〈…〉 CARTERS CHRISTIAN Common VVealth OR Domesticall Dutyes deciphered ¶ Printed at London by Tho Purfoot 1627. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL THE Maister Wardens and the Assistants of the worthy and famous Company of Gouldsmithes of this Honourable Citie of London Worshipfull Sirs INgratitude was a sin even vnto the Heathens so odious that Periander among the Corinthians made this law that if any in a Common weale prove◠vnthankefull hauing receiued a benefit he was to bee put to death and as the reliques of Gods Image in them soe nature in the sensible creatures hath ingrafted thankefulnesse to passe by those presidents produced by Historians which may seeme incredible the Naturalists obseruation of the Merlyon not to prey on the Larke which hath giuen warmth to her cold feet is remarkeable And the spirit of God in Scripture hath plentifully inioyned it That I may proue my selfe therefore instructed in this duty not by nature onely but by grace in this glorious light of the Gospell I present vnto your view and patronage these poore indeavours the fruit of a thankefull heart expect you cannot a loftie stile or curious phrase for I take not vppon mee to instruct but onely to remember your curteous acceptation I doubt not of from the former experience of your worthinesse Surely if the poore Persians water in a potsheard was exceptable to the Emperour and an Apple from a poore Pessant was received by Artaxerzes a great Prince if Alexander tooke curteously water from a common Souldiers helmet and our Sauiour crowned the poore widdow with everlasting prayse for two Mites to the Treasury your generous dispositions will sparingly censure and curteously accept these my poore labours which howsoeuer they bee your worships and so is the Author Yours in all humblenesse to continue THOMAS CARTER To the Reader AMongst all the blessings that God hath bestowed vpon vs curteous Reader the word of God next to our Sauiour challengeth the most eminent place as being the guide and direction vnto him and the instrument to preserue vs vnblameable in a froward and crooked generation The Prophet Zacharie speaketh of Zach. 9. last ver the wine that Christ doth offer to drinke whereof virgins are gendred and begotten other kind of wines are wont to kindle evill lusts but this wine the Gospell restraineth those lusts and maketh the heart pure hence is the instruction of our Lord to search the Scripture as being able to instruct the ignorant to reforme the vertuous and so to make perfect the man of God in all good workes This excellent vertue hauing drawne mee to a diligent study of sacred Writ and considering in the last worst dayes the great neglect of family dutyes frō whence springes so many corruptions in children and seruants being dayly spectators of the heads corruptions I haue thought it my duty not to let my Talent rest but by that small portion of knowledge God hath giuen vnto me to set vp some way-marke to direct others to the waters of Shiloh which run pleasantly to coole the heate of corruption and frowardnesse and to teach vs obedience privately and publikely If it bee obiected that many eminent men haue already sufficiently performed this worke I answer that another performing his duty excuseth not me Secondly none euer so fully and amply hath put to the presse dutyes in this nature as I can hereof Thirdly they came not to my hands till I had finished this worke It seemed thē necessary not to let it suffer obortion but to bring it to a charitacle view censure of the vnderstanding reader May it please you then to accept of these vnpolished yea vnsquared documents neither it may bee methodicall in respect of order nor curious in respect of phrase onely the token of a willing heart and affording some good generall motions if thou please to afford a little diligence in the reading and care in the prctising This performed I haue the end I ayme at and thus remaine thine ever in the Lord Thomas Carter The Introduction to the worke HEe that sayd the Iob. 7. 1. whole life of man was nothing else but a time of temptations spake most fearefully and yet most truly for we are tempted in our old age in our cradle we are not free if any euill bee set before vs we are provoked vnto it If we abound with Adam in Paradice there may be death in that And if wee want with our Sauiour in the wildernes there are temptations in that So subtill is Sathan and so envious is our enemie to serue himselfe vpon all occasions In the former age of the world hee wrought and prevailed with men by bringing errors of mind and doctrine of Diuels to seduce the Church but now the cleare light of the Gospell is come in knowledge doth abound he laboreth to bring in error of life and depravitie of conversation for that notwithstanding men know their maisters wil yet they performe it not that all meanes possible both the spirituall sword of the Minister temporal sword of the Magistrate ought to be vsed for the reformation of these known euils yea euery mā to set a hand to this worke amongst which nūber I haue brought forth my poore abortiue talent to farther the same labouring by reproofes to beate downe vice and by instructions to informe the Husband to loue his wife and the wife to obey her Husband the Father to bring vp his Children in the feare of God not provoking them to wrath and the Childrens obedience to their Parents the Maister to guide the seruant and the seruant to obey his Master in all things in the Lord what if I bee no Minister nor the sonne of a Minister Shepheards and clownes haue beene Diuines sometimes and why not I and therfore not doubting the entertaynement I set forward to the worke and first for the duty of Husbands The duty of Husbands The first Chapter ANd the cause why I haue first begun with this duty of Husbands is for that I find it to bee the first degree which God gaue vnto Man after his Creation therein that when God gaue vnto man the rule of the whole earth and the domination of all Gen. 2. the creatures therein contained yet vntill hee gaue vnto him a Wife hee had no true content in all the rest besides for euery creature had solace in their kind except Man but so was it not with Man till God gaue vnto Man had no true content till God gaue vnto him a Wife him a Wife Then finding her a companion fit to associate him selfe withall with her he setled his content And this did God for Man in the time of his innocencie giue vnto him this wife thereby leauing vnto vs this instruction that we also ought to liue so vprightly so holily and so purely in the state of wedlocke that we sinne not against God nor against one another And heere is one especiall thing to be noted that God
thing if she performe it not vnlesse it bee contradicted by her Husband But here the case is otherwise and farre more greater for wheÌ„ shee commeth to be Married to a man shee is then solie of her selfe free from the command of any and hath free liberty to doe then for her selfe what shee How great a sinne it is to breake the vow made in Matrimony will and therefore her vow shee then maketh is of very great effect and it is as great a sinne to breake it great indeed in the regard of these things the place where shee made it the house of God the congregation there the Saints of God but far more greater in respect shee is demanded if she will performe these things by the Angell and Minister of God in Gods behalfe shee then there answereth she will So wee find when God had determined to giue his chosen people the Children of Israell his law whereby they might know how to performe their duty vnto him hee sent his seruant Moses vnto them to know if they would performe the law which he was to giue them and they answered they would performe it but as rhe Lord did tell them after hee had giuen them the Lawes That if they did not regard his Commandements and obey Exâ— 19. his will hee would send his punishment A proofe by example that God will punish the breach of the vow made in matrimony vpon them in abundance vntill hee had vtterly consumed them so I must say vnto euery woman that regardeth not her vow and promise which shee maketh at the time of her marriage and doth not endeauour to performe the same as shee ought to doe let her assure her selfe shee shall no lesse expect the iudgement and punishment of God then they did Looke in your Booke of common The Booke of common prayer a looking glasse for women to see their duties in Prayer in the solemnizatioÌ„ of Matrimony and there you shall see what you haue vowed to performe it is that you will liue with your Husbands according to the ordinance and Commandements of God that you will obey and serue them and this you see God hath commanded you to doe what greater vow then this can you make and it followeth more there that you vow to loue honour and keepe them in sicknesse and in health so here you see that loue is the next thing for the woman here to doe and this also shee voweth freely of her selfe to performe