THE CURSED FAMILY OR A Short Tract Shewing the Pernicious Influence of Wicked Prayer-less Houses upon this Church and Kingdom Humbly Tender'd By way of Subserviency to His Majesties Royal Proclamations and Acts of Parliament for Preventing and Punishing Immorality and Prophaness The Curse of the Lord is in the House of the Wicked But he Blesseth the Habitation of the Just Prov. 3. 33. Pour out thy Fury upon the Heatben that know thee not and upon the Families that call not on thy Name for they have Eaten up Jacob and devoured him and consumed him and have made his Habitation Desolate Jer. 10. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ign. Ep. ad Eph. Pietas est cognoscere Deum cujus cognitionis haec summa est ut eum colas Nec tantum hoc in Templo putes tibi else faciendum sed domi in ipso etiam cubili tuo Lact. By Thomas Risley Master of Arts and sometime Fellow of Pembrook-Colledge in Oxford With a Prefatory Epistle by the Reverend Mr. John Howe London Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultry 1700. A PREFACE TO THE Reader THE Author of this Discourse Christian Reader is a Person tho' of real Value who yet hath so very Low an Esteem of himself as to think my Recommendation may give some advantage to this his Performance They are indeed very Accidental Circumstances that make this difference very often between some and others in the Eye of the World Otherwise that might well be said which was in that great Instance I have need to come to thee and comest thou to me It is evident to those who know him that the many years heretofore wherein he drew Academick Breath and liv'd an Ornament to the Society whereof he was long a Member were not trifled away There he past his time as a Recluse more acquainted with his Study than the Theater He closely pursu'd his design more to acquire solid useful Knowledge and Learning than Fame And since in his long Rural Recess his design hath been the same and his way of Living hath little differ'd in a Chosen Obscurity contented rather to Shine to Himself than the World Yet the Urgency of Conscience and a desire to do good to the Soules of Men hath wrung from him this short TREATISE An Off-spring that hath much of the Parents Image appearing with no Ostentation of Learning But wherein may be seen a Pious Mind tinctur'd by much Study and Converse with Books an Acquaintance with the Literate World which begot an habit that is rather by his Speech unwarily bewray'd than designedly shewn The Scope and Drift of the Discourse shews him a Man of Thought and Prospect discovers thoughts intent upon the present Age but not confin'd to it making from it an Estimate of the sad Tendency of things and their gloomy Aspect upon the future While Christian Families Baptiz'd in so great and venerable Names and that should if any be Seminaries of Religion and Vertue are so commonly the Seed-plots of all Impiety and Wickedness and the Numerous Fountains whence Miseries and Curses are diffused among a Christian People My little leasure allow'd me not throughly to peruse it But its scope and the Spirit wherewith by glances I perceive it is Writ makes me hope Reader it may be of much use Thine in our common Saviour John Howe THE AUTHOR'S Epistle To all Heads of Families from the Father of Mercies through Jesus Christ in whom all the FAMILIES of the Earth are blessed Holiness here and Happiness hereafter My Brethren Hearers Neighbours and Relations CHrist hath taught us who is our Mediator how far to extend our Prayers not onely to our Fiends but to our Enemies and Persecutors And will Christ who also is ordain'd Judge of the World take it well at the Great Day That Parents make not continual Prayers Morning and Evening for and with their Children and the rest of their Families Are not Children the divided pieces of your selves Will not that same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Natural Affection a tye spun out of your own Bowels move you to take care of their Souls as well as their Bodies You are not onely Parents Natural but Christian and have Promised in the Presence of God and his Church that your Children should be Vertuously brought up to lead a Godly and Christian Life O remember your Promise made at their Baptism and do not Unchristen them by your Breach of Covenant O Pray That God would make you instrumental for their Spiritual well-being as he hath for their Natural being Beware of Poysoning the Soules of your Children whose Bodies you have nurst at your breasts and fed at your Tables How can such Parents answer it at the great day of Appearance who by wicked Examples teach their Children to Curse and Swear Lye Cheat Break the Sabbath and to make no reckoning of Religion Be not deceived for if you be not Christians in your own Houses whatever profession you make in the House of God your Christianity is unsound Assure your selves that if Christianity were possest of your Hearts it would be Practised in your Houses Is not Sin the Plague of the Heart Is it not of an active infecting prevailing nature Is not Sin allways with us and diffuseth it self into all places where we live Doubtless Sin follows Men whithersoever they goe to Church Market and home again What would you have Religion to be What is Christianity Must Religion be a Stranger or some soft Guest who comes but seldom to see you whose company after a while becomes fastidious What would you make of true Piety What would you have Christianity to be A despised Inferiour to stand or fall to come or goe at your pleasure taken in cast out used a little and then laid aside It cannot be such a Thing But true Religion and Christianity is That Thing which breaths Heavenly Regenerating Renewing Recreating Influences It is That same Ancient Sacred Awsom Thing which pierceth the Soul the Heart Conscience and by the Power of God changeth the whole Man-Lastly O all you Heads of Families be not deceived if you and your Housholds be Religious and Christians Indeed that Religion will Bear the Image of Holiness and Righteonsness making not onely your Houses but your Soules and Bodies Temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in If what is here written in this Short Tract By Way of Motive prevail with any One Family in a Parish or any one Member of a Family so Precious is the Soules Salvation to become Practisers of Piety in their Houses I shall rejoyce that I have not Run in vain nor Laboured in vain through Jesus Christ or Saviour to whom be Glory for ever Amen T. R. THE Cursed Family CHAP. 1. The General Nature of Families and of Christian Families Relatively consider'd as Members of the Church AMong the very Beasts of the Field Natural Instinct of the Dumb Creature teacheth Moral Duties in Families Fowls of
