worthily the Word of God 4. Suppress corrupt Discourse 5. Subdue their own Passions and follow the Spirit of the new Man 6. Decline impertinent Contentions 7. Be Meek to all and ready to give their Help 8. Be moderate in Reproving and Arguing Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them and that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee Wise unto Salvation thro' Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrin for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 3. 14. They are to be stedfast in Faith knowing in the Holy Scriptures make use of these for the Conduct of themselves for instructing correcting and leading others in Ways of Piety and Justice I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and his Kingdom Preach the Word be instant in Season out of Season reprove rebuke exhort with all Long-suffering and Doctrin For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrin but after their own Lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching Ears And they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned unto Fables But watch thou in all things endure Afflictions do the Work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministry 2 Tim. 4. 1. They are to employ their Preaching Reproof Prayer Threats and Patience for the Salvation of their Flock They are to be Watchful bear patiently the Troubles of their Ministry and by discharging all Duties fully satisfie it For this Cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in Order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee If any be Blameless the Husband of one Wife having faithful Children not accused of Riot or Vnruly For a Bishop must be Blameless as the Steward of God not Self-willed not soon Angry not given to Wine no Striker not given to filthy Lucre but a Lover of Hospitality a Lover of good Men Sober Just Holy Temperate holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrin both to exhort and to convince the Gainsayers Tit. 1. 5. Qualifications of such as undertake this Charge These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority Let no Man despise thee Tit. 2. 15. They are to exhort and reprove as having Authority Their Conduct ought to be such as to be despis'd by none Avoid foolish Questions and Genealogies and Contentions and Strivings about the Law for they are unprofitable and vain A Man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself Tit. 3. 9. They are to decline unprofitable Disputes and declar'd Hereticks The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the Sufferings of Christ and also a Partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the Oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready Mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Ensamples to the Flock And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall reeeive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. 1. The true Shepherds not for their own Interest but for the Good of the Flock watch over it they lead it without lording it and are themselves an Example to it Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die For I have not found thy Works perfect before God Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a Thief Revel 3. 2. Thus speaks the chief Shepherd to all those who under him have taken upon them the Care of his Flock and from whom should they learn the Obligations of their Charge but from him Happy they who give ear to him §. II. As to Teaching the Flock Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Mat. 28. 19. The Commission for teaching and preaching Christ must be from Christ and no other Confidence of teaching Truth but from him As ye go preach saying The Kingdom of heaven is at Hand Heal the Sick cleanse the Lepers raise the Dead cast out Devils freely ye have received freely give Mat. 10. 7. They are to be dis-interessed Do all good and not look for a Reward from Man but from God He that heareth you heareth me And he that despiseth you despiseth me And he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luk. 10. 16. Christ speaks to his Flock by those whom he has set over it and appointed to teach Christ is injur'd in the contempt of them In the day-time he was teaching in the Temple and at night he went out and abode in the Mount that is called the Mount of Olives Luk. 21. 37. They who teach others are to have their time of frequent Retreat from the World I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive Jo. 14. 16. When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth Jo. 16. 13. No Security of Truth from Learning but from the Spirit of God What Gratitude due from the Flock to God whilst those who were to Teach it were to be led by this Spirit Then the Twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve Tables Act. 6. 2. To be engag'd in temporal Affairs is a hindrance to those who are to Teach When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small Dissension and Disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question Act. 15. 2. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter V. 6. When Questions arise they are not determin'd by Paul and Barnabas but are referr'd to the Apostles and Elders of the Church who assemble and consider of it Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen Men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas and
