unnatural as to send it out of Doors so soon as it was born not regarding it as though it were none of her own as some Women do who are worse to their young than the savage beasts of the field that will not take care to nurse preserve and protect their young ones it is looked on as a judgment by the Prophet Hosea 9.14 What saith he wilt thou them give a miscarrying womb and dry breasts most Women are much troubled if they cannot bare Children then why not much more if they do not let them suck of that Milk which nature has provided for the Childs nourishment it is a small sign of remorse when they are not troubled for that which is their own proper faults Fouthly All Children do naturally love those Parents most whom they sucked to take care for assist and help in their necessities when old if there be a kind of an Affection in Nurses to those they nurse and a peculiar love in the Child to the Nurse whom it sucked till death much more the Natural Affections of a Child to its Natural Parents who bore it and nourished it with their own milk what other Benefits arise thereby I leave it to your Experience to witness in length of time Nurse your Children your selves do not as t is said of the Deer that they repulse and separate those that are impotent do not turn your Children out of doors least they in time have the same Opportunity and you your selves share of the like fare from them 't is the sin of the last times to be without natural Affections therefore take away the cause that the effect may cease 3 Direction is Dedicate your Children to the most High offer them up in your Prayers Wishes and Desires to the Lords omnipotent Care and Protection Hannah dedicated Samuel unto the Lord 1 Sam. 1.28 Every First born was to be offered to the Lord Exod. 13.12 O that Ishmael might live before thee saith Abraham Gen. 17.18 How excellently did Zathariah yield up John to the Service of the Lord Luke 1.76 So Parents should do and pray continually with good Job for their Conversion and offer daily Sacrifice for them do not forget to offer your Souls in Prayer with and for them that they may be sensible how great care you have of their Souls eternal well-being Job 1.5 4 Direction Parents be sure you agree together in your Commads Let not the Father command one thing and the Mother presently contradict it before the Child this will harden them in Disobedience the first Precept to the Woman after the transgression was to be subject to her Husband and he should rule over her Gen. 3.16 But that Woman is very impudent that is so far from obeying her Husband that she will Lord it over him by contradicting his Authority in just commands and more especially when so much evil attends it as in this case Parents should both take great care not to oppose each other before their Children but chiefly when it is about their Childrens duty but to take another fit Opportunity in cool Blood in Love and in their Childrens absence to dispute the lawfulness of the matter 5 Direction Keep your Children in due subjection before they be too stubborn He that spareth the rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chastneth him betimes Prov. 13.24 Chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul spare for his crying Prov. 19.18 Rods and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself brings his Mother to shame Prov. 29.15 Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest and delight unto thy soul Prov. 29.17 A Bishop is commanded to have his Children in subjection with all gravity 1 Tim. 3.4 6 Direction Let your Children be your chiefest joy in this World Rejoyce in them as they are the gift of the Lord but do not idolize them good Job took delight enough in his Children as himself expresseth Job 19.17 Chap. 29.5 Yea when the Lord hath permitted their death by a great wind he seems to rejoyce that as the Lord gave them so he hath now taken them away and saith he blessed be the name of the Lord Job 1.19 without sorrow repining and murmuring he seems to joy in this affliction hopeing they were gone to a better Father All the Patriarchs did take delight in their Sons and Daughters except when they sinned Gen. 34.30 7 Direction You must reprove and rebuke your Children if they sin This Work must not be done to halves as Old Eli did 1 Sam. 3.13 If they sin against the Lord and no Reproof nor Rebuke will prevent them they must be restrained with due severity Folly is bound up in the heart of a Child but the rod of Correction driveth it away Prov. 22.15 Withhold not Correction from thy Child for if thou beatest him with rods he shall not die Prov. 23.13 St. Paul saith We had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence Heb. 13.9 This Duty must 1st be done with Love because it is God Ordinance to restrain them from iniquity Deut. 8.5 2dly You must shew them their sin for which you rebuke or correct them Saying with the holy God O Do not this abominable thing which I bate Jer. 44.4 3dly Tell them that thou dost correct them out of Conscience to God and Love to their precious souls Prov. 11.30 4thly Reprove and Corect them with pitty telling them if good Words would have restrained them you would not have used Blows Psal 103.13 5thly Shew them by some place of Scripture How much the Lord is offended with them for this their sin Deut. 29.20 6thly Keep them from evil Company that are the Inducements to sin 1 Cor. 15.33 7thly Correct them not in anger but with fair and loving words as it were with severity according to the Fact but all in a Cool Blood Jer. 30.11 8thly Be often in Prayer with and for them that if all other means fail that this may work upon them for their Souls eternal good thus rebuke and correction may be rightly performed and the Child not provoked to anger but love 1 Thes 5.17 9thly Be sure that the Sin that thou correct thy Child for be not an evil which he has seen thee often guilty of then 't is to be feared that thy Correction will do no good 1 John 3.20 10thly Forbear many chiding Words and Threatning Expressions Ephes 6.9 11thly Smile not on them in their sin nor use no shew of approbation towards them in it for this will harden them Solomon saith a flattering Tongue worketh ruin Prov. 26.28 12thly Do not rail on them nor miscall them when you correct them This does not become a Servant of Christ 1 Pet. 3.9 8 Direction is Be sure look well to it that at all times your Children obey your lawful Commands do not let them run at full length of Reins See that they speedily and duely perform what you order
them to do without neglect or â—â—â—ness or truanting away their time if they get once into such an ill Custome it will be very hard work to break them off from it it will be easier to break a rough Colt than to make it bow to your Precepts when once they have had a long time an evil Habit in running in their own ways you ought not only to have eyes to see that they duly and truly obey you but to let your whole heart to the observance thereof See what the Lord saith Deut. 32.46 And he said unto them set your heart unto all the Words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law The neglect of this duty brings all the curses upon thy self and thy Children Deut. 28.15 20. Remember to obey is better than sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 In their Disobedience they will be too apt to make up their Excuses with vain stories bad put offs and many times with lyes which thing the Lord hates Prov. 6.16 to 19. Chap. 12.22 9 Direction is Keep your Children if possible from foolish Covenants and Contracts If a Child in its Nonage make a Covenant and Contract by Promise or Vow and the Parents know nothing of it the Parents have power by the Law of God to disanul it Numb 30.5 But if they do know of it and hold their peace and do not disanul it oppose it and disown it at the first knowledge it stands and they cannot afterwards disanul it in any kind but by consent 10 Direction is You must inform your Childrens Judgments Take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently least thou forget the things which thine Eyes have seen and least they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life but thou shalt teach them thy Sons and thy Sons Sons Deut. 4.9 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest in the way and when thou lieft down and when rifest up Deut. 6.7 Chap. 11.18 20. Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law Deut. 32.46 As our Text saith Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord nourish your Children with the sincere milk of the Word 1 Cor. 3.2 1 Pet. 2.2 11 Direction Always give your Children godly Counsel David saith to Solomon My son keep the charge of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways to keep his statutes and his Commandments and his judgments and his testimonies as it is written in the law of Moses that thou mayest prosper in all that thou dost and whithersoever thou turnest thy self 1 Kings 2.3 And Joshua said unto Achan My son give I pray thee glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession unto him Joshua 7.19 Saith David and thou Solomon my son know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou for sake him he will cast thee off for ever 1 Chron. 