required in the family to be exercised by the Master of the house How much ignorance of God and his word in most families For neglect of How much loosnesse profanenesse wickednesse in children servants wives Take but the reason of all in a word it is because there is no care of the service of God in the family by the Chief of the family Look but upon the particular services 1 Morning and evening prayers in the family 1. A constant course of Morning Evening Prayers is one principle part of the service of God in the family which is evinced by this one argument because some deny the necessity of it and call for Scripture for it to omit others Because it being God that hath placed men in a Community setting the solitary in families Psal 68.6 it cannot be justly conceived he did this meerly for their worldly conveniences but rather that they should improve their Society to his glory who is the Lord of them altogether as well as of every one single so to worship him joyntly as well as of every one solitarily and apart Zach. 12. And as Congregations or publick Assemblies are appointed purposely for the more solemne worship of God by all several families So are families for a joynt and lesse solemne worship of God by all the single persons thereof together And indeed how hath the family that knowledge of God to be 1. Their great Lord and Master 2 The Author of their peace among themselves Psal He maketh men to be of one minde in an house that the Governour is gentle to his inferiours and they dutiful to him 3. The Author of all blessings to them all of health and strength to follow their labours and of successe and comfort in them if they agree not together to joyne in worship of that their Lord and in tendering Prayers and Praises for such things as they expect and receive from him But now how visible how common is the neglect of this service of God How many or rather how few families are there that keep this course How many goe to bed like their Swine and rise again like their Dog without ever calling upon Gods Name to give thanks for mercies received or pray for what they want The very Lords Prayer which runs in the plural implyes this a dayly duty of every man and being a society it requires it of all together that can meet to say Our Father c. and thine is the Kingdome c. The House is a little Church and so may be called an House of Prayer 2. Reading and hearing of the word 2 Reading and hearing of the word is another commanded service as by every person single so by all together in the family It concerns the Master of the family to see this done Deut. 11.18 c. is expressed for this to make the Scriptures known to their houshold speaking of it to them writing it upon the posts and gates and reading of it is now the readiest way But now how many Families have not one Chapter read from years end to years end at least from Sabbath to Sabbath How shall they understand the word in publick Col. 3.16 that are not acquainted with it in private The Apostle commands Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another c. And it was the commendation of Timothius Parents that he knew he holy Scripturs from a child which onely are able to make a man wise to salvation In many families and they great ones we may finde Play-Books and amorous lacivious discourses frequently read but rarely a Chapter of the Bible all the week long Is it any wonder then that wives children servants are so bad 3. Catechising and instructing of those under their charge 3 Catechising is another Service of God Deut. 6.6 Thou shalt whet them upon thy Children c. or sharpen them by often repeating and the best meanes to work knowledge of God and his service in the hearts of inferiours Traine up a childe and servant in the trade of his youth and when he is old he shall not depart from it Thus did David drop Religion into Solomon while a childe Pro. 4.3 4. and so did his mother Bathsheba Pro. 31.1 2. c. Timothies did the like 2 Tim. 2. But how is this every where neglected Few children or servants are taught the Catechisme the first principles of Religion Hence the unprofitablenesse under the best publick preaching Hence so many are seduced into so many grosse errors and heresies and profanesse 4 Singing of Psalms 4. Singing of Psalmes is another service of God in the family as well as in the publick See Col. 3.16 Teaching and admonishing one another with Psalmes and Hymnes and spiritual Songs making melody in your hearts to God We heare Ballads and Jigs and filthy Songs sung in families but not a Psalme all the year long 5. Grace before and after meales 5 Grace at meales is a part of Prayer and Praises