Sight and am no more worthy to be called thy Son But the Father said to his Servants Bring forth the best Robe and put it on him and put a Ring on his Hand and Shooes on his Feet and bring hither the fatted Calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry For this my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found Luk. 15. 20. Parents are to receive their Children with Tenderness and Love when they return from their ill Ways Ye Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord Eph. 6. 4. Fathers provoke not your Children to Anger lest they be discouraged Col. 3. 21. Parents are to treat their Children with Mildness avoiding all that causes Dejection and Discouragement and yet bringing them up in the Knowledge and Fear of God These are some principal Duties belonging to Parents which if duly observ'd will bring Peace of Conscience and cannot fail of good Effects But however in this important Concern it cannot be amiss to add something out of the Old-Testament Abraham said unto his eldest Servant of his House that ruled over all that he had Put I pray thee thy Hand under my Thigh and I will make thee swear by the Lord the God of Heaven and the God of the Earth that thou shalt not take a Wife unto my Son of the Daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell but thou shalt go to my Country and to my Kindred and take a Wife unto my Son Isaac Gen. 24. 2. It ought to be the Solicitude of Parents to see that their Children be well married the Choice of the Person is of great Concern And they the Parents of Rebekah said we will call the Damsel and enquire at her mouth And they called Rebekah and they said unto her wilt thou go with this Man And she said I will go Gen. 24. 57. Children ought not to be dispos'd of in Marriage by their Parents but with their own free consent Isaac called Jacob and Blessed him and charged him and said unto him Thou shalt not take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan Gen. 28. 1. And Joseph said to his Father they are my Sons whom God hath given me in this place And he said bring them I pray thee unto me and I will bless them And he blessed Joseph Gen. 48. 9 15. It belongs to Parents to be very careful in the choice of Persons for the Marriage of their Children and likewise to give them their Blessing These Words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine House and when thou walkest by the VVay and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6. 6. Good Instructions to be given by Parents and to be often repeated to their Children In that Day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his House when I begin I will also make an end For I have told him that I will judge his House for ever for the Iniquity which he knoweth because his Sons have made themselves vile and he restrain'd them not 1 Sam. 3. 12. Children are to be corrected for the Evil they do If Reproofs are not regarded some other Expedients must be resolv'd upon for an Indulgence in case of Crimes is the Provocation of Judgments And the King commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai saying Deal gently for my sake with the young Man even with Absalom 2 Sam. 18. 5. Parents ought to retain the Bowels of Parents towards their Children even when they are wicked And his Sons went and feasted in their Houses every one his Day and sent and called for their three Sisters to eat and to drink with them And it was so when the Days of their feasting were gone about that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the Morning and offered Burnt-Offerings according to the number of them all for Job said It may be that my Sons have sinned and cursed God in their Hearts Thus did Job continually Job 1. 4. An excellent Example of Parents to be watchful over the Conduct of their Children and to be solicitous in preventing their falling under God's Displeasure and daily praying for them My Son hear the Instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother My Son if Sinners entice thee consent thou not If they say Come with us My Son walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy Foot from their Path for their Feet run to Evil Prov. 1. 8 15. Parents are to be very careful in preventing their Childrens falling into ill Company and industrious iâ— withdrawing them from it if once engag'd He that spareth his Rod hateth hiâ— Son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Prov. 13. 24. Chasten thy Son while there is hope and let not thy Soul spare for his crying Prov. 19. 18. The just Man walketh in his Integrity his Children are blessed after him Prov. 20. 7. Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he wilâ— not depart from it Prov. 22. 6. Foolishness is bound in the Heart oâ— a Child but the Rod of Correction shall drive it far from him Prov. 22. 15. Withhold 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 Prov. 23. 13 14. The Rod and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself bringeth his Mother to Shame Correct thy Son and he shall give thee rest Yea he shall give delight unto thy Soul Prov. 29. 