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
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
It is good for a Man not to touch a Woman Nevertheless to avoid Fornication let every Man have his own Wife and let every Woman have her own Husband But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment For I would that all Men were even as I my self But every Man hath his proper Gift of God one after this manner and another after that I say therefore to the Vnmarried and Widows it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them Marry For it is better to Marry than to Burn. But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches Now concerning Virgins I have no Commandment of the Lord Yet I give my Judgment as one that hath obtained Mercy of the Lord to be faithful I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress I say that it is good for a Man so to be Art thou bound unto a Wife Seek not to be loosed Art thou loosed from a Wife Seek not a Wife But I would have you without Carefulness He that is Vnmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord how he may please the Lord But he that is Married careth for the things that are of the World how he may please his Wife Thee is difference also between a Wife and a Virgin The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and Spirit But she that is Married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction But if any Man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his Virgin if she pass the Flower of her Age and need so require let him do what he will he sinneth not Let them Marry Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his Heart having no Necessity but hath Power over his own will and hath so decreed in his Heart that he will keep his Virgin doth well So then he that giveth her in Marriage doth well but he that giveth her not in Marriage doth better 1 Cor 7. 1 6 17 25. I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having his Father's Name written in their Foreheads And they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne and before the four Beasts and the Elders And no Man could learn that Song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth These were redeemed from among Men being the First-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their Mouth was found no Guile For they are without Fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 1 3. Thus the Rule In which these Particulars are declar'd First That it is lawful and good to Marry but that it is better to remain Unmarried 2dly That the Unmarried State has much the Advantage of the other for tending upon the Lord with less Distraction 3dly That there are Persons which remain Unmarried for gaining the Kingdom of Heaven Lastly That if such are not duly watchful in preparing for the coming of the Spouse they are not Wise and will be shut out with Unbelievers CHAP. XXII Of Married Persons Husband and Wife Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to the State of Marriage and to those which are engag'd in it A. It speaks very particularly upon this Subject and what ought to be well consider'd by all concern'd First That it is not to be dissolv'd The Pharisees also came unto him tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawful for a Man to put away his Wife for every Cause And he answered and said unto them have you not read that he which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female And said for this Cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother and shall cleave to his Wife and they twain shall be one Flesh Wherefore they are no more twain but one Flesh What therefore God hath joined together let not Man put asunder Moses because of the Hardness of your Hearts suffered you to put away your Wives but from the beginning it was not so And I say unto you whosoever shall put away his Wife except it be for Fornication and shall Marry another committeth Adultery and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit Adultery Mat. 19. 3. Vnto the Married I command yet not I but the Lord let not the Wife depart from her Husband But and if she depart let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her Husband And let not the Husband put away his Wife 1 Cor. 7. 10. The Woman which hath an Husband is bound by the Law to her Husband so long as he liveth But if the Husband be dead she is loosed from the Law of her Husband So then if while her Husband liveth she be Married to another Man she shall be called an Adulteress But if her Husband be dead she is free from that Law so that she is no Adulteress tho' she be Married to another Man Rom. 7. 2. The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth But if her Husband he dead she is at Liberty to be Married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment And I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 39. 2dly As to difference of Religion in Man and Wife S. Paul thus gives his Judgment To the rest speak I not the Lord if any Brother hath a Wife that believeth not and she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away And the Woman which hath an Husband that believeth not and if he be pleased to dwell with her let her not leave him For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband Else were your Children unclean but now they are holy But if the unbelieving depart let him depart A Brother or a Sister is not under Bondage in such Cases But God hath called us to Peace For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O Man whether thou shalt save thy Wife But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk And so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 12. 3dly As to one part of their mutual Obligation Let the Husband render unto the Wife due Benevolence And likewise also the Wife unto the Husband The Wife hath not Power of her own Body but the Husband And likewise also
