ΠΑΤΡῸΣ ΚΆΤΟΠΤΡΑ ΚΑῚ ΠΑΙΔῸΣ ΓΟÎΥΚΛΙΣΊΑ THE Father's Spectacles TO Behold his CHILD by AND The Child's Cushion TO Kneel before his Parents By a Lover of Parental and Filial Unity For I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18.19 In the last days perilous times shall come some shall be proud disobedient to Parents unthankful unholy without natural affections 2 Tim. 3.2 Pater adversus filium filius adversus patrem LONDON Printed by John Astwood for the Author 1695. To all Parents of Children and Children of Parents True Grace be multiplied in Christ Jesus BE it known unto you Oh ye Children of men that the signs of Christs second coming soundeth daily in our ears how often have we seen wonders in the heavens above us and how hath the earth trembled and quaked beneath us how many false Prophets have there been that own no other Christ but the light within them how great is the apostatizing from the truth how is Antichrist getting up to his height how doth the noise of Wars sound aloud in our ears how many thousands hath the pestilence swept away in a moment how have the Saints been afflicted and persecuted of whom the World was not worthy how much treachery and deceit is there in every corner how much hatred and malice meerly for professing Religion how many deceivers have spread themselves abroad in the world how doth iniquity abound in every village how cold is love grown in all persons how doth drunkenness and gluttony surpass ages past and famine succeed in many places how great are the variances that are in Nations Churches and Families nay among own Relations they are directly opposite one to the other among these sixteen signs of Christs coming this is none of the least for Satan hath but a short season and therefore he is the more busie to keep people ignorant of their duty that they may be employed to serve sin to hinder him in his purpose about the breach of Amity is my main design for at present it is my purpose to let you know what amity has been and ought to be between near Relations that so we may arrive at that ever lasting amity and felicity which we all aim at Many there are that have tuned a string or two on this subject but I at present never saw nor heard of any that have played a whole lesson on it and therefore I who am induced to this task for the Honour of God and the grace of Religion have cast my small mite into the great and rich treasury of Knowledge though I know this Learned Critical Penetrating Eagle-eyed Age may look on my lines and censure them or me as not being Rhetorically adorned and Logically digested and drawn out in the flourishes of the times but let them know that the manner of the ancient times was to be plain 1 Cor. 1.27 The Subject matter plain Scripture Language Acts 17.2 The method and style according to the capacity of the persons spoken to John 16.12 My intent is to stir the dull and ignorant to their duty and not to teach them that know enough but yet there be some that know and do not practise their duty these lines may reach them a rap it is the doer of the Law is justified Rom. 2.13 I have taken notice of the evil carriage of some parents to their children which has been against nature and the plain words of the Scriptures and the abominable wickedness of some children who regard not their parents at all as to appearance in no sence nor kind I wish I could be instrumental to reform the one and convert the other and that going in this tract some other which is more expert in knowledge better read in Scripture having more endowments of the Spirit and of a larger capacity than I am would undertake this task to perfect this work which I have now in a short figure but as it were but a little begun which if any good shall come by this or any be perswaded to parental or filial affections by it and those that shall by this be perswaded to make a larger discovery in this kind I have my end and hope the Lord will be glorified in it that the curse may be taken off from the land of the living Mat. 15.4 Levit. 20.9 Malachi 4.6 He that liketh these lines let him receive and practise them and he that liketh them not let him sit down and take his Bible and Pen as I did and produce better I am content that in this I have done part of my duty do you do all yours and then sit down to rest but do not rest with the foolish Virgins without oyl in your vessels least Christs coming be to your terror which is the desire of him who is a Lover of your Souls Eternal Consolation Vale. I Our duty from the Scriptures have noted O And to confirm it have some Authors quoted Hence you may learn what duty you do owe How unto God and to your Neighbours too Come learn this Lesson and do not gainsay Ought that is in it but always obey What God commands do not give a deaf ear Prepare thy Heart the Lord always to fear Ever remember thy own frail condition Regard thy conscience peace and souls submission Offend not God nor Man in heart nor deed 〈◊〉 from thy sin the Lord thy soul has freed Serve God Instruct thy Child and him correct And always pray the Lord may thee direct Let Parents speak and Children hold their tongue 〈◊〉 in mild speeches let them shew their wrong Here is a blessing if in love you live And Christ his Peace unto you he will give Remember then thy duty and still obey Serve God always and do not go astray Till he by death do call you all away In ignorance many live and also do 〈◊〉 get the way in which they ought to go Some Parents scarce their duties ever know Uncircumcis'd in ears and heart they grow O spend each day and time in contemplation Search out Gods will and mind thy souls salvation Ever to the most High O let thy Spirit sing Xanto like his High Praises Everlasting A short TABLE of the General Heads 1. THe Text opened in six Considerations 2. Five Doctrines in which four parties are concerned 1st The Lord is concerned in his love and care Doct. 5. 2ly The Minister is concerned to inform all of their duty 3ly Parents are concerned in their general Duties 4ly Children are concerned in honour love and obedience Sixteen ways Parents may provoke their Children Ten Motives to move Parents to love their Children Thirteen Reasons to prove the first Doctrine Forty Rules to direct Parents to their Duty Eleven Rules for Christian Correction The acts and effects of the light within twelve ways Prayer spiritual shewed in ten heads Christs love universal proved by thirteen reasons Seven things ensue