28.9 20. Saith the Wise man My son fear thou the Lord Prov. 24.21 Be wise Prov. 27.11 Despise not the Chastening of the Lord Prov. 3.11 Nor faint when thou art rebuked of him Heb. 12.5 Follow the Examples of these and other godly Patterns and give your Children Godly Counsel at all times that they may always learn to fear the Lord and honour their Superiors and the Lord will be with you always Isa 41.10 12 Direction is Give your Children pertinent Answers to their Godly Questions When your Children shall ask you in time to come saring what meaneth these twelve stones then you shall let your Children know saying Israel came over this Jordan on dry land Joshua 4.21 22. And it shall come to pass when your Children shall say unto you what mean you by this service ye shall say it is the sacrifice of the Lords passover who passed over the House of Israel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians Exod. 12.26 27. So when our Children shall ask us why Christ was born dyed was buried and rose again We must answer them Because Man had sinned away his happiness and by no other means could be brought again but by a glorious Sacrifice for as the whole lump of Mankind by Adam's Sin were brought under Death and Condemnation so also by the death of the second Adam viz. Christ a door of Salvation is set open to all that believe to obtain Eternal Salvation through him John 3.16 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 1 John 2.2 2 Cor. 5.14 15. 1 Cor. 8.11 So likewise when they shall ask you what the Sacrament of Baptism doth signifie You must answer them if you answer them truly and directly in Scripture Language 1st The going down into the Water Acts 8.38 signifieth Christ's carrying all our Sins down into the Grave John 1.29 He taketh away the sins of the World 2dly Being baptized in the Water doth signifie our dying to all our sins Rom. 6.2 3dly Coming up out of the Water Mark 1.10 signifieth our rising again to newness of life Rom. 6.4 Again if your Children shall ask you what doth the Sacrament of the Lords Supper signifie Mat. 26.26 You must answer them it signifieth the breaking of Christ's Body for us by Faith to feed on to share and partake of it and that as Christ's body was one before it was broken so every one feeding on Christ by Faith by it are made one entire body or Church and as Bread is the stay and staff of our Natural Lives so is Christ the bread of our souls or the stay and staff of our spiritual lives and as bread is first broken before we can eat of it so Christ was first broken before he could become proper food for our souls And as we must eat bread if we would live so we must by Faith feed on Christ receive Christ for Life Righteousness and Eternal Life if we would spiritually live and be saved So likewise the Blood of Christ or Wine in that Sacrament signifieth Redemption from and the remission of all our sins by Christs Blood shed For without blood there is no remission of sins Heb. 9.22 Revel 5.9 And as we drink down that Drink before we can receive any refreshment by it so by Faith we must apply or partake of the vertue of Christs Blood before we can receive any saving benefit thereby Now Parents let me desire you as you will answer it in the great day do not give your Children crabbed or churlish answers but answer their good Questions in mild and loving words that agree best with their Capacities that they may rightly understand you 13 Directon You must
worship by the words of the Book of the Law as you may read more at large in that Chapter Lastly Some men do extol their Learning their Arts their Acquirements in knowledge yea their gifts above the giver saying can such learned men as we are Err when they themselves full well know that almost all the greatest Hereticks that ever were since the Apostles time have all been very great Scholars these men stretch themselves beyond their due measure 2 Cor. 10.12 13. Such ought to labour after true Humility and that will teach them to extol the Most High and to worship and serve him only that will be Worshiped and Served in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 And to make Learning the Handmaid not the Mistress 3dly You must not take the Name of the Lord in Vain that is you must not express that Sacred Name in vain discourse but always express it with holy Fear and Reverence as is becoming Christianity An Oath is a Sacred thing in point of Controversie to cease strife Heb. 6.16 14. being commanded by the Lord himself Deutt 6.19 Chap. 10.20 Jer. 12.16 but all vain Swearing is in many Scriptures positively forbidden Amos 8.14 Matt. 5.34 James 5.12 Yea he is a Sinner that heareth the voice of Swearing and alloweth of it Levit. 5.1 by so doing we may partake of others Sins 1 Tim. 5.22 Therefore have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them Ephes 5.11 Twelve several ways men may commit this Sin of taking the Name of the Lord in vain As 1st When men do Swear when there is no lawfull call nor cause for an Oath Ephes 4.29 2dly In Swearing falsly Levit. 19.12 3dly In Vowing and not performing 2 Chron 36.13 4thly In vain repetitions in Prayer Matt. 6.7 5thly By Preaching false Doctrine 2 John v. 10. 6thly In unjust Excommunication Isaiah 66.5 7thly In jesting vainly Ezek. 33.31 Ephes 5.4 8thly In abusing the Lords Table 1 Cor. 11.27.29 9thly When the Mouth and Heart do not agree in performing of Holy Duty Ezek. 33.31 10thly In Hearing Reading or Praying without Faith Rom. 14.23 11thly In calling the Lord to witness without a true sense and Holy Reverence of his Name 1 Sam. 19. 12thly When any of the Names or Titles of God are vainly expressed by which the Father Son and Holy Spirit are understood Fourthly You must not Prophane the Sabbath by needless Labour or other excercise that is vain the Sabbath-Breaker shall surely be put to Death Exod. 31.14 15 16. Ezek. 20.22 Men may break the Sabbath Eighteen several ways As 1st By Sleeping or lying on Bed too long on Sabbath-Day Morning Solomon saith The Sluggard desireth and has nothing Prov. 13.4 The Sabbath-day is the Harvest-day of the Soul to sleep in harvest causeth Shame Prov. 10.5 This was one of the Sins for which Israel went into Captivity Amos 6.4 2dly Some break the Sabbath by Idleness they will sit still and neither go to hear a Sermon nor yet will they read in the Bible or other Book of Divinity by which they might receive some good Instructions nor will they Pray nor use Divine Meditations or other Holy Duty Col. 4.2 3. but their Idle Soul shall suffer Hunger Prov. 19.15 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts consider your ways Hag. 1.5 3dly Some break the Sabbath by imploying themselves in their Worldly Business Nehemiah Testified against such doings shut the Gates of Jerusalem to keep out the Traders he forced them to keep off till the Sabbath was over Nehem. 13.15 to 22. Many will imploy themselves secretly on the Sabbath day and do that which they are not willing their Neighbour should know of but some will Sin more openly but they do that which the Law will not take hold of them for their so doing or choose Morning and Evening for the doing it that it may be the easier passed by 4thly Some break the Sabbath by gaming sporting and playing that Day Against whom do you Sport your selves against whom do you make a wide Mouth and draw out the Tongue are ye not Children of Transgressors and seed of Falshood Isaiah 67.4 Such are Spots and Blemishes in the Church who Sport themselves with their own deceiving 2 Pet. 2.13 Israel is complained of that they Sate down to Eat and to Drink and rose up to Play Exod. 32.6 1 Cor. 10.7 5thly Some break the Sabbath by their needless Journies they that will not work that day will spend the whole day to go to such and such a Place to visit their Friends or to do such Worldly Business as may be done by agreement or appointment of Business and the like from Even to Even shall ye Celebrate your Sabbath Levit. 23.33 Then surely the Lord hath not given any time on that day to go any Frivilous Journies or to do any needless Business 6thly Some break the Sabbath by using much vain discourse That day they will gather together in Companies to tell and hear any kind of vain Stories and Tales by which comes abundance of evil yea and ill-will among Neighbours Friends and Relations therefore well might the Lord give it in charge to Israel Thou shalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer Levit. 19.16 The words of a Tale-bearer are as wounds Prov. 18.8 26 22. Therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips Prov. 20.19 where there is no Tale-bearer the strife ceaseth Prov. 26.20 In the multitude of words there wants no sin Prov. 10.19 Death and Life are in the power of the Tongue Prov. 18.21 For every idle word that a man shall speak he shall give an account in the day of judgment Mat. 12.36 Therefore let thy Words be few Eccles 5.2 Curb thy Tongue with David as with a bridle Psal 39.1 7thly Some Men break the Sabbath by letting their eyes wander after divers Objects and they immediately carry away the heart from the benefit of the Word preached that they can have no profit by it such had need with good Job resolve to make a Covenant with their eyes Job 31.1 The Lord complains of Jerusalem saying They have hid their eyes from my Sabbath Ezek. 22.26 But good David was very careful in this matter when he prayeth O let me not wander from thy Commandments Psal 119.10 8thly Some break the Sabbath by letting their hearts run after the concerns of this life while they are under the hearing of the Word of this sort of People were they which the Lord complains of They sit before thee as my people and they hear thy words but they will not do them for with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their Covetousness Ezek. 33.31 They cry when will the Sabbath be over that we may sell corn Amos 8.5 'T is they that hearken diligently with all their heart that have the promise Deut. 11.13 14. Ch. 15.5 Jer. 17.24 25. Deut. 7.12 13. But the Lord complains of the heart-wanderers saith he
