each other in Election and three in Reprobation 〈◊〉 ten Commandments how they are broken Seven causes how justification is wrought 2d Doct. by two reasons and the 3d. by five proved 4th Doctrine proved by thirteen Reasons Forty Rules to direct Children in their duty The twelve Articles of the Nicene Creed proved Four principal Motives to move all to their duty The Conclusion with the fifth Doctrine THE Father's Spectacles c. EPHES. VI. 4. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. THe Holy Apostle writing to those that were Gentiles by nature knowing that they were naturally subject to may failings might violate natures bounds by being induced by corrupt nature to sin which they were formerly dead in he exhorts them to general rules of Christianity as Humility Long-suffering Unity Peace and Holiness of Life First In Mortification by putting off Lying Anger Malice and corrupt Communication and the like Secondly By having no Society with Evil Company but to live in Brotherly Love and to be diligent in their callings and to submit themselves one to another as also to know all their duties as they stand related one to the other which he discourseth at large And then he setteth forth very excellently the great and wonderful work of their Redemption by Jesus Christ Also he shews them their undone state by Nature without a Christ and that Humility and true Faith is the true way of attaining true Peace And that the right way of retaining of it is by perseverance First To search into and to know the love of Christ Chap. 3.19 Secondly To keep in unity and to walk worthy of that Vocation in which they were called Chap. 4.1 to 6. Thirdly To be firm and stedfast Chap. 4.14 Fourthly To let their Conversation be suitable to their profession Chap. 4 22 to 29. Fifthly To put on the whole Armour of God not to flinch or draw back for there is never a Backpiece See Chap. 6.11 to 18. Sixthly The Duties of Honour Respect Service Obedience to Superiors and Familiarity and true Love to each other partâ—cularly that so their Christian work may be throughly accomplished Lastly It appears that the many failings and neglects of duties in the last age foreseen by the Apostle occasions him to write thus unto this Church c. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The Words being thus read here is First The Person speaking Paul Secondly The Persons spoken to Fathers Leigh in his Critica Sacra saith is of a large extent than the Male kind it properly setteth forth natural Parents implying as well Mothers as Fathers as the usual method of the Spirit is to include both Sex in one Expression Gen. 5.2 1 Cor. 11.28 Thirdly The Duty enforced by a positive Command negatively expressed Provoke not c. Fourthly Here are the Persons not to be provoked viz. Children Such as are under the care and tution of Parents This Negative Precept may possibly extend it self so high as Kings to their Subjects 2 Kings 5.13 1 Chron. 28.2 Isa 22.21 Judges 5.7 17 10 11. And also to Judges and Magistrates to those that cry to them for Right Equity and Justice Deut. 20.5 to 11. Numb 11. 17 18. And to Executors Trustees and Governors of Orphans to Officers in Towns Liberties and Cities In a word to all that are in Authority to teach instruct rule and govern any persons whatsoever Heb. 13.17 Fifthly Here is the true nature of the defined subsequent or that inveterate exasperated passion that is prohibited set forth viz. Wrath. Sixthly Here is an absolute Direction 1st To educate them in good discipline as the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth 2dly To instruct them in divine knowledge Thus much by way of Explication I now come to the Doctrinal conclusions that do naturally arise from this Text Which are these which follow 1 Doct. That Parents should take all care possible to avoid all Occasions of Provocations as not to give any just Offence whereby their Children are exasperated or so far provoked as to offend the Lord or disobey their Parents 2 Doct. That if Parents have real affections for their children they will use the best means possible to keep them from sin 3 Doct. They that are true Christians indeed have such tender love to their Childrens Souls that they will use all means possible to nurture them up in the right way of the Lord. 4 Doct. That Children ought to yield obedience to all their Parents Commands in the Lord with holy Reverence Honour and Zeal 5 Doct. That the Lord doth take great care for the eternal good of those that cannot any ways take care for themselves But to the first Doctrine That Parents should avoid all occasions of Provocations c. First Here I shall shew you what may be properly called Provocations that so Parents may take them out of the way that they do not cause their Children to stumble fall and be broken to pieces Which are these sixteen as followeth First When Parents will not teach and instruct their Children and slight and abuse them if they do not learn This is a hard Lesson if the Lord should deal so with the Sons of Men who of them but would fall immediately into the gulf of Despair among all the Children of men can we expect to reap where we never sowed If I had not known such a thing as this to be I could hardly have conceived that ever any should be so very austere and unnatural or ever had been to the fruit of their own bowels The wise man's Counsel to Fathers is Prov. 23.12 Apply thine heart to instruction it should be part of thy every days meditation to consider how thou shouldest instruct teach and train up thy Child in all things uppertaining to this Life and that which is to come Train up a Child saith Solomon in the way he should go Prov. 22.6 which is rightly done by mild and gentle instructions and not by causeless slighting Reflections A Second Provocation is when Parents shall never give their Children a good Word nor a good Look though the Child do whatever it possibly can to please them if the Lord should always frown upon thee and ever speak to thee with an angry Countenance and Words how couldest thou be able to stand before him consider it is a mild carriage and loving speech that doth win the heart It was St. Paul's way 1 Thes 2.7 't was by gentle words and carriage that Abigal overcome David though he was in great wrath 1 Sam. 25.24 Love is a special winning grace 1 Cor. 13.5 It doth not behave it self unseemly soft words will stop sin in its course Prov. 15.1 Mild Speeches become good Men My Son faith Abraham God will provide c. Read Isaac's manner of Speech to his Sons Gen. 27. Chap. 28.1 When
