presseth it upon Parents Deuteronomy 6.6 7 8. and 11.19 20. Psalm 78.4 5. Prov. 22.7 Ephesians 6.4 by Catechising and instruction by Discipline and discreet Correction they must labour to work out that sin and folly which is riveted in their Natures Proverbs 13.15.24 and 23.13 and 29.15 Hebrewes 12.9 As in the Arke there was the Rod and Manna so in every well-ordered family there must be the Manna of Instruction and the Rod of Correction They must goe together we will not beat a dog but we will put it into his sences as well as we can and shew him what it is that we beat him for The primary cause of so much prophaneness in youth lies much in Parents either they do not instruct them or they do not pray for them or they be too indulgent and do not correct them 1 Samuel 2.23 or they breed them idly and profanely or they be evil examples to them themselves some way or other they fail which makes so many children miscarry When Diogenes saw a child offend he ran and beat the Father You that are Parents deserve to be beaten for the disorders of your children because you do not teach them better 'T was a crying sin in the Israelites to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Devils Psalm 106.37 Ezekiel 16.20 yet in a Spiritual sense negligent profane Parents do worse for they sacrifice not onely the bodies but their souls to Satan and so bring forth children to that great murderer the Devil Hos. 9.13 See ten very quickning Considerations to stir up Parents to this Duty in Master Baxsters Saints rest Part. 3. cap. 14. Sect. 11. to 18. and Master Woodwards Childs Portion an excellent piece Charron of Wisedome l. 3. c. 14. Robinsons Essayes Observat. 50. Master Philip Goodwin Domestick Duties on Deuteronomy 6.6 p. 358 c. and Eccles. 12.1 Doctor Cheynels Sermon on Genesis 18.19 Master Gatakers Sermon 1. page 8. 2. It must stir up young persons to devote the flower and best of their dayes unto God who is the best of beings He is our Creator who hath made us the best of beings next the Angels when 't was free for him to have made us the basest of beings we should thâ—â—efore remember him Eccles. 12.1 i. Love fear honour obey him for words of Knowledge imply affection and practise Deut. 8.18 Psalm 9.17 and 106.21 Iohn 17.3 we should remember him betimes in the morning of our dayes as the words are rendred by some in the choicest time of our life in the dayes of our Elections in our most flourishing time when the best of things are to be chosen by us from 16. to 40. is flos aetatis the cream and flower of our dayes wherein we are most strong active and so most fit for the service of God Shew me any that can shew better Title to thy youth then God can doe and let him take it From God we have our being and well-being our creation and preservation as we receive our mercies from him so there is great reason we should serve and observe the God of those mercies and as we expect eternal life from him so its great reason we should spend our temporall life to his praise He gives the best wages and so deserves the best work Godlinesse hath the promise Proverbs 22.4 Matthew 6.33 1 Timothie 4.8 and though we cannot see the profit presently yet light and joy is sowen for the Righteous Psal. 97.11 Yea his worke is his wages and such employment is our high preferments which made Paul to blesse God who counted him faithfull and set him in the Ministery 1 Timothy 1.12 besides the obedience of our youth is the most free Obedience and so more acceptable to God Ieremiah 2.2 He remembereth the kindenesse of our youth especially when we can follow him through a Wildernesse of Temptations and tryals and a Land that is not sowen with profits and delights This made him to call for the first-born the first-fruites for young and fat Sacrifices Exodus 12.5 Leviticus 4.3 Now our bodies are most strong our wit most sharp our memories most capable and retentive 1 Iohn 2.13 14. And if we serve him in our good dayes he 'll help us in our evill ones if we spend our Youth in his service he will support us and supply us in our Old Age Isay 46.3.4 But if you dishonour God now and prefer his profest Enemy before him giving the Dregs to God and the Wine to the Devil he will give you up to spiritual judgements which are the sorest judgements he will hide his face from you and take no pleasure in you Isay 9.17 I will not joy in your young men implying that when young people walke in Gods way they are Gods joy and delight When young people are proud profane idle wanton unclean c. Then come Feavers Sword Pestilence and cut them off When Israel fell to Idolatry then a fire consumed their young men Psalm 78.63 and when they grew obstinate and incorrigible then he gave their young men to the sword Amos 4.10 that age which is most prone to sin is nearest to judgement when God shall awaken Conscience and set the sinnes of thy Youth in Order before thee the end of thy mirth will be bitternesse Eccles 11.9 Be therefore perswaded not onely to creep or goe but to fly from the lusts of Youth 2 Timothy 2.22 every Age hath its sinnes old Age is pronâ—â—o security and Covetousnesse and Youth to six sinnes especially 1. To Pride and Selfe-conceitednesse they are prone to Pride in heart Habit Haire and New-found-Opinions Hence the Apostle would not have a Minister to be a Novice lest he should be puft up with Pride 1 Tim. 3.6 2. To sensual Pleasures as Gameing Feasting Hunting Drinking Danceing Eccles. 