to know and serve God How else can an Husband say as Joshua I and my house will serve the Lord when one principal party is at liberty to serve the Devil without controle 2 As a father to children 2. As a Father or in his death or absence a Mother unto children The Scripture is expresse for this and full Deut. 6.7 8. These words which I command thee shall be in thine heart And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children and thou shalt talke of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up The same is repeated again to note the excellency and necessity and common neglect of this duty Deut. 11.18 with this addition in both places Thou shalt write them upon the dooreposts of thy house and upon thy gates to make them know and remember them the better So Pro. 22.6 Train up a childe in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it The New Testament speaks the same language Eph 6 And ye Parents bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 3. As a Master to servants 3 As a Master to servants Abrahams example is here recorded for imitation He will command his houshold as well as his children that is his servants and they shall keep the way of the Lord c. That Psal 101. is Davids profession for ordering his servants He will have all his servants faithful and religious or make them such or else eject and turn them out of doores The Masters of families Exod. 12.44 were to see that their servants did eat the Passeover and did sanctifie the Sabbath Exod. 20. in the fourth Commandâ—â—ent Thus in respect to his Relations 2 To the kinds of service of God 2. In respect to the several kinds of Services of God to be maintained in the Family and they are as we said of two sorts 1 Immediate in the first Table 1. Immediate service of God in the first Table of the law called specially Worship and that according to the four Commandments thereof 1. To know feare love trust delight in God required in the first Commandement 2. To cause them to know and attend upon all instituted Ordinances of worship as Prayers Reading hearing the word Grace Thanksgiving at Meales Sacraments c 3. To Reverence Gods Name in not taking it in vain and reverent using of all his Ordinances and Creatures 4. To sanctifie his Sabbath These the chief Housholder is to take care of in all in his Family as the places afore-cited manifest 2. Mediate Service 2 Mediate in the second is that which at second-hand redounds to God by serving of men according to the Commandements of the second Table Teaching them to be obedient to Superiours to be meek quiet peaceable To be chast and temperate To be just and righteous in their dealings To be true and faithful in their words And to be moderate in their desires contented with their own estate c. In doing these things men are said by reflexion and at last result to serve God as is clearely spoken of servants Col. 3.24 and Eph. 6.6 Not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart And ver 7. With good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men God is pleased to esteem himselfe served and worshipped in faithfull performance of the works of our callings and duties of the second Table to our neighbour as well as in our Immediate worship of himselfe in the first Table 3. By Reason Thus have we both explained and confirmed the Doctrine by light and proofes of Scripture we shall adde the light and strength of Reason 1. He is Gods Deputy 1. The chief Housholder is in his family Gods Deputy or Vice-roy yea a God to his Wife children and servants as Moses was to Aaron Exod. 4.16 Liberis suis Pater Dei vice est Greg. Naz. And therefore to manage his Authority for God in promoting his service in the little World or Kingdom of his own House He hath Gods Titles of Father and Lord put upon him and so the Supreame power in the family to command all his subjects for so they are in a sense for God As was said of Abraham he will command his Houshold c. He is also called the Head of the Family though chiefly of his wife to oversee and guide the body that little Domestical body 2. The Chief housholder Christian is in Christs stead 2 In Christ stead in all his offices As to his family And hence it is said of dutiful servants that in serving their Masters they serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.24 whose Deputies Masters are to them Whereupon they are invested with all his Offices as every good Christian is to himselfe Rev. 1.6 1 Pet. 2. of Prophet Priest and King These three Offices met all in one man at the beginning as in Adam to be sure he was all these to his Family afterwards they were severed and distributed into several persons one a Prophet another a Priest another a King Sometimes two of them met in one person a Priest a King as Melchisedeck a Prophet and a Priest as Samuel a Prophet and a King as David But they never met all in one person till Christ the Second Adam was anointed above his fellowes and recovered that which the first Adam lost And this Oyntment descended to the skirts of his garments the meanest of his Members but especially to Houshlders as their primitive right to be in one person a Prophet a Priest and a King to his Family Touch but the particulars 1. A Prophet 1. A Prophet to teach and instruct his Houshold Deut. 6.6 Thou shalt diligently teach them c. Eph. 6.6 Every Housholder is a Preacher to his own family a Minister in a sense to read and expound with modesty the word of God to Catechise and instruct his wife children servants 2. A Priest 2 A Priest to offâ—r Sacrifice for them and with them as Job did for his Both propitiatory sacrifice after a sort that is praying for pardon of their sins and for grace and Peace-offerings or Eucharistical Sacrifices of Praises and Thanksgiving for them and with them as for himselfe 1 Pet. 2.9 Ye are a royal Priest-hood that ye should shew forth the praises of him Heb. 13.15 who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvelous light 3. A King 3. A King to rule and command as well as to protect his family Abraham will command his Houshold c. And the Coercive and correcting power over his family argues his authority to be King-like The very Heathens acknowledged this truth by the light of Nature Eph. 1. last That every man should beare rule in his own house It is spoken with respect to the Wife