due to God but shamefully neglected in families or but a meer formality if used without any reverence Is it any wonder children servants be so bad to them when they are so bad to God that they do as the children of Israel did Sit down to eat and drink and rise up to play and that play was Idolatry Our blessed Saviour himselfe never eat himselfe or fed others at his Table but he blessed and gave thanks Mark 8.6 7. the Apostle Paul amongst Heathens observed the same Acts 27.35 And the same Apostle speaking of meats particulary God hath created them to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe know the truth For every creature of God is good if it be received with thanksgiving For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer 1 Tim. 4.3 4 5. As if it were not good if not sanctified by prayer and thanksgiving but may prove a Serpent even a poyson to soul or body And the neglect hereof argues in the Apostles Logick that such persons neither believe nor know the truth Let them consider it 6 Sanctification of the Sabbath 6. Lastly Sanctification of the Sabbath by the whole family in all or most of the duties aforesaid publickly and privately is the care of the chief housholder as in the fourth Commandment Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Thou Master and thy sonne and daughter manservant and maidservant What need so particular enumeration if there were not a great weight in the performance thereof But where shall we finde the family that doth all this when the Housholders themselves neglect or profane it by their own example and imploy their children and servants in businesses to keep them from the publick Congregation or leave them to come or goe at their own pleasure or to spend the day in Idelnesse or Sports pastimes that day How can these men say truly I and my
but will much more extend to children and servants There is a kinde of Civil judicature erected in the Family a power to examine try censure punish and eject offenders Gen. 21.10 Cast out the Bondwoman with her sonne And this houshold discipline David resolves to exercise in his house Psal 101. either to keep out or cast out such as are wicked and incorrigible This of the second Reason 3. Every chief housholder hath Curam animarum 3. He hath the cure of souls the charge of the souls of his family not properly pastoral but very like it He must give an account of the soules of his Wife Children Servants as well as the Magistrate of the souls of his Subjects Ezek. 34.10 or the Minister of the soules of his people Ezek. 2.18 It concerns him therefore very nearely to endeavour to make them Religious which is the onely way to save their soules 4. His house is a lesser Church 4. Every Christians house should be a lesser Church as the Church is called the House of God Hence we read of a Church in a house Rom. 16.5 The Church which is in the house of Aquila and Priscila Philem. ver 2. The Church in thy house Whether it were because the Congregation did assemble in their houses having at that time no publick place of meeting or that in their houses there were enough to make a little Church as some limite the number at lest to seven or whether their houses were so ordered for Religion that they seemâ—d to be lesser Churches it is not material to inquire Of that famous Emperours house Constantine it is reported by Eusebius that the exercises of Religion were so ordered in it that it differed little from a Church There were Prayers morning and evening reading of the word Catechising Singing of Psalmes all but Sacraments and Preaching as in the Church And to use St. Chrysostomes words Where there are in a house Prayers and Singing of Psalmes Tom. 1. pag. 6.11 l. 19. c in Psal 41. and reading of the Prophets c. a man should not much mistake in calling such a meeting or assembly a Church And this service of God in the family he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good Liturgie worship of God And besides there is or should be exercised a Church-like Discipline even a lesser Excommunication of refractorie offenders as David professes he would deal with wicked proud deceitfull lying servants Psal 101. If by instruction admonition correction he could not reclaim them he would Excommunicate cast them out of the Church in his house This may suffice for confirmation of the point 2 Applied We now come to the Application of all by Uses and Inferences therefrom 1 To check the rashnesse of young people 1. To consider and bewaile the rashnesse of many young ones who rush upon Family Relations and never know or weigh how fit or unfit they are to discharge the Duties of those