hath spoken so bad of me Plutarch surely he knoweth cause enough to do so else he would not have done it an imitable example of an heathen but ingenious Child to his Father 5. Improve choycer seasons of getting good 5. Improve seasons of soul-good that you may come to be true Honourers of God and then no doubt but you will be Honourers of Parents make God only to be your God first worship him aright and sanctifie his name c. and then you will Honour Father and Mother Levit. â—9 2. Be ye holy saith God as I am holy and then vers 3. chargeth fear yea every man his Father and his Mother be pious to God-wards and you will be pious towards Parents the fear of God is the beginning of such wisdome also Prov. 10. 5. As he that sleepeth in harvest the season of reaping good soul-good also is a Son that causeth shame to Parents also so by rule of opposition he that gathereth in summer is a wise Son or one that will cause Honour to Parents as well as himself or others 6. Set often before your eyes studdy much and 6. Eye good examples this way make utmost improvement of choycer Scripture examples of persons eminen t for honor of parents as that of Shem Abraham Isaack Jacob Joseph yea Jesse himself Luke 2. 51. 7. Inure your selves betimes to Honour Fathers and Mothers without Authority as Aged persons 7. Honour aged persons Levit. 19. 32. Honour the face of the Old man Teleuchus being asked why at Sparte the younger Plut arch sort use to rise up before the aged answered that by giving Honour to others they might learn to Honour their own Parents CHAP. III. Of Honour in speciall due to Parents and that in a direct way and therein of Honour of respect and love due to Parents HAving spoken of Honour in generall required by the 5. Commandement from Children to Parents we come now to speak of Honour in speciall due to them first of that which is in a direct way and therein according to the Method propounded in the first Chapter 1. Of Honour of respect and love due to Parents that Honour is so taken in Scripture we there gave Scripture instances That honour of respect to Parents is due proved and need not now repeat them we may then note as a branch of the general point That Children are bound to Honour their Parents with the Honour of choycest respect and love Honour thy Father and Mother saith Exod. 20. 12. But having them in choycest respect and love is Honouring of them say other Scriptures therfore Children must most highly respect and love their Parents For our better handling of this branch of Honour let us only shew wherein this commanded respect and love to Parents doth consist or what is required of Children in this that they are required so highly to respect and love their Parents and then afterwards apply it by way of use To the former we answer that Children 1. They are to be delighted greatly in their This respect consisteth 1. In delighting Parents Fathers presence to be much affected with the very sight of a Father or Mother See how Joseph plotteth to have his Father near him when he could not be so near his Father Gen. 45. 10. Thou shalt be near to me c. And when he commeth to the sight of his Father after some years inforced absence of his from his Father he 's even overjoy'd as we say to see him He is as one transported for he falleth on his Fathers neck having first humbly presented himself to him Gen. 46. 29. And he wept for very extasie of joy on his neck a good while his heart was so overcome with strength of affections that for a good space he can silently weep but not utter a word that we read of till afterwards till his good old Father first brake that deep silence vers 30. and then Joseph also speaketh vers 31. As Children are to their Parents the desire of their eyes and that whereupon they set their minds their Sons and their Daughters Ezek. 24. 25. So should Parents be to Children Jacob had enough if his Son Joseph be alive and well he is content to die if God so pleased Gen. 46. 30. Let the sight of absent long absent Parents be to Children even as dear and precious and delighting as their very lives if not more as it is in that precedentall love and respect of the genuine Children of the Father of Spirits Oh the sight of his face the injoyment of his presence especially after some space of the want of his blessed presence what is it not to such Childrens hearts Such for the nature at least of our respect and love should be Childrens love to their Parents 2. They are not forward to part with 2. Backwardnesse to paâ—â— wâ—â—h them their Parents but as urged in a sort forced by any speciall call or providence of God and if sometimes called to be absent from them for a time yet to be longing in a moderate and regular way after their Company againe Both these paticulars are clear in instances the former in Ruth when her Sister Orpha left her Mother with tears in her eyes Ruth 1. 14. And they lift up their voice and wept again and Orpha kissed her Mother in Law but Ruth clave to her yea when urged by Naomi to return after her Sister-in-Law vers 15. Yet saith she vers 19. Intreat me not to leave thee for whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodged I will lodge She will share with her in wealth and woe and nothing but death shall part them vers 17. 2 King 19. 20. Elisha must needs go and kiss his Father and Mother and then he will foolow Elijah God will have the poore captive Woman when her Master liketh her for his Wife yet to bewaile her Father and Mother for a Moneth Deut. 21. 13. Such loathness God will have Children to express to part with dear Parents as Parents are wonderous loath to part with their Children living or dying unless urged by Gods Call like good old Jacob first Gen. 42. 38. My Son saith he of Benjamin shall not go down with you for his Brother is dead and he is left alone if mischief befall him by the way ye go then shall ye bring down my gray haires with sorrow to the grave and Cap. 43. 22 c. And their Father Israel said if it must needs be so then do this c. So should Children not part with their Parents till they must needs till God some way calleth them from them as the genuine Children of God such is their love to him that it is as death to part with him though but for a time Oh if it might be their Fathers pleasure they would never be from him nor have him from them So in the nature of our love to Parents should it be expressed
to them if God should take them away from us yet our love should be expressed in our greatest trouble and grief for them as Isaacks was to his Mother for three years space after as was shewed from Gen. 24. 63. compared with other Scriptures When David would express his great grief for his very afflicted enemies as if his friends or Brethren I bowed down heavily saith he as one that mourneth for his Mother a Mother-Iess Childs mourning then for a deceased Mother is the saddest of mournings Hence it was of old a good Neighbourly Custome to give a consolatory Cup to such as mourned for Father or Mother as such whose grief was deemed so great that they needed some cheering hence the contrary threatned in judgment Jer. 16. 7. Edward the first having his Father Henry the 3. newly deceased and withall one young Prince his own Son dead also he made light of his Sons death in comparison of his Fathers saying He might come to have more Sons but he should never have any more Fathers now this was gon As for the other expression of Childrens love to Parents in longing after them we see it in Jacob witness that part of his plea Gen. 28. 21. So that I come again to my Fathers house in peace and Gen 31. 30. Laban took notice that Jacob longed sore after his Fathers house as in that pattern of love of Gods Children they shew in longing sore after him and of their Communion with him Psal 42. 1 2 3. and 62. 1 2 3 c. So it is in Childrens love to their Parents only this longing after them must not exceed the bounds of particular calls and callings or relations as of Husbands Wifes Servants Ministers Magistrates c. But in such a way and season as it may not break any other bonds of God 3. Children are many waies to deny themselves 3. In denying themselves for them for their Parents choise good any way as when Children in their Parents wants or weaknesses are called to be staies to their Parents allbeit it might be more to their outward advantage to be else where yet they must be willing to suffer and lose somewhat with them and for them rather then forsake them in such a case as Ruth seeing her aged Mother-in-law who had been full of outward blessings but now is empty and very poor she will not leave her though a younger Woman and likely to do better for the outward man other where Ruth 1. 16 c. she will work hard for her stoop low to become a poor gleaner to bring in supplies to her Mother-in-law Cap. 2. and how long did Jacobs Sons imploy themselves in the Managing their Fathers estate and outward affaires supplies not alone before their Marriage Gen. 30. 35. but after witness that Gen. 37. 12 14 42. 1 2 3. 43. 15. and 47. 1 2 3 c. Yea Children are to be willing to run very great hazards or hardships for their Parents sakes rather then to indanger them in their persons and names or the like Notable is that example of good Judah Gen. 44. 33 34. having said v. 30. That his Fathers life was bound up in the Lads life so that as v. 31. If he see not him return he will die and so they shal bring their Fathers gray haires with sorrow to the grave now therefore saith Judah let thy Servant abide instead of the Lad bond-man to my Lord and let the Lad go up with his Brethren for how shall I go up to my Father and the Lad be not with me lest paradventure I see the evill that shall come to my Father Judah had rather live and die a bond-man if thereby he might lengthen out his Fathers daies by Benjamins return or prevent his sorrowfull end by the detaining Benjamin in Egypt Memorable is that story recorded by Pausanias l. 10. writing of the Catanensiaus saith that when Catana a City bordering upon Aetna was set on fire by it they made nothing of their Silver or Gold but as they fled out one taketh up his Mother upon his shoulders another his Father but because they hasted not being so loaden the fire compassed them the flame suddenly passing on yet would they not lay down their Parents wherefore they report that the flames parted as in two and passed over both the young men and their Parents without mortall hurt of them whence in his time honourable memorials were assigned by them to the Catanenses God honoured those acts of high respect to Parents with a notable deliverance and men honoured them with honourable monuments thereof And indeed what did not the pattern of filial respect to his Father the Son of God hazard and undergo for his Fathers sake and honour and what will not any genuine Child of his by his help under go rather then hazard his name or cause and there is a proportion of the like in the Children of mens love to their Parents Parents many waies denyed and hazarded themselves for Children and they may well do as much for Parents 4. They are to be exceedingly affected with 4. In being affected with Parents favour or frownes their Parents true love to them or grounded and just displeasure against them in the speaking expressions of either of them Solomon kept the Records thereof in his case as that he took speciall notice of and was much affected with and God himself took it so well that he ordereth it to be a piece of Sacred Writ Prov. 4. 3. I was saith he my Fathers Son tender and only beloved in the sight of my Mother When Ruben saw that Joseph was missing in fear of his Father distast thereof saith Gen. 37. 30. The Child is not and I whither shall I go Absolom would be feigning a genuine filiall respect to his Father in this particular that his Fathers favour is all in all to him as a Son and his life doth him no good whilest under his displeasure 2 Sam. 14. 32. He would have Joab say on his behalf to the King his Father wherefore am I come up from Geshur now therefore let me see the Kings face and if there be any iniquity in me let him kill me but he was a very Counterfeit in this God himself alludeth to the case of the displeased Father in Miriams case Numb 12. 14. If her Father saith he had spit in her face should she not be ashamed seaven daies look as it was in Christs deep affections to the expressions of his Fathers love or anger or as it is with Gods other Children that nothing more affects them then the sense of their Fathers love one way or that of his displeasure the other way So it is with ingenuous Children in a like respect of affectionatnesse with Parentall favour or anger 5. They are to prize very much Parents good 5 In prizing Parents instructions and reproofs and savoury Counsels and instructions yea their very rebukes Carefully remembring and
recording their most usefull sayings Thus Solomon taketh this as Davids charge to him Prov. 4. 4. Let thine heart retain my words and the choicer passages thereof he records vers 5. such as those get Wisdome get Vnderstanding and other like golden Counsels vers 6 7 8 c. He giveth the like in charge to his Son vers 21. My Son attend unto my words keep them in the midst of thine heart See the like Prov. 3. 1. and 2. 1. and 6. 21. Cap. 7. 1 2 3. Herein Gods Childrens honour of respect and love to their heavenly Father is expressed that they make so much of his words and keep them as their treasure It is the like in the case of the Children of men towards their Parents 6. They are to prize and cleave to their good 6. In prizing Parents friends and Children Parents speciall friends Prov. 27. 10. Thy Fathers friend forsake not but especially they are to cleave to Brethren and Sisters of the same Parents 1 Pet. 3 8. Love as Brethren saith he in Saints cases but it is borrowed from that which is naturall to Brethren of the same Parents which is to love each other dearly it s else a dishonour to the Image of their Parents which is as one Common stamp upon them all so that if they love the one they must love the other whence also that by the same allusion when speaking of love to Gods Children 1 Joh. 5. 1. And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten he that loveth the Father begetting will love his Image in his begotten Moses thought it was a sufficient antidote against any thing contrary to love to those two Israelites that they were Brethren of one house yea of one Father even God why should they strive or wrong each other Acts 7. 26. 7. They are meekly and wisely to use all faithfull 7. In diswading Parents from soulevills and dangers endeavours to disswade Parents and to take them off from whatsoever might in danger their very souls welfare for that is love indeed Hence by allusion of such Children Hos 2. 2. Plead with your Mother plead saith God to the good Children of the Church Children may in such a way and must plead with their very Mothers Good Jonathan did wisely deal with his Father and said to him 1 Sam. 19. 4. Let not the King sin against his servant against David because he hath not sinned against thee and because his works have been to thee-ward very good c. 8 They are cordially to symphathize with 8. In sympathising with Parents their Parents in their joyes or sorrows Ge. 44. 34. How shall I go up to my Father and the Lad not with me lest peradventure I see the evill that shall come on my Father Gen. 37. 