although he do not define the particular proportion of the compensation doth yet establish this satisfaction and reconciliation of our selves to our injured Brother in the general as an indispensable Duty without which nothing not our very Prayers or Oblations shall be accepted If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee having been injured by thee leave there thy gift and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother by giving him satisfaction for thy offence and then come and offer thy gift Matth. 5.23 24. Which Command is moreover one of those whose sanctions is the loss of Heaven ver 19. Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God Matth. 5.9 And thus we see of all the Laws which make any thing due to God our selves or all mankind in general whether they are instances of sobriety piety justice charity or peace that our obedience unto them all is made necessary unto life and that they are bound upon us by all our hopes of happiness and Heaven And the sanction is the same for all those Laws which make some things due in particular relations likewise For as for the Laws that bind us in the particular relation of Subjects to our Kings their sanction appears plainly from these places Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Wherefore you must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for Conscience sake Render therefore to all their Dues as these following are to Kings Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear or Reverence to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Rom. 13.1 2 5 7. And all these are only part of that Catalogue of Laws which he begins to reckon up and declares to them by his Apostolical Authority chap. â—2 ver 3. These things speak and exhort rebuke with all Authority and let no man despise thee who shall surely be punished as a Contemner of Christ if he do Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates Tit. 2. ver ult chap. 3. ver 1. I exhort therefore first of all that prayers of all sorts supplications intercessions petitions and giving of thanks be made for all Kings and such as are in Authority for this is in it self and will render us good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3 and a proof moreover of that good conscience which Timothy is charged to keep chap. 1. ver 19. And for Fidelity and Allegiance this may suffice to shew its necessity that among the men of corrupt minds who are reprobate concerning the Faith and who should render the last times perillous S t Paul reckons Traitorâ— 2 Tim. 3.1 4 8. So that as for all the forementioned Duties of this relation we see their indispensable necessity and that as ever we hope to be saved by them we must perform and obey them And so it is in the particular Laws of the next relation that of people towards their spiritual Governours viz. their Bishops and Ministers as is plain from these Texts following We beseech you Brethren to know them who labour among you and are set over you in the Lord and to esteem or honour them very highly or more than abundantly in love for their works sake 1 Thess. 5.12 13. And this is one of those Precepts which are pressed upon them as they would be Children of light and not of darkness ver 5 and as they are to avoid wrath and to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ ver 9. Let him who is taught or catechized in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth or catechizeth in all good things Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth in this and other things that shall he also reap Gal. 6.6 7. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls Pray for us Heb. 13.17 18. Which are part of those Precepts that are enjoined as the way whereby to serve God acceptably who is a consuming fire to destroy and devour all that dare offend him chap. 12.2 last verses And for the necessity of the several Laws in the particular relation of Husband and Wife that will appear by what follows For as for that love which is strictly required betwixt them it ought says S t Paul agreeably to the words of God at the institution of Marriage They two shall be one Flesh to be such as people have for their own Bodies Ephes. 5.28 31. Which cannot imply less than an affectionate concern and communicating in each others joy or sorrow for if one member of a mans Body suffer all the rest as the Apostle observes suffer with it and if one be honoured all the rest rejoyce with it the Members all having the same care one for another 1 Cor. 12.25 26. And also a bearing with each others infirmities as every man will do with those of his own Body and praying for each other And for particular Duties we are told in the same fifth Chapter to the Ephesians that the Husband must condescend and comply with his Wife and part not only with his own self-will but even with his own life to serve her Husbands love your Wives saith he even as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it So ought men to love their Wives as their own Bodies And how that is we all experience for no man ever yet hated his own Flesh but protecteth it and provideth well and duly for it or nourisheth and cherisheth it ver 25 28 29. In which love of his Wife as of his own Flesh is implied moreover that his Government of her be flexible and obliging nothing being more contrary to our self-love than to be commanded in peremptoriness and rigour And then as for the particular Duties of the Wife she is bid to be observant or to take care how to please her Husband 1 Cor. 7.34 To submit her will to his and to be ready to perform what he enjoins as she is to do what God commands her Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord for the Husband is the Head of the Wife as Christ is of the Church therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the Wives be unto their own Husbands in every thing Ephes. 5.22 23 24. And this submission she must shew in respectful carriage and such behaviour as argues in her a fear to give offence Let the Wife see that she reverence her Husband ver 33. And all these Commands enjoining Duties both on one side and on the other
