit So that the training up of our Families in the fear of God and knowledge of the Scriptures will be so far from causing them to slight the Ministers of Christ or the Ministry of the Word that it will cause them to reverence and esteem them SECT 16. It is dangerous to neglect reading the Scriptures or teaching them our Children from this Plea That we need do nothing more than follow the Light within us Object 16 THere is a Light in all Men Women and Children which will teach them to do that which is just and right in the sight of God and men and will lead them to Life and Salvation if they do but follow the Light that is in them So that we judge it needless to read the Scriptures or to instruct our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures we do enough if we call upon them to follow the Light that is within them Answ It is a great and dangerous mistake for a man to neglect reading and searching the Scriptures and instructing his Family in the knowledge of the Scriptures from a perswasion that neither he nor his Family need to do any thing more towards the obtaining Salvation than to follow the Light that is in them To make this evident Consider 1. There is no man hath so much Light or Knowledge but it is necessary that he should give himself to the reading of the Scriptures thas he may gain more Knowledge All men may be ranked under these two heads either they are such as abide in their natural unregenerate condition or they are such as are converted and endued with the grace of God As for men in their natural condition they are destitute of saving knowledge Rom. 3.11 There is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rom. 1.31 Without understanding They are said to be in darkness 1 John 2.9 11. He that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in darkness even until now He that hateth his Brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkness hath blinded his eyes They are said not only to be in darkness but to be darkness it self Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye Light in the Lord walk as Children of Light And therefore men in their natural condition had need give themselves to reading of the Scriptures that they may be inlightned and converted to God Psal 19.7 8. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The Commandment of the Lord is pure inlightning the eyes And that they may be made wise to salvation for the knowledge of the Scriptures will make men wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus As for such as are inlightned and converted to God even those of them that are endued with the greatest measure of saving knowledge have need to read the Scriptures daily and diligently that they may get more knowledge for the wisest men are imperfect in knowledge The Apostle Paul saith of himself that he knew but in part 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face Now I know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known David who was wiser then his Enemies Psal 119 98. and had more understanding than all his Teachers vers 99. and understood more than the Ancients vers 100. doth acknowledge before God that he had much folly and ignorance Psal 69.5 O God thou knowest my foolishness Psal 73.22 So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a Beast before thee And he prayeth with great earnestness unto God to give him knowledge and understanding and to teach him his Statutes as we may see Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law Verse 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes Vers 34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law Verse 125. I am thy Servant give me under standing that I may know thy Testimonies And in many other places We are commanded to grow in knowledge as well as in grace 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And therefore seeing the Scriptures are the means whereby we get knowledge Psal 119.104 Through thy Precepts I get understanding And the means of increasing knowledge verse 99. I have more understanding than all my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation It is necessary that they who have the greatest measure of Light and Understanding should read and meditate in the Word of God night and day that they may grow in knowledge 2. There are some sins which that Light which is in natural men cannot discover without the help of the Word and Spirit of God As for instance The first motions of sin though not consented to are sin for they are transgressions of the Law which saith Thou shalt not covet The Law doth not only say Thou shalt not consent to thou shalt not follow or yeild to thy inordinate desires but it forbids the motions themselves Thou shalt not covet Now the Apostle Paul telleth us he had not known these first motions which he calls by the name of lust to be
