with the Drunken The Lord of that Servant shall come in a Day when he looketh not for him and in an Hour that he is not ware of and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his Portion with the Hypocrites There shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 24. 45. Fidelity Prudence and Moderation is here commended to Servants and their Guilt is here declar'd who are Imperious over their Fellow-servants deal harshly with them or wast what belongs to those whom they serve Well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25. 21 30. A Reward is here promis'd to the faithful and industrious Servant who is truly Zealous in his Master's Interest And Punishment declar'd against the Slothful and Faithless who are not Solicitous for their Master's Advantage Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Luk. 12. 37. Their Fidelity is rewarded who in the Master's Absence are Solicitous to discharge their Duty well That servant which knew his Lord's will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes But he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required and to whom Men have committed much of him they will ask the more Luk. 12. 47. The Servant's Rule is the Will of the Master in all that is not Sin He is the best Servant who not only do's according to his Master's Orders but also according to his Desires But he that knows his Master's Will and yet do's it not is not true to what he has undertaken I am resolv'd what to do that when I am put out of the Stewardship they may receive me into their houses Luke 16. 4. So said this Steward and accordingly rais'd himself Friends at his Master's Cost But this being the unjust Steward it is a thing which Servants are not to imitate but avoid as an Injustice He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much And he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much Luk. 16. 10. To be Faithful in little things is an Argument of true Fidelity Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh with Fear and Trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ Not with eye-service as Men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to Men Knowing that whatsoever good thing any Man doeth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be Bond or Free Eph. 6. 5. Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh not with eye-service as Men-pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto Men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance For ye serve the Lord Christ But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done And there is no respect of Persons Col. 3. 22. This Lesson thus repeated by S. Paul ought to be considered Word by Word if it were read every Day by Servants this would not be too often Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own Masters worthy of all honor that the Name of God and his Doctrin be not blasphemed And they that have believing Masters let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit 1 Tim. 6. 1. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own Masters and to please them well in all things not answering again not purloining but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrin of God our Saviour in all things Tit. 2. 9. Servants be subject to your Masters with all Fear not only to the Good and Gentle but also to the Froward For this is thank-worthy if a Man for Conscience toward God endure grief suffering wrongfully For what glory is it if when ye be buffetted for your faults ye shall take it patiently But if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God For even hereunto were ye called Because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that ye should follow his steps who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2. 18. Thus speaks the Rule both to the Instruction and Comfort of Servants It requires them to be Careful and Faithful in their Duty not with Eye-service but as serving God is always Present and Witness whether of their Fidelity or Sloth It requires them to give Respect and be Obedient to their Masters and this not only if they are Gentle and Mild but even if they are Froward and Uneasie It requires them to suffer with Patience not only the Labor of their State but likewise all Trials as are frequent in their Circumstances such as are Reproofs Reproaches or even Blows and these not only when they are deserved by their Faults but even when they have done well and therefore deserv'd them not For their Encouragement the Apostle lays before them the Example of Christ and lets them know that God is not a Respecter of Persons and therefore that if they serve faithfully as to the Lord and suffer patiently according to the Example of Christ they may confide in God as their faithful Rewarder Such as do thus are Christian Servants and in as good a Way of being Great in the Kingdom of Heaven as those whom they serve But then if they follow not this Advice are Eye-servants are neither Careful in what they are to do nor Patient in what they suffer how unhappy are they A kind of Slaves here and little Hopes of being better hereafter CHAP. XXIX Of Merchants Shopkeepers and all Dealers WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Persons of this Profession A. It lays down some Principles which it is their Duty to observe As ye would that Men should do to you do ye also to them likewise Luk. 6. 31. All things whatsoever ye would that Men should do to you do ye even so to them For this is the Law and the Prophets Mat. 7. 12. This is the Will of God that no Man go beyond and defraud his Brother in any matter because that the Lord is the Avenger of all such as we also have forewarned you and testified 1 Thess 4. 3 6. He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath
who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Body's sake which is the Church Col. 1. 23. To suffer for the Truth ought to be the Joy and Comfort of him that has undertaken to be the Minister of Truth How much then do they forget their Vocation who upon meeting with Discouragements lose all Comfort and repent of their Labor Whom we preach warning every Man and teaching every Man in all Wisdom that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. The only design of an Apostolic Teacher is to form Jesus in every one of his Flock and to make all perfect in him Say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it Col. 4. 17. They who consider not well the Duties of their Charge will soon neglect them Fulfil the Duties of the Ministry of Jesus Christ What Pastor do's not tremble at this Word Your selves Brethren know our Entrance in unto you that it was not in vain But even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated as ye know at Philippi we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much Contention For our Exhortation was not of Deceit nor of Vncleanness nor in Guile But as we were allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing Men but God which trieth our Hearts For neither at any time used we flattering Words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is Witness Nor of Men sought we Glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been burdensome as the Apostles of Christ But we were Gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but also our own Souls because ye were dear unto us For ye remember Brethren our Labor and Travel For laboring Night and Day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you we preached unto you the Gospel of God Ye are Witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thess 2. 1. Every Word a Lesson to Preachers What a Mercy to the World if they would study and follow this Spirit Be not thou therefore ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou Partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God 2 Tim. 1. 8. Great Courage is necessary for standing by the Truth and the Ministers of it Hold fast the form of sound Words which thou hast heard of me in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us 2 Tim. 1. 13. Great Fidelity requir'd of the Pastors of God's Church The Holy Ghost promis'd to them for this end Thou therefore endure Hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ No Man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this Life 2 Tim. 2. 3. I suffer trouble as an evil Doer even unto Bonds but the Word of God is not bound Therefore I endure all things for the Elects sake v. 9. To suffer with Courage all Difficulties is the Obligation of a Pastor And if he suffer as a Criminal as this is most humbling so it brings him nearer to the Resemblance of Jesus Christ They are of the World therefore speak they of the World and the World heareth them 1 Jo. 4. 5. Unhappy Teachers whose Character this is CHAP. XXXVI Of the Flock Q. WHat Directions do's the Gospel give to the Flock in Regard of those whom God has put over them A. It speaks very particularly to them but that I may end this last Chapter with such Instructions as the Gospel gives I will first set down some Injunctions of God in the Old Law which as it was a Figure of the New so it may lead us to such Duties as God expects from the Flock in this better Constitution which is the Church of Christ And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian Woman whom he had married And they said hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses Hath he not spoken also by us And the Lord heard it Wherefore then were not ye afraid to speak against my Servant Moses And the Anger of the Lord was kindled against them and he departed Num. 12. 1 8. God shews his displeasure against those who murmur at such as he has set over them And all the Children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron And the Lord said unto Moses How long will this People provoke me Surely they shall not see the Land which I sware unto their Fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me see it Num. 14. 2 11 23. Great are the Judgments of God upon those who murmur against such as are over them Now Korah and Dathan and Abiram took men and they rose up before Moses with certain of the Children of Israel two hundred and fifty Princes of the assembly famous in the Congregation Men of renown And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them Wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord And when Moses heard it he fell upon his Face And he spake unto the Congregation saying Depart I pray you from tbe Tents of these wicked Men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their Sins And the Earth opened her Mouth and swallowed them up and their Houses and all the Men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods And there came out a fire from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty Men that offered Incense Num. 16. 1 26 32 35. The Congregation being holy Exempts them not from their Obedience enjoin'd The Authority of Princes of the Congregation Men Famous and of Renown is not enough for questioning the Authority of Moses and Aaron whom God had commanded all to hear and obey Their offering Incense to God is not accepted while divided from Moses and Aaron they are under the guilt of Disobedience Thou shalt come unto the Priests the Levites and unto the Judge that shall be in those days and enquire and they shall shew thee the Sentence of Judgment And thou shalt do according to the Sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall chuse shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to do according to all that