All those speeches metonymical where Obedience is not express'd and yet pardon is promised p. 8 CHAP. II. Of pardon promised to Faith Knowledge and being in Christ. The Contents Of pardon and happiness promised to Faith and Knowledg Of the nature of Faith in general Of natural Jewish and Christian Faith Of this last as â—ustifying and saving Of the fitness of Christian Faith and Knowledg to produce Obedience Pardon promised to them no further than they are productive of it Of pardon promised to being in Christ. Christ sometimes signifies the Christian Religion sometimes the Christian Church Being in Christ is being of Christ's Religion or a Member of Christ's Church The fitness of these to effect Obedience Pardon promised to them no further than they do 20 CHAP. III. Of pardon promised to Repentance The Contents Of pardon promised to Repentance Regeneration a New Nature a New Creature The nature of Repentance it includes amendment and obedience The nature of Regeneration and a New Creature It s fitness to produce Obedience Some mens repentance ineffectual The folly of it Pardon promised to Repentance and Regeneration no further than they effect Obedience In the case of dying Penitents a change of mind accepted without a change of practice That only where God sees a change of practice woulâ— ensue upon it This would seldome happen upon death bed resolutions and Repentance The general ineffectiveness of this shown by experienâ—s Two reasons of it 1. Because it proceeds ordinarily upon an inconstant temporary Principle viz. nearness of Death and present fears of it Though it always begins there yet sometimes it grows up upon a Principle that is more lasting viz. a conviction of the absolute necessity of Heaven and a Holy Life 2. Because it is ordinarily in a weak and incompetent degree All TRVE resolution is not able to reform men Sick bed resolutions generally unable Such ineffective resolutions unavailing to mens pardon 34 CHAP. IV. Of pardon promised to Confession of Sins and to Conversion The Contents Of pardon promised to confession of sins The nature and qualifications of a saving Confession It s fitness to make us forsake sin The ineffectiveness of most mens confessions The folly and impiety of it Pardon promised to confession no further than it produces Obedience Of pardon promised to conversion The nature of conversion It includes Obedience and is but another name for it 55 CHAP. V. Of pardon promised to Prayer The Contents Of pardon promised to Prayer Of the influence which our Prayers have upon our Obedience Of the presumption or idleness of most mens prayers Of the impudence hypocrisie and uselessness of such Petitions Then our prayers are heard when they are according to Gods will when we pray for pardon in Repentance and for strength and assistance in the use of our own endeavours Pardon promised to Prayer no further than it effects this Obedience and penitential endeavour 64 CHAP. VI. Of pardon promised to our fear of God and trust in him The Contents Of pardon promised to our fear of God and trust in him Of the influence which mens fears have upon their endeavours and how they carry on ignorant minds into superstition but well-informed judgments to obedience Of the influence of mens trust in God upon their obedience The ineffectiveness of most mens trust Of the presumption and infidelity of such confidence That pardon is promised to fear and trust so far only as we obey with them 76 CHAP. VII Of pardon promised to the love of God and of our Neighbour The Contents Of pardon promised to the love of God and of our Neighbour Of the fitness of an universal love to produce an universal obedience That pardon is promised to it for this reason The Conclusion 85 BOOK II. Of the Laws of the Gospel which are the Rule of this Obedience in particular CHAP. I. Of the particular Laws comprehended under the Duty of Sobriety The Contents A Division of our Duty into three general Vertues Piety Sobriety Righteousness Of the nature of Sobriety The particular Laws commanding and prohibiting under this first Member A larger explication of the nature of Mortification 94 CHAP. II. Of LOVE the Epitome of Duty towards God and men and of the particular Laws comprehended under Piety towards God The Contents Of the Duties of Piety and Righteousness both comprehended in one general Duty LOVE It the Epitome of our Duty The great happiness of a good nature The kind temper of the Christian Religion Of the effects of LOVE The great Duty to God is Honour The outward expression whereof is Worship The great offence is dishonour Of the several Duties and transgressions contained under both 106 CHAP. III. Of the particular Duties contained under Justice and Charity The Contents Of the particular Duties contained under Justice and Charity Both are only expressions of Love which is the fulfilling of the Law Of the particular sins against both Of scandal Of the combination of Justice and Charity in a state that results from both viz. peace Of the several Duties comprehended under it Of the particular sins reducible to unpeaceableness Of the latitude of the word Neighbour to whom all these dutiful expressions are due It s narrowness in the Jewish sense It s universality in the Christian. 