should instruct them how to follow their Calling and how to speak and walk and to order their conversations aright in all things we should shew them the path of Life and guide them therein that they may obtain eternal salvation in the world to come 4. God teacheth his children and servants out of his holy Word Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law The Lord builds up all his houshold in knowledge faith and holiness upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles that is the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures by the Prophets and Apostles Ephes 2.19 20. Ye are of the Houshold of God and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone He instructs penitent persons by making known his word to them Prov. 1.23 Turn you at my Reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you David describes Gods teaching his people Israel thus Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel In like manner when we teach our children and servants we should teach them out of the word of God and establish them in the knowledge belief and practice of the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures by the Prophets and Apostles 5. The Lord condescends to teach such as are of a froward and perverse disposition The Children of Israel were a perverse generation Deut. 32.5 They are a perverse and crooked generation yet the Lord taught and instructed Israel Vers 10. He found him in a desart Land and in the waste howling Wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye And this he did notwithstanding they were a very froward people as Moses tells us again vers 20. They are a very froward Generation In like manner though our Children or Servants should be of a froward perverse spirit yet we should not forbear instructing them 6. The Lord imprints and fastens in the minds and hearts of his Children and Servants those Instructions which he giveth them hence he is said to seal their instruction Job 33.14 He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction So should we endeavour to imprint those Instructions which we give our Families upon their minds that they may retain them in their memories as long as they live SECT 7. Mothers as well as Fathers must instruct their Children Quest IT may be some will here demand Is it not the Duty of Mothers as well as of Fathers to teach their Children Answ Although the Scripture doth forbid Women teaching in publick Assemblies 1 Cor. 14.34 Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the Law 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence Yet it doth allow them to teach their Children and Servants and though this work doth lie chiefly upon Fathers to teach Gods word unto their Children as appeareth by the special charge that is given to them Ephes 6.4 Isa 38.19 Psal 78.5 yet it is the duty of Mothers also to instruct and watch over their Children and Servants For the proving hereof and the stirring up of Mothers to joyn with and to be helpful to their Husbands in instructing their Children and Servants I shall propose to them these following Considerations 1. It hath been the practice of godly women in former times to instruct their Children in the knowledge of the Scriptures which the holy Ghost hath left upon record as a monument of their praise as long as the world shall continue and as a Pattern to be followed by all women that fear God Solomons mother though she was a Queen did not look upon it as a work beneath her to instruct her Son but taught him a Prophecy containing excellent Lessons concerning Chastity and Temperance defending the Oppressed c. Prov. 31.1 The words of King Lemuel the Prophecy which his mother taught him What this Prophecy was that his mother taught him is set down in the following verses Solomon was instructed by his Father Prov. 4.3 4. I was my Fathers Son he taught me also yet Solomon's mother did not think her self excused from teaching her Son because his Father instructed him but she joyn'd with her husband and teacheth him a Prophecy Now if those women who haue godly Husbands that instruct their Families must also instruct their Children how much more is it the duty of those women who have careless and negligent Husbands that regard not their Families to be diligent in teaching their Children and Servants Another example we have in Lois and Eunice Lois being converted to the Christian Religion trains up her Daughter Eunice in the faith of Christ Eunice being instructed in the faith of Christ instructs her Son Timothy 2 Tim. 1.9 2. Children are commanded to hearken to and not forsake the instruction which their Mothers as well as which their Fathers give them out of the Law of God Prov. 1.8 My Son hear the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother which implies That Mothers as well as Fathers are to teach Gods Laws to their Children 3. It is mentioned as one of the Vertues of a vertuous woman That she looketh well to the ways of her Houshold Prov. 31.27 and this oversight that she takes of the ways of her Houshhold conduceth so much to the good of her Children that it will cause them to bless God for her as long as they live as the next verse implieth Her Children arise up and call her blessed vers 28. And the Apostle Paul adviseth elder women to be Teachers of good things Tit. 2.3 And he tells them both whom they should teach younger women and what Lessons they should teach younger women vers 4.5 which is to be understood of instilling those Principles into their Children and Maid Servants how they should demean themselves when God shall bring them into a married estate and also of instructing their Neighbours and Acquaintance when they visit them and have occasion to confer with them 4. The Mother as well as the Father doth concur to the conveying of a sinful nature unto their Children Psal 51.5 In sin did my Mother conceive me And therefore Mothers ought by their prayers and tears and instructions and the use of all good means to endeavour after the Conversion and Regeneration of their Children as well as their Fathers 5. Children are very apt to follow their Mothers example in so much that it 's become a Proverb As is the Mother so is the Daughter and the truth of this Proverb is such that God himself alloweth of it Ezek. 16.44 Behold every one that useth Proverbs shall use this Proverb