8.26 7ly Stinted Forms keeps Persons in a lame stupid dead and lukewarm posture so long as they do continue in the use of it they are neither hot nor cold Revel 3.15 16. What the Fruits and Benefits that forms do conduce I leave it to those that have received it if any have to declare but this is certain that the Letter kills but it is the Spirit that giveth life 2 Cor. 3.6 John 3.63 8ly By spiritual Prayer we have access unto the Throne of Grace Ephes 2.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 1st Accessus 2ly Manuductionem A drawing near by leading by the hand to God as Persons are led or conducted into Kings Courts but I do not find any promise in all the Holy Scriptures that any shall have access to God by reading or saying over of stinted forms of Prayer 9ly There are many good Presidents in Scripture that the faithful in all ages have poured out their Souls to the Lord omnipotent in Spiritual Prayer It is said Isaac went out into the field to meditate Gen. 24.63 The Margin reads it to pray agreeing with Ainsworth in loc David poured out his soul to the Lord Psal 142.1 to 7. Jehoshephat was fervent in this duty 2 Chron. 20.12 Hezekiah prayed against Senacherib's Blasphemy 2 Kings 19.15 It will be too tedious to set forth one quarter of the instances of this kind Take St. Paul for your Example who saith He will pray with his Spirit and with his understanding also 1 Cor. 14.15 Epaphras is said to be fervent in this duty Col. 4.12 10ly Spiritual Prayer is commanded Praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit Ephes 6.18 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and suplication let your request be made known to God Phil. 4.6 I will that men pray every where 1 Tim. 2.8 Pray for them that despitefully use you Mat. 5.44 Luke 6.28 Pray ye the Lord of the Harvest Mat. 9.38 Pray one for another James 5.16 If ye sow to the spirit ye shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.8 34 Direction is Be often minding of them that they let the love of God in Christ be the principal Motive upon their Hearts to perswade them to love God above all to uphold them from being dashed in pieces upon that rock of Despair about Personal Election and Reprobation Know for certain that as all were brought into a state of Condemnation by the first Adam's Sin so all that believe are in a state of justification by the death of Christ Rom. 5.18 For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved John 3.16 17. There is Salvation open to every Soul that believeth the Lord hath taken such care for every mans Salvation 1st That he hath commanded the Gospel to be Preached to every Creature Mark 16.15 16 2dly That Prayers and Supplications be made for all men 1 Tim. 2.1 to 6. 3dly The Lord would have all men come to the Knowledge of the Truth that they might be Saved 1 Tim. 2.4 as touching those that are Elected they are Elected thro' the Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 2 Thes 2.13 to believe on Christ is the first step to enjoy the promise of Eternal Salvation Heb. 3.9 Revel 22.14 Heb. 10.36 Jam. 1.25 2dly True Faith is the spring of true love to God in Christ which is also the true and only ground of our Obedience Rom. 6.17 18. 3dly A right Knowledge of Gods love in justification by his Son is the chief ground of our love to God 1 John 4.19 4thly True Faith is that hand whereby we receive Christ and Christ's Righteousness is the matter or material Cause of our Justification as Gods Imputation of it to us is the formal Cause and Faith I think I may say without any blame may be said to be the Instrumental Cause thereof but no procuring Cause or meriting Condition of our Justification for Faith is in the Covenant of Grace as it is the Gift of God and therefore not a procuring Condition of it Rom. 3.28 Gal. 2.16 Rom. 5.1 Gal. 3.24 5thly Preaching the Gospel thro' the working of Gods Spirit is the cause of Faith Rom. 10.17 6thly The love of God in Christs Death and Resurrection is the ground and cause of the Gospels being Preached 1 Cor. 15.1 to 23. 