Relations They must be married forsooth in all the hast there 's one Relation then come children perhaps before the lawful time there 's another And then servants must be had to attend them and theirs that 's a third Relation but know not what the duties of any of those relations are nor the charge of those souls under their Inspection While a man is single he hath care almost of none but his own soul and much liberty to study how to serve and please God 1 Cor. 7.34 But when once he hath a family made up of these three relations his duties are multiplied with them and now he must take care of the Soules of wife children servants and yet scarce knows how to take care of his own soul Little do they consider that the chief housholder must be a Prophet to teach a Priest to pray with and for a King to rule his own family when they cannot teach pray or rule themselves Let this consideration check and coole the heat and heady rashnesse of younger people 2 It shews the iniquity of Toleration 2. This may serve to discover the iniquity of that so much cal'd for cursed Toleration of all Religions falsly called Liberty of Conscience The mischiefes of it are so many and so great that they cannot be aforehand imagined Besides the publick disturbance of the peace by different fractions and factions c. The natural or unnatural consequences of such a Toleration the divisions in families will be as many almost as there are persons and the wisest Housholder cannot possibly redresse it But the maine is this that it will prove impossible for the most pious Housholder to do his duty in making his Family Religious and to serve God with him in all his relations when as he hath no coercive power to resolve with Joshua I and my house will serve the Lord. Suppose which experience daily confirmes to be true The Housholder be a godly zealous Protestant his Wife an Independent the children Anabaptists some one or more of the servants Papists c. How is it possible the Superiour should unite all these into a Church in his house to serve God if a toleration for all Religions be granted Some will pretend they goe to serve God in their own way and assemblies and perhaps goe to serve the Devil in the Stewes or Taverne How shall the Housholder joyne with his family wife children servants in prayers reading hearing Sacraments sanctification of the Sabbath by all together which is charged upon him in the fourth Commandement when they not onely detest his way of serving God but his prayers reading Sabbaths c. and perhaps himselfe different affections commonly arising from differing opinions and judgements Let the wise consider it 3 Complaint of many Housholders 3. Here 's matter of just complaint of many of most Housholders who are discovered to be little Religious themselves by the profanenesse and loosnesse of their Family wives children servants In that place afore cited Deut. 6.6 7. its made a sign of a man that is godly and religious that hath Gods words in his heart that he endeavours to make his family such These words that I command thee shall be in thine heart And thou shalt teach them to thy children c. Contrarily ignorance of God and irreligion in their families are joyn'd together Jer. 10.25 and both of them Characters of a nation or family lying under the wrath of God and subject to his curse and destruction Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the families that call not on thy Name Much complaining there is every where of the badnesse of servants children wives as if they were corrupted abroad when the truth is they are either corrupted or neglected at home for want of instruction or houshold discipline or good example of the chief and Head of the family This might be exemplified in all the Relations of the family and in all the Services of God
house we will serve the Lord I shall onely say more truely what once was falsly applied to our Saviour This man is not of God because he keepeth not the Sabbath day because he takes no care that his family with him do keep the Sahbath day And thus much of the third Use 4. Exhortations to the duty where 4. The last is a word of Exhortation to set on this duty upon all Chiefe Housholders in all their Relations to resolve with Joshua what ever others doe As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. To perswade them more effectually to the performance hereof I shall propound some more special Motives and then prescribe some Directions or meanes how they may effect it 1 The Motives from the Good 1. The Motives besides those Reasons used in the Doctrinal part which should be sufficient to perswade any Christian I shall adde these