of it more wayes than one Oh that children would think of it and do like service of love for them then would there never be such grumbling with children as there is with too many as if every thing were too much or too harsh which they are put to do for supply of parents wants Parents never needed urging or forcing no nor their childrens calling upon them to be doing for them and their good let children do like for like let none parents or others need to urge you with many arguments or compel you by blowes or mulcts to be doing this compensatory service but let it be as a very naturall fruit arising freely from an innate principle and root within Parents needed no eye of man of their children or of others to look after them and see that they were diligent in their service of love for their children no when none were by as well as when any were present still they plied it hard for the supply of their childrens wants for their childrens welfare let children do like for like very servants to Masters should not do eye service Col. 3. 22. and it would be a shamefull and loathsome thing most of all in children to do eye service for parents 3. Parents were constant and unwearied in Constantly and unweariedly their labours for their childrens good they thought nothing they did or could do too much or scarce enough for their childrens good Oh that children would but give like for like to parents then would there never be such counting upon so much and so much which children have done for parents Many a poor honest parent hath even worn out themselves and wasted and exhausted their very strength in their service of love for their children and it would be a monstrous thing if children should not now do all that ever they can to maintain these their decayed decrepit exhausted parents I had almost said servants 4 Parents in their service of love on behalf of their children condescended to meanest offices and imployments such indeed they were especially when their children were little were diseased or many wayes bodily distempered and ill at ease that none else but tender hearted parents Fathers and Mothers would have done for them let children do like for like for parents as they may have use or stand in need of them As in the parable oft made use of in this discourse the Son when come to rights he was willing to be as his Fathers servant yea the meanest of servants as his hired servant Luke 15. 17 18 19. 2. In being a comfort to them in their sorrows and sufferings A second way of such grateful recompencing of parents is by being a comfort to them against their sorrows and sufferings As when parents meet with any sad losses crosses reproaches persecutions for Christs sake when exiled imprisoned or the like let children cheer them up all they can Gen. 5. 29. Lamech called his Sons name Noah saying this Son shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed Let children be as so many Noahs comforts and comforters against whatsoever miseries or calamities which may befall their parents Ruth 4. 15. this shall be a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thy old age the grand-child Boaz must be his grand-mothers cherisher succourer and supporter under God against all her faintings sinkings and troubles of her elder times when that sad news of Josephs supposed death came to Jacobs eares All his Sons and daughters rose up to comfort him Children are branches of their Parents as of a Vine Psal 128. 3. thy wife shall be as the fruitfull Vine by thy house side whose branches yeeld such grapes such fruit from which choycest wine is made whereby mans heart is cheared quickned and inlarged let children then yeeld such chearing quickening strengthning and inlarging fruit to their parents when sad when their Spirits are ready to fail and sink within them through troubles inward or outward As other wine or fruit of the Vine is for those that are of a heavy heart Prov. 31. 6. So children as children as receiving a being from their parents as of the Vine of which they came are to yeeld comforting fruit especially to their sorrowfull parents children should carry it so and be such to sad and suffering parents as they may make up many other losses and crosses to them As it was said of Ruth whose story is often occasionally made use of in this discourse Ruth 4. 15. for thy daughter-in-Law which loveth thee which is more to thee than seven Sons hath born him Naomi had lost her two dear Sons yea but Ruth is such a succourer and supporter and comforter to her that she is instead of many Sons that way to her Eve loseth her hopefull Son Abel and her wound is the greater in that his brother Cain murthered him yea but Seth is given her as one appointed of God to be another seed to her instead of Abel whom his brother Cain slew Gen. 4. 25. she looketh for all that good and comfort from him which Abel might have ministred to her and so doubtless she found it made good to her children in this also must vicem rependere pay and give in like for like Ah the bowels of parents towards children when any evill or calamity befalleth them when any way ill at ease when sad through-outward or inward troubles or pressures they put their souls in their souls stead they would not suffer them to lie grieving and wasting themselves with grief if with all their wisdom and grace and ability they had inward or outward they could redress the same when their children were litle such comforts and cordials were parents unto them and when their children are adult they were the same to them let children then repay like for like to their grieved afflicted parents If to him that is melting away with trouble as that Hebrew word in Job 6. 14. signifieth such expressions of sympathy should be shewed from a friend to his friend much more from a child to a parent if a brother be born for adversity Prov. 17. 17. Is it not one end of a childs being born from his parents to be a help and succour to them in adversity Children should be as eyes to their dim-sighted parents as strength to them when weak Feet to them when lame nourishers to them when in need of meat and refreshment sweet melody to them to make their very hearts dance within them and a very flaffe to their age as it is said that Scipio Africanus was unto his Father If Christ himself account so of each of his Disciples who do the will of his Father to be his Brother Sister and Mother not alone in the faithfull respects and service of the love of such to him-ward but in respect of his own respects and services of love succour and sympathy towards them as of a
Covenant may be attended by their Children and so the whole Covenant fully effected in the promised mercies of it also to them and to their Children Now this duty of good education of Children being so weighty and being a furtherance to the other duty in hand even Childrens beeing an honour Rules concerning good education of Children to their Parents every way besides former things occasionally hinted Let us here propound 1. Some few rules about it 2. Some motives to it As for Rules about education 1. Let Parents wisely observe and pry into the 1. Observe the genious bent and capacity of Children genius as I may call it and bent and capacity of their Children which way they are most biased in their spirits and of what they are most capable Prov. 20. 11. Even that Child is known by his doings whether his work be pure or whether it be right that is as is well noted in the Synod Bible Children shew betimes whether they be inclined to good waies or bad and must be dealt withall accordingly When Themistocles was a very boy Plutarch tells us that he would not play with the boys but compose their differences So Alexander the great when he was a boy at play with other boys and was asked whether he would wrestle after the manner of the Olympick games yes gladly saith he If I might wrestle with a King Such speaking signes gave they of an Heroick and Princely Spirit when they were little and so many others do no doubt in other things 2. When Parents by wise observations do perceive 2. Carry it wisely and suitably towards them as that their disposition requireth the bent and bias of their Children now let them carry it towards them accordingly If they be strongly bent to some vice more than others as Lying as it is said of some Psalm 58. 3. They go astray from their birth speaking lies admonish them betimes in the evill of it represent to them what God speaketh in especiall wise against it what sad examples and sequels in Scripture and otherwise both in poynt of sin and in point of judgements are found thereof after which course taken then watch them the more narrowly and spare them not for it if they fall into lying again and do the like in case of a slandering disposition or of a venerious or lustfull disposition or a proud spirit shewing its lofty bent after gay apparell great and high things in the world or a covetous spirit shewing it self in expressions of a greedy having and craving spirit in them when Children in a gripple and nigardly temper and the like or a scoffing spirit or a profane spirit or an intemperate spirit in matter of meat and drink or a whimficall brain-sick disposition even in their Childhood and youth spare no seasonable rebukes or correction whereby to curb such vile dispositions in them seasonably and thoroughly Prov. 23. 13 14. With-hold not correction from the child thou shalt beat him and save his soul from hell and 22. 15. folly is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him It 's Gods ordinance for the seasonable and true redress of such evill dispositions and the cure of such distempers of nature If Cham had curb'd that slandring disposition earlier in his Son Canaan it had been better for them both if Isaac had seasonably curb'd Esau's voluptuous disposition Gen. 25. 25. And David Amnons lustfull disposition that mischief had not fallen out in both their Families mentioned Gen. 26. 35. and 2 Sam. 13. 1 2 4 15 17. If the Jewes had curb'd those buddings out of their sons and daughters pride or Josiah had done so with that of his Children the whole Land had not so sinned and smarted by it as it did Esay 3. 5 16 17. and Zeph. 1. 8. If Absoloms aspiring spirit had been seasonably observed and crushed by David in his child-hood and youth It had never grown so impetuous and mischievous as is spoken 2 Sam. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 11 12 13 c. It was those Jew parents horrid sin that they were covetous themselves and so rather cherished than curbed a covetous spirit in their Children untill the Lord seeing them all from the greatest to the least eldest to the youngest given to covetousness he undertaketh the punishing thereof to their cost Jer. 6. 13 c. If those parents who might well enough have discerned a jeering spirit in those boyes before it brake out so far as afterwards had seasonably curbd it in them the wild bears of the wood had never been such executioners of the Prophets just curse against them for that flout of theirs come up thou bald-head come up thou bald-head 2 Kings 2. 23 24. And doubtless that was not the first time that the blasphemous Son of the Israelitish woman mentioned Levit. 24. 10 11. had declared the profaness of his Spirit which if timely corrected and curbed It had not broken out in so capitall a way as then it did And I might say the like of all other folly or foolish dispositions which are in Childrens hearts naturally which as they outwardly appear if duly corrected and curbed they would be removed or driven far away Prov. 22. 15. If Children either by common or saving influences of the Spirit are more ingenuous spirits and of better and more hopefull dispositions Oh let parents as they discern the same incourage the same all the prudent and pious wayes that may be thus wise and gracious Rebeccah perceiving in her Son Jacob the specimen and signall tokens of a plain honest single open-hearted spirit she expresseth and enlargeth her love far more to him than to her Eldest Son Esau whom she perceived to be of a more haughty and voluptuous spirit Gen. 25. 27 28. and amongst other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tokens by which to Judge and accordingly to incourage such laudable ingenuity and hopefull disposition of Children or youth mind and observe the nature and scope of their questions and how ready they shew themselves thereby to search and seek after and to understand the best things and of weightier concernment to their souls as a worldly covetous frame of heart is discovered by answerable questions whence that character given of worldlings there be many that say who will shew us any good even any worldly good Psal 4. 6. and as their graceless spirit is described by their omission of enquiries and asking after God Esay 65. 1. So an inquisitive disposition after soul-matters in Children as a better and more hopefull Omen in them is to be incouraged by parents Exod. 12. 26. and 13. 24. Josh 4. 21. when thy Son shall ask thee in time to come what meaneth this or that then you shall say the Lord did thus and thus so let parents mind and encourage some better speeches which sometimes beyond expectation will fall from very Children those rarer speeches and answers of
