sollicitous to hold up their Aged and miscarrying Father Noahs Honour yea though tempted by their brother Chams derisive tale about their Father to have disrespected him yet see their conscientious care of maintaining their respect and reverence to their Father in avoyding any occasion as sight of his nakedness which might have drawn on contempt of him in them Gen. 9. 22. And Ham the Father of Canaan saw his Fathers nakedness and told his two brethren without vers 23. And Shem and Japhet took a garment and laid it upon their shoulders and went backwards and covered the nakedness of their Father and their faces were backward and they saw not their Fathers nakedness 3. When good Children do even thirst after 3. If Children thirst after Parents souls welfare their carnall Parents souls welfare and peace above others and are ever and anon contriving which way to help on that also Thus did Abraham what in him lay to help out his Idolatrous Father Terah from his course and way as might be shewed by comparing Acts 7. 3 4. with Gen. 11. end and 12. 1. and John 24. 2 3. 4. When they are as willing and joyfull to Honour 4. If as willing to Honour them as to be Honoured or rewarded by others Parents all the just wayes of Honour of them as they are to partake of any benefit of their parentall respects or bounty as they are to have it be well with them here or hereafter as they are to live long upon the earth or as they are to have the like due honor put upon them by children which they already have or may come to have themselvs 5. When they do not so soon forget their Parents after they are dead and gone Sarah was 90. years old when she bare Isaac Gen. 17. 17. And lived 37. years after For she died when she was 127. years old Gen. 23. 1. then Isaac was 37. years old he was 40. years old when he maried Rebeckah Gen. 25. 20. Which was three years after his Mothers death and when he married or took Rebeckah to wife then it was that Isaac was comforted after his Mothers death Gen. 24. 67. For three years space then this pious Son was ever and anon mourning in thoughts of his good Mothers death and God made this his sweet companion Rebeckah a speciall comfort to him against that trouble about his Mothers death A third use is of exhortation and that to Parents 3. Use Of exhortation 1. To Parents to further this their due Honour 1. By preventing their being either corrupted or dismayed in matters of Religion to indeavour what in you lieth to help forward your Children in their Conscionable performance of this their duty of Honour of Parents and for this end 1. Take very speciall care to prevent whatsoever either may corrupt them or any wayes discourage them in the matter of the Honour of God himself or of his word For if they grosly fail in the matter of the Honour of God of his word they will as grosly fail in the matter of Honour of Parents As we see in Elies Sons who were vilely corrupt in the matters of Religion as those of common honesty 1 Sam. 2. 12 13 14 15 16 17 22. and vers 25. they were as vile transgressours against the fifth Commandement requiring Honour to Parents they hearkened not to the voice of their Father Imitable therefore is that care of the Godly Fathers of the two Tribes and half to remove occasions of discouraging their Children from the fear or worship of God Josh 22. 25 26 27 28. And if we have not rather done it built this Altar of witness saying in time to come your children say they to the Fathers of the ten Tribes there met may say to our Children what have you to do with the God of Israel ye have no part in the Lord so shall your Children make our Children cease or be discouraged and Apostatise from fearing or worshiping the Lord. Oh! that Christian Parents would the rather keep out Anabaptistical principles and doctrines as from their own hearts so as much as may be from the eares and minds of their Children lest being told thereby that they have nothing to do with the God of Israel and they have no part in the Lord they are made thereby to cease or be discouraged from the fear or worship of the Lord but that by the way 2. Redress what in you lyeth if you did not 2. By redressing disorders in them one towards another prevent disorderly carriages of your Children towards one another for if they are inured to carry it badly one toward another they will also carry it dishonourably towards Parents Gen. 37. 23 24. Jacobs Sons who before their conversion carried it so unworthily towards Joseph they carried it as malepertly towards their Father Gen. 34. When vers 30. their sorrowfull Father had expressed his fears of the ruine of him and of his house which might be occasioned by his Sons Murther of the Shechemites they saucily answer vers 31. Should he deal with our Sister as with an Harlot Absolom that will carry it so cruelly and perfidiously towards his brother Amnon 2 Sam. 13. 