each other in Election and three in Reprobation 〈◊〉 ten Commandments how they are broken Seven causes how justification is wrought 2d Doct. by two reasons and the 3d. by five proved 4th Doctrine proved by thirteen Reasons Forty Rules to direct Children in their duty The twelve Articles of the Nicene Creed proved Four principal Motives to move all to their duty The Conclusion with the fifth Doctrine THE Father's Spectacles c. EPHES. VI. 4. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. THe Holy Apostle writing to those that were Gentiles by nature knowing that they were naturally subject to may failings might violate natures bounds by being induced by corrupt nature to sin which they were formerly dead in he exhorts them to general rules of Christianity as Humility Long-suffering Unity Peace and Holiness of Life First In Mortification by putting off Lying Anger Malice and corrupt Communication and the like Secondly By having no Society with Evil Company but to live in Brotherly Love and to be diligent in their callings and to submit themselves one to another as also to know all their duties as they stand related one to the other which he discourseth at large And then he setteth forth very excellently the great and wonderful work of their Redemption by Jesus Christ Also he shews them their undone state by Nature without a Christ and that Humility and true Faith is the true way of attaining true Peace And that the right way of retaining of it is by perseverance First To search into and to know the love of Christ Chap. 3.19 Secondly To keep in unity and to walk worthy of that Vocation in which they were called Chap. 4.1 to 6. Thirdly To be firm and stedfast Chap. 4.14 Fourthly To let their Conversation be suitable to their profession Chap. 4 22 to 29. Fifthly To put on the whole Armour of God not to flinch or draw back for there is never a Backpiece See Chap. 6.11 to 18. Sixthly The Duties of Honour Respect Service Obedience to Superiors and Familiarity and true Love to each other partâ—cularly that so their Christian work may be throughly accomplished Lastly It appears that the many failings and neglects of duties in the last age foreseen by the Apostle occasions him to write thus unto this Church c. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The Words being thus read here is First The Person speaking Paul Secondly The Persons spoken to Fathers Leigh in his Critica Sacra saith is of a large extent than the Male kind it properly setteth forth natural Parents implying as well Mothers as Fathers as the usual method of the Spirit is to include both Sex in one Expression Gen. 5.2 1 Cor. 11.28 Thirdly The Duty enforced by a positive Command negatively expressed Provoke not c. Fourthly Here are the Persons not to be provoked viz. Children Such as are under the care and tution of Parents This Negative Precept may possibly extend it self so high as Kings to their Subjects 2 Kings 5.13 1 Chron. 28.2 Isa 22.21 Judges 5.7 17 10 11. And also to Judges and Magistrates to those that cry to them for Right Equity and Justice Deut. 20.5 to 11. Numb 11. 17 18. And to Executors Trustees and Governors of Orphans to Officers in Towns Liberties and Cities In a word to all that are in Authority to teach instruct rule and govern any persons whatsoever Heb. 13.17 Fifthly Here is the true nature of the defined subsequent or that inveterate exasperated passion that is prohibited set forth viz. Wrath. Sixthly Here is an absolute Direction 1st To educate them in good discipline as the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth 2dly To instruct them in divine knowledge Thus much by way of Explication I now come to the Doctrinal conclusions that do naturally arise from this Text Which are these which follow 1 Doct. That Parents should take all care possible to avoid all Occasions of Provocations as not to give any just Offence whereby their Children are exasperated or so far provoked as to offend the Lord or disobey their Parents 2 Doct. That if Parents have real affections for their children they will use the best means possible to keep them from sin 3 Doct. They that are true Christians indeed have such tender love to their Childrens Souls that they will use all means possible to nurture them up in the right way of the Lord. 4 Doct. That Children ought to yield obedience to all their Parents Commands in the Lord with holy Reverence Honour and Zeal 5 Doct. That the Lord doth take great care for the eternal good of those that cannot any ways take care for themselves But to the first Doctrine That Parents should avoid all occasions of Provocations c. First Here I shall shew you what may be properly called Provocations that so Parents may take them out of the way that they do not cause their Children to stumble fall and be broken to pieces Which are these sixteen as followeth First When Parents will not teach and instruct their Children and slight and abuse them if they do not learn This is a hard Lesson if the Lord should deal so with the Sons of Men who of them but would fall immediately into the gulf of Despair among all the Children of men can we expect to reap where we never sowed If I had not known such a thing as this to be I could hardly have conceived that ever any should be so very austere and unnatural or ever had been to the fruit of their own bowels The wise man's Counsel to Fathers is Prov. 23.12 Apply thine heart to instruction it should be part of thy every days meditation to consider how thou shouldest instruct teach and train up thy Child in all things uppertaining to this Life and that which is to come Train up a Child saith Solomon in the way he should go Prov. 22.6 which is rightly done by mild and gentle instructions and not by causeless slighting Reflections A Second Provocation is when Parents shall never give their Children a good Word nor a good Look though the Child do whatever it possibly can to please them if the Lord should always frown upon thee and ever speak to thee with an angry Countenance and Words how couldest thou be able to stand before him consider it is a mild carriage and loving speech that doth win the heart It was St. Paul's way 1 Thes 2.7 't was by gentle words and carriage that Abigal overcome David though he was in great wrath 1 Sam. 25.24 Love is a special winning grace 1 Cor. 13.5 It doth not behave it self unseemly soft words will stop sin in its course Prov. 15.1 Mild Speeches become good Men My Son faith Abraham God will provide c. Read Isaac's manner of Speech to his Sons Gen. 27. Chap. 28.1 When