also the next and last shee voweth to forsake all other men and to keepe her selfe wholy onely to her Husband here is the effect and end of her loue to be chast pure and without spot this is the loue which wiues ought to performe to their Husbands I know all those which feare God will acknowledge performe as much but I appeale vnto themselues euen against their owne sect if there bee not too many in these dayes which liue so brutish so obstinate and rebellious against God and theiâ— Husbands that they seeme not to know that either they owe this loue as a duty vnto their Husbands or haue made so great a vow to performe it Looke but into one of their actes let the rest though many alone I meane their breach of wedlocke those Adultrous workes and then where is this loue how many forsake their Husbands vnto whom they haue made this vow of Loue and chastity and yet liue adulterously with other men oh how many The abhomominable whoredome of women haue their secret friends loues as they terme them at home in their Husbands absence or meeting them abroad in priuate places nay haunting common brothell houses so insatiate that euen whores in stewes are not more common and what is the cause of this but their disobedience vnto the Commandement of God which would direct theÌ„ to performe this duty of Loue holily as it ought to be if they would But shall I display their actions abroad with my pen oh no if I should I should weary my selfe with writing and you in reading it they themselues by their lewd actions dayly committed doe too much explaine themselues to the world and therefore to tell such their duty to their Husbands which will not learne to performe their duty towards GOD will bee but vaine before such swine I will not cast such pearles But to those which desire to know their duty to the end they may performe it to these I write still let their loue bee pure and steadfast and their whole conuersation so holy that as the Apostle telleth them others may bee wonne by their godly ensamples and so shall they themselues be brought vnto eternall happinesse The Ninth Chapter OVr blessed Apostle hauing giuen instructioÌ„s vnto Women how they ought to behaue themselues towards their Husbands now proceedes to giue instructions vnto them also how to tyre and array themselues whose apparrell sayth he shall 1. Pet. 3. not bee outward with brayded haire and hanging on of gold or in putting Women ought not to array themselues in gorgeous apparell but in decent aâ—tirâ— on of gorgeous array but let the inward man of the heart be vncorrupt with a meeke and quiet spirit which before God is much set by for after this manner in the old time did the holy women which trusted in God ttyre themselues â— were obedient vnto their Husbands euen as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord againe in another place he fayth let the women array themselues in 1. Tim. â— comely apparrell with shamefostnesse and modesty not with broyded hayre or gold or pearles or costly apparrell but as becommeth women which professe the feare of God with good workes I doe not a little admire that Many women haue read concerning these things yet make no good vse of it as they ought to doe so many women which would bee accounted wise in their knowledge haue themselues so often read these things and been so long instructed in these principals yet seeme either not that euer they themselues haue read such things or euer haue heard them of others for I am sure so it seemeth in these dayes amongst them for the most part but shal I tell you you haue learned from the greatest to the meanest and the eldest to the yongest to adore decke your selues according to the fashions of the world which shall perish and they which delight in them but to array decke your selues with modesty and shamefastnes and such comely apparrell as becommeth those that professe the feare of God in this you are all to seeke or disdaine to learne to know although God by his word commandeth it of you But if there bee any amongst you which maketh conscience of these things and so striue to liue according as they ought to Women giueÌ„ to pride mockers and scoffers of those whiaâ— do religiously reforme them selues doe are not such disdayned and
he cast thee vnder the power authority of them to obey and serue them in his stead and to that end hath giuen thee a speciall Commandement euen from his owne mouth that thou shalt Honous thy Father and thy Mother Exod 20. Leui. 19. which is not onely vnderstood in the outward ceremoniall actions as putting off the hatt or bowing the knee but thou must The duties which good children ought to performe vnto their Parents also loue them with all thy hart feare and dread them and waite on their Commandements and seeke their worship wil and profit in all things and as it were to giue euen thy life for the contenting of them counting them worthy of all honour which thou maist procure vnto them remembring that thou art their good and possession that thou owest vnto them euen thy owne selfe all that thou art able to doe yea and more then thou art able to doe Vnderstand also that whatsoeuer thou dost vnto them bee it A good note for children to regard good or euill thou dost it euen vnto God and when thou dost displease them thou displeasest God and when they are angry with thee in aÌ„y good cause God is angry with thee neither is it possible for thee to come into the fauour of God againe no though all the Angels of heauen should pray for thee vntill thou haue submitted thy selfe vnto thy Father and Mother againe and therefore thou must be very wary and circumspect to performe this thy obedience vnto thy father with the true zeale of thy hart thou must not onely bee obedient for feare of their displeasure correction or punishment neither must thou obey them for hope of reward or some benefit which thou doest expect from them this hypocritical obedience is not that which How farre the duty of children extendeth God commandeth thee to performe and to which hee hath gieuen a blessing no I tell thee God will iudge and punish thee if thou dost not performe this obedience vnto them euen with the sinceritie of their heart and in vprightnesse of conscience for he beholdeth the heart and according to the vprightnesse of it God doth iudge For he is that powerfull God that created the heauen and the earth of nothing and that of Gen. 1. the dust of the earth hath made thee onely to serue and obey him and hee it is that commandeth thee to this obedience that thou honour thy father and thy A principall note to be obserued in God thus placing this Comman dement mother and note how hee hath placed this Commandement for it is worthy thy obseruation God hauing giuen vnto man but Ten Commandements and but foure of them concerning the duty of man vnto him the other Sixe concerning the duty of man vnto man and yet as the most principall of them all hee hath put this formest of the Sixe Thou shalt honour thy Father and thy Mother and well knew hee that placed that formest in the rancke that that was the right place for it that he that would not obey reuerence and honour his owne Parents would likewise neglect and forget his duty vnto other men and therefore as an introduction instruction to that which followeth hee doth begin with this Honour thy father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee and see the great mercy of our God which to the performers of this his Commandement vnto which we are by duty double bound to performe he is pleased to giue a blessing And as hee commandeth it Luke 2. there so likewise in many other places he doth the like the Prophets and Apostles do likewise teach the same and therefore if you will be childreÌ„ of God your heauenly Father and liue vnder the obedience of his command without which you cannot but perish euerlastingly you must performe this his will and command in this that you honour obâ—y your Parents yea ye shall Leu. 19. euery man feare his Father and Mother saith God consider in what manner you ought to performe this you shall stand in awfull dread of your Parents not of the rod or of their correction onely as I said no no such servile feare but considering their deare and naturall loue towards thee how tenderly carefully louingly they haue nourished thee euen from thy birth still do seeke thy good by all meanes possible In respect of this their great loue vnto thee which thou Worthy notes for Children to regard didst neuer deserue nor neuer canst satisfie thou oughtest likewise in thy loue to them againe to be euen so iealous of thy selfe that thou shouldest feare least in any thing thou doest thou shouldest offend such louing Parents this is that feare which thou oughtest to performe vnto them and which God requireth of thee The 19. Chapter ANd seeing wee are now entred into this duty of Children which God by his diuine wisdome hath compiled in these few words Honour thy Father and thy Mother and yet in them hath included the whole