3 That it may be well with thee and that thou maiest liue long on earth 4. And ye Fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them vp in instruction and information of the lord 5 Servants be obedient vnto them that are your maisters according to the flesh with feare and humbling in singlenes of your hearts as vnto Christ 6 Not with service to the eie as men pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the wil of God from the heart Colos 4.20.21.22.23.24 Those which governe the familie are those superiors who haue authoritie in the same Their generall and common duetie is to order their house according to the former rule Yet one may being vrged by the great care of a Magistracie or for such like haue a steward that is one to governe his houshold according to the rules he prescribeth Contrarie to this is the common and whole casting off of this care vnlesse in worldly matters The first part of this rule is prooved by these places I will haue the yonger woman to marie and govern their houshold 1. Tim. 5. If one rule not his houshold wel how shal he care for the Church 1. Tim. 3.5 The exāple of David Psal 101.4.1 Salomons mother Pro. 31.1.2.3 c The second part of this rule is prooved by the example of Abraham who had his elder servant in his house who was over all that he had and to whome hee committed the waightie dutie of providing a wife for his sonne Genes 24.2 Then Abraham spake vnto the elder servaunt of his houshold which was over all that he had saying Put now thy hand vnder my thigh 3 that I may binde thee with an othe by the Lord God of heaven God of the earth that thou wilt not take a wife vnto my son of the daughters of the Cananits amongst whom I dwell 4. But that thou wilt goe vnto my countrie vnto my kindred and take a wife for my sonne Isaac So Ioseph in Putiphars house This government must bee perfourmed with all comelinesse fit for the houshould which is that agreable fitnesse or cōveniencie which woorthily becommeth the diversitie of persons in the familie as Superiors inferiors equals of sexe male female of age childhood youth ripe age old years of matters as some concerning God some man of time the day the night For all these haue not one and the same rule of decencie therefore the Apostle saith Which ruleth his house which kepeth his children in subjection with all comelines 1. Tim. 3.4 Nowe as there is comelinesse peculiar to the subjection of Children so of servauntes And as there is comlinesse for subjection so for equalitie and as for behauior of those of the house so to those not of the house so likewise in all other the former respects as shal appeare by the shining light or eie of this general rule in everie part of housholde government Of the duties of ordering the houshold by the chiefe of the same There are two sorts The first regardeth those in the houshould The other strangers or guests comming into the same 1. Tim. 5.10 If she haue brought vp her children wel If she haue bin giuen to hospitalitie Iob. 31.31 If the men of my tent haue not saide O that some woulde giue vs of this flesh wee are not satisfied because the straunger did not lodge abroad I opened my dores to the waifairing man So he caused his seruants to giue place to strangers which sheweth this diversitie of duties Now both of these are in regard of Christian holines The things of this life Pro. 31.15 She openeth her mouth in wisdom and the doctrin of mercy is on her tongue And rising while it is yet night she giveth meat to her house a taske to her maides And Exod. 18.5 And Iethro the father in law of Mosche comming with his children and with his wife vnto Mosche into that desert where hee had placed his tents to wit to the mount of God 6. He said vnto Mosche I thy father in lawe Iethro do come vnto thee also thy wife and her two sonnes with her 7 Then Mosche went foorth to meet his father in law and bowing himselfe hee kissed him and they asked one another of his welfare after-terward they went into his Tent. 8 Where Mosche declaring vnto his father in lawe whatsoever things the Lord had done vnto Pharaoh and the Aegyptians for Israell al the troubles which had happened vnto them in that way from whence the Lord had delivered them 9 Iethro rejoiced for all those benefits which the Lord had done vnto Israel because he had delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians 10 And Iethro said Blessed be the Lord God which hath delivered you out of the hands of the Aegyptians and out of the hands of Pharaoh Which hath delivered his people from vnder the hands of the Aegyptians 11 Now I know that the Lorde is greater than all goddes for in that thing wherein they wer proud he is aboue thē 12 Therefore Iethro the father in law of Mosche tooke and offered sacrifices and a burnt offering vnto God and Aaron and all the Elders of Israel came to eat meat with Iethro Mosche his father in lawe before God 13 And it came to passe the next day Mosche sitting to judge the people when as the people stood about Mosche from the morning of that day vnto the evening 14 That the Father in law of Mosche beheld all that he did vnto the people and said What is this that thou doest vnto this people Why sittest thou alone and al the people stand