unnatural as to send it out of Doors so soon as it was born not regarding it as though it were none of her own as some Women do who are worse to their young than the savage beasts of the field that will not take care to nurse preserve and protect their young ones it is looked on as a judgment by the Prophet Hosea 9.14 What saith he wilt thou them give a miscarrying womb and dry breasts most Women are much troubled if they cannot bare Children then why not much more if they do not let them suck of that Milk which nature has provided for the Childs nourishment it is a small sign of remorse when they are not troubled for that which is their own proper faults Fouthly All Children do naturally love those Parents most whom they sucked to take care for assist and help in their necessities when old if there be a kind of an Affection in Nurses to those they nurse and a peculiar love in the Child to the Nurse whom it sucked till death much more the Natural Affections of a Child to its Natural Parents who bore it and nourished it with their own milk what other Benefits arise thereby I leave it to your Experience to witness in length of time Nurse your Children your selves do not as t is said of the Deer that they repulse and separate those that are impotent do not turn your Children out of doors least they in time have the same Opportunity and you your selves share of the like fare from them 't is the sin of the last times to be without natural Affections therefore take away the cause that the effect may cease 3 Direction is Dedicate your Children to the most High offer them up in your Prayers Wishes and Desires to the Lords omnipotent Care and Protection Hannah dedicated Samuel unto the Lord 1 Sam. 1.28 Every First born was to be offered to the Lord Exod. 13.12 O that Ishmael might live before thee saith Abraham Gen. 17.18 How excellently did Zathariah yield up John to the Service of the Lord Luke 1.76 So Parents should do and pray continually with good Job for their Conversion and offer daily Sacrifice for them do not forget to offer your Souls in Prayer with and for them that they may be sensible how great care you have of their Souls eternal well-being Job 1.5 4 Direction Parents be sure you agree together in your Commads Let not the Father command one thing and the Mother presently contradict it before the Child this will harden them in Disobedience the first Precept to the Woman after the transgression was to be subject to her Husband and he should rule over her Gen. 3.16 But that Woman is very impudent that is so far from obeying her Husband that she will Lord it over him by contradicting his Authority in just commands and more especially when so much evil attends it as in this case Parents should both take great care not to oppose each other before their Children but chiefly when it is about their Childrens duty but to take another fit Opportunity in cool Blood in Love and in their Childrens absence to dispute the lawfulness of the matter 5 Direction Keep your Children in due subjection before they be too stubborn He that spareth the rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chastneth him betimes Prov. 13.24 Chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul spare for his crying Prov. 19.18 Rods and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself brings his Mother to shame Prov. 29.15 Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest and delight unto thy soul Prov. 29.17 A Bishop is commanded to have his Children in subjection with all gravity 1 Tim. 3.4 6 Direction Let your Children be your chiefest joy in this World Rejoyce in them as they are the gift of the Lord but do not idolize them good Job took delight enough in his Children as himself expresseth Job 19.17 Chap. 29.5 Yea when the Lord hath permitted their death by a great wind he seems to rejoyce that as the Lord gave them so he hath now taken them away and saith he blessed be the name of the Lord Job 1.19 without sorrow repining and murmuring he seems to joy in this affliction hopeing they were gone to a better Father All the Patriarchs did take delight in their Sons and Daughters except when they sinned Gen. 34.30 7 Direction You must reprove and rebuke your Children if they sin This Work must not be done to halves as Old Eli did 1 Sam. 3.13 If they sin against the Lord and no Reproof nor Rebuke will prevent them they must be restrained with due severity Folly is bound up in the heart of a Child but the rod of Correction driveth it away Prov. 22.15 Withhold not Correction from thy Child for if thou beatest him with rods he shall not die Prov. 23.13 St. Paul saith We had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence Heb. 13.9 This Duty must 1st be done with Love because it is God Ordinance to restrain them from iniquity Deut. 8.5 2dly You must shew them their sin for which you rebuke or correct them Saying with the holy God O Do not this abominable thing which I bate Jer. 44.4 3dly Tell them that thou dost correct them out of Conscience to God and Love to their precious souls Prov. 11.30 4thly Reprove and Corect them with pitty telling them if good Words would have restrained them you would not have used Blows Psal 103.13 5thly Shew them by some place of Scripture How much the Lord is offended with them for this their sin Deut. 29.20 6thly Keep them from evil Company that are the Inducements to sin 1 Cor. 15.33 7thly Correct them not in anger but with fair and loving words as it were with severity according to the Fact but all in a Cool Blood Jer. 30.11 8thly Be often in Prayer with and for them that if all other means fail that this may work upon them for their Souls eternal good thus rebuke and correction may be rightly performed and the Child not provoked to anger but love 1 Thes 5.17 9thly Be sure that the Sin that thou correct thy Child for be not an evil which he has seen thee often guilty of then 't is to be feared that thy Correction will do no good 1 John 3.20 10thly Forbear many chiding Words and Threatning Expressions Ephes 6.9 11thly Smile not on them in their sin nor use no shew of approbation towards them in it for this will harden them Solomon saith a flattering Tongue worketh ruin Prov. 26.28 12thly Do not rail on them nor miscall them when you correct them This does not become a Servant of Christ 1 Pet. 3.9 8 Direction is Be sure look well to it that at all times your Children obey your lawful Commands do not let them run at full length of Reins See that they speedily and duely perform what you order