7thly The love of God to those he gave to Christ is the only ground and cause why he sent his Son to dye John 3.16 17. Heb. 2.9 So on the other hand Sin is the cause that any are reprobated it is for the Sin of their Nature which they love and for Unbelief Rom. 11.23 all which remains they do not will not hear the Word so as to set their hearts to ponder on the same their understandings are blinded their wills rebellious their affections are carnal their hearts are immoderately set upon Earthly things If any man loveth the World the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2.15 Because they believe not the Word of Life they remain in a state of Condemnation the Scripture holds forth that mans Destruction is of himself Mat. 23.37 Hosea 13.9 35 Direction is Teach your Children to avoid the Seeing Hearing Receiving doing or Allowing of those things that are directly prohibited or forbid in Scripture First You must Teach them the Ten Commandments recorded in Exod. 20. Deut. 5. the Lord by these Precepts hath prohibited all from gross and capital Sins to teach men Morrality and Divine Adoration and Invocation having called him from all Corruption unto the integrity he first Created him in And therefore 1st Man is denied to have any other object of Divine Adoration beside his Creator 2dly Man must not have the least shew of any kind of Worship in Expression Gesture or Habit not so much as in affections too nor towards any Image or the likeness of any Creature Made Ingraven or Portraied of any Mass or resemblance whatsoever no not so much as to go into the place where an Idol is nor to eat of the Meat that has been offered to an Idol Acts 15.20.29 Chap. 21.25 keep your selves from Idols 1 John 5.21 Flee from Idolatry 1 Cor. 10.14 Levit. 19.4 Any thing that is set up in our Hearts and extolled above our Maker which we take all care possible to please our selves in to admire and set our Chief Love upon that we give more Service Love and Adoration too then is properly due to a meer Creature is by us made an Idol and though it be no God yet we make it a God unto our selves Fourteen several ways Men may make to themselves Gods and Serve Love and Adore them more then they do their Creator And 1st some make their Bellys their God they lay up all
1st A Person under provocation is hard to be workt upon Prov. 18.19 2dly Moses himself being provoked by Israel's Idolatry brake the Tables of the Commandments Exod. 32.19 3dly Cain Esau and David being provoked resolved upon murder but Cain only was in the Act Gen. 4.8 The other two were overcome by length of time and loving importunity Gen. 27.41 1 Sam. 25.21 4thly The Patriarchs being provoked by Jacob's special love to Joseph sold him into Egypt Gen. 37.27 5thly Simeon and Levi being provoked by Sechem's deflowring their Sister Dinah they destroyed them all Gen. 34.25 6thly Samson being provoked several times by his Wives and the Philistines he burnt their corn and destroyed many of them and himself with them at the last Judges 14. Ch. 16. Ch. 17. 7thly Saul being provoked by Nahash the Ammonite destroyed his Army 1 Sam. 11.11 I might tell you of Jehosaphat Josiah Hezekiah Jeremiah and many more both of the Kings and Prophets as also some of the Apostles who were provoked to do that and also to speak that which otherwise they would not had they not been urged to it but it will be too large a Task here to enter upon You may observe the Effects of Provocation in them as you read of them in your Bibles I pass to the seventh Reason 7th Reas is Because by Provocation they are tempted many times to destroy both body and soul which is both accomplished by felo dese it being a breach of the sixth Commandment my self hath been by 〈◊〉 Provocation tempted to this evil had not the grace of God restrained me Benedictus fit Deus What Horrid extremity and Inveterate Cruelty in opposition to the Commandment of God and love to our own selves does Provocation drive such into who beyond any brutal act do lay violent hands on themselves how hath it emptied them of all Faith Fear Love and Hopes of a future Happiness that were as Saul and his Son Jonathan Achitophel Zimri and Judas provoked to destroy themselves 1 Sam. 31.4 2 Sam. 17.23 1 Kings 16.18 Mat. 27.2 The true fear of the Lord was fled from before their eyes who are under a Provocation to act in this kind Parents for the love of your Childrens Souls least this Temptation attend them give them no just occasion of Provocation least their blood be required at your hands and you will have enough to do to answer for your selves 1 Pet. 4.18 For if the righteous scarcely shall be saved where wilt thou O poor sinner appear 8th Reason is Because Provocation is the first step to take off Childrens natural Love from their Parents and so a means to teach them to break Gods Commandment Honour thy Father and thy Mother and will you teach them to dishonour you by being unnatural to them and provoke them to wrath and so to disobedience True natural Love is not so settled in the heart the Child being under the Continual Dropping of this dark Cloud of Provocation First Doubts of its Parents true Love to it and then being chaffed a long time by it comes to believe they have none at all and so that love that was before seated in the heart is now as I minded before turned into a kind of an Antipathy which 1st If the belief of being their natural Issue And 2dly If the Grace of God did not bear them up their pure natural Love would be turned into an absolute Hatred but Parents take the stone out of their way least they should stumble and fall and none to help them Col. 2.2 Let your hearts be knit together in love 9th Reason is Because the faithful in all ages have been to us in this a good Example What great love had Abraham for Isaac as the Lord testifieth Gen. 22.2 Isaac to Esau Gen. 25.28 Rebeckah to Jacob Jacob to Joseph and Benjamin Gen. 37.3 David to Absolom though a Rebel 2 Sam. 13.39 Hannah to Samuel 1 Sam. 1.22 Job to his Children Job 1.5 Which the Lord taketh special notice of Oh how tender are the Ews of their young and the Hinds which the Prophet Jeremiah seems to wonder at Jer. 14.5 It is said of Monica the Mother of Austin while he was addicted to sin her Prayers and Tears were so abundant that St. Ambrose comforted her with these words Impossibile est ut filius tantarum Lachrymarum periret 'T is impossible a Son of so many Prayers and Tears should miscarry 'T is reported of several Parents in Carthage who when