Parents if they know any thing at all know that sin is a transgression of the Law and by it the Lord is offended with them that break his Commandments He that keepeth the whole Law and offends in one point is guilty of all James 2.10 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 Parents knowing this if they love their Children they will keep them from sin if possible Reason 2. Parents know that the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 not only the death of the Body but the second Death or the eternal depravation of the Soul from Eternal Happiness and sentenced to eternal wrath Mat. 25.41 I pass to the Third Doctrine which is Doct. 3. That they that are true Christians indeed have such entire love to their Childrens Souls that they will use all means possible to nurture them up in the right way of the Lord This Doctrine seems to be one perfect Character of a Christian and it naturally ariseth from the Text viz. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The 1st Reason is Because Parents know that if the Soul be eternally lost there is no recovering of it again There is a great gulf fixed Luke 16.26 'T is the eternal decree of the Lord that none can pass it none can enter in when the door is shut Mat. 25.10 2d Reason is Because Nurture and Instruction is the way to eternal Life This is life eternal to know thee saith Christ the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 As 1st To know him in his Titles John 1.5 14 29 45 49 51. 2ly To know him in his Nature Rom. 1.3 Acts 13.23 Gal. 4.4 3ly To know him in his Attributes as he is all Wisdom Justice Life Light Mercy Power Majesty Immortality Incomprehensible and Immutable 1 Cor. 1.24 John 1.4 Mat. 28.18 1 Tim. 6.16 James 1.17 4ly To know Christ in his Person in his Excellencies and in his Offices as 1st King 1 Tim. 6.15 2ly Priest Heb. 7.21 3ly Prophet Acts 3.22 23. 5ly To know him in his Promises John 14.16 Mark 10.29 30. 6ly To know him in his Conception and Birth Mat. 1.20 25. 7ly To know him in his Life and Doctrine Acts 10.38 8ly To know him in his Death 2 Cor 5.15 Heb. 2.9 Rom. 5.10 9ly To know him in his Resurrection Rom. 8.11 1 Cor. 15.14 20. 10ly To know him in his Ascention John 3.13 Acts 1.11 Eph. 4.9 10. 11ly To know him in his Glorification Mat. 25.31 John 17.5 12ly To know him in his infinite and special Love John 3.16 Mark 16.15 13ly To know him in our hearts by Faith Eph. 3.17 2 Cor. 13.5 This is a Work that is not truly attained to but by Nurture and wholsome Instruction and God's gracious Inspiration Rom. 10.17 And it requireth great labour diligence and care 3d. Reason is Because Nurture and Instruction in the right way of the Lord is a thing that is hard to be attained As 1st All the promises of the Gospel are spiritual and they that embrace the Gospel must be spiritual men 1 Pet. 2.5 John 15.19 2ly The Doctrine of the Gospel holds forth a state of self-denial Luke 14.26 3ly The way of truth is a way of of Persecution either in word or deed 2 Tim. 3.12 4ly In spiritual Communion all true Believers must separate from sinners Jer. 51.6 Isa 52.11 2 Cor. 6.17 Revel 18.4 John 15.19 5ly There is required great diligence in that there are so many voices in the World and all conclude themselves in the truth that a person that will find the right way had need as Paul saith To prove all things but let them remember to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 That Doctrine which is according to the commands of Christ the practice of the Apostles and that in which all the first Churches were constituted must needs be the truth and no other 4th Reason is Because He that believeth and walketh in the way of the Lord with a perfect heart shall be by Christ made free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 He that is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Parents if they truly love their Children will endeavour their conversion 5th Reason is Because all the promises in the Gospel do belong to those that believe and walk uprightly in the right way of the Lord All is yours saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 3.22 I must not travel any further in this large field but pass to the fourth Doctrine which is The Second Part. Wherein the Duty of Children to God and their Parents is opened 4th Doct. That Children ought to yield obedience to all their Parents commands in the Lord with boly Reverence Honour and Zeal If in our Text Parents are commanded to bring up their Children as t is plain in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Then it is most certain that those Children are Rebels if they do not obey and this Obedience must be performed according to the best Rule or Rules prescribed in the Holy Scriptures And they are these two First What they must not do to their Parents Secondly What they must do to and for their Parents But First What you must not do to your Parents You must not do any thing that doth withdraw and withhold from them that Honour or diminish their Dignity nor that holdeth you back from Love Reverence Obedience and Thankfulness or that which doth seem to lessen their Authority And therefore 1st You must not mock at them when they command you to do that which is lawful right you must not scornfully imitate their words nor their Gestures Looks or Carriages least the Lord be offended with you as he was with those Children 2 Kings 2.23 who by two Bears slew forty two of them Job counts Mockage a great Provocation Job 17.2 As Parents are commanded not to provoke their Children so likewise by Childrens wicked Carriages Parents may be provoked several ways as you will find these Negative Precepts do declare and confirm The eye that mocketh at his Father and dispiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pluck it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Prov. 30.17 Jeremiah enters his complaint to the Lord very Pathetically saying Every one mocketh me Jer. 20.7 'T is a grievous sin in the sight of God and a great offence to Man therefore do not use it at all to any least thou forget thy self and use it to thy Parents and so thou provoke them and offend the Lord Job 21.17 2d Direction is You must not revile or reproach your Parents He that revileth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to death Exod 21.17 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Rulers of thy People Exod. 22.28 Margin Judges Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dijs non detrahes Thou shalt not report ill against the mighties that is they that have Power and
