sin against God the Author of Family-Government 'T is a sin against man which God hath appointed as his Vicegerent 'T is against their own father and so 't is unnatural and contrary to the light of Nature But let children humbly obey their Parents and see that they do their duties so may they expect in due time to inherit Gods promised blessings 5. Masters which also stand in the place of Superiours and may do much for God in their places and by that power and command they have under God and over their Servants by restraining them from vice and vanity and by giving liberty and incouragement in acts of Vertue and Piety Masters are to give unto their Servants that which is equall and just knowing they have a Master in Heaven Col. 4.1.9 who respects not Persons but just and equall dealings They also are to forbear Threatnings and oppressings because whatsoever is measured to another by any man the same measure shall be measured to him back again 6. Servants ought to obey and submit to their Masters in all things as unto the Lord not only to the gentle and good but to such also of them as are froward not with eye service as men-pleasers but with singleness of heart as the Servants of Christ acknowledging their power by obeying their precepts striving toplease them wel in all things not answering again Tit. 2.9 10. nor purloyning walking in all honesty and shewing all Fidelity that in all services and by all means they may adorn the Doctrine of Christ in all things 7. And Lastly Let every one do their duties in their several Obligations whether Superiours or Inferiours I may adde to the rest Land-lords and Tenants who ought to deal faithfully each to other as unto the Lord. Land-lords are in such places and have great advantages to do good services if they do improve themselves for the Lord and give good Councel to their Tenants according to his Holy Word Let them remember although they are Landlords to men yet they are but Tenants and Stewards to the God of Heaven Who hath the disposing of all things who can increase and diminish at pleasure and gives and takesaway as he pleaseth as they expect Obedience Dues and Just accounts of their Tenants So the Lord the great Land-lord expects his Obedience Dues and just accounts as we stand his Tenants and Servants Let Tenants also deal faithfully and do equally in Justice Mat. 7.2.12 agreeable to the good Rule of doing as a man would be done by acting according to the laws of Righteousnesse towards God and the Principles of Uprightness towards men For whosoever shall make a breach upon the Rules of equity and equal dealing the Lord will requite them in Justice answerable to the Law of Retalliation But let Superiours know the limits of their Commands which is over Bodies and not Consciences Some Rules concerning private and personal Government EVery particular person is charged with a souls protection and it being a weighty imployment to be charged with a Souls Concernment Joh. 2.8 it being of a greater value than can be reckoned the gain and losse of it being more than the gain and losse of the whole World Let the former Rules be taken upon once again in order to personal Regulation For there we ought to begin the Foundation for the better accomplishing of the great work of Church-Reformation for although this come last 't is none of the least works to be done and that which pertains to every Christian man to set and keep things in order at home in this little World and more private Jurisdiction For 't is the greatest piece of Knowledge for a man to know the depth of himself and the highest Conquest for a man to overcome himself and the most excellent part of Government when a man can rightly order his own heart govern his own life and rule well his own spirit Prov. 16.32 'T is not only reported but experienced that Heart-work is the most difficult work to which we had need use all the means that may be allowed and to make use of all the helps that can be obtained 1. By Election As the Universal Lord hath set too great Lights to rule in the Universall World and hath appointed Guides and Overseers to enlighten and govern the Church of God so hath he been graciously pleased to make Heavenly provision to order and rule the Inner man and as the Lord in his matchless love hath freely sent his Son to ransome us from everlasting slavery so he hath freely given his Spirit to conductous towards eternal felicity Acts 5.32 Let every one then choose imbrace that means God hath Ordained for the obtaining and receiving Gods holy Spirit which with Reverence I may truly call The prime Overseer over the Soul he is the great Teacher Leader and Conducter of the Saints and whose Office may be fitly compared to the Office of an Overseer or Ruler He is the Christians guide to enlighten and direct them to sanctifie and comfort them to strengthen and confirm them to improve and quicken them to duties and likewise he helps our infirmities interprets our groans and presents our supplications and makes requests for Saints according to the will of God The bodies of Saints are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and the Tabernacle of God where he dwels and governs according to his word he helps us to mortifie our sins and is grieved at our Transgressions Thus is the Kingdome of Heaven within you agreeable as the Scripture hath exprest which consists of Righteousnesse Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost He also