their Sons were exiled as soon as they were aboard they threw themselves down into the Sea and were drowned How many in this our age have been seized with death as soon as they have lost their Beloved Children Time will fail and I should be too tedious if I should travel this Field any further I leave it to your judicious reading Contemplation and Experience and pass it 10th Reason is Because Provocation may be the great Hindrance of their Souls Salvation If the value of one Soul be of more worth than the whole world as is most certain Mark 8.36.37 Mat. 16.26 Then how tender of and what care should Parents take of their Childrens Souls Emit chare qui solvit animam He buys dear that pays his Soul But much more dearer that pays two at once Parents should stand in the Gap with Moses Exod. 32.32 and plead with the Lord for their Children Paul was so vehemently affected for Israels Salvation that he wisheth himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Separated from the fruit of Christs Love for a Season so they might be eternally saved Rom. 9.3 It will be sad at the last day if you must answer for their Souls who I fear will have too much to answer for your selves endeavour to win them and not to provoke them this know that he that winneth Souls is wise Prov. 11.30 Take the yoke of Christ on you and learn to be meek and then you will find rest unto your souls Mat. 11.29 You should with the good Shepherd watch for your Childrens Souls Heb. 13.17 And with Paul be glad to spend and be spent for them 2 Cor. 12.15 11th Reason is Because all Carriages of Parents to Children ought to be sweetned with true Love Love is a winning Grace My Son saith Abraham when he was to sacrifice Isaac Gen. 22.8 God will provide himself a Lamb a Loving Speech your Looks your Carriage your Words and Deeds should be all seasoned with Love 't is the first the last the new and the old Commandment 1 John 2.7.3.11 23. God is love 1 John 4.8 It will surely please his Sacred Majesty most to have all his of the same nature as himself if thou do all in love the Lord will love thee freely Hosea 14.4 He will preserve thee Psal 145.20 Paul saith Ye are taught of God to love one another 1 Thes 4.9 It will do well to learn this Lesson and then every wheel being oyled with this grace will go round very pleasantly and all
endeavour to exclude all those Persons or not receive them into your Houses that do disturb them or that are any ways a hinderance to your Childrens Good Ishmael did but mock at Isaac but Sarah desired Abraham to put him out of his Family and the Lord approved of his so doing Gen. 21.9 12. Know this for certain that Evil Communication corrupts good manners 1 Cor. 15.33 The Lord would have all the wicked Persons excluded out of the Land of Canaan least their Children should learn any of their wicked ways Deut. 9.13 The Church is to excommunicate Notorious Sinners Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.5.7.13 2 Cor. 6.17 For not doing of which the Church at Pergamos was much blamed as well as Thyatira even for retaining or not casting out of sinful persons Rev. 2.14 20. Nay we must not retain vain thoughts Jer. 4.14 For fear they will corrupt us and hinder all good motions faith David I am the Companion of all them that fear thee Psal 119.63 Such good Companions all Christians should choose for their Children if they have true christian love for them at all Times and Places 14 Direction You must take great care of their Chastity and justifie their Innocency and to dispose of them in Marriage to Godly Yoke-fellows timely to prevent their committing of Fornication but if they are falsly accused do your uttermost to clear them whether married or single persons The Lord gave strict charge to the Children of Israel that they should not prostitute their Children to Adultery Levit. 11.29 If a Man accuse his Wife of Unchastity the Father shall stand by her and clear her before the Judges Deut. 22.13 21. Sampson's Parents were not willing he should marry into that adulterous crew of the Philistines Judges 14.3 Isaac and Rebeckah were very much against Jacob and Esau's marrying with any of the Canaanites Gen. 27.46 Ch. 28.1 9. It was the good counsel and advice of Solomon's Mother to him to keep himself chast give not thy strength unto Women Prov. 31.3 Paul's Advice young Women in Tit. 2.5 was to be chast keepers at home not to straggle abroad as Dinah did Gen. 34.1 You must ever have a Watchful Eye over them knowing that they are ever in danger 15 Direction is You must endeavour their sanctification It is said Job sent and sanctified his Children Job 1.5 But in what manner is not expressed The First Step to Sanctification is Regeneration O shew them the necessity of the New-birth which is wrought by the Holy Spirit as the Effects of our Union with Christ The Tree must first be made good before there can be good fruit you must teach them to know the necessity of Faith and being implanted into Christ if you would have them cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and to perfect holinness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 The Apostle saith This is the will of God even your Sanctification 1 Thes 4.3 Tell them the way how they must be kept from evil if you will do the will of God Heb. 12.1 Endeavour to cause their conversations to be holy 1 Pet. 1.15 Direct them to keep close to the Truth in the Doctrine of it many Erroneous Principles now abound John 17.9 a good Doctrine and Holy Conversation must be joyned together there are damning Principles as well as damning Practices 2 Pet. 2. â— 2 3. Exhort them to be zealous in every good work Tit. 2.14 Perswade them to labour after Piety of Mind 1 John 