Authority over thee Magistratus ne exsecrator Thou shall not be he that curseth the Magistrate that is the Powers that rule over thee He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach Prov. 19.26 St. Paul saith That no Revilers shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.10 Therefore have a care and do not speak slighting and deriding Words to thy Parents nor of or to any person of what Rank Degree or Quality whatsoever 3d. Direction is You must not curse your Parents For every one that curseth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to death Levit. 20.9 He that curseth his Father or Mother his lamp shall be put out in obscurity Prov. 20.20 He that curseth his Father or Mother let him dye the death Mat. 15.4 Mark 7.10 Prov. 30.11 As you must not curse them in words so you must not curse them so much as in your Hearts or Thoughts Eccles 10.20 For the Lord seeth and knoweth the Heart and all its purposes intents and imaginations for all things are naked before him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.13 4th Direction is You must not set light by your Parents Cursed is he that setteth light by his Father or his Mother and all the people shall say Amen Deut. 27.16 The Prophet Ezekiel reckons it up among the sins of Jerusalem in that Catalogue Ezek 22.7 In thee saith he have they set light by Father and Mother For which sins the Lord was so much offended that he threatens them with Captivity and Destruction Ezek. 22.15 16. The Commandment saith Honour thy Father and thy Mother But he that setteth light by them as not to regard them does no part of Honour to them and so by it becometh a Transgressor against God and his Parents 5th Direstion is You must not despise them when poor or old Joseph who was then a Ruler in Egypt when his Father came to him who was old blind and poor too in respect to Joseph who was the next Man to the King yet it is said He bowed himself with his face to the ground and fell on his neck as their manner was and wept Gen. 46.29 48.12 So far was Joseph from despising his Father though he did sustain him and his in Poverty and Necessity that he shews him great Tokens of Honour saith the Wise Man Hearken to they Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Prov. 23.22 Also he counts him a Fool that despiseth his Fathers Instruction Prov. 15.5 And a foolish Son despiseth his Mother Prov. 15.20 Therefore despise them not and be wise 6th Direction is Thou must not stain their Innocency by thy unjust uneven and wicked Walking The Lord took so much care that Parents should not be stained with their Childrens sins that he gives it in charge that if the Daughter of a Priest prophaned her Father by wheredom she should be burnt with fire Levit. 21.9 They that stain themselves by Murder shall dye Dent. 19.13 The rebellious and stubborn are to be stoned to death Deut. 21.21 Therefore walk in Innocency all thy days Phil. 2.15 7th Direction is Thou must not smite nor prosecute them He that smiteth his Father or his Mother shall surely be put to death Exod. 21.15 in the latter days our Lord foretold that the Wickedness of some would be so great that they would not only rise up against their Parents But they would cause them to be ut to death Mat. 10.20 Absolom that went about to persecute his Father David was hanged in an Oak as not being fit for Heaven nor yet to live on Earth 2 Sam. 18.9 Therefore Children have a care of Rebellion and Persecution least the Lord take you away as he did Absolom 8th Direction is You must not use so much as any shew of revenge if you think you are wronged You must not harbour such a thought in your breast it may be it is an Instigation of Satan to tempt you to evil or what is done is done on purpose to prove you whether you have any grace in your Hearts or no. Avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath Vengeance is mine saith the Lord I will repay it Rom. 12.19 9th Direction is You must not use any slighting Expressions neither of them nor to them nor yet slander them If he that uttereth a slander is a fool as the Wise Man saith Prov. 10.18 What shall he be counted that is the first framer thereof Children should always count their Parents much better than themselves which if they did there would be then no ground to slight and reproach them A Wise Son maketh a glad Father Prov. 15.20 Then he that slighteth laugheth at and reproacheth his Parents is but a fool and a Capital Sinner 10th Direction is You must not if your Parents are wicked follow them in evil Examples It is recorded to the everlasting shame of many of the Kings of Israel and Judah how they followed the evil Examples of their wicked Parents 2 Kings 21.4 in Idolatry and other grievous crying Sins as you may read at large in the two Books of the Kings and Chronicles 11th Direction is Thou must not steal from thy Parents nor pourver away their Goods nor like the Drone Bee to wast and consume thy Parents Estate Whoso robbeth his Father or his Mother and saith it is no transgression the same is a Companion of a destroyer Prov. 28.24 He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach Prov. 19.26 Therefore let him that hath stole steal no more Ephes 4.28 12th Direction is Thou must not follow thy Parents in any kind of Sedition Heresie Schism Superstition false Doctrine or Idolatry If thou know it so to be by the plain words of Scripture but thou must avoid it and perswade thy Parents to turn from it In this case it is far better to obey God rather than Man Now in the second place I come to the positive Rules to shew you what you must do And 1st Direction is Thou must stand in fear of them this is a positive command Ye shall fear every man his Father and his Mother Levit. 19.3 He that feareth them not will never do them any honour he that truly standeth in fear of his Parents how doth he seek all means and use all ways possible to please them 2d Direction is You must do your best endeavour to hide your Parents faults Children may see many gross faults in their Parents which they themselves ought not to mind to be such they ought not to discover it but as Shem and Japhet hide their Fathers nakedness if possible Gen. 9.23 It is one way to oblige their Parents to love them at all times and in all places 3d. Direction is You must do your duty in all service of honour Such is the fifth Commandment and the first with promise Ephes
