understand strong and habitual inclinations to sins of uncleanness and also to Idolatry which is spiritual Adultery When the mind of a man is vehemently carried out after a thing and these impetuous motions continue and reside with him the Scripture calls this by the name of a Spirit as Numb 5.14 The Spirit of Jealousie From this passage of the Prophet Hosea we may draw this conclusion As long as persons who have strong and habitual inclinations to that which is evil which is the case of all Children and grown persons that are in an unregenerate condition continue ignorant of God there is no hope that they should frame their doings to turn unto the Lord. Our Children and Servants will be so far from reforming their lives without instruction that as long as they remain ignorant of God they will grow worse and worse Jer. 9.3 They proceed from evil to evil and know not me saith the Lord. 2 Tim. 3.13 Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse 3. If we suffer our Children and Servants to walk after their own hearts lust we shall undo them for ever for this is the broad way that leads to destruction for a man to walk after the lusts of his own heart and we shall also bring down Gods Judgments upon our selves and cause his Judgments to rest upon our Families for many Generations 1 Sam. 3.13 14. I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not and therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli That the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with Sacrifice nor Offering for ever 4. We had need employ all the skill and strength that we have in teaching and educating our Children in the knowledge and fear of the Lord because it is a difficult work to change their Natures and to subdue their Wills to Gods Will. Zophar compares man to a wild Asses Colt Job 11.12 For vain man would be wise though man be born like a wild Asses Colt The difficulty of taming a wild Ass his untractable ranging disposition is elegantly set forth Job 39.7 8. He scorneth the multitude of the City neither regardeth he the crying of the Driver the range of the mountains is his pasture and he searcheth after every green thing Such a wild unruly Creature is man and that from his Birth Man is born like a wild Asses Colt If he be not tamed whilst he is young he will not regard the voice of his Teachers though multitudes labour with him one after another it will be a difficult matter to bring him to any good order If our Children have added to their sinful natures a custom in sinful courses it will be as hard to reclaim them as to change the Leopards spots or to make the Ethiopian who is naturally black to become white Jer. 13.25 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots Then may ye also do good who are accustomed to do evil SECT 5. Family-Instruction is necessary for the performing of Family Duties Arg. 4 family-FAmily-Duties cannot be performed to the glory of God and the edification of our Families without Family-Instruction and this proves the great obligation that lieth upon us to train up our Families in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. I will instance in several Duties which cannot be performed without Family Instruction 1. Prayer is a Duty to be performed in all Families the neglect of it is such a great sin that God ranks those Families among the Heathen that do not call upon him and threatens to pour out his fury upon them Jer. 10.25 Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name Fury is more than wrath or anger it is the highest degree of anger God is not only angry but he is filled with fury against and will pour out his fury upon those Families that do not call upon him Now how shall our Children or Servants be able to pray without instruction Or how are they like to be edified by joyning in Family-Prayer if they be ignorant of that God to whom we pray and of Jesus Christ in whose name our prayers are offered up to God and of those things which are asked of God when we pray to him in his Sons name That knowledge is necessarily required to inable us to pray and also to joyn in prayer so as to receive edification and if knowledge then also instruction which breedeth knowledge is evident from such Scriptures as these Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher 1 Cor. 14 15. I will pray with the Spirit and will pray with the understanding also Job 37.19 Teach us what we shall say unto him for we can not order our speech by reason of darkness Ignorant worship is not accepted of God Christ reproved the Samaritans for worshipping they knew not what and tells them that such as expect Life and Salvation from God must worship him understandingly John 4.22 Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews If they be wholly ignorant when they are joyning in holy Duties as in prayer or in praising God though he that performs the Duties performeth them well and in a spiritual manner yet such as are ignorant of God and the things of God will not be edified by those Duties 1 Cor. 14.16 17. When thou shalt bless with the Spirit how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest For thou verily givest thanks well but the other is not edified The Apostle speaketh here of giving thanks in an unknown Tongue but though we use a known Tongue in prayer or praising God yet if our Families have no knowledge of God they will receive little or no edification by joyning with us when we pray to or praise the Lord. If we do not train up our Families in the fear as well as in the knowledge of God though they should learn to pray their prayers will avail nothing with God John 9.31 Now we know that God heareth not Sinners but if any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him he heareth Isa 1.15 And when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes yea when ye make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood 2. It is the Duty of every Member of our Families to praise the Lord and to give him thanks for his mercies Psal 145.2 Let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever Psal 150.6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. 1 Thes 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you It is a duty
that comprehensive signification that it includes all Inferiours and such as are in subjection to others as well as Children 2 King 16.7 So Ahaz sent Messengers to Tiglath-Pileser saying I am thy Servant and thy Son And the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Servants as well as Children It is rendred a Servant Mat. 8.13 Mat. 14.2 It is translated a Child John 4.51 Mat. 2.16 So also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is another word used for Children signifieth not only Children in a strict sense that is such as come out of our Loyns but such Persons as inhabit one and the same place are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 13.34 O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together And such as are under the care and instruction of one and the same person are called by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that mans Children Thus the Apostle writing to the Corinthians whom he had instructed and begotten to Christ calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my Sons 1 Cor. 4.14 As my beloved Sons I warn you I may adde this farther That the Master of a Family is called Pater Familias The Father of the Family Naamans Servants call their Master Father 2 Kings 5.13 His Servants came near unto him and said My Father And it is usual in Scripture for Superiours to call their Servants and Inferiours by the name of Sons or Children I will produce of many instances which might be named only these two the one of Joshua who calls Achan son Josh 7.19 Joshua said unto Achan My son give I pray thee glory to the God of Israel and make confession to him The other of Christ who tells his Disciples that he was their Lord and Master John 13.13 yet he calls them by the name of Children John 21.5 Jesus saith unto them Children have ye any meat 3. The practice and example of the Servants of God in former Ages proveth it to be our duty to instruct our Servants as well as our Children If we observe what they did we shall find they were careful to train up their houshold in the knowledge and fear of God Thus did Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment So also did Joshua Josh 24.15 As for me and my House we will serve the Lord. Cornelius being a devout man himself trained up all his house in the fear of God Act. 10.2 A devout man and one that feared God with all his House 4. In all Religious Exercises we find Governours of Families enjoyned to regard with an equal care their Children and their Servants whether they be Men or Maid Servants As for instance in the sanctification of the Sabbath they are commanded to look after their Servants and them that sojourn with them as well as their Children Exod. 20.8 Remember the sabbath to keep it holy In it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy stranger that is within thy Gates So also in the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles the whole Family was to keep the Feast unto the Lord Deut. 16.14 Thou shalt rejoyce in thy feast thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man servant and thy maid servant 5. Instruction is as necessary for and will be as beneficial to our Servants as our Children as shall be shewed afterwards and therefore we should not think much to bestow our pains in teaching them such things as are necessary to salvation Seeing 1. They have immortal Souls which are as precious to God as our own Souls or the Souls of our Children Ezek. 18.4 Behold all Souls are mine 2. Jesus Christ hath done as great things for our Servants as he hath done for us or our Children He died for them as well as for us He makes the Bond as well as the Free Members of his Body and Partakers of his Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 By one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been made to drink into one Spirit He makes no distinction of Bond or Free in the communication of his benefits but the bond man and the free man are all one in Christ Gal. 3.