rendring Evil for Evil or Railing for Railing but contrariwise Blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3. 10 11 8 9. Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord Looking diligently lest any man fail of the Grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled Heb. 12. 14 15. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in strife and envying but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13. 13. Let nothing be done thro' strife Do all things without murmurings and disputings that ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation Phil. 2. 3 14. By love serve one another for all the Law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt thy Neighbor as thy self But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consum'd one of another The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit Now the Works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murthers and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Meekness against such there is no Law And they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh Let us not be desirous of Vain-glory provoking one another envying one another Gal. 5. 13 c. Bear ye one another's Burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ Gal. 6. 2. If ye have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts glory not and lie not against the Truth This Wisdom descendeth not from above but is Earthly Sensual Devilish For where Envying and Strife is there is Confusion and every evil Work But the Wisdom that is from above is first Pure then Peaceable Gentle and easie to be Entreated full of Mercy and good Fruits without Partiality and without Hypocrisie And the Fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace of them that make Peace Jam. 3. 14 c. Be yâ— also patient stablish your Hearts Grudge not one against another Brethren lest ye be condemned Jam. 5. 8 9. The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of Men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another Rom. 14. 17 c. Wherefore laying aside all Malice and all Guile and Hypocrisies and Envies and all evil Speakings as new-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2. 1. If any Man seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God 1 Cor. 11. 16. Thus the Rule and this Christians say they follow and if so then who would not expect to find Christians all living in a free Correspondence of Charity and Peace exempt from the Confusions of Passion Provocation Contention and Revenge all mutually bearing with one another and forgiving one another according to the Example Christ has given them and for the securing their Eternal Peace Thus certainly it ought to be and those who live not according to this Method it is certain they transgress their Rule See then what thy Practice is and learn to follow Christ Remember that the Gospel forbids all Contentions Quarrelling Uncharitable Debates Reproaching Grudging and all the other Effects of Passion Malice Ill-will or Dislike It commands thee to study Peace and keep it with all Men as much as is possible and that for this end thou art to be Gentle Patient Compassionate forbearing all Provocations and receiving all that are given thee with Mildness without returning Evil for Evil or Railing for Railing but overcoming Evil with Good Thus thou art commanded labor daily to bring thy self to this Temper of the Gospel and then thou mayest hope for the Rewards of the Gospel CHAP. XIII Of Anger and Mildness Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to these Points A. These have been already mention'd in the foregoing Chapters But hear again how expresly they are spoke to I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his Brother without a Cause shall be in danger of the Judgment and whosoever shall say to his Brother Raca shall be in danger of the Council But whosoever shall say Thou Fool shall be in danger of Hell-fire Mat. 5. 22. Be ye angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your Wrath neither give place to the Devil Eph. 4. 26. But now you also put off all these Anger Wrath Malice Blasphemy Filthy Communication out of your Mouth Lie not to one another seeing that ye have put off the Old Man with his Deeds Col. 3. 8. Let all Bitterness and Wrath and Anger and Clamor and evil Speaking be put away from you with all Malice And be ye kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you Eph. 4. 31 32. My beloved Brethren let every Man be swift to hear slow to speak slow to Wrath for the Wrath of Man worketh not the Righteousness of God Jam. 1. 19 20. I say unto you that ye resist not Evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right Cheek turn to him the other also Matth. 5. 39. Beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto Wrath For it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay it saith the Lord. Be not overcome of Evil but overcome Evil with Good Rom. 12. 19 21. See that none render Evil for Evil unto any Man but ever follow that which is good 1 Thess 5. 15. Be at Peace among your selves warn them that are unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weak be patient toward all Men Ib. 14. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Meekness against such there is no Law Gal. 5. 22. I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all Lowliness and Meekness with Long-suffering forbearing one another in Love Eph. 4. 1 2. Thou O Man of God flee these things and follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness 1 Tim. 6. 11. Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth Mat. 5. 5. Take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart and ye shall find rest unto your Souls for my Yoke is easie and my Burthen light Mat. 11. 29 30. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any Man have a Quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Col. 3. 12 13. Put them in mind to speak evil