35. All Jacobs Sons and Daughters rose up to comfort him Use 1. Of Reproof of Childrens unnaturallness to Parents 1. Use of reproof 1. It serves to reprove such wretched Children who even in these very dayes of Gospel-light are without naturall affection to their Parents You have this charged upon the Heathen Rom. 1. 31. That they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 3 5. Chargeth it upon Christians also who had a form of godliness and I wish too many such were not to be found amongst Christians and such as would be thought some body for Religion Some indeed restrain this in 2 Tim. 3. 3. To Parents unnaturallness to Children which yet upon Rom. 1. 31. expound it of Childrens unnaturallnesse to Parents but there is no need to restrain it to either onely Parents or onely Children the word is the same in the Greek in both places and it s well known that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies most properly that affection of love whereby either Parents respect their Children or Children againe respect their Parents And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are persons without that affection whether they be Parents or Children and so in the Bible put out by the late synod they well note upon that Rom. 1. 31. That the sin there taxed by the Apostle did reign among the Gentiles who sacrificed in some places their aged Parents and sometimes their Children unto their Idols exposed them to ruine and destroyed them though not guilty of any capitall crimes and they refer to 2 Tim. 3. 3. as the same in sense but that part of unnaturalnesse which we here deal withall is that of the Children to the Parents though we acknowledge that all the aggravations of this sin deduceable from those two Scriptures are appliable as well to unnaturalness in Parents with which I deale not at present as to unnaturalnesse in Children of which I am now speakiag But that we lose not our bottome for the reproof are there not too many Children of Christians who are as those spoken of 2 Tim. 3. 3 4. Heady and unruly Children to their Parents Fathers and Mothers cannot shall not now rule Signes of it them their words they care not for and their blowes they as little regard are not these void of naturall affection to their Parents Some there are who are treacherous to their very Parents also Traytors they are called as 2 Tim. 3. 3 4. Such as Parents know not how to trust with their Counsels Secrets Estates or occasions they are so false to them as Micah complained in his time Micah 7. 5 6. and have these genuine affection to their Parents Some will cunningly draw their very Parents into some sinfull snares as some Sons and Daughters do Parents into errours Deut. 13. 6. or as Lots Daughters who drew him first to drink too much of their wine and then drew him into incest Gen. 19. 33 35. but do such love or are not they rather baters grand-enemies to their Parents Some there are who rise up against their good Parents and even for their goodness Some neglect to do for them in their needs Some there are who are ready to give reviling speeches to their Parents Exod. 21. to strike at them ibid. or to scoffe at them Prov. 30 17. or to imbesil or wast their estates Pro. 19. 26. or at least to wast their farthers viz. their Spirits hasten their end by their lewd courses and care not though they know what crosse courses they take do even break their Parents hearts yet will on But do any such as you are honour Parents with the Honour of respect and love Surely no you are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without filiall affection what ever your form of godliness may be to be sure it is without power 2 Tim. 3. 3 5. Such as you are make the times perilous vers 1. and you carry a very black Evills of it brand of persons given up to a reprobate mind for persons given up to a reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. they are noted out to be without naturall affection vers 31. But wo be to all such
Children have nothing to give Parents to be a temptation to bribe their affections to them nor are they of any power to curb them any way to enforce respects to them and so they are more pure Whereas in both these regards Childrens respects to Parents may be leavened Yea Parents as Parents are instruments in Gods hands of their Childrens Souls being in their bodies and so of the faculties of their Souls and so of their naturall affections in them and of that affection of love and fear amongst the rest and therefore they may well chalenge the honourable improvement of them to themselves so far as God alloweth the same To conclude Children will never honour Parents with the honour of Reverence Obedience or Recompence or the like unlesse they give the honour of respect love due to them therefore give them this their due Now that Children may be helped and furthered in doing this Helps to it 1 Dread of the vile sin of unnaturalnesse 1. Possesse your hearts with a deep sense and dread of the heinous nature of the sin of unnaturalness which is wont to be accompanied with the vilest sins against God and Man as by comparing Rom. 2. 28 29 30 31 32. and 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 4. may be discerned Such persons who are without naturall affections commonly proving Blasphemous against God ingrateful to God and men unholy truce and Covenant-breakers whisperers back-biters false accusers of others they are commonly given to uncleanness and wantonness they are fierce and furious of a cruell Salvage unmercifull implacable spirit they are despisers of those that are good they are even haters of God they are haters of other men of a spightfull malicious quarrelsome and envious Spirit in a word They are full of all unrighteousnesse and deceit themselves and inventors of evill things evill opinions evill practises ringleaders in sin authors of sin to others If sundry of these scandalous persons in old and new England were closely search'd into they would be found to be persons who have been are unnaturall to their Parents 2. Take heed of any leading causes which breed and feed unnaturalness and undermine naturall 2. Avoiding causes of unnaturalnesse of affection as 1. Ignorance affection to Parents such as are 1. Ignorance of God and of his word and of the matters of Religion Rom 1. 31. without understanding without naturall affection if without understanding what wonder if without naturall affection 2. Self-love for they that are so full of self-love 2. Self-love have never a due proportion of love left for God or man for Parents or others 2 Tim. 3. 2. For men shall be lovers of themselves and verse 3. without naturall affection 3. A worldly covetous Spirit ibid. Covetous 3. Covetousnesse without naturall affection a Spirit of the love of the world will eat out as the love of the Father of our Spirits John 2. 15. so that of the Father of our flesh also whose Fatherhood is an Image of that in God Such if they shew respect to Parents it is but for their own advantage and gaine and if the respect to them may not stand with their gain or must be to their outward losse then adieu respect to Parents 4. A proud Spirit 2 Tim. 3. 3 4. Without naturall affection high-minded Absolom who was so Pride high-minded what wonder is it if he prove so unnaturall to his Father 5. A Voluptuous Spirit ibid. Without naturall affection lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God Voluptuousnesse They that respect their pleasures so much they never respect God as they shold nor their parents Esaus inordinatenesse of affection to his hunting brings him to that Gen. 25. that he despiseth his birth-right as his Fathers eldest Son and therein virtually despiseth his Father and his voluptuous desires after the Canaanitish women make him carelesse of grieving his Father and Mother and so far unnaturall to them Gen. 26. 3. Getting their hearts truly turned to the Lord. 3. Labour to get your hearts turned to God effectually and in love with him as a Father and then whatsoever alienations of heart there were in you from your Parents before yet then Childrens hearts will be also turned fully to your good Parents Ma. 4. 6. Jo. Baptist its said by the blessing of grace upon his Ministry turning persons to the Lord to the faith to the wisedome of the Just as Luke hath said it Luk. 1. 17. he shall turn the hearts of the Children to their good Fathers which whilest the Children were wicked they could not well abide to be controuled reproved curbed and corrected as they were by them and so their good Fathers also whose hearts were much taken off from those Children for their vilenesse should be turned towards their Children or as some say the unnaturall distances bred betwixt Parents and Children by many sects and opinions too rife among the Jewes when by sound doctrine they were brought to rights and to the truth those alienations should be healed Only Cautions about Childrens love to Parents 1. Not such as to approve sin in Parents in the love of Children to Parents let these cautions be observed 1. Look that it be not such as to approve of the evill saiyings principles or practises of your ungodly or of your seducing or seduced Parents It s blamed in them Psal 40. 13. their posterity approve their sayings Jer. 7. 18. The Children gather wood and the Fathers kindle a fire and the women knead the dough to make Cakes to the Queen of heaven 2 King 15. 13. Asaph loved his Mother well as his Mother but he hateth her Idol he destroyeth and burneth it Abraham loveth his Father Terah well but will not go after his way of Idol-worship Josh 24. 2 3. God commendeth it in the Son who seeth all his fathers sins and considereth and doth not such like Ezek. 18. 14. 2. Let it not be such as to follow their evill Of 2. Such as to follow their sinfull Counsell Counsel in any thing as Ahaziah who walked in the waies of Ahab for his Mother was his Consellour 2 Chron. 22. 3. And as Herodias who being before instructed of her Mother said to Herod give me here John Baptists head in a charger Mat. 14. 8. 3. Let it not be so as to keep their dangerous Or 3. Such as to keep their sinfull Counsel and wicked Counsel in any way of wickednesse but rather seasonably to reveal it Michol Sauls Daughter did well in this to tell her husband David of her Fathers Sauls bloody design against him so that he escaped 1 Sam. 19. 11 12. The like did Jonathan to David Cap. 20 3 4. 4. That it be not so as when you are called of Or 4. Not to bear seasonable witness against their evils God to it then not to bear seasonable witnesse against their sin as in case of Parents seducing Children from the Lord and his
is also included in that speech Eph. 6. 1. Obey your Parents in the Lord especially injoyning what the Lord requireth 5. In childrens yeelding humbly meekly and 5. In submission to parents just corrections quietly to Parents just reproofs and corrections Heb. 12. 9. The Fathers of our flesh corrected us and we gave them reverence even in way of awfull subjection to them therein whence this is added shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live for what are such actings of Parents but fruits of their obedience to God their Fathers eommands who chargeth Prov. 19. 18. Chasten thy Son while there is hope and Prov. 23. 13. withhold not correction from the child and v. 14. thou shalt beat him and Prov. 29. 17. Correct thy Son and he shall give thee rest yea they are fruits o◠Parents love to their children Heb. 12. 6 7. Prov. 13. 14. he that loveth his Son chasteneth him betimes What are they but Gods ordinance and appointed means to rescue children from sin and ruin Prov. 23. 13. if thou beatest him he shall not die v. 14. thou shalt beat him and deliver his soul from Hell Prov. 22. 15. foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of correction shall drive it out Prov. 29. 15. the rod and reproof give wisdome but a child left to himself bringeth his Mother to shame and in a word it would be greatest folly and danger to Children not to yeeld and obedientially to hearken to such rebukes Prov. 15. 8. A fool despiseth his Fathers instruction and v. 10. Correction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way and v. 32. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul To the second query with what manner of This obedience must be obedience are children to obey Parents I answer more briefly 1. With a kind of universall and unlimited obedience 1. Universall falling under the compass of lawfull things so Col. 3. 20. Children obey your Parents in all things one as well as another being all lawfull there is no exception or limitation made 2. With a Sedulous obedience Phil. 2. 22. Paul 2. Sedulous alluding to this saith of Timothy as a Son with the Father he hath served with me in the Gospel i. e. very diligently so Jacobs sons followed their Fathers business diligently sparing no pains to remove their flock hither and thither for his best advantage Gen. 37. 17. 3. With a ready and cheerfull obedience Gen. 3. Cheerfull 37. 13. Come I will send thee to thy brethren saith Jacob to Joseph here am I saith Joseph he is as ready to do it as his Father to command it So in a like case David injoyned by his Father Jessai 1 Sam. 17. 20. He ariseth early in the morning and leaving his sheep with a keeper he took and went as Jessai had commanded Gen. 42. 2. Get you down into Egypt to buy us corn saith Jacob to his Sons v. 3. And Josephs ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt and Chap. 47. 31. swear unto me saith Jacob to Joseph and he sware unto him such ready obedience yeelded they to their Father 4. With a resolute obedience Children are not 4. Resolute to be diverted from lawfull obedience to Parents either by frowns or flattering perswasions of others if Jeremiah a man of God will set before Rechabs Sons pots of wine and bid them drink it Jer 35. 5. such a tempting and trying of them will not prevail with them vers 6. but they said we will drink no wine for Jonadab the Son of Rechab our Father commanded us saying you shall drink no wine neither you nor your Sons for ever 5. With a conscientious obedience namely to 5. Conscientious parentall Authority as of God and as to Gods command requiring it of you to Honour Father and Mother with such Honour of obedience and injoyning children to obey their parents in all tbings Col. 3. 20. To the second query why children must give Reasons of it this Honour of obedience to Parents I answer also briefly they must do it 1. Because it is pleasing to God Gal. 3. 20. 1. It is wel-pleasing to God Children obey your parents in all things for this is well pleasing to the Lord. It s an incouragement to children to do such or such things for Parents when they know it will please them very well but most of all when they understand that God himself is well pleased therewith God himself is very well pleased with filiall obedience to Parents as seeing therein his own Image of Fatherhood Honoured his own authority and command requiring this attended and Honoured and a ready way hereby made in children to all other obedience to the Lord himself And who would not endevour that they might thus at once Crown the Lord himself and their Parents with their due Honour and be crowned not so much with parentall as divine acceptance 2. Because this is right or just or meet Eph. 2. It is just and right 6. 1. Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 just due by the Law of God of nature and of nations It s a due debt children owe obedience to their Parents as a debt and must be paying it all their dayes Children who have received their whole man soul and body instrumentally from their Parents ow the service of both in an obedientiall way to their lawfull commands It s not a matter of liberty or curtesie but due debt which is daily due to be paid in part Justice which requireth to give every other person his due requieth children to give Parents also their due of which this is part even filiall obedience 3. Because manifold blessings and benefits do 3. Many blessing attend it attend due and true filial obedience unto Parents Children obey your parents in the Lord Eph. 6. 1. v. 2. Honour thy Father and thy Mother and v. 3. that it may be well with thee and that thou maist live long on earth Giving this Honour of filiall obedience as it is a means of long life as Prov. 4. 4. 10. Keep my Commandements saith David to Solomon and live and vers 10. Hear O my Son and receive my sayings and the years of thy life shall be many and as it is a means of bodily health Pro. 4. 22. Parents lawfull and gracious commands observed by Children are health to all their flesh and sickly times often befall the yonger sort as here with us where filiall obedience and observance is too much wanting But I say besides that the Apostle inlargeth the benefit thereof in that expression that it may be well with thee namely not alone in matter of bodily health but in that of name also of estate of family relations of personall callings and occasions of generall calling as Christians and as members of the Church
