pronounced and an assurance thereof to their children and that by faith and prayer Secondly though parents cannot with such an extraordinary spirit assure to their children any distinct particular blessing yet the faithful prayer of parents is a special and ordinary means to obtain the blessing on their children Gods promise extending to the faithful and their seed Gen. 17.7 Acts 2.39 Prov. 15.8 Object If parents be wicked their prayers are an abomination what blessing then can children look for from wicked parents Answ. Though God hear not wicked parents in love and goodnesse to themselves yet for the good of their children he doth and will hear them and that the rather to maintain a reverend respect of parents in the hearts of their children For asking a blessing is an acknowledgement of superiority and authority according to that of the Apostle Heb. 7.7 the lesse is blessed of the greater And as for the gesture of kneeling its answerable to the gesture used by Josâ—ph Gen. 48.12 who bowed himself with his face to the earth Object But kneeling is a gesture proper to Gods worship Answ. It is not so proper but it may be used in civil cases else Christ would have reproved the young man for kneeling before him as well as for calling him Good for he conceived Christ to be but a meer man and the worship he did was but civil It s not simply the gesture but the occasion of it the minde of him that performs it and the ends which he performs it for that makes it either Divine or Civil Cornelius fell down before Peter and was blamed because his manner of worshipping was Divine the Jaylor fell down before Paul and Silas and was not blamed because his manner of worshipping was meerly civil Some disallow not childrens asking their parents blessing but think it meet only for children whilst young not considering of what years and state Joseph was when he performed it Others think it not unlawful but carelesly neglect it little considering the benefit of a parents blessing Esau shall rise up in judgement against them Gen. 27.34 Heb. 12.17 Quest. What is another duty of children to their parents Answ. Obedience which is the surest note of the honour a child gives to his parent Hence Eph. 6.1 Col. 3.20 without which external reverence is a meer mockage as Mat. 11.21 Obedience is a duty so proper that the Apostle applies it to Christ as a proper attribut 1 Pet. 1.14 As obedient children c. See Christs example Luk. 2.51 Solomon calls the neglect of it a despising of a parent Prov. 23.22 Quest. Wherein consists this obedience Answ. First in forbearing to do things without their parents consent which is a duty they are most bound to whilst they are under their parents government during which time parents consent is not only meet but necessary Numb 30.17 and that for these reasons 1. Children are as the goods of their parents wholly in their power to be ordered and disposed by them Hence Satan having all that Job had put into his hands took liberty over his children as well as his goods and cattel Job 1.12 19. 2. Children whilest under their government even the eldest that are heires differ nothing from servants Gal. 4.1 3. By Gods Law parents had power to sell their children Exod. 21.7 4. Parents had power to disannul such things as children had done Num. 30.4 Now this subjection of theirs consisteth principally in five things Quest. What is the first Answ. First they must have their parents consent in making choise of their calling Jacob was sent by his parents to Laban Gen. 28.2 David was appointed by his father to keep sheep 1 Sam. 16.11 19. when Saul would have David to wait on him he sent to Jâ—sse 1 Sam. 17.17 so Jerem. 35.7 Jonadabs sons were rewarded foâ— their obedience in this kind Secondly In their marriages For 1. God himself hath given us a pattern by bringing the woman to the man Gen. 22.2 shewing that he who gave a being to the woman had a right to dispose of her in marriage which right now parents have in Gods room 2. We have Gods expresse rule for it Deut. 7.3 1 Cor. 7.36 37. The parent had also power in giving or not giving her that was defloured Exod. 22.17 2. We have the examples of Gods Saints for it as of Isaac Gen. 24.67 Jacob Gen. 28.2 He also asked his daughter of Laban Gen. 29.18 c. Sampson Judges 14.2 4. We have the judgement of the ancient fathers who constantly taught this Doctrine 5. The very heathen acknowledged the equity hereof Gen. 34.3 c. and 21.21 Yea and all Laws confirm it Quest. Why must parents consent be had in marrying their children Answ. First because by marriage they are put from their parents Gâ—n 2.24 therefore it s but equal that it should be with their consent Secondly the parents power by marrying the