Commentary called Chazkuni We read saith he Honour the Lord with thy substance Prov. 3.9 Honour thy Father and thy Mother Exod. 20.12 The Lord is honoured if thou relieve thy Father and thy Mother If thou hast nothing thou art bound to beg for them in their great need 4thly They take care to seek after thee when thou goest astray or art lost 1 Sam. 9.5 5thly To be dutiful is a comely ornament to Christianity and as Chains about thy neck Prov. 1.9 6thly The Lord hath very often inflicted immediate Judgments on those that rebel against their Parents as on Absalom 2 Sam. 14.9 Hophni and Phinchas 1 Sam. 2.25 the Fourty two Children 2 Kings 2.25 7thly Doing thy duty to thy Parents is well pleasing lunto the Lord Coloss 3.20 8thly The Lord reproveth Israels rebellion by the good example of the Rechabites obedience to their Parents Jer. 35. the whole Chapter 9thly This duty is a righteous thing Ephes 6.1 2. 10thly Children ought to follow the good example of all such as have been in the exercise of this duty as there be many Examples in Scripture 11thly This duty is commanded Exod. 20.12 Deut. 5.16 12thly Those that are faithful in this duty are under a promise Ephes 6.2 Let these Twelve Reasons though out of due place suffice for the proof and confirmation of the Doctrine 8th You must obey their just and lawful Commands saith the Apostle St. Paul Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right Ephes 6.1 Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well pleasing to the Lord Coloss 3.10 If any Parents be so wicked as to command their Children to lye steal cousin and cheat or do any thing that is forbidden by the Lord in his Word they must not obey their Parents in that for the word all things intends all things that the Scriptures or rather God allows as lawful for the Child to obey his Parents in but here mind to do it in modesty meekness and a good and clear Conscience as in fear to offend the Lord and disobey his Word and not to act in stubbornness and rebellion against thy Parents for this is not well-pleasing to the Lord nor approved of by men and was of old to be punished by death Deut. 21.21 Isaac obeyed Abraham in going to the place of sacrifice Gen. 22.5 Jacob obeyed his Father and Mother and fled from Esau to Padam Aram Gen. 28.7 Joseph obeyed Jacobs command in visiting his brethren when they sold him into Egypt Gen. 37.14 Israel is reproved by the good Example of the Rechabites in obeying their Fathers Jer. 35.8 to the 14th Christ our good and holy Pattern is said after he was twelve years of age to be subject to his Parents Luke 2.42.51 The Scripture is full of Examples of this kind as Moses Samuel Saul David Jephthah's Daughter Esther and many others who were all obedient to their Parents 1 Sam. 17.17 Exod. 18.24 Judges 11.26 1 Sam. 1.28 9th You must have an honourable esteem of your Parents in hearty affections actions and words you must abhor and detest the doing of any thing that you may dishonour vex grieve or disquiet your Parents by also you must carry your selves with an aw and respect and must most gladly do those things in kindness and hearty affections which may bring much joy peace and comfort to your parents since you can never pay that debt which is due to them for their care and pains for you when young you must call upon the Lord for his help both for your Pareuts in their need and for your selves for assistance to supply their wants In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God Phil. 4.6 10th You must be ready and willing to suffer any hardship travel service and care for your Parents without grieving murmuring and repining What a great and good pattern was that good Woman Ruth in this case who said to Naomi though but a Mother-in-Law Whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge thy People shall be my People and thy God my God where thou diest I will die and there will I be buried Ruth 1 16 17. Here is a lesson of Honour indeed tho' but a poor alienated Moabitish young Woman and the Lord remembred her and was always with her in all her undertakings Ruth 2.8 chap. 4.13 11th Be often speaking in their praise and taking your Parents parts in all companies and places The Children of Israel spake very honourably to Joseph of their Father Gen. 43.28 44.24 The Daughters of Zelophehad spake in their Fathers praise justifying him that he did not cause others to sin as Korah did but had only his own sins to answer for Numb 27.3 Children had better not to speak at all concerning their Parents words or deeds if they cannot speak in the behalf of their Parents Praise to augment their dignity or honour let thy parents be either godly or wicked thou must not 〈◊〉 diminish one jot or tittle of their honour for they are thy Parents still let them be never so vile but still labour to let thy good and Christian-like carriage be that which may win their hearts to Christ and then how happy will it be for Parents if they be converted by the fruit of their own bowels 12th Let thy Parents be thy chiefest joy and glory in this World Childrens Children are the crown of old men and the glory of Children are their Fathers Prov. 17.6 Her children call her blessed Prov. 31.28 What should we joy in and talk most of but of the original fountain from whence we sprang and this will put us in mind of our duty to God also who made us and gives us our life and being and all things necessary for this life and that which is to come Acts 17.26 28. 13th Hearken to your Parents instruction and observe to do and believe so far as it is agreeable to the Scripture it is said Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him 2 Kings 12.2 A wise Son heareth his Fathers instruction Prov. 13.1 My Son hear thou the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the law of thy Mother Prov. 1.8 He is a fool that despiseth his Fathers instruction Prov. 15.5 Reproofs of instruction are the way of life Prov. 6.23 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser Prov. 9.9 If thy Parents do instruct thee in the Articles of the Christian Faith as it is expressed in the Nicene Creed all which is confirmed by plain Scripture as you may observe in this ensuing Discourse thou must obey Article the First I Believe in one God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jehovah An eternal Self Being a most powerful and Spiritual Substance the Maker and
