loving to them Love will draw love from the worst of men Luk. 6.32 Sinners also love those that love them Shew your love to them by speaking kindly to them and by seeking their welfare Hereby Mordecai got the love of the Jews Esth 10.3 Mordecai the Jew was accepted of the multitude of his Brethren seeking the wealth of his people and speaking peace to all his seed Secondly Be kind to them as you see occasion give them some gifts to encourage them to learn those things that are for their good this will win much upon their affections Prov. 19.6 Every man is a friend to him that giveth Gifts Thirdly Give ear to their just Complaints and be willing to redress their grievances Job was ready to hear the cause and complaint of the meanest Servant in his family even when and wherein he himself was concerned Job 31.13 14. If I did despise the cause of my man Servant or of my maid Servant when they contended with me what then shall I do when God riseth up And when he visiteth what shall I answer him And who was more loved and respected than Job Job 29.8 9 10 11. Absolom by his courteous carriage and kind speeches and by expressing his readiness to redress the grievances of the people stole the hearts of the men of Israel 2 Sam 15.2 3 4 5 6. When the people of Israel came to Rehoboam with a desire to redress their grievances his wise men counselled him to answer their desires for thereby he should engage their affections to him for ever 2 Chron. 10.7 If thou be kind to this people and please them and speak good words unto them they will be thy Servants for ever Fourthly Answer their Requests when they defire those things that are for their good and which may conveniently be granted them As Gods answering our Requests makes us love God Psal 116.1 I love the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my Supplications So our answering those Requests which our Children or Servants make to us will engage them to love us Fifthly Cover their failings and infirmities Prov. 17.9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love or as it is in the Margent procureth love By covering a cransgression is not meant that we should forbear reproving them for Reproof prudently administred will not hinder but increase love Prov. 9.8 Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee But by covering a transgrâ—â—son is meant 1. That we should not twit and upbraid them with their faults and be often repeating them as the manner of some is especially when they are in a passion for this is a great hindrance of love and causeth discord between inward Friends as appears by the following words But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends 2. That we should not divulge or blaze abroad their infirmities but endeavour to conceal them SECT 11. How to ingraft the Word of God in the hearts of our Children and Servants How we may bring them in love with the Word Direct 11 IF you would save the Souls of your Children and Servants by those Instructions which you give them out of the word of God endeavour to ingraft those Truths which you teach them in their hearts for if the Word of God be ingrafted in their hearts it will be a powerful means of saving their Souls Jam. 1.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your Souls If you say What shall we do that we may get the word of God ingrafted in their hearts I answer First Acquaint them with Gods Covenant wherein he hath promised to engrave or write his word in their hearts Jer. 31.33 I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts And stir them up to plead this Covenant until they find that God according to his promise hath engraven his Law upon their hearts Secondly Cause them to understand those Scriptures which you teach them and to that end when there is any difficulty therein explain them and labour to beget in them a clear and right understanding of the word of God When the understanding is enlightned with the knowledge of Divine Truths there is way made for their entrance into and their abode in the heart Prov. 14.33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding By wisdom we may understand the grace of God Job 28.28 The fear of the Lord that is wisdom Now the grace of God doth not only enter into but resteth and maketh its abode in the heart of him that hath understanding If your Instructions be never so good though they be drawn out of the word of God yet if they be not understood they will not abide in their hearts whom you instruct but will quickly vanish out of their minds Matth. 13.19 When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart Thirdly Endeavour to fix the word of God in their memories cause them often to rehearse what you have taught them exhort them to meditate and ponder upon those Instructions they have received from you This will be a means of ingrafting the word of God in their hearts As the remembring of our sins is a means of engraving our iniquities upon our hearts Jer. 17.1 2. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond it is graven upon the Table of their Hearts and upon the Horns of their Altars whilst their Children remember their Altars and their Groves So remembring and pondering upon the Word of God will be a means of graving or writing the Word of God upon our hearts Prov. 3.1 3. My Son forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandments Bind them about thy Neck write them upon the Table of thine Heart The binding of the Commandments about the Neck is the same with not forgetting the Law mentioned vers 1. This binding of the Law about the Neck was used by the Jews as a Memorial to help them to keep the Commandments of God in remembrance Exod. 13.9 Now Solomon joyning these two together Bind them about thy Neck write them upon the Table of thine Heart implies that the binding of the Commandments about our Neck that is the keeping them in remembrance will be a means to write them upon our Hearts Fourthly Inure them to godly Discourse When they are in your presence speak often to them of the word of God and when they are discoursing one with another exhort them to discourse of what you have taught them out of the word of God Discoursing out of the word will be a means of imprinting the Law of God upon their hearts Psal 37.30 31. The mouth of the Righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of judgment And what is the fruit and effect of this good discourse
instruction in righteousness such instructions as are drawn out of the Scriptures to instruct and direct us how to lead a righteous and holy life It is sometimes also used for correction Heb. 12.5 My son despise not the chastening of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such a teaching as fixeth in the mind and fasteneth upon the heart those instructions which are useful to inform the judgment and reform the life To this effect Zanchy interprets this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Significat admonitionem non simpliciter sed talem quâ in mentem pueri ponas ingeras quae sunt illi ad salutem necessaria And Camerarius Significat efficacem admonitionem quâ aliquis ad meliorem mentem revocatur The Apostle adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew that those instructions and admonitions which we give our Children must not be what our own hearts or our own wisdom prompts us to but they must be drawn out of the word of the Lord. The Ethiopick Translation renders the words thus Enutrite erudite in Doctrina Dei bring them up and instruct them in the Doctrine of God The Doctrine of God is an Epithet given the Gospel Tit. 2.10 When therefore the Apostle exhorts Parents to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord the sense and meaning of those words is to this effect That they should labour by instruction correction and dayly admonitions to train up their Children in the knowledge faith and obedience of the Word of God and thus the generality of Expositors interpret this place As Beza Monitis ex verbo Dei petitis Draw the Counsel and Admonitions which you give your Children out of the word of God And Vatablus Date eis vivendi modum secundum doctrinam monita Christi Give them Rules and Directions how to order their Lives according to the Doctrine and Commandments of Christ Zanch. Vt pueri instituantur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est in verâ Dei cegnitione verâ Pietate veraque religione doctrinam coelestem in liberorum animos semper instillando To bring up our Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is to bring them up in the true knowledge of God true Piety and the true Religion by a continual instilling heavenly Doctrine that is the word of God into our Childrens minds And Piscator Erudiant instituant in Doctrina Christiana Let them bring them up and instruct them in the Doctrine of Christ Corn. Lapid Vos O Patres educate illos in Doctrina Christi date eis Christiana monita quibus bene Christiane vivendi modum addiscant Do you O Fathers educate your Children in the Doctrine of Christ give them Christian counsel that they may learn to live well and as becometh Christians Our English Annotations explain those words In the admonition of the Lord thus Such Admonitions Instructions and Precepts as are taken out of the word of God and are acceptable to him I might mention Theodoret Chrysostom who discourseth very largely on this place about the education of Children in