and every day now this duty sincerely zealously and heartily performed will be one means to win the hearts of your children both to love the Lord and to obey you in all your just Impositions and lawful Commands 25 Direction is Let them not spend their time in Idleness but bring them up in some lawful honest calling As Jacob and his Sons were Gen. 46.32 34. Ch. 47.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Summum Studium diligentiae assiduitas sicut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 negotior facio opus factum operor officium ministerium exercisse Diligence Labour Occupation Work Doing Office Ministration are derived from the Radix which is translated Trade implying any kind of Exercise in Traffick Craft Art Mystery or Occupation so Saul and David were of the same calling James John and Andrew were Fishers Paul a Tent-maker although he was bred a great Scholar at the feet of Gamaliel Sam. 9.4 Mat. 4.18 Acts 18.3 Ch. 22.3 Know this that there is a General Command given to Adam Gen. 3.19 In the sweat of thy brows shalt thou eat thy bread and this extends to all in him Sodom is blamed for idleness Ezek. 16.49 Paul laboured 2 Thes 3.8 Acts 20.34 and commanded others to labour 2 Thes 3.10 11 12. Rom. 12.8 11 17. Not that I think all must labour with their hands Ministers work is hard work and Paul lookt upon his labouring with his hands among his afflictions he blames idleness 1 Tim. 5.13 Heb. 6 12. Rom. 12.11 Solomon the wisest of Men saith by idleness comes poverty Prov. 10.4 Ch. 28.19 Eccles 10.18 Moreover know that there is abundance of evils attends idleness they that are idle are like a standing pool that hatcheth Toads Effets and other noisom Creatures So if we are idle like Sodom Satan can bring no temptation to that heart that sutes not with it but in some sence either in the Affection Action or Expression it will recieve it brood and hatch it and so that soul becomes guilty of sin Moreover Avoid those callings if it be possible in which there is any great Instigations or Temptations to Sin if the Vocation be not honest that which is gotten by it will eat like a Canker James 5.3 4. And corrupt wast and consume other honest gotten Goods no man can conceive how He that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at the end shall be a fool Jer. 17.11 Saith Solomon Better is a little with righteousness than great Revenues without right Prov. 16.8 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 That which is deceitfully gotten ought to be restored Levit. 6.4 The treasures of the wicked profit nothing Prov. 10.2 Wealth gotten by Vanity shall be diminished Prov. 13.11 Read Levit. 19.13 1 Cor. 6.8 9 10. Prov. 11.1 Hosea 7.1 Prov. 20.17 Psal 10.7 8. Prov. 12.5 Ezek. 22.7 29. Hesea 12.7 Amos 8.5 Rom. 3.13 Prov. 28.8 By these Scriptures you may learn that there is no eternal peace nor profit nor yet safety nor true peace of conscience in getting nor in keeping of ill gotten goods therefore choose an honest Calling as also such an one as there is no Temptation to cheating or drunkenness nor any other great and notorious sins and then be diligent to get an honest Estate and Livelyhood in such a calling for the Lord doth not approve Slothfulness nor Idleness but Labour and Diligence The counsel of the five men of the Danites to their Brethren was good Be net slothful to go up to enter to possess the land Judges 18.9 The Slothful is Brother to him that is a great waster Prov. 18.9 Abundance of Idleness is charged upon Jerusalem Samaria and Sodom as being the first step the Root or the Occasion of all other fins and vices whatsoever Ezek. 16.49 Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work saith the Lord Deut. 5.13 The hand of the diligent maketh rich Prov. 10.4 Therefore exhort them to be diligent in an honest calling that Satan may have no opportunity to tempt them to evil 26 Direction is Carry an equal hand to all your Children do not let one have all your love nor do not despise any one of them Remember you are the root from whence the worst sprang as well as the best let your good loving kind mild just equal and christian-like Carriage to the worst be the only means under God that may win them to become as excellent in your Affections as the best beloved The Lord hath put a bit in the mouth of Israel if I may so call it to check them in their unequal carriage and dealings towards their Children and therefore he saith The Son of the hated if he be first born shall have a double portion of all that thou hast Deut. 21.17 As if the Lord should have said if they will not love him at all with a natural love thou shalt upon force shew twice as much love to him thou hatest as thy evil Nature would shew to him that thou lovest best to curb and check thee and shew thee thy Evil in not loving all thy Children alike It were good if all Parents