Zion is Cloathed with and Shines forth in through all Generations The Psalmist was Affected with it when he breaks out on this wise Behold How Good and how Pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in (b) Psal 133. 1 2 3. Vnity it is like the Precious Oyntment upon the Head that ran down upon the Beard even Aaron 's Beard that went down to the Skirts of his Garments as the Dew of Hermon and as the Dew that descended upon the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even Life for Evermore And Dear Friends who are Parents of Children and Masters and Mistresses of Families a great Care ought to be upon you to answer the Truth in all things and to dwell under the Government of it that it may Season and make Savory both your Words and Actions that you may be good Patterns and Examples in Virtue and Holiness in all things And take Care to Educate your Children in the Fear of the Lord and to Imprint a Remembrance of the Lord in their Minds in the days of their Youth and to keep them out of the Evil Ways and Bad Words that are in the World that they may not Learn the Evil Communication that is in the World which doth Corrupt Good Manners but bring them up in that Plainness and Moderation which the Truth leads into and as much as in you lies in the Plain Language having a Care you do not Indulge them in any thing which you know the Lord in Mercy hath gathered you from For if through Affection not Bounded by Truth you Indulge your Children in any thing that is wrong you will neither be just to your Children nor clear in the sight of God and from such Unwarrantable Indulgence we have seen the too often sad Effects which have followed by the degrees of Liberty which such Children have taken to please themselves and to gratifie their Loose Vain Minds which Youth is too much Inclin'd to both in the Fashions Customs and Language of the World and many from a nearness and affinity with the World have run from the very Form and Appearance of Truth which when too late their Indulgent Parents have began to see their endeavours to stop them have proved Ineffectual whereas had they like Boughs of a Tree been taken whilest Young and Tender they might have been bended and made pliable but having had so long a growth in the World's Nature their Stiffness hath been such that they would sooner Break than Bend. Oh Friends Be Careful and Check every Appearance of the Worlds Nature and Spirit betimes and endeavour to keep your Children in that Awe and Subjection as is due to you and becomes them not in a haâ—â— rugged fierce Spirit for that rather hardens but in Meekness keep your Dominion over them in the Truth that so that Yoke they ought to be under in their Youth (c) Prov. 22. 6. may be easie to them when they are Old and you may have the Comfort and Sweetness of it Now where Parents do their Duty by Good Example and also does Advise Admonish Reprove Correct and Restrain for in many cases there is a Restraining Power as appears in the Case of Old Ely (d) 1 Sam. 2. who although he gave his Children Gentle Reproof saying Why do ye such things Yet he did not Restrain them nor Exercise that Power and Authority that was put in his Hand and it was an Offence to God and their Wickedness and his Indulgence brought God's Judgments not only upon himself but his Posterity also I say where Parents do Discharge themselves and are Clear in the sight of God then if their Children will not be Restrain'd nor Prevail'd with but will take their Course in those By-paths that lead down to the Chambers of Death although it is Sorrowful for Parents to see their Children do so yet they have this Comfort in their Sorrow We are Clear of their Blood and their Destruction lyes at their own Door But on the other Hand when Parents behold their Children Steering their Course to Destruction and upon a search find they have not done their Duty but have been Remiss either in not being good Examples as they ought to have been or have not Exercised that Power which God put into their Hands but have let their Children have their own Ways and Wills till it was too late to break them thereof Oh! This brings a twofold Sorrow our Children are like to be ruined and we are not Clear of their Blood What Misery have Parents brought upon themselves nay have not whole Families been Ruined hereby and the Mouths of our Adversaries opened to speak Evil of the Blessed Truth and stumbling Blocks laid in the way of such as have been Enquiring after the Way of Peace and Salvation Therefore Friends I beseech you in the Love of my Heavenly Father be Careful and Watch the Enemy's Wiles in these and all other things and wait upon God for Wisdom and Counsel that therein you may be Acted to the Glory of his Name that God Almighty may fulfil his Promise to you which he made of Old when he said I will give them one (e) Jer. 32. 