Preserver of all things in Heaven above and in the Earth beneath substantial and sublunary visible and invisible Who was is and ever will be omnipotent omniscient omniparent and omnipresent who is incomparable invisible incomprehensible unchangeable immutable infallible and immortal who hath all Strength Wisdom Vnderstanding Iustice Life Will Power and Majesty whose Iudgments and Wrath is terrible and Love unspeakable his Favour and Mercy unmeasurable glorious in Holiness out Defence in Trouble and Adversity who is all Goodness Support and Everlasting Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blessed for ever Amen c. His most Sacred Name must not be expressed at all in common Discourse Deut. 5.11 It must be used with as great care and reverence as possible in Prayer and other Divine Service for fear of using it as a vain repetition which Christ positively forbids Matt. 6.7 and when he prescribes the manner of prayer he seems to forbid the use of that sacred Name First By saying When ye pray say after this manner Our father Secondly By teaching them to sanctifie his holy Name Hallowed be thy Name Thirdly By his omitting that Sacred Name in all that prayer of Direction and using only the pronoun 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy and thine four times in that short but ample Petition and Direction fignifying the eternal Being by it Surely then Preachers ought to be very cautious how they express that Sacred Name with too often repeating it in many sentences in their Sermons when they have so done and broken the third Commandment by it their Doctrine would have been much better set forth by other expressions and much better accepted by an Auditory whose hearts are in dread to hear that Sacred Name so numerously and needlesly expressed And in the Confession of our Faith we ought to use it with great Reverence and Zeal Oh! how should our hearts dread and fear when we speak or hear that holy Name mentioned by which the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit is signified The Jews hold it is not lawful to use the Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at all but by the Priest in the Sanctuary only and that but once a year they use the Title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord to express it by yea they are so very careful in their Names of Numbers when they express the number fifteen which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one of the Names of the Most High they always use 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being nine and six is fifteen as is seen in the numbers of the Chapters and Verses in the Hebrew Bibles Coles in his Expositor saith JEHOVAH is never pronounced by the Jews on pain of death only by the Priest in the Sanctum Sanctorum and that on the Day of Expiation being but once a year Most Sacred should the Name of the infinite Being be whose Residence is in Eternal Glory who is continually Adored by the Celestial Angels who is worshipped daily by Terrestial Creatures Men and wicked infernal Spirits fear and tremble at his most terrible Majesty yea the Beasts of the Field dread when they hear his voice in the Clouds and no Creature but is under the dread of Divine Power which is the true object of our Faith To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things 1 Cor. 8 6. Psalm 86.10 Isaiah 37.16 44.8 45.22 By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in the earth visible and invisible Col. 1.16 Article the second And in one Lord Iesus Christ the only begotten Son of God begotten or the father before all Worlds c. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God John 1.1 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth John 1.14 Jesus said unto them Verily Verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am John 8.58 And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was John 17.5 He had on his Vesture and on his Thigh a Name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revel 19.16 1 Tim. 6.16 Rev. 17.14 Then spake Jesus unto them saying I am the light of the World John 8.12 He was in the world and the world was made by him and the World knew him not John 1.10 I came forth from the Father and am come into the world John 16.28 Read Heb. 1.1 to 13. Col. 1.14 to 18. For in him viz. Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 The Scripture is very full and clear against the ancient Ebionetes Marcionists and Arrian and Socinian Hereticks which once abounded and too much spread it self in these days to the great trouble of the Churches here in England and in these parts of the World which said detestable errours lead men to deny the eternal Divinity of Christ as though Christ were not the most high God and of the same Essence with the Father according to his deity but a meer Creature Article the third Who for us Men and for our Salvation descended from the Heavens and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Ghost and became Man c. For I saith Christ came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me John 6.38 Ephes 4.10 And the Angel answered and said unto her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshaddow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luke 1.35 In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might believe through him 1 John 4.9 Here 1st He is said to be begotten John 1.14 18. 3.16 18. 2ly To be born of the Virgin Mary Now when Jesus was born Herod demanded of the chief Priests and Scribes where Christ should be born and they said in Bethlehem of Judea Mat. 2.1 4 5. And unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luke 2.11 To this end saith Christ was I born to bear witness unto the truth John 18.37 3ly Christ had a Body A body hast thou prepared me Heb. 10.5 The Women beheld the Sepulchre and how his Body was laid Luke 23.55 Joseph went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus Mat. 27.58 Mark 15.43 Luke 23.52 and he gave the body to Joseph Mark 15.45 Mat. 27.58 59. 4ly Christ is said to have flesh for as much then as Children are partakers of flesh and blood be himself likewise took part of he same Heb. 2.14 Handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me to have Luke 24.39 He was of the seed of David according to the flesh Acts 2.30
Rom. 1.3 Of whom concerning the flesh Christ came Rom. 9.5 Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God 1 John 4.2 5ly Christ had also blood One of the Soldiers with a spear peirced his fide and forthwith came there out blood and water John 19.24 Thou hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood Revel 5.9 We have redemption through his blood Col. 1.14 You are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.19 And the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 Heb. 9.14 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved Rom. 5.9 6ly And as he had flesh and blood so also bones These things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled a bone of him shall not be broken John 19.36 Handle me a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Luke 24.39 7ly Christ died Jesus when he had cryed again with a loud voice yielded up the Ghost Mat. 27.50 Mark 16.37 Luke 23.46 John 19.30 To this end Christ died Rom. 14.9.15 Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8.11 If righteousness came by the law Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2.21 And that Christ died for all 2 Cor. 5.15 Christ humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 In due time Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5.6 While we were sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5.8 8ly Christ was buried Joseph brought fine Linnen and took him down and wrapped him in the linnen and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewen out of a rock and rolled a stone unto the door of the Sepulchre Mark 15.46 And that Christ was buried and he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.4 Being buried with Christ in baptism Col. 2.12 Rom. 6.4 How are the Valentinian and Utichen Heresies detected it is plain Christ was begotten born had a body of flesh blood and bones died and was buried which body c. he receiv'd of the Virgin Mary being compleat and perfect God-man in one person Heaven and Earth being as it were united in one person in an Hypostatical Union by which divine and miraculous Union all the Elect are come to obtaining Union with God and Eternal Salvation Article the Fourth Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate suffered and was buried c. Pilate said unto them what shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ they all said unto him let him be crucified and he delivered him to be crucified Mat. 27.22 26. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 1 Cor. 1.23 Acts 4.10 1 Cor. 2.2 Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it in Linnen Cloaths with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury and laid it in a new Sepulchre John 19.40 41. Article the Fifth And rose again the third day according to the Scriptures c. 1 Cor. 15.4 We have testified of God that he raised up Christ 1 Cor. 15.15 But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 And he said unto them thus it is written and thus it behoveth Christ to suffer and to rise again the third day from the dead Luke 24.46 He hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Per. 1.3 Christ the first fruits from the dead Col. 1.18 Christ the first begotten of the dead Rev. 1.5 That Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead Acts 17.3 That Christ should be the first that should arise from the dead Acts 26.23 Christ being risen from the dead died no more Rom. 6.9 He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies Rom. 8.11 To this end Christ both died and rose again Rom. 14.9 Gal. 1.1 He spake of the resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in hell Acts 2.31 It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again Rom. 8.34 10.9 According to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Ephes 1.19 20. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel 2 Tim. 2.8 Article the Sixth And ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father c. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into Heaven and sat on the right hand of God Mark 16.19 And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Luke 24.51 While they beheld he was taken up and the cloud received him out of their sight Acts 1.9 Who is even at the right hand of God Rom. 8.34 Eph. 1.20 If ye be risen with Christ seek those things that are above where Christ fitteth at the right hand of God Col. 3.1 Heb. 1.3 8. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God Heb. 10.12 12.2 Christ who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God 1 Pet. 3.22 Acts 2.33 a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5.31 Article the Seventh And is to come again in Glory to judge the living and the drad of whose Kingdom there shall be no end c. If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again John 14.3 28. This same Jesus which is taken up into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 1.11 For the son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels Mat. 16.27 And they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory Mat. 24.30 Mark 13.26 Luke 21.27 It is he which was ordained of God to be judge of quick and dead Acts 10.42 I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Dan. 7.27 The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 Article the Eighth And in the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of Life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets c. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things John 14.26 It is the Spirit that quickeneth John 6.63 The Father the Word and the Holy Ghost
these three are one 1 John 5.7 Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 Article the Ninth And I believe 〈◊〉 one Catholick and Apostolick Church My Dove my undefiled is but one Cant. 6.9 Other sheep have I which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd John 10.16 But that also he should gather together in one the Children of God that were scattered abroad John 11.52 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white robes and palms in their hands Rev. 7.2 The Church is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 universal which comprehendeth all People that truly fear the Lord at all times and that walk in his ways in all places of what Sex Age or Generation from the beginning of the World to the End thereof Article the Tenth I Confess one Baptism for remission of sin One Lord one Faith one Baptism Ephes 4.5 Go ye therefore teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 He that believeth and is baptized slall be saved Mark 16.16 Repent and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins Acts 2.38 Philip and the Eunuch went both down into the water and he baptized him Acts 8.38 Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water Mat. 3.16 And straightway coming up out of the water he saw the Heavens opened Mark 1.10 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim because there was much water there John 3.23 But when they believed Philips preaching they were baptized both Men and Women Acts 8.12 This one Baptism the right manner of doing it is by burying the body in the water Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 Ananias said to Paul arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins Acts 22.16 The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mergo immergo tingo quod fit immergendo To dip plunge or overwhelm To dip in that manner as they do that dye Cloath or Colours those Men well know that this is the native and proper signification of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that do understand Scapula or Stephanus and Leigh in his Critica Sacra in his sixth Demonstration of the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the native and proper signisication of it is to dip into the water or to plunge under water and in his Supplement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies properly mergo immergo to drown or sink in the waters to dip to overwhelm to plunge Mr. Symson in his Greek Lexicon seems to be willing to pass by the Native and Proper Signification of the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but yet is forced to give it a double stroke with his Pen and confesseth the Word tho' it be derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dip or plunge into the water and fignifieth primarily such a kind of washing as is used in Bucks where linnen is plunged and dipped yet it is taken more largely for any kind of washing rinsing or cleansing surely as Christ hath but one Baptism in it he hath but one right subject not an infidel infant with a believer If Christ had intended that Infants should have been members of the Gospel Church by baptism he would have appointed it in some place of the New Testament for Circumcision was appointed Gen. 17.12 Again if Christ hath but one Baptism he hath but one essential form and one sort of subjects but dipping and sprinkling are two distinct Actions yea or two differing Acts neither can pouring or dropping a little water on a Childs face be called Christs own Baptism because Christ hath no where apointed Infants as the Subjects of it nor that to be the manner of the administration of it it being at best but Mans tradition which Christ saith is vain Mat. 15.9 The Earth is defiled under the Inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the Laws changed the Ordinances broken the everlasting Covenant Isa 24.5 Article the Eleventh I look for the Resurrection of the dead He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ Acts 2.31 But now is Christrisen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 1 Pet. 1.3 Revel 1.5 Col. 1.18 1 Cor. 15.3 15. All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation John 5.28 29. That there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of just and unjust Acts 24.15 Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust Isa 26.19 Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12.2 It is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sown a natural body it is raised a spirtual body 1 Cor. 15.42 44. Article the Twelfth And the life of the World to come Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World Mat. 25.34 This inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away it is reserved in Heaven for you c. 1 Pet. 1.4 Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom Luke 12.32 And they shall reign for ever and ever Revel 22.5 And the Saints of the most high shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7.18 14th Direction is Hearken to your Parents reproofs When they put as it were a bit in your mouths to check and stop you in the road to Destruction You must lend them a diligent and an affectionate ear Reproofs of instruction are the way of life Prov. 6.23 He that regardeth reproof shall be honoured Prov. 13.18 The rod and reproof give wisdom Prov. 29.15 15th Direction is Endeavour to imitate your Parents in all things that are good Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things Phil. 4.7 and follow them in it Young Josiah is highly commended for that he did that which was right in the fight of the Lord after the example of his Father David 2 Chron. 34.2 Good Hezekiah is likewise commended in following the Example of David 2 Kings 18.3 St. Paul exhorts the Philippians that what they heard and see in him to do Phil. 4.9 18th Direction
each other in Election and three in Reprobation 〈◊〉 ten Commandments how they are broken Seven causes how justification is wrought 2d Doct. by two reasons and the 3d. by five proved 4th Doctrine proved by thirteen Reasons Forty Rules to direct Children in their duty The twelve Articles of the Nicene Creed proved Four principal Motives to move all to their duty The Conclusion with the fifth Doctrine THE Father's Spectacles c. EPHES. VI. 4. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. THe Holy Apostle writing to those that were Gentiles by nature knowing that they were naturally subject to may failings might violate natures bounds by being induced by corrupt nature to sin which they were formerly dead in he exhorts them to general rules of Christianity as Humility Long-suffering Unity Peace and Holiness of Life First In Mortification by putting off Lying Anger Malice and corrupt Communication and the like Secondly By having no Society with Evil Company but to live in Brotherly Love and to be diligent in their callings and to submit themselves one to another as also to know all their duties as they stand related one to the other which he discourseth at large And then he setteth forth very excellently the great and wonderful work of their Redemption by Jesus Christ Also he shews them their undone state by Nature without a Christ and that Humility and true Faith is the true way of attaining true Peace And that the right way of retaining of it is by perseverance First To search into and to know the love of Christ Chap. 3.19 Secondly To keep in unity and to walk worthy of that Vocation in which they were called Chap. 4.1 to 6. Thirdly To be firm and stedfast Chap. 4.14 Fourthly To let their Conversation be suitable to their profession Chap. 4 22 to 29. Fifthly To put on the whole Armour of God not to flinch or draw back for there is never a Backpiece See Chap. 6.11 to 18. Sixthly The Duties of Honour Respect Service Obedience to Superiors and Familiarity and true Love to each other partâ—cularly that so their Christian work may be throughly accomplished Lastly It appears that the many failings and neglects of duties in the last age foreseen by the Apostle occasions him to write thus unto this Church c. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The Words being thus read here is First The Person speaking Paul Secondly The Persons spoken to Fathers Leigh in his Critica Sacra saith is of a large extent than the Male kind it properly setteth forth natural Parents implying as well Mothers as Fathers as the usual method of the Spirit is to include both Sex in one Expression Gen. 5.2 1 Cor. 11.28 Thirdly The Duty enforced by a positive Command negatively expressed Provoke not c. Fourthly Here are the Persons not to be provoked viz. Children Such as are under the care and tution of Parents This Negative Precept may possibly extend it self so high as Kings to their Subjects 2 Kings 5.13 1 Chron. 28.2 Isa 22.21 Judges 5.7 17 10 11. And also to Judges and Magistrates to those that cry to them for Right Equity and Justice Deut. 20.5 to 11. Numb 11. 17 18. And to Executors Trustees and Governors of Orphans to Officers in Towns Liberties and Cities In a word to all that are in Authority to teach instruct rule and govern any persons whatsoever Heb. 13.17 Fifthly Here is the true nature of the defined subsequent or that inveterate exasperated passion that is prohibited set forth viz. Wrath. Sixthly Here is an absolute Direction 1st To educate them in good discipline as the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth 2dly To instruct them in divine knowledge Thus much by way of Explication I now come to the Doctrinal conclusions that do naturally arise from this Text Which are these which follow 1 Doct. That Parents should take all care possible to avoid all Occasions of Provocations as not to give any just Offence whereby their Children are exasperated or so far provoked as to offend the Lord or disobey their Parents 2 Doct. That if Parents have real affections for their children they will use the best means possible to keep them from sin 3 Doct. They that are true Christians indeed have such tender love to their Childrens Souls that they will use all means possible to nurture them up in the right way of the Lord. 4 Doct. That Children ought to yield obedience to all their Parents Commands in the Lord with holy Reverence Honour and Zeal 5 Doct. That the Lord doth take great care for the eternal good of those that cannot any ways take care for themselves But to the first Doctrine That Parents should avoid all occasions of Provocations c. First Here I shall shew you what may be properly called Provocations that so Parents may take them out of the way that they do not cause their Children to stumble fall and be broken to pieces Which are these sixteen as followeth First When Parents will not teach and instruct their Children and slight and abuse them if they do not learn This is a hard Lesson if the Lord should deal so with the Sons of Men who of them but would fall immediately into the gulf of Despair among all the Children of men can we expect to reap where we never sowed If I had not known such a thing as this to be I could hardly have conceived that ever any should be so very austere and unnatural or ever had been to the fruit of their own bowels The wise man's Counsel to Fathers is Prov. 23.12 Apply thine heart to instruction it should be part of thy every days meditation to consider how thou shouldest instruct teach and train up thy Child in all things uppertaining to this Life and that which is to come Train up a Child saith Solomon in the way he should go Prov. 22.6 which is rightly done by mild and gentle instructions and not by causeless slighting Reflections A Second Provocation is when Parents shall never give their Children a good Word nor a good Look though the Child do whatever it possibly can to please them if the Lord should always frown upon thee and ever speak to thee with an angry Countenance and Words how couldest thou be able to stand before him consider it is a mild carriage and loving speech that doth win the heart It was St. Paul's way 1 Thes 2.7 't was by gentle words and carriage that Abigal overcome David though he was in great wrath 1 Sam. 25.24 Love is a special winning grace 1 Cor. 13.5 It doth not behave it self unseemly soft words will stop sin in its course Prov. 15.1 Mild Speeches become good Men My Son faith Abraham God will provide c. Read Isaac's manner of Speech to his Sons Gen. 27. Chap. 28.1 When
and every day now this duty sincerely zealously and heartily performed will be one means to win the hearts of your children both to love the Lord and to obey you in all your just Impositions and lawful Commands 25 Direction is Let them not spend their time in Idleness but bring them up in some lawful honest calling As Jacob and his Sons were Gen. 46.32 34. Ch. 47.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Summum Studium diligentiae assiduitas sicut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 negotior facio opus factum operor officium ministerium exercisse Diligence Labour Occupation Work Doing Office Ministration are derived from the Radix which is translated Trade implying any kind of Exercise in Traffick Craft Art Mystery or Occupation so Saul and David were of the same calling James John and Andrew were Fishers Paul a Tent-maker although he was bred a great Scholar at the feet of Gamaliel Sam. 9.4 Mat. 4.18 Acts 18.3 Ch. 22.3 Know this that there is a General Command given to Adam Gen. 3.19 In the sweat of thy brows shalt thou eat thy bread and this extends to all in him Sodom is blamed for idleness Ezek. 16.49 Paul laboured 2 Thes 3.8 Acts 20.34 and commanded others to labour 2 Thes 3.10 11 12. Rom. 12.8 11 17. Not that I think all must labour with their hands Ministers work is hard work and Paul lookt upon his labouring with his hands among his afflictions he blames idleness 1 Tim. 5.13 Heb. 6 12. Rom. 12.11 Solomon the wisest of Men saith by idleness comes poverty Prov. 10.4 Ch. 28.19 Eccles 10.18 Moreover know that there is abundance of evils attends idleness they that are idle are like a standing pool that hatcheth Toads Effets and other noisom Creatures So if we are idle like Sodom Satan can bring no temptation to that heart that sutes not with it but in some sence either in the Affection Action or Expression it will recieve it brood and hatch it and so that soul becomes guilty of sin Moreover Avoid those callings if it be possible in which there is any great Instigations or Temptations to Sin if the Vocation be not honest that which is gotten by it will eat like a Canker James 5.3 4. And corrupt wast and consume other honest gotten Goods no man can conceive how He that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at the end shall be a fool Jer. 17.11 Saith Solomon Better is a little with righteousness than great Revenues without right Prov. 16.8 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 That which is deceitfully gotten ought to be restored Levit. 6.4 The treasures of the wicked profit nothing Prov. 10.2 Wealth gotten by Vanity shall be diminished Prov. 13.11 Read Levit. 19.13 1 Cor. 6.8 9 10. Prov. 11.1 Hosea 7.1 Prov. 20.17 Psal 10.7 8. Prov. 12.5 Ezek. 22.7 29. Hesea 12.7 Amos 8.5 Rom. 3.13 Prov. 28.8 By these Scriptures you may learn that there is no eternal peace nor profit nor yet safety nor true peace of conscience in getting nor in keeping of ill gotten goods therefore choose an honest Calling as also such an one as there is no Temptation to cheating or drunkenness nor any other great and notorious sins and then be diligent to get an honest Estate and Livelyhood in such a calling for the Lord doth not approve Slothfulness nor Idleness but Labour and Diligence The counsel of the five men of the Danites to their Brethren was good Be net slothful to go up to enter to possess the land Judges 18.9 The Slothful is Brother to him that is a great waster Prov. 18.9 Abundance of Idleness is charged upon Jerusalem Samaria and Sodom as being the first step the Root or the Occasion of all other fins and vices whatsoever Ezek. 16.49 Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work saith the Lord Deut. 5.13 The hand of the diligent maketh rich Prov. 10.4 Therefore exhort them to be diligent in an honest calling that Satan may have no opportunity to tempt them to evil 26 Direction is Carry an equal hand to all your Children do not let one have all your love nor do not despise any one of them Remember you are the root from whence the worst sprang as