11.9 Iudg. 14.10 Iob 1.14 and especially to Wine and Women which steale away their hearts Hoseah 4.11 It was a young man that followed the Harlot to her House Proverbs 7.7 And therefore Solomons Mother counsels young Solomon not to give his strength to Women Proverbs 31.3 4. Oh how many persons hath the Devill destroyed by Women How many drown themselves in cares and sorrows by marrying too soon As soon as ever they are out of the shell yea like Lapwings they run with the shell on their heads they must have a Wife forsooth before they know how to govern themselves much less a Family when they are fitter to be the Heeles then the Heads fitter to be commanded then to be commanders of others Question But when would you have young people to marry Answer I would have them observe Gods Method First get Grace first Spirituals and then Temporals follow Matthew 6.33 Secondly 'T is impossible to prescribe a set time when every one should marry there is so much difference in mens Constitutions Callings Conditions c. Yet if I might advise young people I should scarce advise a
must be no Toleration of sin it must be put far from our Tabernacles Iâ—b 22.23 least it bring a curse upon all Zach. 5.4 5. Proverbs 12.7 God will protect no Families but such as glorifie him Isay 4.5 9. There must be Repetition and godly conferring on the Word in our particular Families We Ministers must plant in publick but unlesse you that are Governours water in private we can expect but small increase Hence the Lord commands us to whet the Word as the mower doth his sithe by going over it again and again and often inculcating it to our children Deuteronomy 6.7 at our own houses by a parsonal and particular examination of them and harrowing in of that good seed which hath been publickly sowen that it be not lost I cannot therefore so well approve of that confused kinde of Repetition which is used in many places when immediately after the Evening Sermon the Governours of Families with others get all into one house to Repetition Though the duety suits well with my Principles and pactice yet with submission to better judgements and men of more experieâ—ce I conceive the dutie is not rightly circumstantiated for 1. If the Minister be put upon this duty as he is in most places to pray and repeat both his Sermons and that immediately after his publick pains though some may commend his zeal yet I question his discretion I hold it no point of wisedome for a man to tire out himselfe and his Auditours and make the Ordinances nauseous which rightly timed and performed would be very profitable and delightfull for God in his Wisedom hath so ordered the variety of holy Duties on the Sabbath that if we be wise to observe the due timing of them they be not tedious But this kind of Repetition must needs be tiresome both to Pastours and People 2. Pastor and People spending so much time as many doe in these publick Duties are deprived of that time which should be spent in a private digesting and meditating of what they have heard For I conceive still with submission to better judgements that the time immediately after the Evening Sermon is most proper for private meditation and applying what we have heard to our selves I should advise every Governour of a Family to goe home immedirtely from the publick Ordinances and to set his Family in order and set every one according to his ability some taske either in the Catechise or to learn a Psalm or a Chapter and such as can write to review and digest their notes Else whilest the master of the Family is at the Publick repetition the children and servants will be in disorder at home It is this private Meditation self-examination and application of the word to our selves which is the duty of duties and all the Repetitions in the world without this will doe us no good One Sermon eaten and digested and made our own will bring more solid joy then a thousand Repetitions Ier. 15.16 This private retiring and refreshing on our wayes comparing our hearts with the Rule is the principal duty and what ever be neglected this must not be neglected if we looke to be saved If ever we would get sound wisedome we must separate and sequester our selves from crouds Proverbs 18.7 Other things must be done in their proper time but this of all duties must not be left undone It is true this publick repeating maketh a greater noise and shew in the World but it runneth up into