childe is put over to the husband or wife and shall this power be taken away without their consent Thirdly children for the most part are rash and heady and would undo themselves whereas parents love their children and have more experience and discretion in choosing for them Q. But what if their parents urge their children to marry such as they cannot love Answ. If they have no just exceptions against the party they must labour to the uttermost to bring their affections to the bent of their parents will but if notwithstanding all the means they can use they cannot get affections they may in a reverend manner intreat their parents not to presse them to it Quest. VVhat if parents be negligent in due time to provide their children fit matches may not they provide for themselves Answ. In such a case a childe knowing where a fit match may be had may make it known to his parents as Sampson did Judg. 14.2 craving his consent and help therein and if his parent will not hear he may use the meditation of friends and if the parent be still wilful he may have recourse to the Magistrate who is in Gods stead and the father of his countrey and what the Magistrate doth it s as good a warrant as if the parent did it The like may be done if the Parent be an Idolater Atheist or Heretick and will not yeeld that his childe shall marry to any but such as are of his own profession or disposition Object Though Jacob married one wife by his parents consent yet not the other Answ. Jacob had a general consent from his parents to take a wife of the daughters of Laban therefore if it had been lawful for him to have two wives he had not done it without their consent Object Servants may marry without their Masters consent why not children without their parents A. 1. It s not lawful for servants so to do while the date of their covenant lasteth Secondly Parents have greater power over their children then Masters over their servants the latter being
spiritual watch This caused deadnesse in the Church of Sardis Rev. 3.12 Such lie open to the tentations of Satan Hence 1 Pet. 5.8 So we see in Eve Noah Lot David c. Hence Paul 1 Cor. 2.3 I was amongst you with much feare Thirdly contenting our selves with a low kinde of Religion that will never attain to any quickening whereas Religion is an high thing Prov. 15.24 It an high calling Phil. 3.14 So we see in Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 17.6 We saith the Apostle have our conversation in Heaven Phil. 3.20 Fourthly vanity of mens mindes is another cause of great deadnesse Hence David prays against it Psal. 119.37 when a man gives way to vain thoughts vain speeches vain expence of time Fifthly evil examples is another cause when we live amongst dead and declining Christians and think all well if we be not worse then they Sixthly covetousnesse and wordlinesse whereas while we keep off our affections from the world we are full of life But when we dote upon the world it layes bolts and fetters upon our soules as we see in Demas and 1 Tim. 6.10 See how heartlesse those heaters were from this cause Ezek. 33.31 Hence Eph. 5.3 Let not covetousnesse be once named amongst you c. Seventhly idlenesse and spiritual sloth when men let their mindes go as a ship without a Pilot See the danger of idlenesse Prov. 19.15 so when we do not lay forth our talents and improve our gifts and graces Eighthly contenting our selves with what we have attained to and not growing and going on towards perfection as Heb. 6.1 where there is truth of grace there will be growth 1 Pet. 2.2 and so we are exhorted to it 2 Pet. 3.18 Quest. What meanes may we use to prevent this backsliding and to be quickned in grace Answ. First we must go to Christ for life and quickening grace He came for that end that we might have life c. John 10.10 Now to attain hereunto we must believe in him John 7.38 and then he invites us Isa. 55.1 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ set your hearts upon him seek after him and you shall have all good even life it self Secondly carefully to attend upon the Ministery of the Word So 2 Cor. 6.11 12. You are not straitened in us but in your own bowels For our mouth is open to you q. d. In our Ministry there is abundance of grace life c. we come with our armes full you may be enlarged sweetly thereby but that you are straitened in your own bowels Thirdly A careful shunning of all those cause of deadnesse and backsliding which were before-mentioned Fourthly be earnest with God to quicken thy heart to pray for his grace that God would be pleased to put life into thee Pray as Elijah did that fire from heaven may come upon thy sacrifice to warme and heat thy heart and to stir thee up to that which is good