false way ver 113. I hate lying vanities but thy Law do I love Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy will O God yea thy Law is within my heart Psal 119.113 I hate vain thoughts but thy way do I love and as Paul Rom. 7 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inward man Rom. 8.6 7. To be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace 5. Look also to your thoughts that they be good useful holy heavenly spiritual of good things yea as much as may be on the best things to desire them labour for them love them delight and rejoyce in them And on evil things especially of sin to shun avoid and abhor them Prov. 22.3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil hideth himself but the simple pass on and are punished Be careful to watch against and avoid vain foolish idle thoughts but much more vile wicked thoughts envious malicious unclean revengeful proud and all other ungodly thoughts You read what a reproof God gave Jerusalem Jer. 4.14 Oh Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge in thee 6. Above all look to your hearts they are the spring and fountain of all good and evil thoughts affâ—ctions words and actions Therefore the Wiseman counselleth Prov. 4.25 Keep thy heart with all diligence the Hebrew is above all keeping mark his reason for out of it are the issues of life All good holy gratious thoughts desires affections words and actions spring from a good and holy heart and all evil and wirked from an evil and wicked heart Make the heart good and all will be good if that it be naught all is naught Tit. 1.15 To the unclean all things are unclean Mat. 12.34 35. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things And then remember that God always sees you and his eyes are upon you Prov. 15.3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good The thoughts of some eminent grave person standing by as Cato Laelius or Scipio would be a means to keep men from doing any uncomely thing as the Heathens supposed and so adjudged Seneca How much more will the believing that the All-seeing holy and righteous Lord is always present The Rabbins were wont to say that if a man did remember three things he should not sin viz. 1 His creation that he came from the dust 2. His end he must return to the dust and 3. the strict account he must give The Hebrews have another like saying to that purpose That if a man did think of three things he would not sin viz. 1. Of the Eye that sees all 2. of the Ear that hears all and 3. of the Book in which all his faults are written 17. Study to carry your selves affably courteously neighbourly to all persons as well to the poor as to the rich to be beneficially publike spirited and ready to do good to all persons charitable open-handed to the poor when they come hid them welcome sit down Job professes he did not eat his morsel alone but the fatherless eat thereof he was to him as a father the loyns of the poor blessed him and he was warmed with the fleece of his sheep Job 31.17 18 20. Humility affability Charity do much adorn Religion put a beauty and lustre on it honor our conversation stop the mouths of evil men are pleasing to God good and profitable to men gain the esteem and good will of many and a good report in the world Luk. 7.5 Act. 10.22 oftentimes make friends of foes at least sweeten their sour natures and stop the mouths of such as would otherwise be open against Professors and Religion it self But a sour high losty slighting carriage scarce bidding a poor or mean Neighbour drink or sit down or perhaps as some proud persons scarce speak to them or take notice of them doth very much unbecome civil persons much more persons professing Christianity and loseth them much in their hearts and affections and often gives occasion to slight and speak evil of them and of Religion for their sakes While God gives and I have it I would not willingly let any poor Neighbour go away without some refreshing unasked or other expressions of charity and neighbourliness I have often seen the good fruit of it and am sure Christ Luk. 6.38 saith Give and it shall be given to you again good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosoms Matth. 10.42 Whosoever shall give a cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward Remember also that loving courteous words to them and of them though they be never so inferiour and bad also is as cheap as evil harsh surly or churlish words and only pleasing to God and men words of contempt are commonly returned in the like kind full measure running over by some others Not railing or evil-speaking but let every one of us please his Neighbour for good saith the Apostle Rom. 15.2 But what good office soever you do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to man Gal. 3.23 Ephes 6.5 18. Vse moderation at all times in all things and to all persons Phil. 4.5 Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand Be not only temperate and moderate but let it appear abhorring vain-glory in all things and always so that all that know you and your conversation may see it and be gained by you not unlike to that of our Saviour Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven This the Apostle exhorts to in the word sober 1 Thes 5.6 8. 1 Pet. 1.13 and 4.7 and 5.8 one of the three great lessons the Gospel teacheth Titus 2.11 12. Vse a moderation in the use of meat drink and apparel for the quantity the quality and the fashionableness that it be not too much too rich or costly nor too conformable to the world and garish but always within the bounds of Religion reason your estate calling degree and condition of life never beyond but alas the devil pride and self have so blinded all sorts and ranks of men and women and almost all of all sorts that our eyes are almost out that we cannot see wood for trees but take one for another vice for virtue Vse a moderation in spending and laying out your estate if you have never so great an overplus there are other ways and uses that may be laid out more to the Glory of God the good of others and much more to your own advantage whereas vain and lavish spending in the former or any