Father of Spirits and live For they verily for a few Days chastened us after their own Pleasure but he for our Profit that we might be Partakers of his Holiness Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable Fruit of Righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby Wherefore lift up the Hands which hang down and the feeble Knees and make straight Paths for your Feet lest that which is lame be turned out of the way but let it rather be healed Heb. 12. 1. Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel confirming the Souls of the Disciples and exhorting them to continue in the Faith and that we must thro' much Tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14. 22. And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befal me there save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that Bonds and Afflictions abide me But none of these things move me neither count I my Life dear unto my self so that I might finish my Course with Joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus Act. 20. 22. Then Paul answered What mean ye to weep and to break my Heart For I am ready not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus Acts 21. 13. My Brethren count it all Joy when ye fall into divers Temptations knowing this that the trying of your Faith worketh Patience But let Patience have her perfect Work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing Blessed is the Man that endureth Temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1. 2 12. Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord for an Example of suffering Affliction and of Patience Behold we count them happy which endure Ye have heard of the Patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy Jam. 5. 10. This is thank-worthy if a Man for Conscience toward God endure Grief suffering wrongfully For what Glory is it if when ye be buffetted for your Faults ye shall take it patiently But if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that ye should follow his steps who did no Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously who his own self bare our Sins in his own Body on the Tree that we being dead to Sin should live unto Righteousness by whose Stripes ye were healed 1 Pet. 2. 19. Who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good But and if ye suffer for Righteousness sake happy are ye and be not afraid of their Terror neither be troubled but sanctifie the Lord God in your Hearts for it is better if the Will of God be so that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the Flesh but quickned by the Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 13 17. Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as tho' same strange thing happen'd unto you but rejoice in as much as ye are Partakers of Christ's Sufferings that when his Glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding Joy If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified But let none of you suffer as a Murtherer or as a Thief or as an evil Doer or as a Busie-body in other Men's Matters Yet if any Man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God on this behalf For the time is come that Judgment must begin at the House of God and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the Vngodly and the Sinner appear Wherefore let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4. 12. What are these which are arrayed in white Robes And whence came they And I said unto him Sir thou knowest And he said to me These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the Throne of God and serve him Day and Night in his Temple and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes Rev. 7. 13. Thus speaks the Rule so full and plain that a Christian must hence see what Judgment he is to frame of all the Afflictions of this Life and what use he is to make of them He is to consider them as the Effect of the Divine Will as the Trial and Improvement of Virtue as the Exercise of Patience as the Portion which Christ chose for himself and for his best Servants and hence that by a due Submission to them they may be very serviceable in the gaining an eternal Crown Therefore in practice he is neither to murmur nor sink in Spirit under them as under Misfortunes but first endeavor to submit with Resolution as to the certain Ordinance of the Divine Will and then even to receive with Comfort what God knows to be best for him and may be very advantageous to him for obtaining Mercy and Glory Thus the Gospel directs Such then as sincerely desire to be Followers of it must labour to compose their Spirits in this manner under all kind of Afflictions that is with Meekness Patience Humility Submission and Comfort for this is the Spirit of the Gospel and they who take no Pains or very little to come into this Method but yield to the Inclinations of Nature in grieving fretting murmuring c. it is plain as far as they wilfully or affectedly follow Nature in this Point so far they depart from the Gospel CHAP. XX. Of Temptations Q. DO's the Gospel give any Directions in this Point A. It do's and such as ought to be observ'd The Devil taketh him up into an exceeding high Mountain and sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them and saith unto him All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me Then saith Jesus unto him Get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve
the Husband hath not Power of his own Body but the Wife Defraud you not one the other except it be with consent for a Time that ye may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer and come together again that Satan tempt you not for your Incontinency But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment 1 Cor. 7. 3. 4thly That they may and ought to live holily There was in the Days of Herod the King of Judea a certain Priest named Zacharias of the Course of Abia And his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron and her Name was Elizabeth And they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless and they had no Child because that Elizabeth was barren and they both were now well stricken in years Luk. 1. 5. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have Wives be as tho' they had none and they that weep as tho' they wept not and they that rejoice as tho' they rejoiced not and they that buy as tho' they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it For the fashion of this World passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29. We beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more For ye know what Commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication That every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honor not in the Lust of Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God 1 Thess 4. 1. Marriage is honorable in all and the Bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 4. 5thly That there are great Duties of mutual Love and Support belonging to them and that Order is to be observ'd which God has appointed between them I would have you know that the Head of every Man is Christ and the Head of the Woman is the Man and the Head of Christ is God A Man indeed ought not to cover his Head praying for as much as he is the Image and Glory of God But the Woman is the Glory of the Man For the Man is not of the Woman but the Woman of the Man Neither was the Man created for the Woman but the Woman for the Man For this Cause ought the Woman to have Power on her Head because of the Angels Nevertheless neither is the Man without the Woman neither the Woman without the Man in the Lord. For as the Woman is of the Man even so is the Man also by the Woman but all things of God 1 Cor. 11. 3 7. Submitting your selves one to another in the Fear of God Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord. For the Husband is the Head of the Wife even as Christ is Head of the Church And he is the Saviour of the Body Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the Wives be to their own Husbands in every thing Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church and also gave himself for it That he might sanctifie and cleanse it So ought Men to love their Wives as their own Bodies He that loveth his Wife loveth himself For no Man ever yet hated his own Flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church For we are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones For this Cause shall a Man leave his Father and Mother and shall be joined unto his Wife and they two shall be one Flesh This is a great Mystery But I speak concerning Christ and the Church Nevertheless Let every one of you in particular so love his Wife even as himself and the Wife see that she reverence her Husband Eph. 5. 21 28. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your Wives and be not bitter against them Col. 3. 18. Ye Wives be in Subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the Conversation of the Wives while they behold your chaste Conversation coupled with Fear Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the Hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of Apparel but let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the Sight of God of great Price For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God adorned themselves being in Subjection unto their own Husbands even as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him Lord Whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not affraid with any Amazement 1 Pet. 3. 1. Likewise ye Husbands dwell with them according to Knowledge giving Honor unto the Wife as unto the weaker Vessel and as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life that your Prayers be not hinder'd 1 Pet. 3. 7. Teach the young Women to be sober to love their Husbands to love their Children to be Discreet Chaste keepers at Home good obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2. 4. Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. That the aged Men be Sober Grave Temperate Sound in Faith in Charity in Patience Tit. 2. 2. The aged Women likewise that they be in Behavior as becometh Holiness not false Accusers not given to much Wine Teachers of good things Tit. 2. 3. I will that Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands without Wrath and Doubting 1 Tim. 2. 8. In like manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety Not broider'd Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array but which becometh Women professing Godliness with good Works Let the Women learn in silence with all Subjection But I suffer not a Woman to teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but to be in silence For Adam was first formed then Eve And Adam was not deceived but the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if they continue in Faith and Charity and Holiness with Sobriety 1 Tim. 2. 9. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches For it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under Obedience as also saith the Law And if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at Home For it is a Shame for Women to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 34. Thus speaks the Rule and so particularly that there can be no