convinceth the World of Sin strives and waits upon man to correct and conform them the Gospel Order and holy Profession Jo. 16.13 and so guides the saints into all truth and shews them things to come Secondly Conscience may be called an Overseer in a more subordinate and limited sence which the Lord hath set in man which is the Epitome and Breviate of the World which will act for God and assist for the Souls spiritual good serving to rule and order the whole man even to regulate and Record every word and action The Office of Conscience is to oppose sin reprove sin condemn for sin and if the sinner be impenitent it terrifies and torments the sinner and like a faithfull friend first tell him of his fault secretly if he amends 't is forgiven by God freely but if not Conscience either discovers it to be judged here Rom. 2.15 or else bears witnesse against them at the Bar of Judgement hereafter But Conscience will do Justice in it's Office for it will excuse if guiltlesse and bear testimony to a mans simplicity and godly sincerity and upon every pious action it ministers joy to the Inner-man I may adde the light of Nature which I may call a help in this personal Government 1 Cor. 11.14 which in morall things will give information and
pollute many others that ye may keep Discipline within your Familie Dominion there is for this a good example of David Psal 101.6 7. who saith Men of Faithfulnesse and Integrity shall dwell with me and serve me But he would not keep a Lyar about him nor he that worketh deceit should neither dwell in his House nor tarry in his sight Thus every man within his own Jurisdiction may exercise Family Discipline both to teach intercede and govern and by diligence and prudence may be an Instrument to bring his House in order in Gods Service 7. Let all these things be put into due execution without which the knowledge of them comes to nothing Every man to exercise himself in his place faithfully to instruct and govern his Family consonant to to the Rules of Piety and Principles of Charity and to act by the Law of Equity to all under them as men in some sence obliged to give an account of them These things considered and calling to remembrance my place of trust in Gods House and our special Obligations each to other as we are Chistians I can do no lesse than advise warn exhort and intreat you according to the relation I stand with you and inteterest I have in you to put your duties into practices and remove out of your Families all offences and disorders Deut. 13.8 1 Tim. 5.21 for ye know we ought not to bear with sin to regard Causes or respect Persons although they be our near relations but to do Justice with Equity and that without delay or partiality for we may not harbour evils nor suffer disorder in our Families and that we have no just complaining in our streets 'T is true we cannot expect members of Families should be free from all Infirmities where then would be the use of bearings and forbearings Beware of Upbraiding and Retorting Languages which oft-times creates discontents and raises disturbances in Families There ought rather to be found among Christians a condescention to each others dispositions concerning their deformities bearing one anothers weaknesses and if it may be to determine Family-failings within the compasse of Family Jurisdictions and to endeavour to bear one anothers burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ To sympathize with each other in temptations and afflictions that ye may not make your lives a burden to your selves and a trouble and grief to others for consider that miscarriages among Christians are attended with high aggravations First a dishonour to God a discredit to the truth a disparagement to Professors a grief to Relations a sorrow to well-wishers a bondage to themselves and a rejoycing to their Enemies My advise is therefore for the time past wherein any of you have offended each other to repent it and wherein others have trespassed against you upon their submission pardon it let all former things be laid dead and buried in the grave of Oblivion no more to be remembred or have any more Resurrection to disquiet your peace here or to evidence against you hereafter And for the time to come my Counsel Exhortation is to set the fear of the Lord before you observe one anothers tempers consider each others frailties and when ye have any thing to say remember to take suitable seasons endeavouring to remove Jelousies avoid all occasions that may tend to provocations and if possible let all be swallowed up in dear affections which best becomes such near Relations and most adorns professing Christians But yet a few words more particularly that respects every House and Family to divide their Duties to each other and that severally 1. HUsbands ought to love their Wives as Christ loved the Church and as they love themselves and to rule over them with much Tendernesse Eph. 5.25.28 and to govern with discretion and commend their submission by the power of a free and constant affection to imitate the Lords Pattern who loved his Spouse better than himself covering deformities bearing Infirmities taking part with them in their Distresses attending them with necessary Accommodations and suitable conveniences at all times and in all conditions remembring both are but one flesh and that a mans wife is half himself considering she is a Building of the greater Admiration and being brought to man holds