28 29. He proved as very a perfidious and cruel wretch towards his own Father not many years after Cap. 15. Rebeckah's care therefore was imitable to prevent or remove the continuall discords and jarrs and mischiefs which might arise from that heart-grudge between Esau and Jacob which because she could not heal she sends away Jacob from Esaus company Gen. 27. 42 43 44 45. 3. Labour to be fearers and honourers of God your selves as an heavenly Father and then you 3. By being fearers of God themselves have the advantages of the promises of God that your Children shall be blessed also and consequently furnished with this spirituall blessing a spirit of Honour of Parents Psal 112. 2. The generation of the upright shall be blessed that they shall be a comfort to you as Vine-branches issuing from the wombs of your wives yielding in time grapes of Consolation to Parents in the wayes of due honour to God or Parents c. Psal 128. 1. Blessed is every one that feareth God c. And vers 2. happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee And vers 3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull Vine by the sides of thine house thy Children as Olive-plants round about thy Table which is not barely a promise that their wives shall have Children or many Children as if that made them so peculiarly happy as is promised they should be for ungodly persons are full of Children Ps 17. 14. They send forth their Children like a flock Job 21. 11. No but it s a promise of making the fearer of God happy in the qualification of his Children that they shall be such as shall yield wine of consolation to them in what they shall be to God and to their Parents and to
be 6. Blessings upon posterity thereby blessed in their Children and posterity as Shem was thereby in his posterity and Japhet in his Gen. 9. 23 26 27. Yea it s the way to have like Honour meted out to you from your Children therefore the rather Honour Parents Do to them as you would have others in like relation to do to you Matth. 7. 11. 2. Consider of some helps and means to this Helps to it Avoid Causes of dishonour to Parents as 1. Self-conceit duty 1. Take heed of all and every of the causes of Childrens dishonour of their Parents As 1. Self-conceitedness as in Absolom who thought himself fitter to rule then his Father 2 Sam. 15. 3 4. there is none deputed of the King to hear thee Oh that I were Judge I would do every man justice hence that state of high dishonour to his Father and treachery against him 2 Sam. 15. 7. to 12. Like the yonger Son in the Parable Luke 15. 12 13. Who thought himself fitter to manage his Portion then his Father and thence slighteth and so leaveth his Father's watch guidance and presence 2. Over-weaned conceits of what you do for 2. Conceit of what Children do for Parents Parents when indeed you can never do enough for them who under God gave you your being like the Elder son in the Parable Luk. 15. 28 29. Who is ready to talk great things to his Father of his serviceableness to his Father so that when his Father intreated him who might have commanded him to come in he slights his Father's intreaties he is angry with his Father findeth fault with his Fathers kindness to his prodigall Brother whereas he that had deserved more kindness from his Father never had the like from him for so he answers his Father Loe these many years do I serve thee neither at any time transgressed I thy Commandement and yet thou never gavest me a kid but as soon as this thy Son is come which hath devoured thy living with harlots thou bast killed for him the fatted Calf and it is to be feared to be the case of too many Children in N. E. where Parents are put hard to it to make more use of their Children for their work and business that they poring too much upon what they do for their Parents and not seriously weighing what their Parents have done for them they slight them in their hearts 3. Curiosity and an inordinate desire of liberty 3. Curiosity The young man Eccles 11. 9. He must needs walk in the wayes of his own heart and sight of his eyes and so careth not for Honouring God or man Like the Prodigall Son in the Parable he must needs abroad to see fashions what should such a spark as he do alwayes at home to be there held in as he is he would rather be at liberty and therefore let his Father do as he will he broad from him 4. A discontented spirit a spirit of unsettledness 4. Discontent which sometimes is the very blast of God upon young men for some other foul sin as that wandering spirit was upon Cain for his but then Cain must away from home from his parents though thereby he goeth from the presence of God like the Prodigall Son in the Parable not content with his Fathers finding but he will be for himself though after some bought experience of his he afterward finds that the meanest case and place of the lowest in his Fathers house be far better then his 5. Ambition and eager desire of man in outward 5. Ambition respects then is meet for you this also maketh many slight their Parents seek to shake off their Parentall watch and rule This made Absolom turn a vile traytor to his Father 2 Sam. 15. and this also put on Adonijah very far that way 1 Kings 1. 