the cure In his default the Officers of the Church must make supply by their discipline And in their neglect either the civil Magistrate must reforme both Church and Families and single persons or expect nothing but ruine and destruction of all Now seeing as was said it is not possible or not very probable for us Ministers to perswade every single person to a serious and through Reformation of himselfe It remaines to us in the second place to try how far we can prevaile with chief Housholders to act their part to make their Families good so all good who have both power in their hands and all good reason to move them thereunto as shall appear hereafter For this purpose I have chosen this text as a worthy Instance of an Exemplary Resolution in a great and good Housholder that renowned Joshua by name Who leaving others to their choice for himselfe and family undertakes to be Religious Doe you sayes he as you please chuse what Gods you will serve But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Parts of the text In the words we may without much curiosity of Division consider these general parts 1. The Epitome of all Religion expressed in these words To serve the Lord which is the summe of both Tables of the Law especially of the first 2. Joshuahs Resolution to serve the Lord wherein we have three particulars 1. His appropriation of it to himselfe As for me I will serve the Lord. 2. The extension of his Religion to his family As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. 3. The Order of it First himselfe will be Religious and then his house I and my house c. 1. For the first The service of God to be the sum of all Religion 1 The Epitome of Religion it appears by those places of Scripture where true Religion is commanded Exod. 23 25. Ye shall serve the Lord your God To serve God Deut. 10.12 What doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to serve him with all thy heart and all thy soul How To keep the Commandements of the Lord c. That is all his Commandements of both Tables Some there are who distinguish Worship and Service making Worship the object of the first Table and Service of the second but without any ground of Scripture for that holds out Service as more general and including Worship as a more special part of Gods Service as is evident in the texts above cited and many more like unto them We may better distinguish the Service of God into Imediate which is properly called Worship in the fiâ—st Table and Mediate by men which is called Righteousnesse in the second Table for though we do not properly worship God by doing the works of righteousnesse yet are we said to serve God in doing to men the duties of the second Table As the Apostle sayes of servants That in obeying their Masters they serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.24 We note this because it will be of use anone 2 Joshua's Resolution 2. For the particulars of the second part Joshuahs resolution many things might be obseved but we shall wave them all and look at him onely as an Housholder with Relation to his family I and my house will serve the Lord and draw out this one Observation That it is the property Observation and duty of a good Housholder to provide and taks care that all under his charge doe serve the Lord that is be religious and righteous the one towards God the other towards men 1 Proved We shall first confirme it and then apply it confirme it 1. In general 1 In general by examples And here we have first the commended example of Abraham the father of the faithful by God himselfe Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement c. Which also he practised Gen. 14.14 where we heare of his trained or instructed catechised servants And Gen. 17.23 being entered into Covenant himselfe and circumcised he circumcised the same day Ishmael his sonne and all that were borne in his house Gen. 35.2 Jacob purgeth his family and bought with money This Family Religion or Reformation is graciously and couragiously resolved on by David Psal 101.2 c. I will behave my selfe wisely in a perfect way I will walke within my house with a perfect heart c. And marke his wisdom both in the constitution and ordering of his Family ver 3. I will set no wicked thing a thing of Belial the discription of a wicked person before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside c. I will not know a wicked person ver 4. as if said None such shall come into my house He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house or if he doe unawares come in he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight ver 7. Who then shall serve him he that will serve God with him Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the Land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way as I resolved to do ver 2. he shall serve me Hence it is observable in the New Testament that as a proper consequence of the Housholders conversion when any such believed his Family believed with him Joh. 4.53 it s said of that Nobleman Himselfe believed and his whole house So Acts 16.15 Lydia was converted baptized and her houshold and ver 33. the Jaylor was baptized he and all his as if they had learn'd Joshuahs resolution As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. This for the general 2 Specially in two Respects 2. We shall look more specially and particularly at those Duties which concern the good Housholder to performe and practice and that with Respect either to his Relations or to the particular Services required in the Family 1 To the several Relations in the Family As 1. In respect to his several Relations in the Family which oftentimes if not alwayes are of three sorts 1. As anâ— Husband to a wife 2. As a Parent to children 3. As a Master to servants The same person may stand in this threefold Relation and in all these the Duty lies upon him to see that all under his charge do serve the Lord See the particulars 1. As an Husband to a Wife 1 As an Husband to a Wife And the Apostle hath instructed him in that 1 Pet. 3.7 Likewise ye Husbands dwell with them your wives according to knowledge c. That is being able and ready to instruct and guide them in the service and wayes of God This is implied also 1 Cor. 14.35 If wives will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at home and ver 34. they are commanded obedience as also saith the Law which implyes he hath power to command them
