due And this loue is a true and sincere affection truely setled in the heart of the Parent without any outward respects and therefore when God will expresse his loue towards any he saith he will bee his Father As hee spoke to Dauid concerning Salomon 2. Sam. 7.14 I will be his Father and hee shall be my son The Apostle to testifie his kind affection and great care hee had ouer the Thessalonians 1. Thes 2.11 Psal 103.13 saith Hee exhorteth them as a Father his children the Prophet Dauid saith As a Father hath compassion of his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him And God himselfe assuring his people of his Fatherly loue telleth them that his kindnesse to them shall be more certaine Es 49.15 then the mothers to the sonne of her wombe Q. This duty is of all men euen of such as know not God so performed to children that they who are wanting therein are condemned as most vnnaturall A. It is true yet would it bee more sincerely performed if men would from the heart acknowledge that their children are a gift of God as Iacob said to Esau Gen. 33.5 They are the children whom God of his grace hath giuen thy seruant And Ioseph to his father Gen. 48.9 They are the childrē that God hath giuen me Psal 127.3 Behold saith Dauid Children are the inheritance of the Lord and the fruit of the wombe his reward If this were considered as it ought fathers would not set so little by so precious a gift from the Lord as children are suffering them to run on in all lewdnesse but would in a Christian and true fatherly care séeke to prepare their children to the Lords seruice in some holy calling and not to liue in idlenesse Q. What other duty owe Parents to their children all their life long A. To offer vp to God the sacrifice of prayer for them This office they must performe alwaies in their childhood in their riper age yea so long as they liue They must bee of that mind concerning their children that Samuel was of concerning the Israelites God forbid saith he that I should sin against the Lord 1. Sam. 12 23. cease praying for you When Iaacob was to part from his father and to goe to his Vnkle Bethuel Gen. 28.3 his father Isaac dismissed him with prayer Dauid made earnest prayer for his sonne Salomon 1. Chron. 29.19 But how great was Iobs care for his children they went banqueting from house to house one with another Iob 1.5 Iob fearing that in their feasting they might offend God soght daily to pacifie God and to intreat him for them Q. I see Parents as they are of their children to be honoured so must they haue a continuall care of their children euen from their child-hood for their maintenance for their instruction for their Christian conuersation wherein I feare Parents are as much to be blamed for neglect of their duty as children for not giuing thē their due honor But let vs now heare somewhat of the duties of Gouernours A. Gouernours and all superiours if they knowe how to behaue themselues as Parents ouer their children will soone learne what dueties they must perform as superiors to their inferiors For the very title of fathers and mothers whereby here they are noted teacheth them that they must vse the talent of authority which God hath giuen them with a tender affection to the good of them who are placed vnder them And loue if it bée such as the Apostle teacheth it should be out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and faith vnfained 1. Tim. 1.5 will make men to study and labour by all meanes they can to bee profitable in their place and calling to others especially to such as their duety bindeth them to respect and care for Q. I see then that fatherly loue must be in the hearts of Magistrates or els how great so euer their authority is such as are vnder them shall not feele any good or comfort by their gouernment But what duties doth God who hath set them ouer other require of them towards such as are committed to their charge A. Their first and chiefe care must be to maintaine the truth of the Gospell by all meanes they can and to take diligent héed that lawes made to that end may duely bee executed O how carefull was good King Dauid for the building of Gods house And when it was told him that not he but his sonne Salomon should build it hée made yet great preparation for that worke and earnestly incouraged hée his sonne to build Gods house and the Princes to further that building When Dauid was dead and Salomon established in the kingdom one of the first works that he did was the building of Gods house 2. Chron. 29.3 2. Chr. 29.5.2 2. King 18.4 Yea Hezechiah in the first month of his reigne began with reformation of things amisse about Gods house and most zealously abolished Idolatry To this end also is the zeale of Iosiah much cōmended in scriptures By all which we learn that Princes not only may but must haue a great care to set forth true Religion and God requireth this duety of them that their subiects by them should bee brought to the loue of the truth and detestation of sinne and all Idolatrie Great was the forwardnesse of Asa herein and of his people who made a couenant to seeke the Lord God of their Fathers 2. Chr. 15.12 13. with all their heart and with all their soule And whosoeuer would not seeke the Lord God of Israel should bee slaine whether he were small or great man or woman And for the binding themselues the more straitly to kéepe this statute Lawe They sware vnto the Lord with a loud voice with shouting and with Trumpets and with Cornets Verse 14. This care also of Nehemiah and other Gouernours among the people Neh. 10.29 after they were fréeed from their captiuity in Babylon doth notably appeare how they boūd themselues by Oath cursing themselues if they did transgresse to reforme disorders among them and to be obedient to Gods Lawe A second care must Magistrates haue for the good and quiet gouernment of the people which that they may performe they must alwaies follow those rules which Moses from God giueth to the people of Israel Peruert not iudgement Deu. 16.19 accept no persons take no bribes for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and peruert the words of the Iust And else where Ye shall not do vniustly in iudgement Leuit. 