God himself saith he is not fit Cut him down why doth he cumber the ground Luke 13. 7. Lastly Consider to provoke thee to Good Works thou shalt have of God when thou comest to Glory a reward for every thing thou dost for him on Earth Little do the People of God consider how richly God will reward what from a right principle and to a right end is done for Him here not a bit of bread to the poor nor a draught of water to the meanest of them that belong to Christ or the loss of a hair of your head shall in that day go without its reward Luke 14. 13 14. Mat. 10. 42. For this light affliction and so all other pieces of self-denyal which is but for a moment worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. I tell thee Christian be but rich in Good Works and thou shalt have more then Salvation thy Salvation thou hast freely by Grace through Christ without works Ephes. 2. 8 9 10. but now being justified and saved and as the fruits hereof reviewed by the holy Ghost after this I say thou shalt be rewarded for every work that proves good For God is not unrighteous to forget your works and labour of love which you have shewed to his Name in that you have ministred to his Saints and do minister Heb. 6. 10. 1 Cor. 3. 14. Moses counted the reward that he was to have for a short suffering with the People of God of greater worth than the Treasures of Egypt the smiles of the King or the honour of his Kingdom Heb. 11. 25 26 27. In a word Let the disappointments that do and shall most surely befal the fruitless Professors provoke thee to look with all diligence to thy standing For First Such a one is but deceived and disappointed touching the Work of Grace he supposeth to be in his heart he thinks he is a Christian and hath Grace as Faith Hope and the like in his soul yet no fruits of these things manifest themselves in him indeed his tongue is tipt with a talk and tattle of Religion poor man poor empty man faith without works is dead thy hope shall be as the giving up of the Ghost thy gifts with which thy soul is possessed are but such as are common to Reprobates thou art therfore disappointed God reputeth thee still but wicked though thou comest and goest to the place of the Holy Jam. 2. 19 20. Job 11. 20. 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. Secondly Therefore all thy joy and comfort must needs fall short of saving comfort and so leave thee in the suââ notwithstanding thy joy is the joy ãâã the * Pharisees and thy gladness as thââ of * Herod and the longest time it can last it is but a Scripture * moment * Joh. 5. 33. * Mark 6. 20. * Job 20. 5. Alas in all thy gladness and content with thy Religion thou art but like the Boy that plays with Brass instead of Gold and with Counters instead of that which will go for currant Coin Thus if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth or disappoints himself Gal. 6. 3. Thirdly This is not all but look thou certainly for an eternal disappointment in the Day of God for it must be thy lamp will out at the first sound the trump of God shall make in thine ears thou canst not hold up at the appearance of the Son of God in his Glory His very looks will be to thy profession as a strong wind is to a blinking candle and thou shalt be left only to smoak Oh the alteration that will befall a foolish virgin she thought she was happy and that she should have received happiness with those that were right at the heart but behold the contrary her lamp is going out she is now to seek for saving Grace when the time of Grace is over her Heaven she thought of is proved a Hell and her God is proved a Devil God hath cast her out of his presence and claps the door upon her she pleads her profession and the like and she hath for her answer repulses from Heaven So are the patâ of all that forget God and the Hypocritâ hope shall perish whose hope shal be cut off and whose trust shall be the Spiders web though he lean upon his house it shall not stand he shall hold it fast but it shall not indure Mat. 25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Luke 13. 25 26 27 28. Job 8. 13 14 15. Take heed therefore thy Soul Heaven and Eternity lies at stake yea they turn either to thee or from thee upon the hinge of thy Faith if it be right all is thine if wrong then all is lost however thy hopes and expectations are to the contrary For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love Let no man therefore deceive you with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of unbelief For the Earth that drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth Herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God but that which beareth Briars and Thornes is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose ând is to be burned Gal. 5. 6. Ephes. 5. 3 4 5 6. Heb. 6. 7 8. Objection But what shall I do who am so cold slothful and heartless that I cannot find any heart to do any work for God in this World indeed time was when his Dew rested all âight upon my branches and when I could with desire with earnest desire be doing and working for God but alas now 't is âtherwise Answer If this be true thy case is sad thou art to be pittied the Lord pitty thee ând for thy recovery out of this condiâion I would give thee no other counsel than was given to Ephesus when she âad lost her first Love Remember âaith Christ from whence thou art fallen ând repent and do thy first Works c. Rev. 2.5 Mark Thy first Works is to enter into a serious considering and remembrance from whence thou art fallen remember that thou hast left thy God the stay of thy Soul and Him without whom there is no stay comfort or strength for thee to either do or suffer any thing in this World Without me saith He you can do nothing John 15. 5. A sad condition the remembrance of this for certain is the first step to the recovering a back-sliding heart for the right remembrance of this doth bring to mind what loss that souâ hath sustained that is in this condition how it hath lost its former visits smiles and consolations of God wheâ thy Conscience was suppled with the Blood of thy Saviour when every step thou tookest was as it were in Honey and Butter and when thy heart could meditate terrour with comfort Job 29 2 3 4 5 6. Isa. 33.