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus 3. God the Father will do as great things for our servants as he will for us or our Children if they seek and serve him he will give them his Spirit Joel 2.29 And also upon the Servants and upon the Handmaids in those days I will pour out my Spirit He will give them an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven Col. 3.22 24. Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance John 12.26 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be He will give them all good things Psal 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Shall we think much to spend a little time and to take a little pains in teaching our Servants when God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ doth such great things for them It is evident from these Scriptures which I have produced that it is our duty to teach Gods word unto our Children and not only to our Children but also to our Servants yea that there are many clear express and strict Commandments given to us by the great God for our performance of this Duty Now how shall we be able to appear before God at the day of Judgment if we live in the neglect of a known Duty which is so often and so earnestly pressed upon us by God himself SECT 3. The ignorance of Children and Servants proves the necessity of Family-Instruction The Evils of Ignorance Arg. 2 THe great ignorance that is in our Children and Servants sheweth Family-Instruction to be a necessary duty Children before they are instructed have no knowledge of the things of God Deut. 31.13 And that their Children which have not known any thing And not Children only but the greater part of such as are grown to mans estate have little or no knowledge of God Psal 14.2 The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God And what account doth he give of the Children of men Rom. 3.11 There is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God There is none comparatively there are so few understanding men that they seem to be none compared with the multitude of ignorant persons or if it relate to men in an unregenerate condition they are all destitute of the true and
to be performed every day Psal 145.2 Every day will I bless thee Psal 92.1 2. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy Name O most High to shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night It is a duty to be performed not only by our selves when we are alone but all the members in the Family should joyn together in blessing and praising God Psal 135.19 Bless the Lord O house of Aaron Psal 34.3 O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together Deut. 14.26 Thou shalt rejoyce thou and thy houshold Now how can our Families bless and praise God for his mercies if they be not taught that all the good things they have come from God and also taught who that God is that gives them all good things and how and in what manner they should express their thankfulness unto him We find that when the Scripture speaketh of praising God it often intimates that we should praise him with understanding Psal 47.6 7. Sing praises to God sing praises sing praises unto our King sing praises For God is the King of the Earth sing ye praises with understanding 1 Cor. 14.15 I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also Which implieth that the Lord cannot be praised by the sons of men in an acceptable manner if they be not endued with knowledge and understanding 3. It is our Duty to exhort our Children and Servants to flee from sin and to follow after Righteousness to love and fear and serve the Lord and to walk in his ways c. Heb. 3.13 Exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Now if we would have our exhortations to take place we must joyn Doctrine or Instruction with our Exhortations 2 Tim. 4.2 Exhort with all long suffering and doctrine If we do not instruct them wherein the nature of those Duties lieth unto which we exhort them and how and in what manner they should be performed we shall be like those that beat the air our Exhortations will be of no advantage to them 4. It is our Duty to reprove our Children and Servants when we see them negligent in their duty or committing any sin against God Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him If we must rebuke a Neighbour then much more those of our own house when they sin against the Lord. Now instruction makes way for reproof one word of reproof to a man instructed with wisdom and understanding will do more good than an hundred stripes will do towards the reformation of an ignorant foolish person Prov. 17.10 A reproof entreth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool We shall find it a very difficult matter to fasten a reproof upon our Children and Servants so as to make it take place and do them good if they be without understanding The like may be said of other Duties which we ought to perform towards our Children and Servants they cannot be performed successfully if we suffer our Families to be without Instruction SECT 6. We have Gods example for teaching our Children and Servants Arg. 5 GOD teacheth and instructeth his Children and Servants and therefore it is our Duty to teach and instruct our Children and our Servants for we ought to be followers of God Ephes 5.1 Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children In order to our imitation of God in this practice Let us consider 1. Who they are whom God teacheth all his Children and Servants from the greatest of them to the least he leaves not one of them without instruction Isa 54.13 And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord Jer. 31.34 They shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. Deut. 33.3 Yea he loved the people all his Saints are in thy hand and they sat down at thy feet every one shall receive of thy words So should we teach and instruct every one of our Children and Servants from the least to the greatest 2. God begins to teach his Children betimes Psal 71.17 O God thou hast taught me from my youth So should we begin early with our Children 2 Tim. 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures 3. God teacheth his children and servants knowledge Psal 94.10 He that teacheth man knowledge shall not he know He teacheth them to know himself Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord And to know and believe in his Son Jesus Christ John 6.45 It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me And to love one another 1 Thes 4.9 Ye your selves are taught of God to love one another He instructs them to shun and to avoid evil company and evil examples Isa 8.11 For the Lord spake thus unto me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people He teacheth them by his grace to deny all ungodliness and to live righteous and holy lives Tit. 2.12 The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us That denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world He instructs them how to order and manage the works of their Callings with Wisdom and Discretion Isa 28.24 25 26. Doth the Plowman plow all day to sow Doth he open and break the clods of his ground When he hath made plain the face thereof doth he not cast abroad the Fitches and scatter the Cummin and east in the principal Wheat and the appointed Barley and the Rye in their place For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him He instructs them how they should walk and what they should say and do and how they should order their Conversations aright in all things Psal 32.8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go Exod. 4.12 15. I will be with thy mouth and will teach thee what thou shalt say and will teach you what ye shall do 2 Chron. 32.22 The Lord guided them on every side Psal 107.7 He led them forth by the right way He shews them the Path of Life and guides them in the way to Heaven Psal 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the Path of Life Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me unto glory Herein we should imitate God we should teach our Children and servants to know God and his Son Jesus Christ and to believe in Christ and to love one another and to forsake evil company and to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world We
their destruction Are they of a sorrowful spirit The word of God will fill them with Joy Psal 19.8 The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart Are they ignorant The word of God will inlighten them Psal 19.8 The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes In a word whatever is needful and profitable either for our selves or for our Children to be acquainted withal it is revealed in the Scriptures Act. 20.20 I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you Neither we nor our Children need the knowledge of any thing more than the whole Counsel of God concerning our Salvation and this is fully revealed in the word of God Act. 20.27 I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God Whatsoever Christ heard of the Father that he taught his Apostles John 15.15 All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you And all things that Christ taught the Apostles they are written in the Scriptures Acts 1.1 2. The former Treatise have I made O Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up after that he through the holy Ghost had given Commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen And therefore the Scriptures are a perfect Rule of Righteousness containing all things that are necessary for any man to know believe or practise in order to his eternal salvation And as the Scriptures are profitable for instruction in respect of the usefulness and suitableness of the matter contained in them so also in regard of the power that is in them to convince the Judgment and to prevail with the Conscience and to bow and bend the will to a compliance with Gods will For they carry the Authority of God with them and work efficaciously upon the stoutest hearts when God accompanies