nunquam desinit esse Maelum nunquam desinat esse Miser Men prolonged for ever upon Earth they would sin for ever The guilt and filth of sin descends into Hell with the Impenitent and the Damned are ever Living and ever Sining therefore it is Just that their Punishment run Paralel with their sining 2. In respect of Duration sin and punishment may be considered and in this respect they both are Infinite i. e. the malignity emnity and contrariety of sin to God's purity and goodness remaineth for ever and the punishment is inflicted for ever Gods word hath placed Rewards and Punishments one against another Mat. 25. Last And these shall go into everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal The wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As Rewards are Eternal so Punishments are Eternal As Life is Eternal so Death is Eternal By the Rule of Contraries these Illustrate one another 3. Sin and Punishment are considered in respect of the Object or against whom sin is committed i. e. against the Majesty of Heaven and Earth the supreme Law-giver of Infinite Justice and Holiness Sin in this respect may be said to be Infinite being the Transgression of the Law of an Infinite Majesty For more full Answer to this Question 1. Observe That although Mans Time of sinning be but short compared to Eternity of suffering yet this doth not appertain to the Nature of sin being Extrinsecal to it for the sin of Apostate Angels presently after the Commission was in it self abstractively taken for that Malicious defection and deformity from the chief Good as hateful and contrary to God as it was afterwards and farther on In like manner the sin of our first Parents deserved Eternal Punishment the very first Day as well as in future time The Reason hereof is this We ought in this matter enquire into the Moral Evil Internal principles and roots of sin the formality of it emnity privation separation and aversation from Mans chief end the enjoyment of God himself the Being of Beings and Fountain of Happiness 2. Quest. But seeing that there be some that 2 Quest. dye in their Infancy some in their Childhood others in Youth ripe Age old Age. And seeing there be Greater and Lesser sins as they admit of aggravations against the Light of Nature and against the Gospel How can it be said that they suffer Justly in case all suffer Eternally Answ. Punishment hereafter is proportionable The Answer to Wicked Mens sins committed in this Life and all sorts shall have their Just Deserts Christ Jesus the Judge of all the World will reward every one according to his work Mat. 16. 27. The greater and lesser sins shall have greater and lesser Punishment but all shall have Eternal Punishment There are Degrees of Punishment in Hell as of sinning on Earth but Eternity of suffering is the Portion of all The least sin deserveth Eternal Death There are not Physical Degrees in this Death There is no Diminution in Infiniteness nor Brevity in Eternity O let every Wicked Man be upon his Knees and pray for true faith in Christ and Repentance of his sins let him give no sleep to his Eyes nor slumber to his Eye-Lids till he partake of the Mercy of God and Infinite merits of Jesus Christ the Son of God who alone delivereth from this dreadful wrath to come 1 Thess. 1. 10. CHAP. IV. The Pernicious Influence of the Sins of Wicked Families upon this Church and Kingdom from seven Aggravations 1. THere was never any Nation well 1. Aggravation of Family Impiety It depopulates Kingdoms Sir W. R. Ghost and peaceably Governed in the which Religion and a Perswasion of a Divine Providence was not well and soundly planted in the minds of Men. And the more that any one was privately devoted to Religion and the Reverencing of a Divine Spirit the more Illustrious and Famous he became in all innocency and probity of Life As the secret Atheism of Mens Judgments so the known Atheism of their Practise opens the Door to all Wickedness Injustice Pride Perjury Tyranny Sacriledge or any other Villany Psal. 14. 1 2 c. Titus 1. Last They profess they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate It is observable that the Book called the Practise of Piety was Dedicated to King Charles the First then Heir Apparent of these Kingdoms Intimating that true Religion is the best Crown Imperial the undoubted Glory and Safety of Church and State Wisdom is better then Weapons of War but one sinner destroyeth much good Eccles. 9. Last The good of the Commonalty depends upon the Exercise of Religion If thou hast true Loyalty in Una custodia Pietas Char. of Wisdom thy heart live with an Awe of Religion in thy Family the want whereof will render thee unjust abroad as well as at home Those that are without Devoted Service to God will not be subject to Rulers for Conscience sake He that is subject only upon the account Bp. Wilkins Sermon before the King 1670. of wrath and the Power of the Sword which is over him will be no longer so when he hath an opportunity of escaping or resisting that Power Nor is there any possible way to secure Men in their quiet subjection and obedience but by their being obliged for Conscience sake And therefore such kind of Persons as by their open profaneness and contempt of Religion do endeavour to destroy Conscience from amongst Men may justly be esteemed as the worst kind of seditious Persons and most pernicious to civil Government Was it not hence that the Roman Empire suffered so much namely from their Cateline Brutus Cassius Sylla Marius and such like wicked fellows Righteousness exalts a Nation but sin is a reproach to any People Prov. 14. 34. It is the observation of Josephus in his Antiquities that the Jews were grown very prophane and careless of Religion before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans The Lord hath a controversy with the Inhabitants of the Land Because there is no Truth nor Mercy nor Knowledge of God in the Land By Swearing and Lying and Killing and Stealing and Committing Adultery they break out and Blood toucheth Blood Therefore shall the Land mourn and every one that dwelleth therein c. Hos. 4. 1 2 3. The abominable wickedness of Canaan provoked the Lord to visit the iniquity thereof upon it and the Land vomitted out her Inhabitants Ye shall therefore keep my Statutes and my Judgments c. That the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it c. Levit. 18. 25 26 27 28. Personal sins quickly become Popular and as sin goeth not alone so it goeth not without its Contagion It is a Plague and infects others when we see them not it is as diffusive as the air which we breath in There is much danger in