114 CHAP. IV. Of our Duties to men in particular Relations The Contents Of our Duties to other men in particular Relations The Duties enjoined and the sins prohibited towards Kings and Princes Bishops and other Ministers The particular Duties and sins in the relation of Husband and Wife Parents and Children Brethren and Sisters Masters and Servants Of the two Sacraments and Repentance A recital of all particular Duties enjoined and sins prohibited to Christians Of the harmlesness of a defective enumeration the Duties of the Gospel being suggested not only outwardly in Books but inwardly by mens own passions and consciences 134 CHAP. V. Of the Sanction of the foregoing Laws The Contents Of the Sanction of all the forementioned particular Laws That they are bound upon us by our hopes of Heaven and our fears of Hell Of the Sanction of all the particular affirmative or commanding Laws 168 CHAP. VI. Of the Sanction of all the forbidding Laws The Contents Of the Sanction of all the negative or forbidding Laws particularly The perfection of the Christian Law How our Duty exceeds that of the Heathens under the revelations of Nature And that of the Jews under the additional light of Moses's Law 190 BOOK III. What degrees and manner of Obedience is required to all the Laws forementioned CHAP. I. Of Sincerity The Contents THE first qualification of an acceptable obedience that it be sincere Two things implied in sincerity truth or undissembledness and purity or unmixedness of our service Of the first Notion of sincerity as opposite to hyyocrisie or doing what God commands out of a real intention and design to serve him Of a two-fold intention actual and express or habitual and
Acts 10.28 And upon the account of this freedom which he then took the Christian Jews who were of the Circumcision contended with him when he came up to Jerusalem reproving him for this That he went in to men uncircumcised and did eat with them Acts 11.2 3. The Woman of Samaria wondred that Jesus being a Jew should vouchsafe to ask so much as a Cup of cold water from her who was a Samaritan this being the stiffness of the Jewish Principle To have no dealings with the Samaritans John 4.9 Nay to that height of unkindness had they arrived as to deny even the most common Offices of humanity and Charity to show the way or give directions for a journey to any Gentile man Which several of the learned Heathens have smartly reproved and most justly complained of All which they did upon a supposition that the Neighbour to whom love and kindness was required by their Law was only a Fellow-Jew a Brother-Israelite and a man of their own Nation Which narrow and contracted sense they thought they had good reason to fix upon it from an expression in their own Law Lev. 19. where in the repetition of this great and general Duty of Love to our Neighbour the Word Neighbour is set in conjunction with and explained by one of the Children of their own People For thus 't is said Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the Children of thy People but thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self verse 18. Thus limited and confined was the Jewish Love God had chosen them out of all the Nations of the World for a peculiar people and had hedged them in from the rest of mankind by peculiar Laws and a peculiar Government And upon this they concluded that whatsover God required of them he did it as their political King and as the particular Head of the Jewish Nation and that he intended those Laws which he gave them as Rules for their behaviour towards their own Brethren and Fellow-Subjects not towards Strangers of Foreign Nations But as for our Lord and Sovereign Jesus Christ he is a Governour and has enacted all his Laws not for the guidance of any one Nation or People but of all the world He told his Disciples when he sent them out to preach the Gospel That all power was given to him both in Heaven and in Earth and thereupon commissioned them to go out and proclaim his Laws not to the Jews alone but to all Nations Matth. 28.18 19. And by this universality of his Empire he has taken away the partition-wall which was between Jews and Gentiles having made them both one Ephes. 2.14 So that now there can be no further colour or pretence for a limited and restrained affection all the World by this means being now again made one People Fellow-subjects and Brethren and Neighbours unto one another Whatever the Jews conceived of their Laws therefore 't is plain that all the Laws of Christ which command all manner of Justice Charity and Peaceableness and forbid all expressions of uncharitableness injury and unpeaceableness towards our Neighbours make these things due to all mankind It is not either distance of Country nor contrariety of interest no nor what is most of all presumed to exempt us from the obligation of these Duties diversity of opinion or perswasion in matters of Religion which takes away from any man his right to all that kindness and advantage from us which all these forementioned Laws give him But of whatsoever Country Calling or Religion he be he is the Neighbour here meant to whom all these instances of Love which are the particular Laws of Duty must be performed And this our Saviour has determined once for all in his Answer to the Lawyer Luke 10. For when he put the Question to him Who is my Neighbour to whom the Law commands all these things to be done ver 29. Jesus answers him by a Parable that it is every man in the World whom he may at any time have to do with although he be never so much a Stranger nay of a party and opinion in Religion never so contrary unto his For what Religion was ever more odious unto any one than the Samaritan was to the Jews So great a detestation had they