19.15 Thou shalt not fauor the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty thou shalt iudge thy neighbour iustly And to bee short in all their gouernment they must haue a tender affection and fatherly care that their people vnder them may liue a peaceable and quiet life in all godlinesse and honesty 1. Tim. 2.2 Q.
Assyrians that they thought by their helpe to auoyd Gods iudgements denounced against them by his messengers Some also put their trust in Chariots Psal 20.7 and some in Horses So did Pharao when hee and his people followed after the Israelites but they were all drowned in the Sea And some trust to the strength of their Towers as did the Iebusites in their fort of Zion in so much as they scorned Dauids messengers whom hee sent 2. Sam. 5.6 but Dauid preuailed against it And so worldly men as they haue worldly meanes to help themselues in resting too much vpon such meanes breake this Commandement Q. But it is not vnlawfull to vse good meanes to escape any trouble or danger as infinite examples in the Scriptures may teach vs. A. True so that we vse them as meanes only and not as things able of themselues to make vs any helpe but as Gods instruments by whom he worketh for our good Physicke is good if we intreat God by Prayer to giue a blessing to it Strength of men is needfull against a mighty enemy but the Lord Euen the Lord that is mighty in battell Psal 24.8 doth giue the victorie The Husbandman doth husband his ground and sow his séed but the increase commeth of the Lord. And euery worke of euery man in his calling is good and attaineth to the end for which it is wrought if God prosper it otherwise our skil strēgth wisedome and all our indeuours though very earnest are but vaine Q. By this that hath beene said it is not hard to gather how many waies this first Commandement may be broken in respect of our confidence that wee haue in other worldly means but may not our owne heart also beguile vs and cause vs to transgresse the same A. Yes verily and that two ways either by inordinate loue euen of things that we may nay that wee must loue or by putting affiance and confidence in any thing that we haue or that we can do Q. How can this be that in louing that which we must loue we may displease God or breake this first Commandement A. The loue of Parents toward their children is a duty that must bee performed and commonly is so feruent that God setteth it as a patterne whereby he would haue vs to behold his loue toward vs his Children Yea Esay 49.15 for that cause he will be called Father of vs that the very name wherby we speak vnto Him may assure vs of his loue The loue also of Children to their Parents of the mutual loue of Husband and Wife are much and often commanded so likewise the loue of Brethren is set for example before vs of a true Christian affection that we should beare one toward another for it is commended vnto vs by the name of Brotherly loue Rom. 12.10 Yet must our loue to God so farre surmount all these loues of any worldly Creature Heb 13.1 how deare soeuer vnto vs either by nature or by any other affection that if it so be that wee must shew whom wee most loue by our obedience in comparison of our loue to God the loue to man must vtterly be extinguished and be no loue euen as the Apostle accounted all whatsoeuer holinesse or righteousnesse he might séem to challenge by the Law to bee but losse and dung Philip. 3 8. that hee might winne CHRIST And this is that hatred of Father Mother Wife Children Brother Luke 14.26 Sister yea and of our own life too that Christ saith must be in his Disciples Not that wee may hate these but that in comparison of our loue to God these things must séeme vnto vs. Abraham is a true pattern of this loue who when GOD commanded was willing to haue offered his sonne Isaack Gen. 22. the only hope of all the promises which God had made to him So wée vnlesse we can be content to obey Gods will though Father Mother Wife and Children and all our friends yea though our own lusts delights or affections draw to the contrary doe breake this Commandement because we rather obey the things that hinder vs then God who commandeth Q. Your meaning is that if wee loue any thing so that it may make vs neglect our loue seruice or worship of GOD euen by that loue we break this Commandement Thou shalt haue no other God before mee A. I meane so For if God were our delight and the ioy of heart then would our affectiō vnto other things bee ruled and framed according to it But if other loues possesse our harts they sit in Gods place and drawe vs after them Q. You said also that this Cōmandement may be transgressed if we put our trust or affiance in any other thing but in God A. True for if