the Jewes who taught the Sons who had Fathers and Mothers living and needing their help that yet they needed not to relieve them or to give ought to them but instead thereof either to give somthing to the Corban or treasury for temple-uses and that would exempt them and excuse them from the other work of relieving their Parents and so teaching them to deny to their Parents the Honour of recompence due to them they made the 5 th Commandement Honour thy Father and Mother void and of no force and Authority or place as Christ reasoneth Mark 7. 9. to 14. There are too many such like corrupters of Children not aloue amongst Papists who hold forth the same in substance which is there instanced in as might be shewed in their Principles who would have men give away their whole estates to Religious uses as they call them and so dis-enable themselves to relieve their Parents in what need soever they may stand thereof they would also have young Men and Women without Parents Consent to become their Votaries and when once such no way to Minister to their Parents any more though sick or otherwise needing their Childrens help but I fear there are too many other petty Antichristian Spirits in these daies who by other erronious tenents wherein they pretend to be for Christ but are indeed against Christ they leaven their Disciples and such as they can subtilly draw after them with a Spirit of Alienation even from their own good Parents if they will not be of their corrupt Judgments and opinions but as those seducers among the Jewes notwithstanding their goodly pretences to Religion are branded by Christ to be Hypocrites according to that of Solomon Prov. 11. 9. The Hypocrite with his mouth or the corrupt principles and perswasions uttered by his mouth destroyeth his Neighbour And as Christ charged them to be such bold and high-minded sinners as by those corrupt speeches of theirs did what in them lay make void the Commands of God so doubtless are such like seducers to be justly charged with the like guilt of prevailing and ruling Hypocrisie and rebellion against the Lord. And Jesus Christ who when on earth did doctrinally charge and impeach them in such sort will assuredly at the last day Judicially sentence men and Angels for the same wickednesse if they seasonably seriously and sincerely repent not of the same As for others who by their Counsels as well as scandalous examples are Corrupters as of others so of youth also and as in other matters so in this which respecteth the honour which they ow to their Parents these shew themselves to be the Children of Belial or of the very Devill as of one who is amongst all yoaks in Church or State or Familie they were Children of Belial in 1 Sam. 10. 26 27. who despised Saul that Father of the Common-wealth of Israel and they are no better who act or teach contempt of Fathers of Families As Elies Sons those ring-leaders in such wayes of dishonour of Fathers of Families 1 Sam. 2. 25. they are called men of Belial vers 12. Such Corruptors of youth in the matter of Honour due to Parents be their profession of Religion what it may be or give they never such good hopes of the truth thereof as one while Achitophel did who was Davids equall all one heart with him as he thought his guide his most intimate acquaintance one with whome he took sweet Counsell in sacred as well as Civill things and walked to the house of God in Company with him Psal 55. 13 14 Yet if a Counsellour to Absolom a Son in way of high dishonour to David his own Father as he was in that Counsel he gave Absolom to defile his Fathers bed 2 Sam. 17. 20 21 22 23. and to seek his Fathers very life as well as throne 2 Sam. 17. 1 2 3 4 21. I say such a vile Counsellour of Children any way to dishonour their Parents he is no doubt a desperate Apostate ripe for the very Imprecation of a godly Parents as in Davids case 2 Sam. 15. 31. Lord turn the Counsel of Achitophel into foolishnesse Such Corrupters of youth also as well of others you are surely impenitent obdurate persons persons of a seared Conscience past hope of good and refuse persons in Gods sight Jer. 6. 28 29 30. They are Brass and Iron they are all corrupters the bellowes are burnt the Led is consumed of the fire the Founder melteth in vaine for the wicked are not plucked away reprobate silver shall men call them because the Lord hath rejected them You are soul-murtherers Prov. 12. 5 6. The Counsels of the wicked are deceit The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood even the very souls of men Prov. 11. 9. An Hypocrite with his mouth or with the words Counsels and principles uttered by his mouth destroyeth his Neighbour even his Neighbours soul also and shall such bloody and deceitfull men such crafty soul-murtherers escape no Assuredly If sowing discord amongst brethren be singled out from the rest as one speciall thing which is an abomination to the Lord Prov. 6. 16 19. compared O how abominable is this unto the Lord for you by your vile corrupting speeches tenents or Counsels to lay the seeds of Alienation of Childrens hearts from their own dear Parents As the City or civill polity and society is too oft overthrown by the mouth or corrupt speeches principles and Counsels uttered by the mouth of the wicked Prov. 11. 11. So is the Family also And shall such enemies to mankind escape unpunished no assuredly Prov. 17. 20. He that hath a perverse tongue to give such like or any other perverse Counsel falleth into mischief Prov. 13. 2. As a man a good man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth or by the good words principles or Counsels proceeding from his mouth so by way of opposition the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence they shall be paid in their own coin and reap the fruit of all the cursed speeches or Counsels which proceeded from their mouths Prov. 10. 31. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdome namely in those whom they instruct rebuke perswade or Counsel but the froward tongue which uttereth naughty counsels and tenents c. shall be cut out And commonly such bad Counsellours of Sons or Daughters unto any waies of dishonour to their Parents they come to dishonourable and vile if not desperate ends as did that bad Counsellour Achitophel who dyed by a halter but which was worst of all he was his own hangman 2 Sam. 17. 23. And O! that all bad Counsellours of Children against their Parents might in time take warning by that and many other dreadfull examples mentioned in Histories of the sad ends of such like Counsellours A second use of the point may serve for examinaon whether any have or do rightly Honour their Parents This is the rather to be considered in that there is a
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
hath spoken so bad of me Plutarch surely he knoweth cause enough to do so else he would not have done it an imitable example of an heathen but ingenious Child to his Father 5. Improve choycer seasons of getting good 5. Improve seasons of soul-good that you may come to be true Honourers of God and then no doubt but you will be Honourers of Parents make God only to be your God first worship him aright and sanctifie his name c. and then you will Honour Father and Mother Levit. â—9 2. Be ye holy saith God as I am holy and then vers 3. chargeth fear yea every man his Father and his Mother be pious to God-wards and you will be pious towards Parents the fear of God is the beginning of such wisdome also Prov. 10. 5. As he that sleepeth in harvest the season of reaping good soul-good also is a Son that causeth shame to Parents also so by rule of opposition he that gathereth in summer is a wise Son or one that will cause Honour to Parents as well as himself or others 6. Set often before your eyes studdy much and 6. Eye good examples this way make utmost improvement of choycer Scripture examples of persons eminen t for honor of parents as that of Shem Abraham Isaack Jacob Joseph yea Jesse himself Luke 2. 51. 7. Inure your selves betimes to Honour Fathers and Mothers without Authority as Aged persons 7. Honour aged persons Levit. 19. 32. Honour the face of the Old man Teleuchus being asked why at Sparte the younger Plut arch sort use to rise up before the aged answered that by giving Honour to others they might learn to Honour their own Parents CHAP. III. Of Honour in speciall due to Parents and that in a direct way and therein of Honour of respect and love due to Parents HAving spoken of Honour in generall required by the 5. Commandement from Children to Parents we come now to speak of Honour in speciall due to them first of that which is in a direct way and therein according to the Method propounded in the first Chapter 1. Of Honour of respect and love due to Parents that Honour is so taken in Scripture we there gave Scripture instances That honour of respect to Parents is due proved and need not now repeat them we may then note as a branch of the general point That Children are bound to Honour their Parents with the Honour of choycest respect and love Honour thy Father and Mother saith Exod. 20. 12. But having them in choycest respect and love is Honouring of them say other Scriptures therfore Children must most highly respect and love their Parents For our better handling of this branch of Honour let us only shew wherein this commanded respect and love to Parents doth consist or what is required of Children in this that they are required so highly to respect and love their Parents and then afterwards apply it by way of use To the former we answer that Children 1. They are to be delighted greatly in their This respect consisteth 1. In delighting Parents Fathers presence to be much affected with the very sight of a Father or Mother See how Joseph plotteth to have his Father near him when he could not be so near his Father Gen. 45. 10. Thou shalt be near to me c. And when he commeth to the sight of his Father after some years inforced absence of his from his Father he 's even overjoy'd as we say to see him He is as one transported for he falleth on his Fathers neck having first humbly presented himself to him Gen. 46. 29. And he wept for very extasie of joy on his neck a good while his heart was so overcome with strength of affections that for a good space he can silently weep but not utter a word that we read of till afterwards till his good old Father first brake that deep silence vers 30. and then Joseph also speaketh vers 31. As Children are to their Parents the desire of their eyes and that whereupon they set their minds their Sons and their Daughters Ezek. 24. 25. So should Parents be to Children Jacob had enough if his Son Joseph be alive and well he is content to die if God so pleased Gen. 46. 30. Let the sight of absent long absent Parents be to Children even as dear and precious and delighting as their very lives if not more as it is in that precedentall love and respect of the genuine Children of the Father of Spirits Oh the sight of his face the injoyment of his presence especially after some space of the want of his blessed presence what is it not to such Childrens hearts Such for the nature at least of our respect and love should be Childrens love to their Parents 2. They are not forward to part with 2. Backwardnesse to paâ—â— wâ—â—h them their Parents but as urged in a sort forced by any speciall call or providence of God and if sometimes called to be absent from them for a time yet to be longing in a moderate and regular way after their Company againe Both these paticulars are clear in instances the former in Ruth when her Sister Orpha left her Mother with tears in her eyes Ruth 1. 14. And they lift up their voice and wept again and Orpha kissed her Mother in Law but Ruth clave to her yea when urged by Naomi to return after her Sister-in-Law vers 15. Yet saith she vers 19. Intreat me not to leave thee for whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodged I will lodge She will share with her in wealth and woe and nothing but death shall part them vers 17. 2 King 19. 20. Elisha must needs go and kiss his Father and Mother and then he will foolow Elijah God will have the poore captive Woman when her Master liketh her for his Wife yet to bewaile her Father and Mother for a Moneth Deut. 21. 13. Such loathness God will have Children to express to part with dear Parents as Parents are wonderous loath to part with their Children living or dying unless urged by Gods Call like good old Jacob first Gen. 42. 38. My Son saith he of Benjamin shall not go down with you for his Brother is dead and he is left alone if mischief befall him by the way ye go then shall ye bring down my gray haires with sorrow to the grave and Cap. 43. 22 c. And their Father Israel said if it must needs be so then do this c. So should Children not part with their Parents till they must needs till God some way calleth them from them as the genuine Children of God such is their love to him that it is as death to part with him though but for a time Oh if it might be their Fathers pleasure they would never be from him nor have him from them So in the nature of our love to Parents should it be expressed
unnaturall wretches as you are your ruine hasteth let unnaturall Absolom's end be a warning to all such 2. It serves to reprove Parents who by your 2. Of Parents some way occasioning alienation of Childrens hearts from them own sins lay stumbling blocks in your Childrens way to tempt them to unnaturallness in affection or alienation of affection or any abatement of that Honour of respect and love which they owe to you for though it be the Child 's great sin to be so alienated in affection to Parents yet you that are Parents may do too much to occasion the same as 1. By committing some heinous sin against God against your Parents or against others and 1 By some grosse sin of theirs against God so bring this as a curse upon your Children to be so unnaturall as we shewed in the unnaturall sins of the Canaanites mentioned Lev. 20. 9 12 c. to the 23. as a just fruit of the curse upon Canaan and upon Cham his Father It was unnaturallness in Absolom to take up the sword against his own Father and to defile his Father bed openly before all 2 Sam. 15. 16. but it is no more then God by Nathan threatned David with for his Murther and Adultery that he would raise up evill to him out of his own house 2 Sam. 12. 9 10 11. 2. By unnaturall carriages towards your 2. By too unnaturall carriages towards Children Children for there are too often too many of such also found even amongst professing Parents or too many Churlish harsh and strange carriages bitter and reviling speeches unmercifull and cruell correctings and punishings of them any of these are apt to sowr Childrens Spirits and to breed alienation of heart from you that are Pareets as Labans Daughters said of their Father Laban in some heat of Spirit Gen. 31. 14 15. Is there yet any portion in our Fathers house they care not how soon they are gon farther from him are we not counted of him strangers 3. By too much greedinesse after the world 3. By Covetous pinchings making thereby your Children more like slaves for your profits then Children as basely putting them off when you have serv'd your turns by thē this made Labans Daughters speak more harshly of their father took off their hearts somewhat from him Ge. 31. 14 15. He hath sold us say they hath quite devoured our money Prov. 15. 27. He that is greedy of gaine troubleth his own house this way also as well as other waies by breeding disturbances and distances even twixt them and their Children and their Children and themselves 4. By breaking just promises made respecting 4. By breaking just promises with Children your Children especially in matters of disposall of them in marriage as when Laban basely breaketh his promise of Rachel to Jacob Ge. 29 18 19 25. his daughters harts could not get clear of these old matters Ge. 31. 14 15. He that sold us c. what portiō have we in his house when children are crost in their just desires as when Merab Sauls daughter is promised to David 1 Sam. 28. 17. just when she was to have had him then she is given to Adriel v. 19. This must needs breed ill blood yea when Parents will force Children to break strongest engagements of love lawfully made to those they would have had as when Michal Sauls Daughter loveth David and is given to him 1 Sam. 18. 27 28. and yet afterward given to Phalti 1 Sam. 25. 44. or when Sampsons Wife is given away by his Father-in-Law to another Judg. 15. 2. this provoked him to seek revenge of that wrong vers 3. 