3.3 Direct them to pray and cry for the Holy Spirit which is the only agent that works regeneration Rom. 8.13 Direct them to put on Christian Armour Eph. 6.13 Instruct them to deck themselves with the Ornaments of a Christian which are these 1st Wisdom Prov. 4.9 She shall be an Ornament to thine bead a choise Jewel The 2d is Humility Prov. 22.4 By it comes Riches Honour and Life and that which all desire 3d. is Meekness The Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3.4 4th Ornament is Love Let your adorning be with the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 which is hearty Love 5th Ornament is Holiness It becomes the House of God for ever Psal 93.5 6th Ornament is Zeal as Ornaments are a Temptation and Provocation to others who have an aptness to imitation so saith the Apostle Your Zeal hath provoked many 2 Cor. 9.2 Perswade them to present themselves daily before the Lord to offer up their souls to him in prayer and praises Rom. 12.1 Instruct them to make the word of God the rule of their Faith and Practice Psal 119.9 By your so doing you may in some good measure attain your end in so good a Design but if you should prescribe Mediums Measures and Rules for your Children to walk by either of Piety or Vertue and you your selves at the same time do not in any sence or kind observe them your selves nor set a good Example before them how can you expect if you command them to do it that they should at all obey you for saith the Child my Parents do thus and thus why may not I O know that the evil Example of Parents hardens their Children In the way of Vertue be sure of this that it is the nature of Children to imitate their Parents in any thing that they see know or observe their Parents to do either in Vice or Vertue therefore you must shew unto your Children a Good and Christian like Example Some Parents are given so much to debauched Language that they cannot forbear it before their Children many Parents are apt to swear a Sin that hath neither pleasure nor profit in it which is so much forbid in the Scripture Levit. 5.1 Deut. 5.11 Zach. 5.3 Mat. 5.34 James 5.12 Some Parents are given to Lying Cousening and Cheating which their Children are private too and sensible of as also to Thieving and the like How can such Men reprove or rebuke their Children for any of those Evils which they learn of them Parents you must first reform your selves and then you may the better and easier prevail upon your Children Paul was a good pattern to all good Parents Be ye followers of me saith he 1 Cor. 4.16 even as I am of Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 And mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example Phil. 3.17 Paul also exhorted Timothy to be an example to Beleivers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in saith in purity to attend reading exhortation and doctrine 1 Tim. 4.12 13. Also to improve his gift 2 Tim. 4.2 Here is an excellent lesson indeed if all Parents would but learn it they would be not only good but godly patterns for their Children to take Example by Prov. 20.7 16 Direction is Do not give them any just occasion whereby they are provoked to sin 1st Let not your evil presidents be a block in your Childrens way for this will be a
unnatural as to send it out of Doors so soon as it was born not regarding it as though it were none of her own as some Women do who are worse to their young than the savage beasts of the field that will not take care to nurse preserve and protect their young ones it is looked on as a judgment by the Prophet Hosea 9.14 What saith he wilt thou them give a miscarrying womb and dry breasts most Women are much troubled if they cannot bare Children then why not much more if they do not let them suck of that Milk which nature has provided for the Childs nourishment it is a small sign of remorse when they are not troubled for that which is their own proper faults Fouthly All Children do naturally love those Parents most whom they sucked to take care for assist and help in their necessities when old if there be a kind of an Affection in Nurses to those they nurse and a peculiar love in the Child to the Nurse whom it sucked till death much more the Natural Affections of a Child to its Natural Parents who bore it and nourished it with their own milk what other Benefits arise thereby I leave it to your Experience to witness in length of time Nurse your Children your selves do not as t is said of the Deer that they repulse and separate those that are impotent do not turn your Children out of doors least they in time have the same Opportunity and you your selves share of the like fare from them 't is the sin of the last times to be without natural Affections therefore take away the cause that the effect may cease 3 Direction is Dedicate your Children to the most High offer them up in your Prayers Wishes and Desires to the Lords omnipotent Care and Protection Hannah dedicated Samuel unto the Lord 1 Sam. 1.28 Every First born was to be offered to the Lord Exod. 13.12 O that Ishmael might live before thee saith Abraham Gen. 17.18 How excellently did Zathariah yield up John to the Service of the Lord Luke 1.76 So Parents should do and pray continually with good Job for their Conversion and offer daily Sacrifice for them do not forget to offer your Souls in Prayer with and for them that they may be sensible how great care you have of their Souls eternal well-being Job 1.5 4 Direction Parents be sure you agree together in your Commads Let not the Father command one thing and the Mother presently contradict it before the Child this will harden them in Disobedience the first Precept to the Woman after the transgression was to be