in danger we trust in our owne strength as if thereby we can be able to stand or in our subtiltie that by wiles and shifts we wil auoid the peril or in any such help as we think to make to our selues these and such like are but lying vanities of which the Prophet saith Ionah 2.8 They that wait vpon lying vanities forsake their owne mercy Yea if the Husbandman assure himselfe of good increase because he hath done the part of a good husband to his ground or any tradesman thinketh to be rich because he is painefull in his trade because they make their labour in their calling to be in Gods stead who only must giue a blessing to all they do such do transgresse this Commandement Q. Your meaning is not hereby to find fault with such paines as men take in their lawfull calling For it is the decree of the Almighty Gen. 3.19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate thy bread Neither can we call it our bread as Christ teacheth vs to aske vnlesse some way or other we labour for it but when we haue done what belongeth to vs to doe yet as Except the Lord build the house they labour in vaine that build it Psal 127.1 Except the Lord keepe the Citie the keeper watcheth in vaine So vnlesse the Lord giue blessing to all that we doe it cannot prosper For it is God only that giueth power to get substance Deut. 8.18 A. You say well and therefore if we perswade our selues by any such meanes to supply our wants not séeking to God by hearty praier to prosper our doing yea if with good Moses wee pray not Let the beauty of the Lord our God bee vpon vs Psal 90.17 and direct thou the worke of our hands vpon vs euen direct the worke of our hands Wee shall want the desired successe of our paines because wee rest not as we ought to doe vpon help from God and his direction whereby wee may bee taught and guided with what mind and to what end wée should labour namely for conscience towards God to liue in our honest calling not séeking with greedie affection to inrich our selues but to
A GVIDE vnto Godlinesse OR A Plaine and familiar Explanation of the ten Commandements by Questions and Answeres Fittest for the instruction of the simple and ignorant people By Francis Bunny one of the Prebendaries of the Cathedrall Church of Durham Deut. 6.7 8. Thou shalt rehearse these Commandements continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou tarriest in thine house as thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest downe and when thou risest vp And thou shalt bind them for a signe vpon thine hand and they shal be as frontlets between thine eyes LONDON Printed by G. P. for RALPH ROVNTHWAITE 1617. To the right Worshipfull Sir George Selby and Sir Nicholas Tempest Knights my assured good friends Grace and peace from God the Father through Iesus Christ and the true comfort of the holy Ghost be multiplied RIght Worshipfull hauing trauelled now a long time in my ministery as your selues can witnesse I yet finding no great comfort of all my labours may perchance bee deceiued as was Eliah and with all my heart I wish it were so who in his time complained that none truly religious were left 1. King 19.10 when God had reserued many I will not therfore resolue with my selfe as did Ieremy not to speake any more in the name of God Ier. 20.9 or to forbeare to preach but rather hope that hee who hath set me to worke though the seede of my husbandry lye hid for a time and is not seen to sprout yet will in the end giue a gracious blessing and a plentifull haruest And for such good successe of these my labours I wil alwaies pray most heartily to the Master of the haruest the only giuer of all good things For as Samuel said 1. Sam. 12.23 God forbid I should sin against the Lord and cease praying for you but I will shew you the good and right way so shall my indeuour be I trust alwaies by Gods assistance that the light of truth may shine in the hearts of you and of all my Parishioners and guide euery of you in all your actions Being therefore very desirous to see some fruite of all my labours I resolued with my selfe that the readiest way to plant the true knowledge of God is to instruct the youthes in the grounds and Principles of Religion assuring my selfe that such as once find a sweetnesse in that knowledge will hunger and thirst more and more for further vnderstanding I therefore expounded the tenne Commandements indeuoring therin to be plaine for the instruction of the simple and ignorant For children such as my people are in vnderstanding and God of his goodnes make them in deed his obedient and dutifull children must be fed with milk of easie doctrine not beeing as yet able to digest strong meates or vnderstand hard points of deeper knowledge And much to that effect that I taught out of the Pulpit my pen also hath set downe that words vvhich may easily be forgotten though they bee attentiuely heard being again presented to the eye as another remembrancer of that which was sayd may make a deepe impression in the heart and so be more remembred and better regarded These my small labours though not worthy to be presented to your Worships yet the matter being such as no Christian may be ignorant of and I intending the same especially for the people ouer whō God hath placed me am bold to publish the same in your names earnestly desiring most heartily beseeching God that as in worldly reputatiō you are the most eminent of my Parish so you your families may be vnto all about you