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
thy neighbour as thy selfe Mat. 22 39 And S. Paul affirmeth loue to bee the fulfilling of the lawe Rom. 13.10 Now loue if it be vnfained and hearty not in word or in tongue but in deed and in truth 1. Ioh. 3.18 bringeth forth two fruites The one is a rescuing from euill the other doing of good to them whom we loue But to speake particularly of the fruits or effects of loue it is not néedfull since wée haue already declared what is forbidden For as we are forbidden to hurt another in body name or goods yea or to think or wish vncharitably to them or any thing belonging to them so on the contrary by this commandement we are bound to haue a tender care of the safety welfare and reputation of others as well as of our owne For the loue wee owe or at the least should owe to others must not haue any other measure then the loue wee beare to our selues And to be short as wée will be carefull not to omit any thing that maketh for our safety wealth or credit so carefull must we be to cherish and maintaine these things for other And thus much for the sixt Commandement Q. The seuenth Commandement is also a prohibiting or forbidding of that which is euill Thou shalt not commit adultery And is adultery onely forbidden A. Adultery in the proper signification is when the husband not contenting himselfe with his wife or the wife with her husband commit folly with others But there are besides this many sinnes of this nature in Scriptures vtterly condemned all which are in this commandement forbidden Thou shalt not lye with any beast to be defiled therewith Leuit. 18.23 neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lye downe thereto for it is an abomination and the punishment thereof is death both to the man or woman so vnnaturally offending and to the beast The sin of Sodom is likewise forbidden Leu. 18.22 Thou shalt not lye with a Male as one lyeth with a woman They must dye the death Leuit. 20.13 Q. These are monstrous and beastly sins such as it can hardly be thought that any of Gods people would euer commit especially that lying with beasts Neither do I remember that euer I read that any of the people of Israel were charged therewith in all the Scriptures A. True But we must know that God giueth not this commandement in vaine but séeing no sinnes are so grosse but that men may cōmit them vnlesse God by his grace restrain and bridle them it is néedefull that God should warne them thereof lest being carelesse and secure and trusting too much in their own detestation of such sinnes they might vpon a sudden at vnwares bee taken But as concerning that sin of Sodom it did cleaue too fast euen to the house of Iudah For as there were Sodomites in the land in the daies of Rehoboam 1. King 14.24 so when Asa his grand-child a good King did his best to put them away for of him it is written 1. King 15.12 that He tooke away the Sodomites out of the land yet some were left and Iehosaphat his sonne laboured therein and as it seemeth preuailed For 1. King 22.46 the Sodomites which remained in the days of Asa his father hee put cleane out of the land Notwithstanding the care these two good Kings had to abolish that filthy sinne yet about thrée hundred yeeres after this sin was crept not into the Country of Iuda or city of Ierusalem but euen into the Temple it self 2. King 23.7 and Iosiah broke downe the houses of the Sodomites that were in the house of the Lord. And therfore how vnnaturall soeuer this sin may seeme to bee yet was it too well liked of Gods owne people and therefore in this Commandement forbidden as also all vncleannesse of the flesh is of any sort Q. What thinke you of incestuous mariages or the vnlawfull company of neere Kinsfolke A. All those are forbidden by the Lawe of God Leuit. 18. and also expresly against this Commandement For if the sinnes of that nature that are lesse offensiue be condemned therby then much more they which are more offensiue as Buggery Sodomitry and Incest are And concerning this last it is that which Iohn the Baptist reprooued in Herod and lost his life for it Math. 14.4 It is not lawfull for thee to haue thy brothers wife And Saint Paul reprehendeth in the Corinthians that one should haue his fathers wife 1. Cor. 5.1 Yea it is among those sinnes which God punished grieuously in his owne people Ezec. 22.10 In thee haue they discouered thy fathers shame Ezech. 