5 6. 6. Envy at just respects shew'd by Parents to 6. Envy fellow Brethren or Sisters like the elder Son in the parable out of envy of his Fathers kindnesse to his younger Brother this maketh him fly out so unreverently against his Father and to charge him closely with injustice and partiality Luke 15. 28 29. Thus Jacobs Sons envying that their Father respects young Joseph so much they are resolv'd to make some hand of him though they know thereby they shall rob their Father of a great part of his comfort if not undermine his life they regard neither so their Father is set light by that while 2. Take heed of bad company and counsell 2. Avoyd bad company which is apt to mislead you even to dishonour your Parents When Solomon Prov. 19. 26. had told his Son the sad doom of a Son that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother he then giveth his Son this counsell as an Antidote against any such like sin vers 27. Cease my Son to hear the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge hence is it that the boon companion who is a glutton and a drunkard is also wont to be so stubborn as not to hear the voyce of his Parents Deut. 21. 20. Such as contrary to that advice Psal 1. 1. Do walk in the counsell of the ungodly and stand in the way sinners they came to sit also in the seat of the scornfull to scorn at any none excepted no not Parents themselves Prov. 30. 17. there is an eye that mocketh at his very Father despiseth to obey his Mother better therefore were it for younger persons to company and counsell with wise youth who conscienciously Honour their Parents and that will be verified Prov. 13. 20. That he that walketh with the wise shall be wise when as a companion of fools shall be destroyed 3. Take heed of poring upon any failings in Parents 3. Avoyd poring upon Parents failings which may tempt you to slight your Parents Children in such cases must be as not seeing the failings they do see in Parents carriages sometimes and as not hearing their failings in expressions sometimes which they do hear ingenious Shem and Japhet will not see their Fathers nakedness Gen. 9. 23 24. And so continue to Honour their Father Noah wheras Cham that will needs look so wistly and take such notice of his Fathers nakedness commeth to despise him and deride him Let Children remember that God the Law-maker and the fifth Commandement their Law and Rule they must walk by is without spot or failing and therefore They must Honour Father and Mother 4. Listen not to unworthy reports or whispers 4. Listen not to whisperers which ungratious persons set on work by Belial may suggest to you any away against your Parents Shem and Japhet would not listen to their Brother's tale in that vile way he told it but if ought be a miss to provoke them to slight their Father they will cover it rather when one told Teleuchus how ill his Father spake of him saith Teleuchus if my Father
and no difference twixt parent and child yea too many there are who carry it proudly disdainfully and scornfully towards parents and it s well if their very parents escape their flouts but what the end of such graceless children will be we have shewed from Prov. 30. 17. Again how are many children ready to chop it with their parents and as we say to chop logick with them it may be so daring are they as to bid their very parents hold their tongue as some profaner ones have done or how ever if not going so high yet giving to parents very cross curt and curst answers As Jacobs sons did sometimes to him Gen. 34. 31. should he deal with our sister as with an Harlot like the elder son in the Parable who even chideth and checketh his Father for entertaining his younger brother better then him Luke 15. 29. Again how frowardly and discontentedly do many children carry it to their Parents no diet no clothing no lodging and the like which parents can provide for them will content them but as if parents were beholding to them or that they had wronged their children and must seek to please them if they knew how Like the Elder son in the Parable which findeth fault with his usage by his Father as so much below his serviceableness to him And are there not too many children who are ready to mutter and grumble at their parents counsels commands just threats rebukes or corrections yea will not some plainly contest and contend with their parents as Rebecka's daughters-in-Law who by such like unreverent carriages made her even weary of her life Gen. 26. 35. with 27. 