they were destitute of all grace such Parents want patience Heb. 6.6 and cannot wait till their Childrens Acquirements will in time produce their desired effects Look not for an old head on young shoulders Children are not perfect Men the first year wait and instruct them with love and patience and in time you will have of them what you required as the Proverb is Rome was not built in one day Twelfth Provocation is When Parents will not suffer their Children to ask them a Question but answer them with blows or throwing something at them Jonathan did but ask Saul his Father wherefore shall David be slain what hath he done but he was so angry with him that he threw a javelin at Jonathan These are hard lines when Parents will not suffer their Children to speak one word to pacifie their Wrath or to know anothers faults The Lord saith When thy Children shall ask thee Questions thou shalt answer them rightly to what they ask Joshua 4.6 Exod. 12.26 Let Parents look to themselves that they break not these Precepts Thirteenth Provocation is When Parents shall set a higher esteem on one Child than on another this is a great Provocation this caused Josephs Brethren consult his death Gen. 37.18 But being interposed by Reuben they sold him into Egypt Gen. 37.27 28. Fourteenth Provocation is When Parents will take no care to bestow trades on their Children to their Content but will force them to be brought up in an Employment which they neither like nor love this causeth them to be careless and idle and many times to be very ill Husbands and extravagant that they ruin their Estates and beggar their Children it many times brings them to ill Courses for a Livelyhood which ends in Imprisonment and their Souls are in danger of Eternal Wo Isa 3.11 The Lord gave this Liberty in the time of the Law Deut. 23.16 Fifteenth Provocation is When Parents will force their Children against their will to be yoked to those they cannot love nor at all affect for a little filthy Lucre as though the only Happiness and chiefest good were in the Mammon of Unrighteousness Luke 16.9 13. Piety and Virtue was the only thing Solomon and his Mother took notice of Prov. 14.4 19.14 31.30 But instead of Piety Prudence Honesty and Vertue now a days if they be Sullen Self-willed Cross Obstinate Malicious Deceitful Jealous Envious Light-Carriaged Insatiably-Lustful Proud Peevish Foolish Inconstant Discontented Impure in Body and Mind if Blear Goggle or Squint-Eyed Wheezel-Faced Hare-brain'd Quarter-witted Nonsensical Ideots Sanded Tanned Souer-lookt and much deformed in all parts Yet Money and Land must make up all the matter and oyl the wheels of Matrimony but do not forget that they that marry only for money live all their Life time in bondage in a kind of a lawful adultery therefore in disposing of your Children let love be the main the primum mobile let Prudence Virtue Piety and Honesty be the Objects and the Hearts content the only Subject and the Lord will be glorified in such a choice It is but reason you should let your Children choose where and whom they like best all their Lifes content depends upon it Love and Affections ought to teach Parents this Lesson but the time is now come that some are without natural Affections 2 Tim. 3.3 Nay some Parents are so wicked and ungodly as if a Child be so weak to marry without their consent yet marry a sober person but not riches answerable to their Estate they thro' Pride and Ambition are so cruel that they reject such a dear son or daughter and will not forgive them nor be reconciled to them but take such devillish courses that tend to destroy their Child both Body and Soul Such shew they are so far without the true fear of God that they are cruel Monsters and without Natural Affections nay and they will not own nor look upon the Son-in-law or Daughter-in-law nor the lawful Issue such a Son has by such a Daughter-in-law or such a Daughter has by such a son-in-law by which they shew themselves malicious filled with wrath and Envy as well as unnatural and violate Christs Precepts will not forgive such that have trespassed against them that is from their heart and so must expect never to be forgiven but perish eternally if they do not spedily repent Sixthteenth Provocation is When Children are come to a state of Marriage and capable to trade for themselves in the World their Parents will not give them any thing to assist them but keep all in their own hands till they are dead by this their Children live almost if not all their days in bondage and slavery till they have almost if not altogether lost their natural love to their Parents and many times are under that grievous Temptation occasioned by their Parents to wish and desire their days may be shortened which sin cannot be justified but all good Parents should