the Air and Fish of the Sea some obscure Resemblances of Government greater and lesser Societies Kingdoms Cities and Families the great Searchers into Philosophy have discovered By God's Ordination at first they keep their Places observe their Times do their Work Build Furnish make Dens Caves Burrows Nests set up House break up House breed up their Young help and dispose of them abroad for Common Good True it is these Patterns are but imperfectly drawn in these Creatures yet they point at Excellent Education Laws and Virtues and Teach the Wisest Sobriety Fidelity Chastity Amity Gratitude Vigilancy Diligence and unwearied care of themselves and those belonging to their Charge After the Almighty had finisht his Work The foundation of Families God's Institution created Adam and Placed him in Paradise he was pleased to say It is not good that Man should be alone I will make him an help Meet for him Although the Word Family strictly How the Word Family is taken here taken signifieth that Order of Mankind which is United in Marriage signifying the Terms of Husband and Wife Parents Children Master Servant yet here it doth include Housholds made of kind Friends living together for their mutual Benefit as Men and Christians And also it doth Include the Superior Societies of Academical Discipline and the Inferior of Countrey Schooles Both which as they be of great use for Magistracy and Ministry so they ought to be of Special Influence to Maintain Religion and Christian Government in Church and State That Famous Orator whose Name is The Formal and final causes of Families turned into a Sir-Name of Eloquence as Quintilian hath it speaking of the Union of Families hath Written that there is a more Noble Principle of Human Societies then Sense to wit the Attractive Power of Reason which by Counsels Precepts Converse Decisions and Judgments Cements and Strengtheneth Societies But God's Word speaking hereof strikes an higher Note no less a Union for Marriage then In the Lord with the exclusive Particle Tantum in Domino Only in the Lord. If this Union were observed How much more Happy would Families Relations Parishes Magistrates Ministers Kingdoms and Churches be It is a most Dangerous Design to think of Multiplying Vice and Impiety by gathering into Societies as if the Lesser Sins of Single Life Married into Company might take Liberty to swel into a Flood Gen. 6. 25. We may not think that Families and Societies were Constituted for Natural and Secular Ends but for Political and Ecclesiastical Ends the Good of Countrey and the Church of God Therefore that was an Excellent Plut. Conv. Answer made to one admiring a Fair House to wit Thou lookest upon the Glorious Outside of the Building and callest that an House not looking within how well Children are Governed and Educated Marriage Honoured the Family and all belonging to it prudently managed He saith the Author that hath such an House liveth in a Palace though in a Pismires Hill From what hath been said it is evident how much good or hurt may proceed from Families For although this Capacity must not Danger of great States from Wicked Families contend with greater Societies for Precedency of Honour yet for Priority of Nature and Eldership of Time it carrieth it from all Societies on Earth It being without Dispute that of Families Towns and Cities great States are Embodied Therefore as in Natural Bodies if the first Concoction be Imperfect it is hardly Corrected in the latter So in Civil Bodies if Families and Villages through want of Good Government abound in Vitious Manners the Malignancy presently infects Kingdoms and Churches to which they do belong It may be at the first that the Narrowness of Private Walls and Housholds send Evil Manners into the World with some kind of Pusillanimous Dulness which coming into Places of Publick Concourse grow Impudent and refuse to be ashamed Hence it is that Swearing Swilling Debauchery and Immorality Contempt of Religion and Sobriety become in a while Popular and all in Fashion If Parents give not Check to Family Sins in their Children at Home when they go forth they meet with Temptations and Patrons which turn their Youthful Exorbitances into Immoveable Habit. It is easy to observe that the want of Family-Religion is the Cause of the Visible Decay of the Wellfare of Church and State CHAP. II. Concerning the Church of God THE word Church is vulgarly taken The Significations of the word Church And how it is taken here for the Material place where the People Assemble to Worship God sometimes for the Juridical Power of Church-Officers and sometimes for the Church-Revenues But here it is taken for The Visible Church of Christ Militant upon the Earth as it Comprehends Believers of All Places and Times from first to last And as it is made up of Particular Churches or Societies of Believers And these made up of Believing Families A Christian Family should be the Epitome and Nursery of the Church But alas it is far otherwise at this day A Minister may go into divers Families in the Parish and Chappelry and not a Word of Scripture Read nor a Prayer made in the Family all the Week long as if Religion were An Enemy not A Friend to their House or That Religion were a Duty Onely on the Sabbath-Day and not on the Week day The Church of God at the first was Domestical not National till the Holy Line grew Strong and Populous from Good Families As from Adam Seth Enoch Noah Shem who lived till Isaac was 50 years old Abraham the Father of the Faithful by Promise c. And so it came to pass in After-times that as Posterity in Families Degenerated so the Church Degenerated as in Cain Ham Ishmael Esau. The Cause of the Churches Decay in our days Thus it is in our Days Ungodly Families are the Decay of God's Church they make Thin Congregations they bring a VVast upon the Solemn Assemblies What an Odious Thing is it to Loiter away the Lord's Day What an Absurdity to Indulge the Flesh upon the Lord's Day and give the Flesh no Rest upon the Week Day What a piece of Wickedness is it to go forth all the Week to Serve the World and Refuse to go forth on the Lord's Day to Serve him Who would think that Sabbath-Profanation were so shameless in Families called Christian Why should a poor excuse hinder Men and Women from the Church which must not from the Market How many Halts do some Make when they should Goe to the Church to Sanctify the Lord's-Day in their Conscionable Attendance upon God's Ordinances What an Unseemly Thing is it to Skulk at Home or at a Neighbours House to Chatt and Talk away to Feast away Sleep away Surfeit away Bibb and Fiddle Smoak and Pipe for Carnal Pleasure to Visit away and for Profit to Travel away the Lord's-Day when they should be waiting at the Gates of VVisdom O what pitty is it that obscure
Tippling-houses should pick and pilfer any one Member of a Congregation from the House of God These profane Families do break Covenant which they made in Baptism whereby they were Solemnly Admitted into the Church of God Engaging to Renounce the Works of the Devil the World and the Flesh and to continue in the Communion of Saints to love fear and worship that God who made them for that end and into whose Name they were Baptized Father Son and Holy Ghost Are not these the notorious Enemies to Christianity whose Life is a Flat Contradiction to their Baptism Are they not Enemies to the Church as well as to themselves who willfully and wickedly Uniformity of Religion in Publick requireth Family Cnformity in Divine Worship and Service in Private Excommunicate themselves from God's Ordinances All Ungodly Families do contract the guilt of that Foul Sin of Separation by their Sabbath-breaking For if they be for Real Membership with the Church of Christ why do they not hold fast their Christian Profession in Publick Why do they not Keep their Baptismal Covenant to