Then all the Congregation answered and said with a loud Voice As thou hast said so must we do Apollos who was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 was very successful in the Conviction and Conversion of obstinate sinners for he mightily convinced the Jews vers 28. And in the edification of such as were converted to the faith vers 27. Who when he was come helped them much which had believed through grace SECT 2. We must teach our Families the knowledge of the principles and the practice of the Duties of Religion Nothing but the Truth Soul-saving Truths What are Soul-saving Truths Seasonable Truths Direct 2 COnsider well what Doctrine you teach your Families if you would convert and save their Souls For by taking heed to the Doctrine that you instil into them you may save both their and your own Souls 1 Tim. 4.16 Take heed to thy self and unto thy Doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt save both thy self and them that hear thee If any ask What Doctrine should we teach our Families in order to the Conversion Edification and Salvation of their Souls I answer In the general teach them the holy Scriptures I have proved already that it is the Will and Command of God that we should instruct our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures Chap. I. Sect. 1. And I have also shown that teaching Gods Word to our Families will be a means of their Conversion Psal 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul and of their edification Acts 20.32 I commend you to God and the Word of his grace which is able to build you up And of their Salvation Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto Salvation As the Reader may see more largely in the perusal of the first and second Chapters If any say Tell us more particularly what Doctrine we should teach our Families out of the Scriptures in order to their Conversion Edification and Salvation Answ 1. Instruct them in the knowledge of the Principles of Religion As for instance Teach them that there is a God and that this God is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him And who is the true God That there is but one God and that this one God subsisteth in three distinct Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost That God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth That God knoweth all things is every where present Almighty Eternal Holy in all his Works and Righteous in all his Ways Faithful Just Abundant in Mercy c. That God made the Heavens and the Earth and all things therein and Rules and Governs all his Creatures by his Wise and Gracious Providence That Man was created in the Image of God and sinned against God by eating the Forbidden Fruit That by Adam's Disobedience all Men were made Sinners and are by Nature the Children of Wrath and that Judgement came upon all men to Condemnation That God out of his great Love sent his only begotten Son into the World to seek and save that which was lost That JESUS of NAZARETH who was conceived of the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin MARY suffered under PONTIUS PILATE was the promised MESSIAH That He died for our Sins and rose again the third day and ascended into Heaven where he sitteth at the right hand of God making intercession for all that come to God by him from whence He shall come again to judge the World in Righteousness That God for Christ his sake hath made a New Covenant wherein he hath promised Remission of sins Sanctification eternal Life and all other good things freely to them that believe on his Son That those whom God hath ordained to eternal Life he calleth out of Darkness into Light and turneth them from their sins unto God and unites them to Christ by faith and puts his Spirit into them and causeth them to walk in his Ways and to serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of their Life That there shall be a general Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust that after the Dead are raised the whole world shall appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive according to what he hath done while his Soul lived in his Body That such as have lived and died in their sins without Repentance shall be cast into Hell where they shall abide with the Devil and his Angels in everlasting fire And such as have believed in Christ and repented of their sins shall be received into Heaven where they shall be ever with the Lord. It is necessary that you should teach your Children and Servants the knowledge of the Principles of Christian Religion Heb. 5.12 Ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God For Knowledge is the foundation of Practice Psal 119.34 Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart And Solomon tells us Prov. 29.2 Also that the Soul be without knowledge it is not good And as you must teach them the knowledge of the Principles so also the practise of the Duties of the Christian Religion as to believe in Christ to repent of their sins to love God with all their Hearts and to love their Neighbours as themselves to do the same things unto others which they would that others should do unto them to deny themselves to love their Enemies to do good to them that hate them to read hear and meditate on Gods Words to be contented in every estate c. Knowledge without Obedience will be so far from leading them to everlasting life that it will make them have the greater condemnation Luk. 12.47 That Servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes But by teaching your Families both to know and do the will of God you shall make them partakers of eternal Happiness John 13.17 If ye know these things happy are ye if you do them Thus David instructed his Son he taught him both to know and serve the Lord 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind 2. Teach them nothing but the Truth Do not pervert and wrest the Scriptures to their and your own destruction Do not give them poy son instead of the sincere milk of the Word It was the practise of Christ and of his Apostles to teach nothing but the Truth Matth. 22.16 Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth 2 Cor. 2.17 We are not as many which corrupt the word of God but as of sincerity as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ By teaching them the Word of God in truth you shall be
exceeded he openeth also their ear to discipline and commandeth that they return from iniquity So should you charge and command your Children that they sin no more when you correct them 3. God is not extream to correct for every small fault Psal 130.3 If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand If any thing be done ignorantly he is ready to wink at that Acts 17.30 The times of this ignorance God winked at 4. God distinguisheth between his Children Such as are dutiful diligent Children shall not be corrected so smartly as those that are careless and negligent Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him 5. When Gods dearest Children need Correction and he seeth it is for their good they shall have it as well as others So should you do If you have any Child which is dearer and more delightful than the rest you should correct that as well as the others when it needs Correction Prov. 3.12 Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth 6. The Lord corrects in measure Jer. 30.11 I will correct thee in measure and will not leave thee altogether unpunished He is careful not to break or sink his peoples Spirits by his Corrections Isa 57.16 I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the Spirit should fail before me and the Soul which I have made In like manner you should be careful that you do not correct your Children out of measure or so as to sink and quench their Spirits 7. God doth not correct his Children in anger but out of love Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten And as he corrects in love so he doth aim at their good Heb. 12.10 They verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness In like manner when you correct your Children let it not be in passion but out of love to their Souls and with a desire and design to do them good 8. God tries to reform his Children first by lesser and more gentle afflictions and when they will not prevail to reform them then he deals more severely with them and will not leave following them with one correction after another till he hath humbled and reformed them Isa 9.1 At the first he lightly afflicted the Land of Zebulun and Naphthali and afterwards did more grievously afflict her by the way of the Sea Lev. 26.23 24. If ye will not be reformed by these things but will walk contrary unto me then will I also walk contrary unto you and will punish you yet seven times for your sins So should you first try more gentle means and if that will not prevail chastise them more severely and be not discouraged from instructing and correcting them till you have humbled and subdued their spirits and caused them to reform their lives SECT 9. How to keep up our Authority over our Children and Servants Direct 9 IT will conduce much to the rendring of those Instructions which you give your Families more powerful and effectual to keep up your Authority in your Families and so to carry your selves that your Children and Servants may reverence and respect you It is said of Christ Mat. 7.28 29. The people were astonished at his Doctrine for he taught them as one having authority And what followed hereupon His word became very powerful Luke 4.32 They were astonished at his Doctrine for his word was with power When persons reverence those that teach them it causeth their Doctrine to work the more effectually upon their hearts and lives Mark 6.20 Herod feared John and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly If you say What course should we take that we may keep up our Authority and be reverenced in our Families I answer First Be careful to honour God to submit and subject your selves unto him and then he will cause your Families to honour you and to submit and subject themselves to your Commands It is God that inclines mens hearts to honour us 1 Chron. 29.12 Both Riches and Honour come of thee And when we are vilified flighted and disregarded this also is of God Psal 44.13 Thou makest us a reproach to our Neighbours a scorn and derision to them that are round about us It is God that subdues the hearts of Children and Servants and other inferiours and makes them subject to their Superiours Psal 18.47 It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the people under me And it is a Judgment which the Lord layeth upon us when our Children or Servants carry themselves proudly or disobediently towards us Isa 3.5 The Child shall behave himself proudly against the Ancient and the Base against the Honourable Now if we be careful to glorifie God he will cause us to be honoured if we slight or disregard him he will cause us to be despised 1 Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed If we submit our selves to God he will cause our Wives and Children and Servants to submit themselves unto us James 4.7 10. Submit your selves therefore to God Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up By lifting up is not only meant deliverance out of trouble but it implieth also that God will cause those that submit themselves to him to be honoured and reverenced he will lift them up in the hearts and estimation of all sorts of men that they shall carry themselves respectively towards them But if we rebel against God he will raise up evil against us out of our own Houses and cause some or other of our Families to carry themselves rebelliously and contemptuously towards us Thus when David had despised the Commandment of the Lord God raised up evil against him out of his own House 2 Sam. 12.9 11. Whilst he walked in the ways of God all sorts of persons strangers as well as his own people were subject to him Psal 18.43 44. A people whom I have not known shall serve me as soon as they hear of me they shall obey me the strangers shall submit themselves unto me But when he turned aside from God Sbimei one of his Servants curseth him to his face and his own Son Absolom riseth up in Rebellion against him Secondly When your Children carry themselves undutifully or irreverently towards you or do any thing that is sinful and displeasing to God reprove them and if Reproofs do not make them amend correct them This will make them give you reverence Heb. 12.9 We have had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live Thirdly Avoid frowardness intemperance and all other vices and carry your Souls in a holy gracious and exemplary manner for if you be addicted