summe of all duties which ought to be performed vnto them which though I haue begun to touch in the former Chapter yet for that I am to speake vnto Children it shall not be amisse if I doe somewhat inlarge this matter for as I sayd before it is not to be vnderstood to be onely in the putting off the cap or â—owing the knee and yet these things must bee done because by these outward thinges thou dost seeme to giue honour vnto them Thou must not as too many The reverence which children ought to performâ— vnto their Parents and how to honour them proud youthes do in these daies stand in the presence of thy father mother with thy heâ—d couered yea and that amongst strangers and talke vnto them as boldly saucily as it were vnto their fellowes or equales is this the honouring thy Father thy Mother nay this is to dishonour them for in their presence thou oughtest not to stand but with great reuerence if they bee in any company thy regard should bee more in performing of this duty in giuing vnto them the more honour and because thou canst not better performe thy honour vnto them then by obeying them nor greater dishonour them then by being disobedient vnto them though I haue touched it before where I sayd thou owest vnto them euen all thy whole endeauours whatsoeuer thou canst doe therefore thou must bee ready and willing at all times in all places to performe their lawfull commandements at their becke and word to run goe and to show all good obedience vnto them that may bee Thou must not bee like that Mat. 2â— disobedient sonne whom his father â—ad to goe worke in his vineyard and hee answered hee would but did not neither must thou answer as the other did who said hee would not yet afterward went For thou must
the deuill is in their Heauie iudgements are appoynted for wicked seruants hearts yet the holy name of God is abused in their profane lipps forgetting that the Lord himselfe hath sayd Hee will not hold Exo. 20. him guiltlesse that taketh his name Zacha. 5. in vaine but as hee hath already Luk. 12. sent out his dreadfull curse against the blasphemer so hee hath a iudgement to come of many stripes for such disobedient seruants And who is so blind that seeth not the exceeding intollerable vice of pride by which the deuill leadeth dayly so many of you vnto your owne destructions for haue it you will to maintaine this vice by hooke or by crooke the Masters estate shall pay for it else is not this a great fault too common amongst you spread euen into the meanest degree of Tradesmen of handicrafts which who or where are those The great abuse of the pride of servants which are not guilty of all degrees of you Oh that you did but see what mischiefes you daily fall into by your intollerable pride wherein you are growne to such a height that now yee disdayne the estate and habit of seruants in your array and to bee maintayned as you ought by the estate of your Maisters who now can know the Maister from the Seruant by his attyre it hath not been thus in times past neither ought now so to be by the lawes of the land but what speake I of the lawes of the Land to those which regard not the Lawes of God for which way you gett that which in pride and ryot you daily consume your consciences will best tell you yea and accuse you of one day except you repent But sure I am some rob cousin The pride of seruants by what meanes it is maintayned deceiue their maisters to procure it for if they can take ought of his that he seeth not or doth not presently misse then all is well as they thinke Saint Paule chargeth you not to bee pickers but for to mayntayne this your pride what will you not pick and steale Others there be which if they cannot get it thus they will get it in an other fashion for if their maister wil deale iustly or kindly with his friend and will make no gaine by him and put them in trust so to do they will haue Gehesaies Gehesie ought to be an example vnto all lying Seruants 1. King 5. tricke but they will haue somewhat of him they will lye but they wil haue it nay I would they did not lie with the tongue and steale with both hands to Such Gehesies doe little regard that he got Namans leprosie for his labor but tell them this they will answere their maister is no Elisha to work miracles therefore feare not oh my bretheren you little regard that the eies of the Lord are as neere vnto you when you do these things as the heart of Elisha was vnto his seruant Gehesie Is this to performe the duty of Christians nay to slaunder the doctrine of Christ and all good Christians is this the thing you doe when you should serue the Lord and not your selues nay the Diuell you serue and your selues here is no regard of seeking A note worthy to be regarded of Seruants the Lord with a single heart nor doing their seruice faithfully as vnto the Lord nor remembring that of the Lord they shal receiue the reward of their seruice be it good or bad But as he is mercifull so hee is Gods iudgements against wicked servants iust also hath pronounced this sentence against you that he will cut you off giue you your portion with the vnbeleeuers more might I speake of such euill seruants but I will rather smother such things in mine owne breast which of mine owne knowledge I know to bee true then explaine them in wrighting for I wish rather to suppresse such euils then to expresse them I haue beene somwhat sharpe in this my reproofe I do confes but mistake me not I pray you for I do not speake generally vnto all God forbid I should I hope better thinges of many of you for I doubt not but there are some Eliazers among you Gen. 5. that feare God doe faithfully serue both him your Maisters and do sanctifie all your labours xnto him by prayer that so both you and your labours may prosper some paynefull Iacobs likewise which with all your best indeauours performe your labours withoÌ„t grudging or murmuring some chast and faithfull Iosephâ—s whose Maisters sleepe secure finding themselues blessed thorough the providence of your wisedomes in the feare of God and I reioyce herein and blesse the Lord in his mercy towards you praying for the continuance of his blessings vpon you the increase of your multitude for there was one righteous Noah in the old world And one faithfull Abraham in Canaan and one righteous Lot euen in Sodome and Seauen Thousand in Israell in the dayes of Eliah that neuer had bowed a knee vnto Ball and I hope there bee some amongst Seruants that doe dayly striue euen in these our dayes to performe this their duty of obedience vnto their Maisters to the full with a single and an vpright heart as to the Lord onely And thus I haue briefely runne ouer this duty of Seruants and by the helpe of these our blessed Apostles haue shewed vnto you what duty our blessed Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ commandeth you to performe vnto your bodily Maisters And I haue seâ— before you likewise some of the abuses oâ— these our times wherein so many are carried away by their owne selfewils vnto their owne destructions I doe now beseech you bretheren in thee Lord Iesus that you become more warie and wise in your conuersations hauing more regard vnto the command of our blessed Sauiour in performing this taske imposed vppon you of your obedience vnto your Maisters in seeking to know their wills and so with all diligence to doe it that so you may not onely avoyd those dangers of many stripes but also enioy the benefit which hee hath pruided for all those that with all their best endeauours doe labour to performe this their duty which shall not by any other but euen by him selfe be performed vnto you saying well done good and faithfull seruant thou hast beene faithfull in few things bee thou Mat. 2â— ruler ouer much enter into thy Masters ioy which ioy so farre excelleth all earthly things that no tongue of man can vtter them nor the heart of man conceiue them therefore happie and blessed are all those that shall enioy them euen so Amen FINIS Morning and Euening Prayer to be daily vsed in priuate Families Morning Prayer O Almighty and our most mercifull louing God Father in Iesus Christ wee thy most vnworthy seruants through thy mercy presuming to prostrate our selues here before the face of thy diuine Maiesty doe most humbly