of it that when they would give a Name of the vilest ignominy and greatest hatred to Christ himself they told him he was a Samaritan and joined with it such a farther Character as they thought would best suit with it his being possessed with a Devil Say we not well answer'd they that thou art a Samaritan and hast a Devil John 8.48 But yet for all this height of enmity between the Jews and Samaritans he tells the Jewish Lawyer who demanded of him who was his Neighbour that a Jewish man fell among Thieves who wounded him and left him half dead and that a Samaritan coming by had compassion on him and bound up his wounds and took care of him Hereby insinuating That any man though so contrary to him in Religion as these two were to one another is the Neighbour whom the Law intends and therefore in full answer to his Question he bids him Go and do so likewise Luke 10.30 to 38. CHAP. IV. Of our Duties to men in particular Relations The CONTENTS Of our Duties to other men in particular Relations The Duties enjoined and the sins prohibited towards Kings and Princes Bishops and other Ministers The particular duties and sins in the relation of Husband and Wife Parents and Children Brethren and Sisters Masters and Servants Of the two Sacraments and Repentance A recital of all particular Duties enjoined and sins prohibited to Christians Of the harmlesness of a defective enumeration the Duties of the Gospel being suggested not only outwardly in Books but inwardly by mens own Passions and Consciences BUT besides all these Laws contained in the general Command of Love to our Neighbour which require something of us to be performed or forborn towards all mankind there are yet some more particular instances of it which make some things due from us not as we are left at random towards all men indifferently but as we stand more peculiarly related towards some whether that relation be 1. Publick and Political of Prince and Subjects Ministers and People 2. More Private and Domestick as is that between 1. Husband and Wife 2. Parents and Children 3. Brethren and Sisters 4. Master and Servants For in all these special Relations Love to our Neighbour exerts it self in special effects which are all such peculiar Laws as bind us not towards all men indifferently but only towards them whom we stand so related to To begin with the first 1. The first relation from whence result several effects of Love and instances of Duty towards some particular men distinct from what we owe to the rest of all mankind is that which is between us and our Publick or Political Governours and Rulers And because we are
three more is comprized the Body of our whole Duty If we adde two or three more I say for besides the several Laws already mentioned there are three particular Duties yet remaining of a more positive and arbitrary nature which Christ has bound all Christians to observe and they are the Law of Baptism of the Lords Supper and of Repentance Baptism is our incorporation into the Church of Christ or our entrance into the Gospel Covenant or into all the duties and priviledges of Christians by means of the outward Ceremony of washing or sprinkling in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost The Eucharist or Lords Supper is our Federal Vow or repetition of that engagement which we made at Baptism of performing faith repentance and obedience unto God in expectation of remission of sins eternal happiness and those other promises which by Christ's death are procured for us upon these terms which engagement we solemnly make to God at our eating Bread and drinking Wine in remembrance and commemoration of Christs dying for us Repentance is a forsaking of sin or an amendment of any evil way upon a sorrowful sense and just apprehension of its making us offend God and subjecting us to the danger of death and damnation And if to all the forementioned instances of those three grand Vertues which by the Apostle Tit. 2.12 13 are made the summ of our Christian Duty we join these three positive and additional Laws we have all that whereby God will judge us at the last Day even all those particular Laws whereto our obedience is required as necessary to salvation And thus we have seen what those particulars Laws are which the Gospel indispensably requires us to obey They are no other than those very instances which I have been all this while recounting and describing But because the Catalogue of them hitherto has been broken and interrupted and therefore cannot be run over so easily as might be desired in a matter of that importance I will here repeat them all again for the greater ease of all such pious souls as desire to try themselves by them and place them all in one view and all together The commanding Laws then whereby at the last Day we must all be judged are these that follow The Law of sobriety towards our selves with all its Train which are the Law of humility of heavenly-mindedness of temperance of sobriety of chastity of continence of contempt of the world and contentment of courage and taking up the Cross of diligence and watchfulness of patience of mortification and self-denial The Law of piety towards God with all its Branches which are the Law of honour of worship of faith and knowledge of love of zeal of trust and dependance of prayer of thankfulness of fear of submission and resignedness of obedience The Law of Justice towards men in all its parts which will be seen by the contrary prohibitions of injustice The Law of Charity in all its instances which are the Law of goodness or kindness of honour for our Brethrens Vertues of pity and succour of restraining our Christian Liberty for our weak Brothers edification of friendly reproof of brotherly