which shall have respect 1. To the family 2. To the publick 3. To themselves 1 To the Family 1. To the Family It is the greatest Good they can doe to them to make them Religious To provide an Estate or inheritance for children meat drink and wages for servants is no more than Turks and Heathens doe What singular thing is this yea they provide meat and drink for their beasts and no more for their families soules to leave them interested in the Covenant of grace under the favour blessing protection of God when they are gone hence this is the choisest and chiefest good and for this they will blesse God for them for ever 2. To the publick 2 To the publick in Towns Countries Church Nation which are all made up of families as families of single persons To make the family good and Religious makes good Magistrates good Subjects good Husbands good Wives good Masters good Servants good Neighbours when any of the family swarmes as I may so say into other Societies The Town Country Kingdome is bettered and blessed by such He or She will never be good neighbours Subjects c. that were not good in their Family Relations He will never be good Father that was not a good childe nor she a good Mother that was not a good daughter nor he good Master that was a naughty servant and so of the rest Absolom who was a rebellious childe proved a traiterous Subject Hophin and Phineas that were disobedient children proved sacrilegious Priests c. There is a saying of the Philosophers Mulus vir bonus civis An ill man may be a good Citizen But Divinity sayes An ill man can no more be a good Citizen or neighbour then evil can be good The want therefore of family Reformation is the cause of all the miscarriges abroad in Townes Churches Country Nation Hence come all those disorders in Townes Nations Drunkennesse Vncleannesse Profannesse c. from want of discipline in families This fills the Goales and furnishes the Gallows Be the Lawes Orders in Cities Churches never so good yet all in vain if Masters of families neglect their duties Much complaint there is of the general badnesse of the times but they may thank themselves And as for the Church or Congregation the long desired and by some much endeavoured Reformation sticks here The want of this Resolution in Masters of families I and my house will serve the Lord makes all the Ministers labours unfruitful It 's impossible a Minister should teach instruct and make a Town or Congregation Religious unlesse assisted by the Governours of houses If their Housholds be not taught the Principles of Religion at home acquainted with the word by private reading brought to attend on and call'd to account for publick Ordinances all our labour comes to nothing As then the Housholders intend the Publick good of State and Church let them resolve I and my house c. See Psal 101. last this mend all 3. To themselves 3. To themselves it is if the other prevaile not self-love should It is for their own greatest good and that two wayes 1. The way to make them faithful diligent profitable to themselves 1 For their profit is to make them truly religious Now Wives children servants obey them for Conscience sake towards God Onesimus while unregenerate was unprofitable to his Master Philemon a purloyner it seems and a runaway But Paul having converted him sends him home now profitable Ungodly and profane servants are commonly idle deceitful at best but Eye-servants and bring a curse upon the whole family But religious servants if truly so prove faithful you may trust them with any thing with all you have as Potiphar did Joseph and Laban did Jacob and they dare not be false And diligent in their labours because they set themselves alwayes under the eye of God and when their Masters eye is far off them they see him that is invisible But above all they are Prayerful morning evening and at all times and so procure a blessing on their labours upon estate children businesses intrusted with them See an instance in Abrahams servants Gen. 24.12 his prayer for successe of his journey and businesse and ver 33. his faithfulnesse and diligence not eat till know the issue They then are enemies to their own profit that endeavour not to make their families good 2 This is for their comfort 2 For their comfort living or dying when they shall see their care and labour succeed and blessed by God with grace and holiness in their families what joy and comfort will this be to have been instrumental to their salvation I have saith he no greater joy than this to see my children walking in the truth A wise son maketh a glad father but a foolish one is an heavinesse and shame to his mother So is a wise