39. Heart and one Way that they may Fear me for ever for the good of them and their Children And how Sweet and Comfortable is it to see our Children Walk in the (f) 2 John 1. 4. Truth and to Fear the Lord and Serve him in their Day and then the Blessings of God will attend such For his (g) Prov. 10. 6. 28. 2. Blessings are with them that Fear him and will be their Portion and their Lot he will be their Sun and their Shield and this will be more than all the Treasures Riches and Pleasures of this World And Friends let us rather Labour to have our Children Intituled to Treasure in Heaven than to the Injoyments of this World and when our Children are grown up and fit to be Disposed of in Marriage let not the World and the things of it be the Chief Object of our Minds and to make them great therein but let us rather Eye and Aim at Truth for it is not outward (h) Luke 12. 15. Riches and Injoyments that make People Happy in this World but it is when Peoples Minds are subject to the Truth and are Sanctified by it and their Minds and Affections United in it that brings Felicity and Happiness in a Married State for it is by the Truth that outward Injoyments are Blest and Sanctified and truly made Comfortable to us what better Portion can any have than to have the Lord for their (i) Psal 16. 9. 6. Portion and to be the Lot of their Inheritance They may then in Truth say My Lot is fallen in a Good Ground I have a Pleasant Heritage and that this may be the chief Aim and Drift of our Minds both for our selves and our Children are the Hearty Prayers of my Soul to
Fruits in due Season their Leaf withereth not and whatsoever such do Prospereth for the Lord is the Rock and Defence of such and will preserve such from the Storm and Horrible (i) Psal 11. 6. Tempest which will come upon the Hypocrite the Rebellious and the Wicked And Dear Friends seeing God in his Infinite Love hath gathered us and redeemed us out of the World to be a People to him let not the World nor the things in it entangle us again nor let not the Enjoyment of any outward Substance which God has been pleased as Blessings to bestow upon us alienate our Minds and Affections from him for that would be Ingratitude in a high degree and a Sin which shall not go unpunished What! shall we forget the Hand that has Fed us and dealt Bountifully with us Nay shall we spurn against him that hath given us Food and Raiment and by his Providence hath preserved us from the Dangers that have often attended and given us Health and length of Days and hath been as an open Fountain to us God forbid that ever we should requite the Lord Evil for his Good Remember Israel's Sin and God's Complaint by the Prophet against them for it he calls Heaven and Earth to witness against them for they had received Blessings both from Heaven above and the Earth beneath therefore he calls both to witness against them Hear (k) Isa 1. 2 3. O Heavens and give Ear O Earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished and brought up Children and they have Rebelled against me The Ox knoweth his Owner and the Ass his Master Cribb but Israel my People doth not know my People doth not consider Oh! That every one may be stirred up to a diligent Search and Examination of themselves what is my Heart upon am I setting my Affections on things that are above or on things that are below For our Lord exhorted by his Apostle That (l) Col. 3. 2. we should set our Affections on things that are above for the things that are below fade away but the things that are above they are Heavenly and endure for ever and these are the things that ought to be the Objects of our Minds about these we ought to be taken up and employed before and above any earthly thing For Christ Jesus our Lord whom we ought to hear and obey in all things requires of us First seek the (m) Mat. 6. 33. Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof and all these things shall be added unto us It was his care that we might not be over-thoughtful about things that perish for he that knows what is good for us better than we our selves know has promised All these things shall be added unto us and as we diligently observe his Counsel and Direction we shall find he will not be wanting to fulfil his Promises for we certainly know by good and comfortable Experience that they that Love and Fear the Lord shall want no good thing and therefore how ought we to abandon the World and Worldly-mindedness with all the inducements that would draw thereto to neglect our inward Exercise in the Gift of God towards him and from being Faithful Stewards of what God in Mercy hath bestowed upon us Therefore let all keep their Minds within the bounds of Truth and not launch out without the bounds of it in an eager pursuit after the Riches of the VVorld and thereby forget that Tender Frame