own bodie but the wife 5. Defraud not one another vnlesse it be by consent for a time that ye may applie your selues to fasting praier come together againe least Sathan tēpt you for your incontinencie It is not good for man to be alone Genes 2. Here also must be considered the parts of this dutie first due benevolence which is the honorable possession of their vessels in holinesse one towards another for avoiding of sin bringing forth a seede of God and the honest and proper delight which ought to bee betweene the man and the wife Hebr. 13.4 Mariage is honorable among all men and the bed vndefiled but whoremongers and adulterers God shall condemne Mala. 2.14 And ye say wherefore Because the Lord hath witnessed between thee and the wife of thy youth against whome thou dost vnfaithfully whereas she is thy companion and joyned in covenant vnto thee Esa 62.7 As when a young man marieth a virgin when thy children doe marie wiues as in the joy I say of the bridegrome with the bride so shall the Lord rejoice with thee Genes 26.8 And it came to passe when they had bene there many daies that Abimileck king of the Philistims looked by the window and saw that behold Isaak played with Rebekka his wife wherfore calling Isaak he said to him Surely behold she is thy wife Pro. 5.18 Let thy fountaine bee blessed and rejoice with the wife of thy youth 19. Let her be as the loving Hind and pleasant wilde goate let her breastes satisfie thee at all times and wander in her loue continuallie 20 And wherefore shouldest thou wander my son with a strange woman or imbrace the bosome of a stranger Contrarie to this is the abuse of their libertie between themselues communicating that which is proper to the husband to other in whoring dancing vncomely familiaritie with other The second is their mutual helpe or labour one towards another in word deed and communicating of good things for the mutual norishing one of another Ephes 5.29 For no man ever hated his owne flesh but nourisheth cherisheth it as Christ also doth the Church Pro. 31.28 Her children do rise and call her blessed her husbād also doth praise her saying Many women haue done stoutly but thou exceedest them all And these are the common duties of one towards another the proper do follow They are duties one of them in severall to another They are of the Husband to the wife Wife to the husband Ephes 5.33 But also particularly everie one so loue his wife as himselfe and let the wife feare her husband The proper duties of the husbād are A proper care for his wife The applying of the generall dutie of all men towards their wiues 1. Pet. 3.7 Likewise let men dwell together with them giving honor vnto the womans vessel as vnto the weaker seeing that ye are heires together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered The proper care for the wife is to cover her that is to provide all thinges meete for a mate so neerely joyned in full blessing to him and thus according to their condition to giue honour to her as the fittest for him in heauen in earth with a patient covering or bearing of her infirmities 1. Pet. 3.7 Exod. 21. If hee shall take another vnto him let him not diminish her foode her cloathing and benevolence due vnto her Gene. 30.16 And vnto Sarah he said Behold I haue given a thousand Cicles of silver vnto thy brother behold he is the covering of thine eies amongst all that are with thee Let it be knowen amongst all and be thou instructed Ruth 3.9 Vnto whom he said who art thou which said I am Ruth thy handmaid that thou maist spreade thy wing over thine handmaid because thou art the kinsman Esa 3 28. In that day shall seven women take hold of one man saying We will eate our owne meate and put on our owne cloathes onely that wee may be called by thy name Take away our reproch The applying of the general dutie of al men in regard of care towards his wife is when in a special maner the image of Gods glorie and wisdome doth shine in the government of the husband towards his wife the glorie which God hath in the same shineth in the honor and glory which the man in al thinges taketh from the wife 1. Cor. 11.3 I wil that you knowe that Christ is the heade of every man and the man the womans head God is Christs head 7. For the man ought not to cover his head because he is the image glory of God but the woman is the glorie of the man 8. For the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man c. Contrary to this is when men are vndiscreet childish fond lose their authoritie or keepe it not but also their hardnesse bitternes want of wisdom in framing them to perfection in obedience The proper duties of the wife are Recōpence of her husbands care The applying of that general duty of al womē in regard of men in peculiar maner to him which is called to haue him that covering of her eies before al men The recompence of the husbands care is by obeying him in all good things and by her advise sweet counsel labor and travell to be a cōfort and help vnto him Pro. 31.11 The soul of her husband doth trust her and the spoiles do not faile 12. She doth him good and not evil all the daies of her life 13. She seeketh woolle or flax maketh it for the pleasure of her husband 14. She is like to the marchants ships she bringeth meat from far 17. Shee