as the Church doth Psal. 30.18 Quicken us and we will call upon thy Name Of all Petitions we should pray most for life and zeale next to Gods glory and our own salvation nay indeed as the very meanes of both For indeed there is no grace that we have more need of then this for it sets all other graces on work and its most acceptable to God yea it s the greatest blessing God can bestow upon us Hence Psal. 119.156 Great are thy tender mercies quicken me O Lord c. where he takes the quickening of his heart as a gracious effect of Gods infinite mercy to his soul. Fifthly be diligent to take earnest and effectual paines in this work and in all Christian duties in all the Worship of God There is a secret blessing upon all those that take paines even in the meanest calling Prov. 10.4 So it is in regard of spiritual life there is a secret blessing upon those that are diligent about the meanes of grace as in prayer striving against sin hearing the Word sanctifying the Sabbath receiving the Sacraments c. such shall thrive in grace when others shall be like Pharaohs lean kine Prov. 13.11 He that gathers by labour shall encrease so is it here Paul though he came late into the vineyard yet by his diligence he out-went all the rest of the Apostles Sixthly we must exercise that grace we have and then we shall never fall If a man have but a little knowledge and useth and improves it it will much encrease If we make use of our relentings and meltings and strike whilest the iron is hot If we act and exercise any grace it will prove like the loaves in the disciples hands which whilest they were distributing encreased Grace is like a snow-ball that encreaseth by rowling Seventhly and lastly consider the examples of Gods Worthies in all Ages which will much quicken us to be as forward as they when James would quicken them to patience he proposes the examples of Job and the Prophets Jam. 5.10 So when he would quicken them to Prayer he proposeth the example of Elias v. 17 18. The zeale of others will provoke us 2 Cor. 9.2 So when Christ would exhort his disciples to suffer persecution he saith Consider the Prophets which were persecuted Mat. 5.12 Quest. What motives may perswade us to avoid that deadnesse which accompanies or precedes backsliding Answ. First consider the woful Ingredients of this sinne which are 1. A dulnesse and blockishnesse to learne any thing that is good as it s said of the Jewes Acts 28.27 when we enjoy excellent meanes and profit not by them 2. An awkardnesse and listlesnesse to the wayes of Jesus Christ as is said of the Jewes Mat. 15.8 when we go about duties as having no heart to them 3. Senselesnesse of conscience when it feels not little sins and is little sensible of great ones 4. Coldnesse and lukewarmnesse of affections when we neither pray nor hear c. with affections we can finde teares upon other occasions but not for our sins Our love waxes cold as foretold Mat. 24.12 5. Weaknesse and faintnesse of endeavours as Solomon saith Prov. 13.4 we would feigne have heaven and salvation but we will not be at paines and cost to get it far unlike to John Baptists hearers Mat. 11.12 6. Dulnesse and drowsinesse of the whole man though we are very careful and industrious about the world yet we are extream carelesse of our soules If our hearts were contrite we should soon be quickned Isa. 57.15 Secondly consider that so long as we are dead hearted we cannot pray Implied Psal. 80.18 nor hear profitably implied by Christ Mat. 11.16 c. Thirdly whilest we are dead we can have no comfort no assurance to our soules that we have the truth of grace in us When Christ gives grace he is said to quicken that man John 5.21 True repentance is from dead works and unto life Faith is not faith if it do not quicken Hence Galat. 2.20 Our sinnes are not forgiven if we be not quickned Col.
heart chews the cud and ruminates upon its own actions Try thy graces by a Scripture Sun-beame Compel thy thoughts to come in that they may drink sweetnesse out of their own fountaine and that they may be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse Assurance consists in a reflex act and by such workings it is maintained Secondly be diligent in prayer Assurance comes not with weak wishes and vellieties that are so frequent in the mouths of many O that I were sure of heaven and happinesse c. But this great blessing deserves a fervent prayer The white stone is given to none but conquerours As assurance doth mightily enliven prayer so prayer cherishes and maintaines assurance Go then to God Be importunate with him beg a smile a beame of his face Desire him to take all thy worldly things again unlesse he will sweeten them with his love Tell him thou canst live no