did make it their prayer with David That their eyes might behold the things that are equal Psal 17.2 He that applieth his heart to understanding shall understand righteousness judgment and equity and every good way Prov. 2.9 If some of your Children be half-witted crooked or deformed or of a perverse nature this is no sufficient argument to withdraw your love from them the Lord might suffer these things on purpose to prove your natural Affections that ye sin not Exod. 20.20 Good David divided the spoil of the Amalikites equally to those that did not nor could not fight as well as to those that were able and stood battle 1 Sam. 30.24 Take him in this for your pattern and let your love be to all alike mind this that unequal carriage is one step to the Childs provocation as I shewed you before 27 Direction is If you cannot tutor teach instruct and educate your Children in Learning your selves you must choose one to teach them If possible that is truly religious Train up a Child in the way he should go Prov. 22.6 What they learn when they are young becomes in the use of it as it were natural therefore let them not learn of one that is prophane Children are like new Vessels which will always have a Tincture of those things that are first put in them We should count them very wicked Parents that should instead of food give their children poison to eat So likewise they are much more wicked that will knowingly let their Childrens Souls be suffocated with the poison of sin which may be sucked in by the prophaneness of a Wicked Tutor the Lord hath said He will cut off Master and Scholar that are wicked Malachy 2.12 Good Job is said to
each other in Election and three in Reprobation 〈◊〉 ten Commandments how they are broken Seven causes how justification is wrought 2d Doct. by two reasons and the 3d. by five proved 4th Doctrine proved by thirteen Reasons Forty Rules to direct Children in their duty The twelve Articles of the Nicene Creed proved Four principal Motives to move all to their duty The Conclusion with the fifth Doctrine THE Father's Spectacles c. EPHES. VI. 4. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. THe Holy Apostle writing to those that were Gentiles by nature knowing that they were naturally subject to may failings might violate natures bounds by being induced by corrupt nature to sin which they were formerly dead in he exhorts them to general rules of Christianity as Humility Long-suffering Unity Peace and Holiness of Life First In Mortification by putting off Lying Anger Malice and corrupt Communication and the like Secondly By having no Society with Evil Company but to live in Brotherly Love and to be diligent in their callings and to submit themselves one to another as also to know all their duties as they stand related one to the other which he discourseth at large And then he setteth forth very excellently the great and wonderful work of their Redemption by Jesus Christ Also he shews them their undone state by Nature without a Christ and that Humility and true Faith is the true way of attaining true Peace And that the right way of retaining of it is by perseverance First To search into and to know the love of Christ Chap. 3.19 Secondly To keep in unity and to walk worthy of that Vocation in which they were called Chap. 4.1 to 6. Thirdly To be firm and stedfast Chap. 4.14 Fourthly To let their Conversation be suitable to their profession Chap. 4 22 to 29. Fifthly To put on the whole Armour of God not to flinch or draw back for there is never a Backpiece See Chap. 6.11 to 18. Sixthly The Duties of Honour Respect Service Obedience to Superiors and Familiarity and true Love to each other partâ—cularly that so their Christian work may be throughly accomplished Lastly It appears that the many failings and neglects of duties in the last age foreseen by the Apostle occasions him to write thus unto this Church c. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The Words being thus read here is First The Person speaking Paul Secondly The Persons spoken to Fathers Leigh in his Critica Sacra saith is of a large extent than the Male kind it properly setteth forth natural Parents implying as well Mothers as Fathers as the usual method of the Spirit is to include both Sex in one Expression Gen. 5.2 1 Cor. 11.28 Thirdly The Duty enforced by a positive Command negatively expressed Provoke not c. Fourthly Here are the Persons not to be provoked viz. Children Such as are under the care and tution of Parents This Negative Precept may possibly extend it self so high as Kings to their Subjects 2 Kings 5.13 1 Chron. 28.2 Isa 22.21 Judges 5.7 17 10 11. And also to Judges and Magistrates to those that cry to them for Right Equity and Justice Deut. 20.5 to 11. Numb 11. 17 18. And to Executors Trustees and Governors of Orphans to Officers in Towns Liberties and Cities In a word to all that are in Authority to teach instruct rule and govern any persons whatsoever Heb. 13.17 Fifthly Here is the true nature of the defined subsequent or that inveterate exasperated passion that is prohibited set forth viz. Wrath. Sixthly Here is an absolute Direction 1st To educate them in good discipline as the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth 2dly To instruct them in divine knowledge Thus much by way of Explication I now come to the Doctrinal conclusions that do naturally arise from this Text Which are these which follow 1 Doct. That Parents should take all care possible to avoid all Occasions of Provocations as not to give any just Offence whereby their Children are exasperated or so far provoked as to offend the Lord or disobey their Parents 2 Doct. That if Parents have real affections for their children