the knowledge of the Scriptures and divers others who give the same sence of this Text but I suppose it needless to adde any more VVhat is implied in those words Bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord may be gathered by comparing this place with 1 Tim. 4.6 where the same Apostle speaking of Timothy saith He was nourished up in the words of Faith and good Doctrine And what those words of Faith and good Doctrine were in which Timothy was nourished up we may learn from 1 Tim. 6.3 Even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness So that to bring up our Children in the nurture and admontion of the Lord is to nourish them up from their Childhood in the knowledge of the word of the Lord and especially to instill such portions of the Gospel into their minds as may breed in their hearts faith in Jesus Christ and may bring them to lead godly and holy Lives SECT 2. Servants as well as Children are to be instructed IT may be some will say These Scriptures which you have produced speak fully of teaching Gods word unto our Children but here is nothing spoken of instructing our Servants How doth it appear that we are to teach Gods word unto our Servants as well as unto our Children I answer 1. In Deut. 6.7 8. Where the Lord commands us to lay up his words in our hearts and to teach them diligently unto our Children there is added Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and vers 9. Thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house and on thy gates which Precepts imply thus much That it is our duty not only to teach our Children but that we are also bound to instruct all that go out and all that come in at our doors even our whole houshold in the knowledge of the word of God 2. In those fore-quoted Scriptures wherein the Lord commandeth us to teach his word unto our Children we are commanded to teach our Servants also for our Servants are comprehended in this word Children This will be made evident by considering how the word Children is used in other places and the use of the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is usual with the Scripture to call those persons whom we either do or by our duty are obliged to instruct our Children 1 John 2.1 My little Children these things I write unto you that ye sin not 2 Cor. 6.13 I speak as unto my Children Psal 34.11 Come ye Children hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. The People of a Nation that are united under one form of Government are called the Children of that Nation Thus we read of the Children of Israel and the Children of Judah 2 Chron. 13.18 The Children of Israel were brought under at that time and the Children of Judah prevailed because they relied upon the Lord God of their Fathers The Children of Israel signifie the ten Tribes that were under Jeroboam's Government and the Children of Judah the two Tribes that were under the Government of the house of David Now if all the People that belong to one Nation are called the Children of that Nation why may not all the members of a Family be called the Children of that Family 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the Hebrew word that is used for Children Deut. 6.7 is translated by the Septuagint Zeph. 1.8 Amos 3.1 and in many other places by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth an House or a Family And younger persons are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Prov. 7.7 I discerned among the youths where the Hebrew word translated youths is the same with that which is rendred Children Deut. 6.7 It is also of
bring their fruit to perfection and to that end put them in mind that it is the will of God that we should not only labour to be holy but that we should labour to perfect holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 And caution them against those things which do hinder the seed of the Word from growing to perfection as the cares of this life pleasures unmortified lusts Luke 8.14 Mark 4.19 Keeping company with men of corrupt minds and corrupt conversations 1 Cor. 15.33 Be not deceived evil communications corrupt good manners Giving heed to such as teach false Doctrine will endanger their overthrow and prove destructive to them 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits Seducers are those Foxes that spoil the Vine that hath tender Grapes against whom the Church prays Cant. 2.15 Take us the Foxes the little Foxes that spoil the Vines for our Vines have tender Grapes 7. Counsel them well to consider into what Families they dispose themselves when God shall by his providence remove them out of your Family That they do not for the gaining of more wages or easier work put themselves into such Families where they shall have no instruction lest that good Work which is begun in them cease and come to nothing While Jehoash was instructed he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord 2 Kings 12.2 Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him But when Jehoiada that instructed him was dead Jehoash fell into Idolatry and other great sins 2 Chron. 24.17 18 19 21. 8. If any of the Members of your Family do find that God hath done their Souls good by the Instructions that you have given them counsel and exhort them by way of gratitude if ever God shall give them Families to teach and train up their Families in the knowledge of Gods Word Thirdly If upon communing with your Families you find they have gotten no good by those Instructions and godly Lessons which you have given them Then 1. Inform them what a great sin and how dangerous it is to enjoy great means of Grace and to remain graceless and barren under them Heb. 6.7.8 The Earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God but that which beareth Thorns and Bryars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned Matth. 3.10 And now also the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees therefore every Tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and is cast into the fire 2. See whence their unprofitableness proceeds whether the cause of it be in your selves that you teach them things that are too high for them or that you do not make things plain to their understandings or that you do not teach them by your Example as well as Doctrine or that yo do not water your Seed that you sow with your Prayers and tears or that you teach them so seldom or in such a slight manner Or whether the cause of their unprofitableness be in themselves as their not minding what you teach them their forgetfulness c. And where-ever the ground of their unprofitableness lieth endeavour to get it removed 3. Direct them what means they should use that they may profit by what you teach them as 1. To look up to the Lord who alone can teach them to profit Isa 48.17 2. To mingle the Word of God with faith Heb. 4.2 3. To meditate often on those things wherein they are instructed Meditation on the Word of God will be a great help to their profiting both in knowledge and grace 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate on these things that thy profiting may appear unto all Fourthly If upon discoursing with them you find they rest in a form of Godliness and have only a notional knowledge of the word of God without the favour and practice of those Truths that you have taught them Then 1. Inform them that knowledge without practice will never make them happy Joh. 13.17 but will aggravate their condemnation and cause God to beat them with many stripes Luk. 12.47 And that the form of Godliness will profit them nothing but the life and power of Godliness will be profitable for all things and give them an interest in all Gods promises whether they concern this life or the life to come 1 Tim. 4.8 2. Direct them what means they should use that they may not only have a barren and unfruitful notional knowledge of the things of God but that they may relish savour and practise what they know As namely 1. Exhort them to get Faith Temperance Patience Godliness Brotherly Kindness and Charity The Apostle having spoken of these Graces saith 2 Pet. 1.8 If these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Exhort them to plead Gods Covenant where God hath promised not only to put his Laws into our minds that is to give us the knowledge and remembrance of his will but also to write them in our hearts that is to incline our wills to embrace love and obey his Laws Heb. 8.10 I will put my Laws into their minds and write them in their hearts 3. Stir them up to cry unto God who hath taught them to know his will to encline their hearts to do his will and to keep his Commandments Psal 119.36 Incline mine heart unto thy Testimonies Psal 143.10 Teach me to do thy will Fifthly If you find any of your Family in a declining withering condition 1. Warn them betimes of the evil of a decaying declining frame of spirit The Church of Ephesus had many things for which Christ gives her great commendations Rev. 2.2 3. yet having lost her first love he gives her a sharp rebuke vers 4. 2. Exhort them to remember whence they are fallen and to repent and do their first works lest God send some sudden and sore Judgment upon them Rev. 2.5 3. Stir them up to act their faith upon such promises where God hath promised to heal our backslidings and restore our souls and to recover us from a decayed frame of spirit by causing us to grow in grace as Hos 14.4 5. I will heal their backslidings I will love them freely I will be as the dew unto Israel he shall be as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon This promise is made unto Israel that was fallen into great decay Vers 1. O Israel thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Israel was so far fallen that God complains O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self Yet to Israel that was fallen thus low God promiseth to heal their back-slidings and to love them freely and to be as the dew to them