expose the very place where you are to Gods curse Hence that of Mal. 4. 6. It is prophesied that by the presence and blessing of God in John Baptists ministry parents hearts which were ever alienated from their stubborn and wicked children and theirs as much from their good parents not induring to be at their Beck the Children shall be so effectually changed to holy obedience to God and them according to God that the Children shall win parents hearts and the parents shall have their Childrens hearts lest otherwise I come saith God and smite the earth with a curse And oh that all Children would consider this become obedient according to God lest otherwise God be provoked to blast and crush the very place where they are as he is wont to blast that very place and country where dishonour and disobedience to parents becommeth the common and prevailing sin thereof Now for the helps unto honour of filial obedience Helps to it they are such as these 1. Take heed of such things as hinder filial obedience and breed and feed stubbornesse in you 1. Avoid all hinderances to it to your parents such as self-conceitednesse self-willednesse over weaned conceit of what Children have formerly done at their Parents command curiosity discontent ambition envy at fellow Brethren and Sisters bad company and counsell poring upon parents meanesse infirmities failings and the like of which you may see more in the 2. Chapter in the helps there proposed to further Children in giving that honour in generall which is due to parents 2. Labour to see the evils of your former disobedient 2. See the evill of former disobedience carriages towards your parents and to bewayle the same and humbly to confess the same as to God so to your wronged parents if yet living As in the Parable of the prodigall youngster who cast off the yoak of his Father when he commeth to himself and is now sensible of that mad course and spirit of his he goeth to his Father and confesseth it with that aggravation that he hath so sinned against him that he is no more worthy to be called his Son Luk. 15. 17 18 19 c. so should you do in the case of your disobedient carriages to parents and as you also will then be willing to yeeld to the meanest acts of obedience to be as hired servants 3. Make an holy and fruitfull improvement 3. Improve Gods Word providences which in speciall awaken thereunto both of any speciall words of God in the ministery or Scriptures and other good books tending to quicken you up to filial obedience to your parents and of any speciall afflictions which you meet with in a way of disobedience to parents for God useth to be breathing in the word sometimes in Childrens hearts obediential workings and purposes as experience witnesseth and as that place Mal. 4. 6. even now opened sheweth yea and in his providences also crossing stubborn and dissolute Children in their way he giveth them a loud call to alter their course of disobedience and dissoluteness like that penury and misery which God made use of to awaken the dissolute Son in the parable from his course and to bring him back again under his Fathers government Luke 15. 16 17 18. Onely when at any time God is stirring that way in your hearts occasionally either from any awakening word or providence of his look to it that you do not stifle those movings nor suppresse those workings of heart nor procrastinate and put off the real practising of such counsels of God as at such times are presented to you but forthwith without further delay set about the course directed and hinted and urged upon you lest otherwise as too often it falleth out those good motions in your hearts not being attended and cherished they die and come to nothing but rather like that dissolute Son in the parable so soon as ever he was moved inwardly to consider his perishing condition in the way he was and had been since he wretchedly brake away from under his Fathers watch rule and how well it might be with him to return to his Fathers house in Luke 15. 17 18 19. He resolveth of his course that he will home again and submit himself to his Father and vers 20 21. his purposes died not but presently he performed what he so had purposed and doe you likewise That example of the Psalmist is imitable in this case of Children as well as in other cases who saith Psal 119. 59. I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy testimonies and vers 60. to shew that he did lose no time therein he saith I made hast and delayed not to keep thy Commandements 4. Yeeld to your parents their due honour 4. Yeeld to Parents honour of repect and reverence both of respect and of reverence and you will assuredly yeeld them their due honour of obedience My Son saith Solomon as a Father also to his Child give me thine heart and let thine eyes observe my waies Prov. 23. 26. If a Father have his Childs heart love and awe he hath been undoubtedly at his command as if Children of God indeed then loving and standing in awe of him and if so then surely keeping his commandements then departing from forbidden evils so is it in the case of the Children of men loving and reverencing their parents they are ready to obey them they are fearfull to offend them 5. Do you herein also as well as in other acts of honour of Parents set before your eyes 5. Herein also good examples and the evils of the contrary the examples of persons eminent for filial obedience as Isaac Jacob Joseph and Jesus Christ who also was subject to his Parents Luke 2. 51. Yes set before you the contrary miserable lives and deaths of Children that were disobedient and stubborn to their Parents and see if by the blessing of God upon such meditations God will not exceedingly quicken you up to filial obedience and shame you or deter you from disobedience to Parents God maketh accout that exemplary punlshing of one disobedient Son even by mans hand should cause all other to hear and fear Deut. 21. 20 21 This our Son will not obey the voice of his Father or of his Mother and all the men of the City shall stone him with stones that he die and all Israel shall hear and fear CHAP. VI. Of Honour of Recompence or thankefulness due to Parents WE have handled three branches and parts of direct honour of parents injoyned in the fifth Commandement namely honour of respect of reverence and of obedience We come now to the fourth and that is honour of Recompence for so honour is taken in Scripture language for honour of recompence as was shewed in the first Chapter Observe then as a fourth branch of the poynt in generall that children are to honour their parents with the honour of thankfulnesse or Honour of
joyes and delights as of the kingdome of grace here so of that of glory hereafter so in Deut. 30. 15 19. I set before thee life Rom. 8. 6. To be spiritually minded is life Act. 11. 18. Repentance unto life Psal 36. 9. With thee is the fountaine of life John 3. 36. He shall not see life CHAP. II. Of Honour in generall due to Parents HAving explained the words of the 5. Commandement shewn the weight of the duty therein injoyned to Children we now come to make further inquiry into the duty it self which we shall consider of in the method propounded 1. More Generally 2. More particulaly First then of Honour of Parents in a generall consideration wherein we shall 1. Consider what kind and manner of honour this honour of Parents so generally considered must be 2. Make some uses thereof To the first inquiry we answer 1. Honour not due to Parents which is 1. In way of dishoner to God Negatively what Honour is not due to Parents 2. Affirmatively what manner of Honour is due In a negative way we say the Honour of Parents 1. It must not be in any way of dishonour to God either by sinnes of Omission or of Commission Children must not so respect esteem and love Father or Mother as to love and prefer them in their respects to the Lord. He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me saith Christ Matth. 10. 37. Children may not be so transported with affection to Parents as thereby to be hindered from a call of Christ or attending upon it As he in Luk. 9. 65. when called to follow Christ would have gon first and buried his Father but vers 60. is answered by Christ Let the dead bury their dead but go thou and preach the Kingdome of God or as the other in Luk. 9. 61. that would ingage to follow Christ but he would first bid farewell to those at home namely Parents Kindred c. But Jesus Christ accounteth such inordinacy of affection in those who professe to set their faces towards heaven to be a looking back to the world and the like and therefore vers 62. Jesus said unto him No man having put his hand to the Plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdome of God Children may not have such carnall affection to Parents or be so glued to them as not to be able to part with them and forsake them and deny themselves in them for the sake of Christ when they are thereunto called The Spouse of Christ Solomons Antitype must forget her Kindred and Fathers house for her Lords sake and nearer Communion with him Psal 45. 10. Children may not so love Father or Mother as out of respect to them to forsake Christs truth or faith or to imbrace any thing contrary to the faith or truth of Christ a sin too common amongst the Children of Papists and other Heretiques and Opinionists this is also to love them more then Christ Better that the Daughter in such a case of Christs faith and truth be at variance against the Mother that she contend even with her for Christs truth for the faith once delivered to the Saints that she beat down with all her might the Mothers errors and evils In which case also Christ saith Matth. 10. 35. He commeth to set a man at variance against his own Father and the Daughter against her Mother He that more desireth after his Parents presence then after the Lords or more delighteth in them then in the Lord himself or is more moved in their causes then in the Lords or is more troubled for them and their disgrace then for the Lords dishonour or the like he doth not honour his Parents according to Gods mind and heart yea he that comparatively and where the love of Father or Mother and the love of Christ are not compatible where the condition and case is so qualified that love to Parents and love to Christ become flat contraries and must one give place to the other one or the other must be laid aside in such a case He that hateth not his very Father and Mother cannot be Christs Disciple Luk. 14. 26. In such a case Godly zealous Levi is commended Deut. 33. 9. Who said to his Father and his Mother I have not seen him The like might be said in that honour of Reverence and Fear Children may not be so afraid of Parents or of their frownes or blowes or distastes or disinheritings c. as not to be afraid of Gods displeasure but to adventure that in some way of sin rather then run the hazzard of â— Fathers or Mothers displeasure Christ 〈…〉 his Mothers displeasure or rebuke so as 〈◊〉 her sake to omit any duty to God his Father or to neglect his heavenly Fathers business 〈◊〉 in answer to that check of Maries Luk. 2. 48. Son why hast thou thus dealt with us behold thy Father and I have sought thee sorrowing he sayth vers 49. Wist ye not that I must be about my fathers business 〈◊〉 was a notable speech of that Pagan Priest Câ—râ—alus being to sacrifice and at the same time required to come away to his Father he boldly answered He must first dispatch the duties of publick Religion or of Religion which was of publick Concernment and after that those of private piety to Parents Children must indeed honour their Parents Counsels and Commands with the honour of obedience and observance yet not so as in a way of dishonour to God to neglect what he requireth or to do any thing which he forbideth Ahaziah King of Judah is branded for this 2. Chron. 22. 3. That he walked in the waies of the house of Ahab for his Mother was his counsellour 2. It must not be in way of Inaequality to either Parent The Father is not to be preferred 2. With In equality to either Parents by the Child as a Child before the Mother or the Mother more loved reverenced obeyed or recompensed then the Father The Parents are equally Parents and equall causes of the Children and so by the law of nature as Parents they are to share equally in the honour of such instrumentall causes of the be ing of their Children Hence though in Exod. 20. 12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother the Father is set before the Mother yet in Lev. 19. 3. which is an exposition of the 5. Commandement the Mother is set before the Father Yee shall fear every man his Mother every man his Father to shew that the Father being set before the Mother for honour which comprehendeth fear and the Mother being set before the Father for fear which is a speciall branch of honour they are both alike for honour in the generall and for fear in speciall This Willet in his sixfold Commentary upon Leviticus and Ainsworth in his notes upon Levit. 19. 3. They both do note from Maimony So Musculus in his common places and exposition of this fifth Commandement he