subject to her Husband and he should rule over her Gen. 3.16 But that Woman is very impudent that is so far from obeying her Husband that she will Lord it over him by contradicting his Authority in just commands and more especially when so much evil attends it as in this case Parents should both take great care not to oppose each other before their Children but chiefly when it is about their Childrens duty but to take another fit Opportunity in cool Blood in Love and in their Childrens absence to dispute the lawfulness of the matter 5 Direction Keep your Children in due subjection before they be too stubborn He that spareth the rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chastneth him betimes Prov. 13.24 Chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul spare for his crying Prov. 19.18 Rods and Reproof give Wisdom but a Child left to himself brings his Mother to shame Prov. 29.15 Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest and delight unto thy soul Prov. 29.17 A Bishop is commanded to have his Children in subjection with all gravity 1 Tim. 3.4 6 Direction Let your Children be your chiefest joy in this World Rejoyce in them as they are the gift of the Lord but do not idolize them good Job took delight enough in his Children as himself expresseth Job 19.17 Chap. 29.5 Yea when the Lord hath permitted their death by a great wind he seems to rejoyce that as the Lord gave them so he hath now taken them away and saith he blessed be the name of the Lord Job 1.19 without sorrow repining and murmuring he seems to joy in this affliction hopeing they were gone to a better Father All the Patriarchs did take delight in their Sons and Daughters except when they sinned Gen. 34.30 7 Direction You must reprove and rebuke your Children if they sin This Work must not be done to halves as Old Eli did 1 Sam. 3.13 If they sin against the Lord and no Reproof nor Rebuke will prevent them they must be restrained with due severity Folly is bound up in the heart of a Child but the rod of Correction driveth it away Prov. 22.15 Withhold not Correction from thy Child for if thou beatest him with rods he shall not die Prov. 23.13 St. Paul saith We had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence Heb. 13.9 This Duty must 1st be done with Love because it is God Ordinance to restrain them from iniquity Deut. 8.5 2dly You must shew them their sin for which you rebuke or correct them Saying with the holy God O Do not this abominable thing which I bate Jer. 44.4 3dly Tell them that thou dost correct them out of Conscience to God and Love to their precious souls Prov. 11.30 4thly Reprove and Corect them with pitty telling them if good Words would have restrained them you would not have used Blows Psal 103.13 5thly Shew them by some place of Scripture How much the Lord is offended with them for this their sin Deut. 29.20 6thly Keep them from evil Company that are the Inducements to sin 1 Cor. 15.33 7thly Correct them not in anger but with fair and loving words as it were with severity according to the Fact but all in a Cool Blood Jer. 30.11 8thly Be often in Prayer with and for them that if all other means fail that this may work upon them for their Souls eternal good thus rebuke and correction may be rightly performed and the Child not provoked to anger but love 1 Thes 5.17 9thly Be sure that the Sin that thou correct thy Child for be not an evil which he has seen thee often guilty of then 't is to be feared that thy Correction will do no good 1 John 3.20 10thly Forbear many chiding Words and Threatning Expressions Ephes 6.9 11thly Smile not on them in their sin nor use no shew of approbation towards them in it for this will harden them Solomon saith a flattering Tongue worketh ruin Prov. 26.28 12thly Do not rail on them nor miscall them when you correct them This does not become a Servant of Christ 1 Pet. 3.9 8 Direction is Be sure look well to it that at all times your Children obey your lawful Commands do not let them run at full length of Reins See that they speedily and duely perform what you order
Parents if they know any thing at all know that sin is a transgression of the Law and by it the Lord is offended with them that break his Commandments He that keepeth the whole Law and offends in one point is guilty of all James 2.10 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 Parents knowing this if they love their Children they will keep them from sin if possible Reason 2. Parents know that the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 not only the death of the Body but the second Death or the eternal depravation of the Soul from Eternal Happiness and sentenced to eternal wrath Mat. 25.41 I pass to the Third Doctrine which is Doct. 3. That they that are true Christians indeed have such entire love to their Childrens Souls that they will use all means possible to nurture them up in the right way of the Lord This Doctrine seems to be one perfect Character of a Christian and it naturally ariseth from the Text viz. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The 1st Reason is Because Parents know that if the Soul be eternally lost there is no recovering of it again There is a great gulf fixed Luke 16.26 'T is the eternal decree of the Lord that none can pass it none can enter in when the door is shut Mat. 25.10 2d Reason is Because Nurture and Instruction is the way to eternal Life This is life eternal to know thee saith Christ the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 As 1st To know him in his Titles John 1.5 14 29 45 49 51. 