godly patterns of true Christian zeale and all holy obedience O that the light of true godlinesse might so shine from you and your houses that thereby others your neighbors may be prouoked and incouraged with all alacrity to prayse God for the truth of his glorious Gospell and in singlenesse of heart to serue him And that in this true Christian zeale and for wardnesse you may be furderers of Gods glory and of his truth Imitate I most heartily intreat you the couragious example of that man of God good Ioshuah who to drawe on others to the seruice of the true God thus professed I and my house will serue the Lord. Iosh 24 15. Which that you may say and doe feruently and vnfainedly the Lord in mercy for his Christs sake worke it in your hearts and in the hearts of all them that call vpon the name of the Lord. So be it Your Worships in Christ Francis Bunny An Exposition of the Commandements Question HOw many Commandements are there Answ Ten. Q. How are these tenne Commandement diuided A. Into two Tables Q. What do the Commandements of the first Table teach vs A. Only to rest vpon God Mat. 23.38 and to worship him and therefore our Sauiour Christ calleth this first Table of the Commandements the first Commandement and the great Commandement Q. And what learne wee of the second Table of the Commandements A. The loue of our neighbour and this second Table is called by Christ Mat. 22.40 the second Commandement Q. But seeing that there are ten commandements in these two Tables how doth our Sauiour Christ call them but two Commandements A. Because they are all referred to two points the loue of God and of our neighbour Q. There are in the first Table foure Commandements what learne wee in euery of them A. The first requireth our inward and hearty affection towards one God and that we rest and rely vpon him only The second and third Commandements teach how in outward manner wee are to worship and shew our loue to God The fourth commandeth the Sabbath as the meane whereby wee are to bee instructed and the better enabled to Gods seruice Q. And what is the effect of the sixe Commandements of the second Table A. Generally they teach vs our duty toward our neighbours But if particularly wee consider of the chiefe drift of euery precept the fift Commandement which is the first of the second Table instructeth how inferiors should behaue themselues toward their superiors withall superiors are put in minde of their duty and place what manner of men they ought to be The rest of the Commandements are more generally teaching all of all sorts or estates of life to haue a care of their neighbours life in the sixt Commandement of their chastity and pure or vndefiled conuersation in the seuenth of their goods and possessions in the eighth and of their reputation and credite or fame in the ninth Commandement and of all maintenance of truth And in the tenth Commandement wée are taught that it is not enough to performe these duties to our neighbours in our outward actions only but also that we must not cherish in our hearts so much as a hidden lust or desire that may be any way hurtfull to our neighbour but on the contrary must bend all our indeuour to do
know themselues and holdeth that for a dishonouring of his name whereof they make no reckoning will both charge them and punish them too vnlesse speedily they repent for their grieuous transgressiō Q. You told vs in the beginning that the fourth Commandement if it bee well obserued is a very good meane to instruct vs how wee may performe these duties vnto God and to furder vs in doing the same A. It it most true for it commandeth the sanctifying of the Sabbath that is vpon that day the occupying of our selues about such holy exercises as might rauish our hearts with a consideration of Gods goodnesse towards vs and his wisedome in all his works Q. This Commandement as it is repeated by Moses in the fift of Deuteronomy is this Keep the Sabbath day to sanctifie it as the Lord thy God commanded thee and so forth from the beginning of the 12. verse to the end of the 15. wherein I obserue some things that seem not to belong vnto the first table of the Commandements wherof as yet we speake A. That is truely obserued And for your better vnderstanding of this commaundement you must remember that first the commandement it selfe is giuen in these words Keepe the Sabbath day Then is the chiefe and principall end why it should bee kept mentioned Afterwards the commandement it selfe is explained namely what God requireth of vs or what hee meaneth by these words Keepe the Sabbath In it thou shalt do no maner of worke thou thy son c. And by this occasion is shewed a second end of giuing this Commandement That thy man seruant and thy mayd seruant may rest as well as thou Fourthly diuers reasons are scattered here there in these words some inducing to obedience in respect of the principall end which is the sanctifying of the Sabbath others in regard of the second end of this day of rest for the Sabboth day in the true signification of the word and the day of rest is al one namely that seruants might haue a day of rest as well as their masters Q. That I may particularly bee instructed in this Commandement I pray you first to teach mee the precept it selfe what is thereby meant Thou shalt keepe the day of rest Are all workes forbidden in these words A. The Prophet Moses is informed from God himselfe concerning this point Leuit. 