and religious servant no lesse honour than comfort to his Master If it succeed not yet a comfort to hem that they have done their duty Though it be a grief to see no fruits of their travel yet much more when conscious of their neglect of their soules In hell nothing more tormenting than for not having done their duty to help them to salvation by instruction admonition correction but rather to further their damnation by wicked examples and so to be filled with their curses as soul-murderers Let all these things bee considered I might remember them of the famous examples of such Housholders as were careful to make their families Religious in Scripture and Stories those afore named Abraham Jacob David c. And that of Constantine the Emperour whose house was for Religion like a Church I shall give but one of later times That of Lewes the ninth King of France who was found instructing a poor kitchin boy and being asked why he would doe so said The meanest hath a soul as precious as my owne and bought with the same blood of Christ But I forbeare any more and come to 2. The Directions 2. The directions or means how they
Parents over them A fearing love and a loving fear Q. What are the duties of children to Parents A. Two Reverence and Obedience Q. Wherein consists their Reverence A. In their speech and gest re Q. How doth reverence appear in speech A. 1. In a modest forbearance to speak in their presence Job 22.9 10 21 till Parents give leave 2. In right framing their words when they do speak Q. How may they frame their words aright A. 1. Their words must be honourable to them or of them giving them their Titles of Father Lord Sir Mother Gen. 22.7 1 Kin. 2.20 2. They must bee few onely as occasion is offered 3. They must bee meek and humble as Jonathan to his Father 1 Sam. 19.4 4. They must observe fit opportunities 1 Sam. 19.9 and 20 30. when their Parents are not busie or in passion 5. A ready pleasing in their answers as 1 Sam. 3 4 6. Matth. 21.30 Q. How must they expresse Reverence in their gesture or carriage A. 1. In tendering obeysance Gen. 46 29. 1 Kin. 2.19 Gen. 46.12 uncovering the head standing up bowing the body or knee 2. In modesty and bashfulnesse in their countenances and carriage 3. in taking the lower place 4. In asking their blessing Gen. 27.19.34 Q. What obedience is due to Parents A. Both Passive and Active 1 Pet. 1.14 Q. Wherein must Passive obedience appear A. In forbearance to do any thing of moment without consent of Parents As In choice of a Calling Gen. 28.2 2. In marriage Deut. 7.3 1 Cor. 7 36 37. Gen. 24.67 and 29.18 Judg. 14.2 3. In disposing of their goods Gal 4.1 4. In ordering their apparel Gen. 37.3 2 Sam. 13.18 4. In vowing Num. 30.4 Q. Whereby must their Atctive obedience bee manifested A. 1 In obeying their commands to come or go or do any thing required Gen. 28.5 and 49.1 1 Sam. 17.19 20. 2. In hearkening to their instructions Prov. 1.8 9. and 4.1 3. 3. In patient bearing their reproofes Gen. 37.10 1 Sam. 20.30 with amendment Ezod 18.17 contra 1 Sam. 2.25 Pro. 13.1 4 In submission to their corrections Heb. 12 9. and reforming Prov. 29.7 5. In recompencing their care love and kindnesse if God makes them able 1 Tim. 5.4 by protection provision Joh. 19.17 support comfort c. 1 Sam. 22.3 4. Genes 37.35 and 47.8.47.12 Q. What more is required A. 1. In natural infirmities inward or outward they are to beare them patiently and cover them carefully from others Gen. 9 23. Luke 2.51 contra Pro. 30.17 2. In casual necessities upon their bodies or estates they are to their power to relieve them Q. Doe children owe any Duties to their deceased Parents A. 1. Yes A decent and honourabble burial as they are able Gen. 25.9 and 35.29 2. In paying their debts if the State will bear it 3. To suppresse evil reports of them 4. 1 Kin. 3.3 and 15 12 To imitate their good examples these are a part of that honour due to their Parents Q. What is the extent of their obedience A. The Text saith in all things that is in all lawful things in the Lord Eph. 6.1 In things indifferent bringing their wils to their Parents Q. What motives are there to enforce these duties upon children A. 1. This is well pleasing to the Lord and the cantrary displeasing 2. Parents are in Gods stead to them and in doing their duties to them they doe it unto God and contra 3 The promises made to their obedience of long life Eph. 6.1 2 3. and happinesse in this world in their persons estates posterity by their Parents blessings Deut. 5.16 and the contrary threatnings and curses to undutiful children Prov. 30.17 4 This Obedience to their parents on earth shall be a good evidence they are