sin if it had not been for the Law of God Rom. 7.7 Nay I had not known sin but by the Law for I had not known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet Not to believe in Jesus Christ is a great sin it is a sin for which God will damn men at the day of Judgment Mark 16.16 He that believeth not shall be damned Now the Light of Nature doth not convince a man that it is a sin not to believe in Jesus Christ it is by the Scripture which holdeth forth the damnable nature of this sin of not believing in Jesus Christ John 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the onely begotten Son of God And by the help of the Spirit that we come to be convinced of the sin of not believing in Christ John 16.8 9. And when he that is the Spirit which is the Comforter spoken of in the former verse is come he will reprove the world of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment of Sin because they believe not in me And as there are some sins of which natural Light doth not convince a man so those sins of which it doth convince a man it doth not convince with such clearness and power as the Law doth which stops a mans mouth and makes him fall down before God as as a lost undone Creature Rom. 3.19 20. Now we know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God By the Law is the knowledge of sin 3. There are several Points of the Christian Religion of great moment which that Light that is in natural men discovereth not neither can we know them any other ways but by the help of the Scriptures or by immediate Revelation from God As for instance To know and believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah is of such moment as that we can't be saved unless we believe him to be the Messiah John 8.24 I said therefore unto you That ye shall die in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins Now this knowledge Flesh and Blood Nature in its highest improvements cannot attain it must either be by Revelation from God Matth. 16.15 16 17. Whom say ye that I am And Simon Peter answered and said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven Or by the help of the Scriptures And therefore when Apollos would convince the Jews that Jesus was the Christ he did it by the Scriptures Acts 18.28 For he mightily convinced the Jews and that publickly shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ And this way the Apostle Paul took also he alledged those Scriptures that spoke of the Messiah and explained them and thereby proved to them that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ And Paul as his manner was went in unto them and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures opening and alledging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ It is of great moment to know what that Righteousness is whereby a Sinner should come to be justified in the sight of God If a man be ignorant of this Righteousness he will seek to establish his own and will not submit to the Righteousness of God Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of Gods Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God The Light of Nature cannot find out this Righteousness it is no where revealed but in the Gospel Rom. 1.16 17. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek for therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The Just shall live by faith That there are Three Persons and yet but One God is plainly revealed in the Scriptures 1 John 5.7 There are Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One But without the help of the Scriptures the Light of Nature can attain to but little or no knowledge of this great Mystery And as there are some Doctrines so also some Duties in the Christian Religion which the Light of Nature cannot discover As for instance Baptizing of persons with water in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost is an Ordinance of Jesus Christ which he would have continued and with which he will afford his presence to the end of the world Matth. 28 19 20. So also is eating Bread and drinking Wine in the Lords Supper and Ordinance of Christ to be continued in the Church till his coming to Judgment 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come But natural Light doth not teach a man that it is his duty to be baptized or to receive the Lords Supper It is from the Scriptures we learn that Baptism and the Lords Supper are Ordinances of Jesus Christ and that the use of these Ordinances is to be continued in the Church of Christ to the end of the World 4. The Light which we must attend unto and follow and by which we must order our Lives and Conversations is the Mind and Will of God revealed in the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts Observe here First That the Light to which the Apostle would have us take heed and saith they do well who take heed to it is the Word of Prophecy by the Word of Prophecy he understands the Scriptures which were written and delivered to us by the Prophets as is evident from the ensuing word Knowing this first that no Prophecy of the Scriptures c. Secondly It is our duty to take heed to the word of Prophecy as long as we live in this world Whereunto ye do well to take heed until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts By the Day-star is meant Jesus Christ Rev. 22.16 I am the bright and morning Star By the Day is not meant only or chiefly the day of Grace or the day of the Gospel for these days had already dawned upon those persons to whom the Apostle wrot this Epistle for he saith of them They knew and were established in the present truth vers 12. They were not only acquainted with the Doctrine of the Gospel