need of repeating it Let all then who engage in this State remember the Charge here given and distinguish themselves from Heathens by endeavoring to be punctual in it The State is what God has ordain'd for the Propagation of Mankind and filling up the Number of the Elect. Thus it becomes sanctified to the Faithful and ought to be undertaken not in the Spirit of Brutes or of the World but in the Fear of God and the Spirit of true Holiness so as to hope for the Blessing of a manifold Grace such as may be necessary for satisfying all the Obligations belonging to their State For a help in this I wish they would often read what the Word of God here speaks to them that so being frequently reminded of their Duty they may be solicitous in complying with it In undertaking this State they have undertaken these Obligations and if they are not careful in satisfying them they are faithless and unjust and what then will it avail them to be just in other Duties if they are unjust in these which are annext to their State Custom may seem to lessen the Guilt but this is a Snare for such as are willing to be deceiv'd for certainly it cannot be a Lessening but an Aggravation of Sin to live always in it CHAP. XXIII Of Widows Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to this State A. It speaks very particularly of it There was one Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser she was of a great age and had lived with an Husband seven Years from her Virginity And she was a Widow of about fourscore and four Years which departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2. 36. I say to the Vnmarried and Widows 〈…〉 for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 8 17. The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and in Spirit but she that is married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own Profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth but if her Husband be dead she is at liberty to be married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment and I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 34 39. Honor Widows that are Widows indeed But if any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at home and to requite their Parents for that is good and acceptable before God Now she that is a Widow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in Supplications and Prayers night and day But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth And these things give in charge that they may be blameless But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own House he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Let not a Widow be taken into the number under Threescore Years old having been the Wife of one Man well reported of for good Works if she have brought up Children if she have lodged Strangers if she have washed the Saints Feet if she have relieved the Afflicted if she have diligently followed every good Work But the younger Widows refuse for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ they will marry having Damnation because they have cast off their first Faith And withal they learn to be idle wandering about from House to House and not only idle but Tattlers also and Busie-bodies speaking things which they ought not I will therefore that the younger Women marry bear Children guide the House give none Occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully for some are already turned aside after Satan If any Man or Woman that believeth have Widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are Widows indeed 1 Tim. 5. 3. Thus speaks the Rule to Persons of this State plainly shewing what are the Advantages to be made of it and what the Exercises by which they may recommend themselves to the Favor of Heaven Such then as desire the Comforts of his Protection who reckons Widows a particular part of his Care may here see how they may be of this number since they have him for their Informer who offers his Help Thus then they may be Happy and even Gainers by their Loss in the tender Offers of a Heavenly Father But if they look not for this Privilege but still have their Hearts full of the World and still follow its Ways they have the Name of Widows but are not Widows indeed they seek Earthly Comforts and such they may have CHAP. XXIV Of Parents Q. WHAT Direction do's the Gospel give to Parents A. He that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Matth. 10. 37. Their Love then ought to be prudent and moderate Then came to him the Mother of Zebedee's Children with her Sons worshipping him and desiring a certain thing of him And he said unto her What wilt thou She saith unto him Grant that thâ—se my two Sons may sit the one on thy Right Hand and the other on the Left in thy Kingdom But Jesus answered and said Ye know not what ye ask Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of Mat. 20. 20. Ambition is to be avoided in the disposing of Children and in seeking Preferment for them Due Care is to be us'd in teaching them to do the Will of God and embrace his Appointments When the Days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished they brought him the Infant Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord Luke 1. 22. A good Practice of Parents to offer their Children daily to God for obtaining his Grace and Protection upon them And they sought him among their Kinsfolk and Acquaintance And when they found him not they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking him Luke 2. 44. It is the Parents Care to seek their Children and to omit no Industry in regaining them when they are lost How often is it necessary to follow them amongst their Relations and Acquaintance and to observe their ways He arose and came to his Father But when he was yet a great way off his Father saw him and had Compassion and ran and fell on his Neck and kissed him And the Son said unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and in thy