2ly To know him in his Nature Rom. 1.3 Acts 13.23 Gal. 4.4 3ly To know him in his Attributes as he is all Wisdom Justice Life Light Mercy Power Majesty Immortality Incomprehensible and Immutable 1 Cor. 1.24 John 1.4 Mat. 28.18 1 Tim. 6.16 James 1.17 4ly To know Christ in his Person in his Excellencies and in his Offices as 1st King 1 Tim. 6.15 2ly Priest Heb. 7.21 3ly Prophet Acts 3.22 23. 5ly To know him in his Promises John 14.16 Mark 10.29 30. 6ly To know him in his Conception and Birth Mat. 1.20 25. 7ly To know him in his Life and Doctrine Acts 10.38 8ly To know him in his Death 2 Cor 5.15 Heb. 2.9 Rom. 5.10 9ly To know him in his Resurrection Rom. 8.11 1 Cor. 15.14 20. 10ly To know him in his Ascention John 3.13 Acts 1.11 Eph. 4.9 10. 11ly To know him in his Glorification Mat. 25.31 John 17.5 12ly To know him in his infinite and special Love John 3.16 Mark 16.15 13ly To know him in our hearts by Faith Eph. 3.17 2 Cor. 13.5 This is a Work that is not truly attained to but by Nurture and wholsome Instruction and God's gracious Inspiration Rom. 10.17 And it requireth great labour diligence and care 3d. Reason is Because Nurture and Instruction in the right way of the Lord is a thing that is hard to be attained As 1st All the promises of the Gospel are spiritual and they that embrace the Gospel must be spiritual men 1 Pet. 2.5 John 15.19 2ly The Doctrine of the Gospel holds forth a state of self-denial Luke 14.26 3ly The way of truth is a way of of Persecution either in word or deed 2 Tim. 3.12 4ly In spiritual Communion all true Believers must separate from sinners Jer. 51.6 Isa 52.11 2 Cor. 6.17 Revel 18.4 John 15.19 5ly There is required great diligence in that there are so many voices in the World and all conclude themselves in the truth that a person that will find the right way had need as Paul saith To prove all things but let them remember to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 That Doctrine which is according to the commands of Christ the practice of the Apostles and that in which all the first Churches were constituted must needs be the truth and no other 4th Reason is Because He that believeth and walketh in the way of the Lord with a perfect heart shall be by Christ made free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 He that is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Parents if they truly love their Children will endeavour their conversion 5th Reason is Because all the promises in the Gospel do belong to those that believe and walk uprightly in the right way of the Lord All is yours saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 3.22 I must not travel any further in this large field but pass to the fourth Doctrine which is The Second Part. Wherein the Duty of Children to God and their Parents is opened 4th Doct. That Children ought to yield obedience to all their Parents commands in the Lord with boly Reverence Honour and Zeal If in our Text Parents are commanded to bring up their Children as t is plain in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Then it is most certain that those Children are Rebels if they do not obey and this Obedience must be performed according to the best Rule or Rules prescribed in the Holy Scriptures And they are these two First What they must not do to their Parents Secondly What they must do to and for their Parents But First What you must not do to your Parents You must not do any thing that doth withdraw and withhold from them that Honour or diminish their Dignity nor that holdeth you back from Love Reverence Obedience and Thankfulness or that which doth seem to lessen their Authority And therefore 1st You must not mock at them when they command you to do that which is lawful right you must not scornfully imitate their words nor their Gestures Looks or Carriages least the Lord be offended with you as he was with those Children 2 Kings 2.23 who by two Bears slew forty two of them Job counts Mockage a great Provocation Job 17.2 As Parents are commanded not to provoke their Children so likewise by Childrens wicked Carriages Parents may be provoked several ways as you will find these Negative Precepts do declare and confirm The eye that mocketh at his Father and dispiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pluck it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Prov. 30.17 Jeremiah enters his complaint to the Lord very Pathetically saying Every one mocketh me Jer. 20.7 'T is a grievous sin in the sight of God and a great offence to Man therefore do not use it at all to any least thou forget thy self and use it to thy Parents and so thou provoke them and offend the Lord Job 21.17 2d Direction is You must not revile or reproach your Parents He that revileth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to death Exod 21.17 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Rulers of thy People Exod. 22.28 Margin Judges Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dijs non detrahes Thou shalt not report ill against the mighties that is they that have Power and