longer on husks and therfore desire him to give thee something that its fit for a soul to live on Thirdly be diligent and fervent in communion with thy God sweet and familiar entercourse with God puts thee into the number of his friends and friendship brings assurance surely he would not kiss thee with the kisses of his mouth if he did not love thee He would not tell thee so much of his mind if his heart were not with thee He would not accept of thy prayers thy spiritual sacrifices if he meant to destroy thee Communion with God is that which gives an heavenly and eternal Plerophory Quest. Why doth assurance deserve our best diligence Answ. First hereby the soul is provided for eternity Thou mayest then say Thy lot is fallen unto thee in â— good ground thou hast a pleasant heritage Thou canst desire no more then to be assured that thou shalt be for ever happy What would the damned in Hell give for a possibility of happiness What would some wounded spirits give but for hopes and probabilities of it Secondly it will sweeten all present conditions to us We may eat our bread with joy and drink our wine with a merry heart when we know God accepts our person and smells a sweet odour in our sacrifice We may lay claim to all the pearles in the Gospel and to all its priviledges If God bestow temporals upon us we may know that he first dips them in love yea thou hast a happy protection in all thy ways For 1. Thou art secure against the frowns of the world for heaven smiles upon thee Thou mayest laugh at the slanders and reproaches of men For when the world brands thee the Spirit seals thee c. 2. Thou art secure in times of judgement For judgements are intended for the sweeping away of Spiders webs not for the sweeping away of Gods own jewels Or if thou beest involved in the common calamity yet how is this pill rowled up in sweetnesse to thee when others can tast nothing but gall and wormwood Thy body may be tossed in the world but thy soul lies safe at Anchor 3. Thou art secure in the houre of death Thou knowest that providence onely means to break the shell that it may have the kernel Let such tremble at the approaches of death that know not what shall become of their precious souls but thou mayest safely trample upon the Adder c. This made the Martyrs embrace the flames c. Assurance of the love of God in Christ and nothing else pulls out the sting of death Indeed death hath lost its sting in respect of all that are in Christ but yet such as know not that they are in Christ fear death still as if it had a sting Only an assured Christian triumphs over it and saith with Saint Paul O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 4. Assurance fills the soul with praise and thankfulness The real presence of a mercy is not enough there must be the appearance of a mercy and the sense of it before it fill thy heart with joy and thy mouth with praise A doubting Christian is like a bird in a snare the soul hath not its comfort nor God his praise An assured Christian is like a bird at liberty that flies aloft and sings chearfully c. See Mr. Culverwels White-stone and Dr. Taylor Quest. How may it be proved by Scripture that a man may be assured of his salvation Answ. First By Rom. 8.16 The Spirit of God testifies with our spirits that we are the sons of God Quest. But how can Gods Spirit give witnesse seeing now there are no revelations Answ. First indeed extraordinary revelations are ceased yet Gods Spirit may and doth in and by the Word reveal some things to men whence he is called the spirit of revelation Eph. 3.5 Secondly Gods Spirit gives testimony by applying the promises for the remission of sins and life everlasting by Christ particularly to the hearts of man when it s generally propounded in the Ministry of the Word and this witness of the Spirit may be discerned from presumption by 1. The means For it 's ordinarily wrought by hearing reading meditation prayer c. but presumption ariseth in the brain either without such means or if by them yet with want of Gods blessing concurring with them 2. The effects and fruits of the Spirit For it stirs up the heart to prayer Zach. 12.10 and that with sighs and groans Rom. 8.26 arising from the sense of our miserable condition The second testimony is our spirit i. e. our conscience sanctified and renewed by the Holy Ghost and this is known 1. By a grief of heart for offending God called godly sorrow 1 Cor. 7.10 2. By a resolution and full purpose and endeavour to obey God in all things 3. By savouring the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5 i. e. by doing the works of the Spirit with joy and chearfulnesse of heart as in the presence of God Quest. But what if both these testimonies are