6. Or when you that are Parents will be forcing of matches for sinister and low ends upon your Children crosse to the very bent of their minds as Saul to cause his Daughter Merab to have Adriel when she was to have had David sad have been the mischiefes of this in unnaturall acts of Children against very Parents stirred up therein by such cross acting of Parents One de Sales a French-man stifled his Father a grave Counsellour in Tholous in France because he would not consent to his marriage with one de la Hay So in Fidelia and Caelestina too Italian Ladies who crossed by their Father in their matching to their minds they conspire his death and got him murthered 5. By misplacing your respects upon unworthy 5. By mispleacing affections upon unworthy Children Children as Isaac upon Esau who proved one that little respected his Father witness his crosse matchings to the grief of his Fathers heart Gen. 25. 28. Isaac loved Esau because he eat of his venison Cap. 26. 34 35. Esau took Judith and Balhshema which were a grief of heart to Isaac and Rebeckah David misplaced his respect upon Absolom and loved him too well and more than other his Children and he proved the most unnaturall wretch to him of them all 2 Sam. 15. Cristina a Switzer she inordinately affected her Son Maurice would hardly believe any evill report against him though never so true and this Fellow afterward turned a paricide and by a wile drew his Mother to look into a deep wel and there threw her in where she perished Use 2. For exhortation A second use of this branch of the generall point is for exhortation 1. To Children to cherrish strengthen and inlarge 1 To Children to cherish naturall respects of love to Parents your respect and love to your Parents wherein I may say as Aristotle doth in his Ethicks l. 8. Cap. 16. speaking of the honour due to God and Parents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No man can give them the honour whereof they are worthy only he that to his utmost doth endeavour to give them highest respect he may be called pious Children are never able to aequalize Motives to it or match Parents love to their Children Parents love to Children is as to so many pieces of themselves but Childrens love to Parents is as of those who come from them So that Parents love to Children descendeth as from springs or Fountaines to the streames issuing from them and therefore runneth down more strongly freely and uncessantly but Childrens love to Parents is ascending therefore moveth more slowly and gently and needeth more help in its motion Aristotle observeth well that of which any thing is generated is by a greater and more forcible necessity nearly knit to that which is generated of it than that which is born and generated is to that which begot it Eth. l. 8. Cap. 14. Parents love also hath the start of time to that of their Childrens for Parents love their Children as soon as they are born but Children love their Parents and respect them when they come to understanding and are of some years Parents prevented Children in their love Children can never overtake them therein only must follow them as hard in the way of love as they can Children when little
to others To them thence those titles of Honour expressed in childrens speeches to Parents as in Rachels to Laban Gen. 31. 35. let not my Lord be displeased So in Isaac's to Abraham Gen. 22. 7. my Father c. So in Davids to Saul 1 Sam. 24. 11. moreover see my Father c. And cap. 26. 28. wherefore doth my Lord thus pursue after his Servant c. So in speaking of them Prov. 31. 28. her children rise up aad call her blessed 5. To attend duly to their counsells 5. They are to attend reverently to their counsels or instructions Prov. 4. 1. hear ye children he instruction of a Father and attend to know understanding and vers 20. My Son attend to my words 6. They must meekly and humbly subject 6. To subject to their Corrections themselves to their seasonable corrections Heb. â—2 9. if Fathers of our flesh correcting us we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits correcting of us and live 7. To express filial shame and blushing to Parents 7. To blush and be ashamed of faults upon occasion of faults and sins against them especially when Parents deal with children for the same the Greek word in Heb. 12. 9. we gave them reverence it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properly signifies we turned away our face by reason of shame Numb 22. 14. if her Father had spit in her face should she not be ashamed Hitherto belong humble confessions to Parents with shame and blushing of unworthy acts of children against them especially Like the Prodigall in the parable who Luke 15. 21. saith to his Father Father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be call'd thy Son in this sense is the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used Company not with them that they may be ashamed even outwardly also confess and take holy shame for their scandals So Tit. 2. 8. that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evill thing to say of you 2. Inward Reverence is due from Children to Or inward as inwardly to fear Parents Levit. 19. 3. ye shall fear every one his Mother and his Father and so Children 1. They are inwardly to own the very persons 1. Their persons and parentall relations and Authority of their Parents ye shall fear every man his Mother and Father that is their very persons relations and Authority 2. They are inwardly to awe the commandâ— 2. Their words reproofs threats and corrections of Parents thiâ— is filial and not slavish fear Jer. 35. 6. Jonadab's posterity even when tempted to do otherwise yet the awe of his commands made them not to dare to transgress them 3. They are inwardly to fear to lose parents favour 3. To lose their favour or to incur their just displeasure by giving them any just offence as Jacob Gen. â—7 12. My Father peradventure will feel me and I shall seem to him as a deceiver and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing 4. They are to fear to cross any weighty intents 4. To cross their just intents purposes or desires of parents especially when in sacred matters so Jephtah his daughter Judg. 11. 36. and she said My Father if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth 5. They are to fear that trouble or heart-grief 5. To grieve them should be occasioned to parents if they can prevent it So Saul 1 Sam. 9. 5. Come let us return lest my Father leave caring for the Asses and take thought for us So Judah Gen. 44. 34. how shall I go to my Father and the Lad be not with me lest peradventure I see the evill that shall come upon my Father 6. They are to fear to fall short of their blessing 6. To fall short of their blessing and benefit of parents prayers and of their godly parentall wishes and Counsels hence when Joseph heard that his Father Jacob was so sick he made such haste to him carrying his sons with him that he and they might not miss of Jacobs blessing even rude Esau was amazed when he heard that his Father had blessed his brother instead of him Gen. 27. 34. hence that bitter cry Bless me even me also O my Father 7. They are also to be inwardly as well as outwardly 7. To be inwardly also ashamed of faults before them ashamed that parents have just cause of distaste against them at any time so giving reverence to parents Heb. 12. 9. may according to the Greek word used there be rendered being ashamed before them hence the derivative from that verb is used 1 Cor. 6. 5. and 15. 34. to signifie shame inward and outward as there I speak this to your shame even of heart also So here the Awfull childe like that prodigall occasioning just distaste in his Father against him he is inwardly ashamed of it and therefore confesseth his sin against his Father and unworthiness to be called his Son All which is clearly seen in the presidentiall filial fear of Gods children to their heavenly Father they inwardly fear his Fatherhood and Fatherly Authority his commands reproofs threats and corrections the loss of his favour and incurring of his displeasure by their offending of him at any time they are affraid to cross his mind in any thing or to grieve his Spirit themselves or that it should be grieved by others they are affraid to fall short of his Fatherly blessing and are inwardly ashamed and even confounded that at any time they offend displease grieve or provoke him The use of this branch of the point serveth Use 1. For reproof 1. Of childrens irreverence 1. For Reproof 1. Of Children for all that rudeness and irreverence of yours towards your parents as if you had forgotten that you were children or as if principles of piety yea of morality were extinct in you And this alas how common an evill is it in children even of professours how rudely do they sit before their parents and how irreverently do they carry it in their gestures before them how loud will too many be gabling laughing and flouting even in their parents presence how forward are they to prevent or interrupt their parents in speaking or to answer them again if rebuked by them whereas those in Job time even Princes and Nobles refrained talking in his presence or whil'st he as a civill Father of the state was speaking Job 29. 9 10. and vers 22. after his words they spake not again Elihu when in the presence of Fathers to him in Age is affraid to speak much more to interrupt them whil'st speaking Job 32. 4 6 7. And dare children word it so before their parents Again how over-familiar do too many children make themselves with their parents as if hail-fellow well met as they say
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
filial obedience as Solomon saith of him Prov. 4. 3 4. I was my Fathers Son and he taught me also saying keep my Commandements and live but v. 10 11. He records other words of his Father saying thus I have taught thee in the way of wisdome and so in this of filiall obedience as vers 4. I have led thee in the right paths and how obedient a Son Solomon proved let his works declare in his exact observing all his Fathers mind in that of building and furnishing of the Temple 1 Chro. 22. and Chap. 29. with 2 Chro. 5. and 6. and in that solemn charge of his to him touching exemplary justice upon Joah and Shimei 1 King 2. 5 6 7 8 9. which he accordingly executed v. 31 32 33 34 35 36. 44 45 46. and in the great charge of his Father to keep the Lords charge c. v. 3. and Chap. 3. 3. Solomon loved the Lord walking in the statutes of David his Father The Rechabites parents which first yeelded filial obedience to their Father Rechab and taught their children practically as well as preceptively filiall obedience had a posterity successively by that means of parents doing the like from parent to child famous some ages after for filiall obedience 3. By inuring children to obedience to God 3. Inure your children to wayes of obedience unto the Lord be you frequently curbing their disobedience to Gods commands Abraham who was famous for the Lords attestation of his care to improve his authority this way in laying his command upon his houshold to walk in the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. as he had an obedient houshold of his servants in the relation of a master Gen. 14. 23 24. Not one of them offers to plunder to the worth of a shooe-latchet Abraham having vowed to the contrary so had he as obedient a child to him in the relation of a Father who laid down his neck to the very block is willingly bound to become Gods sacrifice at his Fathers command Gen. 22. 9 10. Jonadab who laid the weight of his parentall authority upon his children in matters savouring of an heavenly weaned and mortified Spirit had a most obedient posterity Parents are injoyned to lay out the weight of thelr authority this way Deut. 32. 46. You shall command your children to do all the words of this Law This was Davids practice 1 Chro. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart c. And so 1 King 2. 3. and Prov. 4. 5 6 7. he said to me get wisdome get understanding c. Jos 24. 25. I and my house will serve the Lord Josuah dareth undertake it God hath given Josuah experience what parentall and masterlike commands also can do that way to bring them under obedience and service to the Lord and so to him also as a Father of the Family injoyning and requiring such serving of God 4. Use holy wisdome in giving your parentall 4. By using pathetical words in giving out commands to them commands to your children namely in the most moving expressions which may help on affectionate attendance and observance thereof thus good Bathshebah when she would draw Solomon to follow her gracious directions even in his place of a King to which he was devoted see how she circleth him with her pathetical expressions Prov. 31. 1. c. The prophecy which his Mother taught him v. 2. What my Son and what the Son of my womb and what the Son of my vowes hence that parenthesis in Jacobs charge to his Son Joseph Gen. 48. 7. And as for me when I came from Padan Aram Rachel Josephs deer Mother died in the Land of Canaan in the way when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath c. He would in a holy wise insinuate and get within Josephs heart hereby And then his eares and heart will be open to all he hath to give him in charge 5. Do you readily yeeld to the just desires even 5. By yeelding to childrens just desires of your children and it will notably prevail with your children most readily to yeeld to any just commands of yours As Caleb who giveth to his daughter Achsah the upper and nether springs at her request Iud. 1. 15. As it was good counsell given to that Father of the Common-weal Rehoboam 2 Chro. 10. 3 4 7. to be kind to his people to please them speak good words to them in way of answer to their request and they would be his servants for ever So is it in this case of Fathers of Families wise and seasonable condescendencies sometimes in parents to children It winneth their hearts and ingageth them to constant obedience 6. Do you also sometimes hearken to the good 6. By hearkening sometimes to childrens good advice advice which even your children do seasonably and in a suitable manner give to you and this also will exceedingly win your childrens hearts to an obedientiall submission to your just commands Thus did Terab Abrahams Father yeeld to Abrahams advise in the matter of his remove from Vr in Mesopotamia to Haram towards Canaan as Act. 7. 1 2 3 4. compared with Gen. 11. 31 32. and 12 1. sheweth So did Rahabs parents follow her advice they repaired to her house when Jericho was besieged by Josuah and being there they stirred not out of dores according as the spies had Counselled Rahab her self to look that it might be so done Josh 2. 18 19. compared with Chap. 6. 23. 2. Exhortation to Children to yeeld such obedience 2. This use serveth for exhortation to Children that you would be stirred up to the duty of honour of filiall obedience to your parents else all other outward expressions of respect to them are but bare Complements this is in speciall sort a reall honouring of them As it is in the children of God in reference to their heavenly Father It is more than all formalities of offering sacrifices to him or the like as he said to Saul 1 Sam. 15. 22. Behold to obey is better then sacrifice and to harken then the fat of Ramms As the contrary disobedience is as iniquity and Idolatry verse 23. So is it in the case of the Children of men their obedience to Parents is all in all their disobedience and stubbornesse to Parents is vilest iniquity Now the better to further Children in giving this honour of filial obedience we shall Motives to obedience to Parents propound 1. Some motives 2. Some helps to it As for motives thereunto let it be considered 1. That the Lord himself doth highly honour such as honour their parents by honour of obedience 1. God and Men honour such as yeeld it and he ordereth for them speciall honour from others Prov. 1. 8 9. The instruction of a Father and the Law of a Mother harkened unto he saith