do their utmost endeavour to take this block out of their Childrens way Also this causes them to take up dishonest courses by private and publick Robberies and Cheating Shifts to get something whereby to supply their wants and when they have escaped well once it may be they are so far hardened that they can never stop till it be too late This is a Provocation indeed which terminates in the excution of Justice I hope Parents my whetting up of your Memories will not offend you if they do I have in this done my duty in part do you do all yours and then see where you will have Occasion of offence I leave off with these sixteen which are the material Sum of my Experience and leave it to them that are more accute to find out as many more as they please and I will be content with these Enlargements And so I pass to the proof of this first Doctrine That Parents should take all care possible to avoid all occasions of Provocation c. Col. 3.21 Provoke not your Children to anger Psal 103.13 As a Father pitieth his Children c. Prov. 17.6 10. The Glory of the Children is their Parents Prov. 31.28 They call her blessed Mat. 9.15 Can the Children of the Bride-chamber mourn so long as the Bride is with them It will be very hard for Children to glory in their Parents and call them blessed when they are under Provocation and Mourning for their Parents misusing of them in hard unjust and wicked carriges but I come to the Reasons of the Doctrine to prove that they ought not to provoke their Children And the First Reason is taken from the Title Father Parents now they ought as they hear themselves called by that Title to be touched with a feeling of the natural affections which is only proper to the fruit of their own Bowels and relation as being their Image and Spark of their Brightness successively their own representation and proper Off-spring Would not he be a Monster and not a man that
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
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
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
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
Jacob had offended him yet he blessed him a second time To disswade your Children from sin let your Arguments be as hard as you will but let your words be soft 2 Tim. 2.24 Hear me my Brethren saith King David 1 Chron. 28.2 To all Israel not like Rehoboam who answered them churlishly Naphtali is said to give goodly words Gen. 49.21 Courteous Language hath an acceptance among all men and the blessing of God is with it Deut. 33.23 Let your words be seasoned with grace the Ornament of Scripture Language Phil. 1.27 avoid corrupt Speeches that administer no grace to the Hearers Ephes 4.29 't is better not to speak at all than to speak evil words Mat. 12.36 Prov. 18.21 by the nature of the expressions of a man the intent of his heart is made manifest Mat. 12.34 Prov. 12.25.15 13. Third Provocation is when Parents are never contented with any thing that their Children do though they do to their utmost abilities what they can to please them Such is the wickedness and hard heartedness of some covetous Parents who would wring out their Childrens labours by a kind of Extortion something whereby to satisfie their greedy and discontented minds though the Apostle saith Let your moderation be known to all men Phil. 4.5 But their Children shall know but little of it And again he saith be content with such things as you have Heb. 13.5 He that is never content shall never be happy Fourth Provocation is when Parents shall pretend love to their Children before their Neighbours and Friends and the Child can never find in very deed that they have any love at all for them Such Hypocritical Parents will one day recieve a double stroke for this twofold Wickedness Such Parents have not learned divine wisdom James 3.17 that teacheth other things Luke 7.35 According to your sins shall your recompence be Isa 65.6 These outward Lovers and Whited Sepulchres are all in Tongue and none in Heart their Hope shall be like the Spiders web Job 8.13.14 and their Joy but for a moment Job 20.5 Saith st Paul Let your love be without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 Plain dealing and true love never fails 1 Cor. 13.8 Methinks natural love is taught by all the birds in the Air and Beasts of the field who many of them will lose their own lives to preserve their young their Love is real and purely natural without flattery or deceit Why then should some Parents be worse then Beasts without natural affections 't is a sign that the coming of Christ draweth near 2 Tim. 3.3 Fifth Provocation is when Parents shall let their Servants or any body else chastise beat and abuse their Children and they take no notice of it but do often allow of their so doing with good liking