straw into formality censoriousnesse spiritual Pride as is experimentally seen in the most for want of this secret Soul-humbling Soul-affecting work This is indeed hard worke it is plowing self-denying worke which our formal Ephraims like not Hosea 10.11 It bringeth not that popular applause with it as the publicke meetings doe where their gifts may be more taken notice off The Devil can be content we should hear a thousand Sermons yea and repeate them too when we have done so he can but keep us from this private worke of making them our own by serious Meditation and Prayer Repeating our Sermons in our lives which is the best Repetition of Sermons the Devil hath his desire and I appeale to the Consciences of those who spend so much time in publicke and private Repetitions For I suppose these persons Repeate in their Families when they come home else I am sure they trangresse against the Rule Deuteronomy 6.6 7. Whether they doe not omit this private dutie which I speake of the wayes and walking of too many Professors sheweth it Question Would you have the duty of repeating wholly omitted Answer By no meanes for it is a duety which God commandeth Parents to practice in their particular Families But I would have it rightly Circumstantiated for Time and Place and so performed as may be most for Gods Glory and the benefit of us and ours Were I worthy to counsel Christians I should advise them 1. To retire in private as before having set their Families in Order till the Evening repast 2. After that to call all the Family together examining every one what they have learned that day and putting an edge upon it by applying it to them Objection But some people cannot pray nor Repeat themselves Answer That is their sinne and negligence especially if they be Governours of Families Yet I should advise such persons to doe in this case as they do by their meat if they cannot dresse it themselves they will desire their neighbours to help them So goe to thy Ministers house if he be nigh thee or else to thy Godly neighbour joyne with him till thou canst do it thy selfe For still I say it is most proper profitable and convenient to have this duty performed in every particular Family where there is any number especially Now this keepeth Duties in their order Here is time for private preparation then for publicke duties then for workes of necessity then for private Meditation and lastly for Family duties Thus you have my judgement I shall not confine any one to it I give you in onely what I finde Experimentallie most beneficial to my self and others and if any can experimentally finde out a more profitable way to promote Godlynesse in its power I can well permit every one to abound in his own sense and to take his own way My Record is on High that I have no designe against the persons parts or performances of any I rejoyce to see Gods work goe forward in any place my onely desire is that the power of Religion may prosper in the Land and the efficacy of it may appear in holy and mortified conversations 5. Observation 5. We must not despise any in whom we can see any thing of Christ. Be they poore Artificers and Tradesmen and such as are contemptible in the Worlds eye yet if they be precious in Christs eye they must be so in ours too yea be they weak women yet if they be good women we must honour them So
Application is easie Take heed of that Rock of offence and Roote of division The gathering of Churches out of Churches which is indeed the destruction of Churches 'T is an uncharitable and an unscriptural Practice There is no Precept nor President for it in all the Book of God The Dissenting Brethren were not able to produce one example out of Gods Word for the gathering of Churches out of Churches though they were pressed to it by the Reverend Assembly of Divines We read in Scripture of Gathering Churches from amongst Heathens but never of gathering Churches out of constituted Churches Were England a land of Heathens and no Church planted amongst us it might be proper enough to gather Churches here but to put a planted constituted setled Church into the condition of Heathens savours strongly of Pride and Censoriousness Parochial Assemblies if the Parishes were but regulated and made more uniform and compact are the best both for Pastor and People when this gathering of Churches breedeth as many Divisions in Families almost as there are persons e g. The husband is a Presbyterian and goeth to his Church the Wife an Independent and goeth to her meetings the Sonne an Anabaptist and goeth to his meetings the Daughter a Quaker and she hath her meetings c. What Rents this kind of gathering maketh let the Reader judge Besides the great inconvenience of having Church-members at such a distance one at London another at Dover a third at West-Chester a fourth at Yorke I know some that dwell nigh an hundred miles off him whom they call their Pastor such sheep are like to be