required in the family to be exercised by the Master of the house How much ignorance of God and his word in most families For neglect of How much loosnesse profanenesse wickednesse in children servants wives Take but the reason of all in a word it is because there is no care of the service of God in the family by the Chief of the family Look but upon the particular services 1 Morning and evening prayers in the family 1. A constant course of Morning Evening Prayers is one principle part of the service of God in the family which is evinced by this one argument because some deny the necessity of it and call for Scripture for it to omit others Because it being God that hath placed men in a Community setting the solitary in families Psal 68.6 it cannot be justly conceived he did this meerly for their worldly conveniences but rather that they should improve their Society to his glory who is the Lord of them altogether as well as of every one single so to worship him joyntly as well as of every one solitarily and apart Zach. 12. And as Congregations or publick Assemblies are appointed purposely for the more solemne worship of God by all several families So are families for a joynt and lesse solemne worship of God by all the single persons thereof together And indeed how hath the family that knowledge of God to be 1. Their great Lord and Master 2 The Author of their peace among themselves Psal He maketh men to be of one minde in an house that the Governour is gentle to his inferiours and they dutiful to him 3. The Author of all blessings to them all of health and strength to follow their labours and of successe and comfort in them if they agree not together to joyne in worship of that their Lord and in tendering Prayers and Praises for such things as they expect and receive from him But now how visible how common is the neglect of this service of God How many or rather how few families are there that keep this course How many goe to bed like their Swine and rise again like their Dog without ever calling upon Gods Name to give thanks for mercies received or pray for what they want The very Lords Prayer which runs in the plural implyes this a dayly duty of every man and being a society it requires it of all together that can meet to say Our Father c. and thine is the Kingdome c. The House is a little Church and so may be called an House of Prayer 2. Reading and hearing of the word 2 Reading and hearing of the word is another commanded service as by every person single so by all together in the family It concerns the Master of the family to see this done Deut. 11.18 c. is expressed for this to make the Scriptures known to their houshold speaking of it to them writing it upon the posts and gates and reading of it is now the readiest way But now how many Families have not one Chapter read from years end to years end at least from Sabbath to Sabbath How shall they understand the word in publick Col. 3.16 that are not acquainted with it in private The Apostle commands Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another c. And it was the commendation of Timothius Parents that he knew he holy Scripturs from a child which onely are able to make a man wise to salvation In many families and they great ones we may finde Play-Books and amorous lacivious discourses frequently read but rarely a Chapter of the Bible all the week long Is it any wonder then that wives children servants are so bad 3. Catechising and instructing of those under their charge 3 Catechising is another Service of God Deut. 6.6 Thou shalt whet them upon thy Children c. or sharpen them by often repeating and the best meanes to work knowledge of God and his service in the hearts of inferiours Traine up a childe and servant in the trade of his youth and when he is old he shall not depart from it Thus did David drop Religion into Solomon while a childe Pro. 4.3 4. and so did his mother Bathsheba Pro. 31.1 2. c. Timothies did the like 2 Tim. 2. But how is this every where neglected Few children or servants are taught the Catechisme the first principles of Religion Hence the unprofitablenesse under the best publick preaching Hence so many are seduced into so many grosse errors and heresies and profanesse 4 Singing of Psalms 4. Singing of Psalmes is another service of God in the family as well as in the publick See Col. 3.16 Teaching and admonishing one another with Psalmes and Hymnes and spiritual Songs making melody in your hearts to God We heare Ballads and Jigs and filthy Songs sung in families but not a Psalme all the year long 5. Grace before and after meales 5 Grace at meales is a part of Prayer and Praises due to God but shamefully neglected in families or but a meer formality if used without any reverence Is it any wonder children servants be so bad to them when they are so bad to God that they do as the children of Israel did Sit down to eat and drink and rise up to play and that play was Idolatry Our blessed Saviour himselfe never eat himselfe or fed others at his Table but he blessed and gave thanks Mark 8.6 7. the Apostle Paul amongst Heathens observed the same Acts 27.35 And the same Apostle speaking of meats particulary God hath created them to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe know the truth For every creature of God is good if it be received with thanksgiving For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer 1 Tim. 4.3 4 5. As if it were not good if not sanctified by prayer and thanksgiving but may prove a Serpent even a poyson to soul or body And the neglect hereof argues in the Apostles Logick that such persons neither believe nor know the truth Let them consider it 6 Sanctification of the Sabbath 6. Lastly Sanctification of the Sabbath by the whole family in all or most of the duties aforesaid publickly and privately is the care of the chief housholder as in the fourth Commandment Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Thou Master and thy sonne and daughter manservant and maidservant What need so particular enumeration if there were not a great weight in the performance thereof But where shall we finde the family that doth all this when the Housholders themselves neglect or profane it by their own example and imploy their children and servants in businesses to keep them from the publick Congregation or leave them to come or goe at their own pleasure or to spend the day in Idelnesse or Sports pastimes that day How can these men say truly I and my