15 17. From these Instructions may Christian Parents know what is the Will of God and how to satisfie those Duties which God has impos'd on them in regard of their Children These Duties are great and on the due discharge of them depends no less than as Solomon says delivering their Childrens Souls from Hell Nature therefore is not to be a Rule to those who have undertaken to be directed by the Will of God To consult Nature then either in the Indulging or Punishing of Children is to forsake the Rule Both are to be regulated as God has prescrib'd CHAP. XXV Of Children to Parents Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give in this Point A. I am come to set a Man at Variance against his Father and the Daughter against her Mother and the Daughter-in-law against her Mother-in-law And a Man's Foes shall be they of his own Houshold He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me Mat. 10. 35. Parents are to be loved honor'd and obey'd in all that is lawful but not in things contrary to the known Will of God He answered and said unto them why do ye also transgress the Commandment of God by your Tradition For God
commanded saying Honor thy Father and Mother And he that curseth Father or Mother let him die the Death But ye say whosoever shall say to his Father or his Mother it is a Gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me and honor not his Father or his Mother he shall be free Thus have ye made the Commandment of God of none Effect by your Tradition Mat. 15. 3. The Precept of God commanding all to Honor Father and Mother is not to be transgressed under the Cover of pretended Piety Such Glosses are a Violence to the Law of God His Mother said unto him Son why hast thou thus dealt with us Behold thy Father and I have sought thee sorrowing And he said unto them how is it that ye sought me Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's Business Luk. 2. 48. God is the first Father and to be obey'd in the first place All that is created must give place to his Will whatever is not consistent with this must yield He said unto another follow me But he said Lord suffer me first to go and bury my Father Jesus said unto him Let the Dead bury their Dead but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God And another also said Lord I will follow thee But let me first go bid them farewel which are at Home at my House And Jesus said unto him no Man having put his Hand to the Plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God Luk. 9. 59. Domestic Duties are to give place to greater And he Jesus went down with them his Parents and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them Luk. 2. A good Example of Obedience And when he came to himself he said I will arise and go to my Father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee Luk. 15. 17. Children sensible of their undue Ways ought to have recourse to their Parents with Confidence and Humility according to the Example of the Prodigal Son When therefore Jesus saw his Mother and the Disciple standing by whom he loved he saith unto his Mother Woman behold thy Son Then saith he to the Disciple behold thy Mother And from that Hour that Disciple took her unto his own Home Jo. 19. 26. Children ought to be mindful of their Parents especially at the Hour of Death with a Recommendation to their best Friends Children obey your Parents in the Lord For this is right Honor thy Father and Mother which is the first Commandment with Promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the Earth Eph. 6. 1. A general Duty of Children to obey and honor their Parents in all that is not Sin With a Blessing annext to it Children obey your Parents in all things For this is well-pleasing unto the Lord Col. 3. 20. If ye endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons For what Son is he whom the Father chasteneth not We have had Fathers of our Flesh which corrected us and we gave them Reverence Shall we not much rather be in Subjection unto the Father of Spirits and live For they verily for a few Days chastened us after their own Pleasure but he for our profit that we might be Partakers of his Holiness Heb. 12. 7 9. Children even when Chastized by Parents after their own Pleasure ought not to lose the Reverence due to them but submit with respect If any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at Home and to requite their Parents For that is good and acceptable before God 1 Tim. 5. 4. An express Duty of Children to be Respectful and Dutiful at Home and by such Arguments of Gratitude to make some acknowledgment of the great Obligation to their Parents This cannot be expected from little Ones who are not capable of these Sentiments and therefore this must be spoke to Children when now grown up and at an Age of giving this Comfort to their Parents Here it cannot be unseasonable to make some Additions out of the Old Testament Honor thy Father and thy Mother That thy Days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Exod. 20. 12. He that smiteth his Father or his Mother shall be surely put to Death Exod. 21. 15. Ye shall fear every Man his Mother and his Father and keep my Sabbaths I am the Lord your God Levit. 19. 3. Every one that curseth his Father or his Mother shall be surely put to Death He hath cursed his Father or his Mother his Blood shall be upon him Levit. 20. 