of which for the most part being the fruit of some hours thoughts in my bed and in a very plain phrase and method being intended for the meanest and weakest capacities as well as others And though it be but as Goats-hair towards the building of the Tabernacle yet notwithstanding may and I hope in the Lord will through his blessing help also others memories stir up their affections and hearts to a more serious walking in the good way of holiness and righteousness which will bring to heaven and eternal happiness Into which way I am fully persuaded many of you are already entred and walking but I cannot say so of all to whom this is intended and offer'd and therefore hope you will not be offended though I do adde divers directions for the better information instruction and direction of others towards the more easie getting preserving and increasing sound knowledge true and living grace to enable for the right use of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper too much neglected by many and all other Ordinances of Christ and especially to be prepared to live and dye holily comfortably and happily which next to the glorifying of God is the great business which we have all to do while we are here in this world and for which end we came into the world and God hath given us life the use of reason and understanding and the Word and Sacraments the means of grace and salvation which if any do neglect they are utterly and everlastingly undone and must perish eternally But rather I judge it will be a rejoycing of hearts to you who are already made wise unto salvation to see or hear that others also that are made wise or any ways helped in the way to get true wisdom I intended this only as an Epistle to another Treatise on a necessary subject but seeing it swell in the penning very much beyond my expectation I publish it by it self and it may be the other hereafter if life health liberty and the croud of other mens workes that press to be abroad do not hinder There are divers qualifications and things required as absolutely necessary to them of years of discretion to be had and exercised as to be enabled rightly to partake of the Sacrament of the Lords supper as a priviledge and benefit so to live and dye comfortably and happily which is the earnest desire of my soul and daily prayer unto God for you all namely sound knowledge of the things of God saving faith true repentance sincere love and charity and new obedience or holiness of heart and life and therefore I intend to speak something of each of them severally by the assistance of God 1. Knowledge a particular distinct grounded knowledge is necessary to salvation in all that are of years of discretion Let me mind some of you of some of the most necessary points of the Christian Religion the doctrine which is according to godliness Namely that there is only one true and living God and three distinct persons or manner of subsisting in that one undivided divine nature and Godhead the Father Son and Holy-Ghost or Spirit 1. That there is a God Because we live in an Age in which that damning sin of unbelief and Atheism is much more frequent then I think in any Age heretofore amongst Christians a sad sign that some grievous judgment from God if not destruction is drawing near I shall here set down a few Arguments to prove That there is a God which a man would think most clear and needs no proving which I hope may be of some use to confirm many though not to convince professed Atheists or wilful Cavillers Besides the Testimony of the holy Scriptures which have many demonstrative arguments in them to prove cleerly the divinity and infallible verity and certainty of the holy Scripture and so most fully and plainly that there is a God consider seriously these few of many that might be produced 1. The Heavens and Earth and all the Creatures in them as the Sun Moon Starrs c. do clearly prove it to all that are not wilfully blind and judicially given up to blindness to their eternal destruction for nothing can be the cause of it self the world could not make it self for then it should be both the cause and the effect both before and after it self Therefore the world and all things in it must have their being and beginning from some one first and supream cause which is of infinite wisdom power and goodness and of it self which gives being and continuance to all other things and this is God Also the first creature was made of nothing of no foregoing existant matter otherwise if not made it could not be subject to change and alteration And all Creatures are finite compounded and imperfect unable to make themselves or the least fly or worm or to sustain themselves and therefore of necessity there must be a first supream cause which is of it self of infinite power wisdome and goodness and most perfect which gives a being and continuance to that first Creature and to all things