wanting what must we do then Answ. Have recourse to the first beginnings of sanctification which are these 1. To feel our inward corruptions 2. To be displeased with our selves for them 3. To begin to hate sin 4. To grieve so oft as by sin we offend God 5. To avoid the occasions of sin 6. To endeavour to do our duty and to use good means diligently 7. To desire to sin no more 8. To pray to God for his grace Secondly by Psal. 15.1 c. where the question is propounded who of the members of the Church shall have his habitation in heaven and the answer is He that walks uprightly before God deals justly with men speaks the truth from his heart c. Thirdly by 1 Joh. 5.13 where three things are evinced 1. That he that hath communion and fellowship with God in Christ may be undoubtedly assured of his salvation which the apostle tells was the end of preaching the Gospel to them chap. 1.3 4. where also he gives foure infallible notes of salvation 1. By
end of our lives a rich reward for doing him therein faithful service Thirdly our mindes and hearts must be setled in our callings so as not to shift and change them unlesse it be upon weighty and necessary causes nor to intrude and busie our selves in the callings of others which would overthrow all order and bring confusion both in Church and State and crosse Gods wise providence in the government of the world who gives variety of gifts to be exercised in variety of callings therefore we must follow the Apostles rule 1 Cor. 7.20 24. Fourthly We must so behave our selves in our callings as may be for Gods glory the good of others and our own welfare for which end 1. For our persons we must be regenerate and sanctified for our persons must be accepted before our works can please God Tit. 1.15 To the pure all things are pure c. All that a wicked man doth is abominable Prov. 21.27.4 neither can such expect a blessing upon their labours Ps. 1.3 and 112.1 2 c. and 128.1 Gods promise belongs only to the righteous as appears in those Texts 2. The duties of our callings must be performed in faith as was shewed before Heb. 11.6 Joh. 15.5 Rom. 14.23 2. They must proceed out of unfeigned love to God and our neighbours which is the fountain of all true obedience and not principally from self-love and love of the world the love of God will move us to consecrate our lives and labours wholly unto him and love unto our neighbours will make us to seek their good as well as our own 1 Cor. 13.5 Gal. 5.13 3. They must be directed to right ends As 1. Principally to Gods glory which we should advance in every thing 1 Cor. 10.31 2. The good of the Church and Common-wealth which we should prefer before our private good 3. So to aime at our own profit as that we joyn there with the welfare and benefit of our neighbours and not raise our gaine out of their losses 4. Our care must be to performe the duties of our callings after a right manner For which end we must first follow our earthly businesses with heavenly mindes and affections as Citizens of Heaven and pilgrims on earth longing after the joyes of our own countrey Phil. 3.20 Coll. 3.1 2. especially in the midst of our ordinary businesses we should oft lift up our hearts to God craving his blessing in and giving him praise at the end of our work not forgetting Christs Counsel Mat. 6.33 Secondly we must sanctifie them by the Word and prayer The first is done when we labour to see our warrant out of Scripture for all we do doing all things both for substance and manner as Gods Word requireth and directeth The second is done when by prayer we desire Gods blessing upon all our labours and returne him thanks when we have obtained it Col. 3.17 For its Gods blessing only that makes rich Prov. 10.22 Deut. 8.13.18 He gives and he takes away Job 1.21 1 Sam. 2.8 Psal. 113.7 Abraham and Lot by Gods blessing waxed rich Gen. 13.5 6. and Isaac Gen. 26.3.12 and Jacob Gen. 32.10 without which all our labour is in vain Psal. 127.1 2. God will blow upon it Hag. 1.6 9. 5. There are sundry virtues to be exercised in the right and religious performance of the duties of our callings As 1 Knowledge and judgement whereby we are enabled to discerne between good and evil right and wrong without which we walk in darknesse and shall be apt to commit many errors 2 Affiance in God whereby we cast our selves upon his promise and providence in the use of lawful means as Psal. 37.5 Commit thy way to the Lord trust in him and he shall bring it to passe For which end remember that God takes care of the fowles cloaths the lilies Mat. 6.25 28. 