kindness of congratulation of compassion of almes and distribution of covering and concealing their defects of vindicating their reputation of affability or graciousness of courtesy and officiousness of condescension of hospitality of gentleness of candor of unity of thankfulness of meekness or lenity of placableness of forgiving injuries of doing good to enemies and when nothing more is in our power praying for them and blessing or speaking what is good of them when we take occasion to mention them of long-suffering of mercifulness The Law of Peace and Concord with all its Train as are the Law of peaceableness of condescension and compliance of doing our own business of satisfying for injuries of peace-making The Law of love to Kings and Princes in all its Particulars which are the Law of honour of reverence of paying Tribute and Customes of fidelity of praying for them of obedience of subjection The Law of love to our Bishops and Ministers with all its expressions which are the Law of honour or having them highly in esteem for their works sake of reverence of maintenance of praying for them of obedience The Law of Love in the particular relation of Husband and Wife with all its Branches which are on both sides the Law of mutual concern and communicating in each others bliss or misery of bearing each others infirmities of prayer of fidelity On the Husbands towards his Wife the Law of providing for her of protecting her of flexible and winning Government of compliance and condescension On the Wives towards her Husband the Law of honour of reverence of observance and obedience of subjection The Law of Love in the particular relation of Parents and Children with its several effects which are from the Parents towards their Children the Law of natural affection of maintenance and provision of honest education of loving Government of bringing them up in the institution and fear of God of prayer for them From the Children towards their Parents besides the Duty of natural affection common to both the Law of honour of reverence of obedience of subjection of requiting upon occasion their care and kindness of prayer for them The Law of Love in the particular relation of Brethren and Sisters with all its instances which are the Law of natural affection of providing for our Brethren of praying for them The Law of Love in the particular relation of Master and Servant with its several expressions which are on the Masters side the Law of maintenance of religious instruction of a just and equal Government of them of kindness and equity in commanding of forbearance and moderation in threatning of punctual payment of the wages of the Hireling of praying for them On the Servants the Law of honour of reverence of observance of concealing and excusing their Masters defects of vindicating their injured reputation of fidelity of obedience of diligence of willing and hearty service of patient submission and subjection of praying for them To all which we may add the two arbitrary institutions and positive Laws of the Gospel Baptism and the Eucharist or Lords Supper and when we transgress in any of the instances forementioned that great and only remedy of Christs Religion the Law of repentance This so far as I can call to mind at present is a just enumeration of those particular Injunctions and Commands of God whereto our obedience is indispensably required and whereby at the last Day we must all be judged either to live or dye eternally But supposing that some particular instances of Love and Duty are omitted in this Catalogue yet need this be prejudicial to no mans happiness since that defect will be otherwise supplied For as for such omitted instances where there is an occasion for them and an opportunity offered to exercise
which are delivered in that Chapter are required as part of our walking as Children of the light and proving what is acceptable unto the Lord ver 8 10. Marriage is honourable and the Bed undefiled but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 Wives are to be taught to be obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God or Doctrine of the Gospel be not blasphemed Tit. 2.5 Let Wives be in subjection to their own Husbands For with this in old time the holy women adorned themselves even as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling and observing him as her Lord whose Daughters ye are as long as you do well and imitate her but no longer 1 Pet. 3.5 6. So that all the Laws in this relation are enjoined under the same necessity and confirmed with the same sanction as the former And as for the Particulars of the next relation they are imposed with the same strictness For natural affection the want of it S t Paul affirms plainly makes men worthy of death Rom. 1.31 The Children ought not to lay up Treasure or provide for the Parents but the Parents for the Children 2 Cor. 12.14 And if any man provide not for his own house he hath denied the Faith of Christ which indispensably enjoins it nay despising such a notorious and necessary Precept of mere Nature he is worse than any honest Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath against you by a harsh and austere Government of them but rule them in kindness and love and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And ye Children on the other side obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right Honour your Father and Mother that it may be well with you Ephes. 