which are very good in their kind Gen. 1.31 2. The great wonders and miracles that have been done as the dividing the red Sea and Jordan causing the Sun and Moon to stand still and at another time to go back ten degrees and the Miracles wrought by the Prophets by Christ himself and the Apostles as raising the dead making them that were born blind to see the lame to go the dumb to speak the dead to live again and very many more which many thousands of eye and ear-witnesses saw heard all which were not only above the ordinary course of nature but simply above the power of nature do plainly and evidently prove that there is one supream absolute cause of infinite knowledge power and goodness which is God 3. The acts of conscience do prove that there is a God which are to excuse and comfort in well doing against disgraces slanders and sufferings and to accuse condemne and terrify for evil doing though committed never so secret and so that somtimes the sinners to free themselves of the terrous troubles of conscience make away themselves thousands have done so in all Ages which proves that there is a supream Judge that sees all though never so secret will call the sinners to account and condemne for their evil deeds and punish the evil doers 4. The powers of the Soul prove that there is a God The Soul is a substance spiritual invisible immortal ever-living exceeding active that can move its thoughts and eyes from one place to another from one kingdome and part of the world to another from earth to heaven in a moment is indued with understanding will reason and affection and is capable of eternal happiness and of eternal misery and therefore must of necessity be from a cause that is spiritual invisible immortal infinite in understanding wisdom power and goodness which only can
Church of God above two thousand it may be three thousand years in the publick worship of God and in private Families also particularly at the Passeover the Jews used to sing six Psalms together beginning at Psalm 111 some think Psalm 112 and so on as the Jewish Rabbins and other learned Divines do think called the solemn Hymne and the great Hallelujah Further how antient singing of Psalms is Read Exod. 15.1 c. How excellent Psal 30.1 2 4. and 92.1 and 147.1 How warrantable under the New Testament See also Ephes 5.18 19 20. Col. 3.16 Jam. 5.13 Psal 147.1 Which custome 't is probable our blessed Saviour observed after the Passeover and his Supper were performed Mat. 26.30 and his Disciples It was used even in mixt multitudes and so commanded Psa 66.1 2 3 4. 68.32 96.1 2. and 98.1 2 4 5. Knowing what I do know I wonder that any sober Christians should scruple at it and lay it aside it was not wont to be so till of late years the Enemie hath sown his tares among the good Corn thereby hoping to corrupt us with his many foul errors and so to divide and destroy us and the Protestant Religion and Verity which the God of truth forbid and rebuke the Enemie 7. In performing these and all other religious duties have a special care and eye to the manner of doing them as well as to the Ordinances and duties themselves namely to perform them 1. Humbly and self-denyingly looking unto Christ both for assistance and acceptance without whom you can do nothing so himself saith John 15.5 and we find it true by experience 2 Cor. 3.5 that is nothing rightly and acceptably by our own abilities but only by the assistance and for the merit and intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Also do all duties with all the strength of your intention and affections Eccles 9.10 What thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might Most necessary in performing Religious duties not coldly carelesly with wandring thoughts or dead drowsie affections but with the heart kept close to the duty and with God in the duty 3. Also look to a right end for the manner and end of doing duties is that which God chiefly looks at requires and accepts Many by-respects and ends may put on to duties but to do them in a right manner and to a right end principally to the Glory of God and good of Souls is that which is the heart soul and life of a duty argues our faith in God love to him and obedience to his Sovereign Authority as most wise just and good without this the best duties are not regarded but despised rejected and many times cursed and punished as the Jews services and offerings Isa 1.11 12 13 14 15. Isa 66.7 and Jehu his good works Hos 1.4 8. Obey Magistrates them that have Authority over you with all humility cheerfulness observing their commands for conscience sake for so we are commanded and Nature teacheth us Rom. 13.1 2 5. Tit. 3.1 1 Pet. 2.13 14. For they are the Ministers of God the Powers that are are ordained of God And yet the Rulers that then were in being were wicked men Tyrants and Heathens whom the Prophet Jeremiah Jer. 29.7 and the Apostles commanded to pray for as Nebuchadnezzar Nero and those under them much more ought we to pray for and obey Christian Magistrates And in case any thing should be commanded which God forbid I speak by way of supposition which upon serious consideration you cannot be perswaded can stand with your obedience to God the Supreme Lord the peace of a good conscience forbear to act yet with all humble respect to Authority submitting willingly to suffer rather than to sin as the three Noble men did Dan 3.16 17 18. and Daniel chapt 6. ver 7 10 11. and the Apostles Act. 4.19 In all other things obey the Magistrate Supreme and Sub-ordinate readily