a very Father to her Hester 2. 7. she sendeth him word Chap. 4. 16. that she and her maids will solemnly fast and consequently pray too on his and his peoples behalf and so I will saith she go in to the King which yet is not according to the Law and if I perish I perish she will then improve her utmost interest in heaven and earth come what will come of it but she will if possible help out Mordecai and the rest at this dead lift So Joseph he improved his interest in Pharaoh for his Father Jacobs welfare Gen. 47. 1. he told him that his Father and all his and all he had were come and were in the Land of Goshen c. upon which Pharaoh v. 6. biddeth Joseph to place them there Rahab improved her interest not alone in the spies to procure her parents and kinreds safety and welfare as well as her own Josh 2. 12 13. but in the Lord himself also for the same end for this action and success is ascribed also to Rahabs Faith in Heb. 11. 31. with 5. In supplying their outward wants yet so as it be honourably plentifully readily and freely to their content out of the very best and in some cases before themselves Josh 2. We heard but now also what improvement David made in the King of Moab on behalf of his parents and what use Christ the Son of David made of his interest in John the Apostle for his Mother verily good parents did as much with God and men too many and many a time on the behalf of their children as might be shewed in Scripture examples and children cannot do less than repay unto them like for like 5. Which especially we shall presse in this part of the discourse Let children in way of gratefull recompence communicate to their parents of the blessings of this life which God vouchsafeth them according as their parents at any time may need the same Paul in 1 Tim. 5. 4. doth in speciall sort look at this as one way of gratefull requitall of parents when as for instance the childrens Mother is some poor Ancient helpless widdow one that might have charged the Church but that God had given her Children as well as Nephews and they in the first place must learn the gratefull art of maintaining her and of supplying of such a Mother-widdows wants for which end mind we the Apostles words But if any widdow have children or Nephews not let her as if speaking of a Mothers duty to children or kindred but let them learn as speaking of the children firstly and nextly of the Nephews to shew kindness at home and to requite their parents The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in the plurall number and so not agreeing with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the widdow which is the singular but with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 children rather being plurall which clearly evinceth that the scope of the place is to shew not what is the Mother-widdows duty to their children but what is the childrens duty to the Mother-widdow namely as vers 16. To relieve the Mother-widdows and by the light of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used for relieving parents v. 16. and that in v. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used for requiting parents we may have much help to clear this particular now in hand the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth let him abundantly supply their wants or let him minister enough to them or what is sufficient for them or that which is to just content according also as in Greek Authors that word is used but I forbear instances In Scripture the simple verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used Joh. 14. ◠for it sufficeth shew us the Father and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it sufficeth and 2 Cor. 12. 9. my grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is sufficient for thee and Matth. 25. 9. lest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there be not enough for us and you In Heb. 13. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Let us be content with what we have and the like use of it is in other Scriptures and this word used in 1 Tim. 5. 16. for the Churches relief of their officed widdows sheweth that it must be honourable for so in v. 3. It s said Honour them that are widdows indeed It is then such a relief as is in honorem in way of honour of the widdows and if each good and christian child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must in such sort relieve his Mother-widdow then they must do it honourably or in honour of them as a part of this Honour thy Father and thy Mother in an honourable way yea they must do it abundantly sufficiently and to their just content but more happily of these by and by in the manner of doing it Hitherto also some interpreters refer that 1 Tim. 5. 8. who so provideth not for his own and especially them of his own house hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel as a threat and so forcible argument to sway that such should not be maintained upon the Churches charge which may be maintained by their own referring this not so much to the wanton widdows which waste that which should maintain them and theirs as to the children of their widdow-Mothers whose children should take care to provide for them as their own lest they incur this sad censure of persons denying that faith which they do profess and of persons who are worse than infidels And here the force of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taketh place Parents took paines and care night and day and all that ever Gods providence otherwise cast in upon them all still was that their house especially children might be comfortably and sufficiently provided for and that to their just content as Father Jacob said Gen. 30. 30. When shall I provide for my own house Let children then in parents shiftless conditions vicem rependere take their turn of repayment of like for like to Parents Parents according to their childrens needs and wants and their own ability did supply their children with Food Rayment Physick Housing Lodging Attendance and the like In sickness as well as health In all their bodily ayles and infirmities their persons and estates were subservient to them yea sometimes when through infirmity they were froward and distempered in their spirits let children do the like for parents let them provide for their own parents especially what is meet for them in all respects Parents did seasonably provide all needfull supplies for children and did not procrastinate but took the first opportunity to do it for them let children do as much for parents when they need their help and supply Parents did all cheerfully and freely they grudged their children nothing they had nothing they did for their succour and supply Oh that children would repay parents herein also like for like do what they do for them according as they need them freely and cheerfully without the least regreeting
man is made one of the carachters of a man who though he may have a form of godliness yet he denieth the power of it and from whom Churches should turn away have nothing to do with them if not reject them from them if any such be membors of them 2 Tim. 3. 2. 5. Vnthankfull having a form of godlinesse but denying the power of it from such turn away and if so with ungrateful persons to other men it s much The great evill of it and in it more so with ungratefull children It s noted as a vile part in that ungratefull Butler one upon whom Joseph had such compassion when he was sad of whose dream Joseph had given so good and effectuall an interpretation Gen. 40. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 21. that as v. 23. yet did not the chief Butler remember Joseph but forgate him how much viler a thing is this for children not to remember their afflicted parents when they themselves are inlarged The Prophet by way of allusion comparing the Church to a Mother and her members to Children bringeth it as a very monstrous thing Esay 51. 18. There is none to guide her among all the Sons she hath brought forth neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all that she hath brought up so that it were a very monstrous thing if a naturall Mother having many children should have none to become her guide her staffe and stay in her misery and afflicted estate what is a more cutting killing blow to your parents hearts than to see you their children prove ingratefull to them David made nothing of Shemies cursing him in comparison of Absolom a Son out of his own bowels to rise up against him 2 Sam. 16. 11. your parents groundedly expect it from you their children that surely you would be helpfull to them in their age sickness weakness wants and the like and if hope deferred maketh the heart sick Prov. 13. 12. what doth hope disappointed Oh it wounded Jobs heart when in his affliction it was as Job 19. 14. my kindred saith he failed me and my familiar friends forgat me vers 15. they that dwell in my house and my maidens count me for a stranger I am an Alien in their sight Vers 16. I called my servant and he gave me no answer I intreated him with my mouth vers 17. my breath is strange to my wife though I entreated for the childrens sake of my own body and what a gash would such like ingratitude in his children if they had been living have given unto his troubled spirit it was sad enough to the man to meet with so much trouble and affliction both inwardly and outwardly Psal 88. but that was as the very core in his wounds vers 16. that Lover and friend was put far from him and much more is this ingratitude in children an intollerable grievance to your afflicted parents as it is an abominable wickedness also in the children If he said of other ingratitude Ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris call me unthankfull and call me any thing surely it may be much more verified here he that may justly be termed ungratefull to parents may be termed any thing that hath wickednesse in the notion of it he is one ingratefull to God ingratefull to man he is one that is unnaturall inhumane unfaithfull unmercifull hard-hearted proud covetous destitute of grace of a good conscience of godly wisdome and the knowledge of God of faith and hope in God of love of God and the fear of God each of which might be fully made good against such a one if I should enter that task but it shall suffice to name the same But to come to some particulars to be here reproved Let this abase such of you as have been and 1. It reproveth in speciall 1. Such as are a very grief to parents still are a very heart cut and grief to your parents by your lewd courses and carriages Like Esau and his wives of whom it s said Gen. 26. 35. they were a grief of mind unto Isaac and Rebeckah namely by their vile speeches and carriages and the like hence also that speech of Rebeckah Gen. 27. 46. I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. Hence Prov. 10. 1. a foolish or ungratious Son saith Solomon is the heaviness of his Mother and Prov. 17. 25. A foolish or ungracious Son is a grief to his Father and bitterness to her The evill and vileness of this that bare him but as Moses said to those ungratefull Children of God of old Deut. 32. 6. So may I by way of allusion say to all such Children of men do you thus requite your parents O foolish Children and unwise you should be the joy of your parents and such as make their hearts glad Pro. 23. 25. And do you make them sad you should be as Vine branches Psal 128. 3. yeelding sweet cheering clusters of grapes and are your grapes as it is said of them Deut. 32. 32. grapes of gall and are your clusters bitter or as v. 33. Is your wine the poyson of Dragons and the cruell venim of Aspes manifestly indangering the very lives of your parents have your parents wept so oft for you when you were sick or in pain or any way ill at ease or in any supposed danger of limb or life and is this your requitall to draw yet more tears from their eyes and sighes from their grieved oppressed hearts by your miscarriages have they joyed so oft so much in your birth in your growth in your education expecting that you would have been Abshaloms your Fathers peace Cains your parents portions and are you rather Benonies your Mother and Fathers sorrows have not your parents enough otherwise to grieve them in respect of their many inward ayles and wants in respect of many temptations heart burthens in respect of outward cumbers and crosses persecutions reproaches c but must you be adding to their afflictions if God took that so ill from the heathen that when he was but a little displeased with his people they helped forward the affliction Zeph. 1. 15. will he not be sore displeased as he saith here with you who thus help forward your Parents afflictions Have your parents given marrow to your bones and will you thus dry up their bones Prov. 17. 22. A broken Spirit dryeth the bones they gave you breath and will you by such grief break their wind as I may say bring them to that pass as they cannot stir up staires or down as we say but they have almost lost their breath make them go up and down panting and blowing for want of breath scarce able to speak a few words to God or men but they must make pawses ever and anon to recover breath they are so spent Prov. 15. 13. by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken that is as Junius noteth upon that place Veluti Anhelus suspiriosus efficitur