well fed and looked to that are at such a distance from the Shepherd Moreover it is a kinde of Sacriledge to rob godly Ministeres of the first-born of their Prayers and pains of the creame of their flockes and the Crowne of their Ministery If they will gather Churches out of the world as they call it let them first plow the world and sow it and then let them reap with Gods blessing else he is but a hard man that reaps where he hath not sowen There is superstition on the right hand as well as on the left and the Devil cares not on which hand we miscarry so he can but get us out of the right way Be not over-righteous in making the Gate of the Church narrower then God hath made it shut not out those whom God admitteth Better be too Charitable then too censorious Pitty the many hundreds of poore ignorant profane uncatechized souls that are in your City the great I had almost said the greatest part of a Ministers worke lieth out of the Pulpit I have experimentally found more good by week-dayes Catechising then by many yeares Preaching condescend to the Capacities of the weakest by workes of mercy and by all good means labour to win them to Christ Be not high nor supercilious be not harsh and censorious in casting off the greatest part of your flocke as dogs and swine if they be ignorant you should instruct them if scandalous by all wise means you should labour to reclaim them This rigorous casting off them and their Infants doth but harden them and make them out of love with Religion when a tender and compassionate carriage towards them might have brought them into better order 4. You that are Tradesmen be just in all your dealings Plain honesty is the best Policie though it gain but little yet it keepeth the credit and the custome when he that over-reacheth and cozens me once shall never cozen me a second time Much of religion is seen in our dealings with men Psalm 15.2 3 4 Let a man professe like an Angel yet if he be faulty here all his religion is vain Piety towards God and Righteousnesse towards man are the best Walls and Bulwarks of a City It is true your walls are razed but it is not the want of walls but the wickednesse of the Citizens that ruines a City If Piety be within God himselfe will be a wall of fire round about you to defend you and offend your Enemies and your glory in the middest of you Zacharie 2.5 Isay 26.1 Good Citizens are the best fortifications God hath blest you with the Nether-springs and given you a South-land you have a rich and fruitful Soile a River that bringeth you Treasure from farre doe you as Achsah the Daughter of Caleb did begg for a better blessing even the Upper-springs also for Grace and Glory which will refresh you to Eternity Ioshua 15.19 The Riches of your City lieth much in cloathing Oh get your Soules cloathed with the robes of Christ his Righteousnesse for your justification and the White Robes of Innocency Integrity and Sanctification these are the onely true riches of a Christian which can never be taken from him 5. You that are young lay your foundations low if ever you would build high with Timothy give up your selves to God betimes fly the lusts of youth mortifie the flesh with its affection and lusts Redeem the seasons of Grace know the day of your Visitation and improve it remember your Creator betimes the sooner the better since the seasoning of our youth hath a great influence upon the remaining part of our dayes God hath blest you with many able laborious Ministers who are ready on all occasions in season and out of season to dispense the Mysteries of salvation to you so that you cannot sin at so cheap a rate as formerly happy are you if you have hearts to improve the mercy storing up in these dayes of Spiritual plenty Truths against times of Errour Light against times of darkness and comforts against times of discomfort If Philip King of Macedon rejoyced that his son Alexander was born in that time when Aristotle lived that so he might be instructed by him how should we then rejoyce who are born in such a time when the Gospel is so fully and freely publisht to the world which is able to make us wise unto salvation Lastly you that are Governours of Families set up Religion in the Power of it there let them be Bethels Houses of God and not Beth-avens houses of Vanity iniquity lest God make them Beth-anys houses of sorrow and affliction Lay injunctions on your Children and Servants that they keep the way of the Lord So did Abraham Genesis 18.19 as you would partake with him in blessednesse so follow him in Obedience Let not the greatnesse of your Families make you neglect the Dutie Abraham had a great Family above three hundred that could bear Arms yet he Catechized them and instructed them in the wayes of God Genesis 13.14 The houses of the Primtive Christians were as so many little Churches Romans 16.5 1 Corinthian 16.19 Câ—los 4.15 Philem 2. Solomon in all probability had thousands in his Court for he had seven hundred Wives which were Princesses and their retinue must needs be great he had fourtie