girdeth her loines with strength confirmeth her armes She tasting her merchandize to bee good her candle is not put out by night She putteth her handes to the wharue and her maides do hold the spindle The labor is double Either in matters of this life or Christian holines Pro. 31.26 She openeth her mouth wisely and the doctrine of mercie sitteth on her tongue 28. She beholdeth the waies of her family and eateth not the bread of slothfulnes The matters of this life are her labour In regard of her family And her owne worke For the family she must ouersee all the waies of them and both set them worke and taske also giue them their meat and other necessaries in due season Pro. 31.15 And rising whilest it is yet night she giveth food to her house and a taske to her maides 16. She considereth a field and taketh it of the fruites of her hands she planteth a vineyard 17. Shee girdeth her loynes with strength confirmeth her armes 21. She is not afraid of her houshold because of the snow for al her houshold is clothed with double cloakes Her own worke is to labour diligentlie early and late in something of profite for the familie Pro. 31.13.14.15.17.19.22 Her labour for Christian holines is to see all duties
CERTAIN GODLY AND LEARned treatises Written by that worthie Minister of Christe M. DVDLEY FENNER for the behoofe and edification of al those that desire to grovv and increase in true Godlines THE TITLES WHEREof are set downe in the Page following EDINBVRGH Printed by Robert Walde-graue Printer to the Kings Maiestie 1592. Cum Priuilegio Regali THE CONTENTS OF this Booke 1 The Order of Houshold gouernment described out of the word of God Fol. 1 2 An Interpretation vpon the Lords praier Fol. 63 3 A briefe Interpretatation vpon the Epistle to Philemon Fol. 71 4 A short and plaine Table orderlie disposing the principles of Religion out of the first Table of the Law 81 5 A Treatise of the whole doctrine of the Sacraments plainlie and fully set down and declared out of the worde of God Fol. 118 6 A short and profitable Treatise of Lawfull and vnlawfull Recreations and the right vse and abuse of those that are lawfull Fol. 122 TO THE RIGHT HONOrable noble and potent Lorde IAMES Lord LINDSAY of the Byres Grace and Peace in Christ Iesus IT were to bee wished Right Honourable that as sinne multiplieth it selfe so the knowledge and true feare of God should euerie way be encreased among men For thereby it would come to passe by the blessing of God that fewer should tread the path of destruction than alas doe now And although it lieth not in man to stoppe the course and to damme vppe the streames of iniquitie for this must be perfourmed by the Lords owne arme or els all mens indeuours are but vaine yet is it the part of all those that feare God to doe what they may for the effecting of this work Wherein albeit the attempts of the men of God haue not alwaies the effectes which they desired yet their labours both in preaching and writing haue not bene destitute of their fruite in measure greater or smaller as the Lord thought it meet The Lord in this latter age hath raised vp diuers and excellent men for this purpose and he hath greatlie magnified his mercies towards vs in this Iland and vs in the enioying of his goodnes if we can make a right vse thereof But because wee were not worthie of them therefore he hath manie times in the middest of their yeares yea and some in the very spring and beginning of their strength to warne vs what he is likely to doe with the the rest if wee be not more thankfull Amongst the number of those whome in the Lords great mercies wee inioyed and lost for our vnthankfulnesse M. DVDLEY FENNER was one whome the Church of God in this age could haue hardliest spared he ended his testimonie in this life being vnder thirtie yeares of age but yet of that growth in the knowledge of God that fewe if euer anie of his yeares haue left behind them the like monuments of great knowledge and learning in the true and sound feare of God as hee hath done His works both in Latine and English doe beare witnesse hereof And it is not meet that I should enter into anie farther commendations of him although both in regard of the outward fauour of God towards him as being born an heire of great possessions especiallie in consideration of his spirituall vnderstanding in the wayes of the Lord his great learning his conflicts with the aduersaries of God his constancie and patient suffering for the trueth there are manie thinges that make his name blessed among the Sainctes Some Treatises of his being printed at sundrie times and now rare to be gotten I haue gathered together and presumed to dedicate vnto your Lordshippe not doubting but in regard both of the Authour who being a faithfull Minister of Iesus Christ I know you will esteem though vnknowne vnto you and especiallie in respecte of the notable handling of the trueth which they containe you will accept them as being not vnbeseeming your Lordship that they were published vnder your name And if I shuld say both in regard of the worke it selfe and also the Authour that it were no small honour vnto a Christian Noble-man that they come foorth vnder his Patronage I think I should not speak amisse That one treatise of houshold gouernment doth so