9. Honor thy Father and thy Mother as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee that thy Days may be prolonged and that it may go well with thee in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Deut. 5. 16. And the Levites shall speak and say unto all the Men of Israel with a loud Voice cursed be he that setteth Light by his Father or his Mother And all the People shall say Amen Deut. 27. 14 16. Notwithstanding they the Sons of Eli hearkened not unto the Voice of their Father because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2. 25. Bathsheba therefore went unto King Solomon to speak unto him for Adonijah And the King rose up to meet her and bowed himself unto her and sat down on his Throne and caused a Seat to be set for the King's Mother and she sat on his right Hand 1 Kin. 2. 19. Esther had not yet shewed her Kindred nor her People as Modecai had charged her For Esther did the Commandment of Mordecai like as when she was brought up with him Esth 2. 20. A wise Son maketh a glad Father but a foolish Son is the Heaviness of his Mother Prov. 10. 1. A Fool despiseth his Father's Instruction But he that regardeth Reproof is Prudent Prov. 15. 5. A foolish Son is a Grief to his Father and Bitterness to her that bare him Prov. 17. 25. He that wasteth his Father and chaseth away his Mother is a Son that causeth Shame and bringeth Reproach Cease my Son to hear the Instruction that causeth to err from the Words of Knowledge Prov. 19. 26. Hearken unto thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Prov. 23. 22. Whoso robbeth his Father or his Mother and saith it is no Transgression the same is the Companion of a Destroyer Prov. 28. 24. The Eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagle shall eat it Prov. 30. 17. Jeremiah said unto the House of the Rechabites thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel because ye have obeyed the Commandment of Jonadab your Father and kept all his Precepts and done according unto all that he hath commanded you Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel Jonadab the Son of Rechab shall not want a Man to stand before
the Apostle's account than renouncing Christianity and turning Heathen and yet how common is this among those who esteem themselves Christians The Book of Proverbs describing the vertuous and industrious Woman in her Family I here and some part of it Who can find a vertuous Woman For her Price is far above Rubies The Heart of her Husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil she will do him good and not evil all the Days of her Life She seeketh Wooll and Flax and worketh willingly with her Hands She is like the Merchant's Ship she bringeth her Food from afar she riseth also while it is yet Night and giveth Meat to her Houshold and a Portion to her Maidens She layeth her Hands to the Spindle and her Hands hold the Distaff She stretcheth out her Hand to the Poor yea she reacheth forth her Hands to the Needy She maketh fine Linnen and selleth it and delivereth Girdles unto the Merchant Strength and Honor are her cloathing and she shall rejoice in time to come She openeth her Mouth with Wisdom and in her Tongue is the Law of Kindness She looketh well to the Ways of her Houshold and eateth not the Bread of Idleness Her Children arise up and call her Blessed her Husband also and he praiseth her Favor is deceitful and Beauty is vain But a Woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31. 10. An excellent Copy I wish all would set it before them and endeavor to come as near it as their Circumstances will allow Resolution and Virtue will make many things very Practicable which Sloth and Niceness will not allow to be Possible As to Servants When Jesus was entered into Capernaum there came unto him a Centurion beseeching him and saying Lord my Servant lyeth at Home Sick of the Palsie grievously tormented And Jesus saith unto him I will come and heal him Mat. 8. 5. It is a very commendable Charity in them to be careful of their Servants especially in time of Sickness Servants be Obedient to your Masters with good Will doing Service as to the Lord and not to Men knowing that whatsoever good thing any Man doeth the same shall be receive of the Lord whether he be Bond or Free And ye Masters do the same things unto them forbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of Persons with him Eph. 6. 5 7. Masters give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven Col. 4. 1. I beseech thee for my Son Onesimus which in time past was to thee unprofitable but now profitable to thee and to me whom I have sent again Thou therefore receive him that is mine own Bowels For perhaps he therefore departed for a Season that thou shouldest receive him for ever not now as a Servant but above a Servant a Brother beloved especially to me but how much more unto thee both in the Flesh and in the Lord. If thou count me therefore a Partner receive him as my self If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee Ought put that on mine Account I Paul have written it with mine own Hand I will repay it Phil. 10. See how S. Paul shews favor to a poor Servant and pleads for him Behold the Hire of the Labourers which have reaped down your Fields which is of you kept back by Fraud crieth and the Cries of them which have reaped are entred into the Ears of the Lord of Sabbath Jam. 5. 