matter be good and right As if he were very sollicitous of Right twixt man and man but withall telleth them there is none deputed by the King to hear thee Now he beginneth closely to scatter seeds of prejudice and discontent in the subjects against the present government set over them then vers 4. wisheth in their hearing Oh that I were Judge in the Land that every man which hath any sute or cause might come to me and I would do him Justice now he speaketh a good word for himself to be thought of and put in some chief place in the state and vers 5. every subject that cometh near him must have his hand he must take him he must imbrace him and kiss him and no wonder that now he hath as v. 6. even stollen away the hearts of the men of Israel Oh thinketh every one what a worthy and hopefull Prince is this how sollicitous that every man do right and have right done him how marvellous kind and condescending to the meanest subject he would surely make us in time a very good King c. Now Absolom hath plaid his game well thus far it remaineth onely that Absolom in pretence at least give his Father the Honour of going by his leave to Hebron a place fittest to hatch the Treason against his Father which he hath been all that while brooding and where that fire may flame out best which he hath been kindling this leave is easily gained from his Father vers 7 8 9. he hath 200 men to attend him to Hebron and when thither come Achitophel is sent for the conspiracy is ripened and numbers of Associates daily increase and good David soon perceiveth his mistake in his Sons pretended submission and obeisance Yea but the fifth Commandment would cut off all such Attractives to selfish Honour of Parents and therefore saith Honour thy Father and thy Mother namely poor or rich high or low as well I that hath nothing to give and leave thee as that hath never so much hence when Christ would shew upon what as upon their bottome and basis all the commands of God either respecting God or men do hang and depend he saith Matth. 22. 37 38. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all tby heart this is the first and great Commandement and vers 39. the second is like to this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self and vers 40. On these two Commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets those are the two wel-springs of all obedience to the Law and word of God and therefore all the particulars are reducible to those two heads if the Honour of respect reverence or obedience which we give to God be not from love to our selves or to our own ends but to himself then it is honouring of God indeed so if our honour which we give to our Parents be not from love to our selves but it is from intire love to them that we shew forth such respect or reverence or obedience or thankfulness to them now it is Honour of Parents indeed Again as it must not be Honour of Parents from self-love as opposed to intire love of Parents so it must not be from self-self-love as opposed to love of God the love of whom especially should put Children upon Honouring the Image of his Father-hood in their Parents hence in that Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear every man his Mother and Father why so I am the Lord thy God and so thy Father in Covenant and Covenant-mercies and priviledges a Father of mercies promised and offered to them c. therefore out of love to me Honour every one of you his Parents And as Childrens honour of Parents must not be selfish in reference to love of self-profit and preferment or the like so neither in reference to love of self-ease or meer immunity from punishments or corrections in any contrary way of dishonour whether from Parents privately or the civil Magistrate publickly if Childrens Honour of reverence and obedience which they outwardly hold forth should be extracted chiefly from the force of Parents austere carriage or threats or blows or the dread of the correction from civill Authority or the like it is a slavish and not a filiall Honouring of them when Paul would express in a word that Timothy served with him in the Gospel neither formally nor feignedly nor selfishly nor slavishly nor forcedly but freely sincerely and regularly he expresseth it thus Phil. 2. 22. As the Son with the Father he hath served with me in the Gospel the Honour then of a Son to the Father is or should be neither feigned formall selfish nor slavish 2 In an affirmative way we say the Honour Honour of Parents must be 1. Cordiall of Parents 1. It must be cordiall not alone God as a Father must have each of his Childrens hearts in all the Honour they give him as his Sons and Daughters but Solomon as a Father may groundedly say as Prov. 23. 26. My Son give me thy heart namely as that which must crown all the Honour which thou my Son must give me as thy Father thus Timothy serveth with Paul in the Gospel as with his Father by grace as an ingenious Son with his Father at any other work namely with all his heart Phil. 2. 22. 2. It must be constant as long as the relation 2. Constant holdeth firm twixt Parent and Child which is as long as they Coexist in this world and till one of the Relates are taken away by death Parents from Children or Children from Parents they must obey this morall precept which bindeth semper ad semper alwaies and to all times Honour thy Father and Mother hath no prefixed time set to it It is not Honour thy Father and Mother whil'st a little one whil'st a youth whil'st so or so old whil'st in a single condition or with the like limitations no but it is without restraint and limitation to ages sexes conditions places relations callings imployments it is for term of life and that to which each one Male or Female younger or elder married or unmarried learned or unlearned godly or ungodly high or low Prince or Peasant rich or poor is bound unto hence also that Prov. 23. 22. despise not thy Mother when she is old when she was young yea when she was middle aged or the like thou prisedst and respectedst and didst reverence and obey her do it as well when she is old hold on doing of it to the last Age may wear and waste a Mothers beauty strength parts senses limbs estate c. but her relation of a Mother is as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might for the ever of this life that is alwayes in its meridian and knoweth no evening the person may be gray-headed but her Motherly relation is ever in its flourish It may be Autumn yea Winter with the woman but with the Mother as a Mother it is alwayes Spring Look as that
sollicitous to hold up their Aged and miscarrying Father Noahs Honour yea though tempted by their brother Chams derisive tale about their Father to have disrespected him yet see their conscientious care of maintaining their respect and reverence to their Father in avoyding any occasion as sight of his nakedness which might have drawn on contempt of him in them Gen. 9. 22. And Ham the Father of Canaan saw his Fathers nakedness and told his two brethren without vers 23. And Shem and Japhet took a garment and laid it upon their shoulders and went backwards and covered the nakedness of their Father and their faces were backward and they saw not their Fathers nakedness 3. When good Children do even thirst after 3. If Children thirst after Parents souls welfare their carnall Parents souls welfare and peace above others and are ever and anon contriving which way to help on that also Thus did Abraham what in him lay to help out his Idolatrous Father Terah from his course and way as might be shewed by comparing Acts 7. 3 4. with Gen. 11. end and 12. 1. and John 24. 2 3. 4. When they are as willing and joyfull to Honour 4. If as willing to Honour them as to be Honoured or rewarded by others Parents all the just wayes of Honour of them as they are to partake of any benefit of their parentall respects or bounty as they are to have it be well with them here or hereafter as they are to live long upon the earth or as they are to have the like due honor put upon them by children which they already have or may come to have themselvs 5. When they do not so soon forget their Parents after they are dead and gone Sarah was 90. years old when she bare Isaac Gen. 17. 17. And lived 37. years after For she died when she was 127. years old Gen. 23. 1. then Isaac was 37. years old he was 40. years old when he maried Rebeckah Gen. 25. 20. Which was three years after his Mothers death and when he married or took Rebeckah to wife then it was that Isaac was comforted after his Mothers death Gen. 24. 67. For three years space then this pious Son was ever and anon mourning in thoughts of his good Mothers death and God made this his sweet companion Rebeckah a speciall comfort to him against that trouble about his Mothers death A third use is of exhortation and that to Parents 3. Use Of exhortation 1. To Parents to further this their due Honour 1. By preventing their being either corrupted or dismayed in matters of Religion to indeavour what in you lieth to help forward your Children in their Conscionable performance of this their duty of Honour of Parents and for this end 1. Take very speciall care to prevent whatsoever either may corrupt them or any wayes discourage them in the matter of the Honour of God himself or of his word For if they grosly fail in the matter of the Honour of God of his word they will as grosly fail in the matter of Honour of Parents As we see in Elies Sons who were vilely corrupt in the matters of Religion as those of common honesty 1 Sam. 2. 12 13 14 15 16 17 22. and vers 25. they were as vile transgressours against the fifth Commandement requiring Honour to Parents they hearkened not to the voice of their Father Imitable therefore is that care of the Godly Fathers of the two Tribes and half to remove occasions of discouraging their Children from the fear or worship of God Josh 22. 25 26 27 28. And if we have not rather done it built this Altar of witness saying in time to come your children say they to the Fathers of the ten Tribes there met may say to our Children what have you to do with the God of Israel ye have no part in the Lord so shall your Children make our Children cease or be discouraged and Apostatise from fearing or worshiping the Lord. Oh! that Christian Parents would the rather keep out Anabaptistical principles and doctrines as from their own hearts so as much as may be from the eares and minds of their Children lest being told thereby that they have nothing to do with the God of Israel and they have no part in the Lord they are made thereby to cease or be discouraged from the fear or worship of the Lord but that by the way 2. Redress what in you lyeth if you did not 2. By redressing disorders in them one towards another prevent disorderly carriages of your Children towards one another for if they are inured to carry it badly one toward another they will also carry it dishonourably towards Parents Gen. 37. 23 24. Jacobs Sons who before their conversion carried it so unworthily towards Joseph they carried it as malepertly towards their Father Gen. 34. When vers 30. their sorrowfull Father had expressed his fears of the ruine of him and of his house which might be occasioned by his Sons Murther of the Shechemites they saucily answer vers 31. Should he deal with our Sister as with an Harlot Absolom that will carry it so cruelly and perfidiously towards his brother Amnon 2 Sam. 13. 28 29. He proved as very a perfidious and cruel wretch towards his own Father not many years after Cap. 15. Rebeckah's care therefore was imitable to prevent or remove the continuall discords and jarrs and mischiefs which might arise from that heart-grudge between Esau and Jacob which because she could not heal she sends away Jacob from Esaus company Gen. 27. 42 43 44 45. 3. Labour to be fearers and honourers of God your selves as an heavenly Father and then you 3. By being fearers of God themselves have the advantages of the promises of God that your Children shall be blessed also and consequently furnished with this spirituall blessing a spirit of Honour of Parents Psal 112. 2. The generation of the upright shall be blessed that they shall be a comfort to you as Vine-branches issuing from the wombs of your wives yielding in time grapes of Consolation to Parents in the wayes of due honour to God or Parents c. Psal 128. 1. Blessed is every one that feareth God c. And vers 2. happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee And vers 3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull Vine by the sides of thine house thy Children as Olive-plants round about thy Table which is not barely a promise that their wives shall have Children or many Children as if that made them so peculiarly happy as is promised they should be for ungodly persons are full of Children Ps 17. 14. They send forth their Children like a flock Job 21. 11. No but it s a promise of making the fearer of God happy in the qualification of his Children that they shall be such as shall yield wine of consolation to them in what they shall be to God and to their Parents and to
be 6. Blessings upon posterity thereby blessed in their Children and posterity as Shem was thereby in his posterity and Japhet in his Gen. 9. 23 26 27. Yea it s the way to have like Honour meted out to you from your Children therefore the rather Honour Parents Do to them as you would have others in like relation to do to you Matth. 7. 11. 2. Consider of some helps and means to this Helps to it Avoid Causes of dishonour to Parents as 1. Self-conceit duty 1. Take heed of all and every of the causes of Childrens dishonour of their Parents As 1. Self-conceitedness as in Absolom who thought himself fitter to rule then his Father 2 Sam. 15. 3 4. there is none deputed of the King to hear thee Oh that I were Judge I would do every man justice hence that state of high dishonour to his Father and treachery against him 2 Sam. 15. 7. to 12. Like the yonger Son in the Parable Luke 15. 12 13. Who thought himself fitter to manage his Portion then his Father and thence slighteth and so leaveth his Father's watch guidance and presence 2. Over-weaned conceits of what you do for 2. Conceit of what Children do for Parents Parents when indeed you can never do enough for them who under God gave you your being like the Elder son in the Parable Luk. 15. 28 29. Who is ready to talk great things to his Father of his serviceableness to his Father so that when his Father intreated him who might have commanded him to come in he slights his Father's intreaties he is angry with his Father findeth fault with his Fathers kindness to his prodigall Brother whereas he that had deserved more kindness from his Father never had the like from him for so he answers his Father Loe these many years do I serve thee neither at any time transgressed I thy Commandement and yet thou never gavest me a kid but as soon as this thy Son is come which hath devoured thy living with harlots thou bast killed for him the fatted Calf and it is to be feared to be the case of too many Children in N. E. where Parents are put hard to it to make more use of their Children for their work and business that they poring too much upon what they do for their Parents and not seriously weighing what their Parents have done for them they slight them in their hearts 3. Curiosity and an inordinate desire of liberty 3. Curiosity The young man Eccles 11. 9. He must needs walk in the wayes of his own heart and sight of his eyes and so careth not for Honouring God or man Like the Prodigall Son in the Parable he must needs abroad to see fashions what should such a spark as he do alwayes at home to be there held in as he is he would rather be at liberty and therefore let his Father do as he will he broad from him 4. A discontented spirit a spirit of unsettledness 4. Discontent which sometimes is the very blast of God upon young men for some other foul sin as that wandering spirit was upon Cain for his but then Cain must away from home from his parents though thereby he goeth from the presence of God like the Prodigall Son in the Parable not content with his Fathers finding but he will be for himself though after some bought experience of his he afterward finds that the meanest case and place of the lowest in his Fathers house be far better then his 5. Ambition and eager desire of man in outward 5. Ambition respects then is meet for you this also maketh many slight their Parents seek to shake off their Parentall watch and rule This made Absolom turn a vile traytor to his Father 2 Sam. 15. and this also put on Adonijah very far that way 1 Kings 1. 