Christian Behaviour OR THE Fruits of true Christianity Shewing the Ground from whence they flow in their Godlike order in the Duty of Relations as Husbands Wives Parents Children Masters Servants c. With a Word of Direction to all Backsliders By John Bunyan a Prisoner of Hope The Earth that drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God But that which beareth Briers and Thorns is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned Heb. 6. 7 8. London Printed for F. Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Bar THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Courteous Reader HAving formerly writ some small matter touching the Doctrine of Faith as Justification by Grace through the Faith of Christs Blood c. I do here as the second to that Doctrine present thee with a few lines touching Good Works that I might as at first I shewed thee the Good and Glory of the one so now shew thee the Beauty and Excellency of the other For though we are justified Rom. 3. 24 c. freely by Grace through Christ before God yet we are justified before Men Jam. 2. 18. by our Works Nay a life of Holiness flowing from Faith in us that are saved by Grace it doth justifie that Grace before the World that justifies us before God 2 Cor. 6. 1 3. 2 Cor. 9. 12 13 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. I have not here only in general treated of this Doctrine of Good Works but particularly after some discourse about Works flowing from Faith and what makes it truly and gospelly Good I discourse of them as we stand under our several relations in this World among men As first The Duty of the Master of a Family Of the Husband to his Wife and of hers to him Of the Duty of Parents to their Children and of Children to their Parents Of Masters also to their Servants and of the Servant again to his Master with a brief touch upon Good Neighbourhood and a discovery of Covetousness Pride and Uncleanness which are great Obstructions to a truly Gospel-Conversation I know there are many that have treated of Good Works in large and learned Discourses but I doubt all have not so Gospelized their discourses as become them and as the Doctrine of the Grace of God calleth for However I thoughtit my duty to add this discourse to all that are past and that for these Reasons First to take away those Aspersions that the Adversaries cast upon our Doctrine Rom. 3. 8. as also in the dayes of Paul that because we preach Justification without the Works of the Law therefore they pretend we plead for loosness of life whose damnatiâs just Secondly Because though there be much discourse about Works in general yet a particular Discourse of them as afore is touched is too much neglected and by this means every one too much left at uncertainties as from them of their several works under their particular Relations which I think is one reason of that disorder in Families and Places where God's People live to their shame and the dishonour of their God Thirdly Because these few Books that do particularly treat thus of Good Works are I think now so scarce or so big that but few have them and few buy them if they may be had especially our new Converts for whose sakes principally this short Discourse is intended and indeed this is one reason of my brevity that the price might neither be burdensome nor the reading long and tedious Multitude of words drown the Memory and an Exhortation in few words may yet be so full that the Reader may find that in the side of a sheet which some are forced to hunt for in a whole Quire c. The Lord teach us this Wisdom Fourthly I have written this Book to shew that I bear a fellow-Testimony and Witness with all that know God of the Operation that Grace hath and will have in the heart that hath savingly received it Lastly I have thus written because it is amiable and pleasant to God when Christians keep their Rank Relation and Station doing all as become their Quality Calling When Christians stand every one in their places and do the work of their Relations then they are like the flowers in the Garden that stand and grow where the Gardner hath planted them and then they shall both honour the Garden in which they are planted and the Gardner that hath so disposed of them From the Hysop on the Wall to the Cedar in Lebanon their Fruit is their glory And seeing the stock into which we are planted is the fruitfullest stock the sap conveyed thereout the fruitfullest sap and the dresser of our souls the wisest Husbandman John 15. 1. How contrary to nature to example and expectation should we be if we should not be rich in Good Works Wherefore take heed of being painted fire wherein is no warmth and painted flowers which retain no smell and of being painted trees whereon iâ no fruit Whoso boasteth himself oâ a false gift is like Clouds and Wind without Rain Prov. 25. 14. Farewel The Lord be with thy Spirit thaâ thou mayest profit for time to come J. BUNYAN Christian Behaviour OR The Fruits of true Christianity Tit. 3. 