4. I add something from the Old Testament The Hebrew Servant which thou hast brought unto us come in unto me to mock me Gen. 39. 17. This was a false Accusation of Potipher 's Wife and ought to be a Caution against laying Faults upon Servants which are not theirs They did set over them Task-masters to afflict them with their Burthens And the Egyptians made the Children of Israel to serve with Rigor And they made their Lives bitter with hard Bondage Exod. 1. 11 13. To insult over Servants to overcharge them with Labor to give them a perpetual Uneasiness is not a Christian but the Egyptian Method Thus saith the Lord God of Israel let my People go that they may hold a Feast unto me in the Wilderness Exod. 5. 1. To hinder Servants from the Worship of God and to think all that time lost which for this end is taken from their Work is to follow Pharaoh 's Copy The Wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all Night until the Morning Lev. 19. 13. Six Days shalt thou Labour and do all thy Work But the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not do any Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter nor thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thine Ox nor thine Ass nor any of thy Cattle nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates that thy Man-servant and thy Maid-servant may rest as well thou Deut. 5. 13. To keep the Sabbath is the Duty of Servants as well as Masters Thou shalt not oppress an hired Servant that is Poor and Needy whether he be of thy Brethren or of thy Strangers that are in thy Land within thy Gates At this Day thou shalt give him his Hire neither shall the Sun go down upon it for he is Poor and setteth his Heart upon it lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be Sin unto thee Deut. 24. 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 Did not he that made me in the Womb make him And did not one fashion us in the Womb Job 31. 13. The just Complaints of Servants to be heard with Patience and Justice to be done them Here are Instructions for all that have the Care of Families and Servants enough to let them see what God expects from them Those who are Solicitous to please God will endeavor to make these their Rule and this is the Duty of all who profess themselves Christians But to follow the Inclinations of Nature and to govern by Passion in cases where God has manifested his Will is not the part of a Disciple of Christ CHAP. XXVIII Of Servants Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Christians of this State A. It speaks directly to them and in such a manner that it is their great Concern to know and remember it Who then is a faithful and wise Servant whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them Meat in due Season Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Verily I say unto you that he shall make him Ruler over all his Goods But and if that evil Servant shall say in his Heart My Lord delayeth his Coming and shall begin to smite his Fellow-servants and to eat and drink
sent Widows away empty and the Arms of the Fatherless have been broken Therefore Snares are round about thee and sudden Fear troubleth thee Job 22. 5. Some remove the Land-marks They violently take away Flocks and feed thereof They drive away the Ass of the Fatherless they take the Widows Ox for a Pledge They turn the Needy out of the Way The Poor of the Earth hide themselves together They pluck the Fatherless from the Breast and take a Pledge of the Poor They are of those that rebel against the Light they know not the Paths thereof Job 24. 2. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich when the Glory of his House is encreased For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away His Glory shall not descend after him Tho' whilst he lived he blessed his Soul And Men will praise thee when thou doest well to thy self He shall go to the Generation of his Fathers they shall never see Light Man that is in Honor and understandeth not is like the Beast that perish Psal 49. 16. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever he shall take thee away and pluck thee out of thy dwelling-place and root thee out of the Land of the Living The Righteous also shall see and fear and shall laugh at him Lo this is the Man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his Riches and strengthened himself in his Wickedness Psal 52. 5. Trust not in Oppression and become not vain in Robbery If Riches increase set not your Heart upon them Psal 62. 10. Wealth gottten by Vanity shall be diminished but he that gathereth by Labor shall encrease Prov. 13. 11. He that oppresseth the Poor reproacheth his Maker But he that honoreth him hath Mercy on the Poor Prov. 14. 31. Whoso stoppeth his Ears at the Cry of the Poor he also shall cry himself but shall not be heard Prov. 31. 13. Remove not the Old Land-mark and enter not into the Fields of the Fatherless For their Redeemer is mighty he shall plead their Cause with thee Prov. 23. 10. He that by Vsury and unjust Gain encreaseth his Substance he shall gather it for him that will pity the Poor Prov. 28. 8. He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil Eye and considereth not that Poverty shall come upon him v. 22. Wo unto them that join House to House that lay Field to Field till there be no place that they may be placed alone in the midst of the Earth Isa 5. 