3 Get and use a good conscience both towards God and man as Paul Act. 24.16 Heb. 13.18 this willl keep us from all secret sins and crafty conveyances whereby we are naturally apt to wrong our neighbours for our private advantage 4 We must get contentation being in all things contented with Gods good pleasure judging that condition best wherein he hath placed us indifferently welcoming poverty or riches prosperity or adversity gain or losse because they are sent of God Phil. 4.12 If we get this we shall not be discontented with the basenesse of our callings nor envy others their great preferments their lesse labour and more gains c. It will also keep us from base covetousness knowing that godlinesse is the greatest gain 1 Tim. 6.6 Hence Heb. 13.5 5 We must possess our souls with patience which we have need to do considering that we are daily subject to many crosses and miscarriages which would otherwise discourage us from going on 6 We must have our hearts replenished with thankfulness to God being always ready when we observe his love in blessing our labours to render him the praise of all Gen 32.10 Not sacrificing to our own nets as Hab. 1.16 But seeing all comes from God to returne all praise to God 1 Cor. 4.7 7 We must perform the duties of our calling with alacrity and cheerfulnesse doing it heartily as to the Lord Col. 3.23 24. who will reward our labours with an heavenly inheritance and this will make all our labours more easie and to be more acceptable to God 8 We must observe justice in all the duties of our callings doing nothing in them but what may advance our neighbours good as well as our own 1 Thes. 4.6 dealing with others as we would that they should deal with us Mr. Downams Guide to Godlinesse CHAP. XXIV Questions and Cases of Conscience about our holy Calling or Vocation Quest. OF how many sorts is the Calling of God Answ. First the particular calling which is to serve God in some particular Vocation so the Word is used Heb. 5.4 Rom. 1.11 Secondly the general calling which is to serve God in all parts of holinesse with promise of eternal reward through the merits of Christ. Quest. Of how many sorts is this general Calling Aâ—sw 1. External 2. Internal 3. Both external and internal Quest. What is the external Calling Answ. It s the work of Gods grace in his Word offering Christ and calling upon all sorts of men to reform their wayes and to receive Christ and to yeeld obedience to the Will of God with promise of salvation if they obey Quest. What is the inward calling Answ. It s the action of God both by his Word and Spirit calling out his Elect by name particularly and perswading them to separate from the world and receive the Covenant of Gods grace in Christ and to devote themselves to holinesse of life Quest. Why is our conversion termed our calling Answ. First because the meanes whereby God works upon us ordinarily is his Word or the voice of his servants calling upon us for amendment of life Secondly because through the
preservative against it Prov. 2.1 3 4 11 12 16 17. Psal. 119.9 1 Joh. 2.14 8. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth Eccl. 12.1 Consider that God did not make thee to wallow in the mire of these swinish pollutions Meditate also of thy own mortality that the thoughts of thy death may be the death of thy lusts 1 Pâ—t 2.11 9. Walk in love when Paul charges the Ephesians to avoid fornication he seriously adviseth them to walk in love Eph. 5.2 3. as knowing that the exercise of true Christian love breeds such desires of holinesse as mightily fence the heart against all base lusts whatsoever 10. Avoid too great estimation of earthly things which breeds lust 1 Tim. 6.9 11. Take heed of contemplative wickednesse cast not about how to fulfill the lusts of the flesh Rom. 13.14 Mr. Byfield on Col. 12. Beg chastity of God by prayer seeing its his gift alone Matth. 19.11 1 Cor. 7.7 13. Fly the society of filthy and effeminat persons 1 Cor. 5.6 9 11. Eph. 5.7 Prov. 23.20 and keep company with such as are sober and chast Consider also these Texts of Scripture Ezek. 16.49 2 Sam. 11.2 1 Pet. 4.7 1 Thes. 5.6 1 Tim. 5.6 and 2.9 10. Tit. 2.3 Quest. What is chastity Answ. Chastity is a part of temperance whereby we keep our bodies and souls pure and undefiled Temples of the Holy Ghost and members of Jesus Christ and this is to be observed through our whole life whether we be in a single or married estate See more in Matrimonial Chastity CHAP. XXVIII Questions and Cases of Conscience about Children Quest. WHat is the best course that parents can take to have comfort in their children Answ. The best way to have gracious children is to begin at Religion planting it in them as their tender years will bear training them up in the knowledge and information of the Lord dropping into them by little and little the seeds of holinesse providing if it be possible that