and approbation this very thing the wife man saith is one of the four things the earth is disquieted with and so tedious that it cannot bare it viz. A Servant when he reigneth prov 30.21 22. If Christ call him an evil Servant that smiteth his Fellow-Servant Mat. 24.24 much more evil is he that lifteth up his hand in smiting his Masters Child 1 Kings 2.32 If Servants are to give to their Masters double Honour 1 Tim. 6.1 They are to shew some reverent respect to their Masters Issue 2 Sam. 18.12 The Lord has promised to punish such Servants as are so wicked to fill their Masters House with violence Zach. 1.9 When he cometh to search Jerusalem with candles therefore Servants if your Masters be so ignorantly wicked as to allow to you correct his Children you may not must not do so vile a thing by which the Child may be provoked the earth disquieted and the Lord offended and your masters house filled with violence and distraction for the Lord loveth Unity Peace and Concord 1 Cor. 14.33 Moreover you of the Neighbourhood may not correct your Neighbours Children but if they have transgressed you must mildly acquaint their Parents with the offence and the Parents are to give them due correction Prov. 13.24 29 17. Heb. 12.9 For the Lord hath put them in that place to rule and govern their Children at all Seasons and to correct them according to their offences with a severe Countenance without flattery with savoury expressions shewing them the nature of their offence without railing or evil words least they learn that of you for which you correct them also forbear giving threatning and provoking words and then thy Correction will be no provocation but to good and the obstruction of evil 'T is good for every one to be employed in their own business and not in the concerns of another Sixth Provocation is when parents hurry their Children night and day in their Worldly Business and take no care about their Childrens Souls or their Eternal Happiness when Children come to years of Understanding and are capable to know the lost state of their Souls and that its worth is more then the whole world Mu. 16.26 Mark 8.36 And their Parents have made no provision for them in this kind not so much as to teach them to read the Word of the Lord nor have instructed them in their duty to God nor taught them how to pray unto him and worship him in no sence nor kind nor have instructed them to believe in Christ their Saviour neither acquainted them with the Baptism of Repentance for remission of Sins also do keep them ignorant of the benefit of the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament and of holy walking with God and Man in all duties of Love and Piety These things when the Child comes to understand and that he can have no time nor means allowed in order to obtain his Souls peace but all ways possible rather used to hinder him in all good ways This is a very great Provocation and therefore Parents above all things have a care in this viz. That you instruct your Children in the way of the Lord betimes Prov. 22.6 Let them suck in the Word with their Mothers Milk From a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures saith St. Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 3.15 The Lord commands the first fruits Exod. 22.29 Sanctifieth the first born to him Exod. 13.2 The fat was the Lords viz. the best therefore do not neglect early instruction Prov. 13.24 And the Lord will give you an early recompence Prov. 12.14 Isa 3.10 Seventh Provocation is When Parents shall neglect their Children in temporal Education as not to bring them up in such a lawful calling as that they may by it get a necessary livelyhood And herein Parents ought to study their Childrens Constitutions and Abilities and to put them out to such employments as their ability of Body and Estate will not fail in the management of for want of such good Education many have been bred so idlely who have had no Estates to maintain them when their Parents are dead and they come to Men and Womens state that some have made away with themselves
your lives will be sweet and comfortable each to other 2 Cor. 13.11 12th Reason is Because Provocation is like a fire continually burning what man living will be so mad as to burn his own flesh while he is yet alive If the provocation of the Tongue as St. James saith be so terible that it will set the whole course of nature on fire James 3.6 Provoking Actions will do much more therefore avoid them and all the motives and allurements thereto be unto your Children a burning and shining light in the way of Christ and have the loyns of your Minds girt about with Truth always seasoned with the salt of true and amicable Affections Luke 12.35 Col. 4.6 And that will quickly extinguish that fire that St. James saith burneth like