forth the Order Honour and Perfection of Gods Creation Likewise Husbands are to dwell with their Wives according to Knowledge having respect to their weaknesses and to honour them as the weaker Vessels For the Woman is the glory of the Man and yet under his Authority to teach her subjection and to shew him he is her protection 2. Wives ought to submit themselves to their own Husbands as unto the Lord Ephes 5.25 Remembring 't is Gods own Institution That man should Rule and have the Dominion and Woman should obey and be in Subjection and God hath Ordained and Honored men to be Heads and Superiours Gen. 3.16 and as the Church is subject to Christ so ought Wives to be to their own Husbands and that Gods own Order and Ordinance might be owned and adorned Let them imitate Sarah who obeyed Abraham and called him Lord. Thus in old time the holy Women put on the Ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which well becomes every Christian and is much set by in the sight of God and man Let Wives then give that Reverence and freely yield that due submission to their Husbands which God hath required of them alwayes endeavouring to approve themselves suitable assistants and meet helps according as they were first created and appointed to be a comfortable Nurse and Yoak-fellow to rejoyce them and to be a constant succour and comfort to them 3. Parents ought to educate and bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and by good Counsel and sound instruction to discharge their duties to them in matters of Faith and Religion Eph. 9.4 and as God hath blessed you with Children so perswade your Children to be Instruments of Glory to him and to make known to them their natural affection according to the neernesse of their Relation avoyding temptations and occasions of their provocations Let every man exercise his fatherly care with Providence and Moderation to make a comfortable provision for them endeavouring to match and prefer them to such as truly fear the Lord and act and walk consonant to the Rule and Circumstance of his Word 4. Children ought to obey their Parents in the Lord and to honour Father and Mother Eph. 6.1 this is Gods Precept for so saith the Word acknowledging them duty and obedience and rendring them their due in Reverence confessing their propriety in them and their authority over them to command them and dispose of them freely to observe their instructions patiently submit to their corrections knowing that children which are Inferiours being disobedient to Parents their Superiours in so neer a Relation is an offence with a high aggravation First 't is a
maintained and the poor relieved The Lord is pleased to define the sin and calls it robbery and injustice he repayes the evill with a curse of penury And as all Scripture is recorded for our learning and instruction so these presidents of miscarriages and punishments are become our premonitions and warnings that by preventing the sins we may clearly escape the punishments Thus much be spoken touching the Caution and Admonition Lastly A word of Encouragement and so I have done I am of St. Peters perswasion to put you in remembrance of these things although ye know them and be established in them but to observe the speciall notice the Lord takes and countenance he manifests to such as are just and righteous as Noah Lot and Phineas Caleb Joshua and many others who for their integrity fidelity and singularity are blest with speciall security that while others fall under judgement and misery as a demonstration the Lord records their names commends their actions secures their persons and comprehends in the blessing their posterities and families The Prophet Jeremiah speaking in commendations of Josiah King of Judah said thus of him Jer. 22.15 16. that he did execute judgement and justice and then it was well with him this is rightly to know God Was not this to know me saith the Lord. These that were men of justice and faithfulness the Lord counts it unto them for righteousness John the Baptist was a righteous man and faithfull and just in reproving sin and so obtained this commendation to be called a just and holy man Also the Lord was pleased greatly to honour Abraham in making him privy to his design of justice upon Sodom and admits him to parle touching their destruction the Lord gives this character of him that he will command his children and his houshold after him Gen. 18.19 and like a man of government to keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement The Lord doth so highly account and so much delight in truth and judgement that if there were but one man found in the City Jerusalem Jer. 5.1 to seek for it and in the execution of it notwithstanding a wicked City he would pardon it The Lord takes such pleasure in justice that he prefers it above other sacrifice for it is the habitation of his holiness Finally The benefits that attend such as give Christs servants their due encouragements If I may take leave once again to look back into the Old Testament Mapp recorded in the Prophesie of Malaechy I will shew you a three-fold blessing that attends this duty 1. The Lord invites and tempts them to do their duty 2. He is pleased to promise upon doing their duty he will pour out blessings and that abundantly for their sakes 3. He will remove the curse stop the destroyer reprove the consumer and rebuke the devourer 4. The Lord will so raise their fame and commendations that they