Jacob had offended him yet he blessed him a second time To disswade your Children from sin let your Arguments be as hard as you will but let your words be soft 2 Tim. 2.24 Hear me my Brethren saith King David 1 Chron. 28.2 To all Israel not like Rehoboam who answered them churlishly Naphtali is said to give goodly words Gen. 49.21 Courteous Language hath an acceptance among all men and the blessing of God is with it Deut. 33.23 Let your words be seasoned with grace the Ornament of Scripture Language Phil. 1.27 avoid corrupt Speeches that administer no grace to the Hearers Ephes 4.29 't is better not to speak at all than to speak evil words Mat. 12.36 Prov. 18.21 by the nature of the expressions of a man the intent of his heart is made manifest Mat. 12.34 Prov. 12.25.15 13. Third Provocation is when Parents are never contented with any thing that their Children do though they do to their utmost abilities what they can to please them Such is the wickedness and hard heartedness of some covetous Parents who would wring out their Childrens labours by a kind of Extortion something whereby to satisfie their greedy and discontented minds though the Apostle saith Let your moderation be known to all men Phil. 4.5 But their Children shall know but little of it And again he saith be content with such things as you have Heb. 13.5 He that is never content shall never be happy Fourth Provocation is when Parents shall pretend love to their Children before their Neighbours and Friends and the Child can never find in very deed that they have any love at all for them Such Hypocritical Parents will one day recieve a double stroke for this twofold Wickedness Such Parents have not learned divine wisdom James 3.17 that teacheth other things Luke 7.35 According to your sins shall your recompence be Isa 65.6 These outward Lovers and Whited Sepulchres are all in Tongue and none in Heart their Hope shall be like the Spiders web Job 8.13.14 and their Joy but for a moment Job 20.5 Saith st Paul Let your love be without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 Plain dealing and true love never fails 1 Cor. 13.8 Methinks natural love is taught by all the birds in the Air and Beasts of the field who many of them will lose their own lives to preserve their young their Love is real and purely natural without flattery or deceit Why then should some Parents be worse then Beasts without natural affections 't is a sign that the coming of Christ draweth near 2 Tim. 3.3 Fifth Provocation is when Parents shall let their Servants or any body else chastise beat and abuse their Children and they take no notice of it but do often allow of their so doing with good liking and approbation this very thing the wife man saith is one of the four things the earth is disquieted with and so tedious that it cannot bare it viz. A Servant when he reigneth prov 30.21 22. If Christ call him an evil Servant that smiteth his Fellow-Servant Mat. 24.24 much more evil is he that lifteth up his hand in smiting his Masters Child 1 Kings 2.32 If Servants are to give to their Masters double Honour 1 Tim. 6.1 They are to shew some reverent respect to their Masters Issue 2 Sam. 18.12 The Lord has promised to punish such Servants as are so wicked to fill their Masters House with violence Zach. 1.9 When he cometh to search Jerusalem with candles therefore Servants if your Masters be so ignorantly wicked as to allow to you correct his Children you may not must not do so vile a thing by which the Child may be provoked the earth disquieted and the Lord offended and your masters house filled with violence and distraction for the Lord loveth Unity Peace and Concord 1 Cor. 14.33 Moreover you of the Neighbourhood may not correct your Neighbours Children but if they have transgressed you must mildly acquaint their Parents with the offence and the Parents are to give them due correction Prov. 13.24 29 17. Heb. 12.9 For the Lord hath put them in that place to rule and govern their Children at all Seasons and to correct them according to their offences with a severe Countenance without flattery with savoury expressions shewing them the nature of their offence without railing or evil words least they learn that of you for which you correct them also forbear giving threatning and provoking words and then thy Correction will be no provocation but to good and the obstruction of evil 'T is good for every one to be employed in their own business and not in the concerns of another Sixth Provocation is when parents hurry their Children night and day in their Worldly Business and take no care about their Childrens Souls or their Eternal Happiness when Children come to years of Understanding and are capable to know the lost state of their Souls and that its worth is more then the whole world Mu. 16.26 Mark 8.36 And their Parents have made no provision for them in this kind not so much as to teach them to read the Word of the Lord nor have instructed them in their duty to God nor taught them how to pray unto him and worship him in no sence nor kind nor have instructed them to believe in Christ their Saviour neither acquainted them with the Baptism of Repentance for remission of Sins also do keep them ignorant of the benefit of the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament and of holy walking with God and Man in all duties of Love and Piety These things when the Child comes to understand and that he can have no time nor means allowed in order to obtain his Souls peace but all ways possible rather used to hinder him in all good ways This is a very great Provocation and therefore Parents above all things have a care in this viz. That you instruct your Children in the way of the Lord betimes Prov. 22.6 Let them suck in the Word with their Mothers Milk From a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures saith St. Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 3.15 The Lord commands the first fruits Exod. 22.29 Sanctifieth the first born to him Exod. 13.2 The fat was the Lords viz. the best therefore do not neglect early instruction Prov. 13.24 And the Lord will give you an early recompence Prov. 12.14 Isa 3.10 Seventh Provocation is When Parents shall neglect their Children in temporal Education as not to bring them up in such a lawful calling as that they may by it get a necessary livelyhood And herein Parents ought to study their Childrens Constitutions and Abilities and to put them out to such employments as their ability of Body and Estate will not fail in the management of for want of such good Education many have been bred so idlely who have had no Estates to maintain them when their Parents are dead and they come to Men and Womens state that some have made away with themselves