46. they were a grief of mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the septnagint renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as did contend or were contentious or rebellious how little also do too many children dread their parents commands counsels prohibitions reproofs or corrections how little do they fear the loss of their favour or blessing or the incurring of their just displeasure or curse how little care they whether they be contented and comforted in them and in what they say or do or otherwise be troubled and discouraged and in all how shameless are they but all such as you are do proclame to all the world that there is no fear of God before your eyes as it is evident in Cain Hophni and Phinebas and other such graceless children whose just doome will be to be as Cain and as is threatned to graceless persons that they shall be in fear where no fear or cause of fear is Psal 53. 5. shall flee when none pursueth them Prov. 28. 1. and for the want of this due fear of parents if you repent not eternall dread and horrour will be your portion in another world 2. It serveth to reprove parents who any way 2. Of Parents undermining this their Honour 1. By contemptible carriages undermine this filial awe and Reverence which your children owe unto you and that 1. By carrying it any way contemptibly and unbeseeming your selves in your childrens sight as did Noah first by being drunk and then by uncovering his nakedness within view of others this gave occasion to Chams unreverent speeches of him unto his brethren Gen. 9. 21 22 23. C ham saw the nakedness of his Father in his tent and went and told his brethren without when parents are frothy slighty foolish or any way ridiculous in their gestures speeches or actions before their children this breedeth or feedeth contempt and irreverence in their children Look as the very conceit of unseemly behaviour in David that Father of the state made Michol despise him her heart and speak unreverently of him with her lips 2 Sam. 6. 16 20 21. How glorious saith she scoffingly was the King of Israel to day who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the hand-maids of his servants as one of the vain fellows shamelessely uncovereth himself the like will any reall discovery of morall or spirituall nakedness before the Family become an occasion to children and servants to despise the Father of the Family 2. By being too fond of your children or too familiar 2. By overmuch fondness and familiarity with them at sometimes at least not keeping constantly your due distance such fondness and familiarity breeds and causeth contempt irreverence in children Good Abraham was somewhat too fond of Ishmael as appeareth by his overlooking the promise of Isaac and going on to urge God that Ishmael might live in his sight Isaac was too fond of Esau when he loved him so for his venison Gen. 25. 28. David was too fond of his Absolom that when he was justly banished for his wilfull fratricide and deserved death rather for it yet Davids soul longed or was in a wasting plight as it is in the Hebrew to go forth unto Absolom 2 Sam. 13. 39. but what unreverent children all these proved to their Parents their stories shew 3. By complying too much with any vain motions 3. By sinfull compliance with children of your children this was a sin in the Mother of James and John who had so ambitious a motion to make to Christ Mark 10. 35. that she would move it for them Matth. 20. 20 21. she commeth desiring that her two Sons may sit one at his right hand the other at his left hand in his kingdome David would never cross Adonijah in his desires or doings he never displeased him at any time in saying why hast thou done so 1 Kings 1. 6 but Adonijah careth not to cross his Father in his mind of one to succeed him in his throne even Solomon and yet Adonijah knew well enough it had been publickly and sufficiently declared formerly as in 1 Chron. 23. 1. and 28. 5. yet 1 Kings 1. 5. he exalteth himself and saith I will be King and vers 7. he conferreth with Joab and Abiathar about it for their help therein 4. By reproachfull and reviling speeches to 4. By rayling upon children your children in rashness of anger and fury or by any other uncivill or unseemly expressions of rage against them as flinging things at them which might indanger life or limb or the like this provoked Jonathan to say and do somewhat savouring of unreverence to a Parent 1 Sam. 20. 30. thou son of the perverse and rebellious woman saith Saul his Father to him and v. 33. he cast a Javeling at him and v. 34. Jonathan arose from the Table in fierce anger some unwise Parents at some times will be over-familiar with their children and at other times as much too harsh and fiery against them and by such an unequall carriage come to be slighted by them The second use serveth for exhortation and 2. Use for exhortation 1. To children to Reverence Parents that 1. To children Do you then strive what in you lyeth to give this Honour of Reverence both outward and inward which is due to your Parents And for this end