and chearfully and thereby give good proof of your Loyalty and that you are not stubborn and refractory so that if any should maliciously slander you or falsely accuse you you may say as Paul Act. 24.13 They cannot prove the things whereof they now accuse me and as Daniel Innocencie is found before me and also before thee O King have I done no burt Dan. 6.22 and as it is Act. 24.16 I do exercise my self to have always a good conscience void of offence towards God and towards men and as it is 2 Corinth 1.12 Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world Also pray heartily daily for the King and all in Authority under him that under them ye may live a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty for so we are commanded as a thing well-pleasing unto God 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. That so doing ye may put to silence the ignorance and malice of foolish men 1 Pet. 2.15 especially Popish persons who are ready to say they are enemies to Kings Magistrates and Government stubborn disobedient and self-willed rebels to Authority the great and common Argument some men use against those that are most quiet conscientious and do most heartily pray for Kings and all in Authority desiring their good every way and the publike welfare and prosperity 1 Pet. 4.3 4. 9. Have a lawful calling and use it lawfully Have a lawful calling some honest imployment especially such as will conduce to the publike good as well as to your own particular benefit such a calling as is of good report and sutable to your means parts abilities and condition This I speak to them that are yet to chuse a calling yet such imployments as are sinful so some are ought to be cast off And in a lawful calling be faithful careful just and diligent in it avoyding idleness wastfulness and covetousness This duty God laid on man in the state of innocencie to keep him honestly imployed and his mind busied but after the fall toylsome labour came in as a punishment for sin Gen. 3.17 18 19. In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread till thou return unto the ground Exod. 20.9 Six days thou shalt labour God allows no person whatsoever to live without a lawful calling and imployment that is capable of doing something Idleness was one of the sins of Sodom An idle person est pulvinar diaboli the Devils cushion on which he delights to sit and his anvil on which he uses to hammer mischief Of such an active nature are our spirits that if we do not busie them about that which is good the devil will be sure to set them about that which is evil You read what sad temptations befel David when he was idle and what sad doings followed 2 Sam. 11.2 c. but it cost him very dear 2 Sam. 12 9 c. compared with Psal 51. Deal justly and faithfully with all men whether they
abundantly reward and crown all their patient humble suffering in a quiet submission to his will Mat. 24.13 Rev. 2.10 12 26. for his sake and well-doing Mat. 5.11 12 13. Rom. 8.17 18. 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Further God in afflictions and suffering very often helps the memories of his servants to call to mind these and such like gratious sutable promises and helps their faith to believe them and rest on them for assistance the comfort and accomplishment of them in his best time for all the promises in Christ are Yea and Amen sure and certain 2 Cor. 1.20 by which they are inabled to overcome all sufferings and temptations and to triumph in the end 1 John 5.4 Consider therefore the patience of Job and what end the Lord made of it Jam. 1.1 2. and 5.11 also of Josephs sufferings and the happy issue the great preferment and honour that followed and the very great good he was inabled to do not only to the Egyptians but to the Church of God Gen. chapt 41.45 and 50. For the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy Jam. 5.11 7. Be sure to endeavour truly to repent to believe in Jesus Christ to walk holily and to make your calling and election sure that you are in the favour of God and that he afflicts in mercy out of love and with faithfulness for our eternal good 2 Pet. 1.10 14. In Temptations to sin consider these things 1. Be not self-confident go not out in your own strength be always jealous and suspitious of your selves and look unto God for wisdom to see the evil in them for grace and power to withstand and overcome them Remember Peter a good soul but relying too much on his own strength was sham fully foiled Mat. 26.33 71 72 73 74. 2 Arm your serves in the best wise ye can 1. by prayer 2. with some good Scriptures as sutable as you can find to your occasion and present temptation the word is The sword of the Spirit Ephes 6.17 3. The shield of faith whereby you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil ver 16. and 4. Confider and rest your selves on the promises the power goodness and faithfulness of God and 5. with an holy resolution to suffer any thing rather than to sin 3. Consider what a shameful and dishonorable a thing it is to yeeld to Satan and be overcome of sin and Satan and the sad consequents ufually follow and then consider also the comfort peace and honour of not yeelding but overcoming with the encouraging promises made to them that do overcome and hold out in well-doing to the end Rev. 2.17 26. But resist him stedfastly in the faith 1 Pet. 5.9 that is by laying hold on 1. the faithfulness of God believing the promises as most true the threatnings also the precepts as holy just and good 2. By laying hold on