to run into all kind of evil let us endeavour to prevent these great evils by training them up in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. 5. If we bring up our Children in ignorance they can have no fellowship with or enjoyment of God who is the chiefest Good For God is Light and in him is no darkness at all 1 Joh. 1.5 And persons that have no knowledge are said to be in darkness Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darkness And there can be no communion between Light and Darkness 2 Cor. 6.14 What Communion hath Light with Darkness Now what will all the good things which we give our Children whilst we live or which we shall leave them when we die avail them if they have no enjoyment of God who is the chiefest Good 6. Without knowledge our Children and Servants cannot obtain salvation but must perish eternally Psal 5.5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight Job 36.12 They shall die without knowledge Prov. 2.16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the Congregation of the dead That is he shall be cast into Hell and abide there among the Devils and damned persons for ever So it is expounded by R. Sel. in caetu gehennae And Menoch Videtur sensus esse cum Daemonibus futuros cum impiis hominibus ad aeterna supplicia â—amnatis That the Hebrew word which is here translated dead signifieth Hell may be gathered from Prov. 9.18 He knoweth not that the dead are there and that her guests are in the depths of Hell 7. Without knowledge our Children will not only be undone in the world to come but they are likely by their folly and indiscretion to undo themselves and their Families in this world either by idleness Eccl. 4.5 The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh Prov. 24.30 31. Or by prodigality Prov. 21.20 There is a treasure to be desired and Oyl in the dwelling of the Wise but the foolish spendeth it up Or by Surety ship Prov. 17.18 A man void of understanding striketh hands and becometh Surety in the presence of his friend Or by Law-suits Prov. 18.6 A fools lips enter into contention Or by speaking against persons in Authority Eccles 10.12 The lips of a fool will swallow up himself Prov. 10.14 The mouth of the foolish is near destruction Or by some other rash and indiscreet carriages 8. Instructing our Children and Servants out of the word of God will remove their ignorance and make them of foolish and simple to become wise and understanding persons and so consequently will prevent all the afore-mentioned evils which will accrue both to us and them if they be trained up in ignorance Prov. 12.1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge Prov. 8.33 Hear instruction and be wise Psal 19 7. The Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Prov. 1.1 4. The Proverbs of Solomon to give subtilty to the simple and to the young man knowledge and discretion Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple SECT 4. The corruption that is in children and servants proveth Family-instruction to be a necessary duty Arg. 3 THere is not only much blindness and ignorance in the minds of our children and servants but they have also very sinful and corrupt hearts That we may see and understand what sin and corruption is bound up in the hearts of our children and servants let us consider what the Scripture saith of the hearts of the sons of men The heart of man by nature is void and destitute of all good Rom. 7.18 I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing and full of evil Eccles 9.3 The heart of the sons of men is full of evil Yea the seeds of the foulest sins such as Murder Adultery Blasphemy and the like are in the heart of man which will break out if they be left to themselves Matth. 15.19 Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies The inclinations of the heart to sin even to the worst of sins are strong and violent so that the heart is not only set upon evil but fully set to do evil Eccles 8.11 The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil There is such a bottomless depth of sin in their hearts that we cannot fathom it it is hard to express yea hard to understand how wicked and sinful the heart of man is Jer. 17.9 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And this corruption of the heart begins to work and discover it self very early even whilst we are young Gen. 8.21 The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth Isai 48.8 I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously and wast called a transgressour from the womb Now seeing there is so much sin and corruption in the hearts of our children and servants from hence it will follow that it is our duty to train them up in the knowledge and obedience of the Word of God whereby their hearts may be purified and sanctified and that it is necessary that we should imploy all the skill and strength that we have in this work for 1. Though their hearts be exceeding sinful as we have heard before yet if we instruct them in the knowledge and train them up in the obedience of the Word of God this will be a means to purifie and sanctifie their hearts and to reform their lives for the word of God hath a sanctifying vertue in it John 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth And being hid in the heart it will cleanse the heart and keep a man from sinning against God John 15.3 Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Obeying and practising the word will purifie the heart 1 Pet. 2.22 Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit If we can bring our Children to take heed to their ways and to frame them according to the word of God we need not doubt but this will cleanse their hearts and lives Psal 119.9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way By taking heed thereto according to thy word 2. If we suffer our Children and Servants to live without instruction and do not labour to bring them acquainted with God and with his holy word there is no hope that they should be reclaimed from their sins Hos 5.4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them and they have not known the Lord. The Prophet gives this reason why they would not frame their doings to turn to the Lord They did not know the Lord and the spirit of whoredoms was in them By the spirit of whoredoms we may
to be performed every day Psal 145.2 Every day will I bless thee Psal 92.1 2. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy Name O most High to shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night It is a duty to be performed not only by our selves when we are alone but all the members in the Family should joyn together in blessing and praising God Psal 135.19 Bless the Lord O house of Aaron Psal 34.3 O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together Deut. 14.26 Thou shalt rejoyce thou and thy houshold Now how can our Families bless and praise God for his mercies if they be not taught that all the good things they have come from God and also taught who that God is that gives them all good things and how and in what manner they should express their thankfulness unto him We find that when the Scripture speaketh of praising God it often intimates that we should praise him with understanding Psal 47.6 7. Sing praises to God sing praises sing praises unto our King sing praises For God is the King of the Earth sing ye praises with understanding 1 Cor. 14.15 I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also Which implieth that the Lord cannot be praised by the sons of men in an acceptable manner if they be not endued with knowledge and understanding 3. It is our Duty to exhort our Children and Servants to flee from sin and to follow after Righteousness to love and fear and serve the Lord and to walk in his ways c. Heb. 3.13 Exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Now if we would have our exhortations to take place we must joyn Doctrine or Instruction with our Exhortations 2 Tim. 4.2 Exhort with all long suffering and doctrine If we do not instruct them wherein the nature of those Duties lieth unto which we exhort them and how and in what manner they should be performed we shall be like those that beat the air our Exhortations will be of no advantage to them 4. It is our Duty to reprove our Children and Servants when we see them negligent in their duty or committing any sin against God Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him If we must rebuke a Neighbour then much more those of our own house when they sin against the Lord. Now instruction makes way for reproof one word of reproof to a man instructed with wisdom and understanding will do more good than an hundred stripes will do towards the reformation of an ignorant foolish person Prov. 17.10 A reproof entreth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool We shall find it a very difficult matter to fasten a reproof upon our Children and Servants so as to make it take place and do them good if they be without understanding The like may be said of other Duties which we ought to perform towards our Children and Servants they cannot be performed successfully if we suffer our Families to be without Instruction SECT 6. We have Gods example for teaching our Children and Servants Arg. 5 GOD teacheth and instructeth his Children and Servants and therefore it is our Duty to teach and instruct our Children and our Servants for we ought to be followers of God Ephes 5.1 Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children In order to our imitation of God in this practice Let us consider 1. Who they are whom God teacheth all his Children and Servants from the greatest of them to the least he leaves not one of them without instruction Isa 54.13 And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord Jer. 31.34 They shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. Deut. 33.3 Yea he loved the people all his Saints are in thy hand and they sat down at thy feet every one shall receive of thy words So should we teach and instruct every one of our Children and Servants from the least to the greatest 2. God begins to teach his Children betimes Psal 71.17 O God thou hast taught me from my youth So should we begin early with our Children 2 Tim. 