5 6. 6. Envy at just respects shew'd by Parents to 6. Envy fellow Brethren or Sisters like the elder Son in the parable out of envy of his Fathers kindnesse to his younger Brother this maketh him fly out so unreverently against his Father and to charge him closely with injustice and partiality Luke 15. 28 29. Thus Jacobs Sons envying that their Father respects young Joseph so much they are resolv'd to make some hand of him though they know thereby they shall rob their Father of a great part of his comfort if not undermine his life they regard neither so their Father is set light by that while 2. Take heed of bad company and counsell 2. Avoyd bad company which is apt to mislead you even to dishonour your Parents When Solomon Prov. 19. 26. had told his Son the sad doom of a Son that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother he then giveth his Son this counsell as an Antidote against any such like sin vers 27. Cease my Son to hear the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge hence is it that the boon companion who is a glutton and a drunkard is also wont to be so stubborn as not to hear the voyce of his Parents Deut. 21. 20. Such as contrary to that advice Psal 1. 1. Do walk in the counsell of the ungodly and stand in the way sinners they came to sit also in the seat of the scornfull to scorn at any none excepted no not Parents themselves Prov. 30. 17. there is an eye that mocketh at his very Father despiseth to obey his Mother better therefore were it for younger persons to company and counsell with wise youth who conscienciously Honour their Parents and that will be verified Prov. 13. 20. That he that walketh with the wise shall be wise when as a companion of fools shall be destroyed 3. Take heed of poring upon any failings in Parents 3. Avoyd poring upon Parents failings which may tempt you to slight your Parents Children in such cases must be as not seeing the failings they do see in Parents carriages sometimes and as not hearing their failings in expressions sometimes which they do hear ingenious Shem and Japhet will not see their Fathers nakedness Gen. 9. 23 24. And so continue to Honour their Father Noah wheras Cham that will needs look so wistly and take such notice of his Fathers nakedness commeth to despise him and deride him Let Children remember that God the Law-maker and the fifth Commandement their Law and Rule they must walk by is without spot or failing and therefore They must Honour Father and Mother 4. Listen not to unworthy reports or whispers 4. Listen not to whisperers which ungratious persons set on work by Belial may suggest to you any away against your Parents Shem and Japhet would not listen to their Brother's tale in that vile way he told it but if ought be a miss to provoke them to slight their Father they will cover it rather when one told Teleuchus how ill his Father spake of him saith Teleuchus if my Father
unnaturall wretches as you are your ruine hasteth let unnaturall Absolom's end be a warning to all such 2. It serves to reprove Parents who by your 2. Of Parents some way occasioning alienation of Childrens hearts from them own sins lay stumbling blocks in your Childrens way to tempt them to unnaturallness in affection or alienation of affection or any abatement of that Honour of respect and love which they owe to you for though it be the Child 's great sin to be so alienated in affection to Parents yet you that are Parents may do too much to occasion the same as 1. By committing some heinous sin against God against your Parents or against others and 1 By some grosse sin of theirs against God so bring this as a curse upon your Children to be so unnaturall as we shewed in the unnaturall sins of the Canaanites mentioned Lev. 20. 9 12 c. to the 23. as a just fruit of the curse upon Canaan and upon Cham his Father It was unnaturallness in Absolom to take up the sword against his own Father and to defile his Father bed openly before all 2 Sam. 15. 16. but it is no more then God by Nathan threatned David with for his Murther and Adultery that he would raise up evill to him out of his own house 2 Sam. 12. 9 10 11. 2. By unnaturall carriages towards your 2. By too unnaturall carriages towards Children Children for there are too often too many of such also found even amongst professing Parents or too many Churlish harsh and strange carriages bitter and reviling speeches unmercifull and cruell correctings and punishings of them any of these are apt to sowr Childrens Spirits and to breed alienation of heart from you that are Pareets as Labans Daughters said of their Father Laban in some heat of Spirit Gen. 31. 14 15. Is there yet any portion in our Fathers house they care not how soon they are gon farther from him are we not counted of him strangers 3. By too much greedinesse after the world 3. By Covetous pinchings making thereby your Children more like slaves for your profits then Children as basely putting them off when you have serv'd your turns by thē this made Labans Daughters speak more harshly of their father took off their hearts somewhat from him Ge. 31. 14 15. He hath sold us say they hath quite devoured our money Prov. 15. 27. He that is greedy of gaine troubleth his own house this way also as well as other waies by breeding disturbances and distances even twixt them and their Children and their Children and themselves 4. By breaking just promises made respecting 4. By breaking just promises with Children your Children especially in matters of disposall of them in marriage as when Laban basely breaketh his promise of Rachel to Jacob Ge. 29 18 19 25. his daughters harts could not get clear of these old matters Ge. 31. 14 15. He that sold us c. what portiō have we in his house when children are crost in their just desires as when Merab Sauls daughter is promised to David 1 Sam. 28. 17. just when she was to have had him then she is given to Adriel v. 19. This must needs breed ill blood yea when Parents will force Children to break strongest engagements of love lawfully made to those they would have had as when Michal Sauls Daughter loveth David and is given to him 1 Sam. 18. 27 28. and yet afterward given to Phalti 1 Sam. 25. 44. or when Sampsons Wife is given away by his Father-in-Law to another Judg. 15. 2. this provoked him to seek revenge of that wrong vers 3. 6. Or when you that are Parents will be forcing of matches for sinister and low ends upon your Children crosse to the very bent of their minds as Saul to cause his Daughter Merab to have Adriel when she was to have had David sad have been the mischiefes of this in unnaturall acts of Children against very Parents stirred up therein by such cross acting of Parents One de Sales a French-man stifled his Father a grave Counsellour in Tholous in France because he would not consent to his marriage with one de la Hay So in Fidelia and Caelestina too Italian Ladies who crossed by their Father in their matching to their minds they conspire his death and got him murthered 5. By misplacing your respects upon unworthy 5. By mispleacing affections upon unworthy Children Children as Isaac upon Esau who proved one that little respected his Father witness his crosse matchings to the grief of his Fathers heart Gen. 25. 28. Isaac loved Esau because he eat of his venison Cap. 26. 34 35. Esau took Judith and Balhshema which were a grief of heart to Isaac and Rebeckah David misplaced his respect upon Absolom and loved him too well and more than other his Children and he proved the most unnaturall wretch to him of them all 2 Sam. 15. Cristina a Switzer she inordinately affected her Son Maurice would hardly believe any evill report against him though never so true and this Fellow afterward turned a paricide and by a wile drew his Mother to look into a deep wel and there threw her in where she perished Use 2. For exhortation A second use of this branch of the generall point is for exhortation 1. To Children to cherrish strengthen and inlarge 1 To Children to cherish naturall respects of love to Parents your respect and love to your Parents wherein I may say as Aristotle doth in his Ethicks l. 8. Cap. 16. speaking of the honour due to God and Parents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No man can give them the honour whereof they are worthy only he that to his utmost doth endeavour to give them highest respect he may be called pious Children are never able to aequalize Motives to it or match Parents love to their Children Parents love to Children is as to so many pieces of themselves but Childrens love to Parents is as of those who come from them So that Parents love to Children descendeth as from springs or Fountaines to the streames issuing from them and therefore runneth down more strongly freely and uncessantly but Childrens love to Parents is ascending therefore moveth more slowly and gently and needeth more help in its motion Aristotle observeth well that of which any thing is generated is by a greater and more forcible necessity nearly knit to that which is generated of it than that which is born and generated is to that which begot it Eth. l. 8. Cap. 14. Parents love also hath the start of time to that of their Childrens for Parents love their Children as soon as they are born but Children love their Parents and respect them when they come to understanding and are of some years Parents prevented Children in their love Children can never overtake them therein only must follow them as hard in the way of love as they can Children when little
worship In case of grosse Idolatry or the like then zealous Levi saith to his Father and to his Mother I have not seen him Deut. 33. 9. And Asaph an highest Civill Ruler called to do justice without respect of persons he removeth Maacha his Idolatrous Mother from her Regency 1 King 15. 13. 5. That it be not so as when you are called Or 5. Such as for them to neglect just respects to others to maried conditions then for Parents sakes to neglect just respects to your spouses and regard to your Families welfare Gen. 30. 30. in that case Jacob will say to Laban his Father-in-Law when shall I provide for my house and that Law Gen. 2. 24. taketh here place for this cause shall a man forsake Father and Mother and cleave to his Wife 2. Of exhortation to Parents to carry it so 2. To Parents to carry it so as may win respect as may even win and gain such respect and love from your Children which is due from them as for instance 1. Be frequently instructing your Children in the best things in their Soul-matters this won Solomons heart the more to his Father David insomuch that he keepeth a honourable record of his Fathers instructions Prov. 4 4 5 6 c. The bond of love is doubled when natural Fathers by Gods blessing upon their instructions and admonitions become spirituall Fathers of their Children and a twofold cord is not easily broken 2. Be ever and anon incouraging your Children 1. By incouraging them in good in any good thing hence that Allusion Isa 66. 13. as on whom his Mother comforteth which as they are more abundantly encouraged by them so enlarged also in affections to them Famous is the example of William Hunters Mother as he was leading to the stake for Christ Son William saith she I think thee as well bestowed as ever any Mr. Fox Acts and Mon. Child that I bare in my womb and that example of the Mother of that little Child which was Martyred with Romanus who stood by incouraging her Child and when all others almost wept to see the Childs tortures she stood by rejoycing and when that fatall act of cruelly was to be done upon the Child to take away its Head after she had taken her Child and kissed it she stood by singing All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord we yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints We know most dear to be bidding the Child also to remember the children of Bethlehem who were martyr'd for Christ 3. Be ready to defend and vindicate Children 3. By defending them in a just cause in any just cause as Joash did his Son Gedeon against those that complained of him for throwing down Baals Altar Judg. 6. 29 30 31. and Joash said to them will yee plead for Baal will ye save him he that will plead for him let him be put to death if he be a God let him plead for himself the blind-mans Parents did not thus who out of a base fear put off all to their Son he is old enough let him answer for himself John 9. 21. yea let Parents vindicate their children from unjust slanders as the Father of the wronged Damsel was to do Deut. 22. 13. to 9. this must needs win love 4. Be conscionable sollicitous of your childrens 4. By care of their outward weal. outward welfare as was Jacob of his Sons Ge. 37. 14. and Jesse of his Son 1 Sam. 17. 17. this also much gaineth upon childrens hearts 5. Carry it towards your children with much 5. By Compassionatness toward them tenderness and bowels as need and prudence requireth Numb 11. 12. Carry them in thy bosom as a nursing Father the sucking child Psal 103. 13. as a Father patieth his children Mal. 3. 17. as a Father spareth his Son that serveth him this as it breaketh every way-ward heart of a child so it winneth the Son as it is in the fruit of Gods bowels expressed to his children so in mens to theirs CHAP. IV. Of Honour of Reverence due from children to Parents WE have handled that first branch of Honour of Parents in a direct way we now proceed to the second which is the Honour of Reverence for so Honour is taken as we shewed in the 1. Chapter Observe then as a second branch of the generall point that Children are to Honour their Parents with the Honour of Reverence Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear Honour of Reverence due to Parents every man his Mother and every man his Father Heb. 12. 9. the Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them due reverence For the better handling of this part of Childrens duty we shall first shew wherein this Reverence of Parents consisteth and is expressed and 2. Make use of it Touching the first we say this Reverence due to Parents is either outward or inward 1. Then outward Reverence is due from children 1. Outward as to Parents and so 1. Children are to rise up and to stand bare before their Parents when they come to them or speak to them for if of Fathers in age God saith Rise up before the hoary head and Honour the face of the old man Levit. 19. 31. Rising to Parents he surely requireth it of children to their own Parents Henre the excuse of Rachel though a married woman from unavoidable necessity as reason why she rose not up to her Father Laban Gen. 31. 35. And Rachel said to her Father Let it not displease my Lord that I cannot rise up before thee for the custome of women is upon me it must be some avoidable necessity that must be a just reason that children rise not up before their Parents else Parents have just reason to be displeased when Achsah daughter to Caleb is to request a thing of her Father she keepeth not her posture of sitting in which she was before but lighteth off the beast she rode upon and then speaketh her mind to her Father Judg. 1. 13 14 15. It stands not with Parents Honour for children to sit and speak but rather they should stand up when they speak to Parents 2. If Parents be comming towards children they 2. To meet parents comming are to prevent them and meet them 1 Kings 2. 19. Bathsheba went to Salomon to speak for Adonijah and the King rose up to meet her 3. They are to bow to them so Salomon 1 Kings 3. To bow to them 2. 19. he bowed himself to his Mother So Joseph Gen. 48. 12. and Joseph brought them out from between his Fathers knees and he bowed himself with his face to the earth So Moses to his Father-in-Law did obey sance and all these their Sons were great men yet not too great or high to stoop in way of Honour of Reverence to Parents 4. They must speak Reverently both to their 4. To speak to them and of them reverently Parents and of them