the power mercy wisdome and goodness of God Faith reasons thus the Promises are true and sure why should I nor believe them and rest upon them The Threatnings are sure why should I then venture on sin the Precepts are all holy just good therefore all reason I should observe keep them God hath been loving good and merciful to me therefore I would not offend him and he is able all sufficient to support strengthen me in and deliver me out of all in due time therefore I will rest upon him alone 4. As God gives in wisdom to discover the evil in temptations and ability and strength of Grace to resist and overcome them so give to God all the praise and glory he is most worthy of it Thankfulness for benefits received is as I may say an holy inducement to move God to do more who delights to do good to thankful Souls 15. Study unity peace and love towards one another and towards all men 1. Study unity both in judgment and affection As much as possibly may be labour to be all of one judgment and one mind in the Lord and where you cannot be all of one judgment yet labour to be all of one heart to love all that are sound in their judgments in all truths necessary to life and godliness and joyn with them in all Ordinances of Christ How can I separate from them whom Christ owns and receives and where any do differ only in circumstantials or lesser matters that may stand with Godliness bear with them pity them cover their weaknesses in love and use all loving means to inform them a right and gain them to the truth Beware of censuring others that are not of the same judgment and way with your selves in those smaller matters being otherwise found holding the foundation and blameless in their lives Titus 3.2 God doth not give alike knowledge and understanding to every one And especially beware of division and separation from any whom Christ owns and receives The censoriousness division and separation of Professors hath almost undone us weakned the Protestants very much given a great wound to the Protestant Religion brought a great scandal upon Professors Religion and Godliness given occasion to many loose Protestants to slight all Religion many to turn Atheists others prophane and given the common Adversary very great advantage by our divisions to destroy both the Protestant Religion and the Professors of it You know that a bundle of sticks or arrows taken singly one after another may all easily be broken but joyntly bound together they cannot Therefore the Romish Adversaries have of late years endeavored and do still endeavour what in them lieth to sow errors debauch others and make divisions amongst the Protestants that they may destroy them and the Truth also and set up their Romish Antichristian idolatrous Masses and superstition But let not any of you I beseech you and I hope in the Lord you will never be the Jesuites and Devils instruments to make divisions rents and separation in the Church of Christ which is a work of the flesh and forbidden of God 1 Cor. 3.3 and 1.10 Rom. 16.17 The Lord doth often and much command and press to unity Read 1 Cor. 1.10 Rom. 16.17 Phil. 2.1 2 to 8. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves and so on Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. Endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Observe his weighty Reasons 1. There is one Body namely mystical the Church of Christ 2. One Spirit by whom they are united and governed 3. Ye are called into one hope to wit of life eternal 4. Have the same Lord even Christ 5. Have one faith namely in Christ 6. Have the same Baptism to wit into the Name of
that power over her Also she ought to declare her reverence to him by an inward wife-like fear of offending him and outwardly by her mild courteous loving and modest speech to him and of him behaviour before him and respective obedience to him as her husband 3. To nourish and cherish him and provide things needful and convenient for him most especially in time of sickness weakness and the like as for her self Ephes 5.29 4. To go soberly modestly and gravely and after a seemly manner in her apparel as becomes godliness not garish flanting and fantastick 1 Tim. 2.9 I will that women adorn themselves with modest apparel modest apparel then is an ornament as well as garish rich and fine or costly apparel and in some respects much more and doth more win the the affections of all sober persons with shamefastness and sobriety and which becometh godliness with good works 1 Pet. 3.4 5. whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of of gold or of putting on of apparel but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of a great price For after this manner in old time the holy women who trusted in God adorned themselves being in subjection to their own husbands 5. To look to the house and the affairs of it and to preserve the goods of it as her own and order them for the best advantage also the children and maid-servants this is expresly commanded in terms 1 Tim. 5.14 6. To advise with her husband ask and learn of him in private 1 Tim. 2.11 7. But especially to be a true helper to her husband in the things of God that concern their spiritual good according to her power And it is a great advantage the wife hath by reason of her interest in her husband and children and the frequent being with him and them to instruct the children mind him of his duty lovingly and meekly advise comfort and encourage him to every good work as well as he her one great end of Marriage Gen. 2.19 20 21. 