Gen. 31. haue all good women euer accorded The obedience of Sarah vnto Abraham calling him 1. King 1. Lord approueth her duty The obedience of Rachell and Lea vnto Ester 8. their Husband Iacob affirmeth it no lesse doth the reuerent duty of Bathsheba vnto Dauid expresse it the obedience of Ester vnto Ashuerus purchased not onely her owne life renowne but the liues of the whole Nation of the Iewes And although it cannot be gaine said of any but that this Cōmandement of Almighty God ought reuerently to be obeyed of all women yet how much it is disobeyed in these dayes wee dayly see nay despised disdayned at so that we may iustly complaine against them and say they bee a rebellious seede For as in the beginning they rebelled against their Almighty God so doe they still repugne against him refusing to bee gouerned according to his will the ordinance which he hath appoynted to gouerne them by for by their husbands now many of them will not bee gouerned they will gouerne both themselues Many women very vnquiet if they may not haue the rule of the whole family which by them ought not so to be and their Husbands yea and the whole family too or else there shall bee no quiet rule there so that now it is growne to a prouerbe that where the wife beareth the sway the house is the quieter all the day is not this badge giuen you to your shame and yet you will not see it in these dayes the Diuell hath so bewitched you that many of you do not stick to say that your Husbands haue not wit enough to performe such matters think you that he that gaue them their authority cannot giue them wit enough to peforme that charge which hee committeth vnto them but that you must bee vmpire and iudge too in your owne cause to take the authority out of his hand and as false vsurpers make vse of that authority to which you haue no lawfull right If you suppose such a defect If any defect be in the Husband how it should bee redressed to be in them why doe not you rather pray for them that God may supply their defects and wants but it is too common a thing amongst you now a dayes to make your choyse of such men as you may thus deale withall and I would some of you did indent before marriage for these things but such womē as would rather haue foolish Husbands whome they might rule rather then to bee ruled by sober wise men are like to him that would rather bee led of a blind man in an vnknown way then to follow one that can see know the way well Oh that your supposed knowledge or wisedome on which you so much depend would open vnto you the danger in which you stand by committing this error but it cannot so long as your wils do not with all obedience subiect themselues vnto the will commandement of him vnto whom all power should yeeld their obedience The Seauenth Chapter I Had almost ouerslipt the repetition of an vndutifull Wife of whom we reade in Scripture but I may not for it is worthy your best consideration I meane of Vasta Queene and wife of Ahashuerosh Ester 1. the great King of Persia Media whom vpon a certaine feast day the King commanded to bee brought before him in her great estate of pompe euen with the Crowne Royall vpon her head that as his loue was great vnto her so shee beeing brought vnto him in that glorious pompe which hee desired the delights of his heart might be satisfied in her comely and beautifull person and likewise his Princes Peeres might see the same And wee would thinke that this was but a small request which the King required of her yet many a man doth require as little as this at the hands of his wife or lesse and yet obtaines it not well the storie telleth vs shee did no better but euen so for though shee were a Queene and should haue been a patterne of obedience vnto all women both in her Court Kingdome yet shee refused to come and would not come although commanded by her Husband yea that a King But Ecce Ecce behold behold she refusing to come to her Husband with the Crowne on her head who gaue it her and first placed it there her royalty and regaltie was therefore taken from her by him as vnworthy of such a glory and because she refused to bee obedient vnto the Commandement of her Husband whom shee ought with all reuerence to haue obeyed shee was not onely reiected of her Husband for being Queene but A Queene punished for disobedience vnto her Husband vtterly abandoned of him for euer and diuorced from him by law nay this was not all for it was not long before shee saw another enioy that maiesty honour and pleasure which she but lately possessed by her owne folly lost what greater hart-griefe in the world can come to a woman then this to see her selfe degraded and disgraced another to possesse that honour which was hers before her face and thus shee which should haue beene a mirror vnto others in her obedience is now made for disobedience a mirror vnto all women in her punishment I could not omit this historie being so fitting to this matter of the wiues obedience but shall I tell you good wiues it is well for you that this law is not executed now in these dayes amongst vs for I assure you if it were we should haue Ten wiues diuorsed before one buried so apt are you to peforme this bad act of disobedience And therefore I cannot yet passe it ouer for the Apostle doth open this poynt of duty vnto you very plaine and therfore I beseech you bee not ignorant of it but marke it well I recited the words in the former Chapter Hee would haue you so subiect your selues to your Husbands that euen they which beleeue not the word may without the word be won by your conuersation when they shall behold your conuersation in feare See you must so subiect your The Wife ought to be fearefull of giuing any cause of offence vnto her Husband selues vnto them that you shall euen feare to giue any occasion of offence vnto them I know there bee many that will not like of this that the wife should so subiect her selfe vnto her Husband that shee shal stand in feare of him and yet it must be so for do we not reade that God commandeth that euery man shall stand in feare of his Father and Mother he doth not say that euery child onely shall feare but that euery man shal feare if then it must bee so how much more should the woman performe this vnto her Husband vnder whose subiection he hath committed her as a portion of her punishment for her disobedience vnto him But will you know what kind What kinde of feare it is which
children vnto their Parents her virginity yet at the prefixed time shee willingly came and offered her selfe vnto the hands of her father to performe his vow with her Solomon also when his mother came to speake with him so 1. King 2. soone as he saw her hee left his kingly seat and caine to meete her and reuerently bowed himselfe vnto her and caused her to bee placed on his right hand as he sate on the throne of his kingdome many such examples there bee besides these as Tâ—bâ—â— and others all teaching this duty Tob. 14. vnto children And as God hath commanded it thus to be done see how highly hee liketh of those which doe performe it the stone of the 〈…〉 bites doth plainely Ier. 35. shew where the Prophet Ieremiah from the mouth of God himselfe pronounceth these wore's vnto them T 〈…〉 Lord of hoasts the God of 〈…〉 cause you obeyed the 〈…〉 of Ionadaâ— your Father 〈…〉 How God blesseth those childreÌ„ which obey their Parents kept all his preâ—â—pts 〈…〉 〈…〉 ding vnto all that hee hath commanded you therefore thus sayth the Lord of heastâ— the God of Israel Ionadab the son of Rechaâ— shall not want a man to stand before mâ—â— for euer what neede I now â—o cite more places of Scripture to this end our Sauiour Christ himselfe Luk. 2. became a patterne vnto you in this poynt for hee became obedient vnto his earthly Parents If these things will not suffice then wil noâ—e The 21. Chapter BVt I must ye proceede a little further in this poynâ— of obedience fâ—â— there bee many which when they are come to some yeares as they thinke of discretion that then will bee no longer vnder the obedience of their Parents but to dispose of themselues at their owne pleasure nay I would to Goâ— that some of them did not thâ—â— oppose themselues against their Parents well they finde thâ— word of God doth teach them otherwise for thou must not then so dispose of thy selfe canst thou bee content to giue them leaue to nourish cherish and to maintayne thee both in sicknesse and health all the time of thy youth and wilt thou now â—e like a wilde and vnruly colt that casts off his bridle and shewes his master his foure shooes If thou didst want the vse of thy limbes or thy sight or the vse of thy speech thou cast then bee content to bee gouerned by them euen vntill thy olde age or dying day and wilt thou enioying these and all other blessings from Almighty God euen to the full when thou comest to those yeares wherein thy wisedome Children should take regard of the experimented wise counsailes of their aged Parents should shew it selfe like a flourishing oliue tree yeelding obedience and honour vnto thy Parents thereby comforting ioying their aged yeares then theâ— I say to cast them off yea that good also which might come to thee by that wise prudeÌ„t counsaile which they by long experience haue gained might to thee sure proue an anchor hold of exceeding much good And this I speake also in reproofe Children ought to be ruled by their Parents in case of their marriage yea to the reproach of those giddy headded wantons of our time which will not giue their Parents leaue to make their choyse of marriage for them nor bee ruled by them in their choyse whereupon as a iust plague vnto them it often commeth to passe that not hauing their Parents goodwill in their choyse they not onely lose that which