the fire of Hell James 3.6 by so doing you will avoid the grand Occasion of Provocation 13th Reason comes with Authority the Lord by the mouth of his Blessed Apostle saith Col. 3.21 Fathers provoke not your Children to anger why least they be discouraged Almost the same words as our Text Eph. 6.4 Paul saith 1 Cor. 14.37 If any be a Prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write are the Commandments of the Lord. He that saith by Moses Thou shalt do no murther Thou shalt not commit Adultery nor Steal nor bear false witness Nor Covet saith by St. Paul Provoke not your Children to Wrath which is the greatest evil to disobey the Precepts of the New-Testament or of the Old True if they that despised Moses Law died without mercy Heb. 10.38 What will become of him that despiseth the Gospel or Law of Christ See Rom. 2.8 9. Indignation Wrath Tribulation and Anguish and Everlasting destruction is their portion 2 Thes 1.8 Learn to believe keep the law of Christ and thou wilt avoid the danger I come in the next place to give you some general rules for your better direction in almost all your carriages towards your Children from their Birth to Marriage-state and further And here I must begin with you Fathers first for so is our Text. 1 Direction Do not let your Children be too long absent from you when they are young and tender neither in person as well as in heart by long absence real natural love is worn out I do here appeal to the experience of many Men and Women too who have when they have had a loving Husband or Wife resolved never to forget their Embraces nor to be joyned to another in marriage yet when Death hath parted them length of time hath worn out the sharp edge of their affections their real natural love which was so in very deed is now become dull lame and very weak that another Object shall take place which before length of time had worn out the sharpness of it it would have been utterly despised and condemned though now embraced makes the Proverb true Long absent soon forgotten You Fathers which never had the Care and Tuition of your Children when young are not apt to put that value upon them which your constant presence and their tattleing pleasant Company would always induce you to we are apt to value those things most that costs us most so our Children that are with us always we our selves have always the trouble with and care for we do really love when the very same Children if brought up without our care in our absence love except true grace prevent and prompt us to it will be but yea very much wanting if any at all so that I do advise you Parents if you would bare and continue real natural and true love to your Children take the pains to have the Tuition of and Care for your Children while young that your heart love with your pains and care may be towards them always at all Times and Places Prov. 8.30 2 Direction is to you Mothers for our Text reaches you as well as Fathers That if it be possible give your Children suck your selves The Mothers milk is fittest to nourish the Child as being congruous to its nature and complection it is a General Maxime that Children take after them they suck 't is said of Tiberius Caesar that he sucked a drunken Nurse and he was much given to that Vice Dogs love most that game that you feed them with the blood of when young Let a Lamb suck a Goat and its nature and property shall be altered so let a Whelp suck a Cat and his game will be Rats and Mice So likewise Children will share with their Nurse except true grace prevent of all their Vices Mothers best know their own Inclinations but they may be greatly mistaken in a Nurse whose natural Inclinations may be very great to many gross evils but either they carrry it very secretly and close or else they want fit Opportunity to act in their Vices You do not know the nature of a Serpent but by stirring and provoking of him So Some Women are never known what they are till they be proved If illness of body will not permit you to nurse them your selves or if you know you are naturally given to some gross evil that you would not have your Child follow you in 't is far better to take one years trouble to bring it up by hand than to venter it under the slender care of one who can have no natural love to it whose care may be like Mephibosheths Nurse to make him a cripple all days of his life 2 Sam. 4.4 more especially since you know not what vices they may suck in with the Milk besides Women have not that real natural love for those Children that they do not nurse themselves as they have to them they do So likewise their Children being long absent from them while young their love is weaned from them so much that they have scarce any love to them at all Parents generally love those Children most that resemble them in Persons