Sight and am no more worthy to be called thy Son But the Father said to his Servants Bring forth the best Robe and put it on him and put a Ring on his Hand and Shooes on his Feet and bring hither the fatted Calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry For this my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found Luk. 15. 20. Parents are to receive their Children with Tenderness and Love when they return from their ill Ways Ye Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord Eph. 6. 4. Fathers provoke not your Children to Anger lest they be discouraged Col. 3. 21. Parents are to treat their Children with Mildness avoiding all that causes Dejection and Discouragement and yet bringing them up in the Knowledge and Fear of God These are some principal Duties belonging to Parents which if duly observ'd will bring Peace of Conscience and cannot fail of good Effects But however in this important Concern it cannot be amiss to add something out of the Old-Testament Abraham said unto his eldest Servant of his House that ruled over all that he had Put I pray thee thy Hand under my Thigh and I will make thee swear by the Lord the God of Heaven and the God of the Earth that thou shalt not take a Wife unto my Son of the Daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell but thou shalt go to my Country and to my Kindred and take a Wife unto my Son Isaac Gen. 24. 2. It ought to be the Solicitude of Parents to see that their Children be well married the Choice of the Person is of great Concern And they the Parents of Rebekah said we will call the Damsel and enquire at her mouth And they called Rebekah and they said unto her wilt thou go with this Man And she said I will go Gen. 24. 57. Children ought not to be dispos'd of in Marriage by their Parents but with their own free consent Isaac called Jacob and Blessed him and charged him and said unto him Thou shalt not take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan Gen. 28. 1. And Joseph said to his Father they are my Sons whom God hath given me in this place And he said bring them I pray thee unto me and I will bless them And he blessed Joseph Gen. 48. 9 15. It belongs to Parents to be very careful in the choice of Persons for the Marriage of their Children and likewise to give them their Blessing These Words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine House and when thou walkest by the VVay and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6. 6. Good Instructions to be given by Parents and to be often repeated to their Children In that Day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his House when I begin I will also make an end For I have told him that I will judge his House for ever for the Iniquity which he knoweth because his Sons have made themselves vile and he restrain'd them not 1 Sam. 3. 12. Children are to be corrected for the Evil they do If Reproofs are not regarded some other Expedients must be resolv'd upon for an Indulgence in case of Crimes is the Provocation of Judgments And the King commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai saying Deal gently for my sake with the young Man even with Absalom 2 Sam. 18. 5. Parents ought to retain the Bowels of Parents towards their Children even when they are wicked And his Sons went and feasted in their Houses every one his Day and sent and called for their three Sisters to eat and to drink with them And it was so when the Days of their feasting were gone about that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the Morning and offered Burnt-Offerings according to the number of them all for Job said It may be that my Sons have sinned and cursed God in their Hearts Thus did Job continually Job 1. 4. An excellent Example of Parents to be watchful over the Conduct of their Children and to be solicitous in preventing their falling under God's Displeasure and daily praying for them My Son hear the Instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother My Son if Sinners entice thee consent thou not If they say Come with us My Son walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy Foot from their Path for their Feet run to Evil Prov. 1. 8 15. Parents are to be very careful in preventing their Childrens falling into ill Company and industrious iâ— withdrawing them from it if once engag'd He that spareth his Rod hateth hiâ— Son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Prov. 13. 24. Chasten thy Son while there is hope and let not thy Soul spare for his crying Prov. 19. 18. The just Man walketh in his Integrity his Children are blessed after him Prov. 20. 7. Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he wilâ— not depart from it Prov. 22. 6. Foolishness is bound in the Heart oâ— a Child but the Rod of Correction shall drive it far from him Prov. 22. 15. Withhold not Correction from the Child For if thou beatest him with the Rod he shall not die Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and shalt deliver his Soul from Hell Prov. 23. 13 14. The Rod and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself bringeth his Mother to Shame Correct thy Son and he shall give thee rest Yea he shall give delight unto thy Soul Prov. 29. 15 17. From these Instructions may Christian Parents know what is the Will of God and how to satisfie those Duties which God has impos'd on them in regard of their Children These Duties are great and on the due discharge of them depends no less than as Solomon says delivering their Childrens Souls from Hell Nature therefore is not to be a Rule to those who have undertaken to be directed by the Will of God To consult Nature then either in the Indulging or Punishing of Children is to forsake the Rule Both are to be regulated as God has prescrib'd CHAP. XXV Of Children to Parents Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give in this Point A. I am come to set a Man at Variance against his Father and the Daughter against her Mother and the Daughter-in-law against her Mother-in-law And a Man's Foes shall be they of his own Houshold He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me Mat. 10. 35. Parents are to be loved honor'd and obey'd in all that is lawful but not in things contrary to the known Will of God He answered and said unto them why do ye also transgress the Commandment of God by your Tradition For God