7 8. That being justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life This is a faithful Saying and these things I will that you affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works These things are good and profitable unto men I Shall not at this time discourse of every Particular at large included in these words but shall briefly fall upon those things that I judge most necessary for the People of God Neither shall I need to make any great preamble to the words for their Explication they themselves being plain and without thaâ ambiguity that calleth for such a thing the general scop being this That the which have believed in God should be careâful to maintain Good Works But yet to prosecute what I intenâ with what clearness I may I shall in ãâã word or two make way for what is to be the main of this Book This is a Faithful Saying This Which Why that which goeth before namely That being justified by Grace wâ should be made Heirs according to the hopâ of Eternal Life This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm conâstantly Why so Why that they which have believed iâ God might be careful to maintain Gooâ Works The meaning is That the way to provoke others to Good Works is constantâly in the evidence and demonstratioâ of the Spirit to shew them the certainty of their being by Grace made Heirs of Eternal Life From this Scripture therefore I do gather these things observable First That Good Works do flow from Faith Yea Secondly That every one that believeth should be careful that their
Works be Good Thirdly That every Believer should not only be careful that their Works be good and for the present do them but should also be careful to maintain them that is They should carefully study to keep in a constant course of Good Works And lastly That the best way to provoke both our selves and others to this Work It is to be often affirming to others the Doctrine of Justification by Grace and to believe it our selves This is a faithful Saying and these things I will saith Paul that thou affirm constantly that they who have believed in God might be careful to maintain Good Works I begin with the first That Good Works do flow from Faith This is evident divers wayes First from the impossibility of their flowing from any other thing they must either flow from Faith or not at all For whatsoever is not of Faith is sin And again without Faith it is impossible to please Him Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 11. 6. Every man by nature before Faith is an evil and a corrupt tree And a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles Mat. 7. 16 17. Now a man is made good by Faith and by that bringeth forth the Fruits that are acceptable to God Heb. 11. 4. Col. 1. 4 5 6. Wherefore sinners before faith are compared to the Wilderness whose fruits are briers and thornes and whose hearts are the habitation of Dragons that is of Devils Isa. 35. 6 7. Heb. 6. 7 8. And hence again it is that they are said to be Godless Christless Spiritless Faithless Hopeless without the Covenant of Grace without Strength enemies in their minds by wicked works and possessed by the Spirit of wickedness as a Castle by a Conqueror Ephes. 2. 12. Jude 19. 2 Thes. 3. 2. Col. 1. 21. Luke 11. 21. Now these things being thus it is impossible that all the men under heaven that are unconverted should be able to bring forth one work rightly good even as impossible as for all the Briers and Thrones under Heaven to bring forth one cluster of Grapes or one bunch of Figs for indeed they want the qualification A Thorn bringeth not forth Figs because it wanteth the nature of the Fig-tree and so doth the Bramble the nature of the Vine Good Works must come from a good heart Now this the unbeliever wanteth because he wanteth Faith For 't is that which purifieth the heart Luk. 6. 45. Acts 15. 9. Good Works must come from love to the Lord Jesus but this the unbeliever wanteth also Because he wanteth Faith for Faith worketh by love and by that means doth good as Gal. 5. 6. And hence again it is That though the carnal man doth never so much which he calleth good yet it is rejected slighted and turned as dirt in his face again his prayers are abominable his plowing is sin and all his righteousness as menstruous rags Prov. 15. 8. Prov. 21. 4. Isa. 60. 4. Thus you see that without Faith there is no Good Works Now then to shew you that they flow from Faith And that For that Faith is a principle of Life by which a Christian lives Gal. 2. 20 21. a principle of Motion by which it walks towards Heaven in the Way of Holiness Rom. 4. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 7. It is also a principle of strength by which the soul opposeth its lust the Devil and this World and over-comes them This is your victory even your Faith 1 John 5. 4 5. Faith in the heart of a Christian is like the Salt that was thrown into the corrupt Fountain that made the naughty waters good and the Land fruitful 2 Kings 2. 19 20 21. Faith when it is wrought in the heart it is like leaven hid in the meal Mat. 13. 33. or like perfume that lighteth upon stinking leather turning the smell of the leather the savour of the perfume it being theâ planted in the heart and having its natural inclination to holiness Hence it iâ that there followeth an alteration of the life and conversation and so bringeth forth fruit accordingly A good man ouâ of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good fruit Luk. 6. 45. Which treasure I say is this Faith Jam. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 7. And therefore it is that Faith is called The Faith according to Godliness and the most holy Faith Tit. 1. 