a thousand times more value than many Sparrows And seeing it is God hath done it how grievous and bitter soever it be unto your Souls you must bear it with patience Psal 39.9 10. I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou diddest it And this was no small stroke under which David was dumb because the Lord gave him the blow but it was so great as that he was even consumed with it as the next words shew Remove thy stroke away from me I am consumed by the blow of thine hand By his being consumed we may understand the greatness of his grief as Psal 31.9 Mine eye is consumed with grief yea my soul and my belly yet under this great stroke which consumed his Soul and his Body with grief he was dumb and opened not his mouth because God did it Whatsoever cometh from the hands of God must be born with silence and submission to his will although it be so sharp and bitter as that it will make us go mourning as long as vve live Isa 38.15 What shall I say He hath spoken unto me and himself hath done it I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my Soul And as vve must be patient under all our griefs so we must contentedly bear vvhatever grievous things befal our children Jer. 10.19 20. Wo is me for my hurt my wound is grievous but I said Truly this is a grief and I must bear it My Children are gone forth of me and are not II. God is righteous in vvhat he hath done to your Children although he hath cast them into eternal torments If you think it not consistent with Righteousness and Equity to punish the sins of a few years vvith endless and eternal torments consider 1. That the Scriptures assure us that the Lord is righteous in all his vvays Psal 145.18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works And if the Lord be righteous in all his ways then also in this vvay of his Providence vvhen he condemneth vvicked men to eternal torments for the sins they committed in that short space of time they lived in the vvorld Yea more particularly vve find the Scriptures ascribing Righteousness to God in this very case vvhen he punisheth ungodly persons vvith everlasting torments 2 Thes 1.6 9. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2. The Angels are more glorious Creatures than the Souls of Men yet vvhen they sinned against God the Lord did not spare them but for their first sin cast them down into hell 2 Pet. 1.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into Chains of Darkness to be reserved unto Judgment And that they shall be punished in Hell vvith everlasting torments is evident from Matth. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And this he did vvithout affording them any means of their recovery from their sin and misery vvhich vvas granted to fallen man Heb. 2.16 For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham Now seeing God cast those glorious Creatures the Angels into eternal torments for their first transgression and did not spare them one day or afford them any means of recovery after their fall shall vve think that God deals hardly vvith the Sons of men in condemning them to eternal torments vvhenas he afforded them means of grace and salvation and gave them a long time and space for their Repentance vvaiting day after day and year after year for their returning to him Is not this far greater mercy and less severity then vvas shewn to the fallen Angels 3. Sin is committed against an eternal God against an infinitely holy great and glorious GOD and therefore deserveth an infinite and eternal punishment We do not understand or at least vve do not consider what an odious thing Sin is and what a great God the Lord is and vvhat an infinite distance there is between the great and holy God and a poor sinful man vvhen vve think that the Lord deals hardly vvith sinners in punishing their sins vvith eternal torments What an hainous crime is it for man who is but a poor vvorm made of dust and ashes to affront despise and rebel against the great GOD of Heaven and Earth vvho gave him his Being and loadeth him vvith his Benefits every day To tread the Laws of God under his feet and to cast his vvord behind his back to slight all his Promises and Threatnings to contemn all his offers of Grace and Mercy and though he wait with much patience and long-suffering many days and years for his Repentance to refuse to return and obey the Voice of his Creator Doth not such a despising of the Eternal Immortal Ever-Blessed God deserve to be punished with eternal Torments 4. It is accounted no injustice among men to inflict a punishment of long continuance for a crime that was committed in a very short time If Murder Adultery Treason or some other capital Offence which was committed in the space of a few minutes be punished with perpetual imprisonment or perpetual banishment no man counts it injustice or thinks the Offender is hardly dealt with because he is so long punish'd for an offence committed in so short a time Why then should any man think that the Righteous God dealeth hardly or unjustly in punishing sinners with perpetual torments for the sins they committed those few years they lived in the world 5. It was their own choice to embrace eternal death God set before them Life and Death He told them if they did evil they should die eternally but if they would repent and do that which is good in his sight they should have everlasting life and he called upon them earnestly to chuse Life rather than Death Deut. 30.15 19. See I have set before you this day life and good death and evil Therefore chuse life He offered them Life in his Son and they would not go unto him for it John 5.40 And ye will not come to Me that ye might have life He protested solemnly to them that he was loth they should die and therefore pleaded with them Why will ye die Ezek. 33.11 Say unto them As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye die O House of Israel And therefore they must blame themselves not the Lord for their being cast into eternal Torments 6. Had they been permitted to have lived for ever upon the face of the Earth they would have sinned for ever The heart of the Sons of men is fully set in them to do evil