holy and constant Fellowship with Christ and his Church in their Families Why do they not set up Religion and Christianity in their Houses that they might partake of Heavenly Promises and Blessings of the Spirit of Christ by Prayers and Praises Reading the Scriptures and Catechizing All which Duties stand Obliging them as they be the genuine and proper fruits and Evidences of that Mystical Union and Holy Communion which is between Christ and all sound Christians and Church-Members For He is not a good Church-man that is not a good Christian at Home He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh But he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose Praise is not of Men but of God Rom. 2. two last Verses What profit will there be at the Day of Judgment of Names of Christians and live like Insidels and Heathens What Shall God's Grace abound to us in this Age of his Church by breaking down the Middle-Wall of Partition between Jew and Gentile to make his Church Catholick And shall we set up a Partition-Wall between God's House and our own and not permit Religion to dwell there O let not any Professor confine Religion within Church-walls seeing That the Congregation of the Faithful is made up of Believing Families and seeing That a Right Belief in the Church-Assembly will bring forth the Fruits of Holiness in thy Family And all Parents and Masters of Families now under the Gospel ought to be more Useful for the Spiritual concerns of all under their Care then those Parents under the Law And that because of clearer discoveries and more plentiful Effusions of Grace I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your daughters shall Prophecy your old men shall dream dreams your young men shall see Visions also upon the servants and the handmaids I will pour out my spirit Joel 2. 28 29. To rule and keep House as Christians presupposeth 1. The Natural Ruling of Houses i. e. to do that which Nature dictates namely to Feed Cloath Harbour and defend those under their Charge 2 Cor. 8. 21. 2. It presupposeth the Ruling of Houses in a Moral sense as Reason commands i. e. to Govern in a deliberate way by imparting ingenuous and vertuous Education that Children be taught to Read to be Just Dutiful Modest Diligent Temperate that Servants partake of Free not Servile Government as Reasonables not as Animals which labour in another kind to pay Wages not onely truly but equally in a fit proportion to their particular Employ For Nature teacheth Rewards in General but Reason enjoyneth an equal distribution of Rewards Therefore 3. To Govern Families in a Christian manner is most Excellent even as Reason is above Sense and Faith above Both. Christian Family-Discipline must Instruct Discipline of Christian Families Correct and Govern like it self namely to attain unto promote and persevere in all Christian Duties towards God and Man wholly devoting themselves to Instituere Corrigere Regere Christ to be his Faithful Servants for ever And this will cast out two great Enemies to all Order as well as Domestick i. e. Anarchy and Tyranny O that it might be consider'd that God will reckon with all Governours of Families both for not Using and Abusing their Talents of Authority Then the Blind Heads of Families who put out their own Eyes willfully refusing to know their Duty both in Single and Married Life then the Prodigal Sensualist and Covetous Mammonist who have wanted no knowledge of their Duty must come to Account for taking no Care for the Souls of their Children O that Parents would consider whether there be any thing in this World which deserves their Care and Diligence more then their own Salvation and their setled and constant Prayers to God for the Salvation of their Childrens Souls O ye Parents Would you be Blessings or Curses to your Families Would you have your Children prosper in this World and for ever perish in the next Would you dispose well of them here upon Earth and not be afraid least they miss of Heaven through your Carelessness The Lord in Mercy awaken you to set up Religion and Christianity in your Houses to Instruct Correct and Rule your selves first and then your Families as becometh Christians least God's Curse denounc'd against Wicked Mens Houses pursue you here and Rest upon you for ever hereafter The NATURE of which CURSE is handled in the next CHAPTER CHAP. III. Of the CURSE of the Lord on Wicked Houses TO Curse according to the General What it is to Curse and what is Cursing Sense of the Hebrew and Greek imports to Abandon Renounce Abdicate and Abhor as a Detestable Thing to Excommunicate and Cast out of God's Church from his Ordinances as a vile Prophane Person Cursing and Execration doth not onely signifie a Substraction of God's Blessing but an Infusion of his Curse upon Wicked Persons and Families as they have deserved for their sin both in this Life and in the Life to come To Bless is with God to make Blessed and to Curse is to make Cursed To Say Cursing and Blessing only from the Lord. and to Doe is all one with God to Speak a Curse and Inflict it a Blessing and Confer it And as it is God's peculiar to Bless so to Curse How shall I Curse whom God hath not Cursed or how shall I Defie whom the Lord hath not Defied Numb 23. 8. No Heathen Gods nor Evil Spirits nor the Devil himself whom they Invocate as Chief can send Curses upon any one without Commission from the Allmighty For Wicked Houses to be under the What it is for Wicked Houses to be under the Curse of God Curse of God! Is to be without his Gracious Keeping and Fatherly
a Contagious Conversation One Bp. Hall In a Sermon at Hampton Court before King James the First 1624. person infects a Family one Family a whole Street One Street a whole City One City a whole Countrey One Countrey a whole World If sin begin with one Angel it infects Legions If with one Woman it inserts all the Mass of Mankind Thou sittest at home and thinkest that thou doest no hurt to the Kingdom or Church but sure is that thy Family-sins will abroad and as it s said of those that are infected with Plague sores so it may be said of sinners that they strive to infect others Sin never goeth alone whether considered as Criminal or Penal Thy Sabbath-breaking Idleness Pride Prodigallity Backbiting Drunkenness Coveteousness and such like breed more sins first at home then in thy Neighbours House then afterwards both thou thy self thy untoward posterity and thy corrupted Neighbours carry them into Company in Villages Market Towns and Cities and in process of time the whole Land where thou livest is defiled thereby This fire of Family sins being once kindled finds more fewel among sinful Men and so going from one to another at last it breaks forth into consuming Flames A whole Tribe was corrupted with Idolatry which first came from Micha's Family Judges 17 and 18 Chapters Achan's sin brought God's hand not only upon himself and Family but all Israel smarts for it Josh. 7. 13. And a long time after Achan is called the Troubler of Israel 1 Chron. 2. 