Parents if they know any thing at all know that sin is a transgression of the Law and by it the Lord is offended with them that break his Commandments He that keepeth the whole Law and offends in one point is guilty of all James 2.10 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 Parents knowing this if they love their Children they will keep them from sin if possible Reason 2. Parents know that the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 not only the death of the Body but the second Death or the eternal depravation of the Soul from Eternal Happiness and sentenced to eternal wrath Mat. 25.41 I pass to the Third Doctrine which is Doct. 3. That they that are true Christians indeed have such entire love to their Childrens Souls that they will use all means possible to nurture them up in the right way of the Lord This Doctrine seems to be one perfect Character of a Christian and it naturally ariseth from the Text viz. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The 1st Reason is Because Parents know that if the Soul be eternally lost there is no recovering of it again There is a great gulf fixed Luke 16.26 'T is the eternal decree of the Lord that none can pass it none can enter in when the door is shut Mat. 25.10 2d Reason is Because Nurture and Instruction is the way to eternal Life This is life eternal to know thee saith Christ the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 As 1st To know him in his Titles John 1.5 14 29 45 49 51. 2ly To know him in his Nature Rom. 1.3 Acts 13.23 Gal. 4.4 3ly To know him in his Attributes as he is all Wisdom Justice Life Light Mercy Power Majesty Immortality Incomprehensible and Immutable 1 Cor. 1.24 John 1.4 Mat. 28.18 1 Tim. 6.16 James 1.17 4ly To know Christ in his Person in his Excellencies and in his Offices as 1st King 1 Tim. 6.15 2ly Priest Heb. 7.21 3ly Prophet Acts 3.22 23. 5ly To know him in his Promises John 14.16 Mark 10.29 30. 6ly To know him in his Conception and Birth Mat. 1.20 25. 7ly To know him in his Life and Doctrine Acts 10.38 8ly To know him in his Death 2 Cor 5.15 Heb. 2.9 Rom. 5.10 9ly To know him in his Resurrection Rom. 8.11 1 Cor. 15.14 20. 10ly To know him in his Ascention John 3.13 Acts 1.11 Eph. 4.9 10. 11ly To know him in his Glorification Mat. 25.31 John 17.5 12ly To know him in his infinite and special Love John 3.16 Mark 16.15 13ly To know him in our hearts by Faith Eph. 3.17 2 Cor. 13.5 This is a Work that is not truly attained to but by Nurture and wholsome Instruction and God's gracious Inspiration Rom. 10.17 And it requireth great labour diligence and care 3d. Reason is Because Nurture and Instruction in the right way of the Lord is a thing that is hard to be attained As 1st All the promises of the Gospel are spiritual and they that embrace the Gospel must be spiritual men 1 Pet. 2.5 John 15.19 2ly The Doctrine of the Gospel holds forth a state of self-denial Luke 14.26 3ly The way of truth is a way of of Persecution either in word or deed 2 Tim. 3.12 4ly In spiritual Communion all true Believers must separate from sinners Jer. 51.6 Isa 52.11 2 Cor. 6.17 Revel 18.4 John 15.19 5ly There is required great diligence in that there are so many voices in the World and all conclude themselves in the truth that a person that will find the right way had need as Paul saith To prove all things but let them remember to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 That Doctrine which is according to the commands of Christ the practice of the Apostles and that in which all the first Churches were constituted must needs be the truth and no other 4th Reason is Because He that believeth and walketh in the way of the Lord with a perfect heart shall be by Christ made free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 He that is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Parents if they truly love their Children will endeavour their conversion 5th Reason is Because all the promises in the Gospel do belong to those that believe and walk uprightly in the right way of the Lord All is yours saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 3.22 I must not travel any further in this large field but pass to the fourth Doctrine which is The Second Part. Wherein the Duty of Children to God and their Parents is opened 4th Doct. That Children ought to yield obedience to all their Parents commands in the Lord with boly Reverence Honour and Zeal If in our Text Parents are commanded to bring up their Children as t is plain in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Then it is most certain that those Children are Rebels if they do not obey and this Obedience must be performed according to the best Rule or Rules prescribed in the Holy Scriptures And they are these two First What they must not do to their Parents Secondly What they must do to and for their Parents But First What you must not do to your Parents You must not do any thing that doth withdraw and withhold from them that Honour or diminish their Dignity nor that holdeth you back from Love Reverence Obedience and Thankfulness or that which doth seem to lessen their Authority And therefore 1st You must not mock at them when they command you to do that which is lawful right you must not scornfully imitate their words nor their Gestures Looks or Carriages least the Lord be offended with you as he was with those Children 2 Kings 2.23 who by two Bears slew forty two of them Job counts Mockage a great Provocation Job 17.2 As Parents are commanded not to provoke their Children so likewise by Childrens wicked Carriages Parents may be provoked several ways as you will find these Negative Precepts do declare and confirm The eye that mocketh at his Father and dispiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pluck it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Prov. 30.17 Jeremiah enters his complaint to the Lord very Pathetically saying Every one mocketh me Jer. 20.7 'T is a grievous sin in the sight of God and a great offence to Man therefore do not use it at all to any least thou forget thy self and use it to thy Parents and so thou provoke them and offend the Lord Job 21.17 2d Direction is You must not revile or reproach your Parents He that revileth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to death Exod 21.17 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Rulers of thy People Exod. 22.28 Margin Judges Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dijs non detrahes Thou shalt not report ill against the mighties that is they that have Power and