they will use the best means possible to keep them from sin 3 Doct. They that are true Christians indeed have such tender love to their Childrens Souls that they will use all means possible to nurture them up in the right way of the Lord. 4 Doct. That Children ought to yield obedience to all their Parents Commands in the Lord with holy Reverence Honour and Zeal 5 Doct. That the Lord doth take great care for the eternal good of those that cannot any ways take care for themselves But to the first Doctrine That Parents should avoid all occasions of Provocations c. First Here I shall shew you what may be properly called Provocations that so Parents may take them out of the way that they do not cause their Children to stumble fall and be broken to pieces Which are these sixteen as followeth First When Parents will not teach and instruct their Children and slight and abuse them if they do not learn This is a hard Lesson if the Lord should deal so with the Sons of Men who of them but would fall immediately into the gulf of Despair among all the Children of men can we expect to reap where we never sowed If I had not known such a thing as this to be I could hardly have conceived that ever any should be so very austere and unnatural or ever had been to the fruit of their own bowels The wise man's Counsel to Fathers is Prov. 23.12 Apply thine heart to instruction it should be part of thy every days meditation to consider how thou shouldest instruct teach and train up thy Child in all things uppertaining to this Life and that which is to come Train up a Child saith Solomon in the way he should go Prov. 22.6 which is rightly done by mild and gentle instructions and not by causeless slighting Reflections A Second Provocation is when Parents shall never give their Children a good Word nor a good Look though the Child do whatever it possibly can to please them if the Lord should always frown upon thee and ever speak to thee with an angry Countenance and Words how couldest thou be able to stand before him consider it is a mild carriage and loving speech that doth win the heart It was St. Paul's way 1 Thes 2.7 't was by gentle words and carriage that Abigal overcome David though he was in great wrath 1 Sam. 25.24 Love is a special winning grace 1 Cor. 13.5 It doth not behave it self unseemly soft words will stop sin in its course Prov. 15.1 Mild Speeches become good Men My Son faith Abraham God will provide c. Read Isaac's manner of Speech to his Sons Gen. 27. Chap. 28.1 When
Jacob had offended him yet he blessed him a second time To disswade your Children from sin let your Arguments be as hard as you will but let your words be soft 2 Tim. 2.24 Hear me my Brethren saith King David 1 Chron. 28.2 To all Israel not like Rehoboam who answered them churlishly Naphtali is said to give goodly words Gen. 49.21 Courteous Language hath an acceptance among all men and the blessing of God is with it Deut. 33.23 Let your words be seasoned with grace the Ornament of Scripture Language Phil. 1.27 avoid corrupt Speeches that administer no grace to the Hearers Ephes 4.29 't is better not to speak at all than to speak evil words Mat. 12.36 Prov. 18.21 by the nature of the expressions of a man the intent of his heart is made manifest Mat. 12.34 Prov. 12.25.15 13. Third Provocation is when Parents are never contented with any thing that their Children do though they do to their utmost abilities what they can to please them Such is the wickedness and hard heartedness of some covetous Parents who would wring out their Childrens labours by a kind of Extortion something whereby to satisfie their greedy and discontented minds though the Apostle saith Let your moderation be known to all men Phil. 4.5 But their Children shall know but little of it And again he saith be content with such things as you have Heb. 13.5 He that is never content shall never be happy Fourth Provocation is when Parents shall pretend love to their Children before their Neighbours and Friends and the Child can never find in very deed that they have any love at all for them Such Hypocritical Parents will one day recieve a double stroke for this twofold Wickedness Such Parents have not learned divine wisdom James 3.17 that teacheth other things Luke 7.35 According to your sins shall your recompence be Isa 65.6 These outward Lovers and Whited Sepulchres are all in Tongue and none in Heart their Hope shall be like the Spiders web Job 8.13.14 and their Joy but for a moment Job 20.5 Saith st Paul Let your love be without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 Plain dealing and true love never fails 1 Cor. 13.8 Methinks natural love is taught by all the birds in the Air and Beasts of the field who many of them will lose their own lives to preserve their young their Love is real and purely natural without flattery or deceit Why then should some Parents be worse then Beasts without natural affections 't is a sign that the coming of Christ draweth near 2 Tim. 3.3 Fifth Provocation is when Parents shall let their Servants or any body else chastise beat and abuse their Children and they take no notice of it but do often allow of their so doing with good liking and approbation this very thing the wife man saith is one of the four things the earth is disquieted with and so tedious that it cannot bare it viz. A Servant when he reigneth prov 30.21 22. If Christ call him an evil Servant that smiteth his Fellow-Servant Mat. 24.24 much more evil is he that lifteth up his hand in smiting his Masters Child 1 Kings 2.32 If Servants are to give to their Masters double Honour 1 Tim. 6.1 They are to shew some reverent respect to their Masters Issue 2 Sam. 18.12 The Lord has promised to punish