22.31 Therefore haue I powred out mine indignation vpon them and consumed them with the fire of my wrath As for Adultery Leu. 20.10 it is not here onely forbidden in plaine words but also to bee punished by death Q. But what say you to fornication which some account not to bee a grieuous sin For Martin Chemnizius writing against the Councel of Trent that wicked cōspiracy of the Romish Church against God and his truth alleageth out of one Burchards Canons and rules concerning penance wherin is appointed for adulterers foureteene yeeres of penance and to fast bread and water fourescore dayes but to fornicators but ten daies penance In the fourth part of that examination for so the booke is called Pag. 72. A. It maketh no great matter what they say hereof for they account it more lawfull then for some to marrie as among other D. Smith against Peter Martyr that is a wanering and vnconstant Weather-cocke against a graue learned man according to his poore skill endeuored to defend that it was better for their Priests to kéepe a Harlot then to enter into that estate of mariage honorable among all men Heb. 13.4 But sure I am that by Gods Lawe fornication was death For if a man take a Mayd to be his wife and shee proue not a Virgin shee must be stoned to death Deut. 22.20 21. And among other manifest works of the flesh S. Paul reckoneth Adulterie Gal 5.19 Fornication Vncleannesse Wantonnesse As therefore those other monstrous and vnnaturall pollutions and adulterie are against this Commandement so is fornication also Q. And is not this Commaundement Thou shalt not commit adulterie broken but only by such acts as these A. Yes our Sauiour Christ saith in expounding this very commandement I say vnto you that whosoeuer looketh on a woman to lust after her Mat. 5.28 hath committed adulterie with her alreadie in his heart For the iust it selfe without any action for performance of the same is sinne And that a gazing and wandering eye is as a dangerous gulfe or wee le to drawe vs by little and little into the bottome of filthy lust daily experience might teach all men But this corrupt affection blindeth mens eyes so as we are not able to sée our danger 2. Sam. 11.2
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
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.
What are the duties of Pastors to their flocke A. Saint Peter setteth out their duties thus The Elders which are among you I beseech 1. Pet. 5.1.2 which am also an Elder feed the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but with a ready mind Now this feeding must be partly by doctrine and instruction partly by example of life and conuersation Q. By doctrine you mean not only deliuering of godly lessons but also exhortation admonition reprehension commination and all such means whereby godly lessons may be applyed to the people A. It is very true And all these things must be done according to that rule If any man speak 1. Pet. 4.11 let him talke as the words of God Keepe the true patterne of wholsome words saith S. Paul teaching Timothy how he shuld feed with the word the flocke of God 2. Tim. 1.23 The same Apostle also moueth Timothy 1. Tim. 4.12 to be vnto them which beléeue an ensample in word in conuersation in loue in spirit in faith and in purenes And he thus chargeth Titus Aboue all things shew thy selfe an ensample of good workes with vncorrupt doctrine Tit. 2.7 with grauity integrity But because al the food that man can giue either by words or déeds wil nothing nourish the Soules of the people vnlesse our gracious GOD giue a blessing therewithall a faithfull Pastor will carefully follow the Pastor-like patterne that Paul setteth before him in many places and namely writing to the Ephesians when hee assureth them Eph. 1.16 17 that he maketh mētion of them in his prayers that God would giue them his Spirit of wisedome And againe Phil. 1.3 4 I thanke my God hauing you in perfect memory alwaies in all my prayers for al you praying with gladnesse For Prayer of the Righteous S. Iames telleth vs auaileth much Iam. 5.16 if it be feruent to drawe downe from heauen a blessing vpon the people for whom the faithfull Pastor is an humble suter This duty because in a Minister it is so necessary both for himselfe that God wil giue him wisdome and vtterance and for his people that God will giue them attentiue eares to heare and faithfull harts to receiue the Word I could not but mention it in this place although I said before in speaking of the duties of Gouernours that all superiours and inferiours must offer this sacrifice of Prayer one for another Q. Now let vs heare somewhat of such duties as masters owe to their seruants A. Out of that which hath beene sayd of the duty of Gouernours toward them ouer whom they are set that may well be gathered For euery houshold is a little Common-wealth as a Common-wealth is as it were a vniuersall houshold So that to traine them vp in godlinesse and to be watchfull ouer them for their honest peaceable liuing among themselues and their faithfull discharge of their duty should be the chiefe care of the Masters And as old men haue honour due to them in respect of their age so must they take good héed that they giue no ill example to the younger by staining their gray haires with lewdnesse of life Col. 3.19 and in a word Husbands must loue their wiues and not be bitter vnto them 1. Pet. 3.7 And dwell with them as men of knowledge ruling them with discretion and kind behauiour not with cruelty or bitternesse Q. Now that wee haue heard of the reciprocall duties of superiours and