before thee from the morning vnto the evening 15 Then Mosche said vnto his father in law Because this people come vnto me to aske counsell at God 16 When there is any busines betwen thē everie one commeth vnto mee that I may judge betweene both and I make knowne the Statutes of God and his lawes 17 But Iethro his father in law said the thing is not good which thou doest 18 Thou wilt altogether faint both thou and the people that is with thee for this thing is too heavie for thee thou canst not performe it alone And this ariseth from a double respect the commoditie they receiue and the dutie they owe to the cōmon state wherein they are that as they haue of their children servants guests not onelie bodilie service and friendship but that which is of conscience and commeth from their faith and religion and their praier and the blessing in them Math. 10.41 so they must giue them this double recompence Also to the common state they are boūd by covenant not onely as much as in them lieth by their houshold government to further the peace and tranquillity of the common wealth but also of religion true holinesse 2. King 11.17 Contrarie to this is their best care to be most exquisit in the latter and altogether negligent in the former which is the chiefest So that
her father hold his peace concerning her let it be established 6. But if her father shall make her to breake it in what day he shal heare it let none of her vowes or bandes wherewith shee hath bound her selfe be established the Lord shal forgiue her because her father hath made that she should breake it 1. Cor. 7.36 But if any man thinke hee haue committed some vncomely thing against his virgin if she passe the flower of her age and that it ought to be done let him doe what he wil he sinneth not Let thē be joyned in mariage 37. But hee which abideth firme in heart neither is driven by necessitie but hath his owne will in his power and hath decreed this in his heart that he may keep his virgine he doth well 38. Therefore he that giveth her in mariage doth wel but he that giveth her not in mariage doth better Gen. 24.51 Behold Ribkah is before thee take her and go thy way that she may be a wife vnto the son of thy Lord as the Lord hath spoken Laban the sonne having the goverment of his father being olde was the chiefe in this businesse Gen. 24.55 And the brother of Ribkah her mother said let this maid tary with vs a few daies at the least ten afterward goe thy wayes 57. Then they said let vs call the maide aske of her mouth Their especiall recompence is to relieue and maintain them or any other which is knit vnto them in any especiall care and dutie as farre as their ability or duty towardes the wife and care of the familie will suffer Contrarie to this is contempt of your parēts grieving of them neglecting to help succour them c. 1. Tim. 5.4 But if any widow haue children or Nephewes let them learne first to shew godlines towards their own house and to recompence their owne kindred for that is an honest thing and acceptable before God Mat. 15.4 For God hath commanded saying Honour thy father and thy mother and hee that curseth father or mother let him die the death 5. But ye say whosoever shall say to father and mother by the gift that is offered by me thou maist haue profite 6. Though hee honour not his father or his mother shall be free thus haue you made the commandemēt of God of none authority by your traditions Gen. 47.12 And Ioseph nourished his father and his brethren and all the houshould of his father with meat as putting it into the mouth of the children The especiall dutie of servantes is to doe all thinges which their maister shal according to Gods wil giue them in charge Col. 3.22 Servants be obedient to them that are your maisters according to the flesh in all thinges not with eie-eie-service as men-pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God Luk. 17.7 Who is it also of you that hauing a servant plowing or feeding cattell would say vnto him by and by when he were come frō field goe and sit down at the table 8. And would not rather say vnto him Dresse wherwith I may supp and gird thy selfe and serue mee till I haue eaten and drunken and after eat thou drink thou 9. Doth he thank that seruāt because he did that which was commanded him I trowe not Contrarie to which is that some will do one thing only at this time and which pleaseth him The manner of dooing this hath two partes Diligence Faithfulnesse Tit. 2.9 Let seruants be subiect to their maisters and please them in al things not answering again neither pickers but that they shew all good faithfulnesse that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour in all thinges Their diligence is in a single heart as to the Lord not only by labour and travel but praier religious care and all good means to perform the things laid on them Contrarie to this is eie-service Col. 3.22 Servants be obedient to thē that are your maishers according to the flesh in all thinges not with eie-eie-service as men-pleasers but with singlenes of heart fearing God 23. And whatsoever ye doe do it hartily as to the Lord and not vnto men Ephe. 6.5 Servants be obedient vnto them which are your maisters according to the flesh with