is Let your eye be towards your Parents Abilities in all that you request of them and ask no more of them then you well know that they can give you without too much impoverishing of themselves You must bear a share of all burthens with them And be content with such things as ye have Heb. 13.5 Having Food and Raiment if it be not so voluptuous and gaudy as pleaseth you yet you must be therewith content 1 Tim. 6.8 If the Angels which kept not their first state but were discontented therewith and left their own habitation are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day Jude 6.2 Pet. 2.4 Job 4.18 What dost thou think will become of thee if thou art not contented with they lot and portion that thy Parents can conveniently bestow on thee in this world If thou art discontented with one Talent the Lord may justly take it from thee and leave thee none it were an happy and good lesson if you could truly say with Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am in therewith to be content Phil. 4.11 19th Direction is Receive all whatsoever your Parents in love bestow upon you with hearts filled with thankfulness both to the Lord and them It is a sign of true Grace Let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful Col. 3.15 Ingratitude is reckoned by the Apostle such a capital sin that it is the Original for which the Lord let man fall into great and notorious sins as you may read Rom. 1.21 to 32.2 Tim. 3.2 20th Direction is So far esteem thy Parents above all others as to let them be always thy chief Subject in thy petitions St. Paul exhorts that Prayer and Supplication c. be made for all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.2 Thou needest not at all to fear so long as thou art in thy duty that the Lord will forget thy works and labour of love Heb. 6.10 21th Direction is Thou must not affront thy Pareuts in speaking that in their presence which is unseemly or that which they allow not of or blame thee for 1st Thou must not speak any unsavoury words Phil. 1.27 2ly Thou must not parrot at them when they speak to thee or when they command thee in any thing Titus 2.9 3ly Thou must not use swearing nor cursing Mat. 5.34 4ly Thou must not go swelling about or fling away in a rage when they speak to thee Prov. 14.16 5ly Thou must know that if thou dost not with patience hearken to thy Parents Commands thou art a Transgressor of the Law Hear thy Fathers Instruction Prov. 1.8 Chap. 4.1 Chap. 7.1 to 5. Hearken to Israel your Father Gen. 49.2 Prov. 7.24 8.32 Thou must be like Job's Princes to refrain thy talking and lay thy Hand upon thy Mouth in thy parents presence when they speak Job 29.9 10. 22th Direction is Thou must arm thy self with much patience in all thy Duties towards thy Parents 1st Quietly to submit thy neck under that yoke and not to shew violence if they reprove instruct correct or direct thee yea if they be bitter to thee thou must bear it patiently they ought to shew severity if thou sin Old Eli his too much lenity and mildness in restraining his Sons from sin was that for which the Lord was greatly offended with him 1 Sam. 3.13 2ly If the thing for which thou art reproved and corrected be not true that is that which thou didst not do but it was done by another if thou consentedst to it thou art guilty Psal 50.18 If thou art altogether innocent thou must arm thy self with patience and overcome evil with good Rom. 12.21 3ly Thou must lay Aside all Obstinacy Disdain Ambition Stoutness Stubbornness Lowring and Swelling with all heart-burning against thy Parents together with all malice 1 Pet. 2.1 and let true affections overcome all 4ly If Love and Patience be wanting in thee all Instructions Reproofs and Corrections will be spent in vain Reproofs of instruction are the way of life Prov. 6.23 But it is to them which receive it with patience and a good resolution to an amendment of life and then the Rod and Reproof will give Wisdom Prov. 29.15 to 17. 23th Direction is Be always humble and meek before and towards thy Parents The Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3.4 Know this that God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble James 4.6 1 Pet. 5.5 Prov. 3.34 24th Direction is Do not grudge or murmur nor any ways do not be in any unseemly posture in the doing thy duty When Children have disdained their Parents commands and muttered and murmured raged and raved fretted and fumed against their Parents and despised and hated them in their hearts they are not one jot bettered by it but are in the high road to Hell and Destruction and the Lord will meet with the obstinate stubborn and rebellious Child at the last Prov. 30.17 25th Direction is Avoid if possible the least shew of any arrogant Carriage towards thy Parents Know this that the Lord hateth a proud look Prov. 6.17 Yea much more a froward arrogant Carriage Prov. 8.13 26th Direction is If it it be possible when thou partest from thy parents either into any calling or into the state of Marriage Be sure first to get thy Parents consent to it how canst thou expect a blessing from the Lord if thou livest in rebellion against thy Parents Yea and against the Lord too who commands thee to fear reverence obey and honour thy Parents Levit. 13.3 Heb. 12.9 Col. 3.20 Deut. 5.16 He that stealeth a Virgin unknown to her Parents who is more dear to them than any of their worldly goods he is a breaker of the eighth Commandment and no less is she that freely yieldeth her self to such a fact 27th Direction is When thy Parents have ended this life be sure take care that they be decently buried according to their Degrees and Qualities Be not too peevish in their Funeral expences nor yet too over-lavish prodigal and sumptuous as to make such a Solemnity a Feast for Gluttons and Drunkards but let it be solemnized decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 29th Direction is You must so far esteem your Parents credit as to pay all their just due debts when they are dead So far as that Estate they left will Permit and not to let them when they are dead be numbered among the wicked who borrow and pay not again Plal. 37.21 29th Direction is When Children shall hear their Parents evil spoken of when dead they ought to put a check and stop to it if possible It is one of the last duties they can do in honour to their Parents those that favour ill reports of their Parents are a generation that curse their Father and do not bless their Mother Prov. 30.11 Such as