1. Jude 20. 2. Good Works must needs flow from Faith or no way Because that alone carrieth in it an argument sufficiently prevalent to win upon our natures to make them comply with holiness Faith sheweth us that God loveth us that he forgiveth us our sins that he counteth us for his Children having freely justified us through the Blood of his Son Rom. 3. 24 25. Rom. 4. Heb. 11. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Faith receiveth the Promise imbraceth it and comforteth the Soul unspeakably with it Faith is so great an Artist in arguing and reasoning with the soul that it will bring over the hardest heart that it hath to deal with It will bring to my remembrance at once both my vileness against God and his goodness towards me it will shew me that though I deserve not to breath in the Air yet that God will have me an Heir of Glory Now there is no argument greater than this this will make a man run thorow ten thousand difficulties to answer God though it never can for the Grace that he hath bestowed on it Further Faith will shew me how distinguishingly this Love of God hath set it self upon me It will shew me that though Esan was Jacobs Brother yet he loved Jacob Mal. 1. 2. that though there were thousands more besids me that were as good as me yet I must be the man that must be chosen Now this I say is a marvellous argument and unspeakably prevaileth with the sinner as saith the Apostle For the Love of Christ constrains us because we thââ judge That if one dyed for all then are all dead and that he died for all that they which live that is by Faith should not henceforth live unto themselves but to Hiââ that died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14. Love saith the Wise man is strong as Death many waters cannot quench Love neither can the floods drown it If a man would give all the substance of his house for Love it would be utterly contemned Song 8. 6 7. Oh! when the broken dying condemned sinner can but see by Faith the Love of a tender-hearted Saviour and also see what he underwent to deliver it from under that Death Guilt and Hell that now he feels and fears which also it knoweth it hath most justly and highly deserved Then bless the Lord O my soul and what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits Psal. 103. 1 2 3. Psal. 116. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14. Thus is Faith a prevailing argument to the sinner whereby he is fetched
of God alloweth it neither should we give it less Mint Anise and Cummin are not so weighty matters as Faith and the Love of God as in Mat. 23. 23. For a Pastor to be exercising the office of a Deacon instead of the office of a Pastor it is misplacing of works Acts 6. 2. For Martha to be making outward provision for Christ when she should have sate at his feet to hear his Word was the mis-placing a work and for her sister to have done it at her request though the thing in it self was good had been her sin also Luke 10. 39 40 41 42. Now to prevent the misplacing of Good Works observe First They misplace them that set them in the room of Christ Rom. 10. 1 2 3. Secondly They also misplace them that make them co-partners with Him Rom. 9. 31 32. Acts 15. 1. This is setting up our posts by God's posts and man's righteousness by the righteousness of Christ Ezek. 43. 7 8. these are said to be teachers of the Law not knowing what they say nor whereof they affirm 1 Tim. 1. 7. Thirdly They also misplace works who ascribe to a work of less moment that honour that belongeth to a work more noble and such are 1. Those who count the ceremonial part of an Ordinance as good as the doctrine and signification of it 2. Such who count the dictates and impulses of a meer natural conscience as good as high and divine as the leadings and movings of the Spirit of Christ. 3. Those also who count it enough to do something of what God hath commanded and that something possibly the least instead of all and the things more necessary and weighty Fourthly They also much misplacâ them who count things indifferent aâ high as those that are absolutely necessary in the Worship of God 5ly But they grosser who place men traditions above them 6ly And they greatest of all who puâ bitter for sweet and darkness for light Alâ these things we must shun and avoid aâ things absolutly obstructive to Good Works Wherefore touching Good Works Obedience is better than Sacrifice that is to do things according to the Word of God is better than to do them according to my fancy conceit 1 Sam. 15. 22. Wherefore let all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 40. Again as Good Works should be ordered and qualified as afore is touched so they should be done from the heart willingly chearfully with simplicity and charity according to what a man hath 1 Johâ 5. 3. 2 Cor. 9. 7. Rom. 12. 8. Col. 3. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 14. 1 Cor. 8. 12. Further There are three things that a man should have in his eye in every work he doth 1. The honour of God 1 Cor. 6. 20. 2. The edification of his Neighbour 1 Cor. 14. 26. 3. The expediency or inexpediency of what I am to do 1 Cor. 6. 12. And alwayes observe it that the honour of God is wrapped up in the edification of thy neighbour and the edification of thy neighbour in the expediency of what thou dost Again if thou wouldst walk to the edification of thy neighbour and so to God's honour in the midst of thy observers Beware 1. That thou in thy words and carriages dost so demean thy self that Christ in his precious benefits may be with clearness spoken forth by thee and take heed that thou dost not enter into doubtful points with them that are weak Rom. 15. 