childen to God their Father in heaven Q. Are there not some besides natural Parents that children owe duty to A. Yes Such as are in the place of parents to them which may be three wayes 1. Fathers or mothers in Law by marriage 2. Guardiars the next of kin when Parents are dead 3. Tutors and School-masters intrusted with them Q. What duties do children owe to their fathers or mothers in Law A. The same for the most part that they owe to their natural Parents As 1. Reverence Exod 18.7 2. Subjection Luc. 2.51 3 Recompence as Ruth 1. and 2. chap. Q. Vpon what grounds are these due A. 1. The marriage bond maketh man and wife one flesh and so to be accounted by them 2. It is an honour to the natural Parent for children to respect the other party that is now one flesh with them Q. What duty owe they to Guardians and Tutors c. A. A subjection and reverence because they have the trust and charge of Parents to them as Esth 2.20 2 Kings 2.12 15. Gal. 4.2 Chapter 2. The Duties of parents to their children Ephes 6.4 And ye Fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Col. 3.21 Fathers provoke not your children to anger lest they be discouraged Q. WHat are the parts of those Texts A. Three 1. A prohibition provoke not your children to wrath 2. A reason thereof lest they be discouraged 3. A Precept but bring them up c. Q. What duties are here enjoyned A. 1. To nourish or breed them up with food apparel and other necessaries 2. To nurture them viz. with good discipline 3. To instruct them in the wayes of God in admonition of the Lord. Q. What is the foundation of Parents duties to their children A. Love as in other relations Tit. 2.4 by reason of the paine paines care and cost which nothing but Love will beare out Q. What vices are contrary to this love A. 1. Want of natural affection in the defect Rom. 1.30 Tit. 3.3 2. Doating on them and fondnesse in the excesse with too much indulgence 1 Sam. 2.29 Q. What are the general duties at all times to be done by Parents A. 1. Faithful and fervent prayers for them 1 Thes 5.17 from beginning to end 2. Upright walking with God before them Psal 112.2 Prov. 20.7 and 13.22 3. A provident care for their childrens good all their dayes both temporal and spiritual good Q. What is the duty of mothers to their children in their infancy A. 1 Before it is borne care for the safe carriage delivery of it 2 When it is borne 1. provision of necessaries for it Luke 2.7 2. Nursing it her selfe if God make her able Gen. 21.7 Sarah and Hannah 1 Sam. 1.22 Psal 22.9 3. Procuring of right Baptism which concerns also and chiefly the father as in circumcision Q. What duties concerne them in childhood A. A special care in bringing them up and in putting of them forth when fit Q. What must Parents aime at in bringing of them up A. 1. At their temporal good in first nourishing them well providing all needful things for life and
for one another but joyntly with one another or together Q. What must they pray for together A. 1. That they may be one spirit as one flesh 2. That this Ordiance may be sanctified to them 3. That if God please they may have children comely wise gracious and heires of salvation 4. A competency to bring them up 5. For graces wanting or weak in themselves Q. What good must they promote in each other A. 1. Of their soules 1 Cor. 7.16 1 Pet. 3.1 7 both for conversion and edification and if fallen restoring one another 1 Thes 5.11 Levit. 19.17 2. Of their bodies in health and in sicknesse as mutual helpers Gen. 27.14 3. Of their good name Matth. 1.19 Prov. 22.1 both preserving it and preventing ill reports 4. Of their goods or estate Prov 31 12. Q. What common duties concern them in regard of others A. They respect the Family or others Q. What concerns them joyntly to the Family A. A joynt government of it each to be helpful in overseeing the children servants and affairs thereof The Husband chiefly without doors the Wife within 1 Tim. 5.14 Prov. 31.11 c. Q. What Duties respect both in regard of strangers A. 1. An hospitable intertainment Gen. 18.6 7. c. 2. Relieving the poor Nehem. 