to any sin that will bring you under contempt Prov. 14.34 Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people Yea even such as have honoured you formerly and had you in high esteem if they come to understand that you are tainted with any Vice they will be ready to despise you Lam. 1.8 Jerusalem hath grievously finned and therefore she is removed All that honoured her despise her because they have seen her nakedness But by walking in an holy gracious exemplary manner you shall be reverenced not only by such as are gracious themselves but by those that are destitute of the grace of God Herod was not a good man himself our Saviour calleth him a Fox Luk. 13.23 because he was a subtil and cruel Enemy to Jesus Christ and to the Christian Religion Luke 13.31 32. Yet John the Baptist being an holy man Herod reverenced him Mark 6.20 Herod feared John knowing that be was a just man and holy and observed him Prov. 22.4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are Riches and Honour and Life And as an holy Conversation will procure Honour and Respect so also it will preserve the same Prov. 11.16 A gracious woman retaineth honour Fourthly Carry your selves wisely and discreetly in the managing of your Family Affairs for A mans wisdom maketh his face to shine Eccles 8.1 But foolish and indiscreet carriage will cause us to be slighted and disrespected Eccles 10.1 Dead flies cause the Ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour so doth a little folly him that is in Reputation for Wisdom and Honour Fifthly Do not carry your selves lightly vainly in your Families but let your deportment be grave and serious that will be a means to keep your Children and Servants in due subjection 1 Tim. 3.4 One that ruleth well his own House having his Children in subjection with all gravity He cannot rule his House well that doth not keep his Children in subjection for if the Children be unruly the Servants will be so too and a man shall hardly keep his Children in subjection if his carriage be not grave and serious Sixthly Use not over-much familiarity or delicacy towards your Children and Servants especially when your Children are grown up to some maturity for familiarity will be apt to breed contempt and make Children and Servants to cast off that awe and dread which they ought to bear towards their Parents and Masters Children are commanded not only to love but to fear their Parents Lev. 19.3 Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father And Servants are commanded to fear their Masters Ephes 6.5 Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ Over-much familiarity will cause them to cast off this fear Solomon giveth us a caution against using too much delicacy towards our Servants as that which will spoil them and make them prove great Crosses Prov. 29.21 He that delicately bringeth up his Servant from a Child shall have him become his Son at length The vulgar Latin renders the words Postea sentiet eum contumacem He shall find him to be stubborn and obstinate Pagnine renders the words In novissimo crit superbus perinde ac filius He will become proud and expect to be dealt with as if he were a Son and not a Servant When instead of that gravity and distance which ought to be in the carriage of Masters and Parents they will be so familiar as to play with their Servants and Children this makes them to lose their authority according to the Proverb in use among the Arabians Collusio sive jocus aufert reverentiam Playing and Jesting takes away a Mans Reverence If we use to jest and sport with our Servants or Children we must expect no more Reverence from them And therefore the Son of Syrach gives this Advice to Parents Ecclus. 30.9 10. Cocker thy Child and he shall make thee afraid play with him and he will bring thee to heaviness laugh not with him lest thou have sorrow with him and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end And Plato speaking of our carriage towards our Servants in his Dialogue de legibus gives this prudent Advice Neque jocus ullus cum illis habeatur quod multi stultè facientes dum delicatius eos nutriunt difficiliorem viam sibi ad imperandum illis ad obediendum reddunt Do not use at any time to jest with your Servants which thing many doing foolishly do make it more difficult for themselves to govern and also more difficult for their Servants to obey by their training them up delicately Only here it will be needful to hint that whilst you labour to carry your selves with gravity and to avoid too much familiarity you had need be careful that you do not become morose or austere but rather endeavour to express much sweetness and candor in your carriage towards your Children and Servants There was laid up in the Ark Aarons Rod and the Pot with Manna and the Tables of the Covenant Greg. mag hath an observation hereupon to this effect He that would govern well must be furnished with the knowledge of the Scriptures and must make use of the Rod of Correction yet so as there must be the sweetness of Manna with it We should labour if it be possible to win our Children by love to observe the Commandments of God but if they will not be drawn with Manna then we must make use of Aron's Rod and when we are necessitated to use severity it must be tempered with mercy SECT 10. How to gain our Childrens and Servants affections Direct 10 IT will conduce much to the rendring of this work of Family-Instruction successful so to carry your selves as that you may have the love and gain the affections of those that are under your charge for if our Children and Servants do not only fear and reverence us but also love us the Instructions that we give them will be the better accepted and make the deeper impression upon their hearts The Apostle Paul knowing Philemon lov'd him was confident he would follow the counsel he gave him Phil. 7.21 We have great joy in thy love having confidence in thy obedience c. The like confidence he had of the Thess alonians 2 Thes 3.4 We have confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do and will do the thing which we command you And they were such as bore a great affection to the Apostle 1 Thes 3.6 If there be a disaffection to the person that instructs his Doctrine will do little good Ahab hating Micaiah received no good by his Prophecies but went on in his own way contrary to the good counsel of Michaiah whereby he brought destruction upon himself If any say How should we so carry our selves as to get the Love and Affection of our Children and Servants I answer First Shew your selves
loving to them Love will draw love from the worst of men Luk. 6.32 Sinners also love those that love them Shew your love to them by speaking kindly to them and by seeking their welfare Hereby Mordecai got the love of the Jews Esth 10.3 Mordecai the Jew was accepted of the multitude of his Brethren seeking the wealth of his people and speaking peace to all his seed Secondly Be kind to them as you see occasion give them some gifts to encourage them to learn those things that are for their good this will win much upon their affections Prov. 19.6 Every man is a friend to him that giveth Gifts Thirdly Give ear to their just Complaints and be willing to redress their grievances Job was ready to hear the cause and complaint of the meanest Servant in his family even when and wherein he himself was concerned Job 31.13 14. If I did despise the cause of my man Servant or of my maid Servant when they contended with me what then shall I do when God riseth up And when he visiteth what shall I answer him And who was more loved and respected than Job Job 29.8 9 10 11. Absolom by his courteous carriage and kind speeches and by expressing his readiness to redress the grievances of the people stole the hearts of the men of Israel 2 Sam 15.2 3 4 5 6. When the people of Israel came to Rehoboam with a desire to redress their grievances his wise men counselled him to answer their desires for thereby he should engage their affections to him for ever 2 Chron. 10.7 If thou be kind to this people and please them and speak good words unto them they will be thy Servants for ever Fourthly Answer their Requests when they defire those things that are for their good and which may conveniently be granted them As Gods answering our Requests makes us love God Psal 116.1 I love the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my Supplications So our answering those Requests which our Children or Servants make to us will engage them to love us Fifthly Cover their failings and infirmities Prov. 17.9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love or as it is in the Margent procureth love By covering a cransgression is not meant that we should forbear reproving them for Reproof prudently administred will not hinder but increase love Prov. 9.8 Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee But by covering a transgrâ—â—son is meant 1. That we should not twit and upbraid them with their faults and be often repeating them as the manner of some is especially when they are in a passion for this is a great hindrance of love and causeth discord between inward Friends as appears by the following words But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends 2. That we should not divulge or blaze abroad their infirmities but endeavour to conceal them SECT 11. How to ingraft the Word of God in the hearts of our Children and Servants How we may bring them in love with the Word Direct 11 IF you would save the Souls of your Children and Servants by those Instructions which you give them out of the word of God endeavour to ingraft those Truths which you teach them in their hearts for if the Word of God be ingrafted in their hearts it will be a powerful means of saving their Souls Jam. 1.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your Souls If you say What shall we do that we may get the word of God ingrafted in their hearts I answer First Acquaint them with Gods Covenant wherein he hath promised to engrave or write his word in their hearts Jer. 31.33 I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts And stir them up to plead this Covenant until they find that God according to his promise hath engraven his Law upon their hearts Secondly Cause them to understand those Scriptures which you teach them and to that end when there is any difficulty therein explain them and labour to beget in them a clear and right understanding of the word of God When the understanding is enlightned with the knowledge of Divine Truths there is way made for their entrance into and their abode in the heart Prov. 14.33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding By wisdom we may understand the grace of God Job 28.28 The fear of the Lord that is wisdom Now the grace of God doth not only enter into but resteth and maketh its abode in the heart of him that hath understanding If your Instructions be never so good though they be drawn out of the word of God yet if they be not understood they will not abide in their hearts whom you instruct but will quickly vanish out of their minds Matth. 13.19 When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart Thirdly Endeavour to fix the word of God in their memories cause them often to rehearse what you have taught them exhort them to meditate and ponder upon those Instructions they have received from you This will be a means of ingrafting the word of God in their hearts As the remembring of our sins is a means of engraving our iniquities upon our hearts Jer. 17.1 2. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond it is graven upon the Table of their Hearts and upon the Horns of their Altars whilst their Children remember their Altars and their Groves So remembring and pondering upon the Word of God will be a means of graving or writing the Word of God upon our hearts Prov. 3.1 3. My Son forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandments Bind them about thy Neck write them upon the Table of thine Heart The binding of the Commandments about the Neck is the same with not forgetting the Law mentioned vers 1. This binding of the Law about the Neck was used by the Jews as a Memorial to help them to keep the Commandments of God in remembrance Exod. 13.9 Now Solomon joyning these two together Bind them about thy Neck write them upon the Table of thine Heart implies that the binding of the Commandments about our Neck that is the keeping them in remembrance will be a means to write them upon our Hearts Fourthly Inure them to godly Discourse When they are in your presence speak often to them of the word of God and when they are discoursing one with another exhort them to discourse of what you have taught them out of the word of God Discoursing out of the word will be a means of imprinting the Law of God upon their hearts Psal 37.30 31. The mouth of the Righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of judgment And what is the fruit and effect of this good discourse