them with his Spirit Act. 18.28 He mightily convinced the Jews and that publickly shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ The Jews were exceedingly prejudiced against Christ they were so far from believing that Jesus was the Christ that they had crucified him as an Impostor and a Deceiver of the People yet Apollos bringing clear Scripture-proof for what he taught the Jews were hereby mightily convinced that Jesus was the Christ The word of God is of a more piercing nature than a sword and carrieth greater power along with it Heb. 4.12 The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart It astonisheth the minds of men and carries out their Souls to believe in and obey the Lord notwithstanding all Oppositions and Discouragements that lie in the way either of Faith or Obedience Elimas the Sorcerer was full of subtilty and mischief and he opposed all he could the word of God which was dispenced by Paul and Barnabas and sought to turn away Sergius Paulus from the Faith but the Word of God had such power upon the Deputy that notwithstanding all the endeavours of Elimas he became obedient to the Faith Acts 13.12 The Deputy when he saw what was done believed being astonished at the Doctrine of the Lord. Of all the Jews none were more opposite to believing in Christ than the Priests for the Priests plotted and contrived Christs death Matt. 26.3 4. They sent Judas and a multitude of People with him to apprehend Christ vers 47. They suborned false witnesses against him vers 59. They held a Counsel after he was apprehended by what means they should put him to death Matth. 27.1 The Priests accused him with great vehemency before Herod Luk. 23.10 They stirred up the multitude to ask Barrabas when Pilate was willing to have released Jesus Matth. 27.20 It was the cry of the multitude that were stirred up by the Priests and the voices of the Priests that prevailed with Pilate to crucifie Christ Luk. 23.23 After the death of Christ the Priests took greatest offence at the Apostles preaching and were the chief Agents in their imprisonment Acts 4.1 And yet notwithstanding all the opposition that was in the Priests against Christ and the Doctrine of the Gospel such was the power of the Word of God that thereby a great number of the Priests were converted to the faith of Christ Act. 6.7 The word of God increased and the number of the Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the Faith Besides this consider the excellency and weightiness of the matter contained in the Scriptures They reveal to us the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven Gods eternal Counsel concerning our salvation the gracious Covenant God hath made with man They reveal to us Gods Attributes his works of Creation and Providence the great Mystery of our Redemption They shew to us how we may serve glorifie and enjoy God which is mans chiefest happiness They treat of the Torments of Hell and of the unspeakable Joys and Glory of Heaven and shew us how we may avoid the one and get possession of the other In a word they discover to us such excellent things as the eye of man never saw the like neither did ear hear neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive the transcendent worth and dignity of them 1 Cor. 2.9 10. They open such Mysteries as the Angels of Heaven desire and delight to look into them 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to look into And shall we hide such excellent things as these are from our Children We should resolve with full purpose of heart as the godly Jews of old did concerning those glorious things which their Fathers had told them Psal 78.4 We will not hide them from their Children shewing to the Generations to come the praises of the Lord I might adde further There is nothing revealed in the Scriptures but what is of great and near concernment to us and to our Children and that as long as we and they shall live in this world Deut. 29.29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our Children for ever that we may do all the words of this Law If those things that are treated of in the Scriptures did not belong to us or to our Children we might have some excuse for not teaching them the word of God But what Apologie can we make for our neglect of this Duty seeing they were revealed purposely for us and our Children to be conversant therein as long as we live They are of such near and great concernment to us as that every mans Judgment for his eternal state shall be given at the last day according to what is in the written word John 12.48 He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him the words that I have spoken
to run into all kind of evil let us endeavour to prevent these great evils by training them up in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. 5. If we bring up our Children in ignorance they can have no fellowship with or enjoyment of God who is the chiefest Good For God is Light and in him is no darkness at all 1 Joh. 1.5 And persons that have no knowledge are said to be in darkness Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darkness And there can be no communion between Light and Darkness 2 Cor. 6.14 What Communion hath Light with Darkness Now what will all the good things which we give our Children whilst we live or which we shall leave them when we die avail them if they have no enjoyment of God who is the chiefest Good 6. Without knowledge our Children and Servants cannot obtain salvation but must perish eternally Psal 5.5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight Job 36.12 They shall die without knowledge Prov. 2.16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the Congregation of the dead That is he shall be cast into Hell and abide there among the Devils and damned persons for ever So it is expounded by R. Sel. in caetu gehennae And Menoch Videtur sensus esse cum Daemonibus futuros cum impiis hominibus ad aeterna supplicia â—amnatis That the Hebrew word which is here translated dead signifieth Hell may be gathered from Prov. 9.18 He knoweth not that the dead are there and that her guests are in the depths of Hell 7. Without knowledge our Children will not only be undone in the world to come but they are likely by their folly and indiscretion to undo themselves and their Families in this world either by idleness Eccl. 4.5 The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh Prov. 24.30 31. Or by prodigality Prov. 21.20 There is a treasure to be desired and Oyl in the dwelling of the Wise but the foolish spendeth it up Or by Surety ship Prov. 17.18 A man void of understanding striketh hands and becometh Surety in the presence of his friend Or by Law-suits Prov. 18.6 A fools lips enter into contention Or by speaking against persons in Authority Eccles 10.12 The lips of a fool will swallow up himself Prov. 10.14 The mouth of the foolish is near destruction Or by some other rash and indiscreet carriages 8. Instructing our Children and Servants out of the word of God will remove their ignorance and make them of foolish and simple to become wise and understanding persons and so consequently will prevent all the afore-mentioned evils which will accrue both to us and them if they be trained up in ignorance Prov. 12.1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge Prov. 8.33 Hear instruction and be wise Psal 19 7. The Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Prov. 1.1 4. The Proverbs of Solomon to give subtilty to the simple and to the young man knowledge and discretion Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple SECT 4. The corruption that is in children and servants proveth Family-instruction to be a necessary duty Arg. 3 THere is not only much blindness and ignorance in the minds of our children and servants but they have also very sinful and corrupt hearts That we may see and understand what sin and corruption is bound up in the hearts of our children and servants let us consider what the Scripture saith of the hearts of the sons of men The heart of man by nature is void and destitute of all good Rom. 7.18 I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing and full of evil Eccles 9.3 The heart of the sons of men is full of evil Yea the seeds of the foulest sins such as Murder Adultery Blasphemy and the like are in the heart of man which will break out if they be left to themselves Matth. 15.19 Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies The inclinations of the heart to sin even to the worst of sins are strong and violent so that the heart is not only set upon evil but fully set to do evil Eccles 8.11 The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil There is such a bottomless depth of sin in their hearts that we cannot fathom it it is hard to express yea hard to understand how wicked and sinful the heart of man is Jer. 17.9 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And this corruption of the heart begins to work and discover it self very early even whilst we are young Gen. 8.21 The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth Isai 48.8 I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously and wast called a transgressour from the womb Now seeing there is so much sin and corruption in the hearts of our children and servants from hence it will follow that it is our duty to train them up in the knowledge and obedience of the Word of God whereby their hearts may be purified and sanctified and that it is necessary that we should imploy all the skill and strength that we have in this work for 1. Though their hearts be exceeding sinful as we have heard before yet if we instruct them in the knowledge and train them up in the obedience of the Word of God this will be a means to purifie and sanctifie their hearts and to reform their lives for the word of God hath a sanctifying vertue in it John 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth And being hid in the heart it will cleanse the heart and keep a man from sinning against God John 15.3 Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Obeying and practising the word will purifie the heart 1 Pet. 2.22 Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit If we can bring our Children to take heed to their ways and to frame them according to the word of God we need not doubt but this will cleanse their hearts and lives Psal 119.9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way By taking heed thereto according to thy word 2. If we suffer our Children and Servants to live without instruction and do not labour to bring them acquainted with God and with his holy word there is no hope that they should be reclaimed from their sins Hos 5.4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them and they have not known the Lord. The Prophet gives this reason why they would not frame their doings to turn to the Lord They did not know the Lord and the spirit of whoredoms was in them By the spirit of whoredoms we may