Rom. 1.3 Of whom concerning the flesh Christ came Rom. 9.5 Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God 1 John 4.2 5ly Christ had also blood One of the Soldiers with a spear peirced his fide and forthwith came there out blood and water John 19.24 Thou hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood Revel 5.9 We have redemption through his blood Col. 1.14 You are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1.19 And the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 Heb. 9.14 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved Rom. 5.9 6ly And as he had flesh and blood so also bones These things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled a bone of him shall not be broken John 19.36 Handle me a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Luke 24.39 7ly Christ died Jesus when he had cryed again with a loud voice yielded up the Ghost Mat. 27.50 Mark 16.37 Luke 23.46 John 19.30 To this end Christ died Rom. 14.9.15 Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8.11 If righteousness came by the law Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2.21 And that Christ died for all 2 Cor. 5.15 Christ humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 In due time Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5.6 While we were sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5.8 8ly Christ was buried Joseph brought fine Linnen and took him down and wrapped him in the linnen and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewen out of a rock and rolled a stone unto the door of the Sepulchre Mark 15.46 And that Christ was buried and he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.4 Being buried with Christ in baptism Col. 2.12 Rom. 6.4 How are the Valentinian and Utichen Heresies detected it is plain Christ was begotten born had a body of flesh blood and bones died and was buried which body c. he receiv'd of the Virgin Mary being compleat and perfect God-man in one person Heaven and Earth being as it were united in one person in an Hypostatical Union by which divine and miraculous Union all the Elect are come to obtaining Union with God and Eternal Salvation Article the Fourth Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate suffered and was buried c. Pilate said unto them what shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ they all said unto him let him be crucified and he delivered him to be crucified Mat. 27.22 26. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 1 Cor. 1.23 Acts 4.10 1 Cor. 2.2 Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it in Linnen Cloaths with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury and laid it in a new Sepulchre John 19.40 41. Article the Fifth And rose again the third day according to the Scriptures c. 1 Cor. 15.4 We have testified of God that he raised up Christ 1 Cor. 15.15 But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 And he said unto them thus it is written and thus it behoveth Christ to suffer and to rise again the third day from the dead Luke 24.46 He hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Per. 1.3 Christ the first fruits from the dead Col. 1.18 Christ the first begotten of the dead Rev. 1.5 That Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead Acts 17.3 That Christ should be the first that should arise from the dead Acts 26.23 Christ being risen from the dead died no more Rom. 6.9 He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies Rom. 8.11 To this end Christ both died and rose again Rom. 14.9 Gal. 1.1 He spake of the resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in hell Acts 2.31 It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again Rom. 8.34 10.9 According to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Ephes 1.19 20. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel 2 Tim. 2.8 Article the Sixth And ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father c. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into Heaven and sat on the right hand of God Mark 16.19 And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Luke 24.51 While they beheld he was taken up and the cloud received him out of their sight Acts 1.9 Who is even at the right hand of God Rom. 8.34 Eph. 1.20 If ye be risen with Christ seek those things that are above where Christ fitteth at the right hand of God Col. 3.1 Heb. 1.3 8. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God Heb. 10.12 12.2 Christ who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God 1 Pet. 3.22 Acts 2.33 a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5.31 Article the Seventh And is to come again in Glory to judge the living and the drad of whose Kingdom there shall be no end c. If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again John 14.3 28. This same Jesus which is taken up into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 1.11 For the son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels Mat. 16.27 And they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory Mat. 24.30 Mark 13.26 Luke 21.27 It is he which was ordained of God to be judge of quick and dead Acts 10.42 I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Dan. 7.27 The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 Article the Eighth And in the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of Life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets c. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things John 14.26 It is the Spirit that quickeneth John 6.63 The Father the Word and the Holy Ghost