23. Parents you whom God hath given the honour to be fathers and mothers of children Let me mind you of the particular duties God requireth of you in reference to your children I need not advise you to have care of their bodies and to provide for them in due season all things needful for them Nature teacheth that and he is worse than an infidel or Heathen that doth not provide for his own house 1 Tim. 5.8 but do not mind them more than God but their spiritual good I chiefly aim at 1. Teach and instruct your children in the grounds and Principles of Religion as soon as they are capable of retaining any thing though they do not for the present understand it yet children do many times understand more than we think they do teach them a little at once as they are capable the most easie and fundamental truths first Deut. 6.6 7. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them thy children diligently The word signifies to whet or sharpen as a man sharpens his knife by degrees often drawing it to and fro so should parents teach their children and mark what follows and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down when thou risest up Eph. 6.4 Ye fathers provoke not your children to anger but bring them up in the nourture and admonition of the Lord. A good Catechisme is of great use to this end amongst others Mr. Perkins Catechisme Mr. John Balls and the Exposition also and the Assemblies are all of singular use learned by heart more especially with the proofs the shortest and easiest way to furnish children with the main grounds of Religion and to fit them to hear Sermons 2. Pray often with them and for them 3. Read the Holy Scriptures to them and other good Books as you have opportunity 4. Teach them to read betimes and to read well and hear them read daily 5. See that they attend reverently in time of Religious duties and on the publike Ministry also Exod. 20.8 9 10. 6. Repeat the Sermons unto them or the heads as well as you can and God will help you 7. Examine what they remember what they have heard or read otherwise they will not mind and so not profit by hearing and reading 8. Commend and encourage them when they do well Reprove them when they do evil Correct them also when need requires not in passion a sinful thing and doth little good yet too common and which is worse some foolish Parents presently after correction are ready to take them into their bosom this is of evil consequence and besides it shews they did not correct them in love and judgment but only vent their sinful passion but correct them wisely in meekness and love and let them see you are angry with them for their Souls good till they melt kindly for their faults and humble themselves and beg your pardon Consider well Prov. 19.18 and 22.15 and 23.13 Ephes 6.4 but provoke them not to anger Col. 3.21 Use not threatnings nor many words lest when they see they are but words they slight them and regard not your words nor commands nor your selves neither in a while as I have often seen 9. Give them always a good example in word and deed carry your selves gravely meekly religiously and after a seemly manner towards them evil examples will do them more hurt than all your good instructions will do them good Children have a great conceit of all the Parent doth though bad or untrue and are wonderful apt to imitate them Col. 4.6 Let your speech be always seasoned with salt that is discretion and prudence that it may rellish savour and season others well Avoid all corrupt communication foolish and scurrilous words and jesting Ephes 4.29 And the rather you have great reason thus to do and to endeavour their regeneration and salvation because you have been instruments of their corrupt sinful miserable and damnable estate by natural generation If you be instruments under God of begetting them again as furthering a new spiritual birth and life in them and so of their salvation it will add much to your comfort and crown at the day of your account But if they miscarry and perish through your evil example or neglect of due educating them they shall die in their sins but your Souls must answer to God for them at the day of death and judgment and that may be very soon and will be very sad for you 10. Busie them in some honest and fit imployment as soon as they are capable teach them to be good husbands and house-wives Skill diligence and providence are alone a good portion and livelihood and many times
of Belial Deut. 13.13 and the Apostle compares such to brute and unruly beasts 3. Maintenance also is due unto Parents from the children in case of want or need to their utmost ability to visit them in time of sickness weakness and trouble as Joseph did his father Gen. 48.1 comfort them in time of mourning and sorrow as Jacobs children did Gen. 42.5 and relieve them in their wants and nourish them as Joseph did Gen. 47.12 and Ruth her good mother-in-law Ruth 2.8 And this is that which the Apostle requires of children to requite their parents which he calls a shewing piety at home and says it is good and acceptable before God These things are contained under the word Honour Secondly Children must love their Parents unfeinedly for their great love and many respects to them and to esteem them highly as worthy all love honour and obedience from them Thirdly Pray for your Parents daily heartily fervently Fourthly If you observe any failings and infirmities in them as alas who living is without being frail sinful men all subject to like passions and infirmities I say 't is your