against thee As is the Mother so is the Daughter So that if Mothers live religiously and shew a good example to their Children and instruct them out of Gods word there is great hope that their Children will become Religious also It is remarkable both amongst the good and evil Kings that were in Judah and Israel that the Scripture doth frequently record their Mothers names as for good Kings we may see 1 Kings 22.42 43. 2 Kings 18.2 3. and 22.12 And for evil Kings 2 King 8.26 27. 1 Kings 15.2 3. which sheweth that the Mothers example and carriage amongst her Children hath a great influence upon them to make them either good or evil 6. Mothers have greater opportunities to be instilling good things into their Children than their Fathers for they are oftener with them especially whilst they are young as they are dressing or undressing them or giving them meat or sitting with them at work or walking abroad with them they should be talking with them of the word of God Deut. 6.6 7. And every one is to do good according to the opportunities that God puts into their hands Gal. 6.10 7. Hereby Mothers may do great service for Christ in training up Children for the Lord All the good that such Children shall do in their generation shall redound to the Mothers Comfort and Reward The Apostle mentioneth the bringing up of Children by which is meant bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord amongst the first and chiefest good works which women are able to do in their generation 1 Tim. 5.10 Well reported of for good works if she have brought up Children 8. What service women do for Christ he takes as kindly as he doth what men do for him when there was a woman poured upon his head a Box of pretious Oyntment though the Disciples had indignation yet the Lord Jesus took it well from her and said that this act of the woman should be had in remembrance and be spoken of to her praise as long as the Gospel should be preached in the world Mat. 26.13 Verily I say unto you Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world there also this that this woman hath done shall be told for a memorial of her If you that are Mothers teach Gods word to your Children and labour to bring them up in the knowledge and fear of God the Lord Jesus will take this more kindly from you than he took this box of pretious Oyntment from this woman which anointed his body against his burial And that may be evidenced several ways 1. Christ was more pleased with those that minded his word than with those that were at the cost and trouble to provide for his Body as appears from the case of Mary and Martha Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word but Martha was cumbred with much serving Luk. 10.38 39. Hereupon Martha complains to Christ that her sister had left her to serve alone and desires him to bid Mary to help her but Christ commends Mary's choice and her work who was employed about his word above Martha's who was employed in preparing food for his Body and those that were with him Vers 40 41 42. 2. The Lord Jesus loves your Childrens Souls as well as he loves his own Body he gave his own Body to be crucified to save your Childrens Souls And therefore doubtless it is as acceptable to see you endeavouring to save your Childrens Souls by instructing and teaching them out of his holy Word as it was to have his Body anointed with pretious Ointment 3. The Name of God and Christ is like pretious Ointment Cant. 1.3 Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth Yea it is more precious than any Ointment in the World And when you bring your Children acquainted with the Name of God and Christ by instructing them out of the Word of God you convey that to them which is beyond all the pretious Ointment in the world 4. The Ointment that was poured on Christs Body did bur little if any thing advantage the body of Christ he accepted it not so much for the advantage he had by it as he did for the Faith and Love which the Woman manifested in this work But by instructing your Children out of the Word of God you shall greatly promote the good and welfare of their pretious Souls If the Lord Jesus did so kindly accept the Womans anointing his body with precious Ointment that he recorded her praise in the Gospel and will have the Memorial thereof preserved in all Ages throughout the whole World Then doubt not you that are Mothers that if you instruct your Children in the knowledge of his Word but he will accept this very kindly at your hands and cause this good Work of yours to be had in eternal Remembrance CHAP. II. Motives to stir up Parents and Masters of Families to instruct their Children and Servants in the Knowledge and to train them up in the obedience of the Scriptures IN the former Chapter I have proved it to be the Duty of Parents and Masters of Families to train up their Children and Servants in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures I shall now proceed to lay down some Motives to stir up those that neglect this good work to be diligent constant and conscientious in the performance of their Duty in teaching and instructing their Familier SECT 1. Instructing our Children and Servants out of the Scriptures will be a means of their Conversion Reasons why we should endeavour their Conversion Motive 1 INstructing your Children and Servants out of the word of God will be a powerful and an effectual means to convert and save their souls For The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Psal 19.7 And The Gospel is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and Reproofs of instruction are the way of Life Prov. 6.23 Though they be such as walk in sinful and destructive courses by teaching and instructing them out of the Scriptures they may be converted from their sins unto God Psal 5.13 I will teach Transgressors thy ways and Sinners shall be converted unto thee We read of Cornelius that both he himself and all his house were saved by the word wherewith they were instructed by Peter Act. 11.14 Who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved In like manner if Governours of Families did carefully instruct their Families out of the word of God they might in so doing both save themselves and all their house With what diligence with what speed with what alacrity with what a resolved minde to persevere therein under all discouragements should you set upon this work seeing there is hope that hereby you may save your Children and your Servants Souls That this argument may have the greater force to perswade and prevail with you to set your hearts to this work Consider 1. What
the same shall judge him in the last day Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works SECT 14. They deal unjustly with their Families who defraud them of the Instruction that is due to them Motive 14 THe Law of Equity requires that Parents should use their utmost diligence to instill knowledge into their Children and to train them up in a godly sort 1. Because they have been instrumental to convey to them a sinful ignorant nature Psal 51.5 Job 14.4 If one man had hurt another the Law of God delivered by Moses required that he should be at the cost and pains to get him throughly healed Exod. 21.19 He shall pay for the loss of his time and cause him to be throughly healed Seeing Parents are instrumental to convey that sin to their Children which hath given their Souls a deadly wound t is but just and equal that they should be at the cost and take pains to get them healed of their ignorance and do what in them lieth to get their Souls converted to the Lord. 2. It is just and equal that we should teach our Children because God hath taught us his Word for this very end and purpose that we should teach the same unto our Children Deut. 4.10 The Lord said unto me Gather the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may teach their Children 3. Justice requires that we should give to every one that which is due to him He that detains from any one that which is his due when it is required and it is in the power of his hand to render it is an unjust man Now Instruction is due to our Children and Servants for God commands us as we have heard before to instruct them and their necessity calleth aloud upon us to be diligent in teaching and instructing them and therefore we cannot withhold instruction from them without being guilty of injustice And it is a great crime to be guilty of injustice Unjust persons are accounted amongst the chiefest of Sinners And to with-hold from our Children or Servants that which is due to their Souls is greater injustice then to wrong them in their Estates or in those things which are due to to their outward man If then we would fulfill that Precept Col. 4.1 Masters give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye have a Master in Heaven And that of the Apostle Rom. 13.7 Render to all their dues And that of Solomon Prov. 3.27 With-hold not good from them to whom it is due when it is in the power of thine hand to do it We must not neglect this good work of teaching and instructing our Children and Servants seeing Instruction is due to them Let thus much suffice by way of motive to stir up Parents and Masters of Families to set upon a diligent performance of this duty of training up their Children and Servants in the Knowledge and Obedience of the Scriptures CHAP. III. Directions for managing of this work of Family-Instruction so as to promote the Conversion Edification and Eternal Salvation of all that are under our Charge I Shall in the next place proceed to some Directions for the successful managing of this work of Family-Instruction and shall shew how we should carry it on so as to promote the Conversion Edification and Eternal Salvation of all such as are under our Charge SECT 1. Such as would instruct their Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures must be diligent in studying the Scriptures Direct 1 IF we would instruct our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures it is necessary that we our selves should be well acquainted with them and that we may come to be well acquainted with the Scriptures we must read them often observe diligently what we read and pray to God to open our understandings that we may understand his holy Word and lay up what he teacheth us in our hearts and meditate in his Law night and day Before the Lord commands us to teach his Word to our Children he prefixeth this Charge That we should lay up his Word in our own hearts Deut. 6.6 7. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children And the Apostle calls upon those whom he would have teach others to let the word of Christ dwell richly in themselves Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another A daily searching of the Scriptures attended with Meditation and Prayer will greatly advantage us in this work of Family-Instruction and that in several respects I will instance in two 1. Hereby we shall be furnished with wisdom and knowledge Psal 119.98 99. Thou through thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine Enemies for they are ever with me I have more understanding than all my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation And the more we are furnished with Heavenly Wisdom the more dextrous and ready we shall be to win those Souls that are committed to our charge Prov. 11.30 He that winneth Souls is wise 2 Cor. 12.16 Being crafty I caught you with guile And as wisdom will make us dextrous in winning Souls to Christ so also it will conduce much to the inabling of us to edifie and build up such as are brought home to him Col. 1.28 Teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus The Romans who were filled with knowledge were thereby made able to teach and admonish others Rom. 15.14 I my self am perswaded of you my Brethren that ye also are full of Goodness filled with all knowledge able also to admonish one another 2. By searching the Scriptures and meditating on them night and day we shall become successful in this work of Family-Instruction God will make this work prosper in our hands to the Conversion Edification and Salvation of such as he hath committed to our care to be instructed in his holy word For the Lord hath promised that whatsoever that man doth who meditates in his Law it shall prosper Psal 1.1 2 3. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night And he shall be like a tree planted by the Rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Ezra who was a ready Scribe in the Law of Moses Ezra 7.6 taught Gods Word to the people of Israel vers 10. And what effect had his teaching It had great power to humble and reform the people Ezra 10.1 12. The people wept very sore
Then all the Congregation answered and said with a loud Voice As thou hast said so must we do Apollos who was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 was very successful in the Conviction and Conversion of obstinate sinners for he mightily convinced the Jews vers 28. And in the edification of such as were converted to the faith vers 27. Who when he was come helped them much which had believed through grace SECT 2. We must teach our Families the knowledge of the principles and the practice of the Duties of Religion Nothing but the Truth Soul-saving Truths What are Soul-saving Truths Seasonable Truths Direct 2 COnsider well what Doctrine you teach your Families if you would convert and save their Souls For by taking heed to the Doctrine that you instil into them you may save both their and your own Souls 1 Tim. 4.16 Take heed to thy self and unto thy Doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt save both thy self and them that hear thee If any ask What Doctrine should we teach our Families in order to the Conversion Edification and Salvation of their Souls I answer In the general teach them the holy Scriptures I have proved already that it is the Will and Command of God that we should instruct our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures Chap. I. Sect. 1. And I have also shown that teaching Gods Word to our Families will be a means of their Conversion Psal 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul and of their edification Acts 20.32 I commend you to God and the Word of his grace which is able to build you up And of their Salvation Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto Salvation As the Reader may see more largely in the perusal of the first and second Chapters If any say Tell us more particularly what Doctrine we should teach our Families out of the Scriptures in order to their Conversion Edification and Salvation Answ 1. Instruct them in the knowledge of the Principles of Religion As for instance Teach them that there is a God and that this God is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him And who is the true God That there is but one God and that this one God subsisteth in three distinct Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost That God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth That God knoweth all things is every where present Almighty Eternal Holy in all his Works and Righteous in all his Ways Faithful Just Abundant in Mercy c. That God made the Heavens and the Earth and all things therein and Rules and Governs all his Creatures by his Wise and Gracious Providence That Man was created in the Image of God and sinned against God by eating the Forbidden Fruit That by Adam's Disobedience all Men were made Sinners and are by Nature the Children of Wrath and that Judgement came upon all men to Condemnation That God out of his great Love sent his only begotten Son into the World to seek and save that which was lost That JESUS of NAZARETH who was conceived of the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin MARY suffered under PONTIUS PILATE was the promised MESSIAH That He died for our Sins and rose again the third day and ascended into Heaven where he sitteth at the right hand of God making intercession for all that come to God by him from whence He shall come again to judge the World in Righteousness That God for Christ his sake hath made a New Covenant wherein he hath promised Remission of sins Sanctification eternal Life and all other good things freely to them that believe on his Son That those whom God hath ordained to eternal Life he calleth out of Darkness into Light and turneth them from their sins unto God and unites them to Christ by faith and puts his Spirit into them and causeth them to walk in his Ways and to serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of their Life That there shall be a general Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust that after the Dead are raised the whole world shall appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive according to what he hath done while his Soul lived in his Body That such as have lived and died in their sins without Repentance shall be cast into Hell where they shall abide with the Devil and his Angels in everlasting fire And such as have believed in Christ and repented of their sins shall be received into Heaven where they shall be ever with the Lord. It is necessary that you should teach your Children and Servants the knowledge of the Principles of Christian Religion Heb. 5.12 Ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God For Knowledge is the foundation of Practice Psal 119.34 Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart And Solomon tells us Prov. 29.2 Also that the Soul be without knowledge it is not good And as you must teach them the knowledge of the Principles so also the practise of the Duties of the Christian Religion as to believe in Christ to repent of their sins to love God with all their Hearts and to love their Neighbours as themselves to do the same things unto others which they would that others should do unto them to deny themselves to love their Enemies to do good to them that hate them to read hear and meditate on Gods Words to be contented in every estate c. Knowledge without Obedience will be so far from leading them to everlasting life that it will make them have the greater condemnation Luk. 12.47 That Servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes But by teaching your Families both to know and do the will of God you shall make them partakers of eternal Happiness John 13.17 If ye know these things happy are ye if you do them Thus David instructed his Son he taught him both to know and serve the Lord 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind 2. Teach them nothing but the Truth Do not pervert and wrest the Scriptures to their and your own destruction Do not give them poy son instead of the sincere milk of the Word It was the practise of Christ and of his Apostles to teach nothing but the Truth Matth. 22.16 Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth 2 Cor. 2.17 We are not as many which corrupt the word of God but as of sincerity as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ By teaching them the Word of God in truth you shall be