of the Earth be blessed but his being a Blessing to all Nations is also attributed to his instructing his Family and training up his Children and Servants in a godly sort whereby the knowledge of God and the Seeds of Piety and true Religion were conveyed from one Family to another and from one Generation to another and from one Nation to another as will appear from Gen. 18.18 19. All the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed in him How so How should it come about that all Nations should be blessed in him The following words will declare this For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Lo here how effectually Family-Instruction propagates Religion By means whereof from one Family the Seeds of Piety are conveyed to many Nations SECT 8. Family-Instruction greatly advanceth Gods glory Motive 8 INstructing our Families in the knowledge of Gods holy word will very much advance the Glory of God For then we glorifie God when we manifest and make known his Name unto those persons whom he hath committed to our charge and are careful to bring them acquainted with his word John 17.4 I have glorified thee on Earth And how did Christ glorifie his Father upon the earth He tells us Vers 6. 8. That it was by manifesting the Name of God to those that were given to him by his Father and by instructing them out of his word I have manifested thy Name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me When David was desirous to exalt and magnifie the Name of the Lord the way that he resolved to take for the exalting and glorifying God was to teach his Children to fear the Lord Psal 34.3 11. O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together Come ye Children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Family-Instruction advanceth the glory of God several ways I will mention only two or three 1. Instructing our Children and Servants out of the word of God will be a means to bring them to lead holy godly and righteous Lives and when our Families walk in the fear of God and live righteously God is glorified Isa 60.21 Thy People also shall be all righteous that I may be glorified 2. The good that our Children and Servants will receive by our instructing them out of the word of God will be so great that they will bless and praise God for it as long as they live yea to all eternity so that hereby we shall bring eternal glory to God for then and as long as God is praised he is glorified Psal 50.23 Whoso offereth me praise glorifieth me 3. Family-Instruction glorifieth God as it is a means to propagate Religion and increase the number of Converts and to bring multitudes to become Servants of the Lord for the more godly Families are erected the more the number of Gods Servants is multiplied the more God is glorified Prov. 14.28 In the multitude of People is the Kings Honour What Solomon saith of earthly Kings the same is true of the King of Heaven The Prophet Isaiah also informeth us Isa 26.15 That the increasing of the number of Gods Servants advanceth his glory Thou hast increased the Nation O Lord thou hast increased the Nation thou art glorified And it hath been shewn before that instructing our Families will be an effectual means of their Conversion and will greatly propagate Religion and the Power of Godliness from one Family to another for many Generations Now seeing Family-Instruction glorifieth God we should set our Heads and Hearts on work how to carry on this duty in the most advantagious and successful manner for we were every one created and are maintained in our being for this very end to glorifie God Isa 43.6 7. Bring my Sons from far and my Daughters from the end of the earth even every one that is called by my name for I have created him for my glory And Vers 21. This people have I formed for my self they shall shew forth my praise And seeing we had our Beings given us for this end to glorifie God we ought to attend those Services which glorifie God with all our might And as the training up of our Children in the knowledge and fear of God greatly advanceth his glory so the neglect of this duty may be said to rob God of eternal glory Hence God complains of such as neglect or hinder the Religious Education of Children that they take away his glory for ever Mich. 2.9 From their Children they have taken away my glory forever How did they take away from their Children the glory of God for ever Locceius gives this interpretation of it malâ educatione By their evil education of their Children they robbed God of eternal glory To the same effect Gualther expounds the words Institutione destituuntur quâ ad Dei gloriam educentur They were deprived of instruction whereby they should have been trained up to the glory of God Corn. à Lapid also gives the same sence of the words Tulistis ab eis meam laudem tum quia eos à matribus avulsos honest â piâque educatione privastis in idololatriâ vestra educastis tam quia eos ad paupertatem adegistis ob quam ad omnia scelera vestramque voluntatens libidinem inflexistis Winckelman D. Stokes and several others expound this Scripture of the depriving Children of Religious Education And they that neglect the educating their Children in a pious manner may well be said to take away from their Children the glory of God for ever For when Children are trained up in a godly sort they will glorifie God all their days in this world and also in heaven to all eternity and they would not only glorifie God themselves but teach their Children to do so also and they would teach the next Generation and so the knowledge and glory of God might be transmitted from one Generation to another as long as the world shall continue all which glory is taken away from God where the pious Education of Children is neglected SECT 9. We shew our love to God by Instructing our Familiet Motive 9 THe Lord will take it kindly at our hands and account it a real demonstration of our love towards His Sacred Majesty if we are careful to feed our Families with the knowledge of his word Three times the Lord Jesus calls upon the Apostle Peter that if he had any love to him he would shew it by feeding his Lambs and his Sheep John 21.15 16 17. Jesus saith unto Simon Peter Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these He saith unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my Lambs He saith to him again
instruct them than you do of aggravating their condemnation in case you should instruct them when as you do not know whether they will make a good use of their Light You hazard your own condemnation by neglecting your duty and your Childrens by nursing them up in ignorance but by instructing them you may promote both your own and their salvation 1 Tim 4.16 The same argument that the Apostle useth to perswade Wives to dwell with their Husbands and Husbands to dwell with their Wives 1 Cor. 7.16 For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O man but thou shalt save thy Wife The like may I use with Parents to instruct their Children notwithstanding all their fears of aggravating their condemnation What knowest thou whether thou shalt save thy Children III. Whereas Satan would beat you off from instructing your Children by putting you in sear that you shall thereby aggravate their condemnation this is but a vain suggestion to hinder you in your duty for you can't take a more effectual course to prevent your Childrens condemnation and to promote their salvation than to instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures for Knowledge is a means to breed Faith Psal 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee and true Repentance Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me for they shall return unto me with their whole heart and to obtain Remission of sins Isa 53.11 By his Knowledge shall my Righteous Servant justifie many Knowledge also is a means of obtaining eternal life John 17.3 And this is eternal life that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent SECT 20. Family-Instruction will prevent not spread Errours How such as teach others may be kept from perverting or corrupting the Word of God Object 20 THis will be the way to spread and multiply Errors for illiterate men to take upon them to instruct their Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures Answ I. It doth highly concern all Misters of Families as well as Ministers of the Word to be very careful that they do not teach any false and erronious Doctrine unto those whom God hath committed to their charge This would bring down a curse instead of a blessing yea though they should seem like Angels yet would they be accursed if they perverted the Gospel of Christ Gal. 7 8. There be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ but though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you let him be accursed The Apostle was so desirous to prevent the spreading of false Doctrine that he earnestly besought Timothy to stay on purpose at Ephesus to charge in a solemn manner those that he saw inclinable to Errours to teach no other Doctrine but what was agreeable to the Doctrine of the Gospel 1 Tim. 1. 3 4. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine so do Such as teach lies instead of truth are accounted by God the bafest and vilest of men and therefore are compared not to the Head but the Tail Isa 9.14 15. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel Head and Tail Branch and Rush in one day The Ancient and Honourable he is the Head and the Prophet that teacheth lies he is the Tail When they that are Leaders of others do cause them to erre instead of promoting their salvation they will be the cause of their destruction Isa 9.16 For the Leaders of this People cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed If you ask What shall we do that we may be kept from corrupting and perverting the word of God when we instruct our Families I answer 1. Pray to God with humble and lowly hearts to give you his holy spirit God hath promised his holy spirit to them that ask it Luc. 11.13 If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him And when God hath given you his holy Spirit he will make and keep your minds sound in the Faith He is stiled The Spirit of Power and of Love and of a Sound Mind 2 Tim. 1.7 2. See that your hearts be right and sincere with God and that you walk before God in truth and uprightness do all your works and speak all your words as in the sight of God and then he will guide you by the Spirit of Truth into all Truth and keep you from corrupting his holy word 2 Cor. 2.17 For we are not as many which corrupt the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 3. Purifie your hearts and minds from all corrupt Lusts VVhen a man hath a corrupt mind he will be apt to put corrupt glosses upon the vvord of God VVhen he can't bring up his VVill to Gods he will be ready to interpret Gods Mind according to his own VVill. The Apostle conjoyns these two Men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth 1 Tim. 6.5 Now if you would purifie your minds 1. Have faith in Christ Acts 15.19 And put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith 2. Obey those Truths vvhich God hath revealed to you 1 Pet. 1.22 Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth 4. Take heed of departing from the simplicity of the Gospel under the notion of seeking after more sublime spiritual and mysterious Truths The Apostle vvas jealous lest the Corinthians should be corrupted this vvay 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 5. Keep to the Analogy of Faith Rom. 12.6 Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophecy let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith By prophesying here most understand not the gift of fore-telling things to come but the Gift of interpreting and explaining the Scriptures as the word is used 1 Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh unto men unto edification and exhortation and comfort Now the Apostle adviseth that this prophesying be according to the proportion or analogy of Faith by prophesying according to the analogy of Faith we may understand that no Scripture should be so expounded as to contradict any Article of our Faith or Precepts of an holy godly life 6. Be sober-minded and do not exercise your selves in those things which are too high for you Psal 131.1 Understand well your selves what you undertake to teach your Families The Apostle gives this character of some in his time desiring to be teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm 1 Tim. 1.7 When we teach our Families