to others To them thence those titles of Honour expressed in childrens speeches to Parents as in Rachels to Laban Gen. 31. 35. let not my Lord be displeased So in Isaac's to Abraham Gen. 22. 7. my Father c. So in Davids to Saul 1 Sam. 24. 11. moreover see my Father c. And cap. 26. 28. wherefore doth my Lord thus pursue after his Servant c. So in speaking of them Prov. 31. 28. her children rise up aad call her blessed 5. To attend duly to their counsells 5. They are to attend reverently to their counsels or instructions Prov. 4. 1. hear ye children he instruction of a Father and attend to know understanding and vers 20. My Son attend to my words 6. They must meekly and humbly subject 6. To subject to their Corrections themselves to their seasonable corrections Heb. â—2 9. if Fathers of our flesh correcting us we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits correcting of us and live 7. To express filial shame and blushing to Parents 7. To blush and be ashamed of faults upon occasion of faults and sins against them especially when Parents deal with children for the same the Greek word in Heb. 12. 9. we gave them reverence it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properly signifies we turned away our face by reason of shame Numb 22. 14. if her Father had spit in her face should she not be ashamed Hitherto belong humble confessions to Parents with shame and blushing of unworthy acts of children against them especially Like the Prodigall in the parable who Luke 15. 21. saith to his Father Father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be call'd thy Son in this sense is the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used Company not with them that they may be ashamed even outwardly also confess and take holy shame for their scandals So Tit. 2. 8. that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evill thing to say of you 2. Inward Reverence is due from Children to Or inward as inwardly to fear Parents Levit. 19. 3. ye shall fear every one his Mother and his Father and so Children 1. They are inwardly to own the very persons 1. Their persons and parentall relations and Authority of their Parents ye shall fear every man his Mother and Father that is their very persons relations and Authority 2. They are inwardly to awe the commandâ— 2. Their words reproofs threats and corrections of Parents thiâ— is filial and not slavish fear Jer. 35. 6. Jonadab's posterity even when tempted to do otherwise yet the awe of his commands made them not to dare to transgress them 3. They are inwardly to fear to lose parents favour 3. To lose their favour or to incur their just displeasure by giving them any just offence as Jacob Gen. â—7 12. My Father peradventure will feel me and I shall seem to him as a deceiver and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing 4. They are to fear to cross any weighty intents 4. To cross their just intents purposes or desires of parents especially when in sacred matters so Jephtah his daughter Judg. 11. 36. and she said My Father if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth 5. They are to fear that trouble or heart-grief 5. To grieve them should be occasioned to parents if they can prevent it So Saul 1 Sam. 9. 5. Come let us return lest my Father leave caring for the Asses and take thought for us So Judah Gen. 44. 34. how shall I go to my Father and the Lad be not with me lest peradventure I see the evill that shall come upon my Father 6. They are to fear to fall short of their blessing 6. To fall short of their blessing and benefit of parents prayers and of their godly parentall wishes and Counsels hence when Joseph heard that his Father Jacob was so sick he made such haste to him carrying his sons with him that he and they might not miss of Jacobs blessing even rude Esau was amazed when he heard that his Father had blessed his brother instead of him Gen. 27. 34. hence that bitter cry Bless me even me also O my Father 7. They are also to be inwardly as well as outwardly 7. To be inwardly also ashamed of faults before them ashamed that parents have just cause of distaste against them at any time so giving reverence to parents Heb. 12. 9. may according to the Greek word used there be rendered being ashamed before them hence the derivative from that verb is used 1 Cor. 6. 5. and 15. 34. to signifie shame inward and outward as there I speak this to your shame even of heart also So here the Awfull childe like that prodigall occasioning just distaste in his Father against him he is inwardly ashamed of it and therefore confesseth his sin against his Father and unworthiness to be called his Son All which is clearly seen in the presidentiall filial fear of Gods children to their heavenly Father they inwardly fear his Fatherhood and Fatherly Authority his commands reproofs threats and corrections the loss of his favour and incurring of his displeasure by their offending of him at any time they are affraid to cross his mind in any thing or to grieve his Spirit themselves or that it should be grieved by others they are affraid to fall short of his Fatherly blessing and are inwardly ashamed and even confounded that at any time they offend displease grieve or provoke him The use of this branch of the point serveth Use 1. For reproof 1. Of childrens irreverence 1. For Reproof 1. Of Children for all that rudeness and irreverence of yours towards your parents as if you had forgotten that you were children or as if principles of piety yea of morality were extinct in you And this alas how common an evill is it in children even of professours how rudely do they sit before their parents and how irreverently do they carry it in their gestures before them how loud will too many be gabling laughing and flouting even in their parents presence how forward are they to prevent or interrupt their parents in speaking or to answer them again if rebuked by them whereas those in Job time even Princes and Nobles refrained talking in his presence or whil'st he as a civill Father of the state was speaking Job 29. 9 10. and vers 22. after his words they spake not again Elihu when in the presence of Fathers to him in Age is affraid to speak much more to interrupt them whil'st speaking Job 32. 4 6 7. And dare children word it so before their parents Again how over-familiar do too many children make themselves with their parents as if hail-fellow well met as they say
say of him Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary surely then he learned and commonly practised that mean Trade with his reputed Father and so was therein also subject to his Father and Mother Look as Gods children yea look as Jesus Christ himself the pattern of all true filial obedience to Parents refused not to stoop to the meanest offices and services in obedience to the Father of Spirits so must children carry it in like sort to their Parents All know how many mean and despicable offices Parents do about their children whilest babes and little ones and when sick c. And there is no cause for any childe to think much of the meanest office and service which Parents may call for from their hands Parents Authority is of no mean descent the rise or originall of it is from God even the greatness of the greatest in other respects doth not alter much less make null filial relations If any be ashamed of the Lords words of him will he be ashamed another day Mark 8. 38. Now this Children obey your Parents in the Lord according to the Lords will and word is one of the Lords words Eph. 6. 1. Let none therefore be ashamed of obedience to Parents in meanest 2. In their being content to be crossed in their wills things 2. In Childrens being content to be crossed in their own desires or wayes and to yeeld to and obey Parents minds and wils in matters lawfull although the particulars seem to be very harsh to their own sense or reason as in that instance Gen. 48. 17. At first it displeased Joseph to see his Father lay his right hand upon Ephraims head and he held up his Fathers hand to remove it to Manasses his head and v. 18. Joseph said not so my Father for this is the first born put thy right hand upon his head v. 19. And his Father refused and said I know my Son I know it he also shall become great but his brother shall be greater then he And so he gave Ephraim the yonger Son the priority in his blessing and Joseph said no more but rested satisfied therein If Jacobs Sons are injoyned by their Father to feed their flock even in Shechem in the very mouth of danger by reason of the late slaughter of the Shechemits by their hands yet they are contented with it and do not mutter or object against it Gen. 37. 14. nor do they object against the hazzards of that long Journey into Egypt but if required by their Father to go they contentedly obey Gen. 42. 23 It was contrary to dictates of flesh and blood and reason for Isaac to yeeld to be offered up in Sacrifice by his Father but it was first no doubt made known to him by his Father to be Gods mind and seconded by his Fathers command and he quietly yeeldeth to his Father therein Gen. 22. 9 10. So in case of a daughters vow unto the Lord in something which is lawfull and which she earnestly desireth should be done before the Lord if the vow be not heard by her father when it was made and after dissallowed by her Father God will have her even in this case to sit down contentedly resigning her will to her Fathers although she cannot perform what she vowed and desired and God himself passeth it by because it was not her Fathers mind that she should perform it Gen. 30. 5. Gods children are a pattern to mens children herein who resign and submit their will to his will children are to look at good Parents as Gods Oracles unto them such by means of whom he imparteth his counsell to them and maketh wiser then themselves in matters respecting their occasions and changes Obedience to Parents in this way is to be as to Superiours yea as to the mind and Authority of the highest in their mandates which also is implied in that speech Eph. 6. 1. Children obey Parents in the Lord yea even in all things as is expressed Col. 3. 20. namely which are meet and lawfull so to obey them it is wel-pleasing to God albeit in doing of it children oft displease themselves David is blamed that he never displeased Adonijah his Son 1 King 1. 5 6. surely then Adonijah had been too blame if he had not yeelded to his Fathers mind in things displeasing to himself 3. In yeedling espccially to Parents minds in the matter of marriage So Isaac matcheth with Rebekah 3. In marrying according to good Parents minds according to his Fathers mind Gen. 24 6 7. 63. compared So Jacob marrieth Labans daughter according to the mind of his Parents Isaac and Rebekah Gen. 28. 1 2 3. compared with Chap. 29. the like was done by many others mentioned in Scripture 4. in obeying chiefly in things of God as injoyned 4. In obeying in things of God to children in Gods name by their Parents whether respecting the knowledge of God in Christ mortification or in any other means or parts of the souls welfare In which especially Solomons Son must keep his Fathers Commandement and not forsake the Law of his Mother Prov. 6. 20. and 1 Kings 2. 3. David chargeth Solomon his Son to keep the charge of the Lord his God to walk in his ways Ch. 3. 3. Solom loved the Lord walking in the statutes or according to the statutes and commands of David his Father David charged him also with all the work of Gods Temple which he duly and diligently performed 1 Chro. 22. 11. build the house of the Lord thy God which he hath said of thee and he did so as 2 Chr. 5. and cap. 6. sheweth if Abraham command his children the Lord concludeth they shall keep the way of the Lord as in that place oft referred to Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that he will command his children and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Hence Joshuah is so confident of his house and so of his children Josh 24. 15. but I and my house we will serve the Lord he requiring it of them he is confident that they will do it Jonadabs posterity in living so in Tents like pilgrims and strangers in refusing to drink wine or strong drink they lived a mortified life a weaned life from the world but they did it because so injoyned by their Father Jonadab and so by their next Parents successively as we see in that place oft occasionally referred to in this discourse 1 Jer. 35. 6 c. In such a way God as a Father is especially honoured and no wonder that there is his secret blessing and grace conferred to inable to such like obedience to Parents commands As in Gen. 18. 19. now mentioned Abraham will command his children and they shall walk in the way of the Lord. It strengthens the bond of childrens obedience to Parents commands when Parents shew such soul-love to children and intire love and faithfulness to God as to improve their parentall Authority thus for God which