6.1 2 3 4. Which Precepts are of the number of those which he imposes on them as parts of their walking as Children of the light and proving what is acceptable unto the Lord Chap. 5.8 10. If any man have Children or Nephews let them first learn to shew piety at home and requite their Parents for this is good and acceptable to God But if any man provide not for his own especially those of his own house or Family as Parents are in the first place he hath denied the Faith and in his unnatural actions is worse than an honest Infidel 1 Tim. 5.4 8. And thus are all the Laws of this relation likewise established in the greatest strictness and our obedience to them made plainly necessary to our bliss and happiness And as for the particular Laws of natural affection and communicating upon occasion to each other of their Substance in the relation of Brethren and Sisters they are proved to be necessary in the proof of the former For the same places which require them in that relation require them in this also And then as for the Particulars of the last relation viz. that of Masters and Servants they are of equal necessity with all the foregoing If any man provide not for his own house whereof Servants are one part he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 Masters give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven who will punish your unequal dealing towards them Col. 4.1 If I despise the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant when they argue in their own defence and contend with me what then shall I do when God rises up and when he visiteth what shall I answer him Job 31.13 14. Thou shalt not oppress an hired Servant that is poor and needy whether he be of thy Brethren a Jew or a Stranger of the Gentiles At his Day thou shalt give him his hire neither shall the Sun go down upon it for he is poor and setteth his heart upon it Deut. 24.14 15. Weep and howl O ye rich men says S t James for the miseries that shall come upon you for behold the hire of the Labourers who have reaped down your Fields and which is of you keept back by fraud crieth against you and the Cries are entred into the ears of the Lord who hearkens to them and in great Justice will one Day avenge them James 5.1 4. Ye Masters do the same things viz. good whether as to their Bodies in providing for them or to their Souls in religious instruction with a good will in expectation of a reward from the Lord to your Servants forbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven who has threatned you if ye neglect this necessary Duty neither is there any respect of persons with him Ephes 6.8 9. Let as many Servants as are under the Yoke count their own Masters worthy of all honour that the name of God be not blasphemed as certainly it would upon their contrary practice And if any man teach otherwise he is proud knowing nothing 1 Tim. 6.1 3 4. Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the Flesh not with eye-service but in singleness or sincerity of heart without fraud or double dealing as persons fearing God And whatsoever you do do it heartily as to the Lord not to men knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance for such your obedient practice for in thus serving them you serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.22 23 24. Servants obey your Masters with fear and trembling not with eye-service as Men-pleasers but from the heart with good-will doing service as to the Lord who commands this of you and not only to men knowing that whatsoever good or ill in this particular any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord Ephes 6.5 6 7 8. Exhort Servants to be obedient to their own Mâ—sters and to please them well by all manner of observance in all things either as to their reputation in vindicating it when 't is injured or concealing such defects as would stain and fully it or their other interests showing all good fidelity For the Grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared to all men teaching them as ever they hope to be saved by it That denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts whereof the contrary practices to these are the effect and offspring they should live soberly c. Tit. 2.9 10 11 12 13. And moreover these Precepts are part of that sound Doctrine which Titus is required to speak ver 1. in opposition to their Doctrine who in the Verse before are said to be abominable disobedient and to every good work reprobate Servants be subject to your own Masters with all fear or reverence not only to the good and gentle but also to the hard or hasty and froward For this is thank-worthy if for Conscience towards God you patiently endure grief suffering wrongfully This is acceptable to God and likewise
tenderness of love and kindness which should result from the intimate nearness of their relation is estrangedness and as proceeding higher to ill-will and expressions of an imbittered mind as it causes for the present wrangling and debate it is strife or contention and as festring into an habitual displeasure and lasting regret it is hatred or enmity and as breaking out in a proclamation of each others weaknesses evil speaking or publishing each others infirmities 3. As doing no good to each other themselves so seeking none from God which is not praying for each other 4. An avoidance of each others Bed and being false to the Marriage Covenant about it which is adultery But if this unfaithfulness really be not but through the suspicious temper of one side is only groundlesly presumed it is jealousie 2. Such as are peculiar and concern one particularly towards the other either 1. The Husband towards the Wife and here the effects of hatred will be 1. A neglecting to use his power for her benefit through an insensibleness of her wants and regardlesness of what hardships she struggles with either as to necessaries or conveniencies which is not providing for her or not maintaining her or as to injuries and affronts