Parents houses in such a way of dishonour of Parents they go from Gods presence and let not any such Children ever look for Gods gracious presence with you in any such way but the terrifying presence rather of his justice and displeasure pursuing you as it did wandring Cain who therefore could not long rest in any place wheresoever he came It may be also said of such like Children as of him in Luke 13. that in this way left his Fathers house that he was lost and dead and so are these among the number of persons spiritually dead and if ever by grace they come to themselves as it is said of him in the parable Luke 15. 17. Surely they will lay on hard upon this sin of dishonour of Parents above all other sins as he did whence that speech thereupon Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son 4. It reproveth Childrens less honouring or 4. By slighting Parents when aged or decayed slighting of Parents when they are old or decayed in strength estate or the like contrary to that express charge of God Prov. 23. 22. despise not thy Mother when she is old It was the sin of Samuels Sons that when he was old they cared not for his counsels or checks or imitation of his godly course witness that they walked not in the steps of their Father then 1 Sam. 8. 5. So Adonijah when his Father was old and decrepit he without regard to his Fathers mind counsell or leave is ready to leap into his throne 1 Kings 1. 5. but these had dishonour from others as their punishment for this dishonour of their Parents which was their sinne The people as little regard Judge Samuels Sons 1 Sam. 8. 5. as they did their Father And Adonijah whose sin it was not to Honour his Father when he was old in way of punishment hath not the Honour of a Brother much less of an Elder Brother to Solomon but is brought to an untimely and dishonourable end That Son or daughter who despiseth Father or Mother when old seldome liveth to be old 5 It reproveth the guile of Children in pretending 5. By bare semblances of Honour of them to Honour Father or Mother when in heart they slight them like Absolom formerly mentioned pretending to Honour his Father but intending by and base ends or like him in that parable forementioned Matth. 21. 30. When his Faither saith go and work in my vineyard to day he saith I go Sir but went not Who will such be true to if you be not true to your own Parents Hence when the sin of dishonour of Parents aboundeth here and there that is accounted a perfidious time and place And God in judgement will order it that none shall trust such as have been perfidious dishonourers of Parents albeit they may have never such promising qualifications or relations in other respects Mic. 7. 5. Trust yee not in a friend put not confidence in a guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome why so for the Son Honoureth not the Father the Daughter riseth up against her Mother 6. It reproveth Childrens disgracing or any 6. By disgracing Parents way reproaching of their Parents You are ill birds which thus defile your own nests It was a vile sin in Absolom secretly to disgrace his Fathers government as if careless in it and neglective of what concerned him to look after 1 Sam. 15. 3. there is no man deputed of the King to hear thee saith that Sycophant this was Chams sin to discover his Fathers nakedness to his reproach Gen. 9. 22 25. C ham the Father of Canaan saw his Fathers nakedness and went and told his brethren without namely in a reproachfull way but Absolom and Chams stories shew that they had reproach for reproach in the issue and God will assuredly mete out to such like Children like reproach either from their Children in after times or from others as a just punishment of their reproaching their own Parents 7. It reproveth persons younger or elder having 7. By rayling against Parents Parents living that you now at any time or formerly use railing reviling girding taunting or upbraiding speeches to them or of them Prov. 30. 11. There is a generation that curseth their Father and doth not bless their Motber but such are so odious and inhumane that God singleth out Children of that sort to be cut off by the hand of civill Authority Exod. 21. 17. Levit. 20. 9. He that curseth Father or Mother let him die the death which command of God Christ himself vindicateth from the Pharisees undermining traditions Mark 7. 9 10. Or if such a sin pass the cognizance or vengeance of earthly Judges yet the Lord himself will not suffer such to escape his hand Prov. 20. 