they may suck in holinesse with their mothers milk Quest. What may move parents hereunto Answ. First they should consider that they have been the cause of their childrens evil and holp them into sinne begetting them in their own image and so have brought much misery upon them and therefore they have need also to endeavour to bring them out of it Secondly this is a good ground of all other nurture for though they bring them up in learning or to trades if they bring them not up also in the feare of God they leave them to the Curse of God and by Gods just judgement they prove a heart-breaking to their parents when they should have the greatest comfort in them whereas Prov. 23.15 My sonne if thy heart be wise I shall rejoyce Thirdly God takes notice how parents performe this duty and accordingly blesses or curses both them and their children as we see in the examples of Abraham Genes 18.17 18 19. and the contrary in Eli 1 Sam. 2.29 Fourthly it s a means for continuing and propagating the Gospel and true religion when having trained up our children in the feare of God we leave them to serve God when we are gone Quest. Wherein especially doth this duty consist and how may we performe it Answ. First in acquainting them with the grounds of religion by private catechising them Secondly by bringing them to the publick Assemblies so soone as they are able to sit there reverently or fruitfully This is to teach them in the trade of their way Prov. 22.6 Object But alas what should we trouble children with such things as these Answ. First though it may seem fruitlesse for the present yet they will remember it when they are old Prov. 22.6 Secondly by this means thou mayest displace at least restrain natural folly which is bound up in their hearts if thou doest no more Thirdly godly parents have done it and are commended for it Hannah brought her sonne to Eli to be instructed so soone as he was weaned 1 Sam. 1.24 Solomon was a tender childe when his father taught him Prov. 4.4 Timothy was acquainted with the Scriptures of a childe 2 Tim. 1.5 and the excellent fruits of this timely instruction appeared in them all Tailor on Titus Quest. How must children manifest their reverence to their parents Answ. First by their words and that divers wayes 1. Giving them reverend and honourable titles Of all which father and motheâ— are fittest Object But this title of Father is so proper to God that we are to call none on earth father Mat. 23.9 Answ. This is not simply to be taken of the title it self but of the mind of him that gives or affects it If it be given or affected to obscuâ— Gods fathertherhood or to make a man a father of himself without dependance upon God or reference to him who is properly the father of all it s an impious and sacrilegious title but otherwise its lawful and warrantable as appeares by these texts 1 Sam. 24.12 2 King 5.13 Judg. 18.19 2 King 6.21 1 Cor. 4.15 1 Tim. 5.1 Gen. 22.7 and 27.18 2. They must shew their reverence to their parents by using few words in their presence and those not without just occasion Gen. 22.7 and 27.12 3. By meek and humble speeches 1 Sam. 19.4 and 24.10 4. By taking a fit opportunity to speak as when their parents are not seriously busie or in company or in passion 1 Sam. 19.6 Contrary 1 Sam. 20.30 5. By giving a present and pleasing answer when their parents speak to them as 1 Sam. 3.4 6 18. Mat. 21.30 Quest. How else must they shew their reverence to their parents Answ. Secondly by their carriage towards their parents which consists in these particulars 1. If the childe know that his parent is coming he should haste to meet him So Gen. 46.29 1 King 2.19 2. Do such childlike obeisance as becomes their age and sex as uncovering the head bending the knee bowing the body standing up c. So Gen. 41.12 1 King 2.19 3. Their countenance and gesture must be sober and modest in their parents presence 4. They must give the place and upper hand to their parents Quest. But what if the child be more wealthy and honourable then the parent Answ. No honour is comparable to the dignity of fatherhood Indeed a child by reason of some honour and office may in publick be forced to take place of a parent but they must not do it in private 5. According to the custom of the time and place they must ask them blessing So Gen. 27.19 and 48.1 c. Object These had the spirit of prophesie whereby they could foreshew what should come to passe afterward which made their children come to them Answ. First their blessings were more then predictions for they were also assurances that God would perform those blessings to their children For they were both Prophets and Fathers As Prophets they foretold things as Fathers the obtained the blessings