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures 3. God teacheth his children and servants knowledge Psal 94.10 He that teacheth man knowledge shall not he know He teacheth them to know himself Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord And to know and believe in his Son Jesus Christ John 6.45 It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me And to love one another 1 Thes 4.9 Ye your selves are taught of God to love one another He instructs them to shun and to avoid evil company and evil examples Isa 8.11 For the Lord spake thus unto me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people He teacheth them by his grace to deny all ungodliness and to live righteous and holy lives Tit. 2.12 The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us That denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world He instructs them how to order and manage the works of their Callings with Wisdom and Discretion Isa 28.24 25 26. Doth the Plowman plow all day to sow Doth he open and break the clods of his ground When he hath made plain the face thereof doth he not cast abroad the Fitches and scatter the Cummin and east in the principal Wheat and the appointed Barley and the Rye in their place For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him He instructs them how they should walk and what they should say and do and how they should order their Conversations aright in all things Psal 32.8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go Exod. 4.12 15. I will be with thy mouth and will teach thee what thou shalt say and will teach you what ye shall do 2 Chron. 32.22 The Lord guided them on every side Psal 107.7 He led them forth by the right way He shews them the Path of Life and guides them in the way to Heaven Psal 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the Path of Life Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me unto glory Herein we should imitate God we should teach our Children and servants to know God and his Son Jesus Christ and to believe in Christ and to love one another and to forsake evil company and to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world We
salvation SECT 4. Many Benefits accrue to our Children by Instruction Motive 4 BY training up our Children in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures we shall greatly promote their welfare That this is the way to furnish them with wisdom and what Advantages will come to them by being endued with Wisdom hath been shewed already There are many other great Benefits and Advantages will accrue to our Children by being instructed in the Scriptures I will instance in some of them 1. Acquaintance with the Word of God will furnish them with grounds of Consolation whereby they may be able to bear up chearfully and comfort themselves under all the troubles of this present life We know not what troubles our Children may meet with when we are at Rest in our Graves we leave them in a troublesome world where they must expect to meet with variety of afflictions Job 14.1 Man that is born of a Woman is of few Days and full of trouble especially if they walk in the path that leads to life for there is no getting to Heaven but through much tribulation Act. 14.22 We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God And if our Children have not somewhat out of Gods Word to comfort themselves withall under their afflictions they will sink under their sorrows and be in danger to make away themselves Psal 119.92 Vnless thy Law had been my delight I should then have perished in mine affliction But if they be acquainted with the word of God they may from thence be furnished with grounds of Consolation under the greatest troubles that can come upon them in this world Jer. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoycing of mine heart It was a time of great trouble with the Prophet and he was alone and had none to comfort him as we may see Vers 10 17 18. yet even then when he was a man of contention to the whole earth and sat alone being filled with indignation and looked upon his pain as perpetual and his wound as incurable Gods word was the joy and rejoycing of his heart So David when his heart was ready to break with grief Psal 119.28 My Soul melteth for heaviness found joy and comfort in Gods word Vers 49.50 Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope This is my comfort in mine affliction And Vers 143 162. Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me yet thy Commandments are my delight I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoyl 2. Acquaintance with the word of God will keep our Children from taking evil and destructive courses from going in those paths that will bring them to destruction Psal 17.4 Concerning the works of men by the words of thy Lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyers The word of God laid up in their hearts will keep them from associating themselves with evil men and evil women It will so over-awe their hearts that they will not only not run of themselves into evil Company but also shun and avoid them though they use many flattering speeches to entice them to that which is evil Prov. 7.15 My Son keep my words and lay up my Commandments with thee That they may keep thee from the strange woman from the stranger which flattereth with her words See also Prov. 6.23 24. 3. The knowledge of Godsword will keep them from falling into Errors which persons of weak Judgments and not well grounded in the Scriptures are easily drawn into Errors arise from ignorance of the Scriptures Mark 12.24 Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the Scriptures neither the power of God Growing in knowledge is prescribed by the Apostle as a means to prevent persons being led into errors 2 Pet. 3.17 18. We had need be careful to preserve our Children from Errors especially in Fundamental Points of Religion as well as from gross sins For 1. Except they abide in the Doctrine of Christ they can have no enjoyment of God 2 John 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son 2. Heresies are manifest works of the flesh as well as Adultery and Murder and such-like sins and will as certainly exclude men from the Kingdom of Heaven as the grossest sins as we may see Gal. 5.19 20 21. 4. If we instruct our Children in the knowledge of Gods word that will guide and direct them how to carry on all their undertakings and how to manage the great Turns and Changes of their Lives and all their other affairs Psal 119.105 Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path And the Lord hath promised to such as converse much with his word and treasure it up in their hearts that his word shall lead and guide them in all their ways and they shall have such plain direction from his word how to order their Affairs as if they heard one talking with them and saying this is the way walk therein Prov. 6.21 22 23. Bind them continually upon thine heart When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou wakest it shall talk with thee For the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and Reproofs of Instruction are the way of life Isa 30.21 Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left 5. It will help our Children even whilst they are young to reform their lives Psal 119.9 Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word It will keep them from sinning against God Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee It will cause them to do those things which are right in the sight of God 2 Kings 12.2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him Now who is there that feareth the Lord that would not most gladly have his Children reform their lives and be kept from sinning against God and do that which is right in the sight of the Lord 6. By leaving our Children instructed in Gods word we shall leave them better than if we were able to leave them thousands of pounds of Silver and Gold For the Law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of Gold and Silver Psal 119.72 7. Godly Parents may have all that they can desire on the behalf of their Children if they do train them up in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures Do we desire that our Children should be brought to know and fear the Lord This may be effected by causing them to treasure up Gods word in their hearts