23 8 The seuenth day is a holy conuocation in it thou shalt doe no seruile worke Q. But what are those seruile workes A. The works of euery mans seuerall vocation wherein he is to bestow his labour either for the good of the common-wealth wherein hee liueth or the maintenance of his owne estate and of his family Which workes because they are especially wrought in respect of this present life that here wee liue in comparison of those that aime at the euerlasting life are worthily called seruise because that curse of God belongeth to these our bodily labours In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread Gen. 3.19 vntill thou returne to earth And seruile also they may be called because for the most part they are not wrought with such sincerity respect to Gods glory as they ought but sauor somewhat of our corruption and are too much inthralled to either our gréedy desire to inrich our selues by painful trauel or ambitiously seeking prayse of men or are otherwise sowred with some such leauen and so serue in some part at the least our polluted and naughty affections Q. But being commanded to keep the day of rest we are not forbidden all kind of workes A. No. For there are workes of Religion such as were circumcising the children which if the eight day wherein by Gods Law they were to be circumcised fel vpon the Sabbath was to bee performed without transgression of this Law Ioh. 7.22 as our Sauiour Christ affirmeth And the killing of the Sacrifices vpon the Sabbath day must be done Mat. 12.5 So the paines or labor in comming to Church vpon the Sabbath day is a labour not only lawful but commanded and necessarily required of all Christians as a duety that they must performe Some other are workes of necessity as if an Oxe be fallen into a pit vpon the Sabbath day it is no breach of this Commandement to pull it forth Luke 14.5 But here we must deale wisely and sincerely For if any businesse may without great danger bee put off vntill another time then this is not a work néedfull to be done that day so that euery occasion cannot make a worke of necessitie but only danger of great hurt or losse There are also works of charitie whereof Christ giueth this example Luk. 13.15 Doth not euery one of you loose an Asse or Oxe from the stall and lead him to the water on the Sabbath day Such workes are the visiting of the sicke comforting of them that are in heauinesse and such like works Q. Among the workes of charity many reckon this that they make drinkings gather great companies together vpon the Sabbath day to benefit som poore man as their pretence is may not this be truly accounted among the works of charitie that this day may be performed A. No. For when a worke that seemeth to proceed from a charitable affection toward man is crossed by some commandement of the first table all which belong to the immediate honor of God thou must rather shew thy loue to God then to man And indeed they who will not choose other daies wherein they may performe duties of loue towards their neighbour then that which God appointeth for to honour him in doe plainly shew they loue their owne profit better then either God or their neighbor because they take such time only to do good to their neighbour as God challengeth to be honoured in being loth to leese the work of a day appointed for labour Q. Is there then great necessity in consecrating the Sabbath day to a day of rest A. Very great as may appeare by the charge that is giuen For the word Kéep the Sabbath the word I say vsed in the Hebrew requireth oft a great and diligent care in kéeping that which is there commanded as Deutero 8.11 24.8 1. Kings 2.3 2. Kings 11.5 In all which places and many such like the selfe same word is vsed that here Moses hath to shewe the watchfull care wee should haue to kéepe this day of rest Yea God himselfe in giuing this commandement Exod. 20 giueth it with a memento Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabbath day Remember not onely when it commeth to keepe this day of rest from bodily labour but thinke of it before hand As a wise builder wil prouide his stuffe néedful for his building that when the work is in hand nothing bee wanting Or a discreet Captaine purposing to fight with his enemy will muster his Souldiers appoint his Captaines and Officers furnish them with armour weapons and victuall and all
such sort as they did the Paschall Lambe they must teach them that it was to put them in mind how the Lord spared the houses of the Israelites wherein the Passeouer was eaten as God cōmanded when he smote the Aegyptians Again Exo. 12.27 when the children should demaund what was meant by the putting apart the first borne they must say that therby they should call to remembrance how Pharao whē obstinately refused to let the Israelites goe to serue God Exo. 13.15 the Lord destroyed all the first-borne of man and beast of the Aegyptians but spared all the first borne among the Israelites Yea and that with more reuerence their children might heare the Lawe and more readily and willingly obey the same they must teach them how terribly the Lawe was giuen in the mount Horeb. Deu. 4.9 10. To be short they must bee made to vnderstand what was meant by a heape of stones that was in Gilgal neere Iordan Iosh 4.22.23 namely that it was a testimonie that Iordan was then dried vp so that the Israelites passed ouer it on dry land when they went to take possession of the land of Canaan An example of this dutie we may sée