1. but deal chiefly lovingly and wisely with their Consciences about those matters that tend to their better establishment in the Faith of their Justification and deliverance from Death and Hell Comfort the feeble-minded confirm the weak 1 Thes. 5. 14. 2. If thou be stronger than thy brother take heed that thou do not that before him that may offend his weak conscience I mean things that in themselves may be lawful All that is lawful is not expedient all that is lawful edifieth not 1 Cor. 6. 12. Wherefore here is thy wisdom and love that thou in some things deny thy self for thy brothers sake 1 Cor. 8. 13. I will not eat meat while the world standeth saith Paul lest I make my Brother to offend Wherefore have this Faith to thy self before God Rom. 14. 22. but if thou walk otherwise know thou walkest not charitably and so not to edification and so not to Christ's honour but dost sin against Christ and wound thy weak brother for whom Christ died Rom. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 8. 12. But I say all this while keep thy eye upon the Word take heed of going contrary to that under any pretence whatâver for without the Word there is noâhing to God's glory nor thy brothers edification Wherefore walk wisely in a perfect way Psal. 101. 2 3. Having thus in few words shewed you what are works rightly Good I beseech you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you put your selves into a consciencious performance of them that you may while you live here be Vessels of Honour and fit for the Masters use and prepared to every Good Work 1 Tim. 6. 17. Study to approve things that are excellent that you may be sincere and without offence until the Day of Christ Phil. 1. 10. Covet communion with God covet earnestly the best gifts 1 Cor. 12. 31. Ah! we that are redeemed from among men Rev. 14. 4. and that rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5. 2. we that look I say for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2. 13. What manner of persons should we be in all holy Conversation and Godliness 2 Pet. 3. 11. To conclude For your further edificâtion take a plain rehearsal of your sevâral general Duties and Works to whiââ God ingageth you in his Word accorâing to your places callings and relatâons in this World Touching the Master of a Family If thou have under thee a Family then thou art to consider the several reâlations thou standest under and art tâ know that thou in each of them hastâ work to do for God and that he expectâeth thy faithful Deportment under eveâry one of them As First then in general He that is thâ Master of a Family he hath as undeâ that relation a work to do for God tâ wit The right governing of his own Faâmily and his work is twofold 1. Touching the spiritual State thereâof 2. Touching the outward As touching the spiritual State of hiâ Family He ought to be very diligenâ and circumspect doing his utmost indeavour both to increase Faith where it is begun and to begin it where it is not Wherefore to this end he ought diligently and frequently to lay before his houshold such things of God out of his Word as are sutable for each particular and let no man question his Rule in the Word of God for such a practice for if the thing it self were but of good report and a thing tending
to civil-honesty it is within the compass and bounds even of nature it self and ought to be done much more things of a higher nature Besides the Apostle exhorts us to Whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are true just and of good report to think of them that is to be mindful to do them Phil. 4. 8. But to be conversant in this Godly Exercise in our Family is very worthy of praise and doth much become all Christians This is one of the things for which God so highly commended his Servant Abraham and that with which his heart was so much affected I know Abraham saith God I know him to be a good man in very deed for he wiââ command his Children and his Houshold afâter him and they shall keep the way of thâ Lord Gen. 18. 19. This was a thing alsâ which good Joshua designed should bâ his practice as long as he had a breathinâ time in this world As for me saith he and my houshold we will serve the Lord Josh. 24. 15. Further. We find also in the New Testament that they are looked upon aâ Christians of an inferior rank that have not a due regard to this Duty yea so inferior as not fit to be chosen to any office in the Church of God A Pastor musâ be one that ruleth well his own house having his Children in subjection with all gravity For if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house how shall he take care of the Church of God The Deacon also saith he musâ be the husband of one wife ruling their Children and their own house well 1 Tim. 3. Mark a little the Apostle seems to lay down thus much that a man that governââ his family well hath one qualification belonging to a Pastor or Deacon in the House of God For he that knoweth not âow to rule his own house how shall he take âare of the Church of God which thing considered it giveth us light into the work of the Master of a Family touchâng the governing of his house 1. Then a Pastor must be sound and âncorrupt in his Doctrine and indeed âo must the Master of a Family Tit. 1. 9. Ephes. 6. 4. 2. A Pastor should be apt to teach to reprove and to exhort and so should the Master of a Family 1 Tim. 3. 2. Deut. 6. 7. 3. A Pastor must himself be exemplary in Faith and Holiness and so also should the Master of a Family 1 Tim. 3. 2 3 4. 4. 12. I saith David will behave my self in a perfect way I will walk in or before my house in a perfect way Psal. 101. 