well as the best let your good loving kind mild just equal and christian-like Carriage to the worst be the only means under God that may win them to become as excellent in your Affections as the best beloved The Lord hath put a bit in the mouth of Israel if I may so call it to check them in their unequal carriage and dealings towards their Children and therefore he saith The Son of the hated if he be first born shall have a double portion of all that thou hast Deut. 21.17 As if the Lord should have said if they will not love him at all with a natural love thou shalt upon force shew twice as much love to him thou hatest as thy evil Nature would shew to him that thou lovest best to curb and check thee and shew thee thy Evil in not loving all thy Children alike It were good if all Parents did make it their prayer with David That their eyes might behold the things that are equal Psal 17.2 He that applieth his heart to understanding shall understand righteousness judgment and equity and every good way Prov. 2.9 If some of your Children be half-witted crooked or deformed or of a perverse nature this is no sufficient argument to withdraw your love from them the Lord might suffer these things on purpose to prove your natural Affections that ye sin not Exod. 20.20 Good David divided the spoil of the Amalikites equally to those that did not nor could not fight as well as to those that were able and stood battle 1 Sam. 30.24 Take him in this for your pattern and let your love be to all alike mind this that unequal carriage is one step to the Childs provocation as I shewed you before 27 Direction is If you cannot tutor teach instruct and educate your Children in Learning your selves you must choose one to teach them If possible that is truly religious Train up a Child in the way he should go Prov. 22.6 What they learn when they are young becomes in the use of it as it were natural therefore let them not learn of one that is prophane Children are like new Vessels which will always have a Tincture of those things that are first put in them We should count them very wicked Parents that should instead of food give their children poison to eat So likewise they are much more wicked that will knowingly let their Childrens Souls be suffocated with the poison of sin which may be sucked in by the prophaneness of a Wicked Tutor the Lord hath said He will cut off Master and Scholar that are wicked Malachy 2.12 Good Job is said to
have instructed many Job 4.3 It were well if only learned sober and christian-like religious Persons were sound in the exercise of this weighty Vocation 28 Directiom is Allow them those things that are necessary in their Condition That it be not a hindrance of their Advancement in Learning allow them suitable Books and other things so far as your ability will permit but let not your Money be bestowed upon Romances Plays Prophane Histories Ballads and Lying Pamphlets for they teach Youth Debauchery and Vice but not Truth and Piety Provide them things that are honest in the sight of all men Rom. 12.17 29 Direction is Be often visiting them and endeavour to know their condition in what capacity they are and how they profit in Learning Here you must encourage your children by loving perswasions or loving and heart-winning Letters and Invitations with supplying them with Moneys and such things as they stand in need of according to their degree and your own Abilities provided they are virtuous Let ours saith Paul also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses that they be not unfruitful Tit. 3.14 As much as if he had said be diligent in an honest Employment to procure necessaries both for you and yours 30 Direction is You must study their Abilities and natural Condition If they are stubborn and will not yield you must give them due correction but not in anger for then perhaps you will correct them too immoderately and the child may then justly think that it is corrected to appease its Parents wrath and evil passion more than for the fault it has committed you should make your child as sensible of its fault by words to the purpose as of the smart by the rod of correction and then you may bow their stubborn heart Prov. 22.15 Also if they be dull and slow of capacity you must not be too fierce hasty and violent upon them it will hurry them beyond or out of themselves that they will be capable of just nothing at all if they be wild you must be fierce but if they be mild you must use all the lenity and mildness that is possible Gal. 5.22 The fruit of the spirit is gentleness 31 Direction is You must let them have some liberty not to tie them up altogether like a Horse in a Mill At School a quarter of an hours time in the Forenoon or Afternoon refresheth youth and they will be the better capable to go through their lesson when their veins are stirred and brains are quickned by far than they are to fit half a day congealed like Momes it does but hinder their Learning So likewise if you keep them at work from morning till night when young it dulls them much and especially if their Vocation be matter of art then a small Journey of a quarter of an hour on an Erand or some other little business will refresh quicken and do them abundance of good Moreover you ought to let them have some time to read and to pray if they be capable Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.7 But use not this liberty as an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5.13 32 direction is You must if it be possible preserve and increase your estate that your children may have something to live on comfortably when you are dead and gone Saith the Wise Man A good man leaveth an inberitance to his Childrens children Prov. 13.22 St. Paul informs us That the children ought not to lay up for the parents but the parents for the children 2 Cor. 12.14 But they unparent themselves who give away their Estates from their children for want of love Such are destitute of true grace and others love their name better than their children who give their Estates from their daughters It is much better to obey the Lord and to give your Estates to your own children if Daughters than to give it to one that is no kin to you though they be of your name more especially if he should prove wicked that possesseth it it would be but a grand blot to your name and a perpetual stain for your wicked Act Their inward thoughts is that their houses shall continue for ever this their way is their folly Psal 49.11 13. 33 Direction is When your children are capable of holy Duty you ought to instruct them to pray with the spirit and with their understanding 1 Cor. 14.15 Humane Traditions are not always good Mat. 15.3 Nor yet a stinted form 2 Tim. 3.5 1st Stinted Forms made and imposed seems to put an affront upon the Dignity and Free-grace of the Almighty which freely giveth the gift of his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 If they ask in Faith 〈◊〉 teach them to pray John 14. 26. Rom. 8.15 16. Ephes 6.18 1 John 2.27 2dly It quencheth the Spirit contrary to 1 Thes 5.19 Man is sometimes sensible of his great wants and would pour forth his Soul to the Lord in a very vehement and large measure and manner But in a form his Wants it may be are not expressed or he knows not where to get a prayer suitable and if he doth yet 't is a doubt whether it agree with his Spirit in all cases and conditions and before he hath learned it the through sence of his wants which formerly he had are damped cold and flat that now the fiery zeal of his spirit and good desires are altogether quenched as fire is quenched by the want of fuel and the continual powring on of water 3ly We are commanded in every thing by prayer and supplication to let our request be made known to God Phil. 4.6 Now if this command to the Church of Philippi do extend to all persons I am apt to think that there is not one of an hundred that hath a memory to contain forms of Prayers that have Words in them suitable to pray for every thing so that this Precept cannot extend it self in any sence to the using of stinted forms of Prayers but altogether to the Exercise of Spiritual Prayer Tutius ex puro fonte bibuntur aquae Waters are drank more safely out of the purest fountain 4ly stinted Forms destroy Divine Meditation and the Study of our Wants and Conditions Divine Meditation made David fervent in holy duty Psal 63.6 7. 119.93 94. and St. Paul exhorts thereunto Phil. 4.8 Abimo omnia tecum peragere Choose to ponder all things well in thine own mind 5ly As our Wants are various and many so are the Temptations of Satan the World and our own Heats that it is impossible to have stinted forms suitable in all conditions of Mans life Ephes 6.11 Prov. 7.27 1 John 2.15 16 17. Ardua via virtutis the way to Vertue is very difficult painful and perilous 6ly Stinted Forms hinder those that daily use them from seeking after the help of the Spirit in this holy duty which the Apostle saith Helpeth our infirmities with groanings which cannot be uttered Rom.