Qualities and Actions then Mothers if you would have your Children resemble you nurse them your selves Isaac Jacob Samuel Solomon Moses and many others were nursed by their own Mothers as the Scripture witnesseth Many are the advantages and benefits that arise both to Child and Mother too by nursing of them themselves As First The Mother letting it lye and suck near her heart her heart love is towards the Child continually Secondly The Mothers care in preserving it is far way beyond a Nurse in preserving it from too much cold or heat from hunger and crying from fretting and chaffing of the Skin from Vermine and many other evils as Worms Vomitings Costiveness and Fluxes Coughs Hiccoughs Inflamations Contusions trouble of Wind and Ruptures all which are incident to Children as also to preserve them from fire water and bruises and the like Thirdly As their Love is naturally towards them so their care is continually of and for them in all things Sarah rejoyced that she should give her Child suck Gen. 21.7 She was not so
and every day now this duty sincerely zealously and heartily performed will be one means to win the hearts of your children both to love the Lord and to obey you in all your just Impositions and lawful Commands 25 Direction is Let them not spend their time in Idleness but bring them up in some lawful honest calling As Jacob and his Sons were Gen. 46.32 34. Ch. 47.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Summum Studium diligentiae assiduitas sicut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 negotior facio opus factum operor officium ministerium exercisse Diligence Labour Occupation Work Doing Office Ministration are derived from the Radix which is translated Trade implying any kind of Exercise in Traffick Craft Art Mystery or Occupation so Saul and David were of the same calling James John and Andrew were Fishers Paul a Tent-maker although he was bred a great Scholar at the feet of Gamaliel Sam. 9.4 Mat. 4.18 Acts 18.3 Ch. 22.3 Know this that there is a General Command given to Adam Gen. 3.19 In the sweat of thy brows shalt thou eat thy bread and this extends to all in him Sodom is blamed for idleness Ezek. 16.49 Paul laboured 2 Thes 3.8 Acts 20.34 and commanded others to labour 2 Thes 3.10 11 12. Rom. 12.8 11 17. Not that I think all must labour with their hands Ministers work is hard work and Paul lookt upon his labouring with his hands among his afflictions he blames idleness 1 Tim. 5.13 Heb. 6 12. Rom. 12.11 Solomon the wisest of Men saith by idleness comes poverty Prov. 10.4 Ch. 28.19 Eccles 10.18 Moreover know that there is abundance of evils attends idleness they that are idle are like a standing pool that hatcheth Toads Effets and other noisom Creatures So if we are idle like Sodom Satan can bring no temptation to that heart that sutes not with it but in some sence either in the Affection Action or Expression it will recieve it brood and hatch it and so that soul becomes guilty of sin Moreover Avoid those callings if it be possible in which there is any great Instigations or Temptations to Sin if the Vocation be not honest that which is gotten by it will eat like a Canker James 5.3 4. And corrupt wast and consume other honest gotten Goods no man can conceive how He that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at the end shall be a fool Jer. 17.11 Saith Solomon Better is a little with righteousness than great Revenues without right Prov. 16.8 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 That which is deceitfully gotten ought to be restored Levit. 6.4 The treasures of the wicked profit nothing Prov. 10.2 Wealth gotten by Vanity shall be diminished Prov. 13.11 Read Levit. 19.13 1 Cor. 6.8 9 10. Prov. 11.1 Hosea 7.1 Prov. 20.17 Psal 10.7 8. Prov. 12.5 Ezek. 22.7 29. Hesea 12.7 Amos 8.5 Rom. 3.13 Prov. 28.8 By these Scriptures you may learn that there is no eternal peace nor profit nor yet safety nor true peace of conscience in getting nor in keeping of ill gotten goods therefore choose an honest Calling as also such an one as there is no Temptation to cheating or drunkenness nor any other great and notorious sins and then be diligent to get an honest Estate and Livelyhood in such a calling for the Lord doth not approve Slothfulness nor Idleness but Labour and Diligence The counsel of the five men of the Danites to their Brethren was good Be net slothful to go up to enter to possess the land Judges 18.9 The Slothful is Brother to him that is a great waster Prov. 18.9 Abundance of Idleness is charged upon Jerusalem Samaria and Sodom as being the first step the Root or the Occasion of all other fins and vices whatsoever Ezek. 16.49 Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work saith the Lord Deut. 5.13 The hand of the diligent maketh rich Prov. 