6.2 You must honour them by shewing them all reverence both in word and carriage that occasion opportunity time place matter and manner doth require and permit Deut. 5.16 4th Thou must rise up at their presence when they pass by you and bow when you meet them in the Streets Levit. 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and fear thy God It is a positive command King Solomon rose from his Throne to meet Bathsheba his mother coming to him 1 Kings 2.19 Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the Land Gen. 23.7 Haman was greatly offended with Mordecai because he did not rise up before him as he passed by Esther 5.9 Job expresseth his admirable honour in his prosperity saith The young men saw me and hid themselves and the aged arose and stood up the Princes refrained their talking and the Nobles held their peace Job 29.8 9 10. Her children rise up and call her blessed Prov. 31.28 5th You must bow at their presence when they come to you or you go to them when you deliver any thing to them or take any thing of them when they speak to you or you to them when they pass by you or you pass by them The Sons of the Prophets came to meet Elisha and bowed themselves to the ground before him 2 Kings 2.15 Jacob bowed to Esau seven times after his long exile Gen. 33.3 Jacob's Hand maidens and their Children as also Leah and Rachel and their Children when they met Esau bowed themselves before him Gen. 33.6 7. Joseph bowed to Jacob Gen. 48.12 David to Saul 1 Sam. 24.8 Saul to Samuel's Emblem 1 Sam. 28.14 Mephibosheth bowed to David 2 Sam. 9.8 So did Joab 2 Sam. 14.22 So did Absolom 2 Sam. 14.33 Cushi bowed to Joab 2 Sam. 18.21 Araunah bowed to David 2 Sam. 24.20 or Ornan 1 Chron. 21.21 Nathan bowed to David 1 Kings 1.23 Adonijah bowed to Solomon 1 Kings 1.53 Solomon bowed himself to his Mother 1 Kings 2.19 Joseph's ten brethren bowed themselves to him Gen. 43.28 What an odious thing is it to see Children shew no respect nor reverence to their natural Father and more odious to see Members of Churches to shew no respect nor reverence to their Pastors who are their Spiritual Fathers nay more they are Ambassadors of Christ whose person they represent 't is a dishonour therefore done to Christ They that deserve double honour from them have perhaps not single honour shewed them but upon every small occasion of offence some carry it to them in an irreverent manner to their shame and shame of Religion The Scripture is very full of civil Obeisance of all sorts of persons to their superiours but those men that disown the Scriptures to be the Word of God and the Rule for a Christians Faith and Practice may not only deny tribute to whom tribute is due honour to whom honour and fear to whom fear but any Command what they please and deny that which is recorded tho' never so plain in the Holy Scriptures of Truth Dan. 10.21 Rom. 13.7 6th Therefore you must shew all Christian-like reverence to your Parents true reverence is an inward work of the mind and appeareth in all good deportment and carriage of the body towards them to whom we shew due respect we ought to behave our selves with all humility and observance possible in outward decent behaviout Saith St. Paul We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence Heb. 12.9 We are commanded to give an answer of the hope that is in us with reverence 1 Pet. 3.15 Mephibosheth fell on his face before David and did reverence 2 Sam. 9.6 And Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and did reverence to the King and said let my lord King David live for ever 1 Kings 1.31 1st She bowed very low 2dly She did reverence 3dly She gives him his true Title King 4thly She adds his proper name to his Title 5thly She complements him to an high degree let my Lord King David 6thly She shews how much she honours and reverences him by desiring his perpetual being Vivat Rex in seculum How can the Enthusiasts of our time read this place and such like Scriptures but that they must conclude complemental acts and expressions are lawful since it is there recorded either for her praise or our example as appears by the Apostles words 2 Tim. 3.16 Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord 1 Pet. 3.6 If we ought to rise up before our betters and bow to them as is evident then to shew our reverence as the manner of our Country is to stand uncovered to give them their proper Titles as Sir And it please your Worship your Honour your Highness your Majesty or the like to stop and do obeisance to any of our Superiours when we meet them and to give them the upper hand in standing sitting or walking to be humble and tractible to and before all our betters in all moderate and civil complimental Ceremonies then as the Apostle saith we do shew honour to whom honour is due fear to whom fear Rom. 13.7 in so doing we do our civil duty in part each one in our proper places 7th You must help them in such their necessities and afford all accommodations you are able as they stand in need of saith St. Paul If any Widows have Children or Nephews let them learn to shew pity at home and to requite their Parents 1 Tim. 5.4 For it is good and acceptable to God This rule good Joseph observes to his poor distressed Father in the midst of famine though he himself were the second man in Egypt Gen. 47.12 Thou oughtest to nourish thy Parents when they are poor First Because of them next to God thou hadst thy first being Secondly They preserved and nourished thee when thou couldst not help thy self 3. Their pains fears charges and cares for thee were many and great in bringing thee up for which thou canst never recompence them enough Our Lord greatly blames them that did what they did to their Parents by way of gift and not out of filial duty or love as being transgressors of the fifth Commandment Matth. 15.5 6. If those proud Pharisees are charged with rejecting of the Commandment of God by relieving their Parents by way of gift and not by way of duty or out of filial obedience what may be said of those who when their Parents are poor low aged weak and not able to subsist that do not supply their wants and relieve them but instead thereof look over them and by them and will neither send them relief nor come at them at all to assist their destitute aged and impotent poor distressed Parents in the midst of great extremity and need No pretence or excuse except impotency and poverty can absolve or acquit any from their duty in this kind nor yet properly that neither Ainsworth mentioneth an Hebrew