Gold and a multitude of Rubies but the Lips of Knowledge are a pretious Jewel VVisdom is of that excellency that it far surpasseth all the Silver and Gold and pretious Stones in the world Job 28.16 17 18. It cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphir the Gold and the Crystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine Gold no mention shall be made of Coral or of Pearls for the price of Wisdom is above Rubies How desirous are most Parents to leave their Children great Estates If Wisdom be better than all the Riches of the world why should we not desire and labour more to leave them endued with VVisdom than to leave them great Riches 2. If we leave them endued with VVisdom though they be poor we leave them better than if we left them Kings and Princes destitute of VVisdom Eccles 4.13 Better is a poor and a wise Child than an old and foolish King Many persons who have aspiring minds would spare no pains to make their Children Kings and Princes if they saw any possibility to effect it why then should we be backward to convey that to our Children which will be a greater advantage to them than the promoting of them to be Kings 3. Wisdom will make our Children of an excellent Spirit Prov. 17.27 A man of understanding is of an excellent Spirit An excellent Spirit is a great Ornament to a man and to be preferred above Nobility of Birth Beauty Riches or any external Accomplishments Darius finding in Daniel an excellent Spirit preferred him above all the Princes and Nobles in his Kingdom Dan. 6.3 This Daniel was preferred above the Presidents and Princes because an excellent Spirit was in him and the King thought to set him over the whole Realm 4. Wisdom and Understanding will make the Members of our Family useful in their Generation in whatsoever places and stations they shall be fixed by the Providence of God What blessing was prayed for on Boaz his behalf by his Friends Do thou worthily in Ephratah Ruth 4.11 The same shall fall upon our Children if we train them up in acquaintance with God They shall do worthily in the places where God casts their lot although their lot be cast in evil times and sinful places Dan. 11.32 Such as do wickedly against the Covenant shall be corrupt by Flatteries but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits By being endued with Wisdom and Understanding they will prove great Blessings to the Families Cities and Kingdoms in which they live They will be blessings to the Houses and Families where they live Prov. 24.3 Through wisdom is an house builded and by understanding it is established Yea they will be Blessings to the Towns and Cities wherein they live Eccles 9.14 15. There was a little City and a few men within it and there came a great King against it and besieged it and built great Bulwarks against it now there was found in it a poor wise man and he by his wisdom delivered the City By the means of a wise Woman the City of Abel was preserved from destruction When Joab was come against it with a great Army to destroy the place she by her wise carriage both mollified Joabs Spirit and brought over the men of the City to comply with his desire and so saved the City from ruine 2 Sam. 20.15 16 22. Yea more than this they will be Blessings to the States and Kingdoms in which they live Prov. 28.2 For the transgression of a Land many are the Princes thereof but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged Joseph being a wise and discreet man Gen. 41.39 was a great blessing to all the Land of Egypt and not to Egypt only but to all the Countreys round about who were sustained by the Provision that he had laid up against the time of that great Famine 5. Wisdom will cause our Children to live in good repute and credit all their days Prov. 3.35 The wise shall inherit Glory but shame shall be the promotion of Fools Eccl. 8.1 A mans wisdom maketh his face to shine It will procure them favour and honour and respect from all sorts of persons Prov. 4.7 8. Exalt her and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her she shall give to thine head an Ornament of Grace a Crown of Glory shall she deliver to thee Prov. 14.35 The Kings favour is towards a wise Servant 6. Wisdom will keep our Children from imbezeling away and mis-spending their Estates which we leave them and will help them to preserve increase and use well that portion of Goods or Lands that we shall bequeath to them Prov. 24.4 By knowledge shall the Chambers be filled with all the precious and pleasant Riches Prov. 21.20 There is a treasure to be desired and Oyl in the dwelling of the wise but a foolish man spendeth it up 7. Wisdom will keep them from falling into those troubles and snares wherewith foolish and indiscreet persons are intangled Prov. 22.3 A prudent man fore-seeth the evil and hideth himself but the simple pass on and are punished And when they do fall into trouble knowledge will help them to get out of their troubles Prov. 11.9 Through knowledge shall the Just be delivered 8. Wisdom will preserve them from keeping evil company that they shall not be intangled with the acquaintance either of lewd men or lascivious women which are the bane and destruction of many young men Prov. 2.10 11 12 16. When wisdom entreth into thine heart and knowledge is pleasant to thy Soul Discretion shall preserve thee and Vnderstanding shall keep thee to deliver thee from the way of the evil man from the man that speaketh froward things to deliver thee from the strange Woman even from the stranger which flattereth with her words 9. Wisdom will make our Children prove great Comforts to us Prov. 10.1 A wise Son maketh a glad Father Prov. 23.15 16. My Son if thine heart be wise my heart shall rejoyce even mine yea my reins shall rejoyce when thy lips speak right things And vers 24 25. The Father of the Righteous shall greatly rejoyce and he that begetteth a wise Child shall have joy of him thy Father and thy Mother shall be glad and she that bare thee shall rejoyce 10. Wisdom and Understanding are means of leading them to life and salvation Prov. 16.22 Vnderstanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it Prov. 3.21 22. Keep sound Wisdom and Discretion so shall they be Life and Grace to thy Neck John 17.3 This is Life eternal that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Do we not thirst after the salvation of our Childrens Souls If we do then let us be diligent to instruct them in the Striptures which will make them wise to