such Servants as are so wicked to fill their Masters House with violence Zach. 1.9 When he cometh to search Jerusalem with candles therefore Servants if your Masters be so ignorantly wicked as to allow to you correct his Children you may not must not do so vile a thing by which the Child may be provoked the earth disquieted and the Lord offended and your masters house filled with violence and distraction for the Lord loveth Unity Peace and Concord 1 Cor. 14.33 Moreover you of the Neighbourhood may not correct your Neighbours Children but if they have transgressed you must mildly acquaint their Parents with the offence and the Parents are to give them due correction Prov. 13.24 29 17. Heb. 12.9 For the Lord hath put them in that place to rule and govern their Children at all Seasons and to correct them according to their offences with a severe Countenance without flattery with savoury expressions shewing them the nature of their offence without railing or evil words least they learn that of you for which you correct them also forbear giving threatning and provoking words and then thy Correction will be no provocation but to good and the obstruction of evil 'T is good for every one to be employed in their own business and not in the concerns of another Sixth Provocation is when parents hurry their Children night and day in their Worldly Business and take no care about their Childrens Souls or their Eternal Happiness when Children come to years of Understanding and are capable to know the lost state of their Souls and that its worth is more then the whole world Mu. 16.26 Mark 8.36 And their Parents have made no provision for them in this kind not so much as to teach them to read the Word of the Lord nor have instructed them in their duty to God nor taught them how to pray unto him and worship him in no sence nor kind nor have instructed them to believe in Christ their Saviour neither acquainted them with the Baptism of Repentance for remission of Sins also do keep them ignorant of the benefit of the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament and of holy walking with God and Man in all duties of Love and Piety These things when the Child comes to understand and that he can have no time nor means allowed in order to obtain his Souls peace but all ways possible rather used to hinder him in all good ways This is a very great Provocation and therefore Parents above all things have a care in this viz. That you instruct your Children in the way of the Lord betimes Prov. 22.6 Let them suck in the Word with their Mothers Milk From a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures saith St. Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 3.15 The Lord commands the first fruits Exod. 22.29 Sanctifieth the first born to him Exod. 13.2 The fat was the Lords viz. the best therefore do not neglect early instruction Prov. 13.24 And the Lord will give you an early recompence Prov. 12.14 Isa 3.10 Seventh Provocation is When Parents shall neglect their Children in temporal Education as not to bring them up in such a lawful calling as that they may by it get a necessary livelyhood And herein Parents ought to study their Childrens Constitutions and Abilities and to put them out to such employments as their ability of Body and Estate will not fail in the management of for want of such good Education many have been bred so idlely who have had no Estates to maintain them when their Parents are dead and they come to Men and Womens state that some have made away with themselves
your lives will be sweet and comfortable each to other 2 Cor. 13.11 12th Reason is Because Provocation is like a fire continually burning what man living will be so mad as to burn his own flesh while he is yet alive If the provocation of the Tongue as St. James saith be so terible that it will set the whole course of nature on fire James 3.6 Provoking Actions will do much more therefore avoid them and all the motives and allurements thereto be unto your Children a burning and shining light in the way of Christ and have the loyns of your Minds girt about with Truth always seasoned with the salt of true and amicable Affections Luke 12.35 Col. 4.6 And that will quickly extinguish that fire that St. James saith burneth like the fire of Hell James 3.6 by so doing you will avoid the grand Occasion of Provocation 13th Reason comes with Authority the Lord by the mouth of his Blessed Apostle saith Col. 3.21 Fathers provoke not your Children to anger why least they be discouraged Almost the same words as our Text Eph. 6.4 Paul saith 1 Cor. 14.37 If any be a Prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write are the Commandments of the Lord. He that saith by Moses Thou shalt do no murther Thou shalt not commit Adultery nor Steal nor bear false witness Nor Covet saith by St. Paul Provoke not your Children to Wrath which is the greatest evil to disobey the Precepts of the New-Testament or of the Old True if they that despised Moses Law died without mercy Heb. 10.38 What will become of him that despiseth the Gospel or Law of Christ See Rom. 2.8 9. Indignation Wrath Tribulation and Anguish and Everlasting destruction is their portion 2 Thes 1.8 Learn to believe keep the law of Christ and thou wilt avoid the danger I come in the next place to give you some general rules for your better direction in almost all your carriages towards your Children from their Birth to Marriage-state and further And here I must begin with you Fathers first for so is our Text. 1 Direction Do not let your Children be too long absent from you when they are young and tender neither in person as well as in heart by long absence real natural love is worn out I do here