8. I the Lord love Judgment I hate Robbery for Burnt-offering Isa 61. 8. They abhor him that speaketh uprightly Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor and ye take from him Burthens of Wheat ye have built Houses of hewn Stones but ye shall not dwell in them For I know your manifold Transgressions and your mighty Sins they afflict the just they take a Bribe and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their Right Amos 5. 10. Wo to them that devise Iniquity and work Evil upon their Beds when the Morning is light they practice it because it is the Power of their Hand And they covet Fields and take them by Violence and Houses and take them away so they oppress a Man and his House even a Man and his Heritage Therefore thus saith the Lord Behold against this Family do I devise an Evil from which ye shall not remove your Necks Mic. 2. 1. Whoever gives ear to what the Spirit of God here speaks must be convinced First That the Love of Riches is a great Obstacle to Salvation 2dly That 't is an Abuse of Plenty to prostitute it in the Service of our own Corruption in gratifying Pride Inclination and Appetite 3dly That the desire of growing rich is a great Snare attended with many violent and deceitful Temptations 4thly That to get Riches by Fraud Oppression or any kind of Injustice highly provokes the Anger of God Lastly That to take the Advantage of Riches for doing wrong to the Poor or to any Neighbor is a Crime which obliges God to be the just Revenger of it If these Truths be evident then the Rich must see what they are to be afraid of and avoid And those who follow not this Rule let them put their Hands upon their Consciences and examin Whether they in earnest believe God and fear him §. II. Of the good use of Riches or of Alms-giving Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain Mercy Mat. 5. 7. When thou doest Alms let not thy left Hand know what thy right Hand doeth that thine Alms may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly Mat. 6. 3. Lay not up for your selves Treasures upon Earth where Moth and Rust doth corrupt and where Thieves break through and steal But lay up for your selves Treasures in Heaven where neither Moth nor Rust doth corrupt and where Thieves do not break through nor steal For where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also Mat. 6. 19. Then shall the King say unto them on his right Hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World For I was an hungred and ye gave me Meat I was thirsty and ye gave me Drink I was a Stranger and ye took me in Verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me Mat. 25. 34. Whosoever shall give you a Cup of Water to drink in my Name because ye belong to Christ verily I say unto you he shall not lose his Reward Mar. 9. 41. Sell that you have and give Alms provide your selves Bags which wax not old a Treasure in the Heavens that faileth not where no Thief approacheth neither Moth corrupteth For where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also Luke 12. 33. When thou makest a Dinner or a Supper call not thy Friends nor thy Brethren neither thy Kinsmen nor thy rich Neighbors lest they also bid thee again and a Recompence be made thee But when thou makest a Feast call the Poor the Maimed the Lame the Blind and thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompence thee for thou shalt be recompenced at the Resurrection of the Just Luke 14. 12. Verily I say unto you there is no Man that hath left House or Parents or Brethren or Wife or Children for the Kingdom of God's sake who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and in the World to come Life everlasting Luk. 18. 29. Give Alms of such things as you have and behold all things are clean unto you Luke 11. 41. Make to your selves Friends of the Mammon of Vnrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting Habitations He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much If therefore ye have
they inform thee according to the Sentence of the Law which they shall teach thee and according to the Judgment which they shall tell thee thou shalt do thou shalt not decline from the Sentence which they shall shew thee to the Right Hand nor to the Left And the Man that will do presumptuously and will not hearken unto the Priest that standeth to Minister there before the Lord thy God or unto the Judge even that Man shall die And thou shalt put away the evil from Israel And all the people shall hear and fear and do no more presumptuously Deut. 17. 9. How strict is the Discipline enjoin'd by God in Common Cases How severe the Punishment of Disobedience And Samuel saith Hath the Lord as great delight in Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the Voice of the Lord Behold to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken than the Fat of Rams For rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft and stubbornness is as Iniquity and Idolatry Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord he hath also rejected thee from being King 1 Sam. 15. 22. Obedience to the Command of God the best Sacrifice Sacrifice without Obedience is Rebellion and Idolatry The Priest's lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth For he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2. 