2. 4. The Pastor is for getting the Church together and when they are so come together then to pray among them and to preach unto them this is also commendable in Christian Masters of Families Object But my Family is ungodly ãâã unruly touching all that is good What shââ I do Answ. I answer first Though thisâ true yet thou must rule them and nâ they thee Thou art set over themâ God and thou art to use the authoriââ which God hath given thee both to râbuke their vice and to shew them thâ evil of their rebelling against the Lorâ This did Eli though not enough anâ thus did David 1 Sam. 2. 24 25. 1 Chroââ 28. 9. Also thou must tell them how sad thâ state was when thou wast in their condâtion and so labour to recover them oâ of the snare of the Devil Mark 5. 19â 2. Thou oughtest also tolabour ãâã draw them forth to God's publick Worâship if peradventure God may converâ their souls Saith Jacob to his housholâ and to all that were about him Let us ariâ and go to Bethel and I will make there aâ Altar to God that answered me in the dâ of my distress Gen. 35. 3. Hannah would carry Samuel to Shâââ that he might abide with God for ever Sam. 1. 22. Indeed a soul rightly touchâd will labour to draw not only their âamilies but a whole City after Jesus âhrist John 4. 28 29. 3. If they are obstinate and will not âo forth with thee then do thou get godââ and sound Men to thy house and there âet the Word of God be preached when âhou hast as Cornelius gathered thy Famiây and Friends together Acts 10. You know that the Jayler Lydia Crisâus Gaius Stephanus and others had not ânly themselves but their Families made âracious by the Word âreached and that âome of them if not all by the Word preached in their houses Acts. 16. 14 â5 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34. Acts â8 7 8. 1 Cor. 1. 16. And this for ought â know might be one reason among maây why the Apostles taught in their day âot only publickly but from house to âouse I say that they might if possible âring in those in some family which yet âemained unconverted and in their sins Acts 5. 24. 20. 20 21 for some you know how usual it was in the dayâ Christ to invite Him to their houses they had any afflicted that either wouââ not or could not come to him Lukeâ 2 3. 8. 41. If this be the way with those that havâ outward diseases in their Families hoââ much more then where there is souls thââ have need of Christ to save them froâ Death and eternal Damnation 4. Take heed that thou do not negleââ family Duties among them thy self as reading the Word and Prayer ãâã thou hast one in thy Family that is grâcious take incouragement nay if thoâ art alone yet know thou hast both liberâty to go to God thorow Christ and alââ art at that time in a capacity of having thâ universal Church joyn with thee for thâ whol number of those that shal be saveâ 5. Take heed that thou suffer not anâ ungodly prophane or heretical Books oâ Discourse in thy house Evil Communiâcation corrupts good Manners 1 Cor. 15â 33. I mean such prophane or hereticaâ Books c. as either tend to provoke tâ ââosness of life or such as do oppose the âândamentals of the Gospel I know that Christians must be allowâd their liberty as to things indifferent âut for those things that strike at either âaith or Holiness they ought to be aâandoned by all Christians and especiââly by the Pastors of Churches and Maâers of Families which practice was âgured out by Jacobs commanding his âuse and all that was with him to put away âe strange gods from among them and to âange their garments Gen. 35. 1 2. Also those in the Acts set a good exâmple for this who took their curious âooks and burned them before all men ââough they was worth five thousand pieâes of Silver Acts 19. 18 19. The neglect of this fourth particular âath occasioned ruin in many Families âoth among Children and Servants It ãâã easier for vain talkers and their deceiveâle works to subvert whole housholds than âany are aware of Tit. 1. 10 11. Thus much touching the spiritual State ãâã thy Houshold And
to their Servants And first If possible they can to get them that fear God He that worketh deceit saith David shall not dwell within my House and he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight Psal. 101. 7. Secondly But if none at the present but unbelievers can be got to do thy labour Then 1. Know that it is thy duty so to behave thy self to thy Servant that thy service may not only be for thy good but for the good of thy Servant and that both in body and soul Wherefore deal with him as to admonition as with thy Children give him the same Bread of God thou givest to them who knows but that if thou with spiritual Dilicates bringest up thy Servant but he may become thy spiritual Son in the end Prov. 29. 21. 2. Take heed thou do not turn thy Servants into slaves by over-charging them in thy work thorow thy greediness To make men serve with rigor is more like to Israels enemies than Christian Masters Exod. 1. 14. 3. Take heed thou carry not thy self to thy Servant as he of whom it is said he is such a Son of Belial that his Servants could not speak to him 1 Sam. 25. 14 15 16 17. And the Apostle bids you forbear to threaten them because you also have a Master in Heaven Ephes. 6. 