Commentary called Chazkuni We read saith he Honour the Lord with thy substance Prov. 3.9 Honour thy Father and thy Mother Exod. 20.12 The Lord is honoured if thou relieve thy Father and thy Mother If thou hast nothing thou art bound to beg for them in their great need 4thly They take care to seek after thee when thou goest astray or art lost 1 Sam. 9.5 5thly To be dutiful is a comely ornament to Christianity and as Chains about thy neck Prov. 1.9 6thly The Lord hath very often inflicted immediate Judgments on those that rebel against their Parents as on Absalom 2 Sam. 14.9 Hophni and Phinchas 1 Sam. 2.25 the Fourty two Children 2 Kings 2.25 7thly Doing thy duty to thy Parents is well pleasing lunto the Lord Coloss 3.20 8thly The Lord reproveth Israels rebellion by the good example of the Rechabites obedience to their Parents Jer. 35. the whole Chapter 9thly This duty is a righteous thing Ephes 6.1 2. 10thly Children ought to follow the good example of all such as have been in the exercise of this duty as there be many Examples in Scripture 11thly This duty is commanded Exod. 20.12 Deut. 5.16 12thly Those that are faithful in this duty are under a promise Ephes 6.2 Let these Twelve Reasons though out of due place suffice for the proof and confirmation of the Doctrine 8th You must obey their just and lawful Commands saith the Apostle St. Paul Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right Ephes 6.1 Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well pleasing to the Lord Coloss 3.10 If any Parents be so wicked as to command their Children to lye steal cousin and cheat or do any thing that is forbidden by the Lord in his Word they must not obey their Parents in that for the word all things intends all things that the Scriptures or rather God allows as lawful for the Child to obey his Parents in but here mind to do it in modesty meekness and a good and clear Conscience as in fear to offend the Lord and disobey his Word and not to act in stubbornness and rebellion against thy Parents for this is not well-pleasing to the Lord nor approved of by men and was of old to be punished by death Deut. 21.21 Isaac obeyed Abraham in going to the place of sacrifice Gen. 22.5 Jacob obeyed his Father and Mother and fled from Esau to Padam Aram Gen. 28.7 Joseph obeyed Jacobs command in visiting his brethren when they sold him into Egypt Gen. 37.14 Israel is reproved by the good Example of the Rechabites in obeying their Fathers Jer. 35.8 to the 14th Christ our good and holy Pattern is said after he was twelve years of age to be subject to his Parents Luke 2.42.51 The Scripture is full of Examples of this kind as Moses Samuel Saul David Jephthah's Daughter Esther and many others who were all obedient to their Parents 1 Sam. 17.17 Exod. 18.24 Judges 11.26 1 Sam. 1.28 9th You must have an honourable esteem of your Parents in hearty affections actions and words you must abhor and detest the doing of any thing that you may dishonour vex grieve or disquiet your Parents by also you must carry your selves with an aw and respect and must most gladly do those things in kindness and hearty affections which may bring much joy peace and comfort to your parents since you can never pay that debt which is due to them for their care and pains for you when young you must call upon the Lord for his help both for your Pareuts in their need and for your selves for assistance to supply their wants In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God Phil. 4.6 10th You must be ready and willing to suffer any hardship travel service and care for your Parents without grieving murmuring and repining What a great and good pattern was that good Woman Ruth in this case who said to Naomi though but a Mother-in-Law Whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge thy People shall be my People and thy God my God where thou diest I will die and there will I be buried Ruth 1 16 17. Here is a lesson of Honour indeed tho' but a poor alienated Moabitish young Woman and the Lord remembred her and was always with her in all her undertakings Ruth 2.8 chap. 4.13 11th Be often speaking in their praise and taking your Parents parts in all companies and places The Children of Israel spake very honourably to Joseph of their Father Gen. 43.28 44.24 The Daughters of Zelophehad spake in their Fathers praise justifying him that he did not cause others to sin as Korah did but had only his own sins to answer for Numb 27.3 Children had better not to speak at all concerning their Parents words or deeds if they cannot speak in the behalf of their Parents Praise to augment their dignity or honour let thy parents be either godly or wicked thou must not 〈◊〉 diminish one jot or tittle of their honour for they are thy Parents still let them be never so vile but still labour to let thy good and Christian-like carriage be that which may win their hearts to Christ and then how happy will it be for Parents if they be converted by the fruit of their own bowels 12th Let thy Parents be thy chiefest joy and glory in this World Childrens Children are the crown of old men and the glory of Children are their Fathers Prov. 17.6 Her children call her blessed Prov. 31.28 What should we joy in and talk most of but of the original fountain from whence we sprang and this will put us in mind of our duty to God also who made us and gives us our life and being and all things necessary for this life and that which is to come Acts 17.26 28. 13th Hearken to your Parents instruction and observe to do and believe so far as it is agreeable to the Scripture it is said Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him 2 Kings 12.2 A wise Son heareth his Fathers instruction Prov. 13.1 My Son hear thou the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the law of thy Mother Prov. 1.8 He is a fool that despiseth his Fathers instruction Prov. 15.5 Reproofs of instruction are the way of life Prov. 6.23 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser Prov. 9.9 If thy Parents do instruct thee in the Articles of the Christian Faith as it is expressed in the Nicene Creed all which is confirmed by plain Scripture as you may observe in this ensuing Discourse thou must obey Article the First I Believe in one God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jehovah An eternal Self Being a most powerful and Spiritual Substance the Maker and