Senacheribs sons did it as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his God they smote him with the sword 2 King 19. 37. Surely the Law even all the Curses and Judgments of the Law must needs be the portion of such Paricides 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who so ill requite their tender-hearted Parents and causes of their lives A second use serveth for exhortation 1. To 2. Use of exhortation Parents Do you what lieth in you to further and look 1. To parents to further this gratitude in their Children 1. By leaving them the choycer blessings of God that you no way do any thing to hinder your children in this duty of gratefull recompencing of Parents for which end 1. Take speciall care to leave your children the good blessings of God respecting their souls welfare for this will lie as a strong ingagement upon your childrens hearts the rather gratefully to recompence you their Parents Thus God required of them of old that they should so carry it that they might leave the Land of Canaan a Type of blessings of an higher nature for an inheritance to their Children for ever The like is charged 2 Chron. 28. 8. This was the gratious care of the Fathers of the two tribes and half to detain their children in the way of Gods worship and fear and to prevent whatsoever might hinder or discourage their posterity from the same Josh 22. 25 26 27 28. And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing saying in time to come your children might speak to our Children saying what have you to do with the Lord God of Israel yee have no part in the Lord So shall your Children make our Children cease from fearing the Lord. Therefore we said let us now prepare to build us an altar not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifice but that it may be a witnesse between us and you and our generations after us that we might do the service of the Lord before him c. This was Joshuah's care also for his Josh 24. 15. But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord And this was Abrahams care Gen. 28. 29. I know him saith the Lord that he will command his Children and household after him and they shall walk in his waies that God may bring upon Abraham namely in his posterity what he hath promised him 2. Use all lawfull meanes industry and providence to leave your Children in such places and 2. By leaving them inabling meanes and wayes for it in such callings and if it may be with such portions that they may not alone be the more ingaged but inabled also in an ordinary way of providence to discharge such a duty of filial recompence to the utmost Thus Jacobs care was to provide for his house Gen. 30. 30. and he had children solicitous and industrious to provide for him in his straits in that time of famine witness their journeyes for that end into Egypt Gen. 42. and 43 and 44. But in a most eminent way it was seen in his Son Ioseph whose great care was that way Gen. 45. 9. Thus saith thy Son Joseph Come down to me and tarry not and vers 10. Thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen and thou shalt be near to me thou and thy Children and thy Childrens Children and thy flocks and herds and all that thou hast vers 22. and there will I nourish thee for yet there are five years of Famine lest thou and thy household and all that thou hast come to poverty 3. By distilling into Children principles of gratitude to others and curbing the contrary in them 3. Distil into your children principles of gratitude to others especially unto progenitors So did Ruth into Obed her Son whence that prophetical speech of good women present at Obeds birth which they spake to his Grandmother Naomi Ruth 4. 15. He shall be to thee a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thy old age for thy Daughter-in-law which loveth thee and therefore will be instructing him that way hath born him And if Parents perceive any expressions of an ungratefull Spirit in their Children though towards others let them be sure to rebuke their children for it and seasonably to root up such sprouts of so bad a Spirit So did good Jethro in his Daughters when they told him what kindness Moses had done to them Exod. 2. 19 20. saith he to his Daughters and where is he why is it that ye left the man call him that he may eat bread 4. Be you exemplary to your Children in this 4. By being examples thereof to Children gratefull recompence of your Parents Hence also their Argument concerning Obed that he would prove such a pious child to his Grandmother Naomi Ruth 4. 15. He will be a nourisher of thy old age For thy Daughter which loveth thee which is better to thee then seaven sons and in her exemplary piety towards thee hath born him If children are continually taught by Parents examples of piety to their parents as well as by their Instructions to be thus pious they will assuredly learn as Pauls phrase is 1 Tim. 5. 4. to shew piety at home and to requite their Parents 5. Be it far from you to be so ungracious towards 5. By avoiding any thing favouring of unnaturalness to them your godly children as not to shield off blowes from them what in you lieth like the Father and Mother of the blind man leave him to shift for himself with He is of years let him answer for himself John 9. 21 22. So did not Joash who in that honest cause of his son Gideon stood in his defence Iudg. 6. 31. Joash said to all that stood by him against his Son will you plead for Baal will you save him he that will plead for him let him be put to death whilest it is yet morning if he be a God let him plead for himself because one hath cast down his Altar But much less let any Parent requite good children so ill as themselves to undermine their childrens safety or liberty Luke 21. 16. Yee shall be betrayed by Parents c. 2. It is of exhottation to children 2. Exhortation to Children gratefully to recompence Parents Motives to it Be you stirred up to piety and gratefull recompence to your Parents And that you may be stirred up hereunto besides that it is honourable in the sight of God Angels and Men so to do whence such Records kept of gratefull Children in honorem as of Joseph and others Consider 1. That by the very light of nature it hath been 1. Naturall light strongly urged and exemplarily practised as we have hinted before Plato in his 8. Book de Republica sheweth that a Child oweth to the Father all things respecting his outward maintainance and comfort as a recompence for his Birth and Education and Tully saith We are not born for our selves but partly for our Country partly for
that we may preserve seed of our Father So in Tamars case from Judahs neglect of bestowing his Son Shelah upon her according to his own promise and consent pretended at least Gen. 38. 11. and vers 14. When Tamar saw that Shelah was grown and she was not given to him to wife then she went and sate in the way where Judah should come with her veil as if she had been some strumpet and vers 26. Judah confesseth it as his fault that such incest was committed to the shame indeed of his and of his Fathers house She hath been saith he more righteous than I because I gave her not to Shelah my Son Hence the Apostles counsell to Parents to dispose seasonably of their Virgins in marriage 1 Cor. 7. 36. If any man thinketh that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin if she pass the flower of her age and need so requires it let them marry 5. When you lay up ill gotten goods as gain 5. By laying up ill gotten goods for mem of oppression deceit violence or any injustice this layeth your Children open to reproachfull courses to themselves and you even by the just hand of God against such injust gain Hab. 2. 9 10. Woe to him that coveteth an evill covetousness to his house vers 10. Thou hast consulted shame to thine own house 6. When Christian you suffer others yea it 6. By suffering their judgements to be corrupted may be too forward your selves to be distilling into them corrupt principles of Religion or furthering them in the practice thereof but Oh how dishonourable must this needs prove to your selves by the sad and sorrowfull consequences thereof in your Children like that sad effect of Idolatry in those Children Jer. 17. 2. Whil'st vers 2. the Children remember their Fathers groves and altars or like Ahaziah 2 Chro. 22. 3. He walked in all Ahabs wayes for his Mother was his counsellor to do wickedly Thus Micahs Mother put him upon making that Idoll Judg. 17. 2 3 4 c. and Oh that in these Apostatising dayes the seed of the degenerating of the posterity of Godly Ancestors and of all their loose and scandalous courses to the shame of their Fathers houses had not been first laid in them by their own Parents leavening them with corrupt opinions 2. It serveth for reproof unto Children or 2. It reproeth children especially those of good parents persons in the relation of Children especially the Children of godly parents the Children of the Church that even you are every way a dishonour to your parents and reflect and put much dishonour upon them and so sharply reproveth 1. Such of you as scoff at and deride such of 1. For deriding their good brethren or sisters your godly Brethren or Sisters whom your Parents most respect or do any wrong to your Brethren or Sisters of one or both Parents of the former sort was Ishmael Abrahams Son by Hagar the Egyptian whom Sarah saw mocking of Isaac that beloved Childe of the promise Gen. 21. 9. Of the Latter sort were Josephs brethren who before their conversion envied godly Joseph who brought their evill report unto Jacob Gen. 37. 2. because Jacob loved him above them vers 3 4. and because God had shewed him in two severall dreams that he would so highly exalt him above them vers 8. And out of Envy sold him afterwards into Egypt Acts 7. 7. Such an one was Abimelech Gedeons Son who slew his 70. Brethren and the Holy Ghost reckoneth it as a wicked and vile fact done to his very Father Judg. 9. 56. Gen. 42. 36. Jacob telleth his Sons that they had bereaved him of his Children Joseph is not Simeon is not and you will take away Benjamin all these things are against me Such who trample upon and rend away good Children they trample upon and rend away their Fathers Crown and Glory for such are Children unto Parents Prov. 17. 6. Hos 9. 11 12. Such reflect dishonour upon their godly parents wisdome and zeal as if they did misplace their respects upon those Children who deserved not the same But God hath been wont to abase such proud envious malicious Spirits and to put as much or more dishonour upon them Ishmael and his whole posterity was cast out of the Church for it Gen. 21 9 10 11 12 13. Jacobs Sons were brought very low inwardly and outwardly when so roughly handled in Egypt and for a time imprisoned Gen. 72. 17 30 33. Abimelech came to a vile and dishonourable end by a Stone hurled upon him from a Tower by the hand of a woman together with his Armour-bearers sword Judg. 9. 57. and 56. Thus God rendred the wickedness of Abimelech which he did unto his Father in slaying his 70. Brethren 2. Such Children of Christian Parents who neglect the best time of your good under the good 2. For neglecting their opportunities of good whil'st with their good parents education of your Parents under a godly Ministry of whom it may be said as Jer. 8. 20. The Harvest is past the Summer is ended and they are not saved now such a Son that sleepeth in that blessed Harvest time of reaping so much soul-good is a Son that causeth shame even to his very Parents also as well as to himself Prov. 10. 5. Others who know you will be ready to censure or at least to suspect that your Parents were not so conscionable in this matter of their education did not pray enough or not so seriously for you and so your Parents names suffer by such unprofitable burthens of the Church as you are but let me tell you that it very frequently happeneth that those who get no good under the Tuition of their godly Parents they are left to vilest courses and that without recovery It s more rare if they come to good who had not some godly seeds thereof in their godly Parents Families if bred up to adult age there nor Cain nor Cham nor Esau nor Nadab nor Abihu nor Abimelech nor Hophni nor Phineas nor Ammon nor Absolom nor Adonijah nor such like which were not good nor had seeds of good in them whil'st under their good Parents wing were ever good after And you must dearly answer one day for those Talents of good education and opportunities of good in your Parents Families God will say as in another case Prov. 17. 16. wherefore was there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdome since he had no heart to it And all those helps and seasons of good which you had in such Families will be as oyle to make your tormenting flames burn the more fiercely and as pricks to stir up that raging vexing gnawing worm within you as in that poor forlorn young man in awakenings of his conscience listen what it is that he howleth and roareth over 1 Prov. 5. 11 12 13. Oh it is the instruction which he hath had from Parents and others but hated and thou mourn at
tremble to think of the issue of such speaking Symtomes of degeneration and Apostasie what for you now to be as he that confessed Prov. 5. 14. I was utmost in all wickedness in the middest of the Congregation or like those in Isaiah 26. 10. Let favour be shewed to the wicked yet will he not learn Righteousness in the Land of uprightness shall he deal unjustly and will not behold the majesty of God and will not this be bitterness to you in the latter end but that I may quit my hands and heart of the blood of the souls of any such and if blood must needs lye that it may lie upon the heads of your selves who are degenerate Children give me leave to do two things To represent somewhat first of the evill of sin in such degeneration of yours Secondly of the mischiefs attending the same And because we Evils of sin in the degenerating of the Children of the godly in generall propounded the use of Reproof as respecting first all degenerate Children in general Secondly such degenerate ones in speciall who have had their inward workings upon their Spirits seen much felt much promised much and given great hopes of comming to good we shall therefore begin with the former sort and then fall upon the latter sort Concerning degeneration 1. It is unsuitable to what God and his people may challenge from them of the posterity of the godly in generall I say That it is most cross and unsuitable to what God and his people also may challenge from you and therefore very evill and sinfull it may be said to you as it was to that degenerate generation Mica 2. 7. O thou that art named the house of Israel is the Spirit of the Lord straightned are these his doings do not my words do good too them that walk uprightly or as he said in another case Nehe. 6. 11. Should such a man as I flye so should such men and women as you of such and such Parents and interests be so and so degenerate or as he said to him in that case 2 Sam. 13. 4. Why art thou being the Kings Son so As by externall calling and covenant interest lean from day to day so here why are such and such of you being Sons and Daughters of spirituall Princes and Priests before God so declining so degenerating from day to day And that this your sin may even in this first respect further appear seriously consider 1. That such as you are you are in and through Holy and devoted to God your Parents an holy devoted and speciall people to God above others and should such be as bad or worse than others thus when God would disswade that generation of Abraham Isaac and Jacob from fellowship with the Canaanites persons or practices Deut. 7. 