commend the whole worke vnto a Christian Maister of a Familie as who so doth well reade and consider it must needs thinke whatsoeuer hath proceeded out of the same fornace doth deserue to be highlie accounted of And happie were it for all families that they were gouerned according to the prescription set downe in this Treatise Your Lordship I trust will make that profite hereof among the rest hereunto adioyned namelie that it will be a confirmation vnto you in that wherein your familie is alreadie reformed and a direction for that perfecting of the gouernment thereof whollie according vnto the word And to this purpose it is that I haue dedicated this and the rest vnto your Honour Touching my selfe I will say no more but as I desire to shew my selfe profitable in my vocation vnto the whole Church of God in generall so I would willingly gratifie your Honour in particular And so accept this as a testimony of my good wil towards your Lordship whome I vnderstand and knowe in some measure to beare no small affection and good wil vnto the trueth and all those that professe the same Thus I commend you to God to the worde of his grace that is able to builde you vp further and giue you an inheritance among them which are sanctified Edinburgh the 24. of December 1591. Your H. to commande in the Lord R. W. THE ORDER OF HOVSholde methodicallie described out of the word of God with the contrarie abuses found in the world THE order of an houshold called oeconomia it is an order for the governmēt of an houshold according to the word of God 1. Tim. 4. Which governeth his house well and excellently Psal 10.1 I will walke in the perfect way in the vprightnes of my soule in the middest of mine house Which declareth there is a perfect way which commeth from God onely as all perfection doth wherein is required the vprightnes of ones soule whereof he setteth downe some part afterward Prou. 24 3.4 By wisedome the house is built and established by vnderstanding and by knowledge the roomes shalbe filled with all precious and plesant substance Nowe the wisedome meant in this book is that which is allowed of Gods worde especiallie when he joyned such blessing vnto it The houshold order hath 2. parts The first of those which concerne the governours of the familie The secōd of those which are gouerned in the same 1. Tim. 5.8 If one care not for his owne especiallie those of his house which sheweth an especiall rule of mutual duetie betwen these two Also the wisdome of the holie Ghost in setting down mutuall dueties vnto them Prou. 31. Ephe. 6. 2. Honor thy father thy Mother which is the first commandement with promise
which hearkeneth not vnto the voice of his father nor to the voice of his mother although they haue chastised him yet he hearkeneth not vnto them 19. At length his father and his mother taking him let them bring him to the Elders of their Cittie and to the gate of their place 20. And let them say vnto the elders of their Cittie This our sonne is stubburne and rebellious he hearkeneth not vnto our voice hee is a riotous person and a drunkard 21. Then lette all the Citizens overwhelme him with stones that he may die and take away that evill out of the middest of thee that al the Israelites may heare and feare Psal 101.7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within mine house he that speaketh lies shall not be established before mine eies And hitherto of the first sort of duties concerning Christian holinesse in the familie The other concerning the thinges of this life is convenientlie to provide the necessarie things of this life as that they haue convenient clothing food rest if on certain causes need be recreatiō 1. Tim. 5.8 But if any mā provide not for his especially those of his house he hath denied his faith and is worse than an infidell Pro. 31.21 She feareth not for her familie because of the snow for all her family is cloathed with double cloakes Pro. 12.9 The juste man regardeth the life of his beast but the cōpassions of the wicked are the compassions of the cruell And then much more the maister must care for the servantes that they may haue even that refreshing and ease which is meete And thus much for the generall duties and of their speciall duties toward those which shal be continually or ordinarily vnder their governmēt in the family Now followeth the other which is the entertainment of straungers whose property is the loue of entertaining of guestes 1. Tim. 3.2 Therfore a Bishop must be vnreprooueable the husbande of one wife watching sober modest given to hospitalitie c. Heb. 13.2 Bee not vnmindefull of entertaining guestes for hereby certain vnawares haue entertained Angelles 1. Pet. Be harberous one towards another without grudging The first duty required of this worke is a liberall and chearful ministring of protection al things which serue for the necessity comfort of this life as is meete for the abilitie of them which receiue and the condition of those who are received Gen. 18.2 For when lifting vp his eies he looked behold three men stood before him whome whilest he saw hee runneth to meete them from the doore of the Tent and bowed himselfe to the earth And he said My Lorde If now I haue found favour in thine eies passe not I pray thee from thy servāt 4 Let