seem to mock at their Parents and dispise them when dead and gone their interment is in the field and their grave the birds of the air Prov. 30.17 and their end shame and everlasting contempt Dan 12.2 30th Direction is Let all thy duties be sweetned with a true hearty and ever lasting affection towards thy Parents in their Life Death and after This is the first Commandment 1 John 2.7 and the last commandment 1 Tim. 1.5 1 Cor. 13.8 the new commandment John 13.34 and the old commandment Levit. 19.18 If thou do all in love thou hast a stamp of the divine nature in thee for God is love 1 John 4.8 and love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 Gal. 5.14 Love covers a multitude of infirmities Prov. 10.12 Love worketh no ill Rom. 13.10 it is the fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 This should be the first mover of thee to thy duty and that which should keep thee close to it unto the last 1 Cor. 13.4 to 13. So also thou must with patience submit thy self under the discipline of a true Church of Christ Remember to submit to the Authority of Magistratical Power and Rulers under all moral and civil Laws also for they in a Nation are as Parents ruling under Divine Authority Atheism and Idolatry are as opposite to divine power as Adultery Theft or Murder and other criminal Facts and ought to be suppressed by the civil laws but in point of matter time and manner relating to the worship of the Trinity in Unity none have power neither Prelate nor Magistrate to make or impose laws to compel the conscience it being Vicegerent only under divine Authority that none can compel or command it the carnal Sword may put the Mind into fear and also wound the Body but it cannot hurt the Conscience the most it can do is to fright some into Hypocrisie but for certain it never makes good Christians We read 2 Cor. 1.24 St. Paul had no dominion over the Churches faith neither can Pope Conclave Councils Convocations nor Magistratical Powers by Fines Imprisonment Inquisition Exilement or Confiscation of Goods nor Death but the Tares and Wheat ought to grow together till the Harvest which is the end of the World Mat. 13.30 39. Our Saviour taught a good Lesson if those in Authority could but learn it To do to all men even as we would have they should do to us Mat. 7.12 Luke 6.30 When the Apostle saith Let every soul be subject to the higher powers Rom. 13.1 He cannot mean in matters of Religion and Conscience for then he himself would not have been continually under Persecution for his Religion and Conscience as he was at all times and places Acts 20.23 But his meaning must be in civil things Again where St. Peter saith Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 14. He shews you their Authority is only to afflict evil doers not the conscientious persons for if so he himself had been guilty Acts 4.18 19. In yielding thy self with patience under the Authority of thy Governours thou art in a state to receive the Blessing in that fifth but first Commandment that hath the promise Ephes 6.2 In the next place I shall add some motives as inducing arguments to perswade you to be mindful of your duties each to other And First Let the necessity of the work be the primum mobile to move you to those duties preceeding And 1st If you omit your duties each to other you are under the guilt of sin Sin lieth at thy door Gen. 4.7 2ly You are Bond-slaves to the Devil 2 Tim. 2.26 3ly Every spiritual part in you is altogether out of joynt James 3.16 4ly You are totally void of an holy life 1 Thes 3.13 5ly You desace the image of Christ in your Souls Rom. 8.10 6ly None of your works can be pleasing to the most high Rom. 13.7 7ly You leave your selves without a promise of eternal life Heb. 6.12 15. 8ly You are still under the wrath of God Rom. 2.5 9ly You live always in fear and danger of the Execution of divine justice Heb. 2.15 10ly You have no true peace in this life nor assurance of eternal peace in the world to come Isa 57.21 11ly You are destitute of an heavenly heart Rom. 8.6 12ly You are under the Dominion Power Curse and Thunder-claps of the Law Deut. 27.16 For there is but one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy James 4.12 The Lord is our judge the Lord is our Law-giver Isa 33.22 Whoso breaketh one of his Laws and teacheth Men so to do is guilty of all James 2.10 Mat. 5.19 If he that despised Moses Law died without mercy what will become of them that despise the law of Christ Heb. 10.28 Therefore Parents obey this Law and educate your Children betimes Prov. 22.6 And you Children honour love fear reverence and obey your Parents that you may not come under the lash of the Law Deut. 5.16 A Second Motive is Consider the woful state of thy Soul if thou live and die in disobedience Die thou must for certain sooner or later the time when the place where the manner how the matter for what none knoweth Remember 1st Christ will come in Flaming Fire taking vengeance on the disobedient 2 Thes 1.8 2ly The Lord himself will be a swift witness against those that fear him not Mal. 3.5 3ly Thy own conscience then will be worse to thee than a thousand witnesses 1 John 3.20 Mark 9.44.46.48 4ly The Disobedient as Goats will Christ set apart as cursed for everlasting fire Mat. 25.41 5ly When death comes it deprives us of the means of grace which hath been often offered to us if we would but have had hearts to have embraced it Eccles 9.10 Mat. 23.37 Luke 13.34 6ly It will be a weeping time too late to see the Saints in glory and you your selves thrust out Luke 13.28 7ly It will be very dreadful to repent when repentance will do no good Luke 16.24 8ly For those that omit their duty now it will be a sad time when they shall pray and it will be too late Mat. 25.11 12. 9ly It will be bad and sad to have the damned and infernals to be thy Companions Mat. 25.41 10ly It will be a woful time to stand at the very gate of Heaven crying calling and knocking yea beholding the Saints in their glory Luke 13.28 when you must be cast down into eternal flames Mat. 25.41 This is enough to make an heart of Stone to melt but yet moreover thy Torment is aggravated still 1st Thy sins will hang on thy back heavier than ten thousand mountains to press and keep thee down into Hell fire Isa 24.21 Chap. 30.27 Jer. 25.27 Thy sins will be set in order before thine eyes Psal 50.21 A 2d is Because they had time means and power while they were in this world to embrace the means of Grace offered to them but they refused it and