9. as who should say your Servants cannot be guilty of so many miscariages against you as you are guilty of against Christ wherefore do wiâh and to your Servants as you would have your Master do with you 4. Take heed that thou neither circumvent him at his coming into thy service âoâ at his going out 1. Servants at their going into service may be beguised two wayes First By their Masters lying unto them saying their work is so small and so easie when it is indeed if not too burdensome yet far beyond what at first was said of it This is beguiling of them Secondly The other way is wheâ Masters greedily seek to wier-draw their Servants to such wages as indeed is too little and inconsiderable for such work and labour Both these the Apostle opposeth where he saith Masters give unto your Servants that which is just just labour and just wages knowing that you also have a Master in Heaven Col. 4. 1. 2. As Servants may be circumvented at their coming into their labour so also they may be at their going out Which ãâã done by Masters that either change ââeir wages like heathenish Laban Gen 31. 7. or by keeping it back like thosâ against whom God will be a swift Witâess Mal. 3. 5. 3. Take heed that thou make not a gain of thy place because thou art gracious or livest conveniently for the means of Grace Servants that are truly godly they care not how cheap they serve their Masters provided they may get into godly Families or where they may be convenient for the Word But now if a Master or Mistris should take this opportunity to make a prey of their Servant this is abominable this is making a gain of Godliness and merchandize of the things of God 1 Tim. 6. 5. and of the soul of thy Brother I have heard some poor Servants say That in some carnal families they have had more liberty to God's things and more fairness of dealing than among Professors But this stinketh and as Jacob said concerning the cruelty of his two Sons so may I say of such Masters they make Religion stink before the inhabitants of the Land Gen. 34. 30. In a word learn of the Lord Jesus to carry your selves well to your Servants that your Servants also may learn something of the kindness of Christ by your deportment to them Servants are gâers aswel as comers take heed that thou give them no occasion to scandal the Gospel when they are gone for what they observed thee unrighteously to do when they were with thee Then Masters carry it rightly toward their Servants when they labour both in word and life to convince them that the things of God are the One thing necessary That which Servants are commanded to do touching their fear their singleness of heart their doing what they dâ as to the Lord and not to men the Master is commanded to do the same things unto them Ephes. 5. 6 7 8 9. The Duty of Wives But passing the Master of the Family I shall speak a Word or two to those that are under him And first to the Wife The Wife iâ bound by the Law to her Husband so long as her Husband liveth Rom. 7. 2. Wherefore she also hath her work and place in the family as well as the rest Now there are these things considerable in the carriage of a Wife toward her Husband which she ought conscientiously to observe First That she look upon him as her head and lord The head of the woman is the man And so Sara called Abraham Lord 1 Cor. 11. 3. 1 Pet. 3. 6. Secondly She should therefore be subject to him as is fit in the Lord. The Apostle saith That the Wife should submit her self to her Husband as to the Lord 1 Pet. 3. 1. Col. 3. 18. Ephes. 5. 22. I told you before that if the husband doth walk towards his wife as becomes him he will therein be such an ordinance of God to her besides the relation of an husband that shall preach to her the carriage of Christ to his Church And now I say also that the wife if she walk with her husband as becomes her she shall preach the Obedience of the Church to her husband Therefore as the Church is subject to Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands iâ every thing Ephes. 5. 24. Now for thy performing of this work thou must first shun these evils 1. The evil of a wandering and a goâsoping spirit this is evil in the Church and is evil also in a wife who is the figurâ of a Church Christ loveth to have hiâ Spouse keep at home that is to be witâ him in the Faith and practice of hiâ things not ranging and medling witâ the things of Satan no more should wives be given to wander and gossop a broad You know that Prov. 7. 11. saith She is loud and stubborn her feet abide nâ in her house Wives should be about their own husbands business at home As the Apostlâ saith Let them be discreet chaste keepers a home good obedient to their own husbands And why because otherwise the Word ãâã God will be blasphemed Tit. 2. 5. 2. Take heed of an idle talking oâ brangling tongue This also is odious either in maids or wives to be like Paâraâs not bridling their tongue where ãâã the wife should know as I said before ââat her husband is her lord and is over ââr as Christ is over the Church Do you ââink it is seemly for the Church to parât it against her Husband is she not ãâã be silent before him and to look to his âaws rather than