10.4 Therefore exhort them to be diligent in an honest calling that Satan may have no opportunity to tempt them to evil 26 Direction is Carry an equal hand to all your Children do not let one have all your love nor do not despise any one of them Remember you are the root from whence the worst sprang as well as the best let your good loving kind mild just equal and christian-like Carriage to the worst be the only means under God that may win them to become as excellent in your Affections as the best beloved The Lord hath put a bit in the mouth of Israel if I may so call it to check them in their unequal carriage and dealings towards their Children and therefore he saith The Son of the hated if he be first born shall have a double portion of all that thou hast Deut. 21.17 As if the Lord should have said if they will not love him at all with a natural love thou shalt upon force shew twice as much love to him thou hatest as thy evil Nature would shew to him that thou lovest best to curb and check thee and shew thee thy Evil in not loving all thy Children alike It were good if all Parents did make it their prayer with David That their eyes might behold the things that are equal Psal 17.2 He that applieth his heart to understanding shall understand righteousness judgment and equity and every good way Prov. 2.9 If some of your Children be half-witted crooked or deformed or of a perverse nature this is no sufficient argument to withdraw your love from them the Lord might suffer these things on purpose to prove your natural Affections that ye sin not Exod. 20.20 Good David divided the spoil of the Amalikites equally to those that did not nor could not fight as well as to those that were able and stood battle 1 Sam. 30.24 Take him in this for your pattern and let your love be to all alike mind this that unequal carriage is one step to the Childs provocation as I shewed you before 27 Direction is If you cannot tutor teach instruct and educate your Children in Learning your selves you must choose one to teach them If possible that is truly religious Train up a Child in the way he should go Prov. 22.6 What they learn when they are young becomes in the use of it as it were natural therefore let them not learn of one that is prophane Children are like new Vessels which will always have a Tincture of those things that are first put in them We should count them very wicked Parents that should instead of food give their children poison to eat So likewise they are much more wicked that will knowingly let their Childrens Souls be suffocated with the poison of sin which may be sucked in by the prophaneness of a Wicked Tutor the Lord hath said He will cut off Master and Scholar that are wicked Malachy 2.12 Good Job is said to
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
by publick slander Which saith Solomon He that uttereth a slander is a fool Prov. 10.18 It was one of the abominable sins of Jerusalem Ezek 22.9 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour and trust ye not in any Brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every Neighbour will walk with slanders Jer. 9.4 Chap. 7.6 Micah 7.6 4ly This Sin may be committed by reporting of false Reports of thy Neighbour Thou shalt not receive a false report Exod. 23.1 Keep thee far from false matter Levit. 23.7 I heard the defaming of many fear on every side report say they and we will report it All my Familiars watched for my halting saying peradventure he will be enticed and we shall prevail against him and we shall take our revenge on him Jer. 20.10 5ly This Commandment may be broken by evil speaking In the latter days some shall depart from the Faith speaking lies in hypocrisie 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Wandring from house to house Tatlers also and busiebodys speaking things that they ought not 1 Tim. 5.13 Keep thy Tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile Psal 34.13 Let Bitterness and Wrath and Anger and Clamour and Evil-speaking be put away from you with all Malice Ephes 3.1 Wherefore laying aside all Malice and all Guile and Hypocrisie and Envies and all Evil-speakings 1 Pet. 2.1 6ly This Sin may be committed by false Accusations This is one of the six things that the Lord hates Prov. 19.6 A false witness shall perish Prov. 21.28 Not false Accusers Tit. 2.3 as Job's Friends in whose Answers there remaineth Falshood Job 4.34 7ly This Commandment may be broken by whispering Saith David All that hate me whisper together against me Psal 41.7 A froward man soweth strife and a whisperer separateth chief friends Prov. 16.28 The words of a whisperer are as wounds and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly Prov. 18.7 It is a right character of a wicked-man Rom. 1.29 But where no whisper is the strife