the second time Lovest thou me He saith unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my Sheep He saith unto him the third time Lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Jesus saith unto him Feed my Sheep After the Command of loving God with all our heart and all our soul and all our might is immediately added the Command of laying up Gods Word in our hearts and teaching the same diligently unto our Children Deut. 6.5 6 7. which implieth That we cann't express our love to God better than by lodging his word in our hearts and teaching it to our Children As they are Pastors after Gods own heart who are diligent to instruct the people in the knowledge of his word Jer. 3.15 I will give you Pastors according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding So they are Parents and Masters after Gods own heart who feed their Children and Servants with the knowledge of Gods word It is said of Hezekiah 2 Chron. 30.22 Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord. In the like manner at the day of Judgment the Lord will speak comfortably to all those Masters of Families that have taught his good word unto their Families SECT 10. Gods mercy in giving us Families should stir us up to instruct them Motive 10 IT is a great mercy to have a Family The giving the Midwives an Houshold is mentioned as a great part of the Reward which God gave them for their fearing His Sacred Majesty Exod. 1.21 And it be came to pass because the Midwives feared God he made them Houses All the Members of a Family are Blessings and great Mercies when they are well-ordered and rightly improved It is a great Blessing to have a good Wife Prov. 18.22 Whoso findeth a Wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. Children also are accounted by God to be a Blessing and are given as a Reward Psal 127.3 5. Lo Children are the Heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his Reward Happy is the man that hath his Quiver full of them It is no small Blessing to have Servants and that we are not put to do all toylsome and inferiour works our selves and that we are not left alone to carry on our Affairs but have Servants to be helpful to us When Abraham's Servant reckons up the Blessings which God had given his Master he mentions among the rest Gods giving him Servants Gen. 24.35 The Lord hath blessed my Master greatly and he hath given him Men-Servants and Maid-Servants Solomon also speaketh of it as a mercy to have a Servant Prov. 12.9 He that is despised and hath a Servant is better than he that honoureth himself and lacketh Bread Now if a Family and every Member in a Family be a mercy and a blessing given us by God it is but meet that we should in way of gratitude dedicate our Families to God and train up every Member in the Family in the knowledge and fear of God Especially if we consider that our Children and Servants are committed to us for this very end that we should train them up in a godly sort that will lay a further obligation upon us to bring them acquainted with God by instructing them out of his holy word Mal. 2.15 Did he not make one Yet had he the residue of the Spirit And wherefore one That he might seek a godly Seed The Prophet acquaints us in these words what was Gods end in the Institution of Marriage which was not simply the giving of a Seed or the propagating of Mankind but the producing of a Godly Seed and to that end he ordained Marriage to be between one man and one woman whereas when he created Adam he could have formed many women for the use of one man seeing he had the residue of the Spirit but he made only one woman to the intent that Man and Wife might joyn in their care and endeavour to train up their Seed in a godly sort which would be much hindred by multiplying of Wives whereby a mans heart wonld have been turned away from discharging his duty to God and his Family Deut. 17.17 SECT II. We have the example of JESUS CHRIST and the best men that ever lived for instructing their Families Motive 11 IT hath been the practice of the Saints and Servants of God in all Ages and Generations to instruct and train up their Families in the knowledge and fear of the Lord And the labour and pains they have taken in this Good Work hath not gone without a Reward for both they themselves and their Families have been exceedingly blessed of the Lord Among the many examples that might be produced both out of the old and new Testament I will mention four or five It was the practise of Abraham to instruct his Family and train them up in the ways of God And what high Commendations doth the Scripture give of Abraham He is called The Friend of God The Father of the Faithful c. How did God bless Abraham He appeared often to him and gave him many precious Promises and entred into a Covenant with him and sent Angels to his House and revealed his Secrets to him and vouchsafed to talk familiarly with him yea he blessed him in all things and with all manner of blessings Gen. 24.1 Abraham was old and well stricken in age and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things And that God in blessing Abraham had respect to his teaching his Family is evident from Gen. 18.17 18. And the Lord said Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty Nation and all the Nations of the earth shall be blessed in him For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him The reason given in this Text why the Lord revealed his Secrets to Abraham and why he became a great and mighty Nation and why he became such a great blessing to the world that in him all the Nations of the Earth were blessed and why he enjoyed all promised mercies is fixed upon his care in training up his Houshold in the ways of God For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him c. If we would be accounted Abraham's Children and enjoy Abrahams Blessing we must walk in the steps of his Faith Gal. 3.7 and do his Works John 8.39 Joshua follows Abraham's example in that he did not only serve God himself but caused all his Houshold to serve the Lord Josh 24.15 As for me and my House we will serve the Lord. And observe how the Lord blessed Joshua who trained
up his Family to serve the Lord God gave him his presence whether soever he went Josh 1.9 and stuck to him all the days of his Life vers 5. and honoured and magnified him in the sight of all Israel Josh 3.7 He made him Leader of his people to carry them into the Land of Canaan He subdued mighty Kings under him and gave their Kingdoms into his hand At Joshua's Request the Sun stood still a whole day which thing God never did for any man but Joshua Josh 10.12 13 14. David who hath the character of a man after Gods own heart he was also careful to instruct his Children in the knowledge of God and to bring them up in the fear of God especially his Son Solomon 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and love him with a perfect heart and willing mind Prov. 4.3 4. I was my Fathers Son tender and only beloved in the sight of my Mother He taught me also and said unto me Let thine heart retain my words And God did exceedingly bless both David and Solomon his Son the Blessings he gave them were so remarkable that it is needless to recount them Cornelius who was a devout man himself trained up all his Houshold in the fear of God Act. 10.1 2. There was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius A devout man and one that feared God with all his House This man was in great favour with God God sent an Angel to him to tell him his Prayers and his Alms were come up for a Memorial before God Vers 4. and sent Peter to preach the Gospel to him and poured out the Holy Ghost on him and all that were present with him to the astonishing of the Jews that came along with Peter Vers 44 45. Timothy was instructed in the Scriptures while he was a Child 2 Tim 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures And what an eminent man did he prove He was so eminent for Faith that the calling to mind of his Faith filled the Apostle with Joy 2 Tim. 1.4 5. He proved to be of such a publick spirit and such a Lover of the Church of God that of all the Apostles Acquaintace and Companions there was none like unto Timothy Phil. 2.19 20 22. The Apostle doth not only call him a godly man but a man of God 1 Tim. 6.11 Thou O man of God Examples have a great influence upon most men if we see a multitude going before us we are apt to follow them though that which they do be an evil thing and that also notwithstanding we have a Precept from God to the contrary Exod. 