this account Every miscarriage of thine goeth to their heart for fear God should take an occasion thereat to shut thee up in hardness for ever How did Abraham groan for Ishmael O saith he to God That Ishmael might live before thee Gen. 17. 18. How was Isâac and Rebekah grieved for the miscarriage of Esau Gen. 26. 34 35. And how bitterly did David mourn for his Son who died in his wickedness 2 Sam. 18. 32 33. Lastly And can any imagin but that all these carriages of thy godly Parents will be to thee the increase of thy torments in Hell if thou die in thy sins notwithstanding Again if thy Parents and thou also be godly how happy a thing is this how shouldst thou rejoyce that the same Faith should dwell both in thy Parents and thee thy conversion possibly is the fruits of thy Parents groans and prayers for thy soul and they cannot chose but rejoyce do thou rejoyce with them 'T is true in the Salvation of a natural Son which is mentioned in the Parable This my Son was dead and is alive again was lost and is found and they began to be merry Luke 15. 24. Let therefore the consideration of this that thy Parents have Grace aswell as thee ingage thy heart so much the more to honour reverence and obey them Thou art better able now to consider the pains and care that thy friends have been at both for thy body and soul wherfore strive to requite them Thou hast strength to answer in some measure the Command wherefore do not neglect it It is a double Sin in a gracious Son not to remember the Commandment yea the first Commandment with promise Ephes. 6. 1 2. Take heed of giving thy sweet Parents one snappish word or one unseemly carriage Love them because they are thy Parents because they are godly and because thou must be in Glory with them Again if thou be godly and thy Parents wicked as often it sadly falls out Then first let thy bowels yearn towards them 't is thy parents that are going to Hell Secondly As I said before to the wife touching her unbelieving husband so now I say to thee Take heed of a parrating tongue speak to them wisely meekly and humbly do for them faithfully without repining and bear with all child-like modesty their reproaches their railing and evil speaking Watch fit opportunities to lay their condition before them O! how happy a thing would it be if God should use a Child to beget his Father to the Faith Then indeed might the Father say With the fruit of my own bowels hath God converted my soul. The Lord if it be his will convert our poor Parents that they with us may be the Children of God Concerning Servants Servants also they have a work to do for God in their place and station among men The Apostles assert Masters under a threefold consideration 1. The believing Master 2. The unbelieving Master 3. The froward Master For all which Servants are furnished with counsel and advice in the Word for the demeaning of themselves under each of them But before I speak in particular to any of these I will in general shew you the duty of Servants First Thou art to look upon thy self as thou art that is as a Servant not a Child nor a Wife thou art inferior to these wherefore count thy self under them and be content with that station For three things the Earth is disquieted and for four which it cannot bear one is a Servant when he reigneth Prov. 30. 21 22. It is out of thy place either to talk or do as one that reigneth Secondly Consider that thou being a Servant what is under thy hand is not thy own but thy Masters Now because it is not thy own thou oughtest not to dispose of it but because it is thy Masters thou oughtest to be faithful Thus it was with Joseph Gen. 39. 7 8 9. but if thou do otherwise know that thou shalt receive of God for the wrong that thou doest and there is with God no respect of persons Col. 3. 25. Wherefore Thirdly Touching thy work and imployment thou art to do it as unto the Lord and not for man and indeed then servants do their business as becomes them when they do all in obedience to the Lord as knowing that the place in which they now are it is the place where Christ hath put them and in which he expecteth they should be faithful Servants saith Paul be obedient to them that are your Masters with fear trembling in singleness of heart as unto Christ not with eye service as men-pleasers but as the Servants of Christ doing the Will of God from the heart Ephes. 6. 5 6. Observe a little the Word of God to Servants 1. Servants must be obedient ãâã 2. Not with that obedience that ãâã serve man only servants must have theâ eye on the Lord in the work they do ãâã their Masters 3. That their work in their service ãâã the Will and Ordinance of God From which I conclude that thy woââ in thy place and station as thou art a serâvant is as really God's Ordinance anâ as acceptable to Him in its kind as ãâã Preaching or any other work for God and that thou art as sure to receive a reâward for thy labour as he that hangs ãâã is burnt for the Gospel Wherefore saiâ the Apostle to servants Whatsoever ãâã do do it heartily as to the Lord and not ãâã men knowing that of the Lord you shall reâceive the reward of inheritance for ye servââ the Lord Christ Col. 3. 22 23 24. And now touching the three sorts ãâã Masters mentioned before First For the believing Master Saiââ Paul They that have believing Masterââ let them not despise them because they ãâã brethren but rather do them service becâââ they are faithful and beloved and partakers with the Servants of the heavenââ Benefits 1 Tim. 6. 2. Servants if they have not a care of their hearts will be so much in the consideration of the relation that is betwixt their Masters and they as brethren that they will forget the relation that is between them as Masters and Servants now though they âought to remember the one yet let them take heed of forgetting the other Know thy place as a Servant while thou considerest that thy Master and thee are Brethren and do thy work for him faithfully humbly and with meekness because he is a Master faithful and beloved and partaker of the heavenly Benefit If any man teach otherwise saith the Apostle Paul and consent not to wholsome Words even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness he is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strife of words whereof cometh envy strife railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth supposing that gain is godliness from such withdraw thy selâ 1. Tim. 6. 3 4 5. Secondly