you must take heed of being swallowed up with over-much sorrow Satan labours what he can to keep us under blindness and hardness of heart and to hinder us for mourning for our sins but when he cannot do that because God hath opened our eyes and affected our hearts with the sight of our sin and misery he will endeavour to make us mourn without measure especially if we have been great sinners The incestuous Corinthian committed a great sin such as was not so much as named among the Gentiles 1 Cor. 5.1 And till he was brought to repentance the Apostle adviseth the Church of Corinth to deal sharply with him ver 4 5. but when he was humbled the Apostle adviseth the Church to comfort him and why Least perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with over-much sorrow 2 Cor. 12.7 2. Though this be a mighty great and crying sin for Parents by their evil example or their neglect to teach them or by any other means to be guilty of the bloud of their Childrens souls yet it is not an unpardonable sin but I may say of it as Shecaniah did to Ezra in another case Ezra 10.2 We have trespassed against our God Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing By Faith and Repentance you may obtain forgiveness of this as well as of other sins The bloud of Christ being applied by Faith cleanseth us from all manner of sin 1 John 1.7 The bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin If Christs bloud cleanseth from all sin then from being guilty of the bloud of souls as well as from other sins The merits of Christs bloud are sufficient to wash away the sins of the greatest sinners in the whole world John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world And all that believe in him shall for his sake receive the remission of their sins of what nature soever they have been Acts 13.38 39. Be it known unto you men and brethren that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which we could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Such whose sins are of the deepest die who have committed scarlet and crimson sins whose hands have been full of bloud have the full and free remission of all their sins promised upon their repentance Isa 1.15 16 17 18. Your hands are full of bloud wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool The Lord taxeth the Jews with the bloud of the Souls of poor Innocents and telleth them their guilt herein was as evident as what appeareth upon a mans skirts Jer. 2.34 Also upon thy skirts is found the bloud of the souls of poor innocents Yet to these Jews that were guilty of the bloud of souls of poor Innocents the Lord promiseth mercy upon their repentance Jer. 3.12 13. Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep mine anger for ever only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God Who were greater sinners than they that shed the bloud of the Lord Jesus Christ Yet even to them that were guilty of the bloud of Christ the Lord promiseth remission of that and all their other sins upon their repentance Acts 3.14 15 19. Ye denied the Holy One and the Just and desired a Murderer to be granted unto you and killed the Prince of life Repent ye therefore and be ye converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. The like we have also promised Acts 2.23 38 39. where the Apostle tells them who had taken and with wicked hands had crucified and slain the Lord Jesus that they were not excluded from the promises of mercy but that upon their repentance they should receive remission of their sins 3. Testifie the truth of your repentance for suffering your deceased Children to perish through your negligence by doubling your diligence in doing what in you lieth to save the souls of your surviving Children and Servants and all others under your charge by praying to God for them night and day and instructing them in the knowledge of those things that make for their peace and shewing of them a good example and the use of all other means This will be a means to moderate your excessive sorrow and to restore peace and comfort to your souls For all Gods ways are ways of pleasantness and his paths are paths of peace Prov. 3.17 whilst we are in the way of our duty God is wont to come in with comfort SECT 5. The Plea of such as are cast down because God hath not answered their Prayers or prospered their labours answered Plea 4 IT may be some will say The ground of my trouble for my deceased Children ariseth from hence because I prayed often and earnestly for their conversion and took much pains in teaching them and yet the Lord hath cast them away and because he hath not answered my prayers nor blessed my labours I am afraid I am none of his Elect because it is said Isa 65.22 23. Mine Elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands They shall not labour in vain Answ I. This is not so to be understood as though Gods Elect did convert every soul whom they laboured by their instructions to bring home to the Lord. Jesus Christ is stiled Gods Elect Isa 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth Yet we find the same Prophet bringing in the Lord Jesus speaking thus Isa 49.4 I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought And when he was here upon earth many that saw his Miracles and heard his Sermons remained in their unbelief and unconverted condition Luke 16.14 John 12.37 II. You have not laboured in vain although your Children were not converted for 1. Though you did not convert your Children yet you have delivered your own soul Ezek. 3.19 If thou warn the wicked and he turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way he shall die in his iniquity but thou hast delivered thy soul And the delivering of your own soul is worth all your pains although you had taken a thousand times more than you have done 2. Your labour is not in vain in respect of God 1 Cor. 15.58 You know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord Although you did not