1 2 3 4 5. This is the Argument v. 6. For thou art an holy people to the Lord thy God thy God hath chosen thee to be a speciall people unto himself above all other people So Deut. 14. 1. Ye are the Children of the Lord your God ye shall not cut your selves nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead heathenish and Idolatrous customes For vers 2. Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God So vers 21. Ye shall not eat any thing that dieth of it self c. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God c. 2. Such as you are are near unto God in Covenant Near unto God and Church respects how ever formerly in pagan Ancestors far off hence that speech to that degenerate posterity of Abraham Esay 57. 19. I create the fruit of the lips to be peace peace to him that is far off namely to the gentile to him that is near namely to the Jewes which though in their sinfull and naturall estates as far off as the Gentile yet in Covenant and Church respects near to the Lord. Now should such as in some respects are so near God by their degenerate principles and practices remove your selves so far from God what a vile evill must this needs be hence that way of Gods Aggravation of the sin of that degenerate posterity of Jacob Esay 43. 21 22 23 24. This people have I formed for my self they shall shew forth my praise But thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but thou hast been weary of me O Israel thou hast caused me to serve with thy sins and wearied me with thine iniquities and Oh that God had not too just a cause to take up this heavy complaint against many of you that are the posterity of the godly in these dayes that though made for himself and formed for his praise yet you have not worshipped him or called upon him but have been weary of him flung off his yoke cast his words behind your back tyred out his patience in awaiting your return from your vain and sinfull principles and practices whil'st you have made God to wait the leasures and pleasures of your lusts if he look for any service at length from you 3. Such as you are by externall calling Gods His servants houshold servants as it s said of the like Levit. 25. 42 55. They and their Children are my servants saith the Lord. Now as Mal. 1. 6. a Servant honoureth his Master if I then am a Master saith God to that degenerate generation so to you where is my fear If Iob accounted that so grievous in his servants in way of commission and of omission Iob 19. 15 16. They that dwell in my house my Maids count me for a stranger I am an Alien in their sight I called to my servant but he gave me no answer I intreated him with my mouth O how ill doth God take this at your hands and how grievous and loathsome is it that such as dwell in his house in his Church count him for a stranger he is in your sight an Alien you will not come at this your blessed Master you will not come nigh him you will not understand what he saith to you though he call you beeing his servants by externall calling as he did that degenerate Apostatising generation Hos 11. 7. My people are bent to backsliding from me though they his Prophets called them to the most high none at all would exalt him namely by Repentance Faith and Obedience no more will any of you being servants of God by calling make God any such obedientiall Answer yea though the Lord instruct you with his mouth as it s said 2 Cor. 5. 20. As though God did beseech you we pray you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God yet how few of you regard these blessed beseechings and intreaties of the glorious and high God Besides you also are by externall calling Gods Children to whom God saith as to those degenerate ones in Malac. 1. 6. If I am a Father His Children where is my Honour And if the fifth Commandement require such
Honour of Respect Reverence Obedience and Recompence to Fathers of our flesh and such carrying of it so by Children as it redoundeth to parents honour as we have largely declared O what Honour of Respect Reverence Obedience and holy Recompence to him and what manner of carrying of it so as may redound to his Honour doth God expect from you his Chldren to whom he is not only a Father of your Spirit or Soul as he is to all others but a Covenant-Father If God require that to Parents from their Children upon pain of life and death he much more requireth this from you his Covenant and Church-Children upon pain of loss of eternal life and undergoing eternal death But is that the Honour of Respect which you who are degenerate Children give to this your Father to have no desire of the knowledge of his wayes As it is said of that degenerate generation in Job 21. 14 15. whether those in Jobs own time or those before the floud of whom Job 22. 15 16 17 18. but to wish rather what those wretches there mentioned that God might depart from you in respect of any such motions which he maketh and convictions and restraints upon your Spirits which sometimes you meet with and to take no delight at all in God in his word worship wayes daies government Saints and Servants Or is this the honour of Reverence which you give him to be awless fearless of his presence when you are in his house when at Prayer with your Parents or the like and to be constantly fearless of his displeasure or of sinning against him Or is this the Honour of Obedience which you give him to obey the motions of your own hearts lusts of your Companions of Seducers and of the very Divell himself but as for Gods charge or Commands you make light of them So that God may say of you as he did of that degenerate generation of old and speak of it as inter horrenda Hear O Heavens and give ear O earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished Children and they have rebelled against me the Oxe knoweth his owner the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Ah sinfull Nation Children that are corruptors they have forsaken the holy one they are gone away backward Isa 1. 2 3 4. And as Isa 30. 9. This is a rebellious people lying Children Children that will not hear the law of the Lord. Or is this the honour of holy Recompence which you should have rendered to him for all his benefits towards you to depart from him to vex and provoke his holy Spirit which is striving with you as he was with that degenerate generation in Gen. 6. 2 3. to corrupt your selves as did that other generation mentioned Deut. 32. 5. whose spot was not the spot of Children or of right-bred children of God who were a crooked and perverse generation Surely God may and doth say to you as he did by Moses to them vers 6. Do you thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise is not he thy Father that hath bought thee hath not he made and established thee finally is this your being an honour to God your heavenly father to cause the name of God to be blasphemed and the way of truth to be evill spoken of for your sakes as it may be said of you which was said of those degenerate Jewes Rom. 2. 23. Thou that makest thy boast of the law through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God vers 24. For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you when such as you are by your vile speeches carriages opinions or courses of life shall occasion the prophaner sort or enemies to God and his Church Ironically to say as they of old did of those degenerate Jewes Ezech. 36. 20. These are the people of the Lord So by your meanes others now a daies to say of you Yea these are your younger generation of the Church these are those that are in the Covenant of grace these are your Church-members these are they which in their Infant-Baptism were devoted to the faith and worship of Father Son and Holy Ghost these are the brood of such Puritan Ministers and other precise followers and the like blasphemous sarcasmes wherin the Lords precious name together with his Truth Covenant Saints and Servants are also vilely reproached Again as such Children are Gods Servants and Children so they are by externall calling Covenant and Church Interest his subjects also Of them is Gods kingdome Luk. 18. 16 17. Now for His Subjects such as you are who are the subjects of the Lord thus to break your Oath or Covenant of Allegiance and to reject his goverment over you by his Word Spirit or Discipline like those degenerate Jewes who said of the promised Messiah Jesus Christ We will not have this man to rule over us Luke 19. 27. Hereby you do but rebel against your Lord and Soveraign and what is rebellion but as the sin of witchcraft 1 Sam. 15. 23. even a hellish execrable and damnable crime But to proceed to the other branches of the evill of sin in this degeneration of such Children In which we shall be more brief 2. Hereby you become breakers of Covenant 2. It is a breach of Covenant with God with God with whom you are confederate Yea you hereby tear off the very seal of the Covenant even your Baptism Thus God when telling Moses how that people would degenerate he saith Deut. 31. 20. They would break his Covenant so Isaiah charging the degenerate generation in his daies also with their sin he saith Isa 24. 5. They have transgressed the Lawes they have broken the everlasting Covenant And as for invalidating after a sort of the Covenant-seal thereby you may see it in those degenerate ones mentioned even now Rom. 2. 25. If thou be a breaker of the law thy Circumcision which to them was the seal of the Covenant and of the righteousness of faith as Baptism is to us Gen. 10. 11 13. Rom. 4. 11. is made uncicumcision and so ineffectuall It is as it were torn off and trampled under foot through that sin of theirs Now if this be so heinous a thing with men to break Covenant with Princes to tear off tread under foot their broad seals how evill is this in Gods sight and if that breach of a Covenant made before God even with a tyrant by Zedechiah were so grievous to God that as Ezech. 17. 15 16 17. he saith Shall he escape that doth such things or shall he break Covenant and be delivered So I may say here to these degenerate Children of the godly shall such as you are escape the fiery displeasure of God that do such things or shall you that break Gods Covenant be delivered from wrath to come no assuredly unlesse the Lord give you repentance unto life And consider of it in the fear of God
that Isaiah made account that for the sins whereby those degenerate ones brake Gods everlasting Covenant Isa 24. 3. The earth should reel to and fro like a Drunkard and that the trangression thereof shall be heavy upon it vers 20. Now if such Covenant-breaking sins of degenerate ones be such as they are a burthen too heavy for the very earth to bear and such as maketh the very earth to stagger under it like a Drunkard me thinks the burthen of such a sin should make your backs and hearts ake and crack and even reel under it if it do not so now yet let all degenerate ones know that God will one day awaken your consciences when you shall say with that terrified Apostate degenerate Cain My punishment or my sin is greater than I can bear 3. Hereby you become grosly unfaithfull yea 3. It is unfaithfulness and treachery to God Ancestours posterity and the whole Church treacherous to your God to your Ancestours to your Parents to posterity to the whole Church God made you his Trustees and so did Ancestours and Parents make you their spirituall Trustees under God to hold up Religion Truth the Worship Waies and Goverment of Christ when they should be gathered to their Fathers they look at and leave you their Children to be a seed of the Church to be as plants to hold up Gods Orchards as Churches are called Cant. 4. 12 13. and as lesser sets and slips to maintain the Lords Gardens of which Cant. 8. 12 to be the Lords hand and theirs also to receive his Truth Worship and Government from them under God and faithfully and intirely to deliver the same to your posterity and so to help to propagate the same to such as come after you Psal 78. 5. The Lord established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children vers 6. That the generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children vers 7. That they might set their hope in God The like course of continuation and propagation of his wayes and truth among the Gentiles doth the Lord pitch upon Psal 22. 30 31. A seed shall serve him It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation they shall come and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born that he hath done this hence that twofold censure of God upon the two houses of Israel and Judah Hos 11. 12. Ephraim compasseth me about with lies and the house of Israel with deceit but Judah yet ruleth with God and is faithfull to the Saints namely past present and to come that Tribe was more faithfull in the matter of Gods charge left with them and they were faithfull to their godly Ancestors or Parents who left also the things of God to them and they were therein also more faithfull to posterity who would come to be spirituall gainers thereby hitherto Abijahs speech is appliable also 2 Chro. 13. 11. We of Judah keep the charge of the Lord our Ged but yee Israelites have for saken him hence that degenerate generation in Deut. 32. 20. are said to be Children in whom is no faith or fidelity or trustiness and truth in the matter of their holy charge delivered to them and truly if it were no more for a sprinkling of a better generation here and there of the godly than for such as you are what in an ordinary way would become of the way of God of religion of Church within a few years And such as you are do what in you lyeth to break and ruine posterity and the succession of Churches It s true indeed if all such fail as Matth. 3. 9. God is able out of stones to raise up Children unto Abraham by unlikely wayes and means to raise up another seed of the Church but yet in regard of second causes and Gods ordinary way of dispensation if all such plants and nurceries fail Gods Orchard and Garden-Churches must fail 4. It is going a whoring from God 4. Hereby you go a whoring from God Rejoyce not O Israel for joy as other people for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God saith God to those degenerate ones Hos 9. 1. You are by Covenant as married to God as God spake of that Apostate degenerate posterity when he would quicken them up to return to him Jer. 3. 14. Turn O back-sliding Children saith the Lord for I am married to you yea but in respect of you that marriage Covenant is broken as by spirtuall whoredome of which Jam. 4. 4. Speaking of professors and members of Churches that yet were turned aside from God Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses saith the Lord. Now how odious a sin is Adultery with men and surely this spirituall whordome is very heinous in Gods sight and deeply provoking hence that Psal 73. 27. Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee 5. Hereby you become stumbling blocks to others 5. It occasioneth much sin in others and occasion in them both evils of commission and omission Oh it s an Attractive a load-stone to draw company of other youngsters why there will be such and such a members a Ministers an Elders Son or Daughter there It hardens others in their evill why I drank not I plaid not such a Lords day or the like alone such and such members Elders Sons or Daughters did so as well as I. I wear not such long hair alone I go not in such and such fashions alone I hold not such and such opinions which you Judge corrupt alone but such and such Church Members and their Children do as much 1 Sam. 2. 17. The sin of Elies Sons it s said was very great before the Lord for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. 6. Hereby you not alone cross what in you 6. It is a crossing even of God's expectation lyeth the Churches the Churches Officers your Parents your godly instructors and friends expectations but you do in a sense also cross the Lords expectations touching you like that degenerate posterity Esay 63. 8. God said of them surely they are my people Children that will not lie so he was their Saviour ves 10. but they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit So Esay 5. 3 4. Wherefore when I looked for grapes did it bring forth wild grapes God maketh account speaking after the manner of men and according to the way of his generall will and to second causes and the like that surely they would be trusty to him and his truth and way and they would be fruitfull but they proved otherwise so may God say of such as we are now speaking of but as that was most grievous in them before God severely punished in them so is this in these degenerate ones your crime is heinous your punishment will be most dreadfull if you speedily repent not Now