ceaseth Prov. 26.20 8ly You may transgress by Back-biting This sin is so common a fault that it is hardly minded that many have committed this sin by speaking that which is true behind mens backs when Truth is spoken to gain favour or out of envy as the Ziphites 1 Sam. 23.19 And Doeg against David 1 Sam. 22.9 Or as the Men that accused Daniel Dan. 6.13 Neither Truth nor Falshood ought to be spoken behind a mans back if it tend to the hurt or damage of his Good Name slandering of his person or prejudicing of his Estate or Calling but all such speaking ought to be with sparingness vigilancy great care and true love 1 Cor. 16.14 9ly It may be broken by Scoffing and Jearing Many a bad man will deliver a false Testimony against another in this evil manner though manner and matter are largely forbid in Scripture Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth Ephes 4.29 Col. 3.8 For evil communication corrupts good manners 1 Cor. 15.33 Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay Mat. 5.37 Be ye not mockers Isa 28.22 nor Scoffers 2 Pet. 3.3 nor do not use filthiness foolish talking nor jesting Ephes 5.4 of this sort of people David greatly complains Psal 22.7 8. and Jeremiah that he was a derision daily Jer. 20.7.8 Every one mocked him and he became the subject of their song Lam. 3.14 A good man sitteth not in the seat of the scornful Psal 1.1 but his conversation is such as becometh the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1.27 10ly This Commandment is broken by Perjury Ye shall not swear falsly Levit. 19.12 I saith the Lord will be a swift witness against false Swearers Mal. 3.5 Every one that sweareth falsly shall be cut off Zach. 5.3 4. If any one make a covenant or vow and break the same himself 2 Chron. 36.13 Or as Samson did by shewing Dalilah where his great strength lay by it he broke his vow of a Nazarite Numb 6.5 Know this that breaking of Vows and Covenants the Scripture calls false swearing Hosea 10.4 Ezek. 17.15 16. And by perjury our Lives are not safe but always in jeopardy our Liberties are enfringed and always in danger our Estates are not our own being always subject to the malice of perjured Persons besides it is a grand abuse and great affront to the dignity of the Name of the most high it roots out all moral duty in them that use it it undermines the Christian Religion it greatly abuseth the Magistrate and condemneth justice and mercy and taketh away all security from all persons and by it they renounce the divine omnipotency and bring themselves under an high degree of Atheism and the Sentence of Eternal Punishment Mal. 3.5 Prov. 6.19 Chap. 19.5 Chap. 21.28 11ly It may be broken by passing of rash and false judgment Mat. 7.1 We ought to enquire into all the Circumstances of a matter before we pass Sentence Deut. 1.16 and then to be very sparing without prejudice Prov. 27.4 or slander Psal 101.5 Jer. 9.4 12ly It may be broken by false Letters forged Jer. 25.25 29. by scandalous books or infamous Libels or false Records Ezra 4.19 13ly This Command may be broken by Tatlers which walk about with Tales Levit. 19.16 1 Tim. 5.13 Prov. 11.19 Chap. 18.8 Chap. 20.19 Chap. 26.22 Ezek. 22.9 14ly It may be broken by those who make it their business privately to abuse men without a cause Him that privately slandereth his Nieghbour him will I cut off Psal 101.5 15ly This Commandment may be broken by misconstruing of mens words and giving forth another meaning than they intended when they spoke them Job 23.3 Tenthly Thou shalt not covet c. The Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whence Covetousness is derived signifieth 1st Solent homines avari He or she that is accustomed to be greedy 2ly Defraudavit He that taketh away the profit of another by guile 3ly Complevit He that filleth up his Desires to the top 4ly Scalpo To scratch scrape to rake together 5ly Saucio To hurt or wound They that are covetuous do not only hurt and wound others whose goods and lives they take away but they pierce themselves through with many sorrows 1 Tim. 16.10 The Covetous Man is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 16.14 Amator pecuniae one that loveth Money Which is the reot of all evil This Commandment forbids the least motion of the heart in consenting to desire after the least thing that is our Neighbours without his free consent as not to ask nor desire any thing that is not properly ours is it not out of Covetousness that the Riotous and Prodigals get what they car and how and study how to bestow all on their concupiscible lusts and the Usurer extorteth great excessive interest of the poor by its instigations the Adulterer brayeth after his Neighbours Wife and the Landlord raketh his poor industrious Tennant by it Neighbours trespass one another and go to law in hopes