of Spirit and Breathing which we ought to be in towards the Lord for if this Tender Breathing Frame of Spirit be lost then Coldness will come in our VVatch will be neglected the Fear and Awe that ought to be upon our Minds towards God will slide off and Forgetfulness of God and his dealings with us will by degrees come in its place Seeing therefore that yet a little while and these outward things will come to an end and that they may be taken from us and that we must certainly be taken from them O! The Care that ought to be upon our Minds that we may have Treasure in Heaven when all these things will come to an end And although this ought to be the Care of all yet this is not to encourage any whose Circumstances in the VVorld calls for Diligence Care and Industry to be Slothful in their Business nor to neglect an honest Endeavour to provide what is convenient for their Pilgrimage in this VVorld and also for their Families if they have any for when the Apostle Exhorts the Believers To be fervent in Spirit serving the Lord he at the same time Exhorts them not to be (n) Rom. 12. 11. slothful in Business and he himself as well as Exhorted shewed us an Example of Industry (o) Acts 20. 34. For his own hands ministred to his necessities and them that were with him So that where occasion requires Care and Diligence People are not to throw them aside on pretence that we must not let in the Cares of the VVorld nor busie our selves about the things of it This Extreme is a Stratagem of the Wicked One who worketh all the ways he can to Ensnare and Captivate Man For People may be Industrious and Careful in their Lawful Imployments and yet Meditate on Heavenly things and be a Spiritual-minded People waiting upon the Lord to enjoy his Living Presence and feel his Spirit and Power to be with them whereby they will be Strengthened and Comforted and their States and Conditions Sanctified to them and hereby truly learn in all States to be Contented then no Murmuring nor Repining at the Providences of the Almighty but he over all who is God of all our Mercies will be Blessed and Praised for all his Blessings and Mercies who alone is worthy for Evermore And Friends this is upon my Spirit also to entreat of you That all be careful to keep up your Testimony in every part of it for certain it is God hath called us to be Witnesses to him and for him in all things that we are concerned in in this World and first in our Trade and Dealing among Men that we be careful to answer that Just and Holy Principle in all which we Profess to be given of God to all Men to lead and guide them I say that we answer it in all by our Justice and Truth in Dealings doing to all as we would have others to (p) Mat. 7. 12. do to us watching against that Mind and Spirit that will wait for an Opportunity to take advantage to over-reach or defraud another though it may be done secretly and not be discovered by others yet God who is Judge of all sees it and such knows in themselves they would not be so done by And take not a liberty to speak of things by way of commending them above what they are in their Nature to induce the Unskilful Buyer either to buy or give more than the thing is really worth for this is not
the Lord. And as there is a Care and Duty that ought to be upon Parents to Educate their Children in the Fear of the Lord so there is a Duty upon Children to Parents to have an Aweful Regard to them and to Love them and be subject to them not to be Stubborn Self-will'd Heady High-minded or Perverse but to be Meek and Gentle willing to be Advised Tender Condescending and Affectionate Considering the great Care and Pains Parents have taken for them many ways and therefore ought not to be Rewarded with Unnaturalness Disobedience and Contempt but with a Meek Condescending Compliance in all Honest and Lawful things and this brings Parents and Children to have Comfort one in another and a Blessing from God upon both And also as touching Servants there ought to be a Care upon Masters and Mistresses so to walk towards their Servants as that they may answer the Witness of God in them and yet keep that Authority as in their Places in the Truth not in a Lordly Spirit nor a High Severe Cruel Mind but in the Savouryness of the Truth not giving way upon Provocations that may be given tho' it may be a Fault in them that gives them to fly out into Rage and Passion and consequently into Rash and Unsavoury Words as calling Uncomly and Unproper Names and Threatning Expressions for when Passion exceeds the Bounds of Reason then the Tongue is at Liberty to express that which is Unsavoury and afterwards has cause many times to Repent but where Fults are Committed let such Reproof be given in a good Temper of Mind as carries a Convinceing Authority along with it this is the way to answer the good in them and keep down