7. But especially the Families of Great Persons as of Princes Magistrates Nobility Gentry Clergy bring Judgments upon whole Nations and Countries As in Saul's time Jeroboam's Baasha's Ahaz's and Manasseh's time The sins of Nobility and Gentry are of a more spreading Infection then the sins of Inferior Persons And as to the Contagion of the sins of the Ministry It is said From the Prophets of Jerusalem is Prophaneness gone forth into all the Land Jer. 23. 15. There be some sins which are Domestick and Private which grow quickly into National and Politick sins as Sabbath-breaking Whoredoms Murther Perjury Rebellion against Parents whether Natural or Civil Parents Oppression Idolatry Heresy Deut. 13. 19 and 21. Chapters Shewing the Punishment of Idolatry Murther Rebellion against Parents And touching the Punishment of Whoredoms see Deut. 22. 21 22 ver All which Texts shew the National Epidemical malignity of those sins And therefore all Israel must hear and fear and do no more any such wickedness as this among them 2. Consider That Ungodly Families 2. Aggravation of Family Impiety It Overthrows Churches Overthrow Churches Prophane hands in Parishes pull down Gods House It is Unbelief Impeuitency Sabbath-breaking common prodigious swearing revelling at Wakes Merry Nights Greens May Games Healthing Inlets to Debauchery and all Impiety to Atheism Blasphemy Whoredom Contempt of Religion and Morallity These are the Boars of the Wood and Beasts of the Field which waste and devour the Lords Vineyard These are the sins which the Prince of Darkness and his Infernal Rabble strive to maintain and propagate to the Overthrow of Christianity yea and I had almost said Humanity it self The Tabernacles of Edom and the Ishmaelites of Moab and the Hagarens Gobal and Ammon and Amalek the Philistines with the Inhabitants of Tyre I mean wicked Families say Come let us cut them off from being a Nation a Church that the Name of Israel the Name of the Reformed Church of England may be no more in Remembrance Psal. 83. The General Ignorant and Scandalous sins of too many called Christians Is like unto the Abomination of Desolation in the Holy Place Dan. 11. 31. Parochial sins which rise out of Irreligious Households as Persecuting Saul's make Havock of the Church And are in effect the Bloody Hamans against Gods Church Family-wickedness of Princes Priests and People brought Destruction upon Jerusalem and demolisht the Temple the wonder of the World for Building a Type of Christ in the flesh and of his Church upon Earth Joshua a Good Ruler at a full and honourable Assembly of Elders Heads Judges and Officers delivereth this weighty charge in his Speech Namely to fear the Lord and serve him in Sincerity and Truth And not only in Cities and Towns but in all Families as the Principal Means for the Prosperity of Church and State Josh. 24. 1 14 15 20. Go ye now to my place which was in Shiloh where I set my Name at the first and see what I did to it For the wickedness of my People Israel Jer. 7. 13. It is most certain that the Church cannot flourish unless the parts and members of it perform Holy Duties and Offices in their Capacities both in Church and Family The want of Religion in Families is the Decay of Churches The difference between a Christian Family and a Church is that of Parts and Whole if the parts be wicked and profane the Constitution of the whole is Vitious and Depraved more or less according to the proportion of the parts Is it likely That Heads of Families should be truly Devout in the Church and Exercise no Religion at home How shall we Judge of the Churches encrease if not from Parochial Religion in Families Wickedness of Families maketh the Glory of Jacob thin Isa. 17. 4. Wicked Families eat up Jacob devour consume and make his Habitation desolate Jer. 10. 25. As by appearance at Musters we Judge of the military Strength and Population of Kingdoms so from Piety in Families the Strength and Prosperity of the Church and Christs Kingdom The Life of Religion and the Welfare Mr. B. Gildas Chap. 2. Sect. 5. And his Account of the Reason and Use of his Paraphrase on the N. T. and Glory of Church and State dependeth much on Family Government and Duty If there be any hope of the amendment of a Wicked Miserable Distracted World it must be mostly done by Family Religion and the Christian Education of Youth What Countrey Groans not under the Confusions miseries and horrid wickedness which are all the Fruits of Family neglects and the careless and ill Education of Youth In the Preface to the Record for Dissolution Dr. Fullers Ch. Hist. lib. 6. p. 310. of Lesser Monasteries the Reasons returned were The Vitious Living of those Houses Another saith That Fornication Adulteries Treachery Soddomy Incest were Committed and Brooded in those Houses And the Reverend Author goeth on saying An Hundred Thousand Whores made by Bp. H. In his Occa. Med. 76. On the Ruines of an Abby the Unmarried Clergy Every stone hath a Tongue to accuse of Superstition Hypocrisy Idleness Luxury the Late Owners How soon would the best part of the World Decay upon the Corruption of Families As in the Body Politick so in the Mystical it thrives or wasteth according to the Good or Bad Temperament of the Parts constituent If Families of Nominal Christians were Real Living Members of the Church succeeding Posterity would encrease it But
we have cause to lament the weakness of it by reason the wickedness thereof It is most He is no good Church-man who is not good Christian at Home evident from Scripture that such Professors are not True Members of Gods Church which are not Living Members of Christ. He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh But he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose Praise is not of Men but of God Rom. 2. two last verses He is not a sound Christian that is Baptized except he be inwardly renewed and sanctified by the Holy Ghost The real Christian Is a New Creature Old things are past away behold all things are become New 2 Cor. 5. 17. And the New Creature hath put off his former Conversation the old Man which is corrupt according to the Deceitful Lusts And is renewed in the Spirit of his mind And hath put on the New Man which after God is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4. 