as for those degenerate ones in speciall which notwithstanding the hopefull working they Evils of sin in the degeneration of the more hopefull Children of the Godly have had formerly in their souls yet have degenerated to the dishonour as of God and themselves so of their godly Parents let such seriously weigh the evill thereof for besides those six particular aggravations which your sin in degenerating admitteth of in common with others and of which we even now spake there are some peculiar aggravations to be superadded to your sin in speciall for as it s said of Solomon the Son of David a man after Gods own heart when he was in that degenerating way 1 Kings 11. 9. The Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel who had appeared to him twice so I may say in some respect to you God must needs be the more angry with you because he hath shewed so much of your hearts and of himself to you and so oft been dealing with your hearts so in the case of Rehoboam Solomons Son who as 2 Chron. 11. 17. for three years space was very hopefull and with the rest of those of Israel who repaired to him and those of Judah walked in the way of David his Father and in the first way of Solomon his Father but as 2 Chron. 12. 1. afterwards forsook the Lord and all Israel with him Joash how hopefull a young man was he when as it is said 2 Chron. 24. 2. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord for the matter of it all the dayes of Jehoiadah the Priest but vers 17 18. upon occasion of the flattering Courtiers counsell the King hearkned to them and they left the house of the Lord God of their Fathers and the like is said of Vzziah a very hopefull young man 2 Chro. 26. 5. He sought God in the dayes of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions of God but v. 16. When he was strong his heart was lifted up to his destruction c. And how many such Children of good Parents are there now a dayes who divers years ago gave great hopes of their saving good to their Parents and Friends now how evill a thing is this in such as you are and how bitter will it prove to you in the end that thus leave off to be wise and to do good as it is said Psal 36. 2. And as he said in another case you begin in the Spirit and end in the Flesh Gal. 3. As if it were not as good alwayes to be zealously affected in a good thing as for a little spurt of time but that we may set this part of the admonition the closer upon the hearts of such Children who were sometimes so hopefull and now so much degenerated let me shew them the heinous nature of such a manner of degenerating or rather Apostatizing from such hopefull beginnings workings and practices 1. Your sin is against the Holy-Ghost albeit 1. It is a sin in special against Gods spirit not the sin the very unpardonable sin against the Holy-Ghost for you sin against him as inlightning your minds to see so much of your selves and wayes of God and Christ and his wayes as you did and in a sort drawing you from your youthfull lusts and delights and sinfull practices and bringing you on in the best things and wayes so far but now you have made head against him as did those degenerate ones of old of whom it is said Nehem. 9. 30. that they would not give ear to the Spirit speaking against their degenerate courses by his Prophets or as it is said of that degenerate brood Acts 7. 51. You have alwaies resisted the Holy-Ghost as your degenerate Fathers did so do yee this sin as it is a resisting so it is a rebelling against the Spirit as it is said there of whom then God said they are Children that will not lie Es 63. 5. But they degenerating it is said vers 10. But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit they therefore hereby rebelled against the Spirit and that did not barely grieve him but which is a high degree of distasting they vexed Gods Holy Spirit Now how vile is your sin thus to resist and rebell against and thereby so deeply to vex him and why should any of you vex your blessed inlightner and one that might and was willing to be your quickener converter sanctifier strengthner supporter and comforter had not you your selves been wanting to his motions and means which hee used God may say to you as he said to those degenerate ones with whom his Spirit had been tampering Mic. 2. 7. Oh thou that art named the house of Israel is the Spirit of the Lord â—â—raightned Could not he breath and shine more abundantly into your minds and hearts in the Ministry of the word but that you will be thus grieving and vexing of him but why do you sin against your own souls in sinning against him who alone must make them capable of all blessing grace and glory And is this your observance and owning of that Holy-Ghost unto whom in your Baptism you are devoted 2. This is a speciall sin against the grace of Jesus 2. It is a speciall sin against the grace of Jesus Christ Christ who in those workings and movings of yours was also sweetly calling and gathering you to himself for your souls welfare as he was dealing in like sort with that degenerate generation Matth. 23. 7. How often would I have gathered you as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings but ye would not But where could you or can you find better soul-food than with that blessed Hen to which he likeneth himself there where can you meet with more soul-warmth than with Jesus Christ and under his blessed wings or where can you expect to partake of more sweetness and kindness of bowels and love than with the Motherly Hen yea do not you as much as in you lyeth at once contradict Christs word and the end of his comming of which Mal. 9. 13. I came to call sinners convinced sinners to Repentance You were indeed convinced sinners but have worn out your convictions and troubles and never went any further to a through work of Repentance but rather gone away further from God and good and would give in a manner the lie to Christ in that gracious speech of his 3. Is not this a breaking of that bond of Gods 3. It is a breaking the bond of Gods fear fear which should have kept you close to God and from starting aside from his truth word or way So he supposing that Job was degenerate said thou castest off fear thou restrainest Prayer Job 15. 4. And must not this needs be very grievous to the Lord 4. Is not this to cast off the Authority of an awakened Conscience as a vicegerent of God 4. It is a casting off the Authority of conscience
Jesus Christ when a lad of 12. years old Luke 2. 42 49. though Mary his Mother did not so understand at first the full scope of them v. 50. yet she kept them all in her heart she had many a pondering and thought about the same 3. Let parents carry it with a very jealous eye 3. Carry a jealous eye over them in point of sin and hand over their Children in the matter of known sin against Gods rules as Job did over his Job 1. 5. he sanctified them daily in that feasting time of theirs saying It may be my Sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts and let parents by no means be drawn in to consent to their Children in any evill way of theirs as Jacob said of his cruell Sons Gen. 49. 6. O my soul come not thou into their secret unto their Assembly my honour be not thou united nor by any means let them own their Children in any way of an evill spirit as Levi who Deut. 33. 9. said of his children I have not known them Zech. 13. 3. Deut. 13. 6. 4. Let Christian parents be often Catechizing 4. Be often Catechising them and as they can best conceive and remember teaching them in the best things of their souls their children in the principles of Religion and instructing them in the best things of their souls under that head of bringing up Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6. 4. some take in this of Catechising It was the practice of Jewish parents of old hence that Rom. 2. 18. being instructed out of the Law or as in the Greek being Catechized Aegysippus saith That by vertue of Catechizing there was never a Kingdome but received alteration in the heathenish religion within forty years after Christs passion Julian when he would have suppressed Religion suppressed partly Catechizing of Children partly Schooles of Learning the Papists as it appeareth in the Popes Bull before the Trent Catechize acknowledge that by Catechizing the Protestants got the start of them this milk is appointed of God for the benefit of such Christians which have not their senses so raryfied as to discern so well of good or evill Heb. 5. 12. compared with 6. verse where the heads of Catechizing publickly and privately in the Apostles dayes are mentioned and let parents be often talking of good things and choyce passages of the word diligently to their Children Deut. 6. 6 7. thou shalt teach these words diligently to thy Children when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up especially be pressing them to look after the weightier matters of their souls as David did his son Solomon to get wisdome that principal thing even the saving knowledge of God in the Messiah Prov. 4. 4 5 7. So David Psal 34. 11 12 13 14. Come ye Children unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord c. onely in teaching thus let parents take the best and easiest way that may be for their capacity and memory that they may best conceive receive and retain their holy instructions it must be dropped in by little and little teaching proper and fittest for Children is by precept upon precept precept upon precept line upon line line upon line here a little and there a little Es 28. 9 10 11. Aelian telleth Lib. 2. cap. 29. that the Cretenses as they taught their more weighty matters as their Laws their Praises of their heathenish Gods and famous acts of their worthies so for the manner of it that they might more cheerfully Learn and better remember the same they taught them in way of Musicall and Melodious Song even Moses also when to commend the weighty counsels of God to be commended by them to their Children it is in a way of a Song Deut. 31. 19 22. now therefore write you this Song for you and teach it to your Children 5. Let Parents be sure that Children whil'st 5. Let them be taught to read the Scriptures duly Children be taught to read well the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. 13. From a child Timothy was taught to understand and as a means of it to read the Sriptures through and through over and over often diligently and heedfully Oh the unexpressible wrong done to many Children by their parents neglect to have them taught to read the Scriptures when they were young here the English proverb may take place Better unborn almost than untaught onely let parents help Childrens understandings all they can in what they have read or heard further the due application of it to themselves their soul estate condition and be often calling them to an account of what they have read or heard to see what they remember understand or improve thereof like Christ as a Father to his Children the Disciples inquiring of them Matth. 13. 51. Have ye understood all these things 6. Let parents be putting their Children betimes 6. Put them betimes upon holy exercises upon actuall exercise and practice of religious principles and rules which have been taught by their parents what religious practices and precepts you would have them to attend and not depart from them when they are old train them up practically to those very godly exercises when they are young Prov. 22. 6. Heathen Agesilaus when asked by one What youth should learn in their youth answered such things as when they are men they have most use of Deut. 32. 46. You shall command your Children even whil'st Children to observe to do all these words and therefore to practice piety to call upon God in Prayer to praise him and give thanks to him to sanctifie the Sabbath in all the holy exercises thereof in publique in the assembly in private with the rest of the Family and in secret in their own closets apart by themselves Adam and Eve had trained up Cain and Abel their sons to the practicals of Religion betimes witness that their sacrificing Gen. 4. 3 4. as its likely before either of them were married men Vers 16 17. compared Those godly Jewish parents had taught their Children to pray witness that short Prayer of theirs Mat. 21. 15. taken from Psal 118. 25. which in the Hebrew is Hoshia-na rendred by the Greek Hosanna save O Lord I beseech thee namely the blessed Messiah rescue him from all his enemies from all mischiefs whatsoever carry him through his work so as that he may save others and the like This practice of Children Christ there justified and defended Not alone old men and young men and maidens but children also are charged to praise God Psal 148. 12 13. and if to praise God then also to pray to him praising being but a part of prayer In the 4th Commandement God expresly chargeth the heads of Families to look to it that not themselves alone but their sons and daughters keep holy his day of rest and if to keep it holy