the glory of God to train up our children and servants in the knowledge and obedience of the holy Scriptures what blessings it will bring upon our selves and Families what exceeding great benefits will accrue thereby to our children what good we may do to the generations that are yet to come how much it tends to the propagating of Religion and the power of godliness and how Family Instruction may be carried on successfully to the Conversion Edification and eternal Salvation of such as are under charge you may see in the perusal of this ensuing Treatise which I have composed for the use of such Heads of Families as are not provided of better helps but more especially for you my dearly beloved Friends among whom I have lived and with whom I have conversed My humble and earnest request to you is that if you have any love to the Lord Jesus you would express it by feeding his Lambs with the sincere milk of his Word if you have any zeal for the glory of God if any bowels towards your posterity if any desire of their spiritual and eternal welfare if any regard to the generations that are yet unborn if you have ever found any comfort in or benefit by the Word of God that you would bend your minds and set your hearts to this good work of instructing your children and servants in the knowledge and training them up in the obedience of the Scriptures And that you and all others into whose hands the Providence of God shall bring this small Treatise may by the perusal thereof be quickned to directed and encouraged in this work of Family Instruction and be enabled to manage the same to the glory of God your own and your Families Edification shall be the prayer of Your Servant in the work of the Lord Owen Stockton ERRATA Page 17. line 15. for 1 Cor. 5.7 read 1 Cor. 1.5 7. p. 23. l. 27. for 1 Pet. 2.22 r. 1 Pet. 1.22 p. 75. l. 15. r. Cocceius p. 105. l. 20. for Prov. 15.20 r. Prov. 13.20 p. 144. l. 2. r. fortifie Some other small faults have escaped the Press which the judicious Reader will easily correct The Contents THe neglect of Family Instruction a great evil page 1 2. Several Scriptures to prove it to be our duâ—y to instruct our Families and that the Instructions which we give them be drawn out of the Word of God page 3. to the 11. Servants as well as Children must be instructed page 11. to the 16. The ignorance of Children and Servants proves the necessity of Family Instruction page 16 17 Ignorance brings many and great evils upon our Families page 17. to 22 The corruption that is in Children and Servants prove the necessity of Family Instruction page 22 to 26 Family Duties cannot be performed without Family Instruction page 26. to 30. We have Gods example for teaching our Children and Servants page 30. to 33. Mothers as well as Fathers must instruct their Children page 33. to 40. Chap. 2. Motives to Family Instruction 1. Instructing our Children and Servants will be a means of their conversion page 40 41. Six reasons why we should labour after our Children and Servants conversion page 41. to 45. 2. Neglect of Family Instruction makes us guilty of our Children and Servants blond What a great evil it is to be guilty of the bloud of souls page 45. 3. Instructing our Children out of the Scriptures instils wisdom into them The advantages that will come to them by being endued with wisdom page 51. to 57. 4. Instructing our Children will bring them great advantage on several accounts page 57. to 62. 5. We benefit our selves several ways by instructing our Families page 62. to 66. 6. The neglect of Family Instruction is the cause of several evils page 66. to 59. 7. Family Instruction will propagate Religion to a thousand generations page 69. to 73. 8. Family Instruction greatly advanceth the glory of God page 73. to 76. 9. We shew our love to God by instructing our Families page 76 77. 10. Gods mercy in giving us Families should stir us up to instruct them page 77. to 79. 11. We have the example of Jesus Christ and the best men that ever lived for instructing their Families page 79. to 84. 12. Gods Judgements that have lately been upon the Nation call for Family Instruction and Family Reformation page 84. to 87. 13. The usefulness and excellency of the Scriptures should stir us up to train up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures page 87. to 92. 14. They deal unjustly with their Families who defraud them of Instruction page 92. to 95 Chap. 3. Directions how to manage the work of Family Instruction so as to promote the Conversion Edification and eternal Salvation of all such as are under our charge page 95. to 200. 1. Direct We must be diligent in studying the Scriptures page 95. to 98. 2. We must teach our Families the knowledge of the Principles and the practice of the Duties of Religion Nothing but the Truth Soul-saving Truths seasonable Truths page 98. to 107 What are Soul-saving Truths page 102. to 105. What are seasonable Truths page 106 107. 3. We must instruct our Families in the most edifying manner What manner of Instruction is must edifying What are Edifying Duties page 107 to 113. 4. We must take the fittest seasons for Family Instruction What are the fittest seasons for this work page 113. to 116. 5. We must cause them to keep the Word of God in remembrance What benefits come by remembring the Word page 116. to 119. 6. We must watch over our Families page 119. to 121. 7. We must reprove them when they do any thing contrary to the Word of God page 121 122. How to manage this duty of Reproof with success page 122 to 128. 8. When Reproofs take no place we must correct our Children page 128 How Corrections may be made effectual for our Childrens good page 129. to 132. 9. We must keep up our authority in our Families page 132. How to keep up our authority in our Families page 132 to 137. 10. We must endeavour to gain our Children and Servants affections How this may be done page 137. to 140. 11. We must endeavour to engraft those Scriptures which we teach our Children and Servants in their hearts How this may be done page 140. to 143. How to bring our Children and Servants in love with the Word page 143. 12. We must endeavour to draw our Families to Christ page 144. How to draw our Children and Servants to Christ page 144. to 148. How to fortifie our Families against the offence of the Cross that when troubles arise for the Gospels sake they may not fall off from the ways of Christ page 148. to 151. 13. We must labour to know the state of the several members of our Families How we may gain this knowledge page 152 to 155. 14. We must commune with our Children and Servants about their
this charge Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children is given to the same persons that are commanded to love God with all their hearts vers 5. and to the same persons that are enjoyned to treasure up Gods word in their hearts vers 6. So that every one that is obliged to love God and to lay up Gods word in his heart is obliged also if he be one unto whom God hath given Children to teach Gods word unto his Children 3. Take notice what is meant by teaching Gods word unto our Children It implies 1. That we should train them up in the knowledge of the Scriptures To teach is to convey knowledge and understanding Psal 119.66 Teach me good judgement and knowledge and to this effect the Persian Translation renders these words Expones ea filiis tuis Thou shalt expound them unto thy Children thou shalt cause them to understand the sense and meaning of my word 2. To teach our Children the Scriptures is to train them up in the obedience and practice of those things which the Lord requireth of us in his holy word There is a teaching to do as well as to know the will of God Psal 143.10 Teach me to do thy will Matr. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you 2 Chron. 6.27 Thou hast taught them the good way wherein they should walk 4. Observe in what manner and when we are to teach Gods word unto our Children this work must not be done in a slight superficial manner but with all diligence Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children And as for the times and seasons when we are to teach them Moses intimates that it must not be seldom but this work must be done frequently we should embrace all convenient seasons to be dropping some portion of Gods word into them Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up 5. We have the persons described whom we are to instruct out of the word of God and they are our Children Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children Now under the name of Children are comprehended our Servants and all others in the Family that need instruction as shall be shewed more fully afterwards Another Scripture wherein God commands us to teach his word unto our Children we have in the Psalms of David Psal 78.5 6 7. He established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known unto their Children that the Generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his Commandments Here we may observe 1. What it is which Parents are to teach and make known unto their Children The Law and the Testimony that is the holy Scriptures which are often called by this name the Law and the Testimony as we may see Psal 19.7 Isa 8.16 20. 2. We have a strict Command and a solemn Injunction from God given unto Parents to make known the Law and the Testimony unto their Children He commanded our Fathers that they should make them known unto their Children 3. We may take notice that this practice of Parents teaching Gods Laws unto their Children should be continued from one Generation to another unto the end of the world That the Generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare unto their Children 4. Here are three things hinted that Parents should aim at in making known Gods word unto their Children 1. The bringing their Children to believe and hope in God That they might set their hope in God 2. The fixing and imprinting in their memories the word and the works of God And not forget the works of God 3. The training of them up in the practise and obedience of Gods Commandments But keep his Commandments The Psalmist shews in the eighth verse what the want or neglect of Parents making known Gods Laws to their Children produceth Children prove stubborn and rebellious or if they make a profession of Religion they soon discover their hearts are not right with God And might not be as their Fathers a stubborn and rebellious Generation a Generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God Besides these Scriptures already mentioned I might produce several others where God commands Parents to make known his word unto their Children as Isa 38.19 The Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth By Gods truth which Fathers are here enjoyned to make known unto their Children we may understand his word for his word is called his Truth John 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth See also Deut. 4.8 9 10. What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day Only take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thine heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons specially the day when thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb when the Lord said unto me Gather the People together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the Earth and that they may teach their Children Here we may observe 1. That Gods word was given to the Jews for this very end that they might be brought to fear the Lord and that they might teach his word unto their Children I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me and that they may teach their Children 2. The Lord chargeth them very strictly to teach their Children his works which they had seen but more specially his word which he delivered to them in Horeb Only take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently teach them thy sons and thy sons sons To these places which I have cited out of the old Testament I will adde one out of the New wherein God chargeth Parents to train up their Children in the knowledge and obedience of his holy word Ephes 6.4 And ye Fathers provoke not your Children but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord The Apostle doth not say And ye Ministers as limiting this work to them but And ye Fathers implying that it is the will of God that all Parents should bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But some may say What is meant by the nurture and admonition of the Lord The Greek words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rendred Instruction 2 Tim. 3.16 and the instruction the Apostle speaks of there is
thy self and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things that thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thine heart all the days of thy life but teach them thy Sons and thy Sons Sons especially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb when the Lord said unto me Gather me the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they hall live upon the earth and that they may teach their Children 5. It will be a great support and satisfaction to Governours of Families in a dying hour if their Consciences bear them witness that they have been careful to train up those whom the Lord hath committed to their charge in the knowledge of his word It was a comfort to Hezekiah when he had received the Sentence of Death that he had done that which was good in the sight of the Lord Isa 38.3 Now this is a good thing in the sight of God to bring men to the knowledge of the Truth 1 Tim. 2.3 4. When the Lord Jesus was departing out of this world he mentions twice his giving Gods word to the men that were given to him John 17 8 14. Possibly for this reason to teach us that it will be a great comfort in a dying hour to all such as have had any persons committed to their charge to be able to appeal to God that they have taught and instructed them in the knowledge of his holy word When the Apostle Paul took his leave of the Church of Ephesus and knew he should see their faces no more though he knew that after his departing grievous Wolves would enter in among them not sparing the Flock and also that among themselves some would arise speaking perverse things yet having before been diligent in teaching them the good word of God he doth with a great deal of satisfaction of mind commend them to God and to his word knowing that Gods word was able to build them up under all oppositions and discouragements whatever Acts 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified In like manner when Parents have taught their Children the word of God although they fore-see that after their death their Children are likely to fall into many temptations by reason of seducing spirits or other evils yet they may with much comfort commend them to God and to the word of his grace wherein they have been instructed 6. Such Parents as are careful to instruct their Families and to train them up in the knowledge and fear of God shall not only be blessed themselves but they shall be great blessing unto others Gen. 18.18 19. Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him And why The Reason is rendred in the following words For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him SECT 6. The Evils that arise from the neglect of Family-Instruction Mo ∣ tive 6 COnsider what a great evil it is for Governours of Families to neglect instructing their Families in the knowledge of Gods holy Word 1. They do shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against their Children and Servants For such as do take away the Key of Knowledge do shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against those persons from whom they do take away the Key of Knowledge as is evident by comparing Mat. 23.13 Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in with Luk. 11.52 Wo unto you Lawyers for ye have taken away the Key of Knowledge ye entred not in your selves and them that were entring in ye hindred What a woful crime is this for a man to shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against his Family 2. Such Parents as neglect to instruct their children are more cruel than the Sea-monsters Lam. 4.3 Even the Sea-monsters draw out the brest to their young ones The daughter of my People is become cruel as the Ostrich in the Wilderness Instruction is as necessary for the Soul as the brest or other food is for the Body Yea they are worse than Infidels 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own and specially for those of his own House he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel The providing those things which concern the Souls of our Houshold is as necessary and the neglect thereof as dangerous as the providing for their Bodies Yea they are more unnatural than the damned in Hell for they are desirous that their Relations should be instructed and that means should be used to prevent their eternal damnation Luk. 16.23 27 28. And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham after off and Lazarus in his bosom Then he said I pray thee therefore that thou wouldst send him to my Fathers house for I have five brethren that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of torment 3. God accounts those Parents haters of their Children that neglect to instruct and correct them Prov. 13.24 He that spareth the Rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Such as do not endeavour to prevent sin in their neighbours do hate them in their hearts whatever shew of love they make in their words Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him If they hate their Neighbours that suffer sin upon them do not they hate their Children that suffer them to live in ignorance of God which is a Soul-damning sin 4. Children and Servants prove great crosses when they are not trained up in the knowledge and fear of God And this comes to pass both by the just Judgment of God who punisheth Parents and Masters neglect of Family-Instruction with the disobedient undutiful carriage of their Children and Servants and also from the power of original corruption which when it is not restrained by good education breaks forth with great violence and causeth persons to be of a perverse and stubborn spirit Eli neglecting Family-Government was punished in his Children by their proving exceeding great crosses to him 1 Sam. 2.33 The man of thine whom I shall not cut off from mine Altar shall be to consume thine eyes and to grieve thine heart And as God dealt with Eli so he ordinarily deals with those Parents that neglect to train up their Children in the knowledge and fear of his Name he suffers them to prove a reproach and
the second time Lovest thou me He saith unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my Sheep He saith unto him the third time Lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Jesus saith unto him Feed my Sheep After the Command of loving God with all our heart and all our soul and all our might is immediately added the Command of laying up Gods Word in our hearts and teaching the same diligently unto our Children Deut. 6.5 6 7. which implieth That we cann't express our love to God better than by lodging his word in our hearts and teaching it to our Children As they are Pastors after Gods own heart who are diligent to instruct the people in the knowledge of his word Jer. 3.15 I will give you Pastors according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding So they are Parents and Masters after Gods own heart who feed their Children and Servants with the knowledge of Gods word It is said of Hezekiah 2 Chron. 30.22 Hezekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord. In the like manner at the day of Judgment the Lord will speak comfortably to all those Masters of Families that have taught his good word unto their Families SECT 10. Gods mercy in giving us Families should stir us up to instruct them Motive 10 IT is a great mercy to have a Family The giving the Midwives an Houshold is mentioned as a great part of the Reward which God gave them for their fearing His Sacred Majesty Exod. 1.21 And it be came to pass because the Midwives feared God he made them Houses All the Members of a Family are Blessings and great Mercies when they are well-ordered and rightly improved It is a great Blessing to have a good Wife Prov. 18.22 Whoso findeth a Wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. Children also are accounted by God to be a Blessing and are given as a Reward Psal 127.3 5. Lo Children are the Heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his Reward Happy is the man that hath his Quiver full of them It is no small Blessing to have Servants and that we are not put to do all toylsome and inferiour works our selves and that we are not left alone to carry on our Affairs but have Servants to be helpful to us When Abraham's Servant reckons up the Blessings which God had given his Master he mentions among the rest Gods giving him Servants Gen. 24.35 The Lord hath blessed my Master greatly and he hath given him Men-Servants and Maid-Servants Solomon also speaketh of it as a mercy to have a Servant Prov. 12.9 He that is despised and hath a Servant is better than he that honoureth himself and lacketh Bread Now if a Family and every Member in a Family be a mercy and a blessing given us by God it is but meet that we should in way of gratitude dedicate our Families to God and train up every Member in the Family in the knowledge and fear of God Especially if we consider that our Children and Servants are committed to us for this very end that we should train them up in a godly sort that will lay a further obligation upon us to bring them acquainted with God by instructing them out of his holy word Mal. 2.15 Did he not make one Yet had he the residue of the Spirit And wherefore one That he might seek a godly Seed The Prophet acquaints us in these words what was Gods end in the Institution of Marriage which was not simply the giving of a Seed or the propagating of Mankind but the producing of a Godly Seed and to that end he ordained Marriage to be between one man and one woman whereas when he created Adam he could have formed many women for the use of one man seeing he had the residue of the Spirit but he made only one woman to the intent that Man and Wife might joyn in their care and endeavour to train up their Seed in a godly sort which would be much hindred by multiplying of Wives whereby a mans heart wonld have been turned away from discharging his duty to God and his Family Deut. 17.17 SECT II. We have the example of JESUS CHRIST and the best men that ever lived for instructing their Families Motive 11 IT hath been the practice of the Saints and Servants of God in all Ages and Generations to instruct and train up their Families in the knowledge and fear of the Lord And the labour and pains they have taken in this Good Work hath not gone without a Reward for both they themselves and their Families have been exceedingly blessed of the Lord Among the many examples that might be produced both out of the old and new Testament I will mention four or five It was the practise of Abraham to instruct his Family and train them up in the ways of God And what high Commendations doth the Scripture give of Abraham He is called The Friend of God The Father of the Faithful c. How did God bless Abraham He appeared often to him and gave him many precious Promises and entred into a Covenant with him and sent Angels to his House and revealed his Secrets to him and vouchsafed to talk familiarly with him yea he blessed him in all things and with all manner of blessings Gen. 24.1 Abraham was old and well stricken in age and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things And that God in blessing Abraham had respect to his teaching his Family is evident from Gen. 18.17 18. And the Lord said Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty Nation and all the Nations of the earth shall be blessed in him For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him The reason given in this Text why the Lord revealed his Secrets to Abraham and why he became a great and mighty Nation and why he became such a great blessing to the world that in him all the Nations of the Earth were blessed and why he enjoyed all promised mercies is fixed upon his care in training up his Houshold in the ways of God For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him c. If we would be accounted Abraham's Children and enjoy Abrahams Blessing we must walk in the steps of his Faith Gal. 3.7 and do his Works John 8.39 Joshua follows Abraham's example in that he did not only serve God himself but caused all his Houshold to serve the Lord Josh 24.15 As for me and my House we will serve the Lord. And observe how the Lord blessed Joshua who trained
instrumental to their Regeneration Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of Truth and the rendring of them fruitful in good works Col. 1.6 Which is come unto you as it is in all the world and bringeth forth fruit as it doth also in you since the day that ye heard of it and knew the grace of God in truth And be a means of saving their Souls for it is by the knowledge and belief of the Truth that we are brought to salvation 2 Thes 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth It is said Prov. 14.25 A true witness delivereth Souls By a true Witness we may understand one that instructeth those that are under his Charge in the knowledge of the Truth The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we render a Witness is sometimes used as Kircher observes pro predicatore for a Teacher and we find the word Witness used in this signification Act. 26.16 To make thee a Minister and a Witness And then the words may have this sence That teaching and instructing persons in the knowledge of the Truth is a means to deliver their Souls from eternal destruction III. Teach them Soul-saving Truths By Soul-saving Truths I mean such Truths as will be a certain and infallible means of saving your Children and Servants Souls if they be rightly understood firmly believed and sincerely practised If you ask What are those Truths which will be a means of saving our Children and Servants Souls if we teach them to our Families I answer Such as these 1. Teach them to know GOD and his Son JESUS CHRIST by so doing you shall guide them into the path of Life For John 17.3 This is life eternal That they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent 2. Teach them their lost and miserable condition by Nature their need of and their misery without Jesus Christ and the way and means by which they may come to be partakers of Christ For if you can draw them to Christ they shall not miss of eternal Life 1 John 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life 3. Explain to them the Covenant of Grace what great Mercies and Blessings are contained in the Covenant that their Souls may long to be brought under the Bond of the Covenant shew them also how and by what means they may get into Covenant with God for if you can bring them to lay hold upon the Covenant of Grace you shall make them Partakers of Salvation for eternal Life and Salvation is promised to such as are in Covenant with God 2 Sam. 23.5 He hath made with me an everlasting Covenant and this is all my Salvation 4. Shew them the nature necessity and excellency of faith in Christ and labour to bring them to believe in Jesus Christ If they be brought to believe in Christ they shall certainly have everlasting Life John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting Life 5. Teach them the nature and necessity of Repentance and press home upon them such Scriptures as may stir them up to the practice and exercise of Repentance if you can by any means bring them to a true and unfeigned Repentance you shall thereby save their Souls Ezek. 33.14 16. Again when I say to the Wicked Thou shalt surely die if he turn from his sin and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live 6. Teach them to serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ for he will save all those that obey him Heb. 5.9 He became the Author of eternal Salvation to them that obey him 7. Teach them to love God with all their Hearts and Souls and to love Him above all Persons and Things that are in the world Eternal Life is promised to such as love God Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him 