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest Judgment Behold here is a Cloud of Witnesses a multitude of Gods Saints and Servants have gone before us in this good work of instructing their Families in the knowledge of Gods word and shall we be loth to follow a multitude of good men the best and wisest men that ever lived in a good work whenas we are commanded to walk in the way of good men Prov. 2.20 Heb. 13.7 If the examples of the Friends and Favourites of God of great men of wise men of holy men of men that have enjoyed the Blessing and Presence of God will do any thing with us then let the Example of Abraham Joshua David c. prevail with us to train up our Families in the knowledge and fear of God Besides these fore-mentioned Examples we have the Patern and Example of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST who is greater than Abraham or David or any Princes or Potentates that ever lived upon the face of the Earth The Apostles and Disciples of Christ that went whithersoever he went that lodged where he lodged that eat and drank with him continually were as I may so call them Christs Family they called him by the name of Master and he owned that name John 13.13 Ye call me Master and Lord and ye say well for so I am He went in and out amongst them all the time after he had called them to follow him as a Master doth amongst his Servants Act. 1.21 Now if we look upon the Disciples of Christ as his Family then we have an excellent Pattern of Family-Instruction in the Example of our Lord Jesus For he was very diligent in teaching and instructing his Disciples John 17.6 I have manifested thy Name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the World And that Christ instructed them out of the word of God appears from vers 14. I have given them thy word See also Luke 4. from vers 17. to 21. He did not only teach them with others in the exercise of his Ministry but did also instruct them in private when they were alone with him Mark 4.34 When they were alone he expounded all things to his Disciples And not only before his death but also after his Resurrection his great work among his Disciples was to teach and expound to them the Scriptures Luk. 24.27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself And ves 32. Did not our Hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures And vers 45 46. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures and said unto them Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer c. Now every one that professeth himself to be a Christian ought to imitate the example of Christ so far as he is placed in the same relation that Christ was in 1 John 2.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked SECT 12. Gods Judgments that have lately been upon us call for Family-Instruction and Family-Reformation Motive 12 THe great and mighty Judgments that have of late been upon this Nation as the Sword Pestilence c. do call aloud upon us to set upon this work of Family-Instruction and that on several accounts 1. The great and mighty Judgments of God call for Reformation of our Lives and learning of Righteousness Isa 26.9 When thy Judgments are in the Earth the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteousness Now Family-Instruction is the way to Family-Reformation When Ephraim was instructed he repented and bemoaned his sins and turned to the Lord Jer. 31.18 19. And Family-Reformation would produce National Reformation For if every Family did begin to reform and turn to the Lord how speedily would the Nation be reformed Family-Reformation will draw down a multitude of Blessings both upon our selves and Families and upon the whole Nation It will bring a blessing upon our Estates Job 22.23 24. If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy Tabernacles Then shalt thou lay up Gold
made the same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord Lord and Christ Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart 2. To demonstrate to them out of the word of God the evil and danger of those things for which you rebuke them for Gods word is called the Sword of the Spirit Ephes 6.17 No sword cuts and pierces like the sword of the Spirit For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and the Joynts and Marrow and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4.12 6. Reprove with wisdom for when a Reproof is managed wisely it becomes more amiable and successful Prov. 25.12 As an ear-ring of Gold and an Ornament of fine Gold so is a wise Reprover upon an obedient ear Our wisdom must be discovered in taking the fittest time for giving a Reproof and doing it in a judicious manner Eccles 8.5 A wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgment We must take the fittest time we must not defer too long We must do it when we are in the best capacity to give and the offending party to receive a Reproof We must reprove with Judgement which will teach us to weigh and consider the nature of the Offence and the Offender Some persons are of a more softly yielding disposition than others a word will do more with one than many blows with another Prov. 17.10 A Reproof entreth more into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool Some Offences are more heinous for their own nature and for their circumstances than others In some cases we are to rebuke secretly Mat. 18.15 Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone In some cases we are to rebuke publickly in the presence of all 1 Tim. 5.20 Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear Wisdom will direct us what to do in these and other such like Cases Eccles 10.10 Wisis profitable to direct And that we may manage this work the more wisely we must not go about it rashly but consult with our selves about the fittest season and best manner of giving a Reproof Neb. 5.7 Then I consulted with my self and rebuked the Nobles Prov. 13.10 With the well-advised is wisdom 7. Look to God for Direction Courage and Success in giving a Reproof and rest upon him for his blessing for the success of every work we take in hand depends upon Gods blessing And therefore we must pray to God to assist accept and prosper us in this work And as we must pray so also rest upon God for his blessing in the administring a Reproof whether it be to such as are unconverted or to such as are in a state of Grace for God hath promised to bless Reproof to both sorts To such as are gracious Prov. 19.25 Reprove one that hath understanding and he will understand knowledge To such as are yet in their sins Pro. 24.25 To them that rebuke him that is a wicked person spoken of ver 24. shall be delight and a good blessing shall come upon them 8. Reprove and tell them of their faults with a tender compassionate heart not in an insulting way or in a way of jesting or jearing but rather mourning over them and for them Phil. 3.18 Many walk of whom I told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are Enemies of the Cross of Christ When the Apostle wrote an Epistle to the Corinthians to reprove them for their indulging the incestuous person he tells them Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears 2 Cor. 2.4 SECT 8. The Benefits of Correction Directions for Correcting Children Direct 8 IF Reproofs do not prevail with your Children to practise those things which you teach them out of the Scriptures correct them Correction joyned with Instruction rightly administred is the way to make our Children holy and gracious Prov. 19.15 The Rod and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself bringeth his Mother to shame It maketh Children prove great blessings and comforts to their Parents Prov. 29.17 Correct thy Son and he shall give thee rest yea he shall give delight unto thy Soul Correction will be a means of preventing their eternal Damnation by effecting their Reformation Prov. 23.13 14. With-hold not Correction from the Child for if thou beatest him with the Rod he shall not die Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and shalt deliver his Soul from Hell Though they be never so much addicted to any sin which seems to be deeply and fast rooted in their Souls Correction prudently and rightly administred will be a means to reform them and make them leave their sins Prov. 22.15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a Child but the Rod of Correction will drive it far from him Prov. 20.30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil so do stripes the inward parts of the Belly If any ask How should we correct our Children so as to make our Corrections become effectual for their good I answer 1. Begin with them betimes before they have got too great an head or are habituated to sin A Twig is easily bent and made straight whilst it is young but being let alone for some years it becomes inflexible Prov. 19.18 Chasten thy Son while there is hope Prov. 13.24 He that spareth his Rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes 2. Be not overcome with fond pity either by their crying or pleading with you to with-hold correction from them when you see it meet and necessary to correct them Prov. 19.18 Chasten thy Son while there is hope and let not thy Soul spare for his crying They had better cry and roar under your Rod than roar under Gods wrath in Hell to all Eternity 3. Joyn Faith and Prayer with your Corrections Pray to God to bless the Corrections as well as the Instructions which you give your Children and though you see no present fruit of your Corrections yet be not discouraged but rest upon Gods promises who hath promised that Correction shall make our Children leave their sins Prov. 22.15 and be a means to save their souls Prov. 23.13 14. 4. In correcting your Children imitate God in correcting his Children As for instance 1. God joyns Instruction with Correction and thereby his Corrections come to have a blessed effect upon his Children Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and reachest him out of thy Law Deal thus with your Children when you chasten them teach them out of the Scriptures the evil of those things for which you correct them 2. When God chastens he doth not only shew us our sins but layeth his commands upon us to leave off our sins Job 36.8 9 10. If they be holden in cords of affliction then he sheweth them their work and their transgression that they have