22 23 24. It is for want of Religious Government in The mischief of irreligious families Households that the Lords Day is not better observed that few profit under the Word and that there are so few prepared Communicants at the Lords Table It is from hence That Ministers have slender Congregations and that Taverns Ale-houses Walks Fields Gardens Tatlinghouses in the Neighbourhood are more resorted to then the places of Gods Worship Oh! All you Careless Ignorant Worldly and loose Heads of Families let not this Aggravating Consideration Namely That your Family-wickedness overthrows Churches pass out of your thoughts till it please God to change you and reform your Families Are you Friends to the Church Set up the Practise of Piety in your Families which are the Nurseries of the Church This Duty is of Great weight and Importance to the Interest of Reformed Religion and of the Church of England If professing Christians live in their Si ita Singuli id faciant quod pietatis est totum corpus facilâ— Sanabitur c. Synop. Bodini de Repub. lib. 1. c. 1. que 24. Houses in due Conformity to their Covenant in Baptism this through Gods Mercy will render our Church Beautiful as the Garden of the Lord And our Land as the smell of a Field which the Lord hath Blessed The Romans were as Careful to maintain their Vestal Fire as to preserve the Palladium as Pledges of Felicity to the Empire Signifying to us Christians that If Religion and Vertue Piety and Policy be Countenanc'd and defended and their Contraries Profaneness and Immorallity supprest and punished then the Lord will Build us and not Pull us down Plant us and not Root us up If we entertain the Life and Power of Christianity and Honesty in our Families Upon all the Glory shall be a Defence Isa. 4. 5. Quest. What think you of Errours and Heresies tending to the subverting of Christianity A. Quest. And what may we think of Parties and Sectaries Are they not greater Enemies to the Church then profane Families Answ. 1. Here is not intended a Comparative Answer Enquiry whether Damnable Errours and Heresies do more mischief in our Church then wicked Families but the main Business in hand is to shew that Profane and Wicked Families are Pernicious Enemies to both Church and Sate Sabbath-breaking Swearing Drunkenness Filthiness Coveteousness Oppression Pride Treachery Perjury Cursing Cheating Killing Stealing Lying and such like black infernal Sins in Families will without Reformation Ruin Kingdoms and Churches 2. Profane Scandalous Livers are Practical Atheists and Hereticks They profess that they know God but in good works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate Tit. 1. Last 3. Moral Evils of Sin and Intellectual are Conjunct A foul Stomach hath an aking Head and corrupt Streams come from a corrupt Fountain St. Paul In Titus 3. 10. And 1 Cor. 5. 11. Joyns together Hereticks and Sensualists or Scandalous Persons in Families and Parishes as Fatal and Capital Enemies to the Church and equally obnoxious to Ecclesiastical and Civil Punishments 4. We have sad experience what Mischief Parties and Sectaries Rents and Schismatical Causes and Instruments have wrought among Christians even to oppose That Great Article of our Faith The Communion of Saints 5. He is no better then a Wicked Man that hatcheth Divisions and Covets to make separations and will not admit of healing Such were the Donatists whose Tumults were supprest by the Magistrate O that all Scandalous Profane Families in Parishes would sit down and set themselves as in Gods presence seriously considering that they are no more Living Members of Gods Church then the Dead Bodies in the Church Yard are Living Members of that Family whence they came to be Interr'd 3. Consider That Profane Families are 3. Aggravation of Family Impiety It rendereth the Ministry of Gods Word unprofitable great Enemies to the Ministry If Heads of Families would perform their Duties according to Gods command that is to set up Religion in Families Prayer reading the Word of God Catechizing shewing good Examples in the Week Day and upon the Lords Day causing their Families to keep it Holy both publickly and privately I say were their Families thus Governed the word Preach'd would take better effect upon them Is it likely that Preachers should do any good when Parents by open Profaneness pull down what they set up As if they were resolved to live as they do let the Minister say what he will Is it likely that the Ministry should prosper in a Congregation when most Families will do nothing towards it themselves by keeping Holy the Lords Day and serving and worshipping him in the Week Day Would Masters of Families take hold with the Minister Religion would enter into Families through Gods Blessing But O what little is done to help forward the salvation of Souls by Good Parents They ought to prepare and break up the fallow ground of their Families they ought to Root out the Weeds of Vice and pluck up corrupt Principles out of this little spot of ground that it may be fit to receive the Seed of the word with profit Jer. 4. 3 Hos. 10. 12. Governours of Families ought to make their Families Nurseries for the Church i. e. well Husbanded well disciplined and well taught In their own Houses Parents are both Magistrates and Ministers in a Subordinate way to the training up an hopeful Generation for Church and Kingdom Why do Ignorant Loose Worldly Careless Prayerless Families cast off their Duty upon sureties for the Christian Education of their Children Whereas they themselves stand Bound as they are Believers not only to Dedicate them to the Lord by Baptism but as their Childrens Sponsors To bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord Eph. 6. 4. 4. The Barrenness of the ground upon
which the Seed of the word is sowed is 4. Aggravarion of the sin of Family-Impiety It is a great Discouragement to the Office of the Ministry cause of sorrow as well as discouragement to a faithful Minister Is it not matter of discontent and sorrow that the Seed-time for Corporal Bread is stopt by some rude wicked fellows in the Neighbourhood And do you think O wicked Families that it is not greater sorrow to Godly Ministers in their Office that the Seed-time for the Bread of Souls is hindered by you Is not Christ himself Lord of this Harvest who is Judge of the World Are not you the Tares and must not they be cast into the Fire not only for Being Tares but for hindering the Wheat Mat. 13. 40 41 It was the Great grief of that Holy Man and Famous Divine Mr. Ric. Greenham about the 35 Y. of Q. Eliz. That notwithstanding his Dr. F. Church History Book 9. Preaching Prayers Tears he had a Barren Obstinate Ignorant Parish Greenham had Pastures green But Sheep full lean Is it not matter of sorrow that the good Minister finds little more shew of Religion in his Congregation then what cometh in Course upon the Sabbath-Day or that most in the Parish part with Religion as soon as they turn their backs on the place of Gods Worship This troubleth the good Minister that most Heads of Families deny that at home which they seem to like well in the Congregation that some it may be bring their Bibles to the Church and never take them up all the week after that they Joyn in Publick Prayers and will not Pray in their Families And lastly This discourageth and troubleth the good Minister that many carry it like Christians in Gods House and live like Heathens in their own Our Blessed Saviour wept over Jerusalem saying Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 37 When he beheld the City he wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine eyes Luke 19. 41 42. After this sort the Prophet is affected If you will not hear it my Soul shall weep in secret places for your Pride c. Jer. 13. 