is an vnualuable losse I meane the blessing of their Parents which though children regard not in these dayes yet in times past it was of such reuerent regard among Gods children that their fathers blessing was vnto them as precious as their What an account good children made in times past of the blessing of their Parents granfathers inheritance whereby thorough want of the fathers loue this blessing a iust plague and punishment from God for so high an offence it is commonly seene beggery followeth I speake not this vnadvisedly as of supposition for God is witnesse with me that I speake the truth I haue seene it with mine eyes to my griefe of heart Oh sinne of disobedience euen in the highest degree of nature when a sonne or daughter shall presume in priuate to take vnto themselues the estate of mariage without the consent of Parents ought not the father to know yea and to make choyse what flesh should be ioyned vnto his owne and what fruit should be grafted into his owne stocke and to see that it should bee for the good and honor thereof yes surely and those which be good and gracious Children will giue their Parents the preheminence thereof and also bee ruled by them in these things but there be some which can bee content to bee ruled by their Parents in case of marriage for the benefit of their helpe which may arise thereby but they are not willing to stay the time which their Parents shall thinke fit for them But this did not Isacke for hee Gen. 25. would not presume to make any Good childreÌ„ haue alwaies had regard to leaue the choyse of their marriage to thire Parents choyse but stayd his Fathers pleasure although it were till he was Forty yeares of age And Iacob wheÌ„ his father did appoint him then went to the place where he did appoynt him but not before where are those that doe follow the steps of these holy and chosen children of God that I many extoll them to the world alas they are not in these dayes to be found And yet the very heathen which knew not God nor his lawes yet the very light of nature taught this duty vnto them not to make their choyse of mariage Gen. 34. without the coÌ„sent of their Parents for thus did Shechem the sonne of Hamore sue vnto his Father for his good will to marry with Dinah the daughter of Iacob the servants of God had alwaies a speciall regard hereunto Samspon also would not presume Iudg. 14. to marry without the consent of his father no although he liked the woman exceeding well And as the naturall Parents haue this authority ouer their Children so doth it likewise belong vnto those which be gardians foster fathers as wee terme them which haue the bringing vp of youth whether they be of kindred or otherwise as wee see Ruth was obedient vnto her step Rut. 1. mother and vpon these and such like causes is our law grounded which permits not a ward being vnder the gouernement of his gardian to marry without his consent The 22. Chapter ANd as I haue labored to expresse this duty of obedience vnto children and yet but briefely run it ouer in respect of that which might bee spoken herein so it is needefull in some sort to shew the limitation thereof for it is not generall but is included within her bounds I did a little
so they be for the Diuills wares it is no maruaile if your Children spend that vnthrifitily which is so vngodly gotten But as you see it is a choyse It is not enough to chuse a good seruant but to preserue him still in goodnesse poynt of the Maister to bee carefull what seruant he taketh into his family so the Maister must be carefull likewise to bring vp his seruants religiously in the time of their seruice that must bee in seeing that his seruants come to the publique exercises of hearing the word of God in due time that they there remaine all the whole time of prayer and teaching and that they bee in as conuenient place as they may that so they may haue the ouersight of them for it is not enough that the Master bring his seruants vnto the Church and then let them giue them the slip at the Church dore or goe o◠as soone as they come in and s◠〈…〉 to Tauernes or Ale-houses or as bad places or else get into some corner of the Church where either they may sit and talke all the time or else sleepe it out This the good Maister may What good counsaile of a Maister giuen in due time may doe prevent by giuing them counsaile that if they will serue him they must bee carefull to serue God aboue all things and be religious in Gods house if they will haue any countenāce of him in his house but many men are more carefull in planting of Orchards or Gardens or chusing of sheepe for breede or following their worldly profits then they are in planting a godly family in their houses whereby God may be glorified his Church profited Or if they haue seruants vnder them to doe their worke and labor for them that so they may liue at the more ease pleasure idlenesse themselues then all is well as they thinke or turne it otherwise if you please and make the best of it by the way of good husbandry as a meane for them to thriue by and yet you shall find the end thereof to bee onely this to satisfie their neuer satisfied coueteousnesse Men do regard their beastes as much as this their oxe their asse their horse and such like yea will bee very carefull for the keeping of them to the end their profit may arise by them the wise traueller wil be so carefull for his horse which but onely for his pleasure he is to ride on that hee will spare time euen from his owne meate and rest to see that his beast shall both be made cleane lye cleane and haue his fill of prouender to the end hee may bee the better able to beare him on his iourney the husband man likewise in the care of his cattle is very laborious for his profit protecting them from weather water and such like dangers and is continually amongst them shifting them frō ground to ground frō pastuer to pasture to the end they may the better feede profit that Many leawd Maisters doe make lesse account of their seruants then others doe of their beasts if any disease do befall them he may the sooner remoue it from amongst them in these things men are wise carefull enough as is fitting but my deare bretheren there bee many amongst vs which beare the name of Christians and haue the gouerment of seruants which to their shame I speak it do make lesse account of their seruants thē these men do of their beastes for they will looke to their beasts themselues carefully enough so doe no◠many a one to their seruants but God forbid it should bee so withal yea I know there be many that are very carefull to performe this their duty as well in prouiding and giuing them all things needefull for them as in setting them to their worke and labour and I doubt not but that the fruit therof they find in their seuerall callings But I speak of those who can be content do carefully enough set their seruants vnto their labors as it is fit indeed they should but doe giue them small comfort and cherishing in their labours loading them with labours like Pharoahs taske masters Exo. 5. The cruelty of bad masters but not halfe filling their bellies with victualles as the traueller I spake of doth his horse so that many times the poore seruant hauing labored all day and had but a small dinner yet at night commeth to so short commons that when hee hath saued the mayde a labour in making cleane the dishes which were set before him hee hath yet a fresh stomacke to a good supper if he might come at it is not this a hard case yet I would it were not true And I will tell you the cause of this your selues are in the The negligent care of the maister bringeth the seuruants want fault of it you are carefull enough to looke to haue your owne due as it is fit you should but not careful enough in giuing them their due for too many of you doe put that off to be performed by a false steward and so many a poore seruant is punished both in belly and backe to helpe to maintayne the pride pleasure of his Dame or Mistris You put them in trust with these things to see them fed sweet kept wholsomely lodged thinke you that these thinges do not belong vnto you to see them done as well as vnto your wiues yes surely they do yet I say in them to do them is more fitting but to you it belongeth to see them faithfully done as they The duty of the Master bindeth him to see that the want of his seruant be by himselfe supplyed ought to bee for how canst thou looke that thy servant shal labor faithfully with the strength of his body for thee or to say the truth how can he do it when his body is enfeebled by meanes of due nourishing with hole sō food or things vsefull for him which should nourish strengthē him this is too common a thing amōgst vs it is a great reproach vnto this our English nation yet this is not all neither For there be some which can be content to maintayne their seruants reasonable well for their profits sake which may arise by their labours while they are able to do any for thē but if God doe send his visitation vpon them either A great fault in many Masters by sicknes or lamenes then if they haue not an out garden house or som backe place to put them into where they shall bee sure to haue but a slender looking to thē to an Hospital with them and so rid thēselues of them or else basely nay gracelesly turne them out of doores to shift for themselues in that heauie case what an vncharitable yea an vnchristian-like part is this yet such there be the more the pitty But if it bee not lawfull to muzell the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth
himselfe hee hath this high exaltation that he was the Phaenix of the world in his time he had no fellow there be others likewise which will set their seruants to labour but not regard whether they do it or no but if they do bring them home the price of their dayes labour at night then they are content they looke no farther to that busines and so the lewd seruant may doe euen what hee will vnder such a Maister he may goe to playes to whores to drunkenesse or any thing as too many doe The Maister not regarding how his seruant vseth his time becommeth guilty of the euil which his seruant abuseth Is this the setting of your seruants to labour nay this is but your seruing own turnes your couetousnesse and therefore you are guilty of the euill which they doe thus commit because you preuent it not by seeing how they dispose of themselues in this time wherein you appoynt them to labour and if that your calling serue not to imploy them in some bodily labour yet you ought to bee carefull that they haue not more time to spend abroad out of your sight theÌ„ that time onely which your businesse requireth for these things also belong vnto your charge For if that Maisters were as The euill of the Master corrupteth the Seruants carefull as they ought to bee seruants could not haue that liberty to vse and to abuse as they doe but where the Maister himselfe is an euill liuer as a drunkard a haunter of brothell houses a gamester or an idle gadder from home there the seruant must needs haue liberty and no maruaile then if such a maister haue such seruants and doe wee not see dayly that too many doe wrong themselues their whole family by these abuses how vnfit are these men to gouerne others which haue no power to gouerne themselues Oh you whom these things concerne be wise and circumspect in your waies and remember that the charge of the seruants which are committed vnto you is not smal but that a great account you must giue vnto God how you haue gouerned those soules committed vnto you The 27. Chapter ANd as the Maister ought not to giue his seruant more liberty then is fit so also he may not suffer them to bee possessed with Seruants puffed vp in pride seeke liberty and abuse both themselues and it pride by arraying them or suffering them to be arrayed aboue the estate of seruants for this is one chiefe poynt which maketh them to seeke liberty and this did Salomon well vnderstand therefore telleth you plainely that he that dilicately doth bring vp his seruant from his youth at length he will be euen as his son our owne experience in these dayes confirmeth the truth of this vnto vs to the griefe of many good minds whose eyes and eares are dayly cloyd herewith and who is in the fault of this thy seruant nay you that be Maisters are you suffer maintayne them in such pride that many forgetting their duty vnto God and you doe fall into such lewdnesse as many times are both the ruine of your owne estate and of themselues too and were they not suffered thus to exceed the nature of seruants as I sayd before in pride and idlenesse there would not so many of them haunt the dauncing schooles fencing schooles tauernes and alehouses as do can you excuse your selues now are you not guilty herein oh I would you were not Indeed there be many of you that if that which they spend in pride and these abuses did come out of your owne purses I doe Maister ought to see the laying out of mony giuen to their seruants that it be put to good vseâ— thinke that it would bee otherwise will you say they haue it from their friends I say still the more vnwise then are you which do suffer it to be thus idely spent but some of you do know that it coÌ„meth in another nature from whence it should not come and this you tollerate to saue your owne stakes are you guilty herein then or no Againe there be some which can bee content to set their seruants Maisters ought not to suffer their seruants â—o gad on the Sabborh day at their owne pleasure to labour all the weeke dayes but when the Sabboth crmmeth which ought by Masters and Seruants to bee wholy sanctified vnto God with thankesgiuing for the benefit of his blessings receiued the weeke past many of them scarce see their seruants al that whole day or if they doe see them at meate time then all the rest of the day they enioy wholy to themselues without contradiction which how leawdly they spend wee see with griefe their pride is cause of this as well as liberty The time hath beene that a Seruant might haue been known by his habite but now the Maister is not knowne from the Seruant nay I haue seene the Seruant better maintayned in the time of his seruice then he hath beene able to maintayne himselfe when he hath come to labor for it with his own meanes what folly is this in Maisters thus to do in time not long past a good Marchant hath not been arrayed as now your Seruants be I could vnfould more abuses growing from this pride in Seruants and the Maisters fault in suffering then I am willing â—o disclose or is fit I should lay no colours on it to hide it they will not serue I doe know you would excuse it and say you doe it for A bad fault in Maisters when they will seeke to excuse the pride of their seruants your credit sake but in this you offend God and discredit the common wealth by making a breach in those good lawes which haue beene ordayned against such abuses I pray God to giue you grace to see these things wisedome to redresse it but it hath spread so farre that I feare it hath taken such deepe roote as will not easily bee weeded out except authority do put their vnto a strong hand The duty of Seruants The 28. Chapter OVr blessed Lord and Master Iesus Christ which left no est arâ— of persons without instructions fitting vnto their seuerall callings hath very briefely and yet most truly playnely prescribed vnto Seruants the fulnesse of their duty also but in few words hee concludeth the whole businesse hee doth not giue theÌ„ many seuerall instructions least so they might forget some of them by the way and therefore includes all in one short sentence and this it is Hee that knoweth the will of his Maister and doth it not shall bee beaten with many stripes Now you see here that there is Seruants of what degree soeuer and bound with a more seuerer bond then man can invent to performe their duty vnto their Maisters no seruant of what degree soeuer he be if he be a Seruant but that hee is bound by a more sure obligation then the witt of man can inuent euen the
holy commandement of that blessed one whose command by all must bee obeyed vpon payne of damnation euen hee it is that giueth this admonition vnto thee to doe the will of thy Maister No oâ— liting nor quit â—cating wil serue our Sauiour himselfe hath giuen seruants so plaine a direction of their duty that none may or can gaine say it or else he telleth thee plainly what penalty will ensue vpon it thou must be beaten with many stripes for not doing of it nay hee doth not leaue thee thus neither with this admonition only he goeth a little further yet for to stoppe all quillets which may arise and put all doubts out of question for he knew that there were and would bee many that would be more curious to contend about what they ought to doe then willing to doe that they should doe and therefore telleth thee That the seruant that doth not the will of his Maister yea although hee know not the will of his Maister yet euen he shall bee beaten too Now seeing that the case standeth thus that this burthen lieth vpon the shoulders of euery particuler Seruant in the name of God bestirre your selues like men stand to your tackling rouse vp your selues seeke labour and striue coÌ„tinually to performe this worke of obedience vnto your Maisters that so you may avoyd this danger of many stripes and it shall not be amisse for this our purpose if we a little peruse the word of God to see what wee finde there more concerning this matter that so as in a glasse the seruants of these our times may see and seeing know whether they peforme the same or not And wee shall finde that Saint Paule knowing the errors of Seruants how slacke they are in performing their duties vnro their Maisters and how needefull it was that they should bee instructed herein hath very carefully in many of his Epistles largely set forth this duty of seruants both what inward and outward obedience is to bee required of them That it must bee euen with Ephe. 5. feare