there now bee taken a litle water wash your feet fit downe vnder this tree 5 In the meane time I will take and bring a morsell of bread and refresh your heart afterward ye shall go forwarde seeing for this cause you passe by your servant which said Do so as thou hast spoken 6 Therfore Abraham going hastily into the tent vnto Sara said Make readie at once three measures of corne Take fine meale knead it make cakes baked vnder the ashes 7 But Abraham running to the heard tooke a sucking calfe tender and good and gaue it to a servant which made hast to prepare it 8 Therfore taking butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared he set them before them who did eat he standing by thē vnder the same tree Gen. 19.1 And those two Angels comming vnto Sodome in the evening Lot sat at the gate of Sodom whom when Lot saw he rising went to meet them bowed himselfe with his face to the ground 2 And he said Behold now my Lords turn I pray you into the hous of your servant and wash your feete after rising in the morning ye shall go your way Which said Not so we pray thee for we can lodge all night in the streets 3 But when he was instant vpon them exceedinglie they turning vnto him entred into his house which made thē a banquet and did bake vnleavened breade and they did eate 1. Tim 5.10 Being decked with a fit testimonie in good woorks if she haue brought vp her children if she haue bene harberous if she haue washed the Saints feet if she haue succoured the afflicted if shee haue followed everie good woorke diligentlie The other is as occasion serveth mutuallie to edifie one another by calling to minde Gods workes mutual instructions and exhortations Also by bringing them to the publik seruice of God and causing them to keep with them the Sabboth as appeareth by the example aboue Rom. 1.10 Alwaies in my praiers beseeching that if by any means at length a prosperous iourney by the wil of God might be giuen me to come vnto you 11. For I long to see you that I might impart to you a spirituall gift that you may be established Contrarie to this is nigardlines such as was in Nabal in receiving of guests Also suffring God to be dishonored his word or Sabboth neglected or any such abuse to be cōmited by their guests and not labor by good means to amend them or remoue them from the familie And hitherto of the chiefe of the family and their duties as are generall to all Now for the most part the chief of the familie are maried folke and so in common the governours of the house They are called maried folkes because of the bande of mariage Mariage is that joyning of one man one woman together by the covenāt of God that they may be one flesh vntill they end their life Gen. 2.24 Therefore shall man leaue his father his mother and cleaue to his wife and they shal be one flesh Levit. 18.18 Take not one woman vnto another to vexe her by vncovering the shame of her that is maried vppon this in her life Pro. 2.17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth and forgetteth the covenant of her God Malach. 2.14 But you say Wherefore Because the Lord hath witnessed between thee and the wife of thy youth against whom thou doest vnfaithfully yet she is thy companion wife covenanted vnto thee 1. Cor. 7.30 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth but if her husband be dead she is free to marie vnto whom shee will onely in the Lord. Rom. 7.1 Know ye not brethren for I speak to them that knowe the law that the law doth beare rule over a man as long as hee liveth 2. For the woman being subject vnto the man being aliue is boūd by the law but if her husbād be dead she is delivered frō the law of the man 3. Therefore whilest the man liveth she shall be called an adultresse if she becom another mans but if her husband be dead she is free from the law that she is not an adulteresse thogh she become another mans To be one
be in thy remembrance which cursed me with a most bitter curse what day I went to Machananijm who discending to meet me to Iordan I haue sworne vnto him by the Lord saying I wil not slay thee with the sword 9. But now discharge not him being guilty seeing thou art a wise man but know what thou shalt doe vnto him that thou maist bring down his white head vnto the graue with bloud 10. After David slept with his fathers and was buried in the citie of David Gene. 49.30 Then he commanded charged them saying When I shal be gathered to my people burie me with my fathers in the caue which is in the field of Hephron the Hittite Hitherto of the firste parte of housholders which concerneth the government of the same by the superiors in it Now followeth the duty of the inferiours The inferiours are those which are vnder the rest in the houshold are called of Peter those of the houshold or houshold fellowes Their duties are towards The housholde governours Or others Tit. 1.6 If any be vnreprooueable the husband of one wife hauing faithful children which are not slandered of riot neither are disobedient Toward the houshold governors to Be helpful to them in outward behaviour Be in subjection and obedience Luk. 2.51 Then he went downe with them came to Nazareth and was subiect to them The first is by outward behaviour to acknowledge their authority such as shal be prescribed vnto them