17. O ye Irreligious Families What will you do Will you be obstinate and impenitent because your Good Minister nay your Blessed Lord and Saviour is Tender and Compassionate Will you be careless and secure because your Minister is commanded to watch for your Souls And will you be cruel to the Souls of your Families because Ministers are sent of God to Preach Faith and Repentance Mercy and Forgiveness to you Will you harden your Hearts and stand it out because God by his Ministers is praying you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God 5. Consider That Profane Families do 5. Aggravation of Family Impiety It provoketh God to take away the Gospel from us provoke God to take away the Gospel from us and give it to a Nation that will bring forth the Fruits thereof Mat. 21. 43. God hath been pleased to Plant his Vineyard in England which since the Reformation hath taken Root and spread her Branches in abundance And Blessed be the Almighty the Wall thereof our good Laws is not broken down But where are the Fruits We hear of common seandalous sins of Drunkenness Swearing Whoredom and Pernicious Doctrines And the sin of Sabbath-breaking in Towns and Villages is notorious Notwithstanding K. W. the IIId 10th Y. of his Reign Feb. 24. 1697. his Majesties Royal Proclamation for the suppressing and preventing of Profaneness dissolute Living and all Immorallities and for the Countenancing of Vertue and Piety in this Church and Kingdom What shall we say of Loiterers Travellers Tatlers going from House to House What shall we say of Debauched Prodigals Harlots Hectors at Drunken and Filthy Meetings How few Families in Cities Towns or Villages do make any better Account of the Lords Day then Almanack Holy Days How few Christians keep Holy the Lords Day after Service in the Publick Assembly It were Just with God to Translate the Gospel to another People and to put a Bill of Divorce into our Mothers hand for the too common Disgust of the Power of Christianity and Practise of Piety It were Just with God to deliver his Strength into Captivity and his Glory into the Enemies hand Psal. 78. 61. Referring to the sins of Eli his Sons in the Priesthood 1 Sam. 2 Chap. And to the Punishment in the 4 Chap. not only of the Priests but People also And we of this our Church both Ministers and People for our sins of other Kinds have cause to fear least God deprive us of our Strength and Glory i. e. his gracious and influxive presence 6. Consider That this Profaneness of Families is the greatest reproach upon 6. Aggravation of Family-Sins They bring the greatest Reproach upon such Families them As sin leaveth behind it the forest wound upon Conscience So It marketh the Person with the Vilest Brand. What can expiate that Guilt which staineth the Heavens Curseth the Earth hath cast down Angels from their Glory and made Man as vile as the Beasts that Perish Who can blot out that which is written in Heaven in Gods Book on Earth in the Consciences of Men and unhappily Copied out to be written in the memory of succeeding Posterity Who can purge that away which Peccati inacula durat in aeternum ex se Seclusa Dei misericordià defileth the Souls of Men It is not devouring time nor flight nor Banishment nor change of Climate nor strange Inhabitants no nor Death it self of the Infamous sinner that can free his Conscience from the Guilt of his sin and wipe off the reproach and everlasting shame thereunto belonging Dan. 12. 2. And those that sleep in the Dust of the Earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt The Seed of Evil doers shall never be renowned Isa. 14. 20. The memory of the Just is Blessed but the Name of the Wicked shall Rot Prov. 10. 7. Thou hast consulted shame to thy House by cutting off many People and hast sinned against thy Soul Hab. 2. 10. Are not Ahabs and Jezebels sins upon the File of Reproach There was none like Ahab who sold himself to work wickedness whom Jezebel his Wife that Cursed Woman stirred up Add hereunto Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin And this is That King Ahaz Simon the Sorcerer Elymas the Sorcerer Judas the Traitor These Persons to this day have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Brand of Infamy Man never came to loose his The way to true Honour Honour but by sin then he Marr'd his Creation-Robe
and was clad with Guilt Shame and Amazement To this ancient Estate of Honour and Communion with God none but the Annointed of the Lord can restore Investing with a New-Creation Robe of Righteousness and Holiness Well then Grace is the Foundation Nemo denique egregius nisi qui bâ—nus innocens Lact. lib. 5. Cap. 15. of Pristine Glory The way to raise thy self and Family is by the steps of Piety and Vertue down then with Wickedness and Vice and set up Religion in thy Family Them that Honour me I will Honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. It is said That the Valiant Roman Marcellus built two Temples of Honour Vertue in such manner that none could enter into that of Honour but he must first pass through the other of Vertue By the Laws of Armory Plut. Vita Marcelli none ought to be promoted to Civil Honour unless they be Loyal Temperate Religious Valiant Charitable to the poor and ready to attend their Soveraign to the Wars And can any hope that God will Honour any such Families or Persons as trample upon his Holy Laws Blaspheme his Name renounce their Allegiance in Holy Baptism and give no Honour and Service to that God who hath condescended to take them for his Covenant Servants Can we say properly that such as these are Christians Are they not the scandal and shame of Christianity Are they Members of Gods Church Are they not of the Synagogue of Sathan Rev. 2. 9 It 's very excellently said by a Learned Bp. Sand. his third Sermon Ad Cler. pag. 109 110. Divine to this matter as followeth All the Members of the Body have their proper and distinct Offices according as they have their proper and distinct Faculties As in the Body that indeed is no Member which cannot call it self by any other Name then by a common Name of a Member So in the Church he that cannot stile himself by any other Name then a Christian doth indeed but Usurp that too If thou saist thou art of the Body I demand then what is thy Office in the Body If thou hast no Office in the Body then thou art at the best but Tumor praetur naturam a Scab or Botch or Wen as Physitians call them or some other Monstrous Excrescency upon the Body but certainly thou art no true Member of the Body And if thou art no part of the Body How darest thou make Challenge to the Head by miscalling thy self a Christian Therefore oh Christian beware of having a Name to Live and yet Dead As a Dead Man is no Man so the Nominal Christian is no Christian. 7. Why wilt thou O Professor of Christianity 7. Aggravation of Family-Impiety It is condemned by Heathens live in thy Family As without God in the World Why wilt thou Heathenize thy self and Posterity Idolaters Condemn thee for thy course of Life as they did by the Prophets Testimony the professing People of the true God under the Law Pass over the Isles of Chittim and see and send to Kedar and consider dlligently and see if there be any such a thing Hath a Nation changed their Gods which are yet no Gods but my People have changed their Glory for that which doth not profit Jer. 2. 