filial obedience as Solomon saith of him Prov. 4. 3 4. I was my Fathers Son and he taught me also saying keep my Commandements and live but v. 10 11. He records other words of his Father saying thus I have taught thee in the way of wisdome and so in this of filiall obedience as vers 4. I have led thee in the right paths and how obedient a Son Solomon proved let his works declare in his exact observing all his Fathers mind in that of building and furnishing of the Temple 1 Chro. 22. and Chap. 29. with 2 Chro. 5. and 6. and in that solemn charge of his to him touching exemplary justice upon Joah and Shimei 1 King 2. 5 6 7 8 9. which he accordingly executed v. 31 32 33 34 35 36. 44 45 46. and in the great charge of his Father to keep the Lords charge c. v. 3. and Chap. 3. 3. Solomon loved the Lord walking in the statutes of David his Father The Rechabites parents which first yeelded filial obedience to their Father Rechab and taught their children practically as well as preceptively filiall obedience had a posterity successively by that means of parents doing the like from parent to child famous some ages after for filiall obedience 3. By inuring children to obedience to God 3. Inure your children to wayes of obedience unto the Lord be you frequently curbing their disobedience to Gods commands Abraham who was famous for the Lords attestation of his care to improve his authority this way in laying his command upon his houshold to walk in the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. as he had an obedient houshold of his servants in the relation of a master Gen. 14. 23 24. Not one of them offers to plunder to the worth of a shooe-latchet Abraham having vowed to the contrary so had he as obedient a child to him in the relation of a Father who laid down his neck to the very block is willingly bound to become Gods sacrifice at his Fathers command Gen. 22. 9 10. Jonadab who laid the weight of his parentall authority upon his children in matters savouring of an heavenly weaned and mortified Spirit had a most obedient posterity Parents are injoyned to lay out the weight of thelr authority this way Deut. 32. 46. You shall command your children to do all the words of this Law This was Davids practice 1 Chro. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart c. And so 1 King 2. 3. and Prov. 4. 5 6 7. he said to me get wisdome get understanding c. Jos 24. 25. I and my house will serve the Lord Josuah dareth undertake it God hath given Josuah experience what parentall and masterlike commands also can do that way to bring them under obedience and service to the Lord and so to him also as a Father of the Family injoyning and requiring such serving of God 4. Use holy wisdome in giving your parentall 4. By using pathetical words in giving out commands to them commands to your children namely in the most moving expressions which may help on affectionate attendance and observance thereof thus good Bathshebah when she would draw Solomon to follow her gracious directions even in his place of a King to which he was devoted see how she circleth him with her pathetical expressions Prov. 31. 1. c. The prophecy which his Mother taught him v. 2. What my Son and what the Son of my womb and what the Son of my vowes hence that parenthesis in Jacobs charge to his Son Joseph Gen. 48. 7. And as for me when I came from Padan Aram Rachel Josephs deer Mother died in the Land of Canaan in the way when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath c. He would in a holy wise insinuate and get within Josephs heart hereby And then his eares and heart will be open to all he hath to give him in charge 5. Do you readily yeeld to the just desires even 5. By yeelding to childrens just desires of your children and it will notably prevail with your children most readily to yeeld to any just commands of yours As Caleb who giveth to his daughter Achsah the upper and nether springs at her request Iud. 1. 15. As it was good counsell given to that Father of the Common-weal Rehoboam 2 Chro. 10. 3 4 7. to be kind to his people to please them speak good words to them in way of answer to their request and they would be his servants for ever So is it in this case of Fathers of Families wise and seasonable condescendencies sometimes in parents to children It winneth their hearts and ingageth them to constant obedience 6. Do you also sometimes hearken to the good 6. By hearkening sometimes to childrens good advice advice which even your children do seasonably and in a suitable manner give to you and this also will exceedingly win your childrens hearts to an obedientiall submission to your just commands Thus did Terab Abrahams Father yeeld to Abrahams advise in the matter of his remove from Vr in Mesopotamia to Haram towards Canaan as Act. 7. 1 2 3 4. compared with Gen. 11. 31 32. and 12 1. sheweth So did Rahabs parents follow her advice they repaired to her house when Jericho was besieged by Josuah and being there they stirred not out of dores according as the spies had Counselled Rahab her self to look that it might be so done Josh 2. 18 19. compared with Chap. 6. 23. 2. Exhortation to Children to yeeld such obedience 2. This use serveth for exhortation to Children that you would be stirred up to the duty of honour of filiall obedience to your parents else all other outward expressions of respect to them are but bare Complements this is in speciall sort a reall honouring of them As it is in the children of God in reference to their heavenly Father It is more than all formalities of offering sacrifices to him or the like as he said to Saul 1 Sam. 15. 22. Behold to obey is better then sacrifice and to harken then the fat of Ramms As the contrary disobedience is as iniquity and Idolatry verse 23. So is it in the case of the Children of men their obedience to Parents is all in all their disobedience and stubbornesse to Parents is vilest iniquity Now the better to further Children in giving this honour of filial obedience we shall Motives to obedience to Parents propound 1. Some motives 2. Some helps to it As for motives thereunto let it be considered 1. That the Lord himself doth highly honour such as honour their parents by honour of obedience 1. God and Men honour such as yeeld it and he ordereth for them speciall honour from others Prov. 1. 8 9. The instruction of a Father and the Law of a Mother harkened unto he saith
of it more wayes than one Oh that children would think of it and do like service of love for them then would there never be such grumbling with children as there is with too many as if every thing were too much or too harsh which they are put to do for supply of parents wants Parents never needed urging or forcing no nor their childrens calling upon them to be doing for them and their good let children do like for like let none parents or others need to urge you with many arguments or compel you by blowes or mulcts to be doing this compensatory service but let it be as a very naturall fruit arising freely from an innate principle and root within Parents needed no eye of man of their children or of others to look after them and see that they were diligent in their service of love for their children no when none were by as well as when any were present still they plied it hard for the supply of their childrens wants for their childrens welfare let children do like for like very servants to Masters should not do eye service Col. 3. 22. and it would be a shamefull and loathsome thing most of all in children to do eye service for parents 3. Parents were constant and unwearied in Constantly and unweariedly their labours for their childrens good they thought nothing they did or could do too much or scarce enough for their childrens good Oh that children would but give like for like to parents then would there never be such counting upon so much and so much which children have done for parents Many a poor honest parent hath even worn out themselves and wasted and exhausted their very strength in their service of love for their children and it would be a monstrous thing if children should not now do all that ever they can to maintain these their decayed decrepit exhausted parents I had almost said servants 4 Parents in their service of love on behalf of their children condescended to meanest offices and imployments such indeed they were especially when their children were little were diseased or many wayes bodily distempered and ill at ease that none else but tender hearted parents Fathers and Mothers would have done for them let children do like for like for parents as they may have use or stand in need of them As in the parable oft made use of in this discourse the Son when come to rights he was willing to be as his Fathers servant yea the meanest of servants as his hired servant Luke 15. 17 18 19. 2. In being a comfort to them in their sorrows and sufferings A second way of such grateful recompencing of parents is by being a comfort to them against their sorrows and sufferings As when parents meet with any sad losses crosses reproaches persecutions for Christs sake when exiled imprisoned or the like let children cheer them up all they can Gen. 5. 29. Lamech called his Sons name Noah saying this Son shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed Let children be as so many Noahs comforts and comforters against whatsoever miseries or calamities which may befall their parents Ruth 4. 15. this shall be a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thy old age the grand-child Boaz must be his grand-mothers cherisher succourer and supporter under God against all her faintings sinkings and troubles of her elder times when that sad news of Josephs supposed death came to Jacobs eares All his Sons and daughters rose up to comfort him Children are branches of their Parents as of a Vine Psal 128. 3. thy wife shall be as the fruitfull Vine by thy house side whose branches yeeld such grapes such fruit from which choycest wine is made whereby mans heart is cheared quickned and inlarged let children then yeeld such chearing quickening strengthning and inlarging fruit to their parents when sad when their Spirits are ready to fail and sink within them through troubles inward or outward As other wine or fruit of the Vine is for those that are of a heavy heart Prov. 31. 6. So children as children as receiving a being from their parents as of the Vine of which they came are to yeeld comforting fruit especially to their sorrowfull parents children should carry it so and be such to sad and suffering parents as they may make up many other losses and crosses to them As it was said of Ruth whose story is often occasionally made use of in this discourse Ruth 4. 15. for thy daughter-in-Law which loveth thee which is more to thee than seven Sons hath born him Naomi had lost her two dear Sons yea but Ruth is such a succourer and supporter and comforter to her that she is instead of many Sons that way to her Eve loseth her hopefull Son Abel and her wound is the greater in that his brother Cain murthered him yea but Seth is given her as one appointed of God to be another seed to her instead of Abel whom his brother Cain slew Gen. 4. 25. she looketh for all that good and comfort from him which Abel might have ministred to her and so doubtless she found it made good to her children in this also must vicem rependere pay and give in like for like Ah the bowels of parents towards children when any evill or calamity befalleth them when any way ill at ease when sad through-outward or inward troubles or pressures they put their souls in their souls stead they would not suffer them to lie grieving and wasting themselves with grief if with all their wisdom and grace and ability they had inward or outward they could redress the same when their children were litle such comforts and cordials were parents unto them and when their children are adult they were the same to them let children then repay like for like to their grieved afflicted parents If to him that is melting away with trouble as that Hebrew word in Job 6. 14. signifieth such expressions of sympathy should be shewed from a friend to his friend much more from a child to a parent if a brother be born for adversity Prov. 17. 17. Is it not one end of a childs being born from his parents to be a help and succour to them in adversity Children should be as eyes to their dim-sighted parents as strength to them when weak Feet to them when lame nourishers to them when in need of meat and refreshment sweet melody to them to make their very hearts dance within them and a very flaffe to their age as it is said that Scipio Africanus was unto his Father If Christ himself account so of each of his Disciples who do the will of his Father to be his Brother Sister and Mother not alone in the faithfull respects and service of the love of such to him-ward but in respect of his own respects and services of love succour and sympathy towards them as of a
child towards a Mother and of a Brother or Sister towards a Brother or Sister especially when afflicted Esay 63. 9. and Mark 3. 35. It will be a Christ-like part and an Image of his indeared and self-denying respects to us who have done to him any services and offices of love that gracious children be as children indeed in way of holy recompences by all due respects succour and sympathy of love to their afflicted Mothers or Fathers for all those greater services succours and sympathies of their love towards them 3. Let children recompence parents by being 3. In being very sollicitous of parents good and safety in hazzards and straits effectually sollicitous of their parents outward safety and good in times of danger and straits thus David fearing the malicious rage of Saul against his parents for his sake secureth them with the King of Moab whom he requested saying 1 Sam. 22. 3. Let my Father and Mother I pray thee come forth and be with you till I know what God will do for me and vers 4. he brought them before the King of Moab and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the hold So Jesus Christ that unparalleld example of thankful recompence of parents see Joh. 19. 26 27. how sollicitous he is and what effectual order he taketh for his poor Mother even then when he hung bleeding upon the Cross when Jesus saw his Mother and the disciple standing by whom he loved he saith unto his Mother Woman behold thy Son then he saith to the Disoiple Behold thy Mother or take her use her love her tender her look to her do for her as for thy own Mother and so indeed John understood Christs speech and therefore it is added And from that hour that Disciple took her unto his own home When a Lion intercepteth Sampson and his Father and Mother in their journey Judg. 14. 5 6. Sampson interposeth twixt danger and his parents adventureth his own life and slaieth the Lion when danger was impending upon Jericho and a bloody storm was gathering over it Rahab will not be saved alone but must have her Parents and Kindred also preserved Josh 2. 13. That ye will save alive my Father and my Mother and my Brethren and Sisters and all that they have and deliver our lives from death And indeed parents are the head of the Family and as it is in the body natural every member is ready to rescue the head from hurt and rather expose it self to hazzard than indanger the head so should it be in the body oeconomicall the children especially should take all effectuall care that may be to preserve their parents from hazzard or harms like those young men of Catana of whom we spake before which adventured the very flames to preserve their parents from burning Scipio Africanus when the consul Scipio Cornelius his Father had almost lost the day to Hannibal and was now both sorely wounded and surrounded by the enemy he being then but 17 years old boldly and undauntedly breaketh through the surrounding enemy and rescueth his Father from that danger as Livy reporteth young Manlius Son to Lucius Manlius a young man of rare abilities and sit for publique services but put by his Father to live an obscure life in too mean imployments for which amongst other faults his Father was to be impeached by Pomponius the Tribune which young Manlius perceiving he repaireth early to the Tribunes Chamber who supposing he came to help on the intended impeachment of his Father he caused all to depart the room but young Manlius having a sword privily under his coat threatned the Tribune with present death unless he would swear to desist wholly from prosecution of his Father and as Valerius Maximus reporteth he did so and so rescued his Father from that danger overlooking all unkind passages mentioned of his Father towards him when the Son of Craesus who was formerly dumb saw a Persian Souldier ready to run him thorow though to him unknown who he was it is said that this young man that for a time had lived mute for himself then for the safety of his Father he obtained power to speak for he cryed out to the Persian Soldier Oh do not kill King Craesus my Father as also Val. Max. l. 5. reporteth Such strange effects even in poor Pagans hath their sollicitous care of their parents safety produced and let not the children of Christians be behind hand therein Herein also must children vicem reddere pay and give in like for like Oh the many sollicitous thoughts and most serious endeavours of parents about their childrens safety and outward good when time was when they were but in any likely-hood of any harm come to them when they were little if they were but missing a while from home and their parents not knowing where they were like Joseph and Mary when Jesus being then 12 years old was missing they sought him sorrowing Luke 2. 