inferiours and that a great piece of duty that inferiours owe to superiours consisteth of obedience It is I thinke very needfull to inquire whether Parents Princes Pastors or Masters must in all things bee obeyed For it is plaine Dan. 3. that the three children obeyed not the Kings Commandement for they would not worship the golden Image and that which they did therein GOD deliuering them so miraculously from the fiercenesse of the fire did well approue and the Apostles being commanded to preach no more in the Name of IESVS sayd plainely Acts 5.29 Wee ought rather to obey God then man and preached Christ not regarding the commandement of their gouernors A. As it is reason that the Prince should rather be obeyed then the Master so is it our dutie rather to serue the Commander of all Princes and Potentates then any Prince or Magistrate whatsoeuer Q. May Subiects then if Princes command things which they thinke vnlawfull repine and murmure May they as our new masters of Rome now teach vs the Iesuites those bloudy politicians rebell depose and kill them A. In deed so they teach and so they indeuor to practise too but God forbid wee should not detest their wicked doctrine and doings heerein let vs leaue such Atheisticall axiomes to the wooers of that purple harlot drunken with the bloud of the Saints Apoc. 17.6 who care not what Countries and Kingdomes they ruinate so they may haue any hope to effect their sauage designes but in all vnlawfull commandements wee obey God in not obeying them and we obey men in patient induring their punishments rather then wee would doe that which God forbiddeth Neither are wee to stir vp mutinies or incite to rebellions as the popish Clergie doth continually but the weapons wherewith wee must resist the violence of vngodly Princes when they command vnlawfull things are first Patience whereby sometime euen sauage Natures are tamed and Prayer both that God wil giue vs strength to continue in his holy obedience and that he would mitigate the rage of all such cruell persecuters Q. What reasons doth Moses in repeating this Law vse to induce our corrupt nature to obey A. Two the first in respect of the Commandement which should be of great force to such as account themselues to be the seruants of God For if mens Commandements be obeyed though wee are not sure alwaies wee do well in obeying them how much more must wee frame our selues to do what the Lord our God commandeth in which there can bee no danger of sinning The second in respect of the good that GODS people should get thereby For as the Israelites now ready to take possession of the land of promise are warned that if they will long inioy that land and prosper therin they be obedient to their Parents so if wee will long and happily haue vse of Gods temporall blessings wée must truly yeeld this obedience to our Parents whether by nature as Father and Mother or by calling as Gouernours Pastors and Masters or by age as old men that they may be mooued by such our dutifull carriage toward them to pray vnto God for continuance of his fauour toward vs. Q. But because this promise is sometime more generall vnto all obedience Deut. 32.47 as By this word you shall prolong your dayes 1. King 3.14 and to Salomon If thou walk in my Commandements I will prolong thy dayes Why is it
manner of reprehending for it is done sharply and with bitternesse Thirdly in the end which is the discredit and disgrace of them whom wee reproue or slander But that godly and Christian reprehension riseth from a charitable and louing affection and concerning the manner is done in the spirit of méekenes and the end is the reforming of our brother Q. But this sinne of slandering I would iudge rather to bee against the ninth Commandement A. This sinne of slandering is a transgression against two Commandements at the least howsoeuer it bée true or false that a man reporteth to the hurt of his neighbors good name because hee doth it of an vncharitable mind hee is a transgressour of this sixt Commandement But if the reports be vntrue whether deuised by them which do so report them or that they haue heard them of others and without consideration haue rashly published that to the discredit of another therein they sinne against the ninth commandement And because they in so dooing steale away their neighbors credit which is much déerer to a well minded man then much wealth and the losse thereof he estéemeth greater then of worldly goods such men are also guilty of breach of the eight Commaundement Thou shalt not steale Q. You haue told vs of many waies whereby this precept may be broken by doing either against the person of anyman or against his goods or name but how by omission of duties do men transgresse A. There are certaine particular duties belonging to particular callings certaine duties generall belonging to all And these particular duties are diuers also some beeing helpes vnto eternall life some for the maintenance of this our present temporall being here And