20. who so curseth Father or Mother his Lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness He shall come to a loathsome noisome dishonourable and untimely end as a Lamp or Candle that might have burned and shined much Mischiefs attending dishonour of Parents longer but is suddainly put or blown out and that with a stinking Savour left And that Children of all sorts sexes and Ages may more deeply consider and lay to heart this sin of dishonour of Parents let them look wistly and advisedly upon the mischiefs also which attend this sin 1. It maketh way in you for all other sins In 1. It maketh way for other sins Cain this let in fratricide in Absolom who also regarded not Parents or their guidance or Counsels it let in parricide intentionally 2 Sam. 17. 3 4. He never cordially honoured his Father and when he thought he had an opportunity he as little regarded his Fathers life Adrammeleck and Sharezer were no doubt such as had been traded in a way of dishonour of their Father Senacherib that they durst lay their bloody hands upon him to take away his life who had instrumentally given them theirs 2 Kings 19. 37. No doubt but from this root of dishonourable thoughts of Jacob sprung Rubens incest Gen. 49. 5. else the very reverence of a Father had deterred him from it As the Prodigall in the Parable he first breaketh this bond of Honour of Parents and so sinneth against his Father then he is at liberty to commit the vilest acts of riot excess filthinest c. that youngster in Prov. 5. 11 12 13 14 Who confesseth that it was his sin to disregard any thing that Parents of others said to him he also confesseth that even in the midst of the Congregation openly and where the best means were to the contrary he was almost in all evill 2. It bringeth Parents just curses and Gods 2. It brings a curse curse also upon you and upon your posterity As Gen. 9. 22. 25. It brought upon Cham and his posterity by Canaan C ham himself being no more exempted from that curse albeit his
say of him Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary surely then he learned and commonly practised that mean Trade with his reputed Father and so was therein also subject to his Father and Mother Look as Gods children yea look as Jesus Christ himself the pattern of all true filial obedience to Parents refused not to stoop to the meanest offices and services in obedience to the Father of Spirits so must children carry it in like sort to their Parents All know how many mean and despicable offices Parents do about their children whilest babes and little ones and when sick c. And there is no cause for any childe to think much of the meanest office and service which Parents may call for from their hands Parents Authority is of no mean descent the rise or originall of it is from God even the greatness of the greatest in other respects doth not alter much less make null filial relations If any be ashamed of the Lords words of him will he be ashamed another day Mark 8. 38. Now this Children obey your Parents in the Lord according to the Lords will and word is one of the Lords words Eph. 6. 1. Let none therefore be ashamed of obedience to Parents in meanest 2. In their being content to be crossed in their wills things 2. In Childrens being content to be crossed in their own desires or wayes and to yeeld to and obey Parents minds and wils in matters lawfull although the particulars seem to be very harsh to their own sense or reason as in that instance Gen. 48. 17. At first it displeased Joseph to see his Father lay his right hand upon Ephraims head and he held up his Fathers hand to remove it to Manasses his head and v. 18. Joseph said not so my Father for this is the first born put thy right hand upon his head v. 19. And his Father refused and said I know my Son I know it he also shall become great but his brother shall be greater then he And so he gave Ephraim the yonger Son the priority in his blessing and Joseph said no more but rested satisfied therein If Jacobs Sons are injoyned by their Father to feed their flock even in Shechem in the very mouth of danger by reason of the late slaughter of the Shechemits by their hands yet they are contented with it and do not mutter or object against it Gen. 37. 14. nor do they object against the hazzards of that long Journey into Egypt but if required by their Father to go they contentedly obey Gen. 42. 23 It was contrary to dictates of flesh and blood and reason for Isaac to yeeld to be offered up in Sacrifice by his Father but it was first no doubt made known to him by his Father to be Gods mind and seconded by his Fathers command and he quietly yeeldeth to his Father therein Gen. 22. 9 10. So in case of a daughters vow unto the Lord in something which is lawfull and which she earnestly desireth should be done before the Lord if the vow be not heard by her father when it was made and after dissallowed by her Father God will have her even in this case to sit down contentedly resigning her will to her Fathers although she cannot perform what she vowed and desired and God himself passeth it by because it was not her Fathers mind that she should perform it Gen. 30. 