30 31. All People will walk every one in the Name of his God and why wilt not thou walk in the Name of the Lord thy God Aâ—icah 4. 5 O Christian thou art not only Condemned by Idolaters for thy Irreligion in thy Family but Condemned by thy own self As Joshua said unto Israel Ye are Witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen you the Lord to serve him and they said we are Witnesses Joshua 24. 22. Thou O Christian hast chosen the Lord to serve him and to put away the Idols of the Flesh and the World by thy Covenant in Baptism Therefore take up Joshua's Resolution and say As for me and my House we will serve the Lord Josh. 24. 15. O therefore be Households of faith govern your Families in the fear of God and hope of his Mercy O ye Worldly Ignorant Carnal Parents Masters and Heads of Families will it be comfortable parting at Death from your Children and from your Servants when you go out of this World not only with the guilt of your own sins but of your Children and Servants You say you believe in Christ and yet Live without Repentance This Faith the Scripture calls Historical and it is the Faith of Devils such Believers are Mockers and Impostors And as one saith excellently Charron of Wisdom pag. 262. more then Men in the Articles of their Belief and worse then Swine in their Lives The Lord have mercy upon all such Families that call not on his Name and grant them Grace to reform their Houses as becometh Christians for their own Comfortable Account and the benefit of succeeding posterity at the great Day of Appearance That so God may put his Name in their Houses and leave an Entail of a Blessing and not of a Curse upon the surviving Generation For the Lord our God is a Jealous God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation II. Commandment of them that hate him and shewing mercy unto Thousands of them that Love him and keep his Commandments To him the Habitation of whose Throne are Justice and Judgment and before whose presence are Mercy and Truth be Glory and Worship from all Families for evermore Amen And Amen FINIS BOOKS Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey MR. Pooi's English Annotations on the whole Bible wherein the sacred Text is inserted together with the various Readings and Parallel Scriptures c. in 2 Vollums Folio The Works of the late Reverend Divine Mr. Stephon Charnock in 2 Vollums Folio The Life of the Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter with the History of the Times he lived in written by himself and Published by Mr. Matthew Sylvester in Folio Mr. Lorimers Apology for the Ministers who subscribed only unto the stating of the Truths and Errors in Mr. William's Book from the exceptions made against them by Mr. Trail Quarto his remarks on Mr. Goodwins Discourse of the Gospel Proving that the Gospel-Covenant is a Law of Grace and Answering the Objections to the contrary c. Quarto Mr. Shower's Winter Meditations Or a Sermon concerning Frost and Snow and Winds c. and the wonders of God therein Quarto his Thanksgiving Sermon on the discovery of the Assassination Plot April 1696. Quarto Mr. Nathaniel Vincents Funeral Sermon Preached by Mr. Nath. Taylor Quarto Mr. Stephen's Sermon before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London at St. Mary Le Bow Jan. 30th 1693. Quarto his Thanksgiving Sermon April 16th 1696. Quarto Mr. Slaters Thanksgiving Sermon Octob. 27th 1692. Quarto his Sermon at the Funerals of Mr. John Reynolds and Mr. â—incher Ministers of the Gospel 410. his Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. George Day Minister of the Gospel at Ratliff 1697. 410. The Jesuits Catechism 410. A Sermon Preached at a Publick ordination in a Country Congregation by Mr. Sam. Clark 410. Mr. Gibbons Sermon of Justification 410. Mr. Matthew Mead's Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Tim. Cruso who Dyed Novem. 26. 1697. 410. Mr. John Howards Assize Sermon at Buckingham July 5. 1692. 410. his Visitation Sermon at Rotkwell in Northampton-shire Oct. 12. 1697. 410. An Effort against Bigottry and for Christian Catholicism by Henry Chandler 410. Mr. Shower's mourners Companion on Funeral discourses on several Texts the Second Edition in two parts 810. his Sermons upon Isaiah 55. 7 8 9. Gods thoughts and ways above ours especially in the forgiveness of sins 810. his Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Nath. Oldfield Decem. 31. 1696. 810. Mr. Nath. Taylors Preservative against Deism shewing the great Advantage of Revelation above reason in the two great paints of pardon of sin and a future state of happiness 810. Catholicism without Popery An Essay to render the Church of England a means and a Pattern of Union to the Christian World 810. Dr. Burtons Discourses of Purity Charity Repentance and seeking first the Kingdom of God Published with a Preface by Dr. John Tillotson late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in 2 Vollums 810. Remarks on a late Discourse of William Lord Bishop of Derry concerning the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God Also a Defence of the said remarks against his Lordships Admonition by J. Boyse 810. Bishop Wilkins Discourses of the Gift of Prayer and Preaching the latter much inlarged by the Bishop of Norwich and Bishop Williams 80. Mr. Slater's Call to Family Religion being the substance of eighteen Sermons 80. Mr. Addy's short hand Bible 80. Cambridge Phrases by A. Robinson 80. History of the Conquest of Florida 80. Mr. William Scoffin's help to true spelling and reading or a very easie method for teaching Children or Elder Persons rightly to spell and exactly to read English 80. Monro's Institutia Grammaticae 80. Pavis Grammaticae Or the ready way to the Latin Tongue Containing most plain demonstrations for the regular Translating English into Latin 80. Mr. Alsop's Faithful rebuke to a false Report 80. his Vindication of the Faithful rebuke c. 80. Mr. Shower's Sermon on the Death of Mr. Nat. 80. Oldfield who departed this Life Decem. 31. 1696. 80. Mr. Hammond's Sermon at Mr. Steel's Funeral 80. Mr. Allins English Grammar Or the English Tongue reduced to Grammatical Rules Composed for the use of the English Schools 80. Mr. John Mason's little Catechism with little verses and little sayings for little Children 80. A free Discourse wherein the Doctrines that make for Tyranny are Display'd the Title of our Rightful and Lawful King William Vindicated And the unreasonableness and mischievous Tendency of the odious Distinction of a King de Facto and de Jure discovered by the Honourable Sir Robert Howard A Funeral Sermon occasioned by the Death of Mrs. Jane Papillian late Wife of Thomas Papillian Esq Preached July 24. 1698. and now Publish'd at his request by John Woodhouse The whole Duty of Man Epitomiz'd for the benefit of the Poor with select Prayers suited to every partition by Edm. Stacy a Minister of the Church of England 20. Price bound 6d