first to speake of that which should especially bee cared for If the Ministers of the Word doe not in some measure their duty in admonishing the people of ther danger they are in by reason of their sin they breake this Commandement Thou shalt dye the death saith God to Ezechiel if thou doe not speake and admonish Ezec. 33.8 the wicked of his way that wicked man shall dye for his iniquity but his blud wil I require at thy hand S. Paul therfore as he was careful to performe this duty himselfe Act. 20.31 I haue not ceased saith hee day and night with teares for the space of 3. yeeres to admonish you So hee chargeth Timothy to preach the word to bee instant in season and out of season 2. Tim. 4.2 to reproue to rebuke to exhort with all long suffering and doctrine And himselfe feared woe Cor. 9.16 if hee preached not the Gospell Then also Parents masters or dames of families if they omit this dutie in vsing all good means to bring their children and seruants to the knowledge and feare of God and doe not seeke to whet the word of God vnto them by carefull and often putting them in mind thereof as Moses chargeth the Israelites to doe Deu. 6.7 by omission of this duty they are found transgressors of this Lawe Magistrates should by due punishments represse bloudshed and all disorders in the Common-wealth for to that end were punishments commanded So thou shalt take away euill from among you saith Moses that all Israel may heare it and feare Deut. 21.21 speaking of disobedient children commaunding that they should bee stoned to death So that as Pastors and Masters of families in neglecting the duties aboue mentioned put the soules of such as are vnder them in danger of beeing hunger-starued for want of good food so Magistrates omitting their dutie in punishing especially bloudy and cruell offences doe incourage offenders nay strengthen their hands to further mischiefe and by omission of this dutie may make themselues accessaries and partakers of other mens faults Moreouer if a man hath an Oxe that hath vsed to gore and the owner is acquainted therewith and knoweth that he is a dangerous beast and doth not prouide for the safety of other if that beast kill man or woman the owner of that Oxe shall bee put to death as guilty of the murther because hee had not due care of his neighbours life If a man digge a pit or Well and a beast fall into it and dye hee that digged the pit must pay for the beast that is dead by that meanes If an Oxe that vsed to push kill another Oxe his owner if hee knew he vsed to push or gore must make restitution Exod. 21 These lawes being set downe teach vs that we must not omit a care of our neighbours life or good whereby mans life must in some good sort be maintained Lastly the omission of those duties which our Sauior Christ speaketh of I was hungry and you gaue me no meate Mat. 25 I thirsted you gaue mee no drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged me not c. is a breach also of this Commandement Q. Are all then that seeke to haue their wants in such things supplyed to be releeued for meat drinke or other such like A. I thinke not For the vagrant and wandering persons which with most importunitie seeke for reliefe first leade an idle and therefore an vngodly life for abundance of idlenesse Eze. 16.49 was one of the crying sins of Sodom Secondly they are commonly reported to liue most filthily without feare and shame Thirdly as they are not any members of the common-wealth wherein they liue so they are not belonging to any particular congregation or Church and the most of them scarcely come at any Now for such people so hatefull to God and good men in respect of their lewdnesse to bee fed and clothed wheresoeuer they come is nothing els but to cherish and maintaine them in their wicked course against most Christian and godly lawes Not to relieue their necessity may be thought a want of charity Two things are therefore for reformation of these vnchristian disorders to be wished rather I feare then hoped for The one is the restraint of this rogueing life with all sharpnesse the other diligent and carefull endeuour to set to work such as are able or els let not him eat that will not labour 2. Thes 3.10 and prouision for maintenance of the impotent And how vnwilling soeuer these vagrants are to be tyed to one place and thereby doe much hinder the execution of our godly lawes yet were it the part of them to whom authority is committed to combine themselues together to put in practice such Christian lawes tending so much to abandon lewdnesse and idlenesse of life and to doe it with resolution not to be daunted or discouraged for any paines And thus much of the omission of dueties whereby we may bee made transgressors of this now Q. Hitherto you haue spoken of the prohibition it now remaineth that you speake of the Commandement A. Christ who is the best Interpreter of this law and of all the commandements of the second Table saith loue is commanded in them all Thou shalt loue