7. The Minister of God is to deliver the Law of God The New Law Then spake Jesus to the Multitude and to his Disciples saying The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses Seat All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that observe and do but do not ye after their Works For they say and do not Mat. 23. 1. Those who are in Authority are to be obey'd tho' they give not good Example These twelve Jesus sent forth as ye go preach saying The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Provide neither Gold nor Silver For the workman is worthy of his meat And whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your words When ye depart out of that House or City shake off the dust of your feet Verily I say unto you It shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the Day of Judgment than for that City Mat. 10. 5 9 14. Christ gives Authority to teach The Flock is to feed their Pastors The Obligation of hearing those whom Christ has put over the Flock is from the Command of Christ How strict this obligation is may be seen in the rigor of their punishment who refuse to hear them He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Mat. 10. 40. How great encouragement to hear those whom Christ has appointed to teach the Flock To receive them to submit to them is to receive and submit to God If he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the Church But if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man and a Publican Verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven And whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven Mat. 18. 17. See what is the Authority of the Church in common cases Not to Submit to her Determination is the Crime of a Heathen of one who believes not in God And is not this Authority confirm'd while Heaven is declar'd to join with her in the Sentence she pronounces There can be no Appeal then from the Church to God And while both concur one cannot be question'd without arraigning the other Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the World Amen Mat. 28. 18. The Command of Hearing those whom Christ has made the Pastors of his Flock is to all Nations But What need of a Command when the Promise of a Divine Assistance always attending them to the end of the World is obligation enough upon all those who desire to be taught the Truth And he said unto them Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Mar. 16. 15. Christ sends to the whole World and commands the whole World to believe those whom he sends to teach them What must their Authority and Commission be when Damnation is the Punishment of such as refuse to believe He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me And he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luk. 10. 16. What more powerful Argument could Christ use for obliging the World to hear those whom he has sent In them God is heard or despis'd Pastoral Authority and Truth is originally in God it is communicated to the Son by the Mission of the Father to the Apostles by the Mission of the Son to the following Pastors by their Succession to the Apostles I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Jo. 14. 16. Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth Jo. 16. 13. Great Mercy of God to the Flock to deliver them from all Uncertainty of Truth by appointing the Spirit of Truth to teach them in their Pastors Verily verily I say unto you He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me And he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Jo. 13. 20. They whom Christ sends are associated in his Mission being deputed by him their Authority is his How terrible their mistake in rejecting Jesus Christ when they think they reject nothing but Man No true Mission but what was given by Jesus Christ to his Apostles and by a Succession from them is communicated to others If any other be pretended it is Extraordinary and ought to be authoriz'd by Miracle to give it Credit Then said Jesus to them again Peace be unto you as my Father hath sent me even so send I you And when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose soever Sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever Sins ye retain they are retained Jo. 20. 21. What Authority in this Mission As my Father hath sent me even so send I you The Holy Ghost being Communicated Man is only the Minister and the Power is of God Can such Authority such Power be question'd by Man Now send Men to Joppa and call for one Simon whose Sirname is Peter he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do Act. 10. 5. An Angel from Heaven is sent to Cornelius to direct him to Peter tho' God inspires