feare and trembling in singlenes of your hearts as vnto Christ 6. Not with service to the eie as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the wil of God from the hart 7. With good wil serving the Lord not men Gen. 24.9 Therefore the servant putting his hand vnder his thigh sware vnto him concerning this matter 10. Afterward the servant tooke ten Camels of the Camels of his maister that he might goe on his journey for hee had al the goods of his maister in his hand And rising he went vnto Syria between the rivers vnto the citie of Nachor 11. Where causing the Camels to rest without the citie beside a wel of water in the evening at what time the woman came foorth to draw 12. And he said O Lord God of my maister Abraham bring to passe I pray thee that it may come to passe vnto mee this day and shew this mercie vnto my maister Abraham 26. And he inclined his face to the ground bowed himselfe to the Lord saying Blessed bee the Lorde of my maister Abraham which hath not left his mercy and faithfulnesse towards my maister His diligence also appeared greatly when he said I wil not eat til I haue spoken my words or matter ver 33. in making speed he said Stay me not seeing the Lord hath prospered my way Send me backe that I may goe vnto my Lord c. Faithfulnes in their labor charges to seeke the vttermost they can the commodity and benefite of their maisters Contrary to which is picking turning another way in banquetting feasting riot c. This appeareth most liuely in the description which Iacob doth make of his faithfull service to Laban This is the twentith yeare since I haue bene with you thy sheep thy goats haue not left their young and the rammes of thy flocke haue I not eaten The torne I brought vnto thee but made it good my selfe at my hand thou diddest require it Likewise the stolen by day and the stolen by night I was about my woorke when the heat consumed mee by day and the frost by night and sleepe departed from mine eies Gen. 31.38.39.40 And thus much for the order of houshold which is prescribed by the word of God THE RESOLVTION AND INTERpretation of the Lordes praier out of Math. 6.9 and Luke 11.2 OVR Saviour Christ being both desired of his Disciples to be taught how to pray having reprooved the abuse of vnnecessarie vain repetitions of one and the same thing giveth his disciples commandement to pray as he taught them in this prayer Saying Pray thus and when you pray say Our Father c. that is let the things which you require giue thanks for the differēce which
be in thy remembrance which cursed me with a most bitter curse what day I went to Machananijm who discending to meet me to Iordan I haue sworne vnto him by the Lord saying I wil not slay thee with the sword 9. But now discharge not him being guilty seeing thou art a wise man but know what thou shalt doe vnto him that thou maist bring down his white head vnto the graue with bloud 10. After David slept with his fathers and was buried in the citie of David Gene. 49.30 Then he commanded charged them saying When I shal be gathered to my people burie me with my fathers in the caue which is in the field of Hephron the Hittite Hitherto of the firste parte of housholders which concerneth the government of the same by the superiors in it Now followeth the duty of the inferiours The inferiours are those which are vnder the rest in the houshold are called of Peter those of the houshold or houshold fellowes Their duties are towards The housholde governours Or others Tit. 1.6 If any be vnreprooueable the husband of one wife hauing faithful children which are not slandered of riot neither are disobedient Toward the houshold governors to Be helpful to them in outward behaviour Be in subjection and obedience Luk. 2.51 Then he went downe with them came to Nazareth and was subiect to them The first is by outward behaviour to acknowledge their authority such as shal be prescribed vnto them as of cap legge maner of speaking Contrary to this is vnmanerlines answering again giving cutted answers c. 1. Tim. 6.2 And they which haue beleeving maisters let them nor dispise thē because they are brethrē but rather doe service because they are faithfull and beloved and partakers of the benefite Tit. 2.9 Let servāts be subject to their maisters in all things not answering again 10. Neither pickers but that they shew all faithfulnes that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things 1. Pet. 2.18 Servants be subject to your maisters with all feare not only to the good curteous but also to the froward The second duty of obedience is in all commandements cōcernig the aforenamed duties of the superiors towards them willingly to perfourme them and to submit themselues to rebukes to admonitions corrections such like with meeknes Pro. 4.1 Heare ô children the instruction of the father and giue eare to learn vnderstanding 2. For I giue vnto you good discipline forsake not my doctrine 20. My son attend vnto my words and incline thine eare to my speach Nomb. 12.14 And the Lorde spake vnto Moses If her father had spit in her face shuld she not haue bene ashamed 7. daies The dutie to be helpfull is by their example and perswasions one to another and by revealing things which by admonition wil not be