the Apostle's account than renouncing Christianity and turning Heathen and yet how common is this among those who esteem themselves Christians The Book of Proverbs describing the vertuous and industrious Woman in her Family I here and some part of it Who can find a vertuous Woman For her Price is far above Rubies The Heart of her Husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil she will do him good and not evil all the Days of her Life She seeketh Wooll and Flax and worketh willingly with her Hands She is like the Merchant's Ship she bringeth her Food from afar she riseth also while it is yet Night and giveth Meat to her Houshold and a Portion to her Maidens She layeth her Hands to the Spindle and her Hands hold the Distaff She stretcheth out her Hand to the Poor yea she reacheth forth her Hands to the Needy She maketh fine Linnen and selleth it and delivereth Girdles unto the Merchant Strength and Honor are her cloathing and she shall rejoice in time to come She openeth her Mouth with Wisdom and in her Tongue is the Law of Kindness She looketh well to the Ways of her Houshold and eateth not the Bread of Idleness Her Children arise up and call her Blessed her Husband also and he praiseth her Favor is deceitful and Beauty is vain But a Woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31. 10. An excellent Copy I wish all would set it before them and endeavor to come as near it as their Circumstances will allow Resolution and Virtue will make many things very Practicable which Sloth and Niceness will not allow to be Possible As to Servants When Jesus was entered into Capernaum there came unto him a Centurion beseeching him and saying Lord my Servant lyeth at Home Sick of the Palsie grievously tormented And Jesus saith unto him I will come and heal him Mat. 8. 5. It is a very commendable Charity in them to be careful of their Servants especially in time of Sickness Servants be Obedient to your Masters with good Will doing Service as to the Lord and not to Men knowing that whatsoever good thing any Man doeth the same shall be receive of the Lord whether he be Bond or Free And ye Masters do the same things unto them forbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of Persons with him Eph. 6. 5 7. Masters give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven Col. 4. 1. I beseech thee for my Son Onesimus which in time past was to thee unprofitable but now profitable to thee and to me whom I have sent again Thou therefore receive him that is mine own Bowels For perhaps he therefore departed for a Season that thou shouldest receive him for ever not now as a Servant but above a Servant a Brother beloved especially to me but how much more unto thee both in the Flesh and in the Lord. If thou count me therefore a Partner receive him as my self If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee Ought put that on mine Account I Paul have written it with mine own Hand I will repay it Phil. 10. See how S. Paul shews favor to a poor Servant and pleads for him Behold the Hire of the Labourers which have reaped down your Fields which is of you kept back by Fraud crieth and the Cries of them which have reaped are entred into the Ears of the Lord of Sabbath Jam. 5. 4. I add something from the Old Testament The Hebrew Servant which thou hast brought unto us come in unto me to mock me Gen. 39. 17. This was a false Accusation of Potipher 's Wife and ought to be a Caution against laying Faults upon Servants which are not theirs They did set over them Task-masters to afflict them with their Burthens And the Egyptians made the Children of Israel to serve with Rigor And they made their Lives bitter with hard Bondage Exod. 1. 11 13. To insult over Servants to overcharge them with Labor to give them a perpetual Uneasiness is not a Christian but the Egyptian Method Thus saith the Lord God of Israel let my People go that they may hold a Feast unto me in the Wilderness Exod. 5. 1. To hinder Servants from the Worship of God and to think all that time lost which for this end is taken from their Work is to follow Pharaoh 's Copy The Wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all Night until the Morning Lev. 19. 13. Six Days shalt thou Labour and do all thy Work But the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not do any Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter nor thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thine Ox nor thine Ass nor any of thy Cattle nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates that thy Man-servant and thy Maid-servant may rest as well thou Deut. 5. 13. To keep the Sabbath is the Duty of Servants as well as Masters Thou shalt not oppress an hired Servant that is Poor and Needy whether he be of thy Brethren or of thy Strangers that are in thy Land within thy Gates At this Day thou shalt give him his Hire neither shall the Sun go down upon it for he is Poor and setteth his Heart upon it lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be Sin unto thee Deut. 24. 14. If I did despise the Cause of my Man-servant or of my Maid-servant when they contended with me what then shall I do when God riseth up and when he visiteth what shall I answer him Did not he that made me in the Womb make him And did not one fashion us in the Womb Job 31. 13. The just Complaints of Servants to be heard with Patience and Justice to be done them Here are Instructions for all that have the Care of Families and Servants enough to let them see what God expects from them Those who are Solicitous to please God will endeavor to make these their Rule and this is the Duty of all who profess themselves Christians But to follow the Inclinations of Nature and to govern by Passion in cases where God has manifested his Will is not the part of a Disciple of Christ CHAP. XXVIII Of Servants Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Christians of this State A. It speaks directly to them and in such a manner that it is their great Concern to know and remember it 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 But and if that evil Servant shall say in his Heart My Lord delayeth his Coming and shall begin to smite his Fellow-servants and to eat and drink