8. Teach them to fear and reverence the Lord and that you may breed the fear of the Lord in their Souls acquaint them with the Power Holiness Goodness Justice Omniscience and Omnipresence of God and his other glorious Attributes for the fear of the Lord ariseth from and is produced by the knowledge of God Job 37.23 24. Prov. 2.5 and put them in mind of Gods Covenant wherein the Lord hath promised to put his fear into our hearts Jer. 32.40 If you can bring your Families to fear the Lord you shall save their Souls Prov. 19.23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life Psal 145.19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their Cry and will save them 9. Teach them to hope in God for all those good things which are promised in the Covenant of Grace and to keep up their hope in God under all their troubles and temptations by hoping in God they shall obtain the salvation of their Souls Rom. 8.24 We are saved by hope 10. Teach them the nature of Prayer to whom they must pray and for what and how they must pray if they would find acceptance with God The Lord Jesus taught his Disciples how to pray and John the Baptist did the like to his Disciples Luke 11.1 One of his Disciples said unto him Lord teach us to pray as John also taught his Disciples By teaching your Families to call upon God in an acceptable manner you shall promote their salvation For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10.13 11. Teach them to be sincere and to walk uprightly with God for if they walk uprightly they shall be saved Prov. 28.18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved 12. Teach them to wait upon God in all his Ordinances and to wait for the accomplishment of all his Promises They that wait on the Lord are under a promise of Salvation Prov. 20.22 Wait on the Lord and he shall save thee 13. Teach them the way to obtain the Remission of their sins for if they obtain the pardon of their sins they shall be in a blessed condition Rom. 4.7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven And shall obtain everlasting life Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified 14. Teach them to avoid evil company and to walk and converse with such as fear God that may prove a means of their salvation Prov. 9.6 Forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding Prov. 15.20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise 15. Exhort them to persevere in the faith of Christ and to continue in their obedience of his Commandments as long as they live for in so doing they shall assuredly obtain everlasting life Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithful unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Matth. 24.13 He that shall endure to the end the same
is declared in the next words The Law of his God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide Fifthly Bring them in love with the word of God love to the Word will root and ground the Truths of God in their hearts Ephes 3.17 Rooted and grounded in love Love to the word of God will root it so deeply and firmly in their hearts that no troubles will cause them to depart from the word of God but they will stick and cleave to it unto their dying day Cant. 8.6 7. Love is strong as death many Waters cannot quench Love neither can the Floods drown it If you ask How shall we bring our Children and Servants to love the Word of God I answer 1. Shew them the purity excellency and amiableness that is in the word of God Psal 119.140 Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it 2. Stir them up to practise the word of God that will cause them to love it Psal 119.167 My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies and I love them exceedingly 3. Shew them what a dangerous thing it is not to love the word God is wont to send down sore Judgments upon them that do not receive his Truth in the love of it 2 Thes 2.10.11 12. Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 4. Exhort them to put away and hate their sins and then they will love and delight in the word of God Psal 119.163 I hate and abhor lying but thy Law do I love 5. Counsel them to feed daily upon Gods word by Meditation and Faith for this will cause them to taste the sweetness of it Jer. 5.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my Heart Psal 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet And when they taste the sweetness of Gods word they will love it above all things in the world Psal 119.103 128. How sweet are thy words unto my taste Yea sweeter than Honey to my month therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold yea above fine Gold SECT 12. How to draw our Families to close with Christ How to ortifie them against the offence of the Cross Direct 12 ENdeavour as much as in you lieth to draw them to JESUS CHRIST that they may receive and close with him upon the terms of the Gospel Whatever Instructions you give your Families if you leave them Christless you leave them in a miserable perishing condition 1 John 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life But if you can prevail with them to come to and to close with JESUS CHRIST they shall become the Children of God and shall assuredly obtain everlasting Life John 1.12 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name 1 John 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting Life If you ask What shall we do that we may draw our Children and Servants to come to and close with JESUS CHRIST I answer First Shew them their miserable lost and undone condition without Christ The misery of Man without Christ is set out by the Apostle Ephes 2.12 That at that time ye were without Christ being Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and Strangers from the Covenants of Promise having no Hope and without God in the world In this Text the misery of such as are without Christ is set forth several ways 1. They are Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel that is they are none of the People of God 2. They are Strangers from the Covenants of Promise that is they have no part or portion in any of the promises either of the first or second Covenant the Covenant of Works or the Covenant of Grace 3. They are without hope They have no hope of mercy either in this world or in the world to come They may have much presumption and much carnal security but they have no hope 4. They are without God that is without the love and favour of God without the grace of God without any communion with and enjoyment of God There is much also said in few words towards the setting forth of the misery of a man that is without Christ in that fore-mentioned Scripture 1 John 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life He hath not the Life of Grace here but is dead in his sins he hath not the Life of Glory hereafter but is debarred of all hope of entring into the Kingdom of Heaven for ever The conviction of their misery and perishing condition without Christ will draw them to seek after Christ Luke 15.17 18. I perish with hunger I will arise and go to my Father Mat. 8.25 His Disciples came to him saying Lord save us we perish Inform them also that salvation from their miserable perishing condition is to be had in Christ and no where else but in Christ Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby they may be saved When the people of Israel saw that salvation was to be had in the Lord and no where else this caused them to come to him Jer. 3.22 23. Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel Secondly Acquaint them with the amiableness and excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ with what benefits they shall receive from him if they embrace him as namely that all their sins shall be pardoned Act. 10.43 and their Souls shall be taken into Covenant with God Isa 55.3 and they shall be blessed with all spiritual blessings Eph. 1.3 and that they shall have all the blessings of Heaven for ever John 3.16 When the Spouse had set forth Christs excellencies that he was the chiefest of ten thousand altogether lovely c. Cant. 5.10 16. They that before saw no beauty or comeliness in him why they should desire him vers 9. What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved c. fell in love with Christ and began to enquire where they might find him and how they might come to enjoy him Chap. 6.1 Whether is thy Beloved gone O thou fairest among women whether is thy beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee Thirdly Cause them to understand that God is very willing to bestow his Son and Jesus Christ is very willing to bestow himself upon all those that feel their need of him and are willing to receive him as is evident from such Scriptures as
about their conditions As examining our selves is the way to know our own estate 2 Cor. 13.5 So examining of others is the the way to know anothers state but of this more in the next Direction 2. By observing their carriage and conversation we may know their state Prov. 20.11 Even a Child is known by his doings whether his work be pure and whether it be right As the Tree so also a man is known by his Fruits Matth. 7.20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them The Apostle Peter by observing Simon Magus his carriage plainly perceived That notwithstanding he made a profession of faith yet he was in an unregenerate condition Acts 8.23 I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity And David by observing the sinful carriage of some men in his days concluded that they were wicked men and that they had no fear of God before their eyes Psal 36.1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart there is no fear of God before his eyes SECT 14. Of communing with our Children Servants about their spiritual state What questions we should put to them Direct 14 THat you may know the state of your Families and carry on the work of Family-Instruction the more successfully It will be good to take some time to discourse with them apart about their spiritual state and to examine them in such points as are of greatest concernment to their Souls And when you are communing with and examining them it will not be amiss to put such kind of questions to them as our Lord Jesus Christ did now and then put to his Disciples and others that were instructed by him As for instance 1. Try whether they understand those things which you have taught them Thus Christ examines his Disciples Matth. 13.51 Jesus saith unto them Have ye understood all these things See what apprehensions they have of Jesus Christ of his Person his Offices his Design in coming into the world Matth. 16.15 Whom say ye that I am Matth. 18.11 12. The Son of man is come to save that which was lost How think ye 2. Examine them about their Faith John 16.31 Do ye now believe Luke 8.25 He said unto them Where is your Faith 3. Enquire whether they do believe and apply the Promises John 11.26 Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die believest thou this And whether they believe that Christ is able and willing to help them in all their straights Matth. 9.28 Jesus saith unto them Believe ye that I am able to do this 4. Enquire whether they are convinced of their impotent condition that they are unable of themselves to do or speak any thing that is good Matth. 12.34 How can ye being evil speak good things 5. Commune with them about their love to Christ whether they love Jesus Christ above all things and persons in the world John 21.15 Jesus saith to Simon Peter Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these 6. Ask them about their ability and willingness to suffer for Christ as Whether they are willing to take up his Cross whether they could lay down their lives and suffer the loss of all they have for Christ Mark 10.38 Jesus said unto them Can ye drink of the Cup that I drink of and be baptized with the Baptism that I am baptized with 7. Enquire what frame of heart they have whether they have hard or soft earthly or spiritual ignorant or understanding hearts Mark 8.17 Perceive ye not yet neither understand Have ye your hearts yet hardened 8. Ask them what ground they have to hope that God will deliver them from eternal Damnation Matth. 23.33 How can ye escape the Damnation of Hell 9. Enquire how they spend their time when they are alone and what manner of discourse they have when they are with others whether it be savoury profitable and such as makes for Gods glory Luke 24.17 He said What manner of Communications are these that ye have one to another as ye walk and are sad 10. Enquire if they read the Scriptures and how and in what manner they read the Word of God whether they do it with an attentive mind with a desire to profit by it c. Luk. 10.26 He said unto him What is written in the Law How readest thou 11. Examine what they aim at in going to hear the Word of God as Christ did those that followed John the Baptist into the Wilderness Matth. 11.7 What went ye out into the Wilderness to see 12. Try whether they are able to resolve the objections that may be brought against the main Articles of their Faith Thus our Lord Jesus tried his Followers with a difficult question How Christ could be the Son of David when as David called him Lord Mark 12.35 36 37. David himself calleth him Lord whence is he then his Son 13. If any of them are of a doubting troubled spirit perplexed with fears enquire into the Grounds and Causes of their Fears and Doubts and whatever other troubles are upon their minds Luke 24.38 He said unto them why are you troubled 14. Ask them Wherein they excel others that want a Principle of Grace What they do more than a natural man a man that hath nothing more than a Form of Godliness Matth. 5.47 What do you more than others These and what other questions you shall judge meet you may put to them when you are discoursing with them As Whether they pray How and in what manner they pray Whether they have any answer of their prayers What temptations they meet with Whether they are prepared for Death Whether they enjoy communion with God in his Ordinances Whether they find Sin decaying and Grace increasing c. And when you put any questions to them cause them to return an answer as Christ when he was reasoning with the Jews called upon them to answer the question that he put to them Mar. 11.29 Jesus said unto them I will ask you one question and answer me This communing with our Families about their spiritual estate is seasonable at all times but more especially when any of them are in affliction and when they are under some eminent workings and stirrings of the Spirit of God or when they are assaulted with temptations or when they are to partake of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper SECT 15. How to instil Grace into the Vnconverted What Counsel to give to such as profit by our Instructions How to deal with such as do not profit by our Instructions How with such as rest in a Form of Godliness How with such as are in a declining condition Direct 15 ACcording to the state and condition that you find your Family to be in apply your instruction suitable to the case of the several Members thereof As for instance First If you find any of your Children or Servants to be in an unconverted condition endeavour as far as in you lieth to