8.10 Prov. 31.20 Thus farre the duties common to both the particular duties of each party follow Chapter 6. The Duties of Wives to their Husbands Col. 3.18 Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Q. WHat are the parts of this Text A. Three 1. Their subjection commanded wives submit your selves to your husbands 2. The motive or reason of it As it is fit 3 The rule or direction in the Lord. Q. Why doth the Apostle begin first with Husbands and Wives A. 1 Bâ—cause man and wife were the first couple in the World before there were Parents and children or Masters and servants 2 Because they are the chiefe of the Family and rule of all the rest if they be not good husband and wife they will never be good Parents nor good Masters 3 Because if they neglect their duties to each other nothing goes well in the family the rest will be naught by their example Q. Why doth the Apostle in every Relation begin first with the Inferiour A. 1. Because inferiours are most unwilling to undergoe their burdens 2. To obey well is the best way to learn to rule well They prove best Superiours that are best Inferiours 3. It 's most for their own ease because as they are weakest so like to feele the smart of it Due obedience will move Superiours to be kinde to them Q. Why amongst Inferiours doth he first begin with Wives A. 1. To shew the wives inferiority to her husbands as children to Parents c. 2. Wives were the first on whom subjection waâ— laid as instrumental to sin 3. The wives example if good is very prevolent to the rest to do their duties 4. They most unwilling to yeeld subjection by reason of the little distance from and nearer Union with their Husbands Q. What is the maine duty of the Wife A. Subjection or submission to her husband Gen. 3.16 Q. Wherein doth that subjection consist A. In these two things 1. An acknowledgement of his Superiority over her 2. In her respect to him as her Superiour Q. How doth it appear that her Husband is her Superiour A. 1. God hath given it to him Gen. 3.16 2. Nature teaches it in the weakenesse of all Females 1 Pet. 3.7 The weaker vessel and so inferiour to the Males 3. His Titles imply superiority as Lord 1 Pet. 3.6 Guide Prov. 2.17 Head 1 Cor. 11.3 4. He represents Christ she the Church Eph. 5.23 5. Woman was made for the Man not the Man for the Woman Gen. 2.18 1 Cor. 11.8 9. Q. What reason is there of this acknowledgment A. Because this is the ground of all true subjection and obedience as to the Ordinance of God Q. Wherein stands her respect to him A. In two things Reverence and Obedience Q. What is her reverence to him A. Inward or outward Q. What is her inward Reverence A. An high esteeme of him for his place sake as her Lord and Head by the Ordinance of God which is called feare 1 Pet. 3.2 and Reverence Eph. 5. last a reverential feare Q. Whereby is that feare manifested A. 1 By her care to please him 1 Cor. 7.34 2 By her joy in pleasing him Pro. 31.12 3 By her grief in offending him Q. Whereby is her outward fear or reverence discovered A. By her behaviour and speech Q. What must her behaviour to him be A. 1 With gravity in a sober carriage 1 Tim. 3.11 2 Meeknesse or mildness in a cleare and amiable countenance 3 Courtesie on all occasions 4. Modesty in Apparrel fitting for his estate and place Q. How must she order her speech A. She must order it aright both in his presence and absence How in his presence A. 1. Her words must be few Contrary Pro. 7.19 rather with silence than much talking 1 Tim. 2.12 2. Reverent giving him his due Titles of Lord or Husband 1 Pet. 3.6 3. Meek from a quiet spirit 1 Pet. 3.4 2 Kin. 4.10 22. Q. How in his absence A. Speaking of him with all due respect as her Superiour Gen. 18 1â— Q. Wherein consists her obedience A. It is either Passive or Active Q. Whereby is her Passive obedience manifested A. In forbearing to dispose of the affairs of the family against his minde or without his consent Gen. 16.5 6. and 21.10 and 2 Kin. 4.10 22. Q. May the Wife do nothing without his consent A. Yes in three cases 1. In case of Impotency as when he is sick or distracted c. 2. Of impossibility when far absent 3. Of allowance manifested two wayes 1. Generally by resignation of all to her Prov. 31.10 11. 2. Particularly in some things expresly or by silence and connivence Q. How doth this appear her duty A. 1 by that Law Gen. 3.16 2 By example of the good Shunamite 2 Kings 4.9 3 From an Husbands power to make void her vowes Num. 30.7 13. Q. Wherein consists her Active obedience A. In obeying his commands and bearing his reproofes Q. Wherein appears her obedience to his commands A. 1 In cohabitation following him whether God by his providence calls him Gen. 31.16 1 Cor. 4.5 1 Pet. 3.7 2 Coming to him when sent for as Jacobs wives did Gen. 31.4 contra Esth 1.17 3 Doing what is required of her as Sarah Gen. 18.6 and Jeroboams wife 1 Kings 14 2. Q. How must she beare his Reproofes A. 1 If unjust yet with patience 2 If just though sharp with meeknesse Gen. 33.1 3 With readinesse to amend what was done amisse Gen. 35.2 4. Q. What reason gives the Apostle to enforce these duties A. Because it is fit to do so Q What meanes that fitnesse A. 1 Decency or comlinesse So it is