to any sin that will bring you under contempt Prov. 14.34 Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people Yea even such as have honoured you formerly and had you in high esteem if they come to understand that you are tainted with any Vice they will be ready to despise you Lam. 1.8 Jerusalem hath grievously finned and therefore she is removed All that honoured her despise her because they have seen her nakedness But by walking in an holy gracious exemplary manner you shall be reverenced not only by such as are gracious themselves but by those that are destitute of the grace of God Herod was not a good man himself our Saviour calleth him a Fox Luk. 13.23 because he was a subtil and cruel Enemy to Jesus Christ and to the Christian Religion Luke 13.31 32. Yet John the Baptist being an holy man Herod reverenced him Mark 6.20 Herod feared John knowing that be was a just man and holy and observed him Prov. 22.4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are Riches and Honour and Life And as an holy Conversation will procure Honour and Respect so also it will preserve the same Prov. 11.16 A gracious woman retaineth honour Fourthly Carry your selves wisely and discreetly in the managing of your Family Affairs for A mans wisdom maketh his face to shine Eccles 8.1 But foolish and indiscreet carriage will cause us to be slighted and disrespected Eccles 10.1 Dead flies cause the Ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour so doth a little folly him that is in Reputation for Wisdom and Honour Fifthly Do not carry your selves lightly vainly in your Families but let your deportment be grave and serious that will be a means to keep your Children and Servants in due subjection 1 Tim. 3.4 One that ruleth well his own House having his Children in subjection with all gravity He cannot rule his House well that doth not keep his Children in subjection for if the Children be unruly the Servants will be so too and a man shall hardly keep his Children in subjection if his carriage be not grave and serious Sixthly Use not over-much familiarity or delicacy towards your Children and Servants especially when your Children are grown up to some maturity for familiarity will be apt to breed contempt and make Children and Servants to cast off that awe and dread which they ought to bear towards their Parents and Masters Children are commanded not only to love but to fear their Parents Lev. 19.3 Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father And Servants are commanded to fear their Masters Ephes 6.5 Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ Over-much familiarity will cause them to cast off this fear Solomon giveth us a caution against using too much delicacy towards our Servants as that which will spoil them and make them prove great Crosses Prov. 29.21 He that delicately bringeth up his Servant from a Child shall have him become his Son at length The vulgar Latin renders the words Postea sentiet eum contumacem He shall find him to be stubborn and obstinate Pagnine renders the words In novissimo crit superbus perinde ac filius He will become proud and expect to be dealt with as if he were a Son and not a Servant When instead of that gravity and distance which ought to be in the carriage of Masters and Parents they will be so familiar as to play with their Servants and Children this makes them to lose their authority according to the Proverb in use among the Arabians Collusio sive jocus aufert reverentiam Playing and Jesting takes away a Mans Reverence If we use to jest and sport with our Servants or Children we must expect no more Reverence from them And therefore the Son of Syrach gives this Advice to Parents Ecclus. 30.9 10. Cocker thy Child and he shall make thee afraid play with him and he will bring thee to heaviness laugh not with him lest thou have sorrow with him and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end And Plato speaking of our carriage towards our Servants in his Dialogue de legibus gives this prudent Advice Neque jocus ullus cum illis habeatur quod multi stultè facientes dum delicatius eos nutriunt difficiliorem viam sibi ad imperandum illis ad obediendum reddunt Do not use at any time to jest with your Servants which thing many doing foolishly do make it more difficult for themselves to govern and also more difficult for their Servants to obey by their training them up delicately Only here it will be needful to hint that whilst you labour to carry your selves with gravity and to avoid too much familiarity you had need be careful that you do not become morose or austere but rather endeavour to express much sweetness and candor in your carriage towards your Children and Servants There was laid up in the Ark Aarons Rod and the Pot with Manna and the Tables of the Covenant Greg. mag hath an observation hereupon to this effect He that would govern well must be furnished with the knowledge of the Scriptures and must make use of the Rod of Correction yet so as there must be the sweetness of Manna with it We should labour if it be possible to win our Children by love to observe the Commandments of God but if they will not be drawn with Manna then we must make use of Aron's Rod and when we are necessitated to use severity it must be tempered with mercy SECT 10. How to gain our Childrens and Servants affections Direct 10 IT will conduce much to the rendring of this work of Family-Instruction successful so to carry your selves as that you may have the love and gain the affections of those that are under your charge for if our Children and Servants do not only fear and reverence us but also love us the Instructions that we give them will be the better accepted and make the deeper impression upon their hearts The Apostle Paul knowing Philemon lov'd him was confident he would follow the counsel he gave him Phil. 7.21 We have great joy in thy love having confidence in thy obedience c. The like confidence he had of the Thess alonians 2 Thes 3.4 We have confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do and will do the thing which we command you And they were such as bore a great affection to the Apostle 1 Thes 3.6 If there be a disaffection to the person that instructs his Doctrine will do little good Ahab hating Micaiah received no good by his Prophecies but went on in his own way contrary to the good counsel of Michaiah whereby he brought destruction upon himself If any say How should we so carry our selves as to get the Love and Affection of our Children and Servants I answer First Shew your selves
sin if it had not been for the Law of God Rom. 7.7 Nay I had not known sin but by the Law for I had not known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet Not to believe in Jesus Christ is a great sin it is a sin for which God will damn men at the day of Judgment Mark 16.16 He that believeth not shall be damned Now the Light of Nature doth not convince a man that it is a sin not to believe in Jesus Christ it is by the Scripture which holdeth forth the damnable nature of this sin of not believing in Jesus Christ John 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the onely begotten Son of God And by the help of the Spirit that we come to be convinced of the sin of not believing in Christ John 16.8 9. And when he that is the Spirit which is the Comforter spoken of in the former verse is come he will reprove the world of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment of Sin because they believe not in me And as there are some sins of which natural Light doth not convince a man so those sins of which it doth convince a man it doth not convince with such clearness and power as the Law doth which stops a mans mouth and makes him fall down before God as as a lost undone Creature Rom. 3.19 20. Now we know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God By the Law is the knowledge of sin 3. There are several Points of the Christian Religion of great moment which that Light that is in natural men discovereth not neither can we know them any other ways but by the help of the Scriptures or by immediate Revelation from God As for instance To know and believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah is of such moment as that we can't be saved unless we believe him to be the Messiah John 8.24 I said therefore unto you That ye shall die in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins Now this knowledge Flesh and Blood Nature in its highest improvements cannot attain it must either be by Revelation from God Matth. 