instil Grace into their hearts and to convert them to God Psal 34.16 Come ye Children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. We should not only teach our Children to know the Lord but we must also teach them to fear the Lord. It may be you will say Can we instil Grace into our Children Can we put the fear of God into their hearts Can we give them Repentance I answer No but we may use the means and in so doing we may hope for Gods blessing If you ask What means should we use to instil Grace into and convert such of our Families as are in a graceless unconverted condition I answer 1. Warn them of the danger of a graceless unconverted condition tell them That except they be converted they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18.3 and that if they do not repent they will most certainly perish be cast into everlasting burnings Luk. 13.3 Mat. 13.41 42. And therefore warn them often of the danger of living and dying in an impenitent condition Warning persons of the danger and damnable nature of sin is an effectual means to prevent their dying in their sins and to bring them to repentance and salvation 2 Chron. 19.10 Ye shall warn them that they trespass not against the Lord Ezek. 3.21 He shall surely live because he is warned Ezek. 33.5 He that taketh warning shall deliver his Soul If you find that after many warnings there is no amendment yet cease not to warn them day after day and year after year and that with much tenderness till you see some fruit of your labours Act. 20.31 By the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears 2. Take all occasions to discourse with them about the things of God especially of those things wherein you have formerly instructed them out of the Word of God Good Discourse is a means of conveying Grace to those with whom we converse Ephes 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister Grace to the Hearers 3. Reprove them when they do that which is contrary to the Will of God and if Reproofs will not make them reform joyn Correction with Reproof Reproof and Correction are means of instilling grace into our Children Prov. 29.15 The Rod and Reproof give Wisdom 4. Stir them up to consider their ways how contrary they are to the Word of God and what will be the fruit and effect of their sins if they repent not A serious consideration of our ways is a means of leading us to repentance Psal 119.59 I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies Ezek. 18.28 Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions 5. Stir them up to read and meditate upon the Word of God that may be a means of converting their Souls Psal 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul 6. Cause them to attend upon the Publick Ministry of the Word The preaching of the Word is the usual means of working Grace in our hearts Jam. 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth Acts 10.44 While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word 7. Exhort them to forsake ungodly company and to walk and converse with them that fear God Prov. 9.6 Forsake the foolish and live and walk in the way of understanding Prov. 13.20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise 8. Be earnest with God to give them saving Grace By prayer to God we may obtain Grace for others as well as for our own Souls 1 John 5.16 If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death Secondly If upon discoursing with your Families you find they profit by the Instructions you give them and that they obey from the heart that Form of Doctrine which you deliver to them and that they grow in Grace and in the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST Then 1. Be thankful to God for blessing your Labours Rom. 6.17 God be thanked that ye were the Servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered you 2. Love the Lord for causing your Family to flourish and prosper by those instructions that you give them Cant. 7.11 12. Come my Beloved let us go up early to the Vineyards let us see if the Vine flourish whether the tender Grape appear and the Pomegranates bud forth there will I give thee my loves Our Families may be compated to Vineyards the Wife is resembled by the Psalmist to a Vine and the Children to Olive-Plants Psal 128.3 The Governour of the Family is placed in this Vineyard as Adam was in Eden to dress it and to keep it Now such of us as are made keepers of Vineyards should be often looking whether the Vine flourish whether the tender Grape appear and when we go about this work we should call to CHRIST to go with us and assist us And if we find any Grapes though they be but tender yea if we perceive but any Buds any thing that gives us hope of Fruit we should give the Lord JESUS not only our love but our loves that is we should love him abundantly for 't is He that gives a Blessing to our Labours 1 Cor. 3.6 I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the increase 3. Exhort them to look to themselves that they do not lose what you have by Gods Blessing wrought in them that so neither you nor they may lose your Reward 2 John 8. Look to your selves that ye lose not those things which we have wrought but that we may receive a full Reward When Jesus saw some of the Jews believing he exhorted and incouraged them to continue in his word John 8.30 31. As he spake these words many believed on him then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed 4. Endeavour to make them more Fruitful Thus God dealeth with his Children that bring forth fruit he teacheth and helpeth them to bring forth more Fruit John 15.2 Every Branch that beareth Fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more Fruit. The more fruitful any Christian is the more glory he bringeth to God vers 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit 5. Direct them to the right end in bearing Fruit which is not any selfish interest for that Fruit which is brought forth for selfish ends is in Gods account as good as none Hos 10.1 Israel is an empty Vine he bringeth forth fruit unto himself The glorifying and pleasing God is that which we must aim at in our bearing fruit Rom. 7.4 That we should bring forth fruit unto God 6. Endeavour that they may
and to cause them to grow as the Lily SECT 16. Six Arguments for diligence in instructing our Families Direct 16 IF you would carry on the work of Family-Instruction with success ply it with diligence Do not perform it in a slight careless customary manner but set your hearts to it and do it with all the skill and might that you have The Lord doth not only command us to teach our Children the Scriptures but he requireth us to do this work with diligence Deut. 6.7 Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children This work is a good work and every good work must be followed with diligence 1 Tim. 5.10 If she have followed diligently every good work The Apostle speaketh there of Widows now if Widows whose condition is oft attended with many difficulties and incumbrances must follow every good work with diligence how much more are they who have greater abilities and opportunities for doing good works than desolate Widows obliged to be diligent therein We read of David that when he prepared Materials to build the Temple he did it with all his might 1 Chron. 29.2 I have prepared with all my might for the House of my God the Gold for things to be made of Gold and Silver for things of Silver The building up of our Children and Servants a spiritual House for the Lord is as great and acceptable a work as the building of the material Temple and thefore we should set upon it with all our might To quicken your diligence herein consider 1. You know not how short a time you have to live with your Families and you can do nothing for them when you are in the Grave and therefore what you see necessary to be done for them by way of instruction before you die do it with all your might Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest 2. To set your hearts to this work and do it with your might is the way to prosper in what you take in hand 2 Chron. 31.21 In every work that he began in the service of the House of God and in the Law and in the Commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered 3. There is a curse pronounced against them that do the work of the Lord negligently Jer. 28.10 Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully or as it is in the Margin negligently 4. This work is to be done out of love to Jesus Christ John 21.15 Lovest thou me Feed my Lambs Now our love to Christ must not be a cold and weak love but such a love as must engage all our hearts and strengths in his service Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might 5. Consider how diligent Satan and wicked men are to do evil and to draw others to sin Some wicked men are so eager of doing mischief that they cannot sleep in the night if they have done no mischief in the day time Prov. 4.16 They sleep not except they have done mischief and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall Solomon describeth the great diligence of Harlots to corrupt young men Prov. 7.12 13 15 21. Now is she without now in the streets and lieth in wait at every corner so she caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said unto him Therefore came I forth to meet thee diligently to seek thy face and I have found thee c. With much fair speech she caused him to yield with the flattering of her lips she forced him Satan is no less active and diligent than his Instruments to tempt to sin and destroy mens Souls 1 Pet. 5.8 And shall not this provoke us to use all diligence to do good and to save their Souls that are under our charge 6. After there is some good work wrought in their hearts they will be in danger of falling into an hardned frame of Spirit if we do not with great diligence instruct and exhort them to shun that which is evil and to follow after holiness Heb. 3.12 13. Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God but exhort one another daily whilst it is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin SECT 17. Seven Arguments to perswade us to teach and watch over every Member of our-Family Direct 17 LEt your care and diligence in teaching and watching over your Families be extended to every person in the Family the meanest and most simple as well as the more knowing persons As Ministers so also Masters of Families must take heed to all their Flock and not only to the principal Members thereof Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood To provoke you to be careful of every Member of your Family even of the meanest Servant and Apprentice as well as of your Children and to seek after the Conversion Edification and Salvation of every one that the Lord hath committed to your Charge and Care Consider 1. The Example of Christ He was careful not to lose one of those Souls that were committed to him by his Father John 17.12 While I was with them in the World I kept them in thy Name Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition It is true Judas the Son of Perdition was lost but not through the want of Christs care for Judas was instructed as well as the rest but through his own wicked and perverse spirit 2. The neglecting of any one person in the Family may trouble and pollute the whole Family and prove a very great hindrance to the good of the Family Eccles 9.18 One sinner destroyeth much good Heb. 12.15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the Grace of God lest any Root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled 3. The Soul of the meanest Servant is of more value than the whole world Mar. 8 36. and therefore ought to be minded and regarded above all worldly things 4. God is so careful of that which we commit to his keeping that he will lose or neglect nothing that we commit to him After we have committed our selves to God he doth not only look after our persons but after every hair of our heads Matth. 10.30 The very hairs of your head are all numbred Luc. 21.17 18. Ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake but there shall not a hair of your head perish And shall we neglect any of those immortal Souls which the Lord hath committed to our keeping when God is