live after the flesh you shall die the Companion of Fools shall be destroyed c. is for you you shall die as well as any persons in the world if ye live after the flesh and if ye will keep evil company c. And this promise is for you They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing c. If you will seek the Lord he will give you all good things And the example of Gods Judgments on such as murmured and such as committed fornication c. was written for your admonition to deter you from committing those sins 1 Cor. 10.8 10 11. When Eliphaz had been instructing Job in several things concerning the misery of wicked men the nature of afflictions the blessings that God bestoweth on godly men c. he concludes his discourse thus Job 5.27 Lo this we have searched it so it is hear it and know it for thy good or as it is in the Margin for thy self From the different rendring of the last clause of this Verse we may draw this note That then a man knows Divine Truths for his good when he knows them for himself that is the way for a man to get good by the knowledge of Divine Truths is to make a particular application of them to his own Soul 5. When you instruct them in the performance of any duty either towards God or their Neighbour teach them how and in what manner to perform that duty shew them also the necessity of it and the advantages and benefits that will come to them if they follow your counsel and the evils that will befall them if they neglect it Thus David instructed Solomon he exhorts him to know and serve the Lord 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him Then he shews him in what manner he must serve the Lord willingly and sincerely Serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind He tells him why it was necessary that he should serve the Lord with a perfect heart and with a willing mind For the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts He acquaints him also with the benefit that he should receive if he would seek and serve the Lord If thou seek him he will be found of thee and with the evils that would come upon him if he forsook the Lord But if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever It is said of Solomon Eccles 12.10 The Preacher sought out acceptable words or as some render it verba desiderii words that might stir up desires after those things which he taught the people words that might win and gain upon their affections Follow Solomon's example in teaching your Children seek out such Scriptures as may put an edge upon their affections and inflame them with a desire to practise those things which you teach them to be their duty Consider also what may dicourage or hinder them from the performing those Duties which you press upon them and endeavour to remove those hindrances for what the Apostle saith in another case 2 Thes 2.7 the same is true here That which now letteth will let until it be taken out of the way 6. So teach them their duty as also to direct them where they may have strength to perform it And to that end guide them to Christ without whom they can do nothing John 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing and by whose help they shall be able to do all things Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthneth me By which means when they find no strength in themselves they shall be able to say they have it in Christ Surely shall one say In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength Isa 45.24 And seeing Christ conveys his strength to us in a way of Reliance upon him for it is through faith that out of weakness we are made strong Heb. 11.34 and seeing faith is helped much by the promises when you instruct them in their duty guide them to some promise of the Covenant of Grace where God hath promised to inable them to perform that duty that so by the help of the promises they may trust in Christ to work all their works in them and for them and may through faith in him receive strength to walk before God in newness of Life Thus when the Apostle taught the Romans that they should not let sin have dominion over them Rom. 6.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal Bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof He presently puts them in mind of a promise wherein the Lord hath promised so to over-rule us by his grace that sin shall not have the Dominion over us vers 14. Sin shall not have the Dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 7. If you would so instruct your Families as to edifie them in your Teaching then stir them up to the practise of those Duties which make for their edification As First To walk in the fear of the Lord Act. 9.31 The Churches were edified walking in the fear of the Lord. Secondly To live in love and peace 1 Cor. 8.1 Charity edifieth Ephes 4.16 Maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of it self in love Rom. 14.19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith we may edifie one another Thirdly To get Faith and to live by Faith after they have gotten it 1 Tim. 1.4 Godly edifying which is in faith Fourthly To pray in a fervent gracious spiritual manner Jude 20. But ye Beloved building up your selves in your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost Fifthly To meditate often on what you have taught them 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear unto all SECT 4. What are the fittest times and seasons for instructing our Families Direct 4 THe seasonableness of a work makes it amiable Eccles 3.1 11. To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven He hath made every thing beautiful in his time The seasonableness of a work renders it also the more successful Psal 1.3 He shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of waters that bringeth forth his fruit in his season and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Such as are Rulers of Families must not only provide meat for their Families but meat in due season and by so doing he that is the supreme Lord of all Families shall give them his blessing Matth. 24.45 46 47. Who then is a faithful and wise Servant whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them meat in due season Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Verily I say unto you That he shall make him Ruler over all his goods Now concerning the times and seasons that you should take for the doing this work
I shall give four or five directions 1. Let this work be done when there is greatest quiet in the Family not at such a time as the Members of the Family are distracted or cumbred with variety or a multitude of worldly business or when their Spirits are royled with passion or contention but when they are in the most quiet and composed frame Eccles 9.17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet 1 Cor. 7.35 That you may attend upon the Lord without distraction 2. Let this work be done often Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another Deut. 6.7 Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children God worketh many ways and often times with us to bring about our salvation Job 33.29 30. Lo all these things worketh God often times with man to bring back his Soul from the pit to be enlightned with the light of the Living And shall we think much to be diligent and frequent in teaching our Children and Servants that their Souls may be kept from falling into the pit of Hell and that they may be enlightned with that knowledge which will make them wise to Salvation 3. It will be convenient to have fixed and stated times for the doing of this work that so the Family may be the better prepared for it and all family-occasions may be so ordered and all business set at such a stay as that every one may be at liberty and leasure to attend this work 4. Avocations and Diversions should not be easily yielded to for the putting by our intended exercise at the appointed time As for instance If Company come in though they be great Persons and such as are our Superiours we should not be ashamed to go on with our works Psal 119 46. I will speak of thy Testimonies also before Kings and will not be ashamed And if we be at any time diverted by some unexpected and urgent occasions we should redeem that loss by taking some other time for their instruction as soon as conveniently we can 5. We should take such times wherein both we and our Families are fresh and lively not over-tired with worldly business not heavy with sleep for we must be fervent in spirit when we serve the Lord Rom. 12.11 and when the Body is tired or heavy with sleep the Spirit is not likely to be servent 6. The Lords day which is to be spent in holy and Religions Exercises Isa 58.13 is a very convenient time for this work It was the Custom of the Jews to read the Scriptures in their Synagogues every Sabbath day Acts 15.21 Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day And we need not doubt but they did the same in their Families seeing they were commanded by God to read some portion of his word every day as long as they lived yea their greatest men even their Kings who had the weightiest business of all other men lying upon their hands were not excused from this Law of daily reading the Scriptures Deut. 17.18 19. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write him a Copy of this Law in a Book And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them I shall not undertake to prescribe what other days besides Lords days Masters of Families should take for this work but shall leave that to their own prudence and discretion Only I shall say this That they for whom God hath done much and who have more spare time than others should be more frequent and abundant in this work For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required Luk. 12.48 SECT 5. The Advantages that come by having the Word of God in our Memories Direct 5 CAuse your Children and Servants to commit to their memories those Scriptures which you teach them and to keep them in remembrance We are often commanded to treasure up Gods Word in our Memories Job 22.22 Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth and lay up his words in thine heart Deut. 6.6 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart And because this duty of committing Gods Word to our Memories is much neglected both by Parents themselves as well as their Children to stir up both the one and the other to the practice of it let me shew you how much this duty is urged upon us and what advantages will come by it The Prophets of God charge us in Gods name to remember the word of the Lord Mal. 4 4. Remember ye the Law of Moses my Servant which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel with the Statues and Judgments Jesus Christ when he was in the world charged us to remember his word John xv 20. Remember the word that I said unto you The Apostles also call upon us to keep in memory Gods word Jude 17. Beloved remember ye the words that were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.35 I have shewn you all things how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus Heb. 2.1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest at any time we let them slip The holy Angels when they appeared to those that came to Christs Sepulchre bid them remember the words of Christ Luke 24.6 Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee One great benefit which we have by the holy Ghost is his helping us to remember Gods word John 14.26 The Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you We have seen how earnestly this duty is pressed upon us now let us see what advantages will come to us by remembring Gods Word 1. It will be an help to Faith John 2.22 When he was risen from the dead his Disciples remembred that he had said this unto them and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said 2. It helps us in our obedience Numb 15.40 That ye may remember and do all my Commandments and be holy unto your God Psal 119.55 I have remembred thy name O Lord in the night and have kept thy Law 3. It is an help to Repentance Matth. 26.75 And Peter remembred the words of Jesus and he went out and wept bitterly 4. It promotes our Comfort Psal 119.52 I remembred thy Judgments of old O Lord and have comforted my self 5. It will breed a spiritual frame of heart for if Gods word be treasured up in our hearts it will be in our minds night and day Prov. 6.21 22. Bind them continually upon
labour to grow in grace our selves and to be of savoury spirits to express the beauty of holiness in our Conversations if we would have our Families grow in grace For before God promiseth that such as dwell under Israel's shadow should grow as the Vine he promiseth vers 5 6. to be as the dew unto Israel whereby he should grow as the Lily and that his smell should be as Lebanon and his beauty as the Olive-Tree SECT 21. A godly Life and good Example maketh Family-Instruction powerful and successful Direct 21 IF you would carry on the work of Family Instruction successfully walk examplarily in your Families Be Patterns and Examples to them in Faith in Holiness in Meekness in Charity in good Discourse in Self-denial in Patience in Heavenly-mindedness and in every other good work that your Families may know how to walk so as to please and glorifie God by seeing and observing how you carry your selves in all things They that teach others should labour to carry themselves exemplarily in all things towards those whom they instruct 1 Tim. 4.12 Be thou an example of the Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity Tit. 2.7 In all things shewing thy self a Pattern of good works Instruction from a good man is embraced more readily and worketh more powerfully than that which comes from one that walketh contrary to what he teacheth Barnabas being a good man was instrumental by his exhortations to convert many to the Lord Acts 11.23 24. He exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord for he was a good man and full of the holy Ghost and of Faith and much People was added to the Lord. When Levi who taught the people walked with God he turned many from iniquity Mal. 2.6 The Law of Truth was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips He walked with me in peace and equity and did turn many away from iniquity A good conversation is such a powerful means to convert Souls that some who are not wrought upon by the Word are won to Christ by a good conversation 1 Pet. 3.1 Wives be in subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the Wives When Governours of Families return to God and walk with God the Lord hath promised that their families shall be reformed also and put away iniquity Job 22.23 If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy Tabernacles This latter clause implies two things 1. That it is our duty when we return to God to endeavour to reform our Families 2. That when we do return to God and endeavour to reform our Families God will so bless our endeavours that iniquity shall be put far from our Tabernacles And accordingly we find that when the Master of the Family feareth God and doth according to his duty labour to bring his Family to fear and serve the Lord the Lord hath blessed the whole Family with the fear of his Name as we may see in Cornelius who fearing God and being a devout man all his house feared God also Acts 10.1 2. And when Crispus the chief Ruler believed all his house believed also in the Lord Acts 18.8 Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his House SECT 22. Family-Instruction must be continued as long as we live Direct 22 COntinue constant and diligent in this work of Family-Instruction as long as you live notwithstanding all the discouragements that you meet with therein The Lord doth not only require of us that we should teach our Children his holy Word but he commands us also to continue so doing as long as we live Deut. 4.9 Only take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons So also vers 10. Gather me the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth and that they may teach their Children To move you to constancy herein consider 1. That continuance in this work will be a means to promote your own and your Families salvation 1 Tim. 4.16 Take heed unto thy self and unto thy Doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee Isa 64.5 In those is continuance and we shall be saved That is by continuing to work Righteousness and to walk in Gods ways spoken of in the fore-going words we shall be saved It is not enough to do well but we must continue with patience in well doing under all our discouragements if we would have eternal life Rom. 2.6 7. Who will render to every man according to his deeds to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal Life 2. Consider how earnestly God calls upon you not to be discouraged in the doing of any good work but to be stedfast and unmovable and to abound always in the work of the Lord Gal. 6.9 Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not 1 Cor. 15.58 My beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 3. Consider how the Lord commends constancy in that which is good Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing And what a great sin it is to neglect doing good works Jam. 4.17 To him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin To leave off doing good works is the way to run into all evil Psal 36.3 4. He hath left off to be wise and to do good he deviseth mischief upon his Bed he setteth himself in a way that is not good To leave off doing good works will provoke God to send some heavy Judgment upon us Hos 8.3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good the Enemy shall pursue him CHAP. IIII. Objections against instructing our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures according to the fore-mentioned Directions answered I Shall in the next place answer the most material Objections that are or may be made against Parents or Masters of Families instructing their Children and Servants in the knowledge of the Scriptures In doing whereof I shall remove the principal Discouragements that may keep any person either from entring upon or continuing constant in this work of Family-Iustruction SECT 1. The Plea of such as neglect Family-Instruction because they say they are not able to instruct their Families answered Object 1 I Would instruct my Family in the knowledge of the
instruct them than you do of aggravating their condemnation in case you should instruct them when as you do not know whether they will make a good use of their Light You hazard your own condemnation by neglecting your duty and your Childrens by nursing them up in ignorance but by instructing them you may promote both your own and their salvation 1 Tim 4.16 The same argument that the Apostle useth to perswade Wives to dwell with their Husbands and Husbands to dwell with their Wives 1 Cor. 7.16 For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O man but thou shalt save thy Wife The like may I use with Parents to instruct their Children notwithstanding all their fears of aggravating their condemnation What knowest thou whether thou shalt save thy Children III. Whereas Satan would beat you off from instructing your Children by putting you in sear that you shall thereby aggravate their condemnation this is but a vain suggestion to hinder you in your duty for you can't take a more effectual course to prevent your Childrens condemnation and to promote their salvation than to instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures for Knowledge is a means to breed Faith Psal 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee and true Repentance Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me for they shall return unto me with their whole heart and to obtain Remission of sins Isa 53.11 By his Knowledge shall my Righteous Servant justifie many Knowledge also is a means of obtaining eternal life John 17.3 And this is eternal life that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent SECT 20. Family-Instruction will prevent not spread Errours How such as teach others may be kept from perverting or corrupting the Word of God Object 20 THis will be the way to spread and multiply Errors for illiterate men to take upon them to instruct their Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures Answ I. It doth highly concern all Misters of Families as well as Ministers of the Word to be very careful that they do not teach any false and erronious Doctrine unto those whom God hath committed to their charge This would bring down a curse instead of a blessing yea though they should seem like Angels yet would they be accursed if they perverted the Gospel of Christ Gal. 7 8. There be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ but though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you let him be accursed The Apostle was so desirous to prevent the spreading of false Doctrine that he earnestly besought Timothy to stay on purpose at Ephesus to charge in a solemn manner those that he saw inclinable to Errours to teach no other Doctrine but what was agreeable to the Doctrine of the Gospel 1 Tim. 1. 