is Let your eye be towards your Parents Abilities in all that you request of them and ask no more of them then you well know that they can give you without too much impoverishing of themselves You must bear a share of all burthens with them And be content with such things as ye have Heb. 13.5 Having Food and Raiment if it be not so voluptuous and gaudy as pleaseth you yet you must be therewith content 1 Tim. 6.8 If the Angels which kept not their first state but were discontented therewith and left their own habitation are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day Jude 6.2 Pet. 2.4 Job 4.18 What dost thou think will become of thee if thou art not contented with they lot and portion that thy Parents can conveniently bestow on thee in this world If thou art discontented with one Talent the Lord may justly take it from thee and leave thee none it were an happy and good lesson if you could truly say with Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am in therewith to be content Phil. 4.11 19th Direction is Receive all whatsoever your Parents in love bestow upon you with hearts filled with thankfulness both to the Lord and them It is a sign of true Grace Let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful Col. 3.15 Ingratitude is reckoned by the Apostle such a capital sin that it is the Original for which the Lord let man fall into great and notorious sins as you may read Rom. 1.21 to 32.2 Tim. 3.2 20th Direction is So far esteem thy Parents above all others as to let them be always thy chief Subject in thy petitions St. Paul exhorts that Prayer and Supplication c. be made for all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.2 Thou needest not at all to fear so long as thou art in thy duty that the Lord will forget thy works and labour of love Heb. 6.10 21th Direction is Thou must not affront thy Pareuts in speaking that in their presence which is unseemly or that which they allow not of or blame thee for 1st Thou must not speak any unsavoury words Phil. 1.27 2ly Thou must not parrot at them when they speak to thee or when they command thee in any thing Titus 2.9 3ly Thou must not use swearing nor cursing Mat. 5.34 4ly Thou must not go swelling about or fling away in a rage when they speak to thee Prov. 14.16 5ly Thou must know that if thou dost not with patience hearken to thy Parents Commands thou art a Transgressor of the Law Hear thy Fathers Instruction Prov. 1.8 Chap. 4.1 Chap. 7.1 to 5. Hearken to Israel your Father Gen. 49.2 Prov. 7.24 8.32 Thou must be like Job's Princes to refrain thy talking and lay thy Hand upon thy Mouth in thy parents presence when they speak Job 29.9 10. 22th Direction is Thou must arm thy self with much patience in all thy Duties towards thy Parents 1st Quietly to submit thy neck under that yoke and not to shew violence if they reprove instruct correct or direct thee yea if they be bitter to thee thou must bear it patiently they ought to shew severity if thou sin Old Eli his too much lenity and mildness in restraining his Sons from sin was that for which the Lord was greatly offended with him 1 Sam. 3.13 2ly If the thing for which thou art reproved and corrected be not true that is that which thou didst not do but it was done by another if thou consentedst to it thou art guilty Psal 50.18 If thou art altogether innocent thou must arm thy self with patience and overcome evil with good Rom. 12.21 3ly Thou must lay Aside all Obstinacy Disdain Ambition Stoutness Stubbornness Lowring and Swelling with all heart-burning against thy Parents together with all malice 1 Pet. 2.1 and let true affections overcome all 4ly If Love and Patience be wanting in thee all Instructions Reproofs and Corrections will be spent in vain Reproofs of instruction are the way of life Prov. 6.23 But it is to them which receive it with patience and a good resolution to an amendment of life and then the Rod and Reproof will give Wisdom Prov. 29.15 to 17. 23th Direction is Be always humble and meek before and towards thy Parents The Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3.4 Know this that God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble James 4.6 1 Pet. 5.5 Prov. 3.34 24th Direction is Do not grudge or murmur nor any ways do not be in any unseemly posture in the doing thy duty When Children have disdained their Parents commands and muttered and murmured raged and raved fretted and fumed against their Parents and despised and hated them in their hearts they are not one jot bettered by it but are in the high road to Hell and Destruction and the Lord will meet with the obstinate stubborn and rebellious Child at the last Prov. 30.17 25th Direction is Avoid if possible the least shew of any arrogant Carriage towards thy Parents Know this that the Lord hateth a proud look Prov. 6.17 Yea much more a froward arrogant Carriage Prov. 8.13 26th Direction is If it it be possible when thou partest from thy parents either into any calling or into the state of Marriage Be sure first to get thy Parents consent to it how canst thou expect a blessing from the Lord if thou livest in rebellion against thy Parents Yea and against the Lord too who commands thee to fear reverence obey and honour thy Parents Levit. 13.3 Heb. 12.9 Col. 3.20 Deut. 5.16 He that stealeth a Virgin unknown to her Parents who is more dear to them than any of their worldly goods he is a breaker of the eighth Commandment and no less is she that freely yieldeth her self to such a fact 27th Direction is When thy Parents have ended this life be sure take care that they be decently buried according to their Degrees and Qualities Be not too peevish in their Funeral expences nor yet too over-lavish prodigal and sumptuous as to make such a Solemnity a Feast for Gluttons and Drunkards but let it be solemnized decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 29th Direction is You must so far esteem your Parents credit as to pay all their just due debts when they are dead So far as that Estate they left will Permit and not to let them when they are dead be numbered among the wicked who borrow and pay not again Plal. 37.21 29th Direction is When Children shall hear their Parents evil spoken of when dead they ought to put a check and stop to it if possible It is one of the last duties they can do in honour to their Parents those that favour ill reports of their Parents are a generation that curse their Father and do not bless their Mother Prov. 30.11 Such as
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