that which is contrary in our selves and as it is just and equal for Masters to expect and require of Servants a diligent Performance of their Service and Work for which they take Wages so on the other hand Servants ought not to be Cruelly Used nor Oppressed in their Service but that Moderation which Truth leads into used and lived in on both hands and then they that are served will have quiet and content in them that Serve and Servants will have Comfort in their Services and thereby the Truth and Reputation of it will be Promoted and Love and Concord Increase And Servants ought also to behave themselves in their places Justly and Faithfully in a considering Mind with due Respect to those they serve in all Quietness and Diligence not as (k) Eph. 6. 6. Col. 3. 22 23. Eye-Servants but Conscienciously Performing their Service as in the sight of God and where any are Servants to those that know not the Blessed Truth you may by your Savoury Lives and Honest Endeavours and Conversations in your places be Instruments in the Hand of the Lord to reach to the Good in them and they thereby brought to Love and Embrace the Truth that so you in your places may Shine as Lights upon an Hill that they seeing your Conscientiousness and Justice in what you are Intrusted in may have cause to Glorifie God on your behalfs and be Careful not to give way to a Froward and Perverse Mind nor to give any Just Cause of Provocation nor to let in a Spirit of Scorn and Contempt towards those you serve nor to give way to Whispering nor Tale-bearing for that many times breeds Disturbances in Families and many times occasions Differences between Friends it is of a very ill Tendency and ought be watch'd against and condemned that so the Blessed Truth may Flourish and both Servants and Masters in their places may be Instruments in the Hand of the Lord by their Just and Good Conversation for the Inlarging the borders of Truth and Righteousness in the Earth to God's Glory and the Mutual Comfort one of another And Friends be Careful in all things to preserve Love and Peace and Concord amongst the Flock and Heritage of God and to shun every thing that would lessen it or any ways undermine the Foundation of True Society one with another which is Love and Fervent Charity Therefore beware of Evil-Speakings and Surmisings one against another and also of Whisperings Backbitings and (l) Prov. 18. 8. and 11. 13. and 19. 20. and 16. 28. Tale-bearing and do not encourage give ear to or receive any such things from others but rather reprove and discourage it where-ever it appears nor none Act as busie Bodies in other Peoples Matters where we are not for Truth and its sake Concerned for where these things are given way to they beget Grudgings Heart-burnings and Jealousies against one another and this is the way to break Uuity lay waste Society and put all things into Confusion and therefore let us watch against all such things and Live in Peace and Charity one with another bearing one with anothr and so fulfil (m) Gal. 6. 2. the Law of Christ that the World may see we are the Disciples of our Lord whom we Profess and that we are Lovers of Him and his Word who gave himself a Ransom for us and that the Promotion of his Name and Truth is more to us than any Worldly End or Interest whatsoever that his Glory may be Exalted over all by us and through us in all things and the Glory of his Name may Shine upon us and we Beautified therewith For he will Beautifie the (n) Psal 149. 4. Meek with Salvation and he makes them to Inherit the Earth for he teacheth the Humble of his Ways and the Meek (o) Psal 25. 9. he guides in Judgment He is not wanting to them that Fear him nor his Hand shut up to them that depend upon him but he is an open Fountain and as a place of (p) Isa 33. 21. Broad Rivers and Streams of Refreshment to those whose Souls thirst after him and he will fill them with his Goodness and they shall be Satisfied he will break (q) Psal 22. 26. Bread to the hungring Soul and will give Water of Life to the thirsty his Name will be a strong (r) Prov. 18. 10. Tower for them where they shall find Safety in the time of Storms Oh Friends Feel your Minds thus gathered to the Lord and to his Power and Goodness that his Arm may be our Strength and Support whatever may be met with in this World and that in that Strength we receive by a diligent waiting upon him we may Serve and Glorifie our God in our Day and Serve one another in Brothely Love and may be one anothers Joy and Comfort in the Lord that he who is the Fountain and Well-spring of all our Living Mercies and Comforts and hath made us what we are in his Beloved Son may have the Honour and Glory of all over all who alone is worthy for evermore saith my Soul Who am a Lover of all Mankind but more especially of those who Love the Lord Jesus Christ W. B. THE END