after his own Image in Righteousness and true Holiness That Adam did not continue in this estate but sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit That all men have sinned and come short of the Glory of God That the wages of sin is death That Jesus Christ died for our sins That he rose again from the dead the third day That he ascended into Heaven and sitteth there at Gods right hand to make Intercession for us That whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ shall receive remission of sins and have eternal life That the dead shall be raised and be all judged at the last day That at the day of Judgment they that have done evil shall be cast into Hell Fire where they shall remain for ever and they that have lived godly in Christ Jesus shall be taken into the Kingdom of Heaven c. Now if you have not ability to teach them the more abstruse and mysterious points of the Christian Religion teach them those things which are plain and easie and whilst you do so God will open your Understandings and give you farther insight into the Mysteries of the Gospel 3. Your fear of wresting the Scriptures should make you diligent in using the means to get a true and right understanding of the Scriptures but it should not make you neglect your duty in teaching your Children the knowledge of the Scriptures That man who had but one Talent and out of fear did not improve his Talent but went and hid it in the Earth was not excused by his having but a mean Talent or by his pleading his fearfulness but is called by his Lord a wicked a slothful servant and was cast into outer darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of Teeth Matth. 25.24 25 26 30. He which had received the one Talent came and said Lord I knew thee that thou art a hard man And I was afraid and went and hid thy Talent in the Earth lo there thou hast that is thine His Lord answered and said unto him Thou wicked and slothful servant thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not and gather where I have not strawed thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the Exchangers that I might have received mine own with usury Take therefore the Talent from him And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth If you ask What means should we use that we may come to the true and right understanding of the Scriptures and be kept from wresting them I answer 1. Be sensible of your own inability to understand the Scriptures of your selves and pray to God to open your understandings and to guide you into the true and right meaning of his holy word It is Gods work to open the eyes of our understandings whereby we may understand his word Luc. 24.45 Then opened he their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Prov. 20.12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye the Lord hath made even both of them And seeing it is Gods work to enlighten our minds we must pray to God to reveal to us the meaning of his word when we give our selves to the reading of it Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law And when we do with humble and lowly minds seek unto God he will teach us and lead us into the knowledge of the truth Prov. 28.5 They that seek the Lord understand all things Psal 25.9 The meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way They are usually proud and self-conceited persons that fall into error Psal 119.21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed that do erre from thy Commandments 2. Read the Scriptures diligently and mark the coherence of what you read with that which went before and that which followeth after observe the scope and consider well both the words and matter of those places which have any difficulty in them this will help you to a right understanding of the Scriptures 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things 3. Compare one Scripture with another that which is more obscure with that which is more clear that is the way to come to know the mind of Christ in the Scriptures 1 Cor. 2.13 16. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual we have the mind of Christ 4. Consider what is the general design and scope of the whole Scripture and if you would not wrest the Scriptures understand and expound particular Texts so as they may agree with and not contradict the general scope and design of the whole Scripture Now the general scope and design of the Scripture is 1. To bring us to believe in Christ and to teach us to expect eternal Life by believing on Christ John 20.31 These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name Prov. 22.19 20. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee Have I not written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge 2. To keep us from sinning against God 1 John 2.1 My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And to direct and help us to live holy and godly lives Tit. 1.1 According to the faith of Gods Elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after Godliness 1 Tim. 6.3 If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness 3. The general design of the Scriptures is to comfort and to encourage us in all estates and conditions to hope in God Rom 15.4 Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope 5. Receive such Truths as God reveals to you out of his word with love and yield sincere obedience to them When persons do not love and obey the Word God gives them up oft-times to strong delusions that they believe lies instead of truth 2 Thes 2.10 11. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie But as for such as do sincerely obey the voice of the Lord and continue therein the Lord is wont to give them good understandings and the spirit of a sound mind Psal 110.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his Commandments John 7.17 If any man will do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self 6. Lean not to your own understandings but trust in the Lord with all your hearts rely upon him to keep you from Errour of Judgment and to lead and guide
glory from them that perish page 313. 314. 6. We should consider Gods great mercy in taking our own souls into a Covenant of Life and Salvation page 314. 315. The case of such as are overwhelmed with grief because they fear their Children are in eternal torments Gods justice in punishing sinners to eternity vindicated page 315 to 325. The case of such as are troubled because they conveyed Original Sin to their Children considered page 325 to 327. The case of such as are troubled because their Childrens bloud will be required at their hands considered page 327 to 331. Though it be a great sin to be guilty of the bloud of souls yet 't is a pardonable sin page 329. 330. The case of such as are cast down because God hath not answered their Prayers for their Children or prospered their labours considered page 331 332. The case of such as cannot reconcile the Providence of God in casting away their seed with his promise I will be thy God and the God of thy seed page 333 to 336. A TREATISE OF Family-Instruction CHAP. I. The Evils that arise from the neglect of Family-Instruction Whence it proceeds that Family-Instruction is neglected Five Arguments to prove it to be a Duty The Instructions we give our Families must be drawn out of the Scriptures Servants as well as Children must be instructed Mothers as well as Fathers must instruct their Children THe neglect of Family-Instruction is a great and yet a common Evil The sad effects thereof such as the decay of the power of Godliness gross ignorance undutiful and disobedient Children evil and unfaithful Servants the growth and increase of sin c. are so plain and visible almost in all places that he that runneth may read them Neither is it the present Generation only which is corrupted through the carelesness of those Parents and Masters of Families who neglect to train up their Children and Servants in the knowledge and fear of God but hereby ignorance and iniquity are like to be propagated unto and greatly increased in the Generations which are yet to come For when God shall give those Children and Servants who were trained up without Instruction Families of their own it is most probale that they will neglect to teach their Children and Servants and that the succeeding Generations which shall spring out of their Loyns will tread in their Fathers steps and so vice and ignorance will descend from one Family to an other for many generations If we enquire into the ground and cause of this evil whence it cometh to pass that Family-Instruction is so much neglected I conceive the reason of most if not of all mens neglect of this Duty may be reduced to one of these four heads 1. Either they are not convinced that it is their Duty to instruct their Families Or 2. Though they know it to be their Duty they want an heart to set about the performance of it Or 3. Though they are willing to instruct their families yet they know not how to set about this work at least they know not how to carry it on in an advantageous successful manner and therefore leave it undone Or 4. They have gotten certain pleas whereby they think to excuse their neglect of this work Wherefore in this ensuing Treatise the design whereof is to excite parents and masters of families to train up their children in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures I shall do these four things 1. I shall prove it is the duty of parents and masters of families to instruct their children and servants in the knowledge and to train them up in the obedience of the word of God 2. I shall produce some motives to excite those who neglect this work of Family-instruction to be diligent constant and conscientious in the performance of their duty in teaching and instructing their families 3. I shall give some directions how this work of family-instruction may be carried on so as to promote the conversion edification and eternal salvation of such as are under our charge 4. I shall answer the most material Pleas and Objections that are brought against training up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures whereby many persons are either kept from or discouraged in the performance of this work I shall begin with the first of these namely to prove that it is the duty of all Parents and Masters of Families to teach the Scriptures unto their Children and Servants and to train up their Families in the knowledge and obedience of the Word of God SECT 1. Scripture proofs for Family-Instruction The Instructions we give our Families must be drawn out of the word of God Arg. 1 WE have many plain and express Commandments from God wherein the Lord straightly chargeth all Parents and Masters of families to teach his word unto their children and servants and requireth them to be very diligent therein I shall mention some places both out of the old and also out of the new Testament where we have express commands from God for the teaching his word to our children and prove that under the name of Children are comprehended our Servants and all the Members of the Family Deut. 6.6 7. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up This being a full and pregnant Text for proving the point in hand I shall observe several things from it 1. What it is which we are to teach our children and that is the word of God These words which I command thee this day thou shalt teach them unto thy Children The Apostle gives this commendation of the Scripture that it is profitable for instruction in Righteousness 2 Tim. 3.16 and intimates to us Rom. 2.17 18. That the Jews drew their instructions which they gave to those whom they taught out of the Law of God Behold thou art called a Jew and knowest his will and approvest the things that are more excellent being instructed out of the Law of God 2. Observe who they are whom God commands to teach his word unto their Children and you shall find that this Charge is not given to the Tribe of Levi but to all Israel The Lord calls out twice to the whole Body of the People Hear O Is ael vers 3. Hear O Israel vers 4. If it had been said Hear O House of Aaron or Hear O ye Sons of Levi we might have thought it had special reference to the Ministers of the Word but when this charge is ushered in with a double Call to all Israel to give audience no man can say This Command of teaching Gods word to my Children belongeth not unto me except he be one that is and resolveth to continue an alien to the Commonwealth of Israel I may adde further that