to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honor to whom Honor Rom. 13. 1. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men For Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty for this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates to be ready to every good Work to speak evil of no Man to be no Brawlers but Gentle shewing all Meekness unto all Men Tit. 3. 1. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake Whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well For so is the Will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the Ignorance of Foolish Men As free and not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness but as the Servants of God Honor all Men. Love the Brotherhood Fear God Honor the King 1 Pet. 2. 13. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the Flesh in the Lust of Vncleanness and despise Government Presumptuous are they self-willed they are not affraid to speak Evil of Dignities whereas Angels which are greater in Power and Might bring not railing Accusation against them before the Lord 2 Pet. 2. 9. Likewise also these filthy Dreamers defile the Flesh despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities Jude 8. Something may be here not unseasonably added out of the Old Testament They answered Joshua saying All that thou commandest us we will do and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things so will we hearken unto thee Only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy Commandment and will not hearken unto thy Words in all that thou commandest him he shall be put to Death Josh 1. 16. Then Samuel told the People the manner of the Kingdom and wrote it in a Book and laid it up before the Lord And Samuel sent all the People away every Man to his House And Saul also went Home to Gibeah and there went with him a Band of Men whose Hearts God had touched But the Children of Belial said how shall this Man save us And they despised him and brought him no Presents But he held his peace 1 Sam. 10. 25. The Men of David said unto him behold the Day of which the Lord said unto thee Behold I will deliver thine Enemy into thine Hand that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee And he said unto his Men the Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lord 's Anointed to stretch forth mine Hand against him seeing he is the Anointed of the Lord. So David stayed his Servants with these Words and suffered them not to rise against Saul 1 Sam. 24. 4 6. Then said Abishai to David God hath delivered thine Enemy into thine Hand this Day Now therefore let me smite him I pray thee with the Spear even to the Earth at once and David said to Abishai destroy him not For who can stretch forth his Hand against the Lord 's Anointed and be guiltless David said furthermore as the Lord liveth the Lord shall smite him or his Day shall come to Die or he shall descend into Battle and perish The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine Hand against the Lord 's Anointed 1 Sam. 26. 8. David said unto him the Amalekite How wast thou not affraid to stretch forth thine Hand to destroy the Lord 's Anointed And David called one of the young Men and said go near and fall upon him And he smote him that he died 2 Sam. 1. 14. In those Days while Mordecai sat in the King's Gate two of the King's Chamberlains Bigthan and Teresh of those which kept the Door were wroth and sought to lay Hand on the King Ahasuerus And the thing was known to Mordecai who told it unto Esther the Queen and Esther certified the King thereof in Mordecai's Name Esth 2. 21. The fear of a King is as the roaring of a Lion whoso provoketh him to Anger sinneth against his own Soul Prov. 20. 2. My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their Calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the Ruin of them both Prov. 24. 21. Curse not the King no not in thy Thought Eccl. 10. 20. The Nation and Kingdom which will not serve the same Nebechadnezzar the King of Babylon and that will not put their Neck under the Yoke of the King of Babylon that Nation will I punish saith the Lord with the Sword and with the Famine and with the Pestilence until I have consumed them by his Hand Therefore hearken not ye to your Prophets nor to your Diviners nor to your Dreamers nor to your Enchanters nor to your Sorcerers which speak unto you saying ye shall not serve the King of Babylon For they prophesie a Lie unto you to remove you far from your Land and that I should drive you out and ye should perish I spake also to Zedekiah King of Judah according to all these Words saying bring your Necks under the Yoke of the King of Babylon and serve him and his People and live why will ye die thou and thy People by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence as the Lord hath spoken against the Nation that will not serve the King of Babylon Jer. 27. 8 12. The Duty of Subjects is publish'd by the Spirit of God First That they are to acknowledge the Power that is over them to be of God 2dly That they who are vested with Soveraign Power acting by the Authority of God and being therefore his Ministers Honor Obedience and Tribute is due to them 3dly That there may be an Exception in the Obedience that is when they enjoin what is contrary to the known Will of God since it cannot be reasonable to obey in such things when they command contrary to his Orders whose Ministers they are 4thly That as the Orders of those in Power are to be receiv'd with Obedience so their Punishment with a peaceable Submission And this so far that whether they prosecute justly or unjustly yet no Resistance can be made against them all that Subjects can do in this case is either to suffer with patience or peaceably to withdraw but as for lifting up hand against Power it is resisting the Ordinance of God and the fruit of this as the Apostle has declar'd is Damnation CHAP. XXXII Of Persons of Quality Q. ARE there any