Mother being a believing Iewess seeth to the instructing of her son Acts 16.1 for the Iewes were very careful to teach their children the Old Testament betimes so that their skill therein saith the Learned Buxtorfe was more at 17. then our men at 70. and they were able to answer any Question in the Law as readily as to their own names saith Iosephus Hannah devoted her Samuel whilest he was very young to God 1 Sam. 1.22 and 2.11.24 He began his service in the Tabernacle in his Childhood that he might the better be instructed in Gods Law and be acquainted with all the Parts Passages and wayes of Divine Worship from his tender youth that so in his age he might keep the closer to it 'T is a singular mercy to have good Parents and specially a good Mother for she being much about her children hath many opportunities of dropping good things into her little Lemuels as Bathsheba did into Solomon Proverbs 31.1 The Mothers of the Kings of Israel are constantly mentioned and as they were good or evil so were their Children Partus sequitur ventrem the Birth followes the belly and such as the Mother such usually are the children Ezekiel 16.44 Question But at what age would you have Parents begin to teach their children Answer So soon as ever they begin to learn wickedness we should teach them goodness so soon as ever they begin to curse and swear we should teach them to bless and pray When Children can mock Elisha and call him Bald-pate it is time to change their Language and teach them to cry Hosanna to Christ so that we should endeavour to sow the Seeds of Piety and Religion in their hearts so soon as they are able to speak and are come to the Use of Reason and Understanding endeavouring that as they grow in years so they may increase in Grace and Knowledge Objection This is in vain say prophane lazie Sectaries to teach children the Words and Termes of Piety since they doe not understand them Answer Though Children whilest very young cannot come to much understanding yet the having of Scripture Phrase and Texts by heart is very usefull and will much steed them when they come to years of discretion and are able to dive deeper into the meaning of those things which they retain perfect in their memories from their Childehood We should therefore nurse and nourish them up betimes in the knowledge of Gods Word as Timothy was 1 Tim. 4.6 There are many Reasons why Youth should be seasoned betimes with good Principles 1. In respect of that Natural rudeness and ignorance which cleaves so close unto them Eccles. 3.18 Iob 11.12 Ieremiah 4.22 and 10.14 We are all by Nature like wild Asse-Colts Unteachable Untractable An Asse is the dullest and foolishest of all creatures and a wilde Asse is the dullest and most unteachable of Asses yet such a wild â—â—sse-Colt is man by Nature lewdness and folly is bound up in his heart it is rooted and settled there till instruction and correction fetch it away Proverbs 22.15 2. The Lord oft blesses this seasoning in youth with good success as we see in Solomon whom his Father and Mother taught betimes Prov. 4.3.4 and 32.1 and here in Timothy who after became an Evangelist and a choyce pillar in Gods House for the good of many So Samuel who was given up to God betimes what an excellent instrument was he in the Church of God Abraham that taught his children and servants the way of the Lord Genesis 14.14 and 18 19. what obedient Children and servants had he 2. It is usually blest with continuance and perseverance such as are good young are oft good long what the 〈◊〉 is first seasoned withall it will have a taste of it a long time after What we learn whilest young it will last with us so that we seldome or never loose it Prov. 22.6 and therefore to incourage Parents God promiseth if they will faithfully discharge their duty that he will preserve their Children from Apostacy Psal. 71.5.6 9.14.17.18 3. This is an excellent means to propagate goodness to Posterity as we see here Timothies Grandmother teacheth his Mother and his Mother teacheth him and he teacheth the Church of God c. So if you teach your children they will teach their children and thou mayest be a means to propagate Gods Truth and Honour from one Generation to another So that you may comfort yourselves when you come to die that yet your Piety shall not die but shall survive in your posterity who shall stand up in your steed to profess Gods name and truth before a sinful world 4. Such well-bred and timely-taught Children are usually great comforts and ornaments to their Parents Proverbs 23.15.16 24 25. as we see in Abel Ioseph Samuel Iosiah 2 Chron. 