3 4. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine so do Such as teach lies instead of truth are accounted by God the bafest and vilest of men and therefore are compared not to the Head but the Tail Isa 9.14 15. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel Head and Tail Branch and Rush in one day The Ancient and Honourable he is the Head and the Prophet that teacheth lies he is the Tail When they that are Leaders of others do cause them to erre instead of promoting their salvation they will be the cause of their destruction Isa 9.16 For the Leaders of this People cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed If you ask What shall we do that we may be kept from corrupting and perverting the word of God when we instruct our Families I answer 1. Pray to God with humble and lowly hearts to give you his holy spirit God hath promised his holy spirit to them that ask it Luc. 11.13 If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him And when God hath given you his holy Spirit he will make and keep your minds sound in the Faith He is stiled The Spirit of Power and of Love and of a Sound Mind 2 Tim. 1.7 2. See that your hearts be right and sincere with God and that you walk before God in truth and uprightness do all your works and speak all your words as in the sight of God and then he will guide you by the Spirit of Truth into all Truth and keep you from corrupting his holy word 2 Cor. 2.17 For we are not as many which corrupt the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 3. Purifie your hearts and minds from all corrupt Lusts VVhen a man hath a corrupt mind he will be apt to put corrupt glosses upon the vvord of God VVhen he can't bring up his VVill to Gods he will be ready to interpret Gods Mind according to his own VVill. The Apostle conjoyns these two Men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth 1 Tim. 6.5 Now if you would purifie your minds 1. Have faith in Christ Acts 15.19 And put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith 2. Obey those Truths vvhich God hath revealed to you 1 Pet. 1.22 Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth 4. Take heed of departing from the simplicity of the Gospel under the notion of seeking after more sublime spiritual and mysterious Truths The Apostle vvas jealous lest the Corinthians should be corrupted this vvay 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 5. Keep to the Analogy of Faith Rom. 12.6 Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophecy let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith By prophesying here most understand not the gift of fore-telling things to come but the Gift of interpreting and explaining the Scriptures as the word is used 1 Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh unto men unto edification and exhortation and comfort Now the Apostle adviseth that this prophesying be according to the proportion or analogy of Faith by prophesying according to the analogy of Faith we may understand that no Scripture should be so expounded as to contradict any Article of our Faith or Precepts of an holy godly life 6. Be sober-minded and do not exercise your selves in those things which are too high for you Psal 131.1 Understand well your selves what you undertake to teach your Families The Apostle gives this character of some in his time desiring to be teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm 1 Tim. 1.7 When we teach our Families
a very hard matter to come to the knowledge of Christ Crucified IV. That this Scripture doth not make void either Ministerial Teaching or Family-Instruction besides what hath been already said may further be proved 1. Because God teacheth in the use of means God could have revealed Himself and his Son in an immediate manner unto Cornelius but he puts him on sending for Peter to instruct him Acts 11.13 14. Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose sirname is Peter who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy House shall be saved And it is his Covenant to teach his People not by his Spirit only or by his Word only but by his Word and Spirit and that as long as the world stands Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever 2. We see by sad experience the great ignorance and rudeness and dulness of those Children and Servants and of those Families and Places that have no instruction Though they live in Gospel-times and in the days of the New Covenant yet if they have no instruction they are as ignorant as they were that lived under the time of the Old Testament SECT 18. Though some Persons are nothing bettered by instruction yet we must continue to instruct them Object 18 WE see many Children and Servants that have good instructions prove very vile and corrupt and are never a whit the better but rather the worse for all the pains that is taken with them and therefore it is to no purpose for us to instruct our Families Answ 1. Though some are never a whit the better for the instructions and good counsels which are given them yet others are converted to God and edified thereby And who can tell but God may bless your labour unto the Conversion and Salvation of those that are under your Charge 2. If any means under Heaven will do them good instructing them out of the word of God is the most likely way and means to lead them to Repentance We think if a damned Soul should come out of Hell and declare what torments it hath felt in Hell or a Saint should come out of Heaven and declare what Joys he hath possess'd in Heaven this would work wonderfully upon our Children towards the leading of them to Repentance but the word of God which is contained in the Scriptures will do more towards the bringing men to Repentance then the rising of one from the dead would do Luc. 16.29 30 31. They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them And he said Nay father Abraham but if one went to them from the dead they will repent And he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rise from the dead If the Scriptures will not perswade men to repent and believe such men would not repent and believe though Jesus Christ himself were on earth to speak to them John 5.46 47. Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me but if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe my words 3. If you should not convert your Children and Servants but they should still go on in their evil ways yet it is worth your time and pains to instruct and warn them of the danger they are in by reason of sin for hereby you shall deliver your own souls from being guilty of their Blood Ezek. 3.19 If thou warn the wicked and he turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way he shall die in his iniquity but thou hast delivered thy Soul 4. The word of God is to some men the savour of death unto death yet the Ministers of Christ must not cease to preach the word because all that hear them are not converted from their evil ways And when they discharge their work and duty faithfully they are a sweet savour unto God in those that perish as well as in them that are saved 2 Cor. 2.15 16. We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one we are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life So it is with Masters of Families they must not desist from Family-Instruction though they should see their Children or Servants continuing in their sins for if they discharge their duty faithfully and with diligence though they should have no success they shall be accepted of God in Christ Jesus SECT 19. The fear of aggravating our Childrens Condemnation should not make us neglect Family-Instruction Object 19 THe more light my Children have the greater their Condemnation will be if they make not a good use of it and I am afraid they will not and therefore I am afraid to instruct them lest I should aggravate their condemnation Answ I. It is true that the more Light any man hath the greater his condemnation will be if he do not make a good use of it Luc. 12.47 That Servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes II. Though the case be so that the more light any man hath the greater will be his condemnation yet this must not make you neglect instructing them out of fear that they should not improve their light and so have the greater condemnation For 1. Some mens sin and condemnation will be aggravated by the coming of Christ into the world John 15.22 If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their sin Yet God did well in sending his Son into the world The preaching of Christ and the Gospel will make their condemnation more dreadful where Christ and the Gospel are not embraced than the condemnation of the Heathen that never heard of Christ John 3.19 This is the condemnation That Light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than Light because their deeds were evil See also Mat. 11. 23 24. Yet the preaching of Christ and the Gospel to the world is a good work and God pronounceth a wo against those that he hath called to the Ministry of the Gospel who preach it not 1 Cor. 9. 16. For necessity is laid upon me yea wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel Suppose it should increase your Childrens misery in the world to come to have Light if they make not a good use of it yet you do well when you instruct them yea a necessity is laid upon you and wo be unto you if you do it not 2. You run a greater hazard both of your own and your Childrens condemnation by neglecting to