salvation SECT 4. Many Benefits accrue to our Children by Instruction Motive 4 BY training up our Children in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures we shall greatly promote their welfare That this is the way to furnish them with wisdom and what Advantages will come to them by being endued with Wisdom hath been shewed already There are many other great Benefits and Advantages will accrue to our Children by being instructed in the Scriptures I will instance in some of them 1. Acquaintance with the Word of God will furnish them with grounds of Consolation whereby they may be able to bear up chearfully and comfort themselves under all the troubles of this present life We know not what troubles our Children may meet with when we are at Rest in our Graves we leave them in a troublesome world where they must expect to meet with variety of afflictions Job 14.1 Man that is born of a Woman is of few Days and full of trouble especially if they walk in the path that leads to life for there is no getting to Heaven but through much tribulation Act. 14.22 We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God And if our Children have not somewhat out of Gods Word to comfort themselves withall under their afflictions they will sink under their sorrows and be in danger to make away themselves Psal 119.92 Vnless thy Law had been my delight I should then have perished in mine affliction But if they be acquainted with the word of God they may from thence be furnished with grounds of Consolation under the greatest troubles that can come upon them in this world Jer. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoycing of mine heart It was a time of great trouble with the Prophet and he was alone and had none to comfort him as we may see Vers 10 17 18. yet even then when he was a man of contention to the whole earth and sat alone being filled with indignation and looked upon his pain as perpetual and his wound as incurable Gods word was the joy and rejoycing of his heart So David when his heart was ready to break with grief Psal 119.28 My Soul melteth for heaviness found joy and comfort in Gods word Vers 49.50 Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope This is my comfort in mine affliction And Vers 143 162. Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me yet thy Commandments are my delight I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoyl 2. Acquaintance with the word of God will keep our Children from taking evil and destructive courses from going in those paths that will bring them to destruction Psal 17.4 Concerning the works of men by the words of thy Lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyers The word of God laid up in their hearts will keep them from associating themselves with evil men and evil women It will so over-awe their hearts that they will not only not run of themselves into evil Company but also shun and avoid them though they use many flattering speeches to entice them to that which is evil Prov. 7.15 My Son keep my words and lay up my Commandments with thee That they may keep thee from the strange woman from the stranger which flattereth with her words See also Prov. 6.23 24. 3. The knowledge of Godsword will keep them from falling into Errors which persons of weak Judgments and not well grounded in the Scriptures are easily drawn into Errors arise from ignorance of the Scriptures Mark 12.24 Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the Scriptures neither the power of God Growing in knowledge is prescribed by the Apostle as a means to prevent persons being led into errors 2 Pet. 3.17 18. We had need be careful to preserve our Children from Errors especially in Fundamental Points of Religion as well as from gross sins For 1. Except they abide in the Doctrine of Christ they can have no enjoyment of God 2 John 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son 2. Heresies are manifest works of the flesh as well as Adultery and Murder and such-like sins and will as certainly exclude men from the Kingdom of Heaven as the grossest sins as we may see Gal. 5.19 20 21. 4. If we instruct our Children in the knowledge of Gods word that will guide and direct them how to carry on all their undertakings and how to manage the great Turns and Changes of their Lives and all their other affairs Psal 119.105 Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path And the Lord hath promised to such as converse much with his word and treasure it up in their hearts that his word shall lead and guide them in all their ways and they shall have such plain direction from his word how to order their Affairs as if they heard one talking with them and saying this is the way walk therein Prov. 6.21 22 23. Bind them continually upon thine heart When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou wakest it shall talk with thee For the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and Reproofs of Instruction are the way of life Isa 30.21 Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left 5. It will help our Children even whilst they are young to reform their lives Psal 119.9 Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word It will keep them from sinning against God Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee It will cause them to do those things which are right in the sight of God 2 Kings 12.2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him Now who is there that feareth the Lord that would not most gladly have his Children reform their lives and be kept from sinning against God and do that which is right in the sight of the Lord 6. By leaving our Children instructed in Gods word we shall leave them better than if we were able to leave them thousands of pounds of Silver and Gold For the Law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of Gold and Silver Psal 119.72 7. Godly Parents may have all that they can desire on the behalf of their Children if they do train them up in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures Do we desire that our Children should be brought to know and fear the Lord This may be effected by causing them to treasure up Gods word in their hearts
Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of man Our Saviour Jesus Christ sums up all that is delivered by Moses in the Law and by the Prophets in reference to our Duty to our Neighbour in a short sentence Matth. 7.12 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets The Apostle Paul comprehends all the Commandments that are scattered up and down the word of God concerning our duty towards our Neighbour in one short saying Rom. 13.9 If there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self The Apostles resolved that grand question what a man should do to be saved in few words Acts 16.30 31. Sirs What must I do to be saved And they said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy House Persons of the weakest memories may retain such short Scriptures as these are and by retaining such comprehensive Scriptures they may know and remember much of their duty although they remember but few words 3. If your Children and Servants be dull inculcate the same things over and over to them that they may be the more imprinted in their minds and be more deeply rooted in their memories The Apostle speaking of such as were dull Heb. 5.11 saith vers 12. Ye have need one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God Teaching of Truths once or twice is not enough for such as are dull they must be taught the same things again and again Isa 28.10 Precept must be upon Precept line upon line line upon line here a little and there a little 4. Direct them to and put them upon the practice of those things that will help the infirmities of their Understandings and Memories As for instance First Stir them up to pray to God to give them his holy Spirit The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and will make a man of a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord Isa 11.2 3. It is his work to lead us into all truth John 16.13 And to help the infirmities of our memories by bringing Gods Word to our remembrance John 14.26 Secondly Stir them up to repent of their sins It is sin which darkens our minds and keeps us from the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.6 7. Silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Such persons as do not leave their sins will abide in ignorance although they be Hearers and Learners of Gods word as long as they live But as for such as repent of their sins and turn to God though they be simple persons yea such as have loved simplicity and hated knowledge the Lord promiseth to make known his word to them Prov. 1.22 23. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you Thirdly Advise them to exercise their minds in studying and searching into the Scriptures and to exercise their memories by committing some portion of Gods word to their memories every day Hereby such as have weak memories and could remember little or nothing at the first will find their Memories improved wonderfully and not only their Memories but their Understandings also Use and Exercise of the Faculties of the Soul tend much to their improvement which the Scripture as well as daily Experience doth testifie Heb. 5.14 Even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil SECT 5. The Plea of such as neglect Family-Instruction because their Children or Servants are hard-hearted and rebellious answered Object 5 Mr Children and Servants are so hard-hearted that nothing that I say unto them takes any impression upon their hearts yea they are stubborn and rebellious opposite and ready to contradict and gainsay those things which I teach them out of the word of God And to what end should I trouble my self to teach hard-hearted rebellious gainsaying persons Answ 1. Consider whether God be not calling your sin to remembrance in suffering your Children to be stubborn and refractory in their carriage towards you As for instance Did not you in your your younger days carry your selves in a disobedient stubborn manner towards your Parents Or have you not been stubborn and disobedient in your carriage towards God your heavenly Father Or did you not neglect instructing your Children and too much indulge them in their own wills and ways whilst they were young Or have you not some other way provoked God by your sins to afflict you with stubborn and disobedient Children If so then humble your Souls before God for your sins and thereby you may prevail with God to remove this punishment from you and to bow and bend your Childrens hearts so as they shall come and humble themselves before you and submit to those instructions which you shall give them out of the word of God We know God can work wonderful changes in the hearts of men he can make those that have been an affliction to us to come and humble themselves before us Isa 60.14 The sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet And what more likely way is there to bring this about then for us to bow down and submit our selves to God 2. The Lord vouchsafes to teach hard-hearted rebellious gainsaying persons Neh. 9.16 17.20 They and our Fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and hearkened not to thy Commandments and refused to obey neither were mindful of the Wonders thou didst among them but hardened their necks and in their rebellion appointed a Captain to return to their Bondage We see here what a rebellious people the Israelites were but did this cause God to give over instructing them No for it is said vers 20. Thou gavest thy good spirit to instruct them And the like we may see Isa 65.2 3. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people which walked in a way that was not good after their own thoughts a people that provoketh me to anger centinually to my face So also Rom. 10.21 To Israel he saith All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people Stretching out of the hands was used by those that taught and instructed the people Prov. 1.24 Acts 26.1 So that where the Lord saith I have stretched forth my hands to a gainsaying and rebellious people the meaning is that he instructed them and invited them to repentance Now if the Lord condescendeth to teach a rebellious gainsaying people shall we think much to teach