into the presence of the King whether they were covered or not but in that time they did Obeisance one to another is evident Dan. 2.46 6.21 8.17 2ly It does not appear that they came into the Kings presence covered for that which is expressed is a forced thing they were bound in their Coats their Hosen and their Hats Their Coats were Mantles or short kind of Cloaks to keep off the Sun and let in the Air to their Bodies their Hosen were Slops or long loose breeches their Hats were Turbants not one jot like our Hats they were made of Linnen like a Sash its use was to tie about their head in bad weather in wind and cold to spread and cover all parts of the body it being as large as a winding sheet it being tied about their waste it served for a Girdle Neither will Christ's words excuse these Men which saith How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another John 5.44 There is a vast distance between Humility and Arrogancy we ought not to be so arrogant as to love and delight in the honour and praise of men John 12.43 But we ought to be so humble as to render to all persons due honour and respect 1 Pet. 2.17 Let each esteeem others better than themselves Phil. 2.3 Also you must be careful to pay to every one their just due they are wicked which borrow and pay not again Psal 37.21 Christ allows the paying of Tribute Mat. 22.21 pays tribute himself and works a Miracle to do it Mat. 17 to 27. 38 Direction is Teach your Children to avoid shun and oppose that general received and overspreading sinful Doctrine or Dogmatical Sentiment viz. That Justification is by Works as tho' the sprinkling of a little Water in a Childs Face in the Name of the Deity did make an unregenerate Sinner a true Convert and bring it into a state of justification which work so acted and done I could never find nor yet be informed by any that Christ or his Apostles did ever leave any Precept or President for the so doing and therefore it is an Innovation of Men and largely forbidden in the Scriptures Mat. 15.9 Col. 2.21 22. Josh 1.7 Deut. 12.32 Jer. 7.31 Deut. 4.2 Jer. 19.5 Prov. 30.6 Revel 22.18 19. Secondly Is not the blessing in those that were Excommunicated for Trifles I do not find in Scripture that any ought to be Excommunicated but for Impenitency in notorious and criminal Facts Mat. 18.17 2 Thes 3.14 1 Cor. 5.5 9.13 1 Tim. 1.19 20. Let me add here a word or two concerning Justification The real causes of Justification are these 1st The efficient cause is God's free grace Rom. 3.24 2ly The meritorious cause is the Blood of Christ Rom. 5.9 3ly The material cause is Christ's active and passive obedience Rom. 5.19 4ly The formal cause is the imputation of Christ's righteousness Rom. 4.6 5ly The instrumental cause by which it is applied is Faith Rom. 5.1 6ly The final cause is 1st The glory of God Rom. 5.2 And 2ly Mans Salvation Ephes 1.11 but where good works have any place as a cause of justification I find not for they do certainly flow from Faith and are the fruits and effects of true Faith 1st What is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14.23 2ly Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 3ly Man is united to Christ by Faith and by it its fruits appears Col. 1.4 6. 4ly As Men cannot gather grapes of thorns or figgs of thistles Mat. 7.16 So those works cannot be good that do not spring from a good root viz. True Faith and Union with Christ 39 Direction is When your Children are come to years you ought to take care of their being disposed in Marriage and that in that seasonable and due time as you find their natural inclinations prompt them to and require it 1st See and know that they have Natural Love to them that you would marry them to If Love be wanting on either side they are betrayed into a multitude of evils which all the Gold of Ophir cannot repair also see that they choose such as are equal to their degree and quality if they are too high above them they will be apt to slight them if below them to discredit them if too old the love of youth from such is apt to vanish also choose such if possible that truly fear the Lord Vertue Piety and Honesty are far better than all the Carriage Breeding Beauty and Riches in this World Favour is deceitful and Beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31.30 40 Direction is You that have Estates as there is few but have little or much let me advise and direct you to settle your Estates in good time as it is too late to repent when the door of mercy is shut so many times it is too late to settle your Estates when you come to a dying bed you will have enough to do then to go through that painful Task more especially if you have not made your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Good Hezekiah was ordered to set his house in order Isa 38.1 Abraham settled his Estate Gen. 25.5 6. The exactest rule that I do find in all the Scripture to this put pose is that in Deut. 21.17 Where the Lord saith The eldest shall have a double portion that is If a Man have five Children he shall divide his Estate into six equal parts and the eldest Son shall have two parts and the other four shall have each one his equal part how or when this Law was abrogated Ido not find I leave it in all these forty Rules to you to make the best use of the whole in your daily practice as you will answer it in the great day of account And now I come to the 2d Doct. Which I intend to be very brief in which is That if Parents have real affections for their Children they will use the best means possible to keep them from sin they will not provoke them to it This Subject is enough to fill a whole Volume 1st To shew you how many ways people may sin And 2ly To set forth who they are that the Scripture calls Sinners 3ly To discover the nature of sin 4ly To let you understand the danger of sin 5ly To discover the Remedies as Helps against sin 6ly To let you know the fruits and effects of sin 7ly To pen down the Scripture-Marks to know a sinner by 8ly To shew the degrees of sin 9ly To shew how the Lord does many times punish for sin in this life as well as in the life to come 10ly To mind you of the benefit that does ensue by avoiding of sin But I must leave these things to be amplified in your daily Meditation as you read the Scriptures of Truth and in short give you a reason or two to prove that Parents love is manifest by keeping their Children from sin Reason 1.