need of repeating it Let all then who engage in this State remember the Charge here given and distinguish themselves from Heathens by endeavoring to be punctual in it The State is what God has ordain'd for the Propagation of Mankind and filling up the Number of the Elect. Thus it becomes sanctified to the Faithful and ought to be undertaken not in the Spirit of Brutes or of the World but in the Fear of God and the Spirit of true Holiness so as to hope for the Blessing of a manifold Grace such as may be necessary for satisfying all the Obligations belonging to their State For a help in this I wish they would often read what the Word of God here speaks to them that so being frequently reminded of their Duty they may be solicitous in complying with it In undertaking this State they have undertaken these Obligations and if they are not careful in satisfying them they are faithless and unjust and what then will it avail them to be just in other Duties if they are unjust in these which are annext to their State Custom may seem to lessen the Guilt but this is a Snare for such as are willing to be deceiv'd for certainly it cannot be a Lessening but an Aggravation of Sin to live always in it CHAP. XXIII Of Widows Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to this State A. It speaks very particularly of it There was one Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser she was of a great age and had lived with an Husband seven Years from her Virginity And she was a Widow of about fourscore and four Years which departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2. 36. I say to the Vnmarried and Widows 〈…〉 for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 8 17. The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and in Spirit but she that is married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own Profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth but if her Husband be dead she is at liberty to be married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment and I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 34 39. Honor Widows that are Widows indeed But if any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at home and to requite their Parents for that is good and acceptable before God Now she that is a Widow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in Supplications and Prayers night and day But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth And these things give in charge that they may be blameless But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own House he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Let not a Widow be taken into the number under Threescore Years old having been the Wife of one Man well reported of for good Works if she have brought up Children if she have lodged Strangers if she have washed the Saints Feet if she have relieved the Afflicted if she have diligently followed every good Work But the younger Widows refuse for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ they will marry having Damnation because they have cast off their first Faith And withal they learn to be idle wandering about from House to House and not only idle but Tattlers also and Busie-bodies speaking things which they ought not I will therefore that the younger Women marry bear Children guide the House give none Occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully for some are already turned aside after Satan If any Man or Woman that believeth have Widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are Widows indeed 1 Tim. 5. 3. Thus speaks the Rule to Persons of this State plainly shewing what are the Advantages to be made of it and what the Exercises by which they may recommend themselves to the Favor of Heaven Such then as desire the Comforts of his Protection who reckons Widows a particular part of his Care may here see how they may be of this number since they have him for their Informer who offers his Help Thus then they may be Happy and even Gainers by their Loss in the tender Offers of a Heavenly Father But if they look not for this Privilege but still have their Hearts full of the World and still follow its Ways they have the Name of Widows but are not Widows indeed they seek Earthly Comforts and such they may have CHAP. XXIV Of Parents Q. WHAT Direction do's the Gospel give to Parents A. He that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Matth. 10. 37. Their Love then ought to be prudent and moderate Then came to him the Mother of Zebedee's Children with her Sons worshipping him and desiring a certain thing of him And he said unto her What wilt thou She saith unto him Grant that thâ—se my two Sons may sit the one on thy Right Hand and the other on the Left in thy Kingdom But Jesus answered and said Ye know not what ye ask Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of Mat. 20. 20. Ambition is to be avoided in the disposing of Children and in seeking Preferment for them Due Care is to be us'd in teaching them to do the Will of God and embrace his Appointments When the Days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished they brought him the Infant Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord Luke 1. 22. A good Practice of Parents to offer their Children daily to God for obtaining his Grace and Protection upon them And they sought him among their Kinsfolk and Acquaintance And when they found him not they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking him Luke 2. 44. It is the Parents Care to seek their Children and to omit no Industry in regaining them when they are lost How often is it necessary to follow them amongst their Relations and Acquaintance and to observe their ways He arose and came to his Father But when he was yet a great way off his Father saw him and had Compassion and ran and fell on his Neck and kissed him And the Son said unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and in thy