amended to be helpful to the Superiours in the former duties Contrary to this is evill example evill perswasions hiding things which ought to be revealed Gen. 37.2 Ioseph being 17. year old fed the flocke with his brethren for hee was a child with the sonnes of Bilhah and with the sonnes of Zilpah the wiues of their father and he brought vnto his father their evill reporte Gen. 27.44 And when it had bene tolde vnto Ribkah all the wordes of Hesau her eldest son she sending called Iacob her youngest sonne and said vnto him c. The duties towards others is Amongst themselues Towards other besides thēselues Amongst themselues that with peace and quietnesse they haue their mutuall equalitie beare one with another and help one another as far as is lawfull Contrarie to which is vnquiet mindes pride jarres lifting vp aboue others not keping the place or difference made by the chiefe of the familie Towards others is that they so order themselues towards al as they are taught out of the commandements and towards guests strangers rich and poore high and low as they bee taught out of the fift cōmandement And thus of the common duties of all inferiors of the family and this is prooved by the commaundements and sentences going before Geness 45.24 And letting his brethren goe he saide vnto thē be not mooved or stirred one against another in the way Inferiors in the family are Children Servantes Childrens dutie is from their beginning to their ending to be subject obedient and helpfull to their parents Contrarie to this is the rejecting of these duties at some yeares Luke 2.51 And he descended with them and came to Nazereth and was subject to them Ioh. 19.26 When Iesus therfore saw his mother and the Disciple standing whom he loved he said vnto his mother Woman behold thy son 1. King 2.19 And when Bathshebah came vnto the king that she might speake vnto him for Adonijah the King rose to meet her and bowed himselfe to her sitting in his throne he commaunded a throne to be placed for the mother of the king which sate at his right hand Gen. 47.29 And whē the daies of Israel drew nigh that he shuld die he sent for his sonne Ioseph and saide vnto him If now I haue found favour in thine eies put I pray thee thine hand vnder my thigh exercise this kindnes faith towards me bury me not in Aegypt but when I shall rest with my fathers carie me out of Aegypt and burie me in their sepulchre Which said I will doe according to thy word Gen. 49.29 After he willed and commanded them saying When I shall be gathered to my people burie mee with my fathers in that caue which is in the fielde of Hephron the Hittite 30. In that caue which is in the field of Macpela which is on the other side of Mamre in the land of Canaan which Abraham bought with the fielde of Hephron the Hittite for a possession to burie in The proper or especiall partes of this dutie is in their proper Obedience Recompence which they must make The proper obediēce is that which springeth from a cheerfull naturall continuall child-like loue and reverence Contrarie to this is disobedience vnnaturall behaviours or affections c. 2. Tim. 3.2 For men shall bee lovers of themselues covetous boasters proud evill speakers disobedient to parents vnthankfull prophane Collos 3.20 Children harken vnto your parēts in al things for this is acceptable vnto the Lord. Ephe. 6.1 Children giue eare vnto your parentes in the Lord for that is just This obedience must shewe it self especiallie in being governed by them in the matter of calling mariage according to the rules prescribed in the word of God all such matters of waight and moment Chiefly vntill by the fathers authority and consent more full power be geven to their childrē because of their yeers and discretion Nomb. 30.4 When a woman hath vowed a vow vnto the Lord or bound her self by a bond at her fathers hous in her youth 5. If when her father heareth her vowe or the bond wherewith she hath bound her selfe and
their administration of houshold matters is altogether civill not religious For the familie the dutie which regardeth them is to keepe them in subjection for the performance of al duties of holines and religion and for the diligent performance of those woorks and labors which are fit for everie one 1. Tim. 3.4 Which may governe well his house which may keepe his children in subjection with all honestie 1. Tim. 3. If any be vnblameable the husbande of one wife having faithfull children which are not slaundered of riot either stubborne Psal 101.1 I will sing mercie judgment vnto thee ô Lord will I sing 2 I wil mark in an vpright way when thou shalt come vnto me I wil cōtinuallie walk in the soundnesse of my mind in the middest of mine house 3 I will not set before mine eies a wicked thing I haue hated the workes of them that decline it shall not cleaue vnto me 4 A froward minde shal depart from me I will not acknowledge evill 5 The tongue that privilie hurteth his neighbour I will cut out him that is proud in his eies and swelling in his mind I shal not be able to suffer 6 Mine eies shall waite vpon the faithfull of the land that they may abide with me He that walketh in the sounde way shall minister vnto me 8 The deceitfull man shall not dwell within mine house he that