34.3 Obadiah 1 Kings 18.12 David Daniel Ieremy All of them began betimes to serve God and were men of renown in their generations which may help to take off that Satanical slander which is so rife in the world viz. that young Saints will be old Devils they cannot hold out Whereas the contrary is commonly most true viz. that young Devils will be old Beelzebubs when those that are good betimes usually persevere in goodness Proverbs 22.6 But such as are fondly bred and left to themselves are the Parents shame and sorrow and oft come to untimely Ends Proverbs 29.15 as Absalom Esaâ— Adonijah 5. Children are the Seminary and Nursery of the Church and common-wealth now as our Seminaries and Seed-plots are such is the Nation as the Parents House and School are such are Towns and Cities Our seasoning in youth hath a great influence upon our lives and therefore the Devil and the world strive for youth for look what people are between 18. years of Age and 30. such usually they are all their dayes Drunkards then and Drunkards for ever lewd then and lewd for ever 6. Youth is most Teachable and Tractable like soft wax or clay fit to be formed and framed to any thing ready to take any Impression Like a tender twigg â—ou may bend it which way you please but let it grow to be a tree and you may sooner break it then bend it We should therefore take this fit season of seasoning youth betimes with saâ—ing Truths and killing the weeds of sin which begin to appear in their lives It s good bearing Gods Yoke whether of Correction Doctrine or Discipline in our Youth Lamentations 3.27 No creature so wild but it may be tamed if taken whilest young We see those that would teach or tame Horses Lions Hawkes Dogs Bears they begin with them betimes the Horse is broken whilest a Colt and the Lion tamed whilest its a Whelp c. Vse This must stir up Parents to season the tender years of their Children with Principles of Grace This is a duty of Great consequence and therefore the Lord 〈◊〉
idle drowsie habit but an active lively operative thing hence all Gods servants have been men of fire Abraham how zealous in Praying for Sodom how ready to circumcise himselfe and all the men in his house how ready to part with all at Gods bare command Lot doth not onely abstaine from the sins of Sodom but his soul was tortured and tormented with their wickednesse 2 Peter 2.8 Moses one of the meekest men in the world yet when God was dishonoured in an holy heate he throweth down the two Tables of stone and breaketh them signifying thereby their breach of Covenant with God by their sins yet did not the Lord checke him for it He onely bid him goe make new ones where we may observe the goodnesse of God that if our zeal transport us too far yet the Lord pardons the errour of our fervency rather then the Indifferencies of Security and Luke-warmnesse Thus Barâ—e how earnestly doth he act in Gods work Nehemiah 3.20 Nehemiah forsooke all his Court preferment passed through many dangers and difficulties and contends even with Rulers for profaning the Sabbath he cursed them i. he caused them to be excommunicated and driven out of the Congregation or he sharply reproved them telling them they had made themselves guilty of the curses whereinto they had entered Nehemiah 10.29 and 13.25 Holy David was a man even compounded of zeal as appeareth Psalm 119.53 97.136.139.158.174 How did he prepare with all his might for the House of God and thinketh all the gold and riches he had given to be as nothing 1 Chronicles 29.2 3 4. he prepared an hundred thousand Talents of Gold and a thousand thousand Talents of Silver he gave of his owne proper goods thirteen Millions eight hundred seventy five thousand pound sterling But what makes David so magnificently liberal Why it was his zealous affection to the House of God It is want of affection not want of money that makes men give so basely to the promoting of Gods Worship yet so inlarged was Davids heart that he accounts all this but a poor gift 1 Chronicles 22.14 In my poverty so 't is in the margin of your Bibles have I prepared all this he accounts his 1300. cart load of gold and silver but a poor gift it was noâ— answerable to his desires nor according to that which the transcendent Majesty of God might require but it was according as he was able by reason of his continual troubles and afflictions what a Seraphim was Paul how did he burn with a zeal for Gods Glory how was his Spirit kindled in him when he saw the Idolatry at Athens Acts 17.16 How gladly doth he spend himself for the Church of God 2 Cor. 12.25 What pains did he take what hazards did he run that he might win souls Rom. 15.19 He surpassed Alexander the Great and all the Conquerours of the world for they conquered men by the Sword but Paul by the Word they gained Kingdoms to themselves but Paul for Christ they conquered bodyes he souls they men he devils But where shall we now find a zealous Elijah a man of fire against sin and errors where are our Luthers Lattimers Bradfords that fear not the faces of great ones Blessed be God he hath many in the Land that both in the Pulpit and by their Pens do witness against