in the Parents of Timothy 2. Tim. 3 15. who knew the holy scriptures of a childe and therefore Paul putteth him in minde to continue in the things which he had learned and was perswaded of Ver. 14. If Parents were herein more carefull they should haue more dutifull children Q. But how can Parents teach their children that which themselues know not A. It is the more pitty that men and women professing the name of Christianity should content themselues to liue in such brutish ignorāce of their duty towards God and man as do very many or that they are not ashamed of the name of fathers who cannot performe any dutie that they owe to their children Nay it is great maruell that they are no more diligent to learne herein their duety that in some good measure they may performe it since God was so offended with Eli the Priest and Iudge of Israel for that sinne as that he swore that the wickednes of the house of Eli should not be purged with sacrifice or offering for euer 1. Sam. 3.14 And hee was as good as his word for Hophni and Phinehas were both slaine in one day in the battell a iust iudgement against those wicked sonnes of Eli and Eli himselfe hearing of this newes and that the Arke was taken fell backward in his chaire broke his necke 1. Sam. 3 4.18 A fearefull example for carelesse Parents to thinke vpon Neither can Parents that neglect this duety hope for any blessing from God vpon their children Q. But children are many times loth to learne any good and wil spend their time in loitering and idlenesse rather then in any good imploiment what can Parents then do A. In that case heare what Salomon renowned for wisedome aduiseth Pro. 13.24 He that spareth his rodde hateth his childe but hee that loueth him chasteneth him betime Pro. 29.15 For the rod and correction giue wisedome but a child set at liberty maketh his mother ashamed 2. Kings 2.24 If those Idolatrous children of Bethel had béen by correction taught to knowe God they had not mocked the Prophet Elisaeus the man of God calling him bald pate and so might haue escaped that fearful death for they were destroied by 2. Beares euen 42. of them Q. Great then is the sin of Parents in these dayes who suffer children that might bee well occupied in learning some thing or other that might after do them good to play all the day long before their eyes neuer thinke they do amisse Surely the gamesome life that in their childhood they are inured with will neuer suffer thē to take in hand any painful occupation wherat they must continue Neither can this be amended vnlesse fathers and mothers would fully determine and resolue with themselues to follow this counsell of Salomon Chasten thy sonne while there is hope Pro. 19.18 and let not thy soule spare for his murmuring But as not to chastise or correct breedeth in children contempt of Parents and a carelesnesse what they doe so too much seuerity would not bee vsed against them A. S. Paul is of that minde Eph. 6.4 Fathers saith he prouoke not your children to anger And the very selfsame exhortation he vseth to the Colossians shewing his reason Col. 3.21 Lest they should bee discouraged For as moderate correction is fatherly and a token of loue so rigorous punishment procéedeth rather of furie Q. These are the duties that fathers owe to their children beeing yet but young Education Instruction both in the knowledge and feare of God and also in some honest trade of life and reasonable correction But what must Parents do for their children being come to ripenesse of yeeres A. They must allowe them reasonable maintenance reasonable I say for too much may make them vnthrifty and to mis-spend their time and their goods and too little may driue them to badde shiftes for their maintenance Gen. 25.5 6. Abraham though hee gaue his goods to Isaac his eldest son yet to other children he gaue gifts also Iehosaphat had diuers sonnes besides Iehoram his eldest to whom hee gaue the kingdome to whom he gaue great gifts of siluer and gold 2. Chron. 21.3 and of precious things with strong Cities in Iuda 2. Cor. 12.14 And S. Paul teacheth vs that children ought not to lay vp for the fathers but fathers for their children whereby it doth appeare that fathers should not suffer their children to want necessary maintenance but should relieue them if they can Yea and that they may as the Apostle speaketh 1. Thes 4 4 Keepe their vessell in holinesse and honour Parents must be careful to prouide mariages for their children Gen. 24 as Abraham was to prouide a wife for Isaac Gen. 28 and as Isaac aduised Iaacob to goe to the house of Bethuel and so he did Gen. 3.4 And Hamar herein was carefull to prouide for his sonne Sechem and solicited for him And it were much to bee wished that children would giue this honor vnto Parents cōcerning their mariages that without their parents counsell and good liking they would neuer attempt so weighty matters And also that Parents would bee more carefull to prouide in time fit matches for their children so that by consent of such friends mariages might be made no doubt God would giue greater blessing to this his holy institution then many times he doth Q. What are the duties that Parents ought at all times to bee carefull to performe to them or for them A. The first is loue For as Parents must loue their newe borne babes so must they still continue their louing affection It is a debt alwaies to be in paying yet neuer fully payd so long as he liueth to whom it is