appeal to the experience of many Men and Women too who have when they have had a loving Husband or Wife resolved never to forget their Embraces nor to be joyned to another in marriage yet when Death hath parted them length of time hath worn out the sharp edge of their affections their real natural love which was so in very deed is now become dull lame and very weak that another Object shall take place which before length of time had worn out the sharpness of it it would have been utterly despised and condemned though now embraced makes the Proverb true Long absent soon forgotten You Fathers which never had the Care and Tuition of your Children when young are not apt to put that value upon them which your constant presence and their tattleing pleasant Company would always induce you to we are apt to value those things most that costs us most so our Children that are with us always we our selves have always the trouble with and care for we do really love when the very same Children if brought up without our care in our absence love except true grace prevent and prompt us to it will be but yea very much wanting if any at all so that I do advise you Parents if you would bare and continue real natural and true love to your Children take the pains to have the Tuition of and Care for your Children while young that your heart love with your pains and care may be towards them always at all Times and Places Prov. 8.30 2 Direction is to you Mothers for our Text reaches you as well as Fathers That if it be possible give your Children suck your selves The Mothers milk is fittest to nourish the Child as being congruous to its nature and complection it is a General Maxime that Children take after them they suck 't is said of Tiberius Caesar that he sucked a drunken Nurse and he was much given to that Vice Dogs love most that game that you feed them with the blood of when young Let a Lamb suck a Goat and its nature and property shall be altered so let a Whelp suck a Cat and his game will be Rats and Mice So likewise Children will share with their Nurse except true grace prevent of all their Vices Mothers best know their own Inclinations but they may be greatly mistaken in a Nurse whose natural Inclinations may be very great to many gross evils but either they carrry it very secretly and close or else they want fit Opportunity to act in their Vices You do not know the nature of a Serpent but by stirring and provoking of him So Some Women are never known what they are till they be proved If illness of body will not permit you to nurse them your selves or if you know you are naturally given to some gross evil that you would not have your Child follow you in 't is far better to take one years trouble to bring it up by hand than to venter it under the slender care of one who can have no natural love to it whose care may be like Mephibosheths Nurse to make him a cripple all days of his life 2 Sam. 4.4 more especially since you know not what vices they may suck in with the Milk besides Women have not that real natural love for those Children that they do not nurse themselves as they have to them they do So likewise their Children being long absent from them while young their love is weaned from them so much that they have scarce any love to them at all Parents generally love those Children most that resemble them in Persons Qualities and Actions then Mothers if you would have your Children resemble you nurse them your selves Isaac Jacob Samuel Solomon Moses and many others were nursed by their own Mothers as the Scripture witnesseth Many are the advantages and benefits that arise both to Child and Mother too by nursing of them themselves As First The Mother letting it lye and suck near her heart her heart love is towards the Child continually Secondly The Mothers care in preserving it is far way beyond a Nurse in preserving it from too much cold or heat from hunger and crying from fretting and chaffing of the Skin from Vermine and many other evils as Worms Vomitings Costiveness and Fluxes Coughs Hiccoughs Inflamations Contusions trouble of Wind and Ruptures all which are incident to Children as also to preserve them from fire water and bruises and the like Thirdly As their Love is naturally towards them so their care is continually of and for them in all things Sarah rejoyced that she should give her Child suck Gen. 21.7 She was not so
them to do without neglect or â—â—â—ness or truanting away their time if they get once into such an ill Custome it will be very hard work to break them off from it it will be easier to break a rough Colt than to make it bow to your Precepts when once they have had a long time an evil Habit in running in their own ways you ought not only to have eyes to see that they duly and truly obey you but to let your whole heart to the observance thereof See what the Lord saith Deut. 32.46 And he said unto them set your heart unto all the Words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law The neglect of this duty brings all the curses upon thy self and thy Children Deut. 28.15 20. Remember to obey is better than sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 In their Disobedience they will be too apt to make up their Excuses with vain stories bad put offs and many times with lyes which thing the Lord hates Prov. 6.16 to 19. Chap. 12.22 9 Direction is Keep your Children if possible from foolish Covenants and Contracts If a Child in its Nonage make a Covenant and Contract by Promise or Vow and the Parents know nothing of it the Parents have power by the Law of God to disanul it Numb 30.5 But if they do know of it and hold their peace and do not disanul it oppose it and disown it at the first knowledge it stands and they cannot afterwards disanul it in any kind but by consent 10 Direction is You must inform your Childrens Judgments Take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently least thou forget the things which thine Eyes have seen and least they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life but thou shalt teach them thy Sons and thy Sons Sons Deut. 4.9 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest in the way and when thou lieft down and when rifest up Deut. 6.7 Chap. 11.18 20. Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law Deut. 32.46 As our Text saith Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord nourish your Children with the sincere milk of the Word 1 Cor. 3.2 1 Pet. 2.2 11 Direction Always give your Children godly Counsel David saith to Solomon My son keep the charge of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways to keep his statutes and his Commandments and his judgments and his testimonies as it is written in the law of Moses that thou mayest prosper in all that thou dost and whithersoever thou turnest thy self 1 Kings 2.3 And Joshua said unto Achan My son give I pray thee glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession unto him Joshua 7.19 Saith David and thou Solomon my son know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou for sake him he will cast thee off for ever 1 Chron. 28.9 20. Saith the Wise man My son fear thou the Lord Prov. 24.21 Be wise Prov. 27.11 Despise not the Chastening of the Lord Prov. 3.11 Nor faint when thou art rebuked of him Heb. 12.5 Follow the Examples of these and other godly Patterns and give your Children Godly Counsel at all times that they may always learn to fear the Lord and honour their Superiors and the Lord will be with you always Isa 41.10 12 Direction is Give your Children pertinent Answers to their Godly Questions When your Children shall ask you in time to come saring what meaneth these twelve stones then you shall let your Children know saying Israel came over this Jordan on dry land Joshua 4.21 22. And it shall come to pass when your Children shall say unto you what mean you by this service ye shall say it is the sacrifice of the Lords passover who passed over the House of Israel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians Exod. 12.26 27. So when our Children shall ask us why Christ was born dyed was buried and rose again We must answer them Because Man had sinned away his happiness and by no other means could be brought again but by a glorious Sacrifice for as the whole lump of Mankind by Adam's Sin were brought under Death and Condemnation so also by the death of the second Adam viz. Christ a door of Salvation is set open to all that believe to obtain Eternal Salvation through him John 3.16 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 1 John 2.2 2 Cor. 5.14 15. 1 Cor. 8.11 So likewise when they shall ask you what the Sacrament of Baptism doth signifie You must answer them if you answer them truly and directly in Scripture Language 1st The going down into the Water Acts 8.38 signifieth Christ's carrying all our Sins down into the Grave John 1.29 He taketh away the sins of the World 2dly Being baptized in the Water doth signifie our dying to all our sins Rom. 6.2 3dly Coming up out of the Water Mark 1.10 signifieth our rising again to newness of life Rom. 6.4 Again if your Children shall ask you what doth the Sacrament of the Lords Supper signifie Mat. 26.26 You must answer them it signifieth the breaking of Christ's Body for us by Faith to feed on to share and partake of it and that as Christ's body was one before it was broken so every one feeding on Christ by Faith by it are made one entire body or Church and as Bread is the stay and staff of our Natural Lives so is Christ the bread of our souls or the stay and staff of our spiritual lives and as bread is first broken before we can eat of it so Christ was first broken before he could become proper food for our souls And as we must eat bread if we would live so we must by Faith feed on Christ receive Christ for Life Righteousness and Eternal Life if we would spiritually live and be saved So likewise the Blood of Christ or Wine in that Sacrament signifieth Redemption from and the remission of all our sins by Christs Blood shed For without blood there is no remission of sins Heb. 9.22 Revel 5.9 And as we drink down that Drink before we can receive any refreshment by it so by Faith we must apply or partake of the vertue of Christs Blood before we can receive any saving benefit thereby Now Parents let me desire you as you will answer it in the great day do not give your Children crabbed or churlish answers but answer their good Questions in mild and loving words that agree best with their Capacities that they may rightly understand you 13 Directon You must