the enormities of the times yet in comparison of the swarms of idle heretical profane self-seeking Ministers they are thin sowen for 1. Some are ignorant and cannot 2. Others are scandalous and dare not reprove sin for fear of being upbraided themselves 3. Others are Time-servers and to keep their places they go along with the current of the times and say as the great ones would have them Are the times for liberty so are they Are the times for Anabaptists c. so are they Doctores aerei like wax ready to take any impression that the Rulers and great ones will put upon them 4. Others are zealous but 't is against zeal instead of being instant in Preaching they are earnest against zealous Preachers and preaching Instead of heavenly fire they are full of strange fire They are zealous but 't is for Superstition Will-worship Anabaptisme c. When they should use all means to keep in and increase this holy fire as the Priest was commanded Levit. 6.12 13. not to suffer the fire of the Altar to go forth but he must bring wood to it and nourish it that it alwayes might burn yet these by their negligence suffer it to decay 'T is said that the Image of Isis was carried by a dull Asse such a servant may fit such a saint but dead Ministers are no servants for the living God I rejoyce not in these victories of the devil but shall turn my complaint into a prayer that the Lord would purifie the sons of Levi and purge them as gold that they may offer in righteousness Malac. 3.3 And that all Zions Nazarites may be purer then snow and whiter then milk Lam. 47.13 That all those whom the Lord hath set apart for his own immeditate service may in some measure resemble their Lord and Master in the beauty of holiness that they may be like Apollos who was fervent in spirit mighty in the Scriptures and taught diligently the way of the Lord. Acts 18.25 26. that like Micah 3.8 we may be filled with the Spirit of God and so may be enabled to fulfil our duty That he would flame us with the fire of love that we may help to inflame others Did Ministers love their peoples souls more they would be more zealous for their good Love is an active thing it will make one do and suffer much for the party beloved A mother loves her child which makes all her pains with it light One being askt out of what book he got such fiery fervent Sermons answered I get them out of the Book of Love This will make us fervent in prayer for our people and faithfully to discharge our duty by admonishing the wicked comforting the afflicted resolving their doubts sympathizing with them in their sorrows and visiting them in their distresses as Esay did Hezekiah in his sickness 2 Kings 20 1. The false Prophets are branded for feeding themselves but not the flock the sick they did not heal nor bind up the broken Ezek. 34.24 Much of the sins and errors of the times lie at Ministers doors and cold Ministers make bold sinners Hence Christ blames the Angels and Pastors of the Churches for the sins of the Churches Rev. 2. and 3. Our Apostysy makes others to apostatize many begin like thunder but they end like smoak We may say of many Ministers as they say of Butter 't is gold in the morning silver at noon and lead at night or like one Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury whom Pope Vrban greets in the stile of a fervent Monk a warm Abbot a Luke-warm Bishop and a key cold
nature 3. Others say it was because she was better knowen to Believers But there is no great matter in this placing of their names for in other places the husband is named before the wife as Acts 18.2 26. 1 Cor. 16.19 And the Houshold of Onesiphorus This Onesiphorus was a good man and answered to his good name He was very loving and constant to Paul even in his bonds at Rome 2 Tim. 1.16 17 18. As the Apostle before Chap. 1.16 praied for the house of Onesiphorus so here he salutes them By house here is meant by a Metonimy of the subject very frequent in Scripture the people in the house as wife children servants which may serve as an answer to that Cavill of the sottish illiterate Quakers who revile us for calling the place where the Church meets The Church when this Metonimy is so frequent in Scripture The house for the people in the house and the Church for the people that meet in the Church The Apostle useth the very word Church in this very sense 1 Cor. 14.28 35. It is a shame for a woman to speak in the Church 4. Observation 4. Good Governours bring a blessing on their Families Onesiphorus is not onely praied for himself and saluted singly but all his houshold also When Zacheus was converted he was not onely blest himself but Salvation came to his house also Luke 19.8 When Lydia and the Iaylor were converted themselves their Families were brought into Covenant with them Acts 16.14 15 33 34. Rahab the harlot by believing preserved her family alive Yea Lot was a blessing to all Sodom the Angel could not destroy it till he was gone