duty above all others to bear with them and cover them in love as far as you can Notable is the example of Shem and Japhet Noahs sons towards their father Noah for which they were blessed and Cham and Canaan for discovering their fathers shame cursed Gen. 9.22 c. This is a duty due from all inferiors-to their Superiors There are many strong and weighty reasons obliging children to the performance of all these duties to reverence their parents both of them equally to obey them also to maintain them love them esteem them bear with and cover their infirmities As 1. Because you have your beings from them you never had a being in the world and so a capacity of being holy and happy to all eternity without them Therefore you owe unto them next under God your own selves and all you have and can do for them 2. Because of the great pain and trouble in child-bearing breeding and bringing forth 3. Their great pains care and trouble day and night continually to preserve you and nurse you up when you were the most weak helpless shiftless and vilest creatures in the world by reason of native corruption and original guilt 4. For covering and clothing you when you were naked and worse than naked all polluted in your blood Ezek. 16.3 6. 5. For their continual care and cost in bringing you up to be able to shift and do something for your selves 6. They intend that all they have laboured for taken great pains and care early and late day and night shall be yours in due time 7. Especially for their many prayers pains and endeavors in instructing you c. that you may be born again be new creatures sanctified and saved eternally Fifthly Give all diligence to learn of them to get sound and saving knowledg grace and holiness to be truly Godly and live holily to be justified sanctified and eternally saved Now while you are young as soon as you are capable of doing any thing towards your salvation in the use of means before the world hath gotten room and possession in your hearts and affections Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth saith the wise Solomon Eccles 12.1 Now you are most fit for that duty now your minds and hearts are in some respects like clean white paper free to receive any thing in to write any thing upon If the devil once ingrave wickedness in your hearts and the world its sinful vanities you are like to live always die and perish in your sins for ever unless God be very merciful unto you But if you get your minds and hearts seasoned with sound knowledg and saving Grace while you are young you will be always good godly and everlastingly saved and happy Oh! it is a lovely thing to be Godly while young to see young persons breathing and panting after grace and holiness following hard after the Lord and walking in the ways of God as young King Josiah did and young Samuel and Timothy a thing very pleasing to God He delights greatly in such persons communicates much of himself unto them honors them much When you come into years you will have many worldly occasions and businesses to mind besides you do not know how soon you may die how short your lives are and how little time you have to get that which of necessity must be had or perish for ever namely sound knowledge of the doctrine of salvation true living Grace and holiness your persons justified by the only righteousness of Jesus Christ and so pardon of sin reconciliation with God acceptation of your persons services in the blood and for the sake merit and mediation of Jesus Christ for by Nature and your first birth you were the children of wrath children and slaves to sin and Satan walking in the lusts of the flesh and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh utterly unable to do any thing that is truly good and acceptable to God or to avoid evil and the wrath to come as the Apostle and experience assures us Ephes 2.1 2 3. Titus 3.3 Four things which a good old experienced Christian but the last night before I wrote this put some few of you in mind of which I will here set down with some enlargement 1. To labour to get sin imbittered That is to see and be truly sensible what an evil thing sin is how filthy hateful dangerous and damnable that it may be bitter unto you loathed subdued and mortified by you by all means through the assistance of the Spirit of God Rom. 8.13 2. To be self-emptied That is to see how empty you are of any thin that is truly and spiritually good in and of your selves that the best performances even of the most holy persons are so imperfect that they must utterly renounce all confidence in them in the point of justification before God Isai 64.6 Luk. 17.10 Rom. 3.23 to the end Gal. 2.16 3. To esteem Christ highly as only necessary to redeem you justifie and save you and most worthy of all your love service and obedience 4. To imbrace holiness also as that which is absolutely necessary to spiritual life and salvation Heb. 12.14 1 Pet. 1.14 15. To this end consider and what I say to you in this as also in the former things I say unto all consider seriously two things 1. The torments of hell as most intolerable easeless and endless Oh! to suffer eternally without all possibility of an end or any intermission ease or mitigation it is a thing most astonishing fully to consider of and see into 2. The joys felicity and glory of Heaven in the presence immediate and full enjoyment of God himself Jesus Christ c. and that for ever and ever never to have any end nor abatement Such and so great as mortal eyes never saw nor ear heard nor the heart of man