and trembling for so hee sayth And so Saint Peeter hee 1. Pet. 2. teacheth the same also saying Be yee subiect vnto your Maisters with all feare And againe Let as many Timo. 6. seruants as be vnder the yoke count their Maisters worthy of all honour that the name of God his doctrine be not euill spoken of and they which haue beleeuing Masters despise them not for they are bretheren but rathey doe them seruice because they are faithfull and beloued and pertakers of the benefit Againe Seruants bee obedient Seruants must not be men pleasers but that they doe must 〈◊〉 singlenâ— of heart Colio â— vnto them that are your bodily Maisters according to the flesh in all things not with eye seruice as men pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God and what soeuer you do doe hartyly as vnto the Lord and not vnto men and bee sure that yee shall receiue of the Lord the reward of inheritance for you serue the Lord Christ Againe you Seruants bee obedient vnto your maisters and please them in all things not answering Seruants must not answer againe vnto their Mastris theÌ„ againe neither be ye pickers but shew all good faithfulnesse that in all things yee may doe worship vnto the doctrine of God our Sauiour Againe ye seruants be obedient The frowardnesse of the maister should no way be a hindrance vnto the performing of the seruants duty to your Maisters with all feare not onely if they bee good and curteous but also if they be froward for this is thankes worthy if a man for conceience sake to wards God indure griefe wrongfully for what prayse is it if when yee bee buffeted for your 1. Pet. 2. faults yee take it patiently but if when you do wel you suffer wrong take it patiently this is acceptable It is 〈…〉 godameâ—cy or a seruant to bee patient when he is buffeted iustly but if it be done wroÌ„g fully then to beare it with patience is of high commendations vnto God for herevnto are you called For Christ also suffered for vs leauing for vs an exaÌ„ple that we should follow his steps who did not sin neither was there guile found in his mouth who when hee was reuiled reuiled not againe when hee suffered hee threatned not but committed it to him which iudgeth righteously Saint Paule by these things did teach this Doctrine vnto Christian seruants thus to doe vnder their Maisters though infidels and vnbeleeuers because of their places for indeed the Maister is Gods vicegerent in his family therefore if Christians vnto infidels must performe this obedience as we see it is coÌ„manded by our blessed Sauiour for his words haue no limitatioÌ„ but are generall all must obey all must be obeyed How much more in these dayes of grace and knowledge should seruants professing themselues to be Christians striue to performe their duties euen to the full vnto their Christian masters whom God hath chosen called in his sonne Iesus Christ to bee partakers of his heauenly treasures as well as themselues Therefore my bretheren I beseech you in the feare of God What inward obedience is required of seruants that you 〈…〉 carefull in the obseruing of this which here from the word of God you may gather namely to bee obedient vnto your Maisters euen inwardly in your heart in feare and trembling for if your spirits within you bee not truly humbled how then can you performe that obedience outwardly which is of you required let the Seruants count their Maisters worthy of all honour there must be a reuerent estimation of them euen in your hearts before you can giue them this honour duly and truly as it ought for without this harty loue and inward affection towards them your outward obedience will bee but false and hypocriticall Seruants must seare to offend their Maisters and why and all this your zelous duty must be mingled with feare for so Saint Paule teacheth because you are to performe this duty seruice as vnto God and not vnto men being thus prepared then you shall bee able to performe all good outward obedience which shall bee required of you And this obedience must bee performed without partiality as 〈…〉 ll to the poore man as to the 〈…〉 h for it is no thankes vnto you 〈◊〉 â—erforme this obedience vnto 〈◊〉 Maisters they being great 〈◊〉 or rich men their wealth places and authority requireth be performed as well to the poore as to the rich it they will command it of you and you dare doe no other but yeeld it them but if your Maisters bee poore and as men despised of the world then they to bee precious in your eyes and you in the zeale of your conscience and duty vnto God to giue vnto them that duty which you ought to doe both inwardly from the heart performing all The true token of a
dutifull seruant faithfulnesse vnto them and giuing them the reuerence due vnto them being vncouered in their presence and shewing all outward reuerence of the body vnto them This is a token of grace thus it ought to be and thus it must bee that the doctrine of Christ which you professe bee not slaundered by your disobedience The 29. Chapter ANd here I haue occasion iustly giuen mee to reproue those bould fancie youthes of our time which forgetting their dâ—ty vnto God doe shew no reuerence at all vnto their Maisters and especiall if they bee poore they then will bee so fellowly with them that a man would rather take them to bee neighbour and neighbour then Maister and Th◠〈…〉 reuerent behauiour of seruants vnto their maisters Seruant nay I would this were the worst as bad as it is for many of them are not onely vndutifull but euen rebellious against their Maisters nay euen against God himself therefore culpable of eternall punishment for if their Maister doe but reproue them yea and that iustly too doe they not giue them word for word againe nay 10. for one A disobedient seruant that despiseth the discipline of his maister rebelleth against God himselfe if they come to correct them are they not ready to resist them so that many of them will neither bee reproued nor corrected by them Is not this rebellion against God thus to contemne his ordinance in him whom hee hath set ouer thee to feede thee cloath thee learne thee yea to rule thee is it not our Sauiours owne words here that he must be beaten with many strips which doth not the will of his Maister if so what shall hee haue then which scorneth to bee instructed and despiseth the discipline of his master surely his puishment must needs be very great Well my friends iudge whether it be better to follow your own mindes herein or the counsaile of Saint Paule hee telleth you plainely it must bee otherwise such disobedient courses Seruants must be obedient vnto their Maisters in all things must not so much as once bee thought of amongst you but you must bee obedient vnto them euen in all things and so shall you performe the commandement of our Sauiour Christ And yet there bee some of so stubborne and rebellious a nature that if their Master do proffer them a blow nay scarce that too yet they will straight leaue his seruice and as without leaue so without care or feare of Gods Seruants must not flye from their Maisters for any vnkind vsage lawes or mans cast off the yoake of their obedience although it bee to the very vndoing both of their Master and themselues but how great an offence this is the story of Hagar doth plainely Gen. 16. shew who though her Mistris vnkind and rough dealing with her was the cause why shee fled from her yet the Lord so disliked of it that he commanded her not onely to returne vnto her againe but also to humble her A speciall poynt for seruants to take notise of selfe vnto her hereby shewing how great an offence shee had committed in which such humiliation must be vsed for reconcilement you wild headed youthes of our time consider this But it may bee some of you will be iudge of your owne cause and say it cannot bee that shee was so hardly dealt withall as I am for I neither can get those things which of right I ought to haue and yet am opprest with labour and can neither get kind word or good looke of my Maister or Mistris but say or doe what I can they are still brawling chiding and vncontented Dost thou thinke that the fault in thy Maister is the cause why thou dost not giue him content to please him nay nay assure thy selfe that it is rather the corruption of thine owne heart that keepeth thee from performing thy duty with more obedience diligence that so thou mightest please him or is it because thou takest not that course which Abrahams seruant did who when his Maister sent him about his Gen. â— businesse hee made his humble prayers vnto the Lord that hee would prosper the things hee went about this was the way he Seruants must pray vnto the Lord to send prosperity to their labours went about his businesse See here my friends the duty of a seruant what hee ought to doe and how he assuredly may please his Master or Mistris hee must begin his labours in the Lord by sanctifying them vnto him by prayers hee must continue them in the Lord as doing them vnto the Lord and not vnto men and so he shall