16.15 16 17. Whom say ye that I am And Simon Peter answered and said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven Or by the help of the Scriptures And therefore when Apollos would convince the Jews that Jesus was the Christ he did it by the Scriptures Acts 18.28 For he mightily convinced the Jews and that publickly shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ And this way the Apostle Paul took also he alledged those Scriptures that spoke of the Messiah and explained them and thereby proved to them that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ And Paul as his manner was went in unto them and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures opening and alledging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ It is of great moment to know what that Righteousness is whereby a Sinner should come to be justified in the sight of God If a man be ignorant of this Righteousness he will seek to establish his own and will not submit to the Righteousness of God Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of Gods Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God The Light of Nature cannot find out this Righteousness it is no where revealed but in the Gospel Rom. 1.16 17. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek for therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The Just shall live by faith That there are Three Persons and yet but One God is plainly revealed in the Scriptures 1 John 5.7 There are Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One But without the help of the Scriptures the Light of Nature can attain to but little or no knowledge of this great Mystery And as there are some Doctrines so also some Duties in the Christian Religion which the Light of Nature cannot discover As for instance Baptizing of persons with water in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost is an Ordinance of Jesus Christ which he would have continued and with which he will afford his presence to the end of the world Matth. 28 19 20. So also is eating Bread and drinking Wine in the Lords Supper and Ordinance of Christ to be continued in the Church till his coming to Judgment 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come But natural Light doth not teach a man that it is his duty to be baptized or to receive the Lords Supper It is from the Scriptures we learn that Baptism and the Lords Supper are Ordinances of Jesus Christ and that the use of these Ordinances is to be continued in the Church of Christ to the end of the World 4. The Light which we must attend unto and follow and by which we must order our Lives and Conversations is the Mind and Will of God revealed in the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts Observe here First That the Light to which the Apostle would have us take heed and saith they do well who take heed to it is the Word of Prophecy by the Word of Prophecy he understands the Scriptures which were written and delivered to us by the Prophets as is evident from the ensuing word Knowing this first that no Prophecy of the Scriptures c. Secondly It is our duty to take heed to the word of Prophecy as long as we live in this world Whereunto ye do well to take heed until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts By the Day-star is meant Jesus Christ Rev. 22.16 I am the bright and morning Star By the Day is not meant only or chiefly the day of Grace or the day of the Gospel for these days had already dawned upon those persons to whom the Apostle wrot this Epistle for he saith of them They knew and were established in the present truth vers 12. They were not only acquainted with the Doctrine of the Gospel
instruct them than you do of aggravating their condemnation in case you should instruct them when as you do not know whether they will make a good use of their Light You hazard your own condemnation by neglecting your duty and your Childrens by nursing them up in ignorance but by instructing them you may promote both your own and their salvation 1 Tim 4.16 The same argument that the Apostle useth to perswade Wives to dwell with their Husbands and Husbands to dwell with their Wives 1 Cor. 7.16 For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O man but thou shalt save thy Wife The like may I use with Parents to instruct their Children notwithstanding all their fears of aggravating their condemnation What knowest thou whether thou shalt save thy Children III. Whereas Satan would beat you off from instructing your Children by putting you in sear that you shall thereby aggravate their condemnation this is but a vain suggestion to hinder you in your duty for you can't take a more effectual course to prevent your Childrens condemnation and to promote their salvation than to instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures for Knowledge is a means to breed Faith Psal 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee and true Repentance Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me for they shall return unto me with their whole heart and to obtain Remission of sins Isa 53.11 By his Knowledge shall my Righteous Servant justifie many Knowledge also is a means of obtaining eternal life John 17.3 And this is eternal life that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent SECT 20. Family-Instruction will prevent not spread Errours How such as teach others may be kept from perverting or corrupting the Word of God Object 20 THis will be the way to spread and multiply Errors for illiterate men to take upon them to instruct their Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures Answ I. It doth highly concern all Misters of Families as well as Ministers of the Word to be very careful that they do not teach any false and erronious Doctrine unto those whom God hath committed to their charge This would bring down a curse instead of a blessing yea though they should seem like Angels yet would they be accursed if they perverted the Gospel of Christ Gal. 7 8. There be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ but though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you let him be accursed The Apostle was so desirous to prevent the spreading of false Doctrine that he earnestly besought Timothy to stay on purpose at Ephesus to charge in a solemn manner those that he saw inclinable to Errours to teach no other Doctrine but what was agreeable to the Doctrine of the Gospel 1 Tim. 1. 3 4. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine so do Such as teach lies instead of truth are accounted by God the bafest and vilest of men and therefore are compared not to the Head but the Tail Isa 9.14 15. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel Head and Tail Branch and Rush in one day The Ancient and Honourable he is the Head and the Prophet that teacheth lies he is the Tail When they that are Leaders of others do cause them to erre instead of promoting their salvation they will be the cause of their destruction Isa 9.16 For the Leaders of this People cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed If you ask What shall we do that we may be kept from corrupting and perverting the word of God when we instruct our Families I answer 1. Pray to God with humble and lowly hearts to give you his holy spirit God hath promised his holy spirit to them that ask it Luc. 11.13 If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him And when God hath given you his holy Spirit he will make and keep your minds sound in the Faith He is stiled The Spirit of Power and of Love and of a Sound Mind 2 Tim. 1.7 2. See that your hearts be right and sincere with God and that you walk before God in truth and uprightness do all your works and speak all your words as in the sight of God and then he will guide you by the Spirit of Truth into all Truth and keep you from corrupting his holy word 2 Cor. 2.17 For we are not as many which corrupt the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 3. Purifie your hearts and minds from all corrupt Lusts VVhen a man hath a corrupt mind he will be apt to put corrupt glosses upon the vvord of God VVhen he can't bring up his VVill to Gods he will be ready to interpret Gods Mind according to his own VVill. The Apostle conjoyns these two Men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth 1 Tim. 6.5 Now if you would purifie your minds 1. Have faith in Christ Acts 15.19 And put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith 2. Obey those Truths vvhich God hath revealed to you 1 Pet. 1.22 Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth 4. Take heed of departing from the simplicity of the Gospel under the notion of seeking after more sublime spiritual and mysterious Truths The Apostle vvas jealous lest the Corinthians should be corrupted this vvay 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 5. Keep to the Analogy of Faith Rom. 12.6 Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophecy let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith By prophesying here most understand not the gift of fore-telling things to come but the Gift of interpreting and explaining the Scriptures as the word is used 1 Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh unto men unto edification and exhortation and comfort Now the Apostle adviseth that this prophesying be according to the proportion or analogy of Faith by prophesying according to the analogy of Faith we may understand that no Scripture should be so expounded as to contradict any Article of our Faith or Precepts of an holy godly life 6. Be sober-minded and do not exercise your selves in those things which are too high for you Psal 131.1 Understand well your selves what you undertake to teach your Families The Apostle gives this character of some in his time desiring to be teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm 1 Tim. 1.7 When we teach our Families