which is not protecting her 2. Vsing all his authority over her by a harsh and magisterial peremptoriness of Command which is imperiousness or by an unyielding inflexibleness of will and pleasure which is uncompliance uncondescension 2. The Wife towards the Husband where it will produce a light and low opinion of him which is dishonour which being joined with a contemptuous and fearless behaviour towards him is irreverence And this will effect 1. A backwardness and utter averseness to do unbidden what will delight and please him which is non-observance or what is commanded by him which is disobedience 2. A refusal or open reluctance in undergoing that restraint which he imposes which is casting off his yoke or unsubjection So that in this relation of Husband and Wife the effects of hatred or Laws forbidding are to both Parties the Law against unconcernedness in each others condition against not bearing each others infirmities against provoking one another against estrangedness against strife and contention against hatred and enmity against publishing each others infirmities against not praying for each other against adultery against jealousie To the Husband towards the Wife the Law against not maintaining her against not protecting her against imperiousness against uncompliance or uncondescension To the Wife towards her Husband the Law against dishonour against irreverence against unobservance against disobedience against casting off his yoke or unsubjection 2. The second domestick relation is that of Parents and Children and in this the effects of Love and particulars of Duty are either 1. On the Parents side towards their Children as are 1. From the extraordinary nearness that their Children have to them being parts even of their own Bodies that most heightened tenderness and kindness which because it is found in all Animals in nature towards their own Offspring is called natural affection 2. From their Childrens helplesness and wants their care over them Which is taken up 1. With respect to this world and that in behalf 1. Of their Bodies by providing for them all due necessaries and conveniencies both whilst they are under them and against the time that they go out from them which is provision maintenance 2. Of their whole persons both Body and Soul by training them up in the best ways they can whereby to render them profitable in their station and useful Members of Society which is good and honest education In the management whereof the using of their power over them not in a rigorous and austere but a tender obliging way is loving Government 2. With respect to the next world and that is by causing them to be duely instructed in Religion and stamped with vertuous impressions which S t Paul calls bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Ephes. 6.4 And for those things which they cannot procure for them by themselves begging of them from Gods bounty by prayer for them 2. On the Childrens side towards their Parents where besides the Duty of natural affection common to them with the Parents Love effects 1. An opinion of their preheminence and authority over them which is honour and this when it is joined with an awful regard to them and a fear of offending them is reverence 2. Whilst they are under them a ready chearfulness in performing all that they command which is obedience and in bearing and undergoing all that they impose which is submission or subjection 3. When either they are under them or gone from them a readiness upon occasion to requite all their care and kindness in supporting and relieving them which the Apostle calls requiting their Parents 1 Tim. 5.4 4. And in such things wherewith they cannot supply them of themselves entreating God on their behalf which is praying for them So that the effects of Love and instances of Duty in this relation are from the Parents towards their Children the Law of natural affection of maintenance and provision of honest education of loving Government of bringing them up in the institution and fear of God of prayer for them from the Children towards their Parents the Law of honour of reverence of obedience of subjection of requiting upon occasion their care and kindness of prayer for them And opposite to these effects of Love which are so many commanded Duties the effects of hatred in this relation which are so many particular forbidden sins are these that follow 1. In Parents towards their Children it will produce a coldness of heart and unconcernedness for them which is being void of natural affection Which will effect 1. As to their care for them a neglecting to provide for their present maintenance or future support which is condemned by S t Paul under the name of not providing for those of our own house 1 Tim 5.8 2. As to their Government and Conduct of them an untoward exercise and employment of it where there is no just need or a neglect of it where there is For it will produce 1. As to things that are good and necessary for the Children an utter carelesness of them when the Parents neglect to teach and inure them to such things as may render them dutiful to God and useful in Society and contrariwise accustome and bring them up in idleness vanity or wickedness which is irreligious or evil education 2. As to things that are unnecessary and indifferent a great strictness and severity whether it be in commanding or imposing things without reason necessity or convenience or convenient things with imperious harshness or unreasonable rigour only out of wantonness of authority and plenitude of power which instead of exciting them to a cheerful obedience is apt to move in them an irksome regret which is provoking them to anger 3. And instead of praying for