48. So have dear parents many a time done the like for their children if looking but a little more pale than usual or not eating their meat as at other times Ah the fears and heart-akes of tender-hearted parents about them lest they should fall sick or if any way hurt or in pain or sick Oh the sorrowful dayes and nights which parents that while pass over fearing lest they should miscarry and how many castings about and contrivings and inquiries are made by parents what way or course or means might be seasonably used which is most likely to ease or heal or revive their dear children and to rescue them from the Jawes of death let children repay unto parents like for like How many hazzards how many sufferings have parents formerly exposed themselves unto for childrens good and safety Like Moses his parents Heb. 11. 23. through faith hiding Moses when an infant from the mischief of Pharaohs Butchery not fearing the Tyrants bloody edict which was that each male child of the Israelites should be slain or like David who understanding that wife and children and all are captived by the Amalekites he will adventure a thousand hazzards but he will rescue them Many a tender-hearted Mother will expose her self to be some way mischiefed by a bear or bull or dog or the like to save and rescue her child from being hurt by any of them when they are in imminent danger thereof She will be ready to thrust her tender hand into the very fire to pull or snatch out her little child from being burnt or scorched by it Now let children repay them like for like 4. Let children in way of recompence improve 4. In improving their utmost interests in God or men fot their good their best interests either in God for their good inward or outward through exercise of their faith in prayer or otherwise for that end or in men by intreaties or otherwise to further the same parentall good As Hester did for her Unckle Mordecai who had been
Honour of Respect Reverence Obedience and Recompence to Fathers of our flesh and such carrying of it so by Children as it redoundeth to parents honour as we have largely declared O what Honour of Respect Reverence Obedience and holy Recompence to him and what manner of carrying of it so as may redound to his Honour doth God expect from you his Chldren to whom he is not only a Father of your Spirit or Soul as he is to all others but a Covenant-Father If God require that to Parents from their Children upon pain of life and death he much more requireth this from you his Covenant and Church-Children upon pain of loss of eternal life and undergoing eternal death But is that the Honour of Respect which you who are degenerate Children give to this your Father to have no desire of the knowledge of his wayes As it is said of that degenerate generation in Job 21. 14 15. whether those in Jobs own time or those before the floud of whom Job 22. 15 16 17 18. but to wish rather what those wretches there mentioned that God might depart from you in respect of any such motions which he maketh and convictions and restraints upon your Spirits which sometimes you meet with and to take no delight at all in God in his word worship wayes daies government Saints and Servants Or is this the honour of Reverence which you give him to be awless fearless of his presence when you are in his house when at Prayer with your Parents or the like and to be constantly fearless of his displeasure or of sinning against him Or is this the Honour of Obedience which you give him to obey the motions of your own hearts lusts of your Companions of Seducers and of the very Divell himself but as for Gods charge or Commands you make light of them So that God may say of you as he did of that degenerate generation of old and speak of it as inter horrenda Hear O Heavens and give ear O earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished Children and they have rebelled against me the Oxe knoweth his owner the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Ah sinfull Nation Children that are corruptors they have forsaken the holy one they are gone away backward Isa 1. 2 3 4. And as Isa 30. 9. This is a rebellious people lying Children Children that will not hear the law of the Lord. Or is this the honour of holy Recompence which you should have rendered to him for all his benefits towards you to depart from him to vex and provoke his holy Spirit which is striving with you as he was with that degenerate generation in Gen. 6. 2 3. to corrupt your selves as did that other generation mentioned Deut. 32. 5. whose spot was not the spot of Children or of right-bred children of God who were a crooked and perverse generation Surely God may and doth say to you as he did by Moses to them vers 6. Do you thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise is not he thy Father that hath bought thee hath not he made and established thee finally is this your being an honour to God your heavenly father to cause the name of God to be blasphemed and the way of truth to be evill spoken of for your sakes as it may be said of you which was said of those degenerate Jewes Rom. 2. 23. Thou that makest thy boast of the law through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God vers 24. For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you when such as you are by your vile speeches carriages opinions or courses of life shall occasion the prophaner sort or enemies to God and his Church Ironically to say as they of old did of those degenerate Jewes Ezech. 36. 20. These are the people of the Lord So by your meanes others now a daies to say of you Yea these are your younger generation of the Church these are those that are in the Covenant of grace these are your Church-members these are they which in their Infant-Baptism were devoted to the faith and worship of Father Son and Holy Ghost these are the brood of such Puritan Ministers and other precise followers and the like blasphemous sarcasmes wherin the Lords precious name together with his Truth Covenant Saints and Servants are also vilely reproached Again as such Children are Gods Servants and Children so they are by externall calling Covenant and Church Interest his subjects also Of them is Gods kingdome Luk. 18. 16 17. Now for His Subjects such as you are who are the subjects of the Lord thus to break your Oath or Covenant of Allegiance and to reject his goverment over you by his Word Spirit or Discipline like those degenerate Jewes who said of the promised Messiah Jesus Christ We will not have this man to rule over us Luke 19. 27. Hereby you do but rebel against your Lord and Soveraign and what is rebellion but as the sin of witchcraft 1 Sam. 15. 23. even a hellish execrable and damnable crime But to proceed to the other branches of the evill of sin in this degeneration of such Children In which we shall be more brief 2. Hereby you become breakers of Covenant 2. It is a breach of Covenant with God with God with whom you are confederate Yea you hereby tear off the very seal of the Covenant even your Baptism Thus God when telling Moses how that people would degenerate he saith Deut. 31. 20. They would break his Covenant so Isaiah charging the degenerate generation in his daies also with their sin he saith Isa 24. 5. They have transgressed the Lawes they have broken the everlasting Covenant And as for invalidating after a sort of the Covenant-seal thereby you may see it in those degenerate ones mentioned even now Rom. 2. 25. If thou be a breaker of the law thy Circumcision which to them was the seal of the Covenant and of the righteousness of faith as Baptism is to us Gen. 10. 11 13. Rom. 4. 11. is made uncicumcision and so ineffectuall It is as it were torn off and trampled under foot through that sin of theirs Now if this be so heinous a thing with men to break Covenant with Princes to tear off tread under foot their broad seals how evill is this in Gods sight and if that breach of a Covenant made before God even with a tyrant by Zedechiah were so grievous to God that as Ezech. 17. 15 16 17. he saith Shall he escape that doth such things or shall he break Covenant and be delivered So I may say here to these degenerate Children of the godly shall such as you are escape the fiery displeasure of God that do such things or shall you that break Gods Covenant be delivered from wrath to come no assuredly unlesse the Lord give you repentance unto life And consider of it in the fear of God
as for those degenerate ones in speciall which notwithstanding the hopefull working they Evils of sin in the degeneration of the more hopefull Children of the Godly have had formerly in their souls yet have degenerated to the dishonour as of God and themselves so of their godly Parents let such seriously weigh the evill thereof for besides those six particular aggravations which your sin in degenerating admitteth of in common with others and of which we even now spake there are some peculiar aggravations to be superadded to your sin in speciall for as it s said of Solomon the Son of David a man after Gods own heart when he was in that degenerating way 1 Kings 11. 9. The Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel who had appeared to him twice so I may say in some respect to you God must needs be the more angry with you because he hath shewed so much of your hearts and of himself to you and so oft been dealing with your hearts so in the case of Rehoboam Solomons Son who as 2 Chron. 11. 17. for three years space was very hopefull and with the rest of those of Israel who repaired to him and those of Judah walked in the way of David his Father and in the first way of Solomon his Father but as 2 Chron. 12. 1. afterwards forsook the Lord and all Israel with him Joash how hopefull a young man was he when as it is said 2 Chron. 24. 2. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord for the matter of it all the dayes of Jehoiadah the Priest but vers 17 18. upon occasion of the flattering Courtiers counsell the King hearkned to them and they left the house of the Lord God of their Fathers and the like is said of Vzziah a very hopefull young man 2 Chro. 26. 5. He sought God in the dayes of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions of God but v. 16. When he was strong his heart was lifted up to his destruction c. And how many such Children of good Parents are there now a dayes who divers years ago gave great hopes of their saving good to their Parents and Friends now how evill a thing is this in such as you are and how bitter will it prove to you in the end that thus leave off to be wise and to do good as it is said Psal 36. 2. And as he said in another case you begin in the Spirit and end in the Flesh Gal. 3. As if it were not as good alwayes to be zealously affected in a good thing as for a little spurt of time but that we may set this part of the admonition the closer upon the hearts of such Children who were sometimes so hopefull and now so much degenerated let me shew them the heinous nature of such a manner of degenerating or rather Apostatizing from such hopefull beginnings workings and practices 1. Your sin is against the Holy-Ghost albeit 1. It is a sin in special against Gods spirit not the sin the very unpardonable sin against the Holy-Ghost for you sin against him as inlightning your minds to see so much of your selves and wayes of God and Christ and his wayes as you did and in a sort drawing you from your youthfull lusts and delights and sinfull practices and bringing you on in the best things and wayes so far but now you have made head against him as did those degenerate ones of old of whom it is said Nehem. 9. 30. that they would not give ear to the Spirit speaking against their degenerate courses by his Prophets or as it is said of that degenerate brood Acts 7. 51. You have alwaies resisted the Holy-Ghost as your degenerate Fathers did so do yee this sin as it is a resisting so it is a rebelling against the Spirit as it is said there of whom then God said they are Children that will not lie Es 63. 5. But they degenerating it is said vers 10. But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit they therefore hereby rebelled against the Spirit and that did not barely grieve him but which is a high degree of distasting they vexed Gods Holy Spirit Now how vile is your sin thus to resist and rebell against and thereby so deeply to vex him and why should any of you vex your blessed inlightner and one that might and was willing to be your quickener converter sanctifier strengthner supporter and comforter had not you your selves been wanting to his motions and means which hee used God may say to you as he said to those degenerate ones with whom his Spirit had been tampering Mic. 2. 7. Oh thou that art named the house of Israel is the Spirit of the Lord â—â—raightned Could not he breath and shine more abundantly into your minds and hearts in the Ministry of the word but that you will be thus grieving and vexing of him but why do you sin against your own souls in sinning against him who alone must make them capable of all blessing grace and glory And is this your observance and owning of that Holy-Ghost unto whom in your Baptism you are devoted 2. This is a speciall sin against the grace of Jesus 2. It is a speciall sin against the grace of Jesus Christ Christ who in those workings and movings of yours was also sweetly calling and gathering you to himself for your souls welfare as he was dealing in like sort with that degenerate generation Matth. 23. 7. How often would I have gathered you as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings but ye would not But where could you or can you find better soul-food than with that blessed Hen to which he likeneth himself there where can you meet with more soul-warmth than with Jesus Christ and under his blessed wings or where can you expect to partake of more sweetness and kindness of bowels and love than with the Motherly Hen yea do not you as much as in you lyeth at once contradict Christs word and the end of his comming of which Mal. 9. 13. I came to call sinners convinced sinners to Repentance You were indeed convinced sinners but have worn out your convictions and troubles and never went any further to a through work of Repentance but rather gone away further from God and good and would give in a manner the lie to Christ in that gracious speech of his 3. Is not this a breaking of that bond of Gods 3. It is a breaking the bond of Gods fear fear which should have kept you close to God and from starting aside from his truth word or way So he supposing that Job was degenerate said thou castest off fear thou restrainest Prayer Job 15. 4. And must not this needs be very grievous to the Lord 4. Is not this to cast off the Authority of an awakened Conscience as a vicegerent of God 4. It is a casting off the Authority of conscience