as of cap legge maner of speaking Contrary to this is vnmanerlines answering again giving cutted answers c. 1. Tim. 6.2 And they which haue beleeving maisters let them nor dispise thē because they are brethrē but rather doe service because they are faithfull and beloved and partakers of the benefite Tit. 2.9 Let servāts be subject to their maisters in all things not answering again 10. Neither pickers but that they shew all faithfulnes that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things 1. Pet. 2.18 Servants be subject to your maisters with all feare not only to the good curteous but also to the froward The second duty of obedience is in all commandements cōcernig the aforenamed duties of the superiors towards them willingly to perfourme them and to submit themselues to rebukes to admonitions corrections such like with meeknes Pro. 4.1 Heare ô children the instruction of the father and giue eare to learn vnderstanding 2. For I giue vnto you good discipline forsake not my doctrine 20. My son attend vnto my words and incline thine eare to my speach Nomb. 12.14 And the Lorde spake vnto Moses If her father had spit in her face shuld she not haue bene ashamed 7. daies The dutie to be helpfull is by their example and perswasions one to another and by revealing things which by admonition wil not be amended to be helpful to the Superiours in the former duties Contrary to this is evill example evill perswasions hiding things which ought to be revealed Gen. 37.2 Ioseph being 17. year old fed the flocke with his brethren for hee was a child with the sonnes of Bilhah and with the sonnes of Zilpah the wiues of their father and he brought vnto his father their evill reporte Gen. 27.44 And when it had bene tolde vnto Ribkah all the wordes of Hesau her eldest son she sending called Iacob her youngest sonne and said vnto him c. The duties towards others is Amongst themselues Towards other besides thēselues Amongst themselues that with peace and quietnesse they haue their mutuall equalitie beare one with another and help one another as far as is lawfull Contrarie to which is vnquiet mindes pride jarres lifting vp aboue others not keping the place or difference made by the chiefe of the familie Towards others is that they so order themselues towards al as they are taught out of the commandements and towards guests strangers rich and poore high and low as they bee taught out of the fift cōmandement And thus of the common duties of all inferiors of the family and this is prooved by the commaundements and sentences going before Geness 45.24 And letting his brethren goe he saide vnto thē be not mooved or stirred one against another in the way Inferiors in the family are Children Servantes Childrens dutie is from their beginning to their ending to be subject obedient and helpfull to their parents Contrarie to this is the rejecting of these duties at some yeares Luke 2.51 And he descended with them and came to Nazereth and was subject to them Ioh. 19.26 When Iesus therfore saw his mother and the Disciple standing whom he loved he said vnto his mother Woman behold thy son 1. King 2.19 And when Bathshebah came vnto the king that she might speake vnto him for Adonijah the King rose to meet her and bowed himselfe to her sitting in his throne he commaunded a throne to be placed for the mother of the king which sate at his right hand Gen. 47.29 And whē the daies of Israel drew nigh that he shuld die he sent for his sonne Ioseph and saide vnto him If now I haue found favour in thine eies put I pray thee thine hand vnder my thigh exercise this kindnes faith towards me bury me not in Aegypt but when I shall rest with my fathers carie me out of Aegypt and burie me in their sepulchre Which said I will doe according to thy word Gen. 49.29 After he willed and commanded them saying When I shall be gathered to my people burie mee with my fathers in that caue which is in the fielde of Hephron the Hittite 30. In that caue which is in the field of Macpela which is on the other side of Mamre in the land of Canaan which Abraham bought with the fielde of Hephron the Hittite for a possession to burie in The proper or especiall partes of this dutie is in their proper Obedience Recompence which they must make The proper obediēce is that which springeth from a cheerfull naturall continuall child-like loue and reverence Contrarie to this is disobedience vnnaturall behaviours or affections c. 2. Tim. 3.2 For men shall bee lovers of themselues covetous boasters proud evill speakers disobedient to parents vnthankfull prophane Collos 3.20 Children harken vnto your parēts in al things for this is acceptable vnto the Lord. Ephe. 6.1 Children giue eare vnto your parentes in the Lord for that is just This obedience must shewe it self especiallie in being governed by them in the matter of calling mariage according to the rules prescribed in the word of God all such matters of waight and moment Chiefly vntill by the fathers authority and consent more full power be geven to their childrē because of their yeers and discretion Nomb. 30.4 When a woman hath vowed a vow vnto the Lord or bound her self by a bond at her fathers hous in her youth 5. If when her father heareth her vowe or the bond wherewith she hath bound her selfe and