his Coronation Favour and Bounty to his Church for such high holy and honourable ends nor need I say more in honour of your children If becomming faithfull Ministers their Scripture titles do Emblazon that sufficiently Ministers being called Angels Rev. 2. 1. Embassadours 2 Cor. 5. 20. Stewards 1 Cor. 4. 1. Watchmen Ezek. 3. 17. Co-workers with God 1 Cor. 3. And many other titles of honour which he is pleased to crown Ministers withall As for motives I will but name two or three Motives to good education of Children 1. They are the Lords more than ours 1. Our Children are more the Lords than ours by Covenant-right by our own act of devoting them to him in Baptism Matth. 28. 19. and many other waies Ezek. 16. 20. Let Parents therefore bring up their Children for God in the best way they can 2. Education will greatly difference our Children 2. That will honourably distinguish them from others from others not so well educated as Lycurgus when he would convince the Lacedaemonians of the benefit of education he taketh two whelpes of one litter the one he traineth up to Hunting the other not the one proved of use to the field the other was good for nothing but for a cur in the Kitchin and experience witnesseth that ordinarily persons well educated become of very publick and good use more waies than one where ever God casteth their habitation others not so educated are little serviceable in any matters of publick concernment Socrates used to say that many Mens Sons who were without education were like couragious Horses without well ordering and government becomming very Asses or as it might be added resty Iades I need not apply it it s easily understood 3. The honour of good education will be 3. Children also will have the honour of it the sin of the contrary will lie upon the Parents partly the Childs and will partly reflect honour upon the Parents As that of Augustus who so well educated his Sones that what they spake he would have them speak it openly and then have the Speech as matter of worth and note publickly recorded But in neglect of good education Childrens sins will be charged upon Parents As in Elies case of neglect of well educating and Fatherly watching over his Sons Hophni Phineas 1 Sam. 2. 29 30. he is charged with kicking at his sacrifices why have ye kicked at my sacrifices c. The very Heathens by natures light so took this hence the Lacedaemonian Ephori they punished a certain Father for suffering two of his Sons to fall out and to fight one with another 4. It may somewhat awaken and move Christian 4. Even Heathens have been much for good education Justin l. 3. Parents to a more conscionable care in this matter of well educating your Children to consider some of the Lawes Acts and speeches of the very Heathen about this very particular Lycur-the Spartan Law-giver commanded that Youth should be brought into the field not into the Markets that they should spend their first year not in Lxury but in work and Labours And the Spartans had another Law that if any of their Free-men neglected the discipline of youth he should be disenffranched Aelian also speaketh of another sore punishment which the conquering Mytilenesians imposed upon their revolting associates that their Children should not be trained up to the liberall Sciences Plato was wont to reprove this as a grosse evill in those of his times that men would bestow all their care and paines in getting Riches but took little or no care about their Children unto whom they were to leave their Riches When one answered Aristippus that for a thousand drachmes which he demandded to bring up his Son to Learning that he could buy a servant nay saith the Philosopher you shall have two servants to wit him that you buy and your own Son too Diogenes sometime said he had rather be a Ram or sheep of a Megarensian than his Son whereby he declared that the Megarenses took more diligent care of their Cattel than of their Children To conclude with one admonitory Item to some in these daies who are secret enemies to catechizing Children and bringing them up in Learning Let them tremble to think with how like a spirit they are acted to that of that notorious Apostate Julian who designing the extirpation of the Christian Religion thought no way better than to put down catechising and Schooles of Learning as for other Parents who would full gladly bring up some of their Sones who have naturall partes for Learning but through Idlenesse or Voluptuousnesse or the like they will not be drawn to attend it or to be trained up to it let then some other way punish them with suitable epressions of Parentall distast and displeasure Solons law this way was somewhat too harsh that if Sons would not be drawn by their Parents to Learning their Parents should deny them necessaries but yet Christian Parents would do somewhat this way that such Children should know themselves and sufficiently see cause to bewail their folly and errour I have been long in this first way of Parents furthering Children in being an honour to them because it is of great moment we shall be briefer in the rest 2. Then let Christian Parents as a help to the said end be sure to leave your Children under 2. By leaving Children under Gods ordinances and good government Gods ordinances purely powerfully dispensed in the Church and under good government in the civill state The Children of Israel would not leave one of their Children in Egypt Exod. 10. 9 10. Where God pure Religion was not nay where sacrifices to the Lord was an abomination Exod. 8. 27. and where the government of the state was tyrannicall these better-minded people of Israel when the godly Priests were put down by Jeroboam and removed to Judah under Rehoboham and when Jeroboam set up corrupt unworthy fellowes to be priests they also removed themselves and families to Jerusalem 2 Chron. 11. 13 14 15 16. Hence that enquiry of the company of the godly Canticles 1. 7. Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou dwellest and where thou causest thy flock to rest at noon that parching time of enemies raging against the truth waies and people of Christ to which Christs answers vers 8. Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock the rest of my people and feed thy kids itttle ones by the shepheards godly Magistrates Ministers tents Alas for us and ours to go where Gods pure ordinances or goverment is not it is to expose our selves and them to to soul-ruines as David said in that case 1 Sam. 6. Cap. 16. They have cast me out this day from the Lords inheritance where his ordinances and Ministers and people are saying Go and serve other Gods their actions in driving me out amongst strangers to Gods pure Religion and Lawes do even as it were say Go
in the way of wisdome namely instructively I have led thee in the right paths namely exemplarily the like holy advantage did they make of that counsel and doctrine of their Fathers Psalm 144. 1. and David likewise maketh advantage of his Mothers interest in God Psalm 86. 16. and Psalm 116. 18. Now if this be a talent it must be accounted for one day and Children had need look that they make answerable returnes Parentall nurture and admonition and Christian education is an holy advantage to such Children above others that want the same As being Gods ordinance for Childrens best welfare as was shewed before When Solomon had charged his Son to keep his Fathers command and not to forsake the Law of his Mother Prov. 6. 20. verse 23. he addeth this reason for the commandement even of a godly Father is a lamp and the Law even of a godly Mother is light and reproofs of instruction given by Parents also to Children are the way of life Prov. 29. 11. The rod and reproof give wisdome namely as Gods appointed means in the use whereof he will give it to Children Godly examples are also very forcible and helpfull hence the godly are said to be blessings in all places where they are cast Isa 19. 2. As Husbands may be wonne to God good while they behold the Godly and wise conversation of their wives 1 Pet. 3. 1. So may a child by the gracious example of godly Parents yea such children have the superadded advantage of their good Parents and Ancestours Covenant interest Prayers and blessing Gen. 49. 26. The blessings of thy Father saith Jacob to his Son Joseph have prevailed above the blessings of my Progenitors every godly Ancestour and Parent contributeth something to the Childs blessed stock besides the blessed advantage which such Children have to be an Honour to God and to their Parents by the very Entail of grace by Promise and Covenant of God from their Parents unto them Deut. 30. The Lord will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love him c. and Isa 59. 21. The word and spirit in the mouth of the Ancestours is promised to the suceeding Children let Children then of the Church of the godly look you husband this holy advantage the rather to Gods and godly Parents Honour 2. In that the posterity of Papists and Mahumetans will follow the tract of their parents instructions and examples and will by no means depart therefrom and shall not such children as you are much rather follow your godly teaching and leading Parents without departing from their blessed counsels and examples God forbid any should do otherwise 3. In that otherwise if you will not do thus to the honour of your godly parents verily then all the blessed words which your good parents have urged and charged and that as from God by their parentall authority upon you their children they will come in another day as evidences against you according to that phrase concerning Gods word delivered by Moses to the Israelites and by them to be commanded to their Children successively in case of their Apostacy it 's said this Song shall be Gods witness to testifie against them Deut. 31. 19 21 26. Touching the helps to further you in being such an honour to godly parents they may be such as these 1. Take heed of what tendeth to dishonourable degenerating and Apostacy from the gracious counsels and examples of your godly Parents and Ancestors and for this end take heed of 1. corrupt principles or practices in Religion for they tend to Apostacy hence the Apostacy of those hopefull beginners in 2 Pet. 2 19. 20. whil'st corrupt libertine principles are distilled into them and imbraced by them they are intangled again and fall off 2 Tim. 21. 16 17. Timothy must avoid such profane and vain bablings such the Apostle termeth their false doctrines because they tend to ungodliness and their word and doctrine like a Canker eateth out the heart and life of Religion where it taketh 2. A worldly spirit that causeth degenerating in hopefull persons that hopefull young man in Mark 10. 20 2â— was spoiled by it so was Saul Judas Ananias and Saphira Demas and all those professors which so far out-go those of the high way and stony hearers even those of the thorny soyl they come to be choaked by the thorny cares desires occasions and contentments of the world so that no fruit of theirs ever commeth to perfection 3. Pride this ushereth in even this fall also instead of him whose bea rt is lifted up in Hab. 2. 4. it is in Heb. 10. 35. if any man draw back the one ushereth in the other let Children hopefull ones specially beware of this 4. Wantonness under outward prosperity plenty peace liberty civill and sacred Deut. 32. 11. Jesurun waxed fat and kicked turned against God So those Nehem. 9. 22 26. Hence God warneth them then to take heed that when in Canaan they have all they can desire in a manner that then they forget not and forsake not the Lord Deut. 8. 10 11 12 13 14. let the posterity of the godly here and elsewhere take heed of this spirituall wantonness which ushereth in Apostacy 5. Bad matching this caused Jehoram good Jehoshaphats Son so vilely to degenerate namely his matching into wicked Ahabs stock 2 Chro. 21. 1 2. bad wives out-landish women caused even wise Solomon to sin and for a time to degenerate Nehem. 13. 26. let young persons especially take heed of this 2. Let such Children of the Church of the godly engage themselves personally in solemn wise before the Lord and his people also as well as privatly to walk according to God and those godly counsels and examples of their good Parents and Ancestors and by his strength and help never to turn away there from good Ruth did so privatly when she so solemnly vowed before God and her Mother-in-Law that she would go with her be with her partake in weal and woe with her own her God and people and only them for hers and nothing but death should hinder the same Ruth 1. 15 16. whither thou goest thither I will go thy God shall be my God and thy people my people God do so to me and more also if ought but death part me and thee she engages implicitly to all honour of her both direct to honour her with all honour of respects reverence obedience and recompence and reflectly to be an honour to her also all which may be very well gathered out of that speech of hers as I might particularly evince but I forbear Nehem. 10. 28 29. the Children of the Church there their sons and daughters that could understand as well as their Parents came publickly to enter into an oath and curse to walk in Gods Laws to observe and do all his Commandements and if Churches would call upon their Church Children who are of understanding personally to renew the Covenant of God made by their Parents on their behalf such a bond would the more engage and unite their hearts by the Lords blessing to the good wayes and things of God to his and their Parents Honour 3. Let such Children according as the Lord helpeth them eye and plead with God his own words undertaking this in effect that they shall walk after the blessed precepts and practices of their godly Parents and Ancestors and so be an honour to them this is held forth in that promise of God made with reference to his Kingdom and Church in all Nations amongst the Gentiles Psal 22. 27. with vers 30 31. their seed as the Geneva reads it shall serve him it shall be counted to the Lord for a generation they shall come and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born that he hath done this if God undertake that this seed of Gentile-believers shall hold up Religion after their Parents and convey it to their next generation what can godly Parents desire more for their Children or their children desire for themselves they shall hereby greatly honour God his truth wayes and government and greatly honour their godly Parents their instructions examples and prayers beside that good that will thereby come to themselves and their own souls and posterity also O let such children then intrench themselves within this and such like blessed strong holds and places of spirituall refuge And so at length we have dispatched our discourse about this so necessary a subject and the blessing of our gracious God be upon it FINIS Imprimatur Edm. Calamy 30. March 1655.