be sure both to please the Lord and his Maister be he what hee will but Seruants notwithstanding the vnkind or vniust dealings of Maisters vnto theÌ„ yet ought with patience to beare it performiâ—g still all faâ—â—hfulnesse vnto them and of God shall receiue their reward so doing if thy Master be kind and louing and supply vnto thee all good necessary thinges needefull for thee it is no thankes vnto thee to bee obedient and dutifull vnto such a Maister for he hath deserued it of thee but if hee bee as thou sayest vnkind vnto thee either in keeping backe such things as of right thou oughtest to haue or otherwise froward or churlish vnto thee or if hee correct thee vniustly in these cases if thou with patience dost beare it and notwithstanding dost performe thy duty vnto him with all good faithfulnesse then bee thou sure that the Lord will recompence this his vnkindnesse with kindnesse againe vnto thee from him selfe for so both the Apostles doe confesse as I haue shewed before but will you haue further proofe yet for this poynt will you see how God hath dealt with others in former times reade then the Historie of Iacob and it will satisfie you herein and shew you a worthy example The 30. Chapter WHo could haue serued a worse Maister then Iacob did of his owne Vncle Laban seeking Gen. 31. so many waies to defraud him of his due as he did not once nor twice but tenne times or many What a carefull seruant Iacob was though hee had a bad master and how the Lord rewarded him times so that as he confesseth if the God of his fathers had not beheld his labours hee had euen sent him away empty notwithstanding his paynefull labours spent 20. yeares together in his seruice by day being consumed with heate and in the night with frosts so carefull ouer his businesse that hee would not suffer his eyes to take their rest in the night season yet all this time of his meÌ„y wrongs he bare with patience and neuer neglected any part of his duty the more for it and how God rewarded this his painefull seruice the story plainly sheweth to the great comfort of all good seruants what wonderfull blessings hee bestowed vpon him both deliuering him from his vnkind Maister cruell Brother and giuing
beseech thee for his sake to accept this our bounden duty and humbled hearts which as a Morning sacrifice with all humblenesse wee heere present vnto thee yeelding prayse thankes vnto thy sacred Maiesty for all those manifold blessings which in thy mercy thou hast dayly thus plenteously powred vpon vs thy most vnworthy servants amongst the rest we forget not that bodily health peace prosperity which thou in thy mercy dost still continue vnto us with that quiet and comfortable rest which wee haue enioyed this night past that thou hast now brought vs to the beginning of this day in safety These and all other things whatsoeuer we doe praise thy most glorious name for and now still doe most humbly beg of thee that thou wilt be pleased to receiue vs this day and all the daies of our liues vnder thy powerfull protection Oh defend and keep vs from euil guide vs with thy grace sanctifie vs with thy spirit graunt that in all things yea and aboue all things that our whole care and endeavours may be zealously to walke before thee in holy obedience vnto thy heauenly will holy commandements blesse vs we humbly beseech thee in the labors of our hands graÌ„t that we take nothing in hand vnaduisedly but what shall be agreeable vnto thy most holy will thou that knowest what is needfull for vs better then we our selues do vouchsafe wee pray thee to giue vnto vs the good things which wee haue neede of whether it bee for our soules or bodies euen for thy deere and onely Sons sake Iesus Christ blessed for euer we doe most humbly begge them in of thee that forme of prayer which he himselfe haught vs saying Our Father c. Euening Praier O Blessed God which gauest the people of Israel in charge euery day to offer vnto thee a morning euening sacrifice that there by thou mightest be glorified and praised for their dayly protection and preseruation wee most vnworthie wretches presuming through this thy mercy to prostrate our selues heere before thy divine maiesty to offer vnto thee this our bounden duty do most humbly beseech thee for thy blessed Sonnes sake Iesus Christ blessed for euer that by the powerfull assistance of thy holy spirit thou wilt sanctifie our harts vnto the performance heereof for we confesse in respect of our manifold sins wee are farre vnworthy to present our selues before thy glorious maiesty much more that thou shouldest regard vs or accept any thing which we do but wee most humbly beseech thee enter not into iudgment with thy seruants for who then shall stand before thee our very righteousnesse is like vnto a filthy cloath the thoughts of our hearts are dayly and hourely corrupt before thee who can tell how often hee offendeth we haue beene alwaies rebellious Children against thee disobeying thy commandements contemning thy iudgements and abusing thy merits and it is thy great mercy that hath stayed thee that thou hast not vtterly consumed vs long since euen in the midst of our sinnes when they were vnregarded of vs or we vnrepented of them but since thou hast beene pleased to infuse now againe into vs thy grace to see our sins let this thy grace worke in vs we beseech thee a true and vnfained repentance of them pardon oh pardon all our sins O Lord we humbly beseech thee for thy blessed Sonnes sake Iesus Christ we most humbly beseech thee to pardon all our offences which eieither either this day or any other day or time from our births to this houre wee haue committed whether in thought word or deed whersoeuer whensoeuer howsoeuer or against whomsoeuer committed let that innocent most precious bloud which thy blessed Sonne hath shed to wash a way the sins of thy seruants wash and purge vs from all our sinnes and seeing that from vs of our selues no good thing can proceed we humbly beseech thee to create in vs new hearts and by the powerfull working of thy holy spirit sanctifie both our hearts and soules vnto thee that we may heerafter striue to performe a more holy and zealous obedience vnto thy heauenly will and holy commandements then euer hitherto we haue done for our blessed Sauiours sake we beseech thee to graunt these and all other good thinges vnto vs which may dayly further vs in the workes of our saluation and heere as wee are by duty bound we render vnto thee humble and most heartie thankes for all those great and manifold blessings which in thy great mercy thou doest dayly thus plenteously power vpon vs most vnworthy wretches and amongst the rest wee forget not that bodily health peace and prosperity which we doe still enioy with the blessings which wee haue this day receiued These and all other thinges whatsoeuer wee doe praise thy most glorious name for and doe most humbly begge of thee to continue thy mercies and blessings still vnto vs in all the good thinges that we haue need of and amongst the rest we beseech thee to receiue vs vnder thy powerfull protection this night that so wee may rest in peace and sleepe in safety for wee know there is no safety but in thee with thee in vaine are our houses any protection vnto vs or our beds any place of rest for our weak bodies if thy blessing bee not with vs. Oh suffer not Sathan to trouble vs in our sleepes nor any danger to annoy vs but wee beseech thee let thy holy Angels watch ouer vs while we take rest that so when wee shall wake againe wee may render due prayse vnto thee vnto whome all prayse belongeth neyther doe wee beg these thinges for our selues here alone but for thy whole Church wheresoeuer dispersed More particularly we pray thee be gracious vnto this land wherin through thy goodnesse we liue and haue oâ—â— beeing and herein as wet are by duty bound wee humbly beseech thee to powre thy blessings on that great piller of thy Church our dread Soueraigne Lord Charles by thy gracious appoyntment King of great Brittaine France and Ireland wee beeseech thee enrich his royall heart with such graces and gifts as shall bee meete for that high place and calling wherein thou hast placed him blesse with him his and our noble Queene Mary his faythfull privie Counsellors the reverend Clergie all true hearted Nobilitie loyall Gentry and louing Comminalty we beseech thee let thy blessings dwell on the heads of these so long as the Sunne and Moone endureth neyther forget wee the poore afflicted meÌ„bers of this thy Church wheresoeuer dispersed or howsoeeuer distressed and euery particular member thereof howsoeuer afflicted whether outwardly in body or inwardly in mind euen as if our selues were in their case so begge wee for them patience comfort and a speedy release of their seuerall calamities that they with vs and wee with them may in the end reioyce together with thee in thy heauenly kingdome which Lord we beseech thee to hasten prepare vs for thee and come Lord Iesus come quickly euen so Amen T. C.