5. Gods children are a pattern to mens children herein who resign and submit their will to his will children are to look at good Parents as Gods Oracles unto them such by means of whom he imparteth his counsell to them and maketh wiser then themselves in matters respecting their occasions and changes Obedience to Parents in this way is to be as to Superiours yea as to the mind and Authority of the highest in their mandates which also is implied in that speech Eph. 6. 1. Children obey Parents in the Lord yea even in all things as is expressed Col. 3. 20. namely which are meet and lawfull so to obey them it is wel-pleasing to God albeit in doing of it children oft displease themselves David is blamed that he never displeased Adonijah his Son 1 King 1. 5 6. surely then Adonijah had been too blame if he had not yeelded to his Fathers mind in things displeasing to himself 3. In yeedling espccially to Parents minds in the matter of marriage So Isaac matcheth with Rebekah 3. In marrying according to good Parents minds according to his Fathers mind Gen. 24 6 7. 63. compared So Jacob marrieth Labans daughter according to the mind of his Parents Isaac and Rebekah Gen. 28. 1 2 3. compared with Chap. 29. the like was done by many others mentioned in Scripture 4. in obeying chiefly in things of God as injoyned 4. In obeying in things of God to children in Gods name by their Parents whether respecting the knowledge of God in Christ mortification or in any other means or parts of the souls welfare In which especially Solomons Son must keep his Fathers Commandement and not forsake the Law of his Mother Prov. 6. 20. and 1 Kings 2. 3. David chargeth Solomon his Son to keep the charge of the Lord his God to walk in his ways Ch. 3. 3. Solom loved the Lord walking in the statutes or according to the statutes and commands of David his Father David charged him also with all the work of Gods Temple which he duly and diligently performed 1 Chro. 22. 11. build the house of the Lord thy God which he hath said of thee and he did so as 2 Chr. 5. and cap. 6. sheweth if Abraham command his children the Lord concludeth they shall keep the way of the Lord as in that place oft referred to Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that he will command his children and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Hence Joshuah is so confident of his house and so of his children Josh 24. 15. but I and my house we will serve the Lord he requiring it of them he is confident that they will do it Jonadabs posterity in living so in Tents like pilgrims and strangers in refusing to drink wine or strong drink they lived a mortified life a weaned life from the world but they did it because so injoyned by their Father Jonadab and so by their next Parents successively as we see in that place oft occasionally referred to in this discourse 1 Jer. 35. 6 c. In such a way God as a Father is especially honoured and no wonder that there is his secret blessing and grace conferred to inable to such like obedience to Parents commands As in Gen. 18. 19. now mentioned Abraham will command his children and they shall walk in the way of the Lord. It strengthens the bond of childrens obedience to Parents commands when Parents shew such soul-love to children and intire love and faithfulness to God as to improve their parentall Authority thus for God which
side or the like Let him relieve or Minister sufficiently to them besides this sin invalidateth what in you lyeth the 5th Commandement Mar. 7. 10 11 12 13. Moses saith Honour thy Father and Mother but you will not suffer a man to do ought for his Father or Mother and so make the word of God of none effect nor will any pretences as there are for need of what parents should have for religious uses for the Corban and that by bestowing the same upon such uses parents will have benefit enough and the like not such nor any other pretence whatsoever will pass with God why children should neglect or omit so weighty a duty of ministring to their parents If Job say if I have seen any poor without covering if his loynes have not blessed me then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade c Job 31. 19 20 21. Surely much less could he charge himself with any such sin as this is we are speaking of and lest any pretend ignorance of parents straights and wants verily you must look after that and make sure of that that they do not lack any suitable supply as 1 Tim. 5. 8 16. Evinceth and let men take heed they delude not themselves this way I may say as Solomon said in another cause Prov. 24. 12. If thou sayest behold we knew it not Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it and he that keepeth thy soul doth not he know it and shall not he render to every man according to his works if Christ be so severe against neglect and omission of supply of ministring to his other needy sick or imprisoned ones as Matth. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels vers 42. For I namely in my members as vers 46. expoundeth it was hungry and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave no drink vers 43. I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not How dreadfully will he speak to all and every one of you who are unnaturall ingratefull Children who have suffered your Christian Parents to want such supply and help as you might have ministred but did it not And here also as subordinate to this particular reproved in children we might reprove deboist youngsters who by their dissolute courses wast their estates whereby they might have ministred to Parents wants afterwards but by their own prodigality come to be disinabled But we shall leave them to consider of 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. and Prov. 23. 20 21 29. to the end and Isa 5. 22. and verse 11. unto verse 18. and such other Scriptures 3. It serveth to abase such of you as any way 3. Such as steal away or wast Parents estates impair your Parents outward Estates by stealing from them as Prov. 28. 24. Who so robbeth his Father or his Motber and saith it is no transgression is the Companion of a destroyer or a destroying man Heb. a Highway-side robber or associate to them inuring himself to pilfer smaller matters from Parents Imagining or at least pretending to himself or others that there is no hurt no great fault in that he learneth the trade of thieving and at length is an open practitioner thereof and is a destroying man to himself at last commeth to the Gallowes This as I may say is the Genesis of such a youngsters course and many a wretch at the Gallowes hath made an answerable Analysis of his lewd course till he hath brought it up to this as the very head and beginning of it they first began to pilfer this and that from their Father and Mother else had never come to this sad end Michas thieving and stealing from his Mother received indeed a stop Judg. 17. 1 2. But he occasioned his Mothers curse ibid. and so many such like acts occasion the like from other Parents But say you wast not your Parents estates this way if you do it by secret excesse in Drinking and Feasting or in gaming or company-keeping it is an evill requitall to your Parents for all their care and paines to lay up somewhat to mantain their children comfortably and honourably and you thus basely cast it away Prov. 16. 26. He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth shame Mothers who of the two are the most tender-hearted towards their Children yet even their hearts are alienated from children by such vile courses Such profuse mispending of Fathers Estates even chaseth away a tender hearted Mother But oh how farr doth it estrange the heart of the Lord himself from any such miscreants as you are 4. It serveth to abase such of you as are cruel 4. Such as are hard-hearted to their Brethren or hard-hearted to your fellow brethren or sisters like Edomites to the Israelites their kindred not only looking on upon them in their Affliction without succouring of them but spoyling of them themselves Obad. 12. 13 14 c. For which the vengeance of God was then threatned and afterwards executed upon them Now such ingratefull unkind dealings with your Brethren it is unkind requitall of your Parents in Gods account As Abimelech and the men of Shechem raging so against his seventy Brethren Judg. 9. 2 3 4 5 6. It s called wickedness done by Abimelech to his Father and God accordingly avenged the same by making Abimelech and the Shechemits which were fellow-actours in that Inhumanity to be mutuall executioners of divine Justice each upon other Judg. 9. 56. Thus God rendred the wickednesse of Abimelech which he did unto his Father in slaying his seventy Brethren Unkindness to Children being ever reckoned as unkindnesse offered to Fathers As the Edomites unkindness to the Israelites is unkindness to Edoms Brother Jacob Obad. 10. 11 c. So when Joash dealt so unworthily with Zecheriah good Jehoiadahs son It s said of it 2 Chron. 24. 22. Thus Joash the King remembred not the kindnesse which Jehoiada his Father had done to him but slew his Son c. 5. Let it abase all such of you as in any unnatural 5. Such as are treacherous or inhumane to parents way either betray your good Parents to persecutors malice of which Matth. 13. 12. The Children shall cause the Parents to be put to death which must needs be a double death to them in a manner as in a sort that was to Christ to be betrayed by one of his own Children as it were One of you saith he to his Disciples shall betray one Matth. 26. Or if you be any other waies inhumane towards your Parents by striking them though not mortally which God maketh death to such monsters of mankind Exod. 21. 15. He that striketh Father or Mother shall die And what then will be the doom of paricides who strike them mortally Absalom would have done it â— Sam. 16. 11. He sought his Fathers life and