telleth lies shall not be established before mine eies Now for the performance of this general duetie two sorts are required which are Such as wher they most cōmonly go before them direct them Such as they must performe vnto them Gen. 35.2 Wherfore Iacob gaue commandement vnto his familie to all that were with him Put away the goddes of the people which are amongst you cleanse your selues changing your garmēts 3 Afterward arising let vs ascend to Bethel that there I may make an Altar to that strong God which heard me in the day of my distresse and was present with me in the way wherein I went 4 Which when they had given vnto Iacob all the gods of the strāge people which were in their hands and the earings which were in their eares Iacob hid them vnder that Oke which is beside Shechem Where we see that Iacob doth both instruct them what to doe and in the dooing of these things directeth them Such as wherein they must only goe before them and direct them are those which only ought to be done jointlie of the whol familie and then the superiours must bee there the chiefe directors of them otherwise when they are absent they must cause them to be done as in prayer before and after their labor in thanksgiving before after meate Iam. 5.13 Is any amongst you sick in mind Let him pray Is any man cheerefull Let him sing Psal 127. Vnlesse the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that builde it Vnlesse the Lorde keep the citie the keeper is diligent in vain 2. Let them bee in vaine vnto you which rise betimes which sit down slowlie which are fed with the meat of sorrowes so he giveth sleepe to his beloved Psal 55.18 In the evening and morning and at noon dayes will I meditate and make a noise vntill he hath heard my voice 1. Tim. 4.4 For whatsoever God hath created is good neither is anie thing to be refused if it bee taken with thanksgiving Luke 22.17 And he tooke the cup and when hee had given thanks he said take this and devide it amongst you So Abrahams servaunt saide Gen. 24.12 O Lord God of my maister Abraham cause I beseech thee that it com vnto me this day and exercise this goodnesse towardes my maister Abraham 48 And I bowed downe and worshipped the Lord blessed the Lorde God of my maister Abraham because he had brought me by the right way to take my maisters brothers daughter for his sonne And vpon any great judgment on the familie Church or common wealth to direct them in fastings and praiers with readings meditations and vse of the woord as may serue to giue especiall cause of humbling and especial cause fit of cōfort for that work Hest 4.16 Goe gather together all the Iewes which are at Susan and fast for me neither eat nor drinke those three daies night nor day I likewise and my maides wil fast so at length I will goe in to the King which is not according to the commandement and when I shall perish I will perish Nehe. 1.4 And it came to passe when I hearde these wordes I sate downe and wept and mourned certaine daies in which I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven 5. And I said I beseech thee ô Lord God of heaven most strong God greatest chieflie to be feared Keeping covenant mercie to them that loue him and keepe his cōmandemēts 6. Let thine eare be attētiue thine eies be open to harkē to the praier of thy servaunt which I pray before thee at this time day night for the Israelites thy servants I confesse the sins of the Israelits wherwith we haue sinned against thee I also the house of my fathers c. For as it is their duety in their own private fast to doe this by themselues so to direct others in the same when they doe it with them Contrarie to this is the vnchristian prophanesse in such cases Also the vnchristian shamfastnes of some and common negligence in others in these duties Such as they must perform vnto them are duties of Instruction Reforming Pro. 13.24 He which keepeth back his rod hateth his sonne but he which loveth him doth giue him instructions betimes Pro. 15.32 He which withdraweth himselfe from instruction dispiseth his soule but he that hearkeneth vnto rebuke possesseth his soule The dueties of instruction are that by a familiar most plaine maner of teaching they may growe in the knowledge of that truth which is according to godlines Gē 18.19 When as I haue knowne him shuld I not reveale it for this cause that hee may command his children and houshold after him that they may keepe the way of the Lord by exercising righteousnesse judgment and that the Lord may performe vnto Abraham that which he hath promised vnto him Genes 14.14 When Abraham had heard that his kinsman was taken hee armed his men instructed 318. and followed them vnto Dan. Deut. 20. They are for Continuall daily instruction That which respecteth the publike ministerie Exod. 12.25.26 Let it be therefore when ye shal come into the land which the Lord shall giue vnto you as he hath said shall obserue this worship Let it be I say when your children ask you what signifieth this worship vnto you that ye say it is the Sacrifice the passeover of the Lord who passing by the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he slew the Egiptians he deliuered our families Exod. 13.14 And let it be when thy sonne shall ask thee