of reward by it Brethren fall out each one desiring his Brothers right It is Covetousness makes Masters and Dames of Families to be over eager up early and late to be too sparing and pinching in necessary provision for their Families and to be fierce mistrustful outragious harsh ridged over-greedy discontented often chaffing at and chiding with their Children and Servants oppressing over-tormiling them letting them have no time to serve the Lord or if they have a little time they are so over-wearied with labour that their bodies and sences are both asleep and their sacrifice at best is but blind and lame Mal. 1.7 8. It is covetousness that makes Children and Servants to plot and contrive how they may pilser imbezzle steal take and dispose of their Fathers and Masters goods and employ them to their own use and it instigates a poor Labouner to take that many times which is none of his own which doings teacheth his Children to steal it is Covetousness that makes some Ministers act like Elie's Sons 1 Sam. 2.18 sets them to buying and selling of livings to act Simony Acts 8.18 And to make Merchandise of Men 2 Pet. 2.3 And forsake their flock for larger benefits and 't is covetousness that makes the people to oppress their Ministers leaving of them to the cares of this world and not allowing them a competent and comfortable maintenance but let their Wives and Children after their decease be exposed to want and poverty by it the Judges judge for reward Micah 7.3 Zeph. 3.3 by it the Magistrates cease to do justice and grind the face of the poor Isa 3.14 15. and the Lawyer pleads for hire Ezra 4.4 5. Nehem. 6.13 by it Causes are mispleaded and delayed yea moved from one Court to another witnesses are subborned evidences counterfeited writings forged wills concealed and the like by it Statesmen ease themselves and lay heavy Burthens on other Mens shoulders Mat. 23.4 Luke 11.46 It maketh the Physitian take more care of the Payment of his large Bill than of his Patients health and the Soldier to venture his life for Honour and Plunder it maketh the Mariner and Merchant to venture their all to the gaining and obtaining of prizes unjustly and Stewards Bailiffs and Officers of trust to sacrifice their Oaths and Honesty it makes Pirates and Thieves to rob by Sea and Land and Gamesters to get what they can by cheating it makes Tradesmen to lie deceive defraud couzen and cheat and others to commit all manner of Villany and what not What shall I say more Thou shalt not covet 1st Because these abovesaid Evils with many more attend it John 12.6 Josh 7.21 2ly Because there is a woe pronounced against it in these six several Scriptures Isa 5.8 Hab. 2.9 Micah 2.1 2. Isa 10.1 2. Jer. 22.13 Ezek. 34.2 3. 3ly Because Riches when so gotten bring no peace but Terror of Conscience Ezek. 13.10 4ly Because they that possess ill gotten goods it consumeth none can tell how James 5.2 3. 5ly Because they do not only consume but flee away Prov. 23.5 6ly Because Covetousness is Idolatry Col. 3.5 The Covetous Man makes his riches his God and places his happiness in his substance Luke 12.15 to 20. 7ly Because 〈◊〉 is the root of all evil and causeth them that use it to err from the faith 1 Tim. 6.10 8ly Because the Lord abhorreth the Covetous Person Psalm 10.3 9ly Because by hating of Covetousness our days are prolonged Prov. 28.16 10ly Because no covetous Man shall inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.10 I shall give you some Scripture-Marks of a Covetous Man and pass it And 1st They grasp and take what they covet Joshua 7.21 2ly They take fields by violence Micah 2.2 3ly Their heart runs after it Ezek. 33.31 Psalm 62.10 4ly They take Bribes 1 Sam. 8.3 Deut. 16.19 Exod. 23.8 5ly They are greedy of gain Prov. 1.19 6ly They are never satisfied with silver Eccles 5.10 7ly They enlarge their Desires still crying Give Give Hosea 4.18 Hab. 2.5 8ly They serve unrighteous Mammon Mat. 6.24 9ly They mind earthly things Phil. 3.19 10ly They love the wages of Unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 11ly They withhold more then is meet Prov. 11.24 12ly They give sparing and grudgingly 2 Cor. 9.6 13ly They trust in their Riches Prov. 11 2◠1 Tim. 6.17 14ly They think gain to be Godliness 1 Tim. 6.5 15ly They deal falsly for gain Jer. 8.10 16ly They make Gold their hope Job 31.24 17ly They keep back part of the Wages of the Labourer Jer. 22.13 James 5.4 18ly They love abundance with increase Eccles 5.10 19ly They will shed blood for gain Jer. 22.17 Prov. 1.19 20. 20ly They oppress the poor Job 20.19 James 2.6 Eccles 5.8 21ly They shut up the bowels of compassion towards them that are in need 1 John 3.17 Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have Heb. 13.5 yet you may covet earnestly spiritual gifts 1 Cor. 12.31 yea desire and seek after them 1 Cor. 14.1 36 Direction is Be often stirring up your Children to hear the preaching of the Word with such diligence that they may give you a good account of every Sermon immediately after the hearing thereof My son keep thy Fathers Commandment and forsake not the law of thy Mother bind them continually upon thy heart and tye them about thy neck when thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee and when thou wakest it shall talk with thee for the Commandment is a lamp and the law is a light and reproofs of instruction are the way of life Prov. 6.20 to 24. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children Deut. 6.6 7. Hear the instruction of thy Father and be wise Prov. 1.8 Ch. 13.1 37 Direction is Teach your Children to pay to every one their due that they may carry themselves in a civil sober decent and Christian manner towards all people of all Ranks Degrees and Qualities whatsoever Render therefore to all their dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Rom. 13.7 in honour preferring one another Rom. 12.10 Let the elder that ruleth well be counted worthy of double honour 1 Tim. 5.17 Honour all Men 1 Pet. 2.17 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their Masters worthy of all Honour 1 Tim. 6.1 And not irreverently as some impudent people do to come into their Fathers or Masters presence yea into the Kings Courts in the presence of Magistrates without bowing their Bodies 2 Kings 1.13 1 Kings 1.16 Gen. 42.6 Gen. 33.6 7. or so much as uncovering their heads or wagging their hats because the three Children Dan. 3.21 were cast into the Eurnace with their Hats on they think it not lawful to pull off their Hats to any 1st The Scripture does not express any thing when they came