shall be called a blessed people and that by all Nations In my making use of Old Testament Scriptures 't is not to make it our rule but to make use of their concurrences and assistances for they may in some measure help us as mapps and glasses to discover our duties and to see our dangers For as in the Gospell dayes duties are more richly and rarely blessed so new testaments neglects Heb. 10.28 29. and contempts are more sorely and dreadfully punisht Thus I have as it were set some Land-marks to guide you in the way to felicity and also discovered some Sea-marks to avoid the rocks of misery and having thus born my testimony I commend you all to God and wish you eternall mansions of glory FINIS POSTSCRIPT NOw if any Brother or Well-wisher shall conscientiously doubt or be dis-satisfied touching any particular Point contained in this Treatise because of my speaking to many things in a little room And if he or they shall be serious in so doing and will be-friend me so far and do me that courtesie to send to me before they condemn me and let me know their scruples in a few words of writing I shall look upon my self obliged both in affection and reason to endeavour to give them full satisfaction FINIS A Table of the principall Matters contained in this Book CHAP. I. THe Causes of peace and prosperity in the Churches of Jesus Christ page 1 2. The antiquity and dignity of Church-Government p. 3. The personall and princely Excellencies in Christ as the head of his Church p. 6. Chap. 2. Shewing the definition of Church-Government in New Testament dayes viz. in not inflicting bodily punishment upon offenders but spiritually executing Laws without knowing faces respecting persons wresting causes either for favour or prejudice to any persons p. 9. A true Ministers most speciall work and duty to the flock under all circumstances laid down p. 11 12. Chap. 3. Shewing the necessity of and reasons for Church-Governours and Governments p. 12 13. Chap. 4. Shewing the good use and great benefit that comes by right Government p. 19. Right Government is destructive to iniquity and a protection to piety p. 22 23. Chap. 5. Rules tendred to accomplish a right Government and the manner how to choose their Officers p. 26. 27. The work of the Officers when chosen p. 28 29 30. Chap. 6. Shewing the duty of Christians as they stand related to civill Magistrates requiring civill subjection not only for wrath but for conscience sake p. 38. Chap. 7. Treating of Family duties Superiours to Inferiours and Inferiours to Superiours with Directions to a religious choice in Yoke-fellows p. 40 41 c. Chap. 8. Treating particularly of Family duties p. 51. Chap. 9. Treating of private and personall Government p. 56. Cautions not to grieve Gods Spirit nor offend Conscience p. 61. Rules for the heart mouth eyes and ears p. 65 c. Chap. 10. Shewing the true order and right manner of executing Church-Government in seven Rules p. 73 74. Chap. 11. Treating of restitution to be made by an offender p. 76. Concerning dealing with Hereticks and other offenders p. 77 78. Chap. 12. Rules of Discipline how to treat an offender in orderlyest wayes how to restore him p. 80. Rules of better observation of the Lords Day or First Day Sabbath p. 83. Rules for Admonition of penitent persons after Excommunication p. 87. Chap. 13. Shewing what Priviledges are to be maintained to Officers and Members in Christs Congregation p. 88 c. Chap. 14. Shewing what Disorders ought to be prevented corrected or removed p. 95. Rules how the offended ought to treat the offending Brother p. 97 c. Seven Descriptions of the nature of the Devil the Churches adversary by his names p. 102. Chap. 15. Shewing what Branches of injustice and oppression are to be avoided in the punishment of sin p. 103. Chap. 16. Shewing the true order and the execution of Discipline and Justice p. 105. Rules to set out the ugly nature of sin in its aggravations to the thorow humbling the offender p. 109. Usefull Directions for the promoting and preserving unity and peace in the Churches of Christ p. 112 113 c. Chap. 17. Giving Directions how to uphold and preserve Church-Government p. 115 c. Chap. 18. Shewing the duty of particular Elders over particular Churches p. 119. to 124. Chap. 19. Shewing the Office and Duty of Deacons in Christs Congregations p. 124. to 129. Chap. 20. Shewing the Duty of Church-members to their Officers p. 129 130 c. A Duty incumbent and of high concern for Churches to present humble frequent and fervent prayers for such as are called to be Gospell-Governours that they may rule for God in justice and righteousness and for the encrease of faithfull Labourers in his harvest p. 132 to 135. Chap. 21. Shewing what God hath ordained respecting his Ministers Maintenance p. 135 136 c. The Necessity of making carefull and sutable provision for the Ministry with the sad effects that accompany the contrary p. 139 140 c. Encouragements to this work shewing the advantages that attend the due performance of it p. 143 144 c. Counsell to forwardness in assisting the Ministry with our worldly possessions Also a Caution against Covetonsness describing what it is p. 145 146. Objections against this needfull work answered p. 148. A generall resolution in all difficult and doubtfull Cases p. 149. The dreadfull consequences in Minister and People to do the work of the Lord negligently with comfortable Encouragements to constant diligence p. 150 151 152 c.