out Gen. 19. The Reasons are these 1. The Covenant of Grace is made to the godly and their seed Gen. 17.7 So bountiful a Master do we serve that he will not only shew mercy to the godly themselves but also to thousands of Generations of them that love him and keep his Commandements Psalm 112.2 2. God loves such as resemble him in the beauty of Holynesse now love is of a diffusive Nature it extendeth it self not onely to the party beloved but to all about him If we love a man we will love his Children Servant Beast yea his dog for his Masters sake If this be in the drop what is in the Ocean If this be in the Creature whose love is imperfect finite mixt what is in the Creator who is love it selfe 1 Iohn 4.8 3. In respect of the near Union that is between Master and Servants Parents and children They all make as it were but one body so that if it goe well with the Head it must needs be the better for the Members As the Dew that falleth on the mountains runs down to the Valleyes and the precions Ointment that was poured upon the head of Aaron ran down to the skirts of his clothing Psalm 133. So the blessing which God powers on Governours extendeth it selfe to such as are under them 4. They will endeavour the conversion of such as belong to them It is promised as a blessing to such as live under the good mans shadow that they shall return Hosea 14.7 and grow up fruitfully as the corn in a well tilled field and flourish in the wayes of God like the most generous Vine to the great joy and contentment of themselves and others 5. As an evil man is a publike evil the Family the City the Nation the World yea even his beasts fare the worse for him The wicked Egyptians bring a curse on their cattle Exodus 9.3 when Achan had sinned his sons and Daughters his Oxen Asses sheep and all he had perished and fell with him Joshua 7.24 25. But it is good being a good mans Childe servant yea beast Exodus 9.4 But the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Aegypt there shall nothing die of all that is the children of Israel's God blesseth their very cattle for their sake and if the creatures could speak they would desire to be servants to those that are servants to God Let all Superiours then labour for grace that they may be a means to diffuse it to those about them for true grace is communicative Paul that was converted himselfe desireth that others were like himselfe Acts 26.29 When the woman of Samaria had found Christ she bringeth her neighbours to him Iohn 4.28 when Andrew had found Christ he bringeth Peter with him and Philip bringeth Nathaniel Iohn 1.41 45. They are like a sweet perfume or like Carbuncles and stones of fire which sweeten and enlighten all that are about them Ezekiel 28.16 The prosperity and welfare of the Church lieth much in the well-ordering of Families they are the Nurseries and Seminaries of the Church and therefore Governours of Families should walk before God in their own houses as well as in Gods house with upright hearts Psalm 101.2 2 Samuel 6.20 he returned to blesse his houshold i. to pray and praise God with them See Psalm 30. the Title and Acts 10.1.2 Iob 1.5 To this end therefore must be the morning and the evening sacrifice there Numbers 28.4 Our Prayers are our sacrifices This blesseth all as the Arke when it came to the house of Obed Edom brought a blessing with it so where duties be set up in their power they are a means to blesse our labour rest and children 2. The Word must be Read there Deut. 6.6 7. it must dwell in us not onely sufficiently but Abundantly Col. 3.16 3. Thou must Catechise and teach thy children the way of the Lord betimes Proverbs 22.6 and if David and Bathsheba a King and a Queen taught Solomon when young Proverbs 4.21.4 and 31.1 who shall think himself too good for this duety 4. There must be singing of Psalmes in our houses it is not onely our Duty but our Glory thus to glorifie God 5. Let none be idle in thy family but see that every one have some imployment wherein to serve God for of idleness comes no goodness as I have shewed before on v. 7. 6. Be well advised whom you receive into your Family If a man be to plant an Orchard he will get the chiefest grafts else as one scabbed sheepe infecteth the Flocke so one disordered person may disorder a whole Family 7. There must be a Grave yet amiable carriage towards inferiours remembring that we also have a master in Heaven Many Masters are so high and lordly so pettish and perverse that no servant can please them no service content them They use their servants like dogs rather then Christians such